For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance)

by Havig, Chautona

  “Aggie?”

  The frenzied young woman whirled at the sound of his voice, flinging a bowl full of unset Jell-O across the kitchen. He watched as she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and continued the chorus she’d been singing. “… and labor ‘til the Master comes.”

  It didn’t work. Despite her attempt to reign in her emotions, Aggie burst into frazzled tears. Somehow, Luke managed to find the self-control not to laugh as he set the coffee and brownies on the counter and attempted to circumvent the piles of dishes and puddles of Jell-O. “Mibs, come here.”

  Aggie didn’t seem to hear him. Instead, she sank to the floor, covered her face with her hands, and allowed herself to dissolve into unexplained hysterics. He paused, assessed the situation, and then pulled Aggie up from the floor, leading her through the mess and out the back door. At the porch swing, he pulled her down next to her and held her, letting her cry out her frustrations without trying to staunch the flow of tears.

  When her sniffles became pronounced, he untangled himself, hurried into the kitchen, and grabbed a handful of napkins from the basket on the island. Aggie, blowing her nose and trying hard to regain some self-control, murmured apologies, but Luke resumed his position of chief Aggie comforter and again pulled her into his arms. “It’s ok, Mibs. Just let it out.”

  “I feel so stupid. Crying over spilled Jell-O. How idiotic can you get?” She struggled to get up, but Luke refused to budge.

  “Nuh, uh. You’re going to sit right here and relax for a minute.”

  “Luke, I could sit here all night, but that’s not going to get that job finished and that mess cleaned up.”

  “I’ll take care of that. Right now, you’re more important.” Her sniffles started up again. “Uh, oh. What did I say?” The concern in his voice was evident, even to him.

  “I just didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that I matter to someone.”

  “Oh, Mibs. You matter so much to so many people. The children, your parents, your sister, my mother, Tina, William, me--”

  “I know. Deep down in my heart, I know, Luke, but sometimes I need to hear it.” She started to push away to look at him and then relaxed again, allowing herself to cling to his shirt and rest comfortably with his arms around her.

  “Well, then, I’ll have to make a point of mentioning that a bit more often.”

  “I had a feeling you’d be mushy given half a chance.”

  Luke’s laughter sent the puppies into a yap fest that lasted for several seconds until he called for them to hush. “I come from an extended family of very mushy people. You should know this before you risk letting me--” He stopped mid-sentence. “You should know that.”

  “Before letting you what?”

  “I just get ahead of myself sometimes. It’s nothing.”

  “It is if you said it.” She looked up, her eyes shining with the remnants of tears in them.

  “I keep forgetting how pressured things must sound if I’m always telling you what’s on my heart.”

  “You also forget,” she added with a slightly lighter tone to her voice, “that I might just like hearing it so there’d be no pressure at all then, would there?”

  “Will you tell me?”

  “Tell you what?” Aggie made herself comfortable again.

  “If it gets too awkward for you? It’d be a lot easier to try to do this if I wasn’t always second-guessing myself.”

  “I can do that.” She sighed. “But as wonderful as your offer was, I really need to get that kitchen done. The kids will be up sooner than later.” Aggie glanced at her watch. “And, I think all hopes of talking to your mom are gone. By the time I’m done, she’ll be in bed.”

  Luke stood and took her hand, pulling her up beside him. “Come on. You go talk to Mom; I’ll take care of the kitchen.”

  “I can’t let you do that!”

  “You definitely can.” Luke bent close, so close the temptation to kiss her was almost overwhelming. “Let me do things for you, Mibs. Let me show you how much you mean to me. It’s the only way I know how to tell you.” Once inside, he winked and added, “And besides, I may not be done by the time you and Mom are finished with your chat. I’ll take all the help you want to give me then.”

  Her quick hug and grateful smile warmed his heart as he grabbed a dishcloth and filled a bowl with soapy water. As he worked, Luke unconsciously hummed the same hymn that Aggie had forced herself to sing when he arrived, but this time, the tune seemed joyful. Aggie heard him, and wondered how he could sound so happy singing something that had seemed so burdensome just a short while earlier.

