By the time William and the rest of the children arrived after church, Ellie was hiding one of Ian’s toys and watching the twins search for it, Ian crawling behind as if trying to participate. Aggie made grilled cheese sandwiches and sliced a watermelon, while William heated a can of chicken noodle soup for Ellie, and everyone changed into play clothes. Seeing the wistful look on Ellie’s face as everyone else thundered outside for a game of tag, William swallowed his discomfort and nudged Aggie.
“What about charades after lunch. Something to keep her interested but resting most of the time?”
Her eyes traveled to where Ellie sat, arms laying across the back of the couch, head resting on her arms, gazing outside quite pitifully. “That would be great.”
It took several tries to explain and demonstrate the concept of charades to most of the children, but once they got the hang of it, everyone got into the spirit of the game. Aggie, amused at the silly antics and elaborate acting, almost gave away her charade the moment she unfolded it. Her slip read, “Be a school dunce,” and as she read it, her face immediately contorted into an idiotic expression. Laird howled and in quick succession, tossed out idiot, fool, and finally, dunce.
“You win.”
Ellie had a surprising talent for the game and guessed one out of every three charades on the first try. By the time everyone acted out their third charade, she was obviously quite well and started a killer game of hide and seek by simply covering her face and counting. Aggie shrugged and stepped outside to survey the work accomplished on the house. After two more pairs of shutters, the paint on the front porch floor, and the eaves on the “Murphy side” of the house, the outside work would be done-- well, once the screens were replaced.
Several hours later, Aggie pulled a bag of hamburger patties from the freezer. William, his hands covered in black paint, came into the living room and washed his brush in the laundry sink. “I have to go home, Aggie. There is a homeowners association meeting tonight, and I’m the ad-hock secretary, since the regular is on vacation.”
“Can you stay for dinner?”
William shook his head. “Thanks for including me in your day today; it was really a lot of fun, and we’re down to reattaching the shutters and painting the porch floor. I have to start work on Tuesday, but I’ll be over tomorrow if you want.”
Aggie assumed a regal air and said in her snootiest English accent, “Ohhh, I think that would be lovely. Do come, William, m’dear. It’ll be such fun! What?”
Aggie giggled as William took her hand, making a courtly bow. His earnest look as he kissed the back of her hand was unsettling; she hadn’t intended for him to play along with her. Luke entered the room in the middle of their game but darted back outside before she could welcome him. What had seemed funny was now awkward.
William winked at Aggie before walking out the door. “Hey, Sullivan, we haven’t seen you around here much lately.” William’s voice carried across the yard as he hopped in his car and drove home-- just as he’d intended. Mrs. Dyke could make of his words what she would.
The burgers were half-grilled before Aggie realized she hadn’t expected Luke to come by that day. She carried the lightly buttered buns to him, as he flipped the meat, and then she attempted a nonchalant inquiry. “Did you manage to finish up the work you had to do?”
“House is ready to put on the market,” Luke’s mouth twitched, but Aggie didn’t notice.
“And the woman with the tree leaning over her house?”
“Tomorrow’s job. I knew William was here through tomorrow, so I took Friday off and spent it with Mom and Corinne.”
“You didn’t have to stay away, Luke. I mean, I know you’ve got your own things to do, and you need a break now and then too. But, if you needed to do something around here, you could have come.” She bit her lip and tried to rephrase. “Wait; that sounded as if I expect your life to revolve around me. I just mean that I know you have worked out a schedule, and I didn’t want you to feel obligated to stay away just because William was helping me outside. He only came because--”
She swallowed hard, and Luke finished for her. “Because I wasn’t going to be here. I think William is just an introvert in an extroverted job. I was one less person to have to interact with on his vacation.”
“Should I have refused his offer?” Uncertainty tinged her voice. The last thing Aggie wanted to do was impose on anyone.
“I think he would have been insulted.” Several minutes passed as Luke removed the burgers, toasted the buns, and piled everything on the platter in Aggie’s hands. Just as she’d decided he didn’t have anything else to add, Luke finally said, “In William’s job, he’s had to interact with your family, mostly in a professional capacity. I think, especially after Mrs. Dyke’s double-blind date, he needed time with everyone as a person rather than an officer.”
