Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance) (76 page)

“
Thank you for your invitation. Luke speaks
of you and your family so often
that you feel like a friend already.
”
Mrs. Sullivan turned her attention to Luke.
“
Will you go help Zeke get Rodney out of his seat? He always has trouble trying to figure those things out, but he insists on trying.
”

Libby seated herself between Luke and Aggie. Zeke, next to his wife Martha on the other side of Luke, held a little redheaded boy with big blue eyes and tried to help the child sign the song
Jesus Loves the Little Children
. Aggie hadn
’
t thought to teach such a little one sign language, but she held Ian
’
s hands and made the signs with him.

What had begun as a smooth and cooperative morning, slowly dissolved into reminders of proper behavior and consideration for others. Ian sat peacefully on Luke
’
s lap and fell asleep mid-service, but Kenzie and Cari both found themselves outside and in trouble for their antics. The end of the service couldn
’
t come soon enough.

Aggie was relieved when, as she stood outside the door supervising her troublesome children, she heard the final hymn swell in the auditorium. Cari
’
s nose popped out of the corner she
’
d been facing, but Aggie
’
s narrowed gaze sent her face back to the corner where a crack in the mortar piqued her curiosity. The first person out the doors was Ellene, with William following quickly. It was evident that Aggie
’
s neighbor was not happy to be at the service.

She wanted to talk and enjoy a little fellowship with her church family, but Aggie knew she needed to get the children home, where she could more easily deal with them if they got out of line. So, with a wave and enough apologies to show her friends how embarrassed she was, Aggie ordered her clan into the van and drove home, the Sullivans following behind in Luke
’
s truck. The temptation to drill them on proper behavior was nearly overwhelming, but Aggie knew it was wrong to demand that they perform to make her look good.

At home, Vannie took the little girls to change into play clothes, while Luke changed Ian. Watching her son tickle the baby as he swapped a dress shirt and pants for shorts and a onesie, Libby squeezed Aggie
’
s hand affectionately.
“
Aggie, I can see why my Luke is always talking about your family; he seems right at home. I thank you for allowing him to get his kid fix while he
’
s working.
”

Aggie smiled.
“
You
’
d think, with as much time as these children seem to steal from him, that he
’
d not get anything done at all, but you should see everything he
’
s accomplished!
”
Aggie hesitated and then asked,
“
Would you like to see the house? I took before and after pictures, but I don
’
t have them printed yet. The rooms might be a little messy, though. I haven
’
t learned the art of everything staying neat on Saturday nights and Sundays.
”

The tour was short but fun. Libby seemed to love what they had all done to decorate and make the rooms special, but when they reached Aggie
’
s room, the woman shook her head and said,
“
Don
’
t neglect your private space, Aggie. This room will be a sanctuary when days are hard. Make it one that will help refresh you.
”

Aggie took her words to heart and led her guest to the kitchen. Libby Sullivan exclaimed over the island.
“
Luke! You did it! How marvelous! Oh, son, you will have to make me one when you have the time. I just love it. Rodney and the girls would have such fun working with me at a spot like this.
”
She raved about the style of the room, her son
’
s workmanship, and even the paint on the walls. Aggie noticed how genuine the woman sounded, in spite of her profusions. she began to suspect that Luke must be the apple of his mother
’
s lovely blue eyes.

“
Mrs. Sullivan, I love this kitchen, but I need to brighten it up. I chose that milk white for the walls, and I
’
m thinking about adding some stripes or something, but I don
’
t know much about decorating. I want something cheery, with some green and red, but I don
’
t want it to look like a Christmas kitchen. Do you have any suggestions?
”

Libby Sullivan looked around the room for a moment before speaking.
“
I have one idea. Why don
’
t you find a lovely geranium print for
curtains
and then maybe you can add baskets or red speckled graniteware or something? It would be so pretty and bright in here!
”

Aggie, seeing a spot over the large side window that could hold a plate rail for graniteware, nodded her head in agreement. Red geraniums would be perfect for her new kitchen, and, doing things that way, when the curtains faded or wore out, she could change the entire look for relatively little expense. She mentally decorated her kitchen as they placed the platters of food on the dining room table and called everyone in to eat just as Zeke and Martha arrived.

