Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance) (81 page)

“
What! That
’
s it? What
’
s it?
”
William vocalized Luke
’
s thoughts.

Without looking over her shoulder, Tina explained.
“
It
’
s this thing with Aggie. She
’
s had at least two tetanus shots since I
’
ve known her, and both times, it put her to sleep for a few days. It
’
s some kind of unusual reaction, from what I understand, and it seems to start earlier and last longer each time. The doctors have some other protocol for punctures for her. I bet she forgot.
”

Tina was quite matter of fact about it, but William looked worried. Luke watched Tina
’
s expression and visibly relaxed, as she appeared to be unconcerned. William, on the other hand, still bothered by something, left without another word, and strode across the lawn to Murphy
’
s house. There was still something not quite right with the situation, but Luke didn
’
t know what it was or if it was any of his business.

* * *

“
Aggie, come on. Wake up, Mibs.
”
Luke
’
s voice was gentle but firm. Tina and the children were off at the park, but he
’
d stayed behind to work on the bathroom. He
’
d been reticent to work on it, but after Tina banged two cooking pans together next to her head without a stir on her part, he
’
d agreed the noise probably wouldn
’
t bother her, and the finished bathroom would be a nice surprise when she was conscious again.

“
Aggie,
”
Luke shook her again. According to Tina, after the last shot, the doctors had suggested trying to wake her every few hours for a little water, but if he couldn
’
t get her to wake up, how was he supposed to get her to drink?

The house was silent. Everyone was gone, and Luke was frustrated. He felt helpless, alone in the house with an unconscious Aggie. How was he supposed to know if she was getting worse? Luke tried again.
“
Come on, Mibs, you gotta wake up. Just open your eyes, say howdy, and I
’
ll let you sleep.
”

Aggie stirred but didn
’
t open her eyes. Luke disappeared down the hallway and returned with a cold wet washcloth. Rubbing it on the back of her neck, Luke then held her up in a sitting position and began wiping her face. She moaned, and her eyes struggled to open. Luke saw slits of iris as she tried to speak.

“
Wh
--
what
’
s going on?
”
Aggie
’
s speech was groggy and slightly slurred. She sounded drunk.

“
Tina said to make you wake up now and then. You scared me for a minute; I couldn
’
t wake you.
”

Aggie
’
s eyelids drooped, but willpower forced them open again.
“
Why am I so tired?
”

“
Tina said it was the tetanus shot.
”
Luke watched her reaction.

“
They gave me a shot? I don
’
t remember that. They shouldn
’
t have done that. Tetanus shots make me sleepy.
”
Aggie tried to focus on Luke
’
s face but was too tired.
“
I gotta lie down again.
”

“
Take a drink of water first.
”
He thrust the water at her and nodded with satisfaction as she swallowed a few sips.

“
Nice water. Thanks.
”

Luke chuckled and settled her against the pillows again. He noticed her shoes were still on her feet and removed them, setting them at the foot of the bed. A storm was coming, and a cool breeze blew through the open window. He hated to close it, but Aggie shivered in her sleep. Feeling quite pleased with himself, he grabbed the corner of her comforter and pulled it over her. Luke smiled. Aggie looked like a small child with her hands tucked under her cheek and her hair spilling over the pillow.

Aggie says:
Hey, Iris… you there?

Landry
’
s Lady says:
Yep, how are you feeling?

Aggie says:
Awake. Weird, huh.

Landry
’
s Lady says:
Well, I
’
ve never heard of someone getting sleepy from a shot!

Aggie says:
I do. Sigh. Sorry I ruined our lunch…

Landry
’
s Lady says:
It
’
s not like you jabbed yourself to get out of it deliberately, you know.

Aggie says:
Yeah, wasn
’
t that whole thing, well, a bit odd?

Landry
’
s Lady says:
It was VERY odd. I am not exactly sure what happened, but something wasn
’
t right.

Aggie says:
William said he
’
d explain later.

Landry
’
s Lady says:
Hmm… Regardless, you
’
ve got some amazing things in that attic. We found a chifforobe behind the bedstead. It
’
s really cute. Tina thinks you
’
ll want it for the girls
’
room. It
’
s very distressed, almost like an original shabby chic piece, but it looks cute!

Aggie says:
OOOOOOHhhhhhh I love the sound of it. The twin
s
don
’
t have enough drawer space, and there
’
s that spot on the wall by the door… Well, unless it
’
s too big.

Landry
’
s Lady says:
Ask Tina. She
’
ll know. So, what
’
s this I hea
r
about a housewarming?

Aggie says:
I don
’
t know! What IS this you
’
ve heard about a house warming?

Landry
’
s Lady says:
Oops, I hope I haven
’
t ruined a surprise!

Aggie says:
I doubt it. They probably haven
’
t mentioned it due to some misapprehension that I
’
ll fall apart from the stress of my most terrible ordeal.

Landry
’
s Lady says:
Giggle. You were funny. William carried you upstairs, and you should have seen Tina
’
s expression.

Aggie says:
Do tell. He really carried me up there?

Landry
’
s Lady says:
Yep. It was like out of an old movie. Tina looked like she would swoon.

Aggie says:
Sounds like she needed hoop skirts and smelling salts!

Landry
’
s Lady says:
LOL. Well, according to reliable sources, next Saturday is your house warming. Should I put bugs in some ears that they should give you another week or two?

Aggie says:
Nah. I can
’
t wait to show off the house. The guys have done such a GOOD job! Who
’
ll be there?

Landry
’
s Lady says:
Sounds like your old and new churches are coming, and of course, your neighbors, and Libby and her son.

Aggie says:
Sounds good.

Landry
’
s Lady says:
Well… I really appreciate you inviting me over. It was definitely the most exciting lunch date I
’
ve ever been to!

Aggie says:
You have to get a life Iris…

Landry
’
s Lady says:
LOL. I just keep my excitement for after dinner. Too much to do during the day.

Aggie says:
Well, I
’
m going to go play Monopoly with the kids. They
’
ve been asking all day. I
’
ll see you Saturday, I guess.

Landry
’
s Lady says:
Have fun. Don
’
t land on Boardwalk!

Aggie says:
I
’
m gonna OWN Boardwalk. Just watch me.

Landry
’
s Lady says:
I prefer the greens… they always get hit… those and the oranges.