Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance) (85 page)

“
I
’
ve never been around children before that Sunday I got the pup.
”

“
She was a natural then too; wasn
’
t she, Luke. She handled Cari like
--
”

Aggie
’
s head whipped up, and her eyes sought Luke.
“
What? You didn
’
t tell me she was a problem.
”

Willow interrupted quickly.
“
Oh, she wasn
’
t a problem. She was tempted to do wrong, and I encouraged her to reconsider. It wasn
’
t anything serious; was it, Luke?
”

“
Not at all. You were great though. Not everyone
--
”
Luke paused and gave Chad a meaningful look.
“
Not everyone knows how to handle a
childlike
Cari.
”

Chad and Willow stayed, played schoolyard games with the children, and then left. Aggie raised an eyebrow at Libby, as Chad
’
s truck turned the corner onto the highway and asked,
“
Ok, what was that all about?
”

“
I
’
m thinking Chad has himself a girlfriend and doesn
’
t even know it.
”
Luke
’
s smirk grew into a smile as Libby nudged the back of his knees, making them buckle.
“
Mom, did you not see what I just saw? He spent the whole time singing her praises.
”

“
And I think, in his position, you wouldn
’
t want your family speculating about your romantic entanglements.
”

“
If I ever have any, you speculate all you want.
”
Luke put his feet up on the wicker coffee table and leaned his head back in his hands.

Tina and Libby exchanged amused glances, but Aggie
’
s question changed the subject.
“
Did she really say she
’
s never been around children? She seemed quite natural with them. I was certainly much more awkward when I took over at Allie
’
s, and I
’
d been around them before that.
”

Luke nodded.
“
According to Chad, it was just her and her mother.
”

“
Why didn
’
t he bring her mother? I would have liked to meet her.
”

Luke untangled his feet and leaned forward, arms on his knees.
“
That
’
s what the gravestones comment was about the other day. Chad was here asking for help in making one for her mother
’
s grave.
”

“
Oh.
”
Aggie
’
s deflated voice killed the conversation. For quite some time, they all sat on the porch listening to the children
’
s laughter as they played.

Minutes later, Aggie stood and quietly walked into the living room, wiping tears from her eyes as went. Libby
’
s heart jumped into her throat, and she looked helplessly at Luke.
“
I don
’
t know how to help at times like this.
”

Luke rose and offered a hand to his mother.
“
Mama, does anyone know how to help someone else through their own grief?
”

As practical as he sounded, that single word, Mama, told Libby that her Luke wasn
’
t as unmoved as he seemed.
“
I guess that is why we
’
re supposed to lean on the Lord, son. He is the only one who can, isn
’
t He?
”

Aggie says:
Mom? Wooohoo… Mom?

Martha says:
How are you tonight?

Aggie says:
We
’
re getting a lot done. Luke almost finished the bathroom today, and we
’
re going to sand the library and hallway floors tomorrow when he
’
s done.

Martha says:
How are the children?

Aggie says:
I think they
’
re doing really well here. There
’
s a lady at church that is planning a young women
’
s group and wants Vannie to join. I think it
’
ll be good for her. She does so much around here as it is. I think she needs the break.

Martha says:
*nods* Well, what about Laird? I
’
ve been worried about him missing his father
’
s influence.

Aggie says:
No one can replace Doug, Mom. I don
’
t want to pretend they can, but between Luke being here all day every day, William here often, and Zeke coming by from time to time, I don
’
t think Laird is suffering for male companionship or influence. Luke is really good with him, and I think Laird likes William
’
s job. They talk a lot about what it means to be a deputy and the good and hard parts of the job.

Martha says:
Oh, that
’
s good. What about your new neighbor? Have you had any more run-ins with her?

Aggie says:
Nope. She
’
s actually becoming a friend, I think. Tina seems to like her.

Martha says:
Tina! Really?

Aggie says:
Yep!

Aggie says:
I think we just misunderstood each other at first. I seem to have a habit of making dramatic first impressions on people.

Martha says:
Well, that hasn
’
t changed, has it?

Aggie says:
 
I
’
m WOUNDED!

Martha says:
*giggling* You are who you are, Aggie. What about Cari? Is she still giving you problems?

Aggie says:
All the time. She told Luke the other day that she doesn
’
t
“
wike him vewy much sometimes.
”

Martha says:
She got in trouble?

Aggie says:
How DID you guess?

Martha says:
Kenzie used to try to say that when she got in trouble. Allie had a time stopping that one! Geraldine was on a
“
you must let them express themselves
”
kick. Fortunately, it didn
’
t last.

Aggie says:
Well, I don
’
t know if it
’
s going to be a recurring problem or not, but I
’
m afraid it is. Luke didn
’
t reprimand her.

Martha says:
Oh.

Aggie says:
I asked him about it.

Martha says:
And did he say why he let her get away with it? If you give that child an inch…

Aggie says:
He said he told her he
’
d always LOVE her and sent her out to play. He said that she needed to know that she
’
s always going to be loved. That a child who is always in trouble like her needs that reassurance, but I think we
’
re just going to confuse her when we don
’
t let her get away with it over and over.

Martha says:
He has a point. So do you. I guess time will tell. Maybe it
’
s worth some extra work with her to reassure her like that. He
’
s really been firm about things in the past, hasn
’
t he?

Aggie says:
I guess. Hey, is Dad around? I wanted to say hi, but we
’
ve got an early morning tomorrow. I
’
ve got to get to bed.

Martha says:
He
’
s right here. I
’
ll go get ready for bed myself. We
’
re coming next weekend. Tina called and your dad says we can make the trip.

Aggie says:
See you then. Night, Mom. I love you.

Martha says:
Night, Aggie. Here
’
s Dad.

Martha says:
I
’
d change this thing, but I don
’
t know how.

Aggie says:
That
’
s ok. I know you
’
re not Mom.

Martha says:
How do you know I
’
m not Mom?