Zeke said a simple heartfelt grace, and everyone ate and chatted. The meal was merry and full of laughter and mishaps. After the third glass of milk spilled, Mrs. Sullivan went into the kitchen in search of different glasses. Finding a few pint-sized canning jars, she came back and poured the children
’
s drinks in them.
“
These are the same width on the bottom as on top. It makes it harder to knock over. You might consider buying more, or finding different glasses.
”

Aggie murmured her thanks. She realized how much someone with Mrs. Sullivan
’
s experience could teach her. As she loaded the dishwasher, she pulled Luke aside and asked what he thought of his mother giving her homemaking lessons.
“
Do you think she
’
d think that was weird? I could really use some help, and she seems to know all the things I want and need to learn.
”

Luke swallowed hard. Tears threatened, but he managed to hide his emotions. Something about Aggie asking for his mother
’
s help touched a very tender spot in his heart. He smiled. Knowing he wasn
’
t speaking prematurely, Luke said,
“
I am certain that she would be thrilled to do it. Say the word, and I
’
ll ask.
”

Nodding eagerly, she went back to her dishes. She wondered at how Luke hadn
’
t needed to search for words, but a smiling Mrs. Sullivan interrupted her thoughts.
“
My Luke tells me you would like me to help you simplify housekeeping. I think that would be lovely. Why don
’
t I call you in a few days and see when would be convenient?
”

Aggie remembered Tina
’
s impending visit and said,
“
Well, I couldn
’
t start immediately; my friend Tina is coming this evening, and I am hoping to get to spend as much time as possible with her.
”
Raising her voice dramatically, so Luke could hear her, She continued.
“
I
’
m also planning on bugging Luke to w
atch the children a few times
…
”

Luke turned and smiled his yes. Zeke boomed out a hearty,
“
Martha and I
’
d be glad to help too, wouldn
’
t we, Martha?
”
while the children squealed with delight.

Aggie led Mrs. Sullivan out to the porch and tried to describe what she hoped do with it. The porch floor was slated to be the last thing painted, but Mrs. Sullivan suggested painting it immediately.
“
I can tell how much you want to use the porch as living space, and if you wait for the rest to be done, you won
’
t get to use it this year. As a matter of fact, I
’
d even bring out your wicker things now. They can be moved onto the lawn and covered with tarps while the boards dry.
”

Aggie blushed and confessed that she hadn
’
t bought any yet.
“
I keep meaning to look for them, but I haven
’
t had time. I can just picture coming out here before the children wake up, reading my Bible, praying, and sipping on my favorite coffee…
”

While Libby, Martha, and Zeke explored the changes outside, Aggie dashed upstairs and changed her clothes. She
’
d eaten and cleaned up in her nicer clothes without creating a stain, but she was tempting Providence to wear them any longer. For the second time since becoming a mother of eight, Aggie wondered what she should wear. She didn
’
t want to throw on her work clothes; they were looking a little ratty these days. She finally pulled out her favorite denim skirt that she
’
d reserved for after renovations were over. The skirt had been expensive. It was butter soft and draped beautifully. Knowing it was her most flattering color, Aggie pulled out a thin green plaid top, raced into her bathroom, and dressed quickly.

Aggie had no illusions about her beauty. She
’
d always considered her looks average enough to keep her from being remarkably ugly or gorgeous. However, she also knew that she looked best with her hair hanging around her face. After debating a few moments, Aggie sighed, picked up the brush, and pulled her hair into a ponytail. In a fit of whimsy, Aggie divided her ponytail in half. With her hair pulled out, side-to-side, she looked like Pippi Longstocking. She did a silly little head dance and sang,
“
I am Aggie-Millie-Mommy how I love my happy game
--
”
An indiscernible movement in the mirror froze her mid-song. Turning slowly, she found Luke leaning against her bedroom doorjamb, grinning.

“
Well, Aggie-Millie-Mommy, would you like some blackberry cobbler?
”

Aggie tried to act affronted; she even tried to convince herself she should be offended, but her sense of humor demanded that she see the amusing side of the situation. Unconsciously, she gave her hair one last smoothing and straightened her skirt. As she walked out of her room, she stuck her tongue out at Luke in a most unladylike fashion.