For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance)

by Havig, Chautona

  As it happened, two of those children were allowed to keep their new canine friends, and at that news, Aggie called it a day. “Come on, Tavish. I’m hungry, I’m tired, and I need a bath.

  Luke says: Hey, I heard you adopted a few more orphans.

  Aggie says: Six, to be exact. However, two have been placed in homes. Four to go.

  Luke says: Well, I’m glad to hear that. How is everything else?

  Aggie says: So-so.

  Luke says: Want me to ask around and see if anyone wants one?”

  Aggie says: Sure! Don’t you think Meggie’s pups exhausted your list of canine fanciers?

  Luke says: Nah. She’s purebred as were her pups. They were sold before I bred her.

  Mibs says: Well, then. Find me homes, Sherlock.

  Luke says: Mibs again, eh?

  Mibs says: Only when I talk to you. It gets confusing for other people.

  Luke says: Well, you don’t HAVE to…

  Mibs says: Are you complaining?

  Luke says: No…

  Mibs says: Then find me owners, and you’ll add another hero star to your list.

  Luke says: What kind of dogs are they?

  Mibs says: Well, definitely black lab and then something that has white in it.

  Luke says: Standard mixed pups. Great. People love those dogs. I was afraid you’d say Chow or Pit or something.

  Mibs says: I’m not up on my dog breeds, but I’m pretty sure neither of those are in these poochies.

  Luke says: Have they had their shots?

  Mibs says: I doubt it. The kind of people who would let a box of puppies fall off a truck and just leave them don’t seem to be the kind of people who get shots first.

  Luke says: I’ve got some parvo and rabies here. I’ll bring it over on Saturday and whatever you have left will get them. It might be easier to give them away if you can say they’ve had their shots.

  Mibs says: Thanks.

  Luke says: Are you keeping one?

  Mibs says: I keep trying to convince myself to say no.

  Luke says: Tavish loves animals, Mibs. If you can stand it, I’d consider it.

  Mibs says: But we’ve already got the kitten.

  Luke says: Well, for the boys I knew growing up, a kitten just isn’t the same as a dog.

  Mibs says: I’ll think about it. Maybe if we have one we can’t get rid of or something. I want to try at least. I think.

  Luke says: Softy.

  Mibs says: Tina would say sucker.

  Luke says: I call ‘em like I see ‘em.

  Mibs says: So, how are your projects?

  Luke says: I have the roof on, the new cabinets in, and the countertops come tomorrow. All I have to do then is paint the outside, add a few plants, and get ‘er on the market.

  Mibs says: Will you finish this week?

  Luke says: Most of it. Planting will be done early next week, and then I have that deck to build over in Brunswick.

  Mibs says: Oh.

  Luke says: Now that’s a very curious word. Oh. What does “oh” mean?

  Mibs says: Sorry, I forgot about the deck.

  Luke says: Anxious to get that guest room done?

  Mibs says: And the basement, and the kids miss you. They’ve asked every day when you’ll be back. I think Laird misses having a project to do, but everything he asks to try, I don’t know if it’s a good idea or not.

  Luke says: Let him call me, and I’ll tell him.

  Luke says: Or, if you like, let me pick him up a couple of times. He can help me paint the outside of the house, plant those flowers, and work on that deck.

  Mibs says: Really?

  Luke says: I’d love to have him. He’s a good worker. I’ll pay him.

  Mibs says: You don’t have to do that, but I bet he’d love coming.

  Luke says: Actually, if you like, I’ll come get him tomorrow morning and he can help me clear away the overgrown weeds and plants in the front yard while we wait for counter guys.

  Mibs says: Why wait?

  Luke says: I had a choice between counters sometime tomorrow between jobs, or in two weeks at a specific time. I picked tomorrow.

  Mibs says: I’ll have him ready at eight; is that all right?

  Luke says: Perfect. Thanks.

  Mibs says: LOL. You thank me for letting you babysit my kid. That makes sense.