The contrast, between Luke’s ease in her home and William’s avoidance of the interior whenever possible, was marked during and after dinner. While Aggie washed dishes in the laundry sink, Vannie and Laird scrubbed the walls and wiped down the new drywall with a tack cloth. Aggie planned to paint the first coat of primer that night when the kids were in bed, so no little fingers could mar it before it dried.
Luke, having missed the little ones, chased them on hands and knees and then retreated as quickly as possible before they piled on him in a fit of giggles and tickles. As much as she tried not to, Aggie couldn’t help but compare the stark differences between how each man related to her, her home, and her children. Some of it, she assumed, was William’s job. He was instinctively more protective, seeing things through eyes that likely had witnessed great suffering in his profession. Luke, from a stable and loving home with siblings, nieces, and nephews, was naturally more comfortable.
As another burst of giggles erupted at Luke’s crazy antics, Aggie decided that she needed to talk to Mrs. Dyke. If anyone could explain William’s behavior, she could. “Hey, I was wondering if you could stay a while. I really would love to go next door and visit with Mrs. Dyke.”
Luke assured her he’d be happy to stay. “I’m glad I stopped by. I’ve missed these little guys.” He paused and then with a teasing glint in his eyes added, “Well, ok, ok, I’ve missed the older kids too.” Aggie stood, hands on hips, pretending to glare at him. “Ok, so maybe I’ve thought of you now and then.”
Something in Luke’s tone unsettled her. Being on a mission, she didn’t have time to dissect her reaction. Instead, Aggie smiled at him and mouthed a thank-you before marching down her steps and across the road. Her shoulders were squared, her footsteps firm, and her hands clasped behind her back to hide her fidgeting. She succeeded only in advertising it to Luke and Vannie, watching from the screen door.
Mrs. Dyke stepped out onto her porch as Aggie reached the steps. “I’ve been wondering when you’d come to visit.”
Somehow, Aggie knew that Mrs. Dyke had been expecting her to come for more than just a neighborly chat. She considered exchanging pleasantries but decided that directness was probably wisest. “Mrs. Dyke, I know you’ve known William for years. Please tell me what is hurting him. Is it me? The house? My kids? What is bothering him?”
Mrs. Dyke was surprisingly silent. As she waited, Aggie determined that she wouldn’t ask twice. If the woman didn’t feel comfortable sharing, then Aggie was not going to pressure her. After a time, Aggie realized the woman was praying. Hesitantly, Aggie took the old wrinkled hand in hers and prayed aloud. “Father, we are here… together… hurting. William is in such pain, and I don’t know how to help him. Please give Mrs. Dyke a peace about speaking to me. If my understanding isn’t in Your will, please help me accept that, and show me how I can help him. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.”
The two women sat in the darkness on the antique porch swing and rocked-- a study in contrasts. Young and old, lithe and arthritic, slender and plump, they couldn’t be more opposite. The only thing they knew they shared was a concern for one man. Aggie decided to tell h
er neighbor what was on her mind and see if it helped the woman decide how to respond.
“Mrs. Dyke, William has been acting strangely.”
“I noticed that. Chasing you around the other day-- what got into the boy?” Mrs. Dyke’s eyes twinkled at the blushing young woman.
“Well, I guess I started it. We sort of had a paint fight…” She shrugged. “--then Cari swiped his ears with my paintbrush. I don’t know how she got that…” Aggie winked at the elderly woman, and they both chuckled.
“What I don’t understand, is William’s aversion to my house. I know that must sound harsh, but honestly, the man has hardly spent more than five minutes inside! Well, until this morning, and even then, it was obviously sheer torture. The other day, Tavish was under the stairs, and William came unglued. First, he was angry, and then he was so sad. How can I help him if I don’t know why he’s so upset?” Aggie’s frustration was evident.