  Aggie says: Libby? Are you on?

  Aggie says: Hmm… I wonder if Luke will believe me if I tell him you’re not on.

  Aggie says: He’s not letting me help him with MY mess in MY kitchen. A little high handed, isn’t he?

  Aggie says: I’m disappointed. I’ve missed you twice now. I hope you’re all right. I miss you.

  Libby says: I’ll be right back, Aggie.

  Aggie says: Libby! YAY!

  Libby says: Did you say my Luke was at your house?

  Aggie says: Yep. He arrived just in time to save me from myself. I wonder how he knew I was falling apart…

  Libby says: He’s intuitive, but not prescient. Perhaps Tina called him.

  Aggie says: Probably. Speaking of Luke…

  Libby says: Yes. I have a question for you.

  Aggie says: And I probably have an answer.

  Libby says: What are your feelings regarding William?

  Aggie says: I thought I told you. I’m not interested in changing our friendship in any way or at any time. Like I told Luke; he comes with too much drama.

  Libby says: And Luke? What are your thoughts concerning him?

  Aggie says: Well, that’s partly what I want to talk to you about. We were wondering how to go about growing closer. I mean, when you say it like that, it sounds forced. Luke deserves better than me convincing myself that I feel what I really don’t.

  Libby says: Yes, he does.

  Aggie says: I hate messenger sometimes.

  Libby says: Why is that?

  Aggie says: Because sometimes it seems like you’re reading into other people’s tone. It’s hard to tell if something is meant to be as it seems or if it’s just how the internet is sometimes.

  Libby says: For example?

  Aggie says: Well, when you said that Luke does deserve better than that, it sounded like it was a rebuke, but I know I haven’t said or done anything to imply that I’d ever do that, so…

  Libby says: Are you sure of that?

  Aggie says: Um…

  Aggie says: Libby, are you upset with me for something?

  Libby says: Actually, I am. I’ve been praying about it since Saturday.

  Aggie says: Would you mind telling me what I’ve done wrong?

  Libby says: I don’t know if you have now. I’m confused, to be frank.

  Aggie says: If you thought something was wrong between us, why didn’t you come to me?

  Libby says: Because, to be honest, I’ve been waiting until I thought I could control my temper.

  Aggie says: Wow.

  Libby says: Wow what?

  Aggie says: I had no idea. What on earth do you think I’ve done?

  “Luke?”

  “Hmm?”

  Aggie swallowed hard. “Can you come here? I have upset your mother somehow.”

  “I hardly think so. She thinks you’re as close to perfect as anyone who isn’t her daughter--” he entered the living room wiping his hands on a towel and winked, “yet--can be.”

  “I like that yet, but I don’t know if she does. Look.”

  As Luke read the conversation, a frown growing more pronounced with each second, the screen informed them that “Libby is typing a message.”

  “It’s taking her as long as it takes you sometimes.”

  Luke gave her a sidelong glance, curious. “Is that annoying?”

  “Not usual
ly.”

  He shrugged. “Well, this is.”

  “Well, I suppose if I knew you were typing bad news, it might be annoying,” she confessed. “Oh, there it is. I’m afraid to read.” Despite her admission, Aggie read the message, her face flushing with both anger and embarrassment.

  Libby says: Saturday I went into the mudroom to take clothes out of the dryer and couldn’t help but overhear that my Luke was “out of luck.” I distinctly heard you say that and that William was “there first.” It was a kick to the stomach, Aggie. Now you’re telling me that William is not an option.

  Libby says: I have a hard time imagining you as disingenuous, but those conflicting statements do bother me.

  Aggie says: You should know, Luke is reading this. I have to admit; I’m hurt.

  Libby says: Then I am sure you can empathize with how I felt to hear something so opposite of what I thought I knew to be true.

  Aggie says: Mom, this is Luke. You know Aggie better than that.