  Luke says: No, I thank you for trusting me with your son and for allowing him to help me.

  Mibs says: Ok, ok. So I’m just a paragon of unselfish virtue.

  Luke says: LOL. Or something like that.

  Mibs says: Oh, did you hear? I figured out what Vannie was doing wrong on her zipper!

  Luke says: That’s great. What have you sewn?

  Mibs says: Did you hear? I figured out what Vannie was doing wrong on her zipper!

  Luke says: Not much yet, eh?

  Mibs says: Did you hear…

  Luke says: Great job, Mibs.

  Mibs says: Thanks. So, are you ready to tell me what Mibs means?

  Luke says: Nope.

  Mibs says: Am I going to be insulted?

  Luke says: Nope, well, I hope not!

  Mibs says: Is it a good thing?

  Luke says: It’s just an appropriate one.

  Mibs says: Ah well, I tried. I keep yawning, so I think I’ll go to sleep now. Thanks for everything, Luke. Sometimes I don’t know what we’d do without you.

  Mibs says: And your mom.

  Luke says: And we can’t imagine life without you and your kids, so it’s even.

  Mibs says: Well, this mutual admiration society must adjourn for the evening.

  Luke says: M’kay. G’night, Mibs.

  Mibs says: Nighters, Luke.

  Changes

  Chapter 9

  Saturday August 23rd

  After two days of working with Luke, Laird showed a new confidence in his interactions with people. Aggie immediately noticed a similarity to the way Luke deferred to her, was ready to help, and sometimes anticipated her needs before she could identify them herself. It was as if, overnight, he left the little boy years behind and entered a new phase of young adulthood--about two years too soon in her opinion. However, when she asked Libby about it, the older woman had been firm.

  “Don’t discourage him, Aggie. The boy is testing new ground. He’s been watching, he’s had a chance to have his efforts validated in the past couple of days, and now he needs to be given the chance to find the balance on his own. If, in say a month or two, he has an unhealthy predisposition to ‘act grown up,’ then we can plan a way to balance him, but give him the chance to figure it out. I think we emasculate our boys when we jump in too quickly, trying to protect them from themselves.”

  With the younger children, Laird developed a different kind of patience. For most of his life, the laid-back boy had simply ignored or tolerated his siblings’ immaturity and annoyances out of laziness. Even Vannie had noticed a change in his interaction. When Kenzie did something foolish and almost destroyed Ellie’s latest watercolor, he took the girl for a walk and talked to her. The scene was so similar to something her father would have done, that she’d gone upstairs, closed her door, curled up in a ball, and wept. Aggie found her there a while later and was surprised at Vannie’s simple tears.

  “I missed you downstairs. Are you ok?”

  A sniffle reached her before Vannie’s head peeked out from beneath her arm. “I’m good.”

  “You look upset. Are you sure?”

  “I am upset. Isn’t that silly?” The girl brushed her hair from her face and sat up. “I-- I don’t know how to explain it, but it feels good to cry this time.”

  Aggie climbed up onto her niece’s daybed, the one on which she’d shared confidences with Allie at Vannie’s age, and tried to pry a more coherent answer from the girl. “Why does it feel good? Why tears?”

  “I saw Laird with Kenzie. Usually, he’d just let Kenzie be foolish and careless, and Ellie would be the one hurt when her painting was ruined, bu
t he didn’t.”

  “What did he do?”

  “He took Kenzie’s hand and walked with her to the far field at the edge of the property.” Fresh tears pooled in Vannie’s eyes. “Oh, Aunt Aggie. It looked just like Daddy. Daddy used to do that when one of us was being reckless. He’d take our hand, walk us up and down the street, and talk to us. He showed us how to think of other people.” She swallowed hard. “This looked just like that-- well, except that Laird is shorter.”

  “So, it felt good to cry about missing your father?” None of Vannie’s words made sense, but what made less sense was that she agreed with the girl.

