Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance) (62 page)

William
’
s tone was adamant. She
’
d seen him act oddly about the house now and then, and this seemed to be another one of those times. Why should he care what color she chose for the house? He didn
’
t have to live there! She
’
d paint it whatever color she liked
--
and that was yellow. To be fair, she knew that until that minute, she hadn
’
t been sure. However, his imperious attitude irritated her into stubborn obstinacy. Aggie started to tell him as much, but Vannie dashed up the porch steps carrying the mail.

“
Aunt Aggie! Look at the house on the cover of this magazine!
”
Vannie
’
s face was alight with excitement.

Aggie looked at the house. It was striking, somewhat elegant even, but charming. The picture showed a very pale dove gray house, trimmed in glossy black
paint,
and boasted a cherry red door. Hanging from the eaves, red geraniums gave the house the homey look she
’
d tried so hard to achieve. The house style was nearly identical to their home, and Aggie felt as though the magazine challenged her to duplicate it. Instantly, without hesitation or a hint of doubt, Aggie changed her mind. Pointing to the cover, she passed the magazine to William and insisted,
“
I want this.
”

Relief flooded William
’
s face, and it puzzled Aggie, but she didn
’
t have time to think about it. He didn
’
t have a chance to comment before she called for the youngest four children to load up in the van.
“
We
’
re going to run to Brunswick and get the paint. I
’
ll leave Laird, Ellie, and Tavish with you and take the rest, ok?
”

William nodded and poured the last of the lemonade from the pitcher into his glass. He watched them drive away and sighed at the glass he
’
d already drained. Oh, well, it was time to get back to work anyway. This was going to be an unusual vacation, but if he
were
honest with himself, he
’
d have to admit he was looking forward to it.

Thursday, July 11
^th

Just after six a.m., the
“
William Tell Overture
”
interrupted Aggie
’
s fitful sleep. Groggy, she fumbled for the phone.
“
Hello?
”

As though speaking to her from another universe, a voice gently broke through the fog into her consciousness.
“
Aggie? This is Luke. Did I wake you up?
”

She struggled into a semi-sitting position, stretched while stifling a yawn, and tried to concentrate.
“
I didn
’
t sleep well. It
’
s Laird
’
s birthday today, and I have no idea how to make it special.
”
A yawn interrupted her jumbled explanation.
“
I wanted to make sure their birthdays this year were memorable. Something good to remember this year, you know?
”
Aggie was rambling, knew it, and frankly was too exhausted to care.

“
Well, actually, that
’
s why I
’
m calling. I had an idea for kind of a guy
’
s night out type party for him.
”
Luke hurried to share his plan.
“
We
’
ll have cake and ice cream with everyone, and then Uncle Zeke, the boys, and I can pitch a tent in the front yard and camp out there. It wouldn
’
t be the same as going to the lake or up by Little Vienna, but with a hibachi bonfire and a tent, it
’
ll feel authentic enough.
”
The eagerness in his voice made her wonder who would have more fun, Laird or Luke.
“
Oh, and I
’
d love to bring my nephew, Justus, if you
’
re comfortable with that.
”

“
I think that
’
d be fun. We could have a scavenger hunt!
”

“
Aggie, there aren
’
t very many houses on your street…
”
Luke
’
s voice was skeptical.

“
I
’
ll figure something out. Trust me. Oh, and I
’
ll have to make him a cake
--
or buy one
--
and…
”

“
Aggie,
”
Luke interrupted,
“
Mom wanted to do something for him too, and I know she
’
d be thrilled to bake the cake for you. She loves cake decorating and baking. Let her do it?
”

Aggie agreed readily. Her cakes were fine if she used a box mix and a plastic can of frosting. Her only scratch cake had been a dismal failure, and her single attempt at decorating had been infinitely worse. Luke promised to arrive as close to four o
’
clock as possible, and Aggie promised to have dinner and a party ready by five.

Eagerly, she grabbed her Bible, made a cup of coffee, and crept out to the back swing for a little
“
closet time
”
with the Lord. Aggie
’
s morning trysts with her Abba, as Tina always called the Lord, gave Aggie fuel for each day
’
s trials and triumphs. She realized that since becoming guardian and ad-hock mother to the children, her relationship with the Lord was stronger and sweeter than it had ever been throughout her Christian walk. Continually amazed at the way things definitely did
“
work together for the good of those that love Him,
”
Aggie thanked the Lord for the redirection she
’
d received that cold February morning.

The day passed in a whirlwind of chores, shopping, and secrets. While Laird tried to wheedle information about his gift from everyone in the house, Aggie and Vannie planned the party, de
corated, and wrapped the pocket
knife, canteen, backpack, and sleeping bag that Aggie purchased as a nod to the camping theme of the evening. Thus far, Laird was unenlightened about the upcoming evening and the true fun planned for him.

By four-thirty, Luke and Justus had arrived, bearing the tent, hibachi, and a huge ice chest full of flavored water and sodas. As Laird commented on his favorite, root beer, Luke winked at Aggie.
“
I just made sure I got stuff without caffeine. I need my sleep too!
”

They grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and ate crisp sweet watermelon that dripped down their chins. Aggie
’
s scavenger hunt sent them looking for items around the house and yard with which they traded for clues to find Laird
’
s gifts. The twins, frustrated by their inability to read the clues, huddled under the tree, talking earnestly together and then raced into the house. Aggie didn
’
t notice, or she would have rushed after them.

Not to be undone by the bigger children, the twins found the scissors, tape, and the leftover wrapping paper on Aggie
’
s bed. They each grabbed their favorite stuffed animal and rolled it in paper, cutting
--
more like tearing
--
off excess here, and necessary paper there. With enough tape to supply Santa for a year, the girls secured their papered offerings and scrambled back down the porch steps.
“
We found them!
”

Luke glanced at Aggie, who shrugged and asked,
“
What did you find, girls?
”

“
The pwesents! Look!
”
Cari
’
s voice was indignant. Aggie noticed the earnestness in her tone but missed the challenge to defy the child
’
s assertion. Luke, however, caught it.

“
Is that a present Aunt Aggie wrapped?
”
Aggie started to answer, but Luke shook his head almost imperceptibly.

“
Well
--
”
Cari bit her lip.
“
It has the papew, see? It
’
s Laiwd
’
s gifts, and we found them fiwst! We win!
”

Laird arrived just as Luke shook his head.
“
You
’
re trying to deceive everyone, Cari. You know that those aren
’
t the gifts that they
’
re looking for.
”

Aggie
’
s eyes narrowed.
“
May I talk to you, Luke?
”

Without waiting for an answer, she waved Laird on to look for the clues and find his packages, while she mentally prepared to give Luke the tongue lashing of his life.
“
Just what do you think you
’
re doing?
”

“
I am thwarting a child
’
s attempt to deceive. You told me that if I ever caught them doing wrong, to put a stop to it.
”

“
They just wanted to give him a present and be involved in the search too!
”
Hearing her voice rise with her indignation level, Aggie forced herself to speak more quietly.
“
Is it really necessary to squash them just because they created their own gift when they couldn
’
t find the other ones?
”