Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance)

by Havig, Chautona

  “Hey, Lisa.” William greeted the officer talking with Aggie.

  “Markenson, aren’t you off today?” The young rookie, fresh from the academy, fought the temptation to flirt. Aggie would have found it comical in a normal situation. As it was, she was more concerned with controlling the nearly overwhelming urge to give the “GIL” a verbal thrashing.

  “I know Aggie and have dealt with Mrs. Stuart in the past.”

  “Well, I don’t know why the woman isn’t taking the hint. Some guy was here, but he just packed up the kids and drove off. Creighton said it was ok.”

  William nodded. “She has full custody, and the grandmother doesn’t have legal visitation. Actually, I thought you had a restraining order, Aggie.”

  “She doesn’t. We asked.” The young deputy was obviously disgusted.

  “I didn’t want the hassle of court, and I was afraid they’d drag the children into it.” Her face drooped visibly. “I guess I hoped she would leave me alone.” Aggie sighed.

  When the deputies escorted Geraldine Stuart and her shadow of a husband off of the property, Aggie and William sat on the porch and waited for Luke to return with the children. “He wasn’t even working today. He drove up just seconds after she did, packed them up, and left. I don’t even know why he was here.”

  Her fingers lightly traced the edge of a bolt on the old picnic bench. William moved across from Aggie, leaning over the railing, watching her. After a while, he asked the question that seemed, in his professional opinion, to be the ultimate solution. “Have you considered that if you let her spend time with the children, this might not happen? Is it that important that you have them all to yourself?”

  Aggie sighed and pulled a photocopied letter from her pocket, handing it to him. William read the letter carefully and then looked up at her. “I guess this answers that question.”

  “Do you think they were paranoid? She wasn’t like this before I was awarded guardianship. Intense--oh yeah! But she wasn’t out of control like she is when she’s here. I don’t understand the change. It’s like she lost control of her world, so she lost control of herself or something.” Aggie’s heart felt tied in strangling, emotional knots.

  “I think that Doug probably knew what is best regarding his mother. Most men don’t decide that their mothers can’t be around their children, unless it’s necessary. We just don’t rock boats that we can ignore.” William’s words were spoken intently-- almost fiercely. “There are exceptions, of course. I know that. But, in my experience, women are more likely to create this kind of situation. Your brother-in-law had a childhood that some would consider abusive.” Again, the words were nearly forced between clenched teeth.

  Aggie wondered about his attitude but was too concerned about the situation at hand to question him. With a heavy heart, she decided to file the paperwork for the restraining order and questioned William about the particulars. As William explained the process, she saw him relax slowly but visibly.

  After several minutes of silence, Aggie ran her fingers along the letters carved into the rough bench. “I wonder who WJN is? I wish I could just travel back to when they were here. It must have been such an innocent time. No ugly scenes with grandmothers--”

  “Don’t be so sure.” William’s harsh tone stunned her. She decided to change the subject and ask about the fireworks, but he pushed himself away from the porch, walked over to his midnight blue corvette, and climbed into the low seat. Driving up to the porch, he rolled down the passenger window and said, “I’ll be here tomorrow at six. Does that sound ok with you?”

  Aggie nodded absently and watched, confused, as he drove down the drive and onto the street. Did that mean he’d changed his mind about helping her find the fireworks display that evening? She considered William’s attitude and words, but before she could give any serious thought to it, Luke drove in with a van full of laughing children. Aggie smiled from her perch on the porch as they all spilled from the van and shared the goofy stories and songs that they’d enjoyed with their impromptu chauffeur.

  Laird sat next to her on the bench and waited for the right moment. “Is Grandmother ok?”

  “I don’t know, Laird. I’d love to be able to trust her enough to invite her to visit, but with the way she does things and what your father instructed--”

  The boy seemed to lose interest in the conversation almost immediately. Aggie wondered if she’d hurt him by sending his grandmother away, but a few minutes later, he returned and laid his hand on her shoulder. “Aunt Aggie, I don’t know if Vannie or Mom told you, but Dad didn’t let Grandmother visit us at the old house very often. I overheard him tell Mom once that they needed to keep visits to public places as often as possible. I didn’t hear why, but if Dad said that about his own mother, then I think that’s why he chose you to take care of us. He knew you’d do whatever he said was best.”