  “It felt good to cry about a good memory instead of because he was gone.”

  As insane as the words sounded, Aggie understood. She started to respond, but a squeal from the front sent her flying to the window. “Oh, it’s just Luke. I thought someone was going to start wailing.”

  “Aunt Aggie?”

  She stopped at the door, and at the sight of Vannie’s face, retraced her steps. “Hmm?”

  “Are you sorry Mommy and Daddy left you in charge of us?”

  “Of course not!” No one would doubt the sincerity of Aggie’s protest. “Why would you ask that?”

  “Remember when Laird and I rode to the library last week?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Well, there were two women in there. They didn’t see me come back for my library card, and they were talking about us.”

  A frown began to grow on Aggie’s forehead. “What did they say?”

  “Just stuff about how it’s a lot to ask of someone your age and how no one would want to marry someone saddled with eight kids.”

  Stunned, Aggie sat beside her niece, wrapped her arms around the girl, and whispered, “I am so sorry you had to hear something so thoughtless and untrue.”

  “But it is true, Aunt Aggie. Not that they won’t want to marry someone so great, but they won’t get to know how great you are because they’ll see all us kids and go running.”

  “Did it occur to you, Miss-Vannie-with-the-care-of-the-world-on-my-shoulders, that the kind of man I’d want to marry is the kind of man who wouldn’t let that stop him? If I have to pick between you kids and marriage, it’s a no brainer for me. I pick you every time.”

  “But--”

  “Do you think I haven’t thought of this?”

  The question was obviously unexpected. Vannie’s eyes widened, she frowned, and then shrugged. “I guess I thought you hadn’t.”

  “Well, I have. And besides, William has taken me out twice and would go again if I told him I wanted to. Every man on the planet isn’t afraid to be my friend.”

  “Luke is your friend too, but he hasn’t asked you out.”

  The obsession with her love life was getting a little annoying, but Aggie managed to keep her tone strictly matter-of-fact. “Well, not every guy who is a friend thinks he has to declare his undying love. Some guys can be friends without all that.” Remembering something her father once said, she added, “Unfortunately, there are a lot of men who can’t. I think that’s why William keeps trying to make things into something romantic. He doesn’t know how to be a friend with a girl.”

  “But Luke can?”

  “Well, it seems like it, doesn’t it? He’s about as close to an older brother as I’ve ever had, and he hasn’t gotten all goofy or anything.”

  Vannie must have heard something in Aggie’s tone that hinted at dissatisfaction. “Would you though?”

  “Would I what?”

  “Would you want to go out with Luke if he asked?”

  Tired of the discussion and ready to get the pups inoculated and ready for new homes, Aggie stood, smiled at her niece, and shook her head. “Oh, I don’t think so, Vannie. I like things how they are. Going out with men seems to make nice things all complicated, and I’m just not interested in that.”

  Luke’s voice called out softly before she could reach the door. “Aggie? Are you up here? Mom sent some popsicles.” His face appeared in the doorway. “Can I let the kids have them?”

  “Sure.” She slipped past and hurried downstairs to cut one apart for Cari and Lorna before someone gave them each a whole sugar infusion.

  Luke waited for Vannie before following them downstairs. The young girl gave a quick glance over her shoulder and saw something in his face she wasn’t meant to see. Dejection.

  ~*~*~*~

  Vaccinating the four remaining puppies was not the easy task that Aggie had pictured. She’d imagined they’d grab a puppy, Luke would stab the shot into the pup’s rump, and it’d be over. She didn’t take into account activity, readying the needle, or the little ones. Although Ian ignored the proceedings, obsessed with his spoon and a dirt patch in the yard, Lorna and Cari had very decided opinions on the use of shots in any form. At the sight of the needle, Lorna screeched, Cari wailed, and Luke jumped, dropping the syringe.

  “What!”

  “You won’t do that to ow puppies! You won’t huwt them wike that!” Cari pushed him, as if to forcibly eject Luke from the property.

