Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance)

by Chautona Havig

  Luke’s turn. Vannie called out his orders, and giggled as he bumped William from his spot. “Sorry, man.”

  “Sure, you are.”

  Standing next to Aggie and beneath the mistletoe, he turned and called out to Martha, “Mother, may I?”

  “Yes you may!”

  Aggie’s eyes grew wider as Luke bent to kiss her. Panicked, she was ready to cry and run, but couldn’t. Why would he do— His lips touched her cheek. “Gotta trust me, Mibs.”

  The room cheered, but Vannie’s face fell. Eager to get out of the game, Aggie missed it but led Luke to the window where they watched the rest of the game, giggling when Laird had to kiss Ellie and William kissed Kenzie. The little girl walked around, hand on her cheek for the duration of the game, but Vannie seemed unwilling to send Tina and Tavish to the same mistletoe.

  After a couple of awkward steps, Aggie realized the problem. She tiptoed to Vannie’s side and whispered something. The girl, visible relief on her face, giggled and nodded. Aggie stopped next to Ellie, whispered something, and then moved to William’s side. He seemed to hesitate until his eyes caught Tina’s over the heads in the room.

  With two more players on the board, the game ended swiftly. Tavish, already beneath a sprig of mistletoe, was ordered to take one step forward and one back. Tina was ordered to take two steps to her left and one step back. William gave Vannie the romance she’d tried to create—but a little more chaste than she’d imagined. His lips met Tina’s for a second—and maybe a half, before he spun her and led her from the floor. Tavish’s face was beet red when Ellie stepped one to the right, kissed her brother’s forehead, and sent him from the room.

  The room erupted in applause. Luke and William, along with a couple of the other men, moved furniture back in place, while Aggie pulled Vannie into the mudroom. “Is something wrong, Vannie?”

  “I thought it’d be fun, but—”

  “But you forgot that you were forcing people to be publicly affectionate?”

  “I just thought engaged couples should kiss at their party, and I knew without something to encourage you—”

  “We’ll talk about it later, but if you have any more of these kinds of games planned, you need to plan for something else.”

  “Did you see Deputy William kiss Aunt Tina—really kiss her—sorta?”

  “Yep.”

  “Did you know he’d do that?”

  “I suspected he might, but I told him her cheek or hand was sufficient.”

  Aggie was halfway down the hall before Vannie’s voice reached her. “I’m sorry, Aunt Aggie.”

  She turned, smiling at her niece. “I didn’t thank you for a wonderful surprise and a beautiful party. It was thoughtful—special. I’ll cherish the memory of every minute of it for the rest of my life.”

  “Even the mistletoe game?”

  Unaware that Luke stood behind her, grinning—eager for her reply—Aggie sighed and gave Vannie the most satisfactory mush factor possible. “Especially the mistletoe game—now.”

  “Glad to hear that.” Luke’s voice almost tickled her ear it was so close. “Very glad to hear it.”

  Vannie crept toward the kitchen, avoiding the hallway where Luke and Aggie stood whispering things that the girl could not hear but knew were delightfully mushy—just enough to satisfy the budding romantic.

  ~*~*~*~

  The toddler in the pack ‘n’ play was much too large to be the baby she’d hyped up on caffeine a mere ten months ago. When he’d curled up against the corner, he’d looked properly sweet and infantile, but once he’d relaxed, his limbs spread out over the little playpen, making Aggie wonder if it was a little too small now. Regardless, with arms flung wide and legs in strangely contorted shapes, he looked much too old to be her tiny little man.

  She twisted, trying to pop her back after a grueling hour of trying to settle Ian down. He’d fought sleep harder than ever before—a testament to his exhaustion if Libby and her mother were to be believed. How an exhausted child could be so wound up was beyond her. Those words had earned her an ineffectively stifled giggle—from nearly everyone in earshot.

  Determined not to make Luke wait any longer, Aggie hurried from her room and down the stairs. She’d have to remember to be quiet when she went to bed or she’d have a bed hog for the night. As she neared Vannie’s door, she overheard her niece talking to someone.