  Libby says: I thought I did, yes. I don’t want to think poorly of her; I love her. However, I can’t ignore what I heard, and I was too upset to discuss it before now. I’ve been fasting and praying for three days about this.

  Aggie says: Libby, you only heard the tail end of a story I was telling my mother. Vannie has a very black and white picture of relationships and in her mind, William asked first so he gets first dibs. Therefore, Luke is out of luck.

  Libby says: Oh.

  Aggie glanced at Luke, confused. Libby’s short response seemed out of character. “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s not like Mom, and then it is. She’s protective of her ‘cubs,’ but she’s usually not unjust like this. I don’t know what to think.”

  “Do I say something else, wait for her, what?”

  “Give her a minute. She might be getting the kettle, answering the phone-- things like that always seem to happen at the worst times.”

  They waited, Aggie’s hands hovering over the keys, wanting to type so many things but waiting for some kind of response from Libby. Luke absently rubbed her back and urged her to relax. At last, they saw the message that Libby was typing once again.

  Libby says: I’m sorry. I had to do something. I’m very sorry that I didn’t ask you at the time. I know you better than to think you’d give Luke any encouragement if your heart was settled on someone else.

  Libby says: I keep wanting to justify myself, but what I did and thought was wrong. Please forgive me.

  Aggie says: Of course, I forgive you!

  Aggie says: Isn’t she the best, Mom?

  Aggie says: He’s incorrigible!

  Libby says: I never could scold him for things like that. It’s all my fault, I’m afraid.

  Aggie says: I have a feeling I’d be the same way. He can be quite charming.

  Libby says: He knows how to endear himself to those he loves.

  Aggie says: Good.

  Libby says: That is an odd response. Why do you say that?

  Aggie says: Yes, Mibs, why do you say that?

  Libby says: Luke!

  Aggie says: Because, he loves me. If he knows how to endear himself to those he loves, then we don’t have to worry about how to do this relationship thing. It’ll just happen.

  Aggie says: You should know, his ears are red.

  Libby says: That sounds like my boy.

  Aggie says: Traitor.

  Libby says: Let me guess, Luke?

  Aggie says: We’re fighting over the laptop!

  Libby says: Record the date. Your first fight.

  Aggie says: Does that mean we get to kiss and make up?

  Aggie says: That was Luke!

  Libby says: I believe that. No, Luke. You do not get to kiss and make up.

  Aggie says: Aw, ma!

  Aggie says: *Giggles* He looks crestfallen.

  Libby says: Thank you, Aggie.

  Aggie says: What for?

  Libby says: For being so understanding and forgiving. I broke trust with you.

  Aggie says: We had a misunderstanding. It happens. So, if you’ll just help me figure out how to convince my heart that Luke is the only man for me, we’ll be set.

  Libby says: Just let him love you. It’ll work itself out. Don’t try so hard. You’ll only confuse yourself.

  Aggie says: I think we embarrassed him. He went to clean my kitchen again.

  Libby says: I meant to get to your fridge over the weekend, but we stayed busier than I expected.

  Aggie says: You have no idea how encouraging that is to me.

  Libby says: Encouraging?

  Aggie says: If an experienced mom like you can’t get to it, then it’s not JUST because I’m incompetent. It might be part of it, but it means it might not be all of it. I really should go help him.

  Libby says: He probably wants to do this for you.

  Aggie says: He does, and as much as I love talking to you, I just thought it’d be nice to be able to work together again-- even if it is just cleaning up Jell-O from all over my new cabinets.

  Libby says: I’m not even going to ask. Go work with my Luke. Have a wonderful time. Just don’t let him kiss you.

  Aggie says: Why ever not?

  Libby says: He needs to have to work for that.

  Aggie says: Well, this kitchen might qualify, but I didn’t have any plans for that anyway. He’s probably going to decide I’m so not worth it when that subject comes up.

  Libby says: Aggie, my Luke has already decided that you’re definitely worth it. Now get off this thing.

  Aggie says: G’night, Libby.

  Libby says: Goodnight.