  Aggie turned the pup over to Tavish and led Cari onto the porch to administer a sound scolding. Before she could open her mouth, Cari kicked her shin and ran. Lorna, seeing reinforcements on the way, pushed Tavish and grabbed the puppy. Unfortunately, she was only able to grab his tail, and a bite was the thanks she got for rescuing him from the evil Dr. Luke.

  The ensuing chaos resulted in a row of children sitting sullenly on the front steps, a call to the police for a domestic disturbance, and a visit from Murphy. The woman took one look at the lineup, the traveling vet show on the back of Luke’s pickup bed, and Aggie’s harried expression, and retreated to her home, reserving her snickers for her own yard. Tavish winced each time Luke grabbed a leg, but his determination to keep the pups from the pound was stronger than his trembling stomach.

  The ordeal took ten times longer than either Luke or Aggie had expected. By the time he was done, Luke was stifling guffaws, and Aggie was ready to send the kids back to bed-- for a month! While he packed up the syringes and the bottles of vaccine, Aggie stood, hands on hips, Megan looking on with her own amusement barely hidden behind her hand, and addressed her troops.

  “What on earth do you think you are doing?”

  “’tecting the puppies! You said that we have to ‘tect the puppies. Wuke was huwting them!” Of course, Cari spoke first.

  “And you think I’d let Luke do something mean to the puppies I told you to protect?”

  “Well…” Confusion flooded Cari’s face.

  “The shots hurt! You don’t know, ‘cause you don’t have to have them.” Little Lorna spoke with complete confidence.

  “I got one just a few weeks ago, remember?”

  “You did?” Lorna’s brain searched her recent memory banks for something that resembled an instrument of prickly torture and came up short. “When?”

  “When I got poked by the nail in the attic. I slept a lot, remember?”

  “See!” Cari’s sense of logic went into overdrive. “The shots made you sweepy, and Wuke had to wake you up all the time. I wemembew! Shots are bad!” Her little arms crossed as if she’d delivered the final verdict--guilty.

  “The shot made me very sleepy, but it also stopped a very bad disease that could have made me very sick, or even--” She hesitated. Mentioning death at a highly emotionally charged moment was a recipe for disaster that could result in histrionics. “Worse.”

  “But the puppies didn’t step on nails, Aunt Aggie!” Kenzie’s literal translation of Aggie’s words nearly sent the frazzled young woman into a tirade she’d regret for days.

  Luke stepped in, his supplies locked in the cab of his truck. “May I?”

  “They’re all yours. When you’re done with them, Cari owes me an apology for kicking me.”

  Happy to get away, Aggie scooped up Ian and carried him into the house. While she loaded the dishwasher for the third time that morning, Aggie opened a lower cabinet f
ull of plastic containers for Ian to stack, dump, and slide across the floor. As she worked, she sang. “Take time to be holy; be calm in thy soul. Each thought and each motive, beneath his control. Thus…”

  She didn’t even realize she’d started at the last verse. She just sang until her whole being was lost in her prayerful hymn. So engrossed was she in her song and the eradication of dirty dishes from her kitchen, she didn’t notice that Ian disappeared from the room. In fact, only Ian’s screech of protest and Vannie’s sharp, “No, Ian! Bad boy!” brought her out of her reverie and into the harshness of reality.

  Stepping into the living room, she saw Vannie dive for the toddler. “Vannie! What--”

  A calm stole over her that even she didn’t recognize. A part of her, that part of all people that wants to deceive ourselves into believing that we’re a better person than we are, was happy to see how unflapped she was by the Sharpie-induced artwork on her living room wall. Her real self, the one she desperately wanted to pretend wasn’t there, knew it was that deadly calm before the storm.

  “I’ll take that, little man.”

  “Gaggie!” His one word was usually a source of joy for her, but this time she heard it with no emotion whatsoever.

  “Vannie, would you take him outside, up to bed, to the moon, something?”

  “Um, sure.” The confused girl picked up