  “—don’t understand why it’s wrong to kiss your fiancé.”

  “It isn’t—usually. It’s just that your aunt made a vow that she wouldn’t, and vows are serious things. You can’t break them.”

  “Why did she do that?”

  “You’d have to ask her about it.”

  “Don’t you wish she hadn’t?”

  Luke’s confident, “No,” was reassuring. “I have a privilege not many men get. I will know that my wife has only shown that kind of affection for me. No one else.”

  “Hmm… I wonder…”

  A small smile began and grew into a grin as Aggie listened to one of Luke’s familiar silences. “I believe that your grandpa made the right decision for Aggie, but I see the gears turning in your mind, Vannie. Just know that if you try to make some kind of similar vow, the day I know of it and have the authority to do it, I’ll revoke it. The Bible gives fathers and husbands that right.”

  “We studied about that in Sunday School.” The bed creaked when Vannie sat up in it. The sound was so familiar to Aggie that it shot an ache into her heart. She’d sat up just the same way when talking to her father in that same bed years ago. If she knew Luke, he’d be leaning over the end, his forearms resting on the wrought iron. Her head barely peeked around the corner long enough to verify her suspicion. Yep. Standing there just as she expected.

  “Save your vows for your wedding day. Plan to save your affection for your husband if you like, but don’t make vows like that. It isn’t right, Vannie. We need to do what Jesus said and not vow or swear anything—just say yes or no as the occasion warrants. We don’t know what life brings.”

  “Did Grandpa say you could kiss Aunt Aggie’s cheek like that?” Vannie giggled. “I know Grandma did, but…”

  “He said it was ok. Any kiss I’d give my mother or sisters—if it didn’t involve her lips—was ok. He was sticking to what Aggie meant—no lip lock before the preacher says she’s a wife.”

  “Lip lock.” She giggled again. “Older people have the silliest terms for things.”

  Silence again. At last, Luke said, “Are you ok with it all now, Vannie? Do you understand?”

  “Yeah… I think so. I just think it’d be cool to make a vow like that. It’d protect me from being stupid someday and—”

  “It’d make you feel good to do something self-sacrificing for the Lord,” Luke interjected uncharacteristically.

  “Well, yeah. I mean, He died for me, the least—”

  “You could do is worry less about the glory of being so spiritual as to make such a self-sacrificing vow and simply obey His Word to put aside vows and swearing like that. This is about getting glory for Vannie, not honoring the Lord.”

  Behind the wall, Aggie swallowed hard. Luke’s words struck at the heart of the lesson her father had tried to teach her. Even knowing that she’d been foolish, there had always been a little bit of pride in her choice. She had made the ultimate teenage sacrifice to bring honor to… herself. It was such a letdown.

  Vannie finally spoke once more. “You’re right. I didn’t want to admit it, but you’re right. I wanted to be able to tell some guy that I had made a vow never to kiss anyone but my husband. It sounded spiritual in my mind. It sounds so silly now.”

  Luke’s answer was swifter than anything Aggie had ever heard. “Vannie, don’t let your lack of vow cloud your judgment. You are right to save your affection for the man who will be your husband. Not kissing every boy you think is the one is a good decision—it just doesn’t need to be a vow for you to make a good decision, understand?”

  “Self-control and
discernment again.”

  Luke’s chuckle sent flip-flops into Aggie’s stomach. “Aggie has been making you think about things lately, eh? I remember my mother doing the same thing.”

  “Luke?”

  “Hmm?”

  The bed squeaked again. Knowing she’d see her not-so-little niece flinging her arms around her soon-to-be uncle’s neck, Aggie peeked around the corner again. Her eyes caught the picture just as Vannie said, “I am so glad you’re going to be our uncle.”

  Aggie hurried downstairs and into the kitchen. She heard Luke follow a minute later but was surprised to hear the front door open and close behind him. He wasn’t going to say goodbye? Had she said or done something? When the engine didn’t start, she stopped the unnecessary introspection and went back to unloading the dishwasher.