  Without waiting for a response, Laird raced down the steps and called, “Counting to fifty, anyone I see when I’m done is it!”

  Luke sat beside her, holding a cup of iced coffee with a huge dollop of whipped cream on top out to her. Aggie laughed. “You hold that like it’s a peace offering or something.”

  “It is. I offer you peace and quiet from overly intrusive grandparents, and you should know, we prayed that she’d relax and become reasonable.”

  “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to put those ideas in the children’s heads.” Irritation grew slowly in Aggie’s heart. The last thing she needed was a large crop of bad attitudes to harvest and burn.

  “That came from Tavish. Vannie prayed that her grandparents would find Jesus and that Jesus would take away the anger and pain that makes her act so strangely.”

  Curious, Aggie asked about Kenzie. “Did she pray too? I think this is really hurting her the most.”

  “She prayed that God would take away all the mean grandmothers in the world and replace them with nice ones that have round squishy laps, bake cookies, and tell stories about the olden days when they were friends with Laura Ingalls.” The smirk on Luke’s face nearly sent Aggie over the edge.

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Not a bit. I don’t know where that came from, but I wrote it down word for word so that I wouldn’t forget it. My mother would insist it go in the child’s scrapbook.”

  “Scrapbook! Who has time for scrapbooks! I’ve hardly taken a picture in six months!”

  “Well, I’d suggest you start now. Teach the older children how to use and care for your camera, but get pictures. You can’t get these days back again.”

  “Since when,” she questioned with just a hint of derision in her voice, “does a man care about pictures or a scrapbook?”

  “Since he was brought up in a house with four sisters and a very feminine mother. She taught me that there is value in memories--and that it isn’t specifically a feminine accomplishment.”

  Sighing, Aggie stood, brushed her hands together, and glanced around the yard where the children squealed as they raced to the largest oak tree for safety. “Why did you come this morning? I was just about to call Zeke when your truck rolled in.”

  “I realized you guys might want to go out to the lake for fireworks and thought I’d ask.”

  Her first inclination was to accept gratefully, and if William arrived, he’d just have to meet them there. From the way he’d acted, she was quite certain she didn’t have an escort to the lake or the fireworks. However, the idea of going at all suddenly made her very weary. “You know, I really appreciate it. I was going to say yes, but I think I’ll go into town and buy fireworks at one of those stands instead. The idea of a late night like that is just too much for me right now.”

  Luke pushed himself away from the porch railing and pulled the familiar notepad from his pocket. “Ok, what do you want? I’ll go get them for you while you make the kids some brunch. They were complaining about missing breakfast while we were gone, but I didn’t know if you had something fixed already or not, so I just got them apples
to tide them over.”

  “I don’t know what I want. Just buy one of those big packages and make sure there are lots of sparklers.” She hurried inside for her purse and returned quickly. “Oh, by the way, would you mind grabbing some root beer and ice cream? We’ll have floats for dessert. With the watermelon I got at that fruit stand, it’ll feel very Fourth of July-ie.”

  “July-ie?”

  She grinned. “Yes, that’s right. July-ie.”

  Tina says: Happy Independence Day to you, Happy Independence Day to you…

  Aggie says: Yeah, yeah. Stuff it.

  Tina says: Thanks. I was getting tired of typing it all ready.

  Aggie says: Did you see the fireworks?

  Tina says: Yep. Saw your parents there.

  Aggie says: How did Mom look?

  Tina says: She stayed almost the whole time, so that’s good, isn’t it?

  Aggie says: Hmmm… as long as she’s not trying to be self-sacrificing, it’s very good. I’ll go for the hopeful approach.

  Tina says: Did you guys go see anything spectacular? Didn’t you say something about fireworks over a lake?

