Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (167 page)

“How
long
do
you
think
we
should
give
her
before
we
talk
to
her?”

“Another
week
or
two.
I’m
not
sure.
She
might
be
do—fine
tomorrow
for
all
I
know.”
He
winced
at
his
near
gaffe.
“Just
trust
me.
She’s
fine.”
The boy blinked and then said, “Actually, if you think about it, I think you know.
Yo
u’ve known since the FBI and sheriff searched her room.”

With sudden understanding,
Luke
nodded
and
started
to
leave.
He hesitated at the door and added,
“I
think
your
D-
string
is
a
little
flat.”

“
Thanks.”

Toys
were
already
strewn
from
one
end
of
the
living
room
to
the
other,
but
Aggie
seemed
willing
to
ignore
it
as
long
as
Ian
stayed
in
eyesight.
“I
think
we
should
let
Ellie
alone
for
a
few
more
days.
It
sounds
like
this
is
more
of
a
surprise
than
a
secret
or
a
problem.”

The
skeptical
look
in
Aggie’s
eyes
bothered
him.
At
some
point,
she’d
have
to
learn
to
trust
him
on
these
things.
Maybe
if
she
knew
that
he
supported
her…
“By
the
way,
we
need
to
talk
when
we
can
get
a
moment
of
privacy
.”

“Tina’s
gone
until
after
dinner.
We
could
talk
then.”

“I’ve
got
the
keys
to
the
house
for
her
anyway.”

“Is
escrow
closed?”

He
shook
his
head.
“Not
for
a
few
more
days
it
seems.
I
just
thought
she
might
like
them
and
I
actually
remembered
today.”

Aggie
scooted
closer,
her
eyes
darting
around
the
room
to
see
who
might
be
listening,
and
murmured,
“I’ve
been
thinking
about
the
fourteenth.”

“Yes…”

“I
think
I
should
take
the
kids
to
the
cemetery.
I
found
these
grave
urns
that
can
be
driven
into
the
ground
on
a
stake.
They’re
air
and
watertight.
I
thought
they
could
write
notes
or
draw
pictures
or
something.
Next
year,
maybe
they
could
see
what
they
left
this
year
and
so
on.
What
do
you
think?”

“It
sounds
like
a
good
idea.
I
wouldn’t
plan
to
stay
long,
but
I’d
be
prepared
to.”

“Do
you
think
it’s
too
much
for
kids?
I
can’t
forget
the
morbid
introspection
that
Geraldine
demanded
of
the
kids
that
first
day.
It
was
terrible.
”

“As
long
as
you’re
willing
to
give
them
time
to
decide
they
want
to
participate
,
without
insisting
that
they
do,
I
think
everything
will
work
out
well.
”

During their conversation
,
a
new
idea
occurred
to
him—one
he’d
have
to
take
up
with
Tina.
If
he
had
his
dates
straight
in
his
mind,
it
might
just
be
the
perfect
way
to
distract
the
family
after
such
a
trip.
Mid-thoughts,
Tina
burst
in
through
the
door,
carrying
several
bags
in
her
hands.
At
the
sight
of
Luke
,
she
stopped.
“I
had
a
question
for
you.
Now
I’ve
forgotten
it.”