  Luke opened the door, shutting it quietly behind him. He shivered and rushed back upstairs two at a time. In Tavish’s room, he paused and sighed. His shoulders slumped as he placed the present on the nightstand and adjusted the covers. He was too late. Tavish, exhausted by the evening’s festivities, was in deep slumber.

  In Ellie and Kenzie’s room, Luke listened for the rhythmic sounds of little girls sleeping in unison. Kenzie had been brought up by William long before the party ended. The memory brought a smile to his face. Their deputy friend had a decided soft spot for their little gap-toothed Kenzie.

  Ellie, on the other hand, was stiff, her breathing coming in ragged bursts. “Ellie?”

  The child’s head whipped around. “Luke?” Before he could answer, Ellie flung herself from the bed into his arms, soaking the front of his shirt with silent tears.

  “Shh… what’s wrong, sweetheart?”

  “I—” Ellie choked back a sob, her head turning to see that she hadn’t woken Kenzie, and then buried her head into his chest again. “It’s silly. I—”

  “How about you open your birthday present and then tell me about it. I’ve been waiting to see you open this for days now.”

  As she pulled the paper from it, Ellie confessed, “I thought everyone forgot us.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Is that selfish?”

  “I think it’s reasonable to be disappointed if a special birthday seems to be forgotten by people who usually remember it.”

  Her face brightened visibly—even in the dim light from the hallway and the moon. “I don’t feel bad anymore. Why is that?”

  “I think you were feeling guilty for being disappointed. That guilt is gone, and relief from guilt is a wonderful thing.” Luke nodded at the present. “Come on, get it out of the box.” His eagerness was contagious.

  Ellie flipped the lid and her smile was all that he’d hoped it would be. “Oh, I’ve wanted to try pastels! This is on how to draw from photographs. Look at the brushes and…”

  With each exclamation, her voice rose until Luke stifled a laugh and put his finger to his lips. “Shh! You’ll wake up, Kenzie.”

  He gave her a hug, whispered, “Happy Birthday, Elspeth,” and turned to leave.

  “Luke?” The whisper belonged on a stage.

  “Hmm?”

  “This was my best birthday ever.”

  Luke says: Ok, I’m home.

  Mibs says: Took you long enough.

  Luke says: I knew you were trying to get rid of me.

  Mibs says: Yeah, right. Um, we forgot to open our presents.

  Luke says: We can open them later. I was a bit preoccupied with something else.

  Mibs says: Would that be me or my children?

  Luke says: She flirts!

  Mibs says: Goodnight.

  Luke says: Aw, come on, Mibs.

  Mibs says: No fair.

  Luke says: No fair what?

  Mibs says: Saying, “Aw…” I can hear it. You kill me.

  Luke says: I’ll remember that for later.

  Mibs says: Oops.

  Luke says: Oh, before I forget, you might want to talk to Vannie

  about your venture into the world of vows.

  Mibs says: I heard.

  Luke says: She was still bothered, huh? I’m sorry. I thought she was ok with it after our discussion.

  Mibs says: No, I mean, I actually heard. I was in the hall. You did

  great.

  Luke says: You heard.

  Mibs says: You’re silent. Are you upset that I listened?

  Mibs says: Oh, Luuukkkeeey. Lucas!

  Luke says: Sorry. I just tried to remember everything I said. I knew I had to try to prevent her from romanticizing the idea of vows.

  Mibs says: I wish someone had been around to explain all that when I was younger. Dad tried, but he didn’t make it as clear as you did.

  Luke says: I wasn’t criticizing you—just trying to prevent something I sensed in Vannie.

  Mibs says: But you nailed me. I think that’s why Dad didn’t let me out of it. He knew all that but didn’t know how to get it through to me.

  Luke says: Well, I didn’t mean for you to feel rebuked. Besides, we have a bigger problem.

  Mibs says: What?

  Luke says: I didn’t say anything when I was there because I didn’t want you to feel like you had to try to make up for it yet, but Ellie and Tavish had a special birthday today—one that none of us remembered.

  Mibs says: None but you. I knew it was a bad idea to do this ON their birthday instead of Saturday like we’d planned.

  Luke says: The kids went all out, didn’t they? I mean, they really had us going.”

