Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance) (32 page)

The kindergartners were all given a rolled
“
diploma,
”
and each made a speech. Some speeches were long and rambling, while others were, considering the fifty-two that year, mercifully short and sweet. Kenzie looked adorable, and very serious, as she stood at the child-sized podium.

“
Thank you for coming. My big sister Vannie helped me write my speech. We worked hard this year. We learned to read, and we got to draw pictures, and our teacher was very nic
e. I am good at pluses and take-
aways now, and that is because Miss Williams is so nice. My Aunt Aggie is my mommy now, and I want to thank her for that too. Vannie didn
’
t help me with that part. Thank you.
”
Kenzie gave a little bow and took her place in line.

She smiled over at Vannie, but the frown on the girl
’
s face unnerved her. Aggie telegraphed a question to her, but Vannie refused to respond. Something was amiss. She would have to talk with her later, but for now, she had a graduate to congratulate.

The cafeteria reverberated with chattering voices. Aggie, fighting a headache sparked by the constant drone, worked hard to keep her eyes on the children as they laughed and wove between the people trying to find their classmates. For the first time, she realized that moving would also mean leaving their friends. The children must not realize this yet.

Aggie was trying to clean marshmallow off Ian
’
s face when she heard a voice a little too close to her ear; she jumped.
“
Excuse me?
”
She took a step back instinctively. A man, taller than most in the room, and a little too suave in his attire and demeanor, stood before her with a lazy smile on his face.

“
Do you have a child here? Well, except for the little mister…
”
The man obviously thought his line was clever.

“
Actually, I have eight here today. And you
--
do you have any children present?
”
The look on Aggie
’
s face would have daunted someone less arrogant, and the frost in her voice was not that of cookies and cakes.

“
Yes,
”
his smile was perfectly timed. He must have perfected his approach either by practice in front of a mirror or
“
on the job training.
”
“
My daughter Emi was one of the graduates. She
’
s… oh, right over there
--
talking to the little girl with the sailor dress.
”
Her words finally pierced his self-filled consciousness.
“
Did you say
eight
children?
”

Aggie followed his line of vision.
“
Yes, eight, and the little girl she is talking to is my Kenzie.
”
Aggie
’
s tone should have warned the man, but he seemed oblivious to her irritation.

“
Wow! Eight children
--
”
he glanced at her hand.
“
And no wedding ring. You look good for having so many. Hasn
’
t anyone told you what causes that?
”

Aggie
’
s jaw dropped. Before she could answer, an arm took hers and led her away. Aggie, after one last astounded glance at the insulting man, tried to thank her rescuer.
“
I
--
I
--
”
She was still speechless.

“
I know about your family, Miss Milliken. I
’
m the assistant vice-principal here at Lincoln Elementary, and if I could slug that man, trust me, I would. What you are doing for these children is remarkable. I am just sorry to hear that they won
’
t be back next year.
”

With that, the man left her and hurried to where a group of boys were attacking the refreshment table. Aggie watched as he handed them each one cookie and sent them packing. He turned as if to come back to talk with her, but another parent stopped him.

The assistant vice principal watched as the young woman herded her charges out the door and to the parking lot. He saw her laugh at something Kenzie said and ruffle Tavish
’
s hair. Those children were going to be all right. It was much too bad all the children in his school weren
’
t as fortunate.

Aggie says:
HELP TINA!!!

Tina says:
What!

Aggie says:
We have a situation.

Tina says:
Oh, well, a situation. That
’
s helpful.

Aggie says:
Ok. Tonight, Kenzie gave a little speech at her
“
gradgigation.
”

Tina says:
How cute!

Aggie says:
It was. She obviously idolizes Vannie a bit, but she said something that made Vannie upset. I need to know how seriously to take this.

Tina says:
Well… what did she say?

Aggie says:
She said something about me being her
“
mommy
”
now, and Vannie is upset about it.

Tina says:
I can see why.

Aggie says
: Well, so can I, but how do I help her. I am not trying to b
e
THEIR
mom. Allie was given that role first; I want the children to kee
p
her in their memory as their mother.

Tina says:
But the little ones are going to see you as mom. Kenzie is already transferring her
“
loyalty
”
if you will.

Aggie says:
I didn
’
t expect that.

Tina says:
You know, you have to prepare Vannie for this. The baby will call you mom most likely. Explain to Vannie that you are not trying to take the place of her mother, but the little children won
’
t remember as much. Allie is probably fading already in their memories. She
’
s going to be a
“
feeling
”
and a picture someday. It
’
s how things are going to be. No one prepared Vannie for that.

Aggie says:
You have a point there. Sigh. Guess that
’
ll be my job. I
’
ll add it to my
“
to do
”
list for the next YEAR!

Tina says:
So, how are you going to be able to do that whole list and move? Aren
’
t the Landrys coming to help you move tomorrow?

Aggie says:
Well…

Tina says:
Don
’
t put it off too long, Aggie. I know you. You
’
ll let the move, the settling, the fixing up this house… everything will crowd it out, and you won
’
t ever resolve this. Talk to her, Aggie. Don
’
t forget.

Aggie says:
Yes, oh wise Tina. I will not forget. Bug me until I say it
’
s all settled ok?

Tina says:
Will do. So, Kenzie is all
“
graduated
”
huh?

Aggie says:
It was an interesting evening, that
’
s for sure.

Tina says:
Spill it.

Aggie says:
Well… I learned that we proudly BAILED in the
Star Spangled Banner
. Better to bail with pride than in shame right?

Tina says:
Too funny. Anything else?

Aggie says:
Yep… and then this creep asks me if I know what causes
“
that
”
yet when he finds out I have EIGHT children.

Tina says:
WHAT?

Aggie says:
Yep. The assistant VP rescued me. I wanted to deck him.

Tina says:
Glad I wasn
’
t there. I would have!

Aggie says:
Oh, blech. I have to go upstairs. Ian is crying.

Tina says:
You can get upstairs now?

Aggie says:
Yep. It
’
s a slow process, but I do it. No crutches too!

Tina says:
Ok, then… Poofs

Aggie says:
Poof!

The Shambles

Saturday, June 1
^st

Pandemonium reigned in the Stuart household the Saturday they moved. While Aggie attempted to keep Kenzie and the twins out of the packed boxes, and Ian from screaming, Vannie and Laird filled other boxes with the remaining kitchen items and packed suitcases with the final loads of laundry from the washer and dryer. Mark Landry expertly filled a rental moving van as Aggie directed Iris with what to pack and what would stay. All the while, Iris
’
ten-year-old son, Jonathan, raced from one room to the next, helping everyone and thoroughly enjoying a house full of playmates.