Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance) (36 page)

Aggie sighed and then said the one thing she
’
d hoped never to have to say.
“
Mrs. Stuart, I have been more than patient. You know that you can
’
t legally take these children from me. My lawyer will express a handwritten letter that Doug wrote to you tomorrow. When I read it, I hoped to never have to give it to you.
”
Taking a deep breath, Aggie continued, interrupting Geraldine before she could get her next sentence formed.
“
I now have to ask that you leave my property.
”

Shock registered on the bitter grandmother
’
s face and then anger overtook every fiber of her being.
“
I will not leave this house without my grandchildren
!
”
As Geraldine began an ugly tirade, Aggie shooed the children out into the back yard with strict instructions to stay there. She walked to the telephone and shakily pressed the proper speed dial button for the sheriff
’
s office. Reporting an unwanted trespasser and a domestic dispute, Aggie turned to the overwrought woman to request again that she leave
--
preferably
before
the sheriff or one of his deputies arrived. Before Aggie could speak, Geraldine slapped her. The force was so strong that it spun her into the door jam. Who would have thought such an elderly lady could produce such force!

Between the huge red welt of a handprint and the tears streaming down her face, Aggie was a sight when the deputies arrived. Deputy William Markenson pulled up to the house and exited his vehicle with a female deputy close behind. They found Aggie sitting on the couch, head in her hands and eyes on the back door. Occasionally, a head would peek through the window, and Aggie would give a small shake of her head. The officer introduced himself and his co-worker, Meg Reese. Aggie stood to shake their hands and explain the situation, but Mrs. Stuart interrupted with obvious disdain.
“
I arrived today to visit my grandchildren, who are temporarily in this woman
’
s care. This is what I found. This living room has a couch and three beds, and the dining room has a table and six beds! I defy you to tell me that these are proper living conditions. I insist that these children be released into my care.
”

The deputies looked around, back at each other and then Deputy Reese led Aggie out the back door. The two women could still hear the ranting of Mrs. Stuart.
“
Ms…?
”

“
Milliken. Agathena Milliken, but just call me Aggie.
”
The defeated tone in Aggie
’
s voice was evident even to the nearby children. Kenzie whimpered and moved closer.
“
Do we have to go live with Grandmother, Aunt Aggie?
”

“
Shhhhh, honey, of course you don
’
t. The judge has said that you will live with me, just like Momma and Daddy wanted.
”
The frightened little girl began the silent weeping Aggie knew so well. Kenzie
’
s little
“
I want my mommy,
”
almost broke her heart.

Deputy Reese took Aggie
’
s statement and then suggested that she wait outside. After a few whispered words with Deputy Markenson, the two officers escorted Geraldine Stuart to her car. The woman appeared subdued, but the look that she shot Aggie told the younger woman that this was only the warm up to round one.

Both officers went back to speak again with Aggie. She
’
d just stated that she didn
’
t want to press assault charges against Mrs. Stuart, when a call came in for the officers. Deputy Reese took the call, gave Aggie her cell number in case she wanted to talk, and left.

Deputy Markenson seemed almost at a loss for words. Kenzie, her face contorted in concern, came inside and edged close to him.
“
Are you going to
‘
rest my Auntie Aggie?
”

The terror behind her words was heart rending. Aggie just shook her head, as the tears ran down her face, while Deputy Markenson lifted the child on his lap and spoke very carefully to her and the other children, who had drifted nervously into the room.
“
Your Aunt hasn
’
t done anything wrong.
”
He paused, searching for just the right words.
“
You see, your grandmother just loves you all so much that she wants to have you with her all the time. Do you know how sometimes you want something so badly that you forget to do what is right? Like taking a cookie before asking permission?
”
Several heads nodded. He mentally counted six children who visibly relaxed at his assurance that he wasn
’
t there to haul Aggie off to jail.
“
This is what your grandmother has done. She has forgotten what is right, because she loves you so much.
”

Kenzie stopped crying and ran her fingers over the deputy
’
s badge. William Markenson lost his heart to the child at that moment. Some at work called him heartless because of the detachment that characterized his demeanor; they certainly wouldn
’
t recognize him at this moment.