  Aggie says: Nope. After the GIL showed up…

  Tina says: Will that woman never learn?

  Aggie says: You’d think. After that, I just didn’t have the strength to think about it all, so I sent Luke for fireworks and decided to stay home.

  Tina says: Not to add to your burden or anything, but you can’t hole up in that house and never leave. Those kids need to have experiences outside their own four walls.

  Aggie says: Well, I’ve got an idea. You come take them for these experiences. I’m doing good to give them the experience of food, clean clothes, and a roof over their head.

  Tina says: And for now, that’s good. Just don’t let yourself become a recluse because it’s easier.

  Aggie says: I hardly think missing one outing qualifies me as a hermit.

  Tina says: Don’t get your panties all knotted. I’m just saying that it’d be easy to do, and I want you to think of it when you’re tempted.

  Aggie says: Gotcha.

  Tina says: You’re taking offense when you know I’m not trying to attack you.

  Aggie says: I’m sorry, Tina. I’m tired, I’m sick to death of this woman affecting our lives like this, and I haven’t had more than two or three hours to myself in months. I can’t go to the bathroom without someone asking if they can have or do something.

  Tina says: I know. You’re doing a great job, you know that?

  Aggie says: I can’t even take them anywhere without someone giving me advice on what I should do next. Get them into activities, they need music lessons, they need time with kids their own age, they need men in their lives…

  Tina says: And then your friend gets on and gives it to you via cyber reproof.

  Aggie says: Sigh. More like that faithful wound thingie that I never did like very much.

  Tina says: Maybe one of the guys would volunteer to help. A zoo trip or the aquarium or something.

  Aggie says: I’ll wait and you can go with me. If it’s so important to you. ;)

  Tina says: You’re typing very slowly. Go to bed.

  Aggie says: I should. Ian will be up sooner than later.

  Tina says: We’re good?

  Aggie says: Always good. Thanks, Tina.

  Tina says: *poofs*

  Aggie says: Poof!

  Chapter 18

  Date with Disaster

  Friday, July 5th

  It was nearly five o’clock before William realized that he hadn’t made reservations for dinner. After spending twenty minutes calling every decent restaurant in a thirty-mile radius, he finally decided to take Aggie to the local diner and forget trying to pretend that this was even remotely a real date. The evening wasn’t his idea anyway, and William Markenson was not prepared to consider any kind of romantic entanglement. For that matter, he was clueless as to how one romanced a “mother” of eight, even if he was interested-- which, he reminded himself, he was not.

  * * *

  Aggie spent the afternoon torn between anticipation of finally clearing the air and nervousness over the date aspect of the evening. Neither Aggie nor Allie dated in high school or college. They’d spent those years on group outings with friends but had always considered pairing off as shopping before you were prepared to commit to the purchase. It was a waste of time even if you did manage to find someone perfect. Allie met Doug during her last college semester. Both of them were volunteers on a Spring Break mission with their respective churches, and by the end of the week, they were almost inseparable. At the close of the semester, wedding invitations were mailed to their friends and family, and a June wedding followed.

  Over thirteen years later, Aggie dressed for what was, essentially, her first date. Vannie lay on her bed watching as she brushed her long hair until it shone. “Aunt Aggie, do you think someone like Luke, or Deputy Markenson will ever want to take me to dinner?”

  Aggie looked amused, but asked seriously, “Why wouldn’t they?”

  “In every book I’ve ever read, no one likes red or frizzy hair. Mine is both. I’m not beautiful or brilliant, so why would anyone want to go out with me?”