  The kitchen looked exponentially better. Luke still rinsed and loaded empty containers into the dishwasher, but the floor and shelves were clean and the Jell-O no longer dripped down the island and all over the floor. The overflowing trash can needed to be emptied, the stench of sour food nearly overpowering her, so she grabbed a new trash liner and went to work on it.

  “I’ll get that.”

  “You’re elbow-deep in furry plasticware.”

  Luke shut off the water and dried his hands. “And that is one heavy and disgusting sack.” He pointed to the island stools. “Sit.”

  “Bossy.”

  “Flirting will get you everywhere but to the trash can. A guy has his limits.”

  When he returned, Aggie stopped him, her hand on his arm. “I miss working with you.”

  “Come out with me tomorrow when I take measurements on the new house,” he invited impulsively. At the happy smile in her eyes, Luke shook his head. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m liable to do something I’ll regret.”

  “Such as?”

  “Mibs…” The warning tone in his voice enlightened her to his meaning.

  “Oh! Um, not a good idea. I’m under orders not to let that happen.”

  “Mom?” The disappointment she’d expected to see--hoped really--wasn’t there. Instead, an amused smirk played about the corners of his mouth.

  “How’d you know?”

  “Mom has always encouraged us to reserve kisses for engagement. Actually, I think she’d be happiest with rehearsal dinners or weddings. She’d be very upset with me if she found out I’d, well…”

  Aggie nodded. “Well, I’m not risking the wrath that would be sure to follow if Libby found out I’d sullied ‘her Luke.’”

  “Sullied. That’s an interesting choice of words for a guy. Isn’t that reserved for men trifling with young girls’ reputations?”

  She shrugged and tried to grab the liner, but Luke pushed her back in her seat. “I like working with you too, but let me try to make myself indispensable in your life, ok? What happened today?”

  So, while he finished the kitchen clean up, Aggie described her day, the children’s sudden obsession with working ahead in their schoolwork, and the classes they’d start on Friday. “Vannie has a writing and lab science class, Laird has some kind of invention class and something called “Grammar for Geeks.” I don�
�t know what it means, but since he seems to struggle with it, I went for it. Tavish and Ellie are doing geography and a book club, and all of them, including Kenzie, are in art and music.”

  “It might have been easier to send them to school.”

  “What do you mean?”

  The familiar working of Luke’s jaw and the passing seconds did something to Aggie’s heart that she thought she’d have to examine later. Instead, she waited for him to answer, forgetting that he’d sounded disapproving. “Well, I thought part of the reason you’d chosen to keep them home was so you’d see them more? How is running them to all these classes going to accomplish that?”

  “Well, I’ll still be with them, and it’s not every day all day. It’s just a few days a week. It’ll keep them with other kids their age and give them variety. The way they flew through their work this week…” She shook her head. “Luke, I’ll never be able to give them enough to keep them busy.”

  “Why do you need to?” Luke dug through her drawers in search of more plasticware. “Why can’t they just enjoy each other and their own little projects? As long as they’re keeping up with their age group, what’s the point of filling their days with more work just to do it?”

  Frowning, Aggie asked, “What do you need all that for?” his question lost in her confusion as he pulled out the containers and lined them up on the counter.

  “I had an idea for helping everyone know when to use what leftovers, but the containers are different sizes.” He dug some more. “What lids go with what?”

  “All the rectangles have the same lids, the squares, and most of the circles. I bought those when I got tired of digging for lids.”

  “Great. I’ll label the lids. Got a Sharpie?”

  Too tired to argue, Aggie dug through the desk drawer and pulled out the requested pen. “I don’t even want to ask.”

  “It’s simple. You stack by days in the cupboard.” He rummaged through the cabinet next to the fridge and frowned. “Can the crockpot and toaster go anywhere else?”

  “There is an empty shelf on the cabinet in the island on the left. I think they’ll both fit.”

  Luke did a little rearranging and then dug through the lid drawer for a bread container that she never used. “This’ll hold lids.” He arranged the lids with Friday first and continuing from there.