“The stairs? Oh, my.” A long silence followed. After what seemed to be several minutes, Mrs. Dyke continued. “Aggie, I’d love, more than anything, to be able to tell you what I know. It’d be nice to have someone else help carry the burden. But, this isn’t my story to tell. I’ve always had a hard time not sharing things I shouldn’t, but this one… no matter how much I want to, I’ve never been able to speak of it.” She looked at her gnarled hands and then back up at Aggie. “Talk to him. Make him talk to you. Win his trust. He needs someone to confide in. What he doesn’t need is that spit and polish woman that has moved in over there.” Mrs. Dyke’s disdain for Ellene warmed Aggie’s heart.
“Murphy is enough to drive any man to drink. I don’t think you need to worry about him. He was quite angry with her the other day when Ian disappeared. I thought he was really going to let her have it.”
“Murphy?” Mrs. Dyke looked very confused.
Blushing, she said, “I christened her that on a bad day. She kind of got under my skin, so I named her Murphy. As in Murphy’s Law…” Mrs. Dyke still looked confused, so Aggie continued. “If it can go wrong it will?”
Luke’s trademark smirk twisted at the corners of his mouth, when he heard gales of laughter from across the way. The children were all in bed, he had the first coat of primer painted, and the brushes and rollers washed. Not knowing what else to do, he opened the armoire and flipped through the DVDs on the bottom shelf. Finding an old Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn movie that he’d never seen, he eased his tired body into the recliner and tried to focus on the movie. If it was a good one, he could surprise his mother by bringing it home for a mother-son video night.
As a crazy woman demanded that American consumers “think pink” on the TV screen, Luke realized that Aggie had been gone for hours. Furthermore, he sensed that she probably had no clue how much time had passed; it would likely feel good to be out and carefree. She carried such a heavy burden, and that thought weighed on his heart. She was doing a job that most married women would find overwhelming, and Aggie did it alone. He thought of the time he’d spent there, the days Iris Landry or his uncle visited, and the two weeks of William’s help and amended that thought. She did it nearly alone. Luke wondered if she’d ever considered marriage or if she just hadn’t found the right man. Did she give up a relationship to become mother to the children? She didn’t act as if she was heart-sore.
Audrey Hepburn arrived at Orly airport in Paris when Aggie finally came home. She kicked off her shoes, plumped the couch cushions, and settled in without a word. While they watched the rest of the movie in a companionable silence, Luke popped microwave popcorn, the sounds of crunching corn blending in with the songs and quips of the movie. As Fred Astaire searched for Audrey Hepburn in the little garden behind the chapel, Aggie sighed.
“Romantic at heart, Aggie?” Luke’s voice held a discernible trace of amusement. “I had you pegged as more practical than romantic.”
“Well, I’ve never been accused of being romantic, but there is something enchanting about someone who knows you well enough to go to all of that trouble for you.”
After a few more frames of the movie, Luke spoke thoughtfully. “Well, then, I’d say that you are one of the most enchanting people I’ve ever met.”
Aggie tilted her head backwards over the arm of the couch, nearly hitting her head on the recliner she often thought of as “Luke’s chair.” He grinned down at her. Eventually, he decided to be merciful. “Aggie, you go to a lot of trouble for a lot of people, every single day. Every. Day. You even keep my favorite soda and chips nearby when I’m working. If enchanting means going to a lot of trouble for someone, I’d say you are definitely enchanting.” He hesitated, as if unsure if he should continue, and said, “Then again, you’ve enchanted me for a long time.”
Luke rose, gathered his things and with a final, “See you later, Mibs,” he pushed open the screen door. His voice, barely audible with the door shut behind him, reached her ears as almost a whisper. “Sleep well.”
Monday, July 15th
William was working on the yard before Aggie was awake the next morning. When she came out to the front steps, she was surprised to see that he had planted four new rosebushes, two of them with blooms. “I’m going to call you Quiet Man.”
William looked at her and raised his eyebrows. “Am I supposed to understand that?”