  Aggie paused and considered her reply before answering. “Vannie, honey, look at me. First, I’ve always loved your red curls. They are just beautiful, and you should be proud of them. Furthermore, I am not exactly what you’d call drop-dead gorgeous. To tell the truth, while some women need their beauty sleep-- me, I need a coma. My hair is plain old brown, and while I certainly wasn’t a dunce, I didn’t manage the stellar grades that your mother did. This isn’t the first time I’ve been asked out anywhere, but it is the first time I’ve accepted, and I still don’t know if I am excited or dreading the whole thing.” She prayed for wisdom in what to say before continuing. “But this I know; if God brings a man into your life someday, it wouldn’t matter if you looked like a gnarled old witch from a children’s fairy tale, for him, you’d seem perfect.” Aggie paused before choking back tears and saying, “Well, that’s what your mother told me while I laid on her bed not much younger than you are and wondered if anyone would ever want to marry me. She was trying on her veil and debating the wisdom of the hairstyle she’d chosen for her wedding the next morning. I think she’d want you to know that.”

  Aunt and niece sat and talked about relationships, attraction, and the wisdom in saving your love and affection for the man who will commit to love and cherish you as long as he lives. Another facet to their relationship was forged while Aggie debated between shoes, skirts, and blouses. At last, they heard Zeke and Luke come in. They raced downstairs and jumped into the bedlam that began as Zeke chased Cari and Lorna around the room snapping and growling. Aggie smiled as she realized that Mrs. Dyke had been absolutely correct; Zeke and Luke were the perfect pair to watch her children.

  Shortly after Luke and “Uncle Zeke” arrived, the children all gathered around the large TV, waiting for the beginning of a musical and for Zeke’s semi-famous stovetop-popped popcorn. Aggie hadn’t even realized that people popped it that way anymore, but she snitched a handful from his bowl as she walked by on her way out to meet William on the steps. Somehow, the idea of his coming in with Luke and Zeke there seemed awkward.

  The drive to Maizy’s Diner was miserable. Aggie tried every topic of conversation she could imagine but to no avail. Her compliment of his car earned her a grunted, “Thanks.” The story she tried to share about Cari’s surprising horror of sparklers was met with a frown and a rebuke. “Those things are dangerous. They aren’t for children.” Root beer floats were disgusting, Mrs. Dyke was a busybody, and eventually, she quit trying.

  William and Aggie sat in an awkward silence at the back corner of the half-empty diner. The friendly waitress tried to banter casually with them in the same way she did with all of her customers, until Aggie shook her head, signaling the middle-aged woman should leave. Taking a deep breath, Aggie spoke. “William? Have
you had a bad day?”

  William’s eyes, if she looked closely, seemed a little cold-- angry even. “I’ve had a pretty rough few days, thank you.” His entire demeanor spoke volumes. He wasn’t happy, he didn’t want to talk, and furthermore, Aggie was to blame. Aggie had no doubt of the source of his misery, but she couldn’t understand how she was to blame.

  “Well, I am sorry. I guess there won’t be a good time to apologize personally for my outburst the other day, so I’ll say it now. I lost my temper. I know it was wrong, and I hope you’ll forgive me.” Misery etched itself in Aggie’s face as she spoke. Had William not been so full of his own anger, he might have seen how painful the situation was for her. At the least, he would have accepted her apology. Instead, he flicked the carefully folded straw wrapper off the table and frowned as it landed on the floor several feet from them. Irritated, he jerked himself from the booth and retrieved it.

  They ate in silence. Every bite of her chicken fried steak stuck in her throat and tasted like cardboard. People came from Rockland to eat Ernie’s chicken fried steak, but Aggie hoped never to touch the stuff again. Dessert wasn’t an option. Despite their waitress’ urging to try the cherry pie a la mode, both of them snapped, “No, thank you,” almost before she finished asking.

  William paid for the meal, and then escorted her to the car, much like he would someone he’d just arrested, one hand steering her arm and putting the other on her head to prevent it from hitting the frame. She’d have laughed if she wasn’t so miserable. On top of the nightmarish meal, his lack of acceptance of her apology left her frustrated and hurt-- uncertain how to try to heal the breach between them.

  Half-way home, William spoke. “Aggie, I guess I owe you an apology.” He still sounded angry, not apologetic. “Mrs. Dyke instigated this whole dinner and then told me about it yesterday morning. I didn’t appreciate her interference and took it out on you. I’m sorry.” The tone of finality would have been comical if Aggie hadn’t been so mortified.