Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance) (87 page)

Aggie laughed and extricated the kitten from William
’
s arms.
“
He
’
s cute!
”

“
She. I got a girl so you wouldn
’
t have spraying issues. Even neutered toms spray sometimes.
”

Aggie cuddled with the kitten in one of the chairs by the fireplace, gifts from her parents and delivered early that morning.
“
I love the orange and white. She looks like sourdough toast with marmalade.
”

Before long, the children surrounded her, each vying for a chance to pet, hold, or squish the poor creature. Squeals of excitement made the kitten shake with fright, until Aggie sent Vannie upstairs to put the kitten in her room.
“
There
’
s a basket under my bed for her.
”

“
What
’
s her name, Aunt Aggie?
”
Vannie walked toward the stairs petting the kitten
’
s soft fur.

“
She doesn
’
t have one yet. You be thinking of one, and we
’
ll talk about it after dinner.
”

* * *

“
So, Aggie. Did you have a nice time?
”
William and Aggie sat on the back swing, watching the fireflies and dodging the June bugs.

“
I can
’
t believe how many people came. It was wonderful. I really got to know some of the members of The Church, and that was really important to me. I
’
ve felt like such an outsider.
”

William nodded.
“
I felt that way when I moved back here too.
”

“
Moved back? Oh, right, you grew up here, didn
’
t you?
”
Aggie had forgotten.

William talked of summer days working with Mr. Dyke.
“
He was like a second father to me when my dad took off.
”

“
That must have been so hard. I can
’
t imagine what would possess a man to leave his family like that. Are you sure something terrible didn
’
t happen to him?
”

“
I checked, when I was in the academy, as part of an assignment. He
’
s alive and living down in Florida.
”

Aggie was silent. She rocked the swing and eventually picked up the kitten when she walked by.
“
Are you ever sorry you came back here? I mean this town must have sad memories for you and everything.
”

“
It
’
s been hard at times, but I love Brant
’
s Corners, and well, Mrs. Dyke doesn
’
t have anyone anymore. I
’
m all she has left.
”

“
I thought she had several children.
”
Aggie was confused.

“
Four. All boys. Three died in Vietnam, and the youngest was shot in the line of duty seven years ago. He left behind his mother and a fiancée that committed suicide a year later.
”

Aggie noticed the difference in talking to William and Luke. William thought quickly and spoke decisively. Luke was more prone to listen and think before saying anything. Aggie wondered why William
’
s quicker conversation was grating on her, when she usually found the delays in conversation with Luke so frustrating.

“
You
’
ve done a good job with this place, Aggie. It was such an eyesore for so long.
”

Aggie nodded.
“
I have hardly done anything, but Luke has been worth his weight in gold.
”

“
You have become pretty good friends, haven
’
t you?
”
William
’
s voice seemed too tense.

Aggie nodded again.
“
And his mother. She
’
s such a special woman. How about your mom, does she live here?
”

William startled visibly.
“
No, I think Mom is in Virginia. She
’
s in pretty poor health.
”

Aggie recalled the earlier conversation between William and her neighbor. Who was Mona? Did William have an ex that had hurt him terribly? Did he have a wife in the past? Had they lived in this house? Aggie gathered the courage to ask a few questions.

“
William? Have you ever been married?
”
He shook his head, and Aggie considered dropping the subject, but she had to try once more.
“
Ever wanted to?
”

William was uncharacteristically thoughtful. Then, as though he realized that he had been silent for too long, answered quickly.
“
Not until recently. I
’
ll have to wait and see if God agrees, I guess.
”

Aggie shrugged, as awkwardness stole over the conversation.
“
Well, you
’
re so uncomfortable in this house; I wondered if maybe you
’
d been married or loved someone who lived here or something. It sounds pretty silly, now that I say it.
”
Aggie was almost embarrassed.

“
It
’
s closer to the truth than you
’
d think, Naggie Aggie, but it
’
s not what you assume.
”

William glanced at Aggie and wondered what was wrong with him. Most men sitting outside with an eligible woman that they found intriguing would focus the conversation on the woman. Why did personal situations always make him act so socially backward?

“
What about you? Did you leave someone special when your sister passed away?
”
William hoped she
’
d say no. She had given up so much; it would hurt to think that she
’
d given up yet another dream for her family.

“
No, I
’
ve never had anyone special to me like that, and obviously I
’
ve never been married!
”
Aggie laughed.
“
Were you and Mur
--
Ellene close at one time? She kind of hinted at it once, but you don
’
t act like exes or anything like that.
”

William was frustrated. Mrs. Dyke had warned him that Ellene had hopes for a deeper relationship, but until now he hadn
’
t taken it too seriously. She was right, however. Ellene was definitely making herself readily available.
“
No. I helped her get over a bad relationship, and we became good friends. Mrs. Dyke thinks she
’
s here for other reasons, but we
’
ll see. I can
’
t see that ever working out for us. We
’
d be miserable together.
”

As William and Aggie continued to talk, Ellene overheard heard more than she wanted. She
’
d seen them out talking and planned to join them, but hearing the obvious lack of interest in William
’
s voice hurt. Mrs. Dyke was right. She came to Brant
’
s Corners to see if there was a chance that she and William were compatible, and apparently, William was certain they weren
’
t. As Aggie discussed a myriad of topics with him, Ellene went inside her home to take inventory of her life.

Aggie stopped talking mid-sentence.
“
What is that?
”
She walked over to something under the tree and found a scrapbook lying in the dew-dampened grass.
“
Would you look at this? They all worked hard on this, and now look at it. Half of this thing is ruined!
”

William
’
s eyes widened as Aggie, furious, marched into the house holding the scrapbook. He jumped up and followed, ready to try to calm her down. Aggie mopped up the damage, trying to flatten the pages.
“
I
’
ll have to figure out who took this out there tomorrow. They
’
ve got some fixing to do.
”

William seemed surprised.
“
You
’
re not going to wake them up?
”

“
Are you nuts? Have you not heard the old saying
‘
let sleeping dogs lie?
’
I
’
ll deal with the culprit after we
’
ve all had a good night
’
s sleep.
”
Aggie was utterly bewildered.

William shook his head and headed for the door.
“
It
’
s getting late. I
’
d better go.
”

A broken William rushed out the door. Aggie considered letting him go but couldn
’
t. She raced after him, calling his name.
“
William? Come on, William, talk to me.
”
As she reached his side, Aggie grabbed his arm and turned him, so she could see his face. Moist eyes confused her further.
“
What is going on with you? Every time you are at my house, you are agitated; right now, you
’
re almost distraught. What
’
s going on?
”