Aggie quirked one of her own eyebrows and shrugged. “John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. Old movie. She teases him that he is planting roses when they need potatoes or cabbage--or something like that.”
William forced a polite smile onto his face but added honestly, “I’ve never been a John Wayne fan.”
Aggie agreed. “Me either. I just like this one. Stay tonight. We can watch it, and you’ll see.”
William nodded and went back to his planting. Once finished, he began working on a watering system that involved odd sounding components like bubblers, drippers, and soakers. Aggie, with a hungry crew of children who would inhale every box of cereal they owned if she let them, left him to play with his big boy toys and went inside to cut apple slices and boil eggs to go with the cold cereal. She’d learned the hard way that a bowl of cold cereal did not keep her children satisfied for long.
Once they washed, dried, and put away the breakfast dishes, a fierce game of freeze tag broke out on the front lawn. William and Aggie watched several switches in chasers before Aggie developed a glint in her eyes and yelled, “I’m in! Gotcha, William; you’re it!” and darted behind the tree.
Aggie and Laird joined forces in distracting the other it players and managed to avoid being tagged. William, with careful maneuvering, tagged a few others, with what appeared to be serious attempts to get Aggie and Laird. However, he was bluffing, as he bided his time. He knew that if they were on their guard, Aggie and her nephew would be able to elude him.
William moved in for the kill. He pretended to attempt to tag Vannie but deliberately tripped over his own feet. Aggie, who was sneaking behind him, tripped and fell over him. William laughed. “Gotcha. You’re it.”
Ellene heard the squeals and laughter, while watching glimpses of the game from her window. She wondered what was so fascinating about Aggie and all those children that William chose to spend so much time there. “I thought he’d love to stay as far away from that place as possible,” the woman thought to herself, before picking up the phone to make another call.
As Aggie helped the twins brush their teeth on their way to bed that night, she heard odd sounds coming from downstairs. She arrived at the bottom of the stairs to find the TV and the DVD player gone. “Hey, William, I thought officers were supposed to stop thieves-- not become them!”
“I thought we could watch that movie you were telling me about. Come see; I’ve got it all set up on the porch.”
Aggie found it odd, but she had to admit to herself that it was fun sitting in beanbag chairs on the front porch and watching The Quiet Man, accompanied by a chorus of crickets. It occurred to her, as they munched on microwave popcorn and laughed at the funny
courting practices, that perhaps William’s discomfort with being in her home had more to do with propriety than anything too disturbing.
William paused the movie. “You know what, Aggie? This is fun. I just realized how much I’ve enjoyed being here these past couple of weeks. Thanks for letting me into your lives.”
Before Aggie could reply, he punched the play button on the remote, and the priests on screen sang hysterical songs at the wedding reception about not wanting to get married. “Can you imagine such an arrogant boob?” Aggie always became indignant when the brother swept the dowry on the floor.
William smiled at her. “Aggie, champion of the underdog. What about this guy? He’s like Jacob. He got tricked into giving his sister in marriage.”
Aggie laughed. “He took it personally. He had no real objection to Sean; he just objected to losing a housekeeper. He didn’t like Sean, no, but there was no rational reason not to. It’s just ludicrous.”
“Well, personally, I objected to the deception, but no, you’re right. He was just being selfish. It’s the deception that irritates me.”
“Ooooh, look! I love this part.” Aggie settled back into watching as the scene with the roses unfolded.
William roared with laughter. “What part did you like? The part where she joshes him for planting the flowers, the part where he gives her a flower, or the part where he swats her?”
William watched Aggie’s face and wondered if she knew how easily he could read her thoughts. Rolling sideways, he reached between the porch railing and plucked a rose from his newly planted bushes. Settling back into his chair, he handed the rose to Aggie. “I planted the roses. I’ll even give you the flower, but I stop there!”
Aggie laughed. “I’ll say you better! My father would have your hide!”
Mrs. Dyke watched them from her second story guest room and found them charming. “Giving her a rose. Smart move, Billy Boy.” Poor William never knew how often the elderly woman called him that when he couldn’t hear her.
Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance) Page 30