Markenson, the oldest of three children, learned to resolve disputes long before becoming an officer, and, of course, had no trouble attracting female attention everywhere he went. Physically speaking, he fit the old stereotype of tall, dark and handsome perfectly.
“
What is your name?
”
William smiled at the child who promptly spoke up.
“
Kenzie Stuart.
”

“
Kenzie, do you pray with Aunt Aggie? At bedtime or at dinner?
”
William Markenson was treading on precarious ground with this line of
“
questioning,
”
but he hoped he had read the young woman across from him correctly. At the little girl
’
s smile and the nods around the room, William continued.
“
I want you all to pray for your aunt, and for your grandmother. Can you all do that? Can you pray that your aunt can be strong for you, and that your grandmother can find a better way to show you that she loves you?
”

The children all made affirmative assurances of their eagerness to help by prayer. Aggie, after sending them to bring in the groceries and purchases from the van, followed William outside.
“
Thank you, Deputy Markenson, for being so understanding. I know the place is a mess and the sleeping arrangements aren
’
t exactly normal, but I am working
--
”
William held up his hand. The gesture made Aggie smile. How often must this man have to deal with incoherent emotional females?

“
Ms. Milliken.
”

Aggie shook her head and said,
“
I
’
m just Aggie.
”

William tried again.
“
Aggie, you
’
ll get things cleaned up. You
’
ve only been here four days, and you have a lot to deal with, just being a guardian to these children.
”

Aggie interrupted.
“
How do you know how long I
’
ve been here? I didn
’
t tell you that. I am certain Geraldine didn
’
t tell you
--
”
William smiled. Aggie noticed that the smile reached the corners of his eyes, creating slight wrinkles that, had she still been a carefree college student, would have sent her senses reeling. The man was tall
--
at the least, six foot two.

“
Aggie, this is Brant
’
s Corners. We know when someone comes in, moves out or sneezes after eight p.m. Welcome, and if you
’
d like, we would be happy to see you at
The Church
next Sunday.
”

Aggie frowned.
“
Knowing which church might be helpful…
”
She had a twinkle in her eyes, as she raised her eyebrows at the officer.

“
The Church
. That
’
s the name. It
’
s on the corner of Third Street and Main. Services start at ten-thirty; Sunday school is at nine o
’
clock. It
’
s a very nice congregation
--
more like family than a social club, if you know what I mean.
”
William
’
s deep bass voice carried across the street to where an elderly lady made a poor attempt at trimming her shrubs as she tried to figure out why the sheriff
’
s deputies were at her new neighbor
’
s house. William had noticed the woman
’
s ruse and decided to introduce the women.

“
Aggie, do you have a moment to meet your neighbor? Would the children be ok?
”
It seemed as though that William had no real experience with children but was conscientious about their welfare; how wrong perceptions can be.

Aggie called to Vannie and Laird.
“
Keep your eyes on the girls and Ian. Everyone, stay
in the yard
. I
’
ll be right back.
”
Turning to William,
“
I
’
m ready to meet my neighbor, Deputy Markenson. Let
’
s shake up the place! She doesn
’
t look like someone I
’
d like to TP, so maybe next May Day, we can leave flowers and run.
”

Stunned, and unable to formulate an appropriate response, William insisted she call him by his first name and led her across the street to where the elderly widow was pruning with a destructive vengeance.
“
Mrs. Dyke, this is your new neighbor, Aggie Milliken. Aggie, I
’
d like to introduce one of the dearest ladies in town, and also of
The Church
. I know you
’
ll be friends before long.
”
William also knew that if he didn
’
t explain his presence, the elderly lady could have heart trouble from wondering about his arrival.
“
Mrs. Dyke, please keep Aggie in your prayers. She has just taken guardianship of her late sister
’
s seven
--
”
Aggie held up eight fingers, to correct him.
“
--
make that eight children, and the paternal grandmother is being a little difficult about it.
”