Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance) (18 page)

Making our home perfect was hard enough with just me, can you imagine how tormented everyone would be with eight? We can
’
t have a meal, without milk spilling, or a child opening their mouth while chewing, or needing to be reminded to say,
“
excuse me
”
after a burp. The whole mental picture is enough to ensure a mental breakdown for everyone involved. I can
’
t do that to the children.

Aggie, my childhood is a long series of different schools, psychologists, medical appointments, vacations, cancelled parties, and ostentatious displays. She didn
’
t know how to relate to a child. Whenever I showed a preference for cartoons over Shakespeare or French fries over caviar, I was packed off for yet another evaluation.

Emotions are forbidden in her home. If there is a problem, you don
’
t talk it out, work it out, or forgive. Instead, you pretend that it
’
s not there and hold a grudge about it. Forever. I am not exaggerating. If you want to test me on this, just mention the cabin up at the lake. I guarantee you
’
ll hear about how, when I was eight, I dropped a frog inside her swimsuit, and she
“
couldn
’
t sleep for a week in fear of what else that boy might do.
”

You cannot imagine the guilt-driven manipulation. If they don
’
t say
“
I love you
”
every day, several times a day, she
’
ll be hurt. If they do something wrong, she
’
ll bury them in guilt on how they
’
ve hurt her until they
beg
for forgiveness, and then she
’
ll smother them with things. They
’
ll be the world
’
s most spoiled, immature children ever. She will try to buy their affection, and you know what that does to children.

Aggie, please understand what we are asking you to do, so you
’
ll never doubt if the decision you make is correct. Do not let our children EVER be alone with her. Do not let them spend the night, go shopping, or even speak for a long time on the phone with her. We have made it quite clear in our documentation to the courts (my six inches of medical records with only four pages since the day I graduated from college will help, I am sure) that we would rather the children be sent to foster care than to be given to her.

Honestly, I don
’
t know how she will respond. She may take it as relief but feel it
’
s her duty to care for them. She may give a token fight and then leave you alone. I don
’
t think so, though. I have almost been her life since I was born. With me gone, and Dad still in his own world, she will probably latch onto them harder than ever. Be careful, Aggie. All I know for certain is that with mother, there are no certainties.

Thank you, Aggie. I know I can thank you in advance, because I know you. You
’
ll handle this beautifully. The children love you, and with your training at college you should be ready for a challenge like this. You
’
ll be graduating soon. I hope you don
’
t have to quit your dream job or anything like that.

We forgot to update this letter after the twins. I pray that you never have to read it. I have written three since you turned eighteen, and each time, I hope I can convey how seriously I want you to take my warnings and how thankful I am that I have a little sister whom I can entrust my children to. I love my mother, Aggie. I love my children. I love you, and I pray that you will find fulfillment in this new step in your life and that you never resent us for putting you in this position. Love, teach and train our children. Enjoy them. Weave their lives into yours; don
’
t just enter theirs.

Waiting on the other side,

Douglas

Aggie sighed as she finished the letter. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she found herself crying as much for Geraldine Stuart as she did for the loss of her family. She recalled the reading of the will with perfect clarity. It appeared that every time a purchase over five hundred dollars was acquired, it was immediately assigned ownership to Aggie, her parents, one of the children or Doug
’
s parents. Aggie would be responsible for passing out these things or holding them in trust for the children.

Aggie was in shock to see how much was entrusted to her. She had no idea that Allie and Doug had such wealth. There were two insurance policies that both listed Aggie as the secondary beneficiary. There were investments that had to be controlled, and all of the bank accounts, including several CDs, had her name on them in order to avoid trouble with the transfer of property.

As she picked up the papers and put them back in the folder, Aggie spied a note on Mr. Moss
’
letterhead that she
’
d overlooked.

Aggie,

At the request of Doug and Allie, I hired a locksmith to change the locks on their home while we had our meeting this morning. They wanted to be certain that Mrs. Stuart could not lock you out of the home. The locksmith will leave the key at the front desk of your hotel as soon as he has finished.

If you have any questions, or if I can assist you in any way, please don
’
t hesitate to call me at home or at the office.

Respectfully,

Robert Moss, Attorney at Law

Aggie called down to the front desk and learned that the key was indeed waiting for her. She phoned the law office and found that Geraldine was still in conference with the lawyers. Reluctantly, she decided that perhaps it would be better to go now, get inside the house, and talk to the children before Mrs. Stuart arrived.

At the house, Aggie found bedlam. The children sobbed nearly uncontrollably, the baby screamed, and Vannie was visibly distraught, trying to keep everyone calm. It took Aggie a while to comfort everyone, and reheat one of the many casseroles in the kitchen for the children
’
s dinner. As she worked, she discovered that Geraldine had not hired a sitter to watch the children and had left them alone during the afternoon meeting with the lawyers. Aggie
’
s face showed her anger, and at first, poor Vannie thought she was in trouble.

“
I
’
m so sorry. I really tried. When no one came back right away, Kenzie flipped. She was sure that you and Grandmother were dead too
--
”

“
Vannie, honey, this is not your fault. You did nothing wrong. I had no idea that you would be left here alone. I don
’
t think your grandmother was thinking clearly. She must be hurting more than she lets on.
”
Aggie prayed that she was telling the truth, but Doug
’
s words in the letter she
’
d just read troubled her.
“
Can you imagine how much of the burden of the children
’
s care would be left to Vannie and Laird?
”
Oh, how was she to know what to do or what to say?

Aggie led the children into the living room and sat them all down.
“
Well, guys, it looks like we are going to be together for a long time.
”

The children looked at her with huge questions in their eyes and hearts. Vannie started to speak, but Aggie didn
’
t notice and continued.
“
You see, your parents worked things out with the lawyers and the courts and everything, so that I would be the one to take care of you from now on. I
’
m not going to try to be your mom. We are so different, that I couldn
’
t if I wanted to. But, I promise you guys; I will do everything I can to be the best Aunt Aggie I can be.
”

Before Aggie could continue, the doorbell blared. Looking out of the window, Aggie found that Geraldine was there already. She glanced around frantically and then said,
“
Vannie. I need your help. Please take everyone downstairs and stay there
--
no matter what happens. Take a bottle for the baby, just in case this takes a while. Laird, I really need you to help her.
”

The children nodded somberly and trooped downstairs like little soldiers. It was incredible how quickly they had adapted to Geraldine
’
s expectations and terrible to see them so nervous. She hated to put so much on Vannie again so quickly but honestly didn
’
t know how to avoid it.

The doorbell rang again, followed quickly by a sharp knock. Aggie looked at the door, then picked up the phone and dialed the office of Mr. Moss. He advised that she not open the door without witnesses, for Aggie
’
s legal and personal safety. He assured her that he was on the way.
“
She can
’
t know you are there, so she
’
s just getting angry at the children. She is probably trying to figure out why they can
’
t hear her. Don
’
t walk in front of any windows, though. I
’
d prefer to just walk up with a key and open the door without her knowing that you are inside.
”

Geraldine was in her car using her car phone when Robert Moss arrived. He quickly let himself in the house, locking the door behind him.
“
What do you want to do, Aggie? I
’
m afraid if you let her in, she
’
ll refuse to leave without police escort. If you don
’
t let her in, she
’
ll call them anyway. She seems near the breaking point. I
’
ve always known her to be very self-controlled, but she lost it for a second today. I saw a face I don
’
t hope to see again anytime soon.
”