  Mibs says: Sure did. I almost didn’t agree to the mid-week party. Seemed like a crazy thing to do.

  Mibs says: So, what about tomorrow?

  Luke says: I was thinking maybe a birthday breakfast tomorrow? Have all the awful things that are not good for you? Turn the tree decorating party into a birthday bash?

  Mibs says: My children are blessed in ways they have no idea. Let’s do it.

  Luke says: Goodnight then. I’ll be there in about four hours.

  Mibs says: Four hours!

  Luke says: Um, yeah! It’s almost one o’clock and you know as well as I do that Tavish’ll be up by six or six-thirty.

  Mibs says: Since when does he get up at six?

  Luke says: Nearly every day…

  Mibs says: Why?

  Luke says: My guess: he likes the quiet.

  Mibs says: Yeah… I know how he feels. I just prefer to enjoy mine in bed.

  Luke says: Speaking of which, we both need to be there. I’ll bring… something.

  Luke says: G’night, Mibs.

  Mibs says: Before you go…

  Luke says: Yeah?

  Mibs says: I know I’m feeling sorry for myself, but I can’t help wondering…

  Luke says: Wondering what?

  Mibs says: Will I ever quit forgetting the kids’ birthdays?

  Luke says: LOL. Yep… my guess is anytime in the next year or two, they’ll learn that they have to be your memory in that department.

  Mibs says: I’m yawning. I think you’re right. Night, Luke.

  Luke says: Hey, Mibs

  Mibs says: Yeah?

  Luke says: Thought you should know, I love you.

  Luke has left the conversation

  Aggie stared at the screen. “That stinker.”

  Chapter Five

  Merry Birthday

  Wednesday, December 10th

  A pair of blue eyes opened and then blinked as the sun blinded them. His head rose, and he smelled something. A smile. Flopping his head back on his pillow, Tavish inhaled deeply. Cinnamon.

  He rolled to climb out of bed and saw a box wrapped in blue paper with gold balloon stickers all over it. Had Aunt Aggie—Without waiting to see, Tavish grabbed the box and tore open the wrappings. He was just about to cry out in excitement when his eyes slid toward Ian’s crib. Guilty.

  The little bump of blankets in the crib didn’t move; there wasn’t even a hint of a rise and fall of breathing. Just when Tavish grew nervous, he grinned again and turned his attention back to the telegrap
h kit. Ian was sleeping in Aunt Aggie’s room. They’d wanted him to sleep as long as possible.

  A quiet knock startled him. The lid of the box skittered off his knees and onto the floor, but Tavish hardly noticed. “Luke!”

  “Happy Birthday, man!”

  “That was yesterday!”

  “We’re celebrating as if it’s next year already and your birthday falls on a Wednesday. Now, are you going to stay in bed all day, or do you want some amazing cinnamon rolls.”

  Tavish snickered. “Amazing? Have you had Aunt Aggie’s rolls?”

  “No…”

  “Well… they’re not rocks, exactly, but…”

  “Good thing my mom sent these over then, eh?”

  Before Luke finished speaking, Tavish jumped from the bed and dashed out the door, the kit abandoned. Downstairs, the decorations were all gone. In their place, balloons were clustered anywhere they’d work—as a centerpiece on the table, a “bouquet” in the corner, and tied to Ellie and Tavish’s chairs at the table.

  The big bay window in the dining room had been emptied and now looked odd. “Where are the pillows and the table and stuff?”

  “We’re going to put the Christmas tree there.”

  Luke’s voice at his shoulder made Tavish jump. “How do you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Sneak up on people like that. I try, but they always know I’m coming.”

  A shrug was Luke’s initial reply. After several seconds he added, “Perhaps the difference is that I don’t try to do it.”

  ~*~*~*~

  “Stop!”

  Luke slammed on the brakes as Aggie glared at Tavish in the rearview mirror. “This had better be good…”

  “Sammie’s out!”

  Luke and Aggie exchanged frustrated glances before he threw the van into reverse and backed it into the drive again. “Ok, everyone out. Try not to get filthy—aaand they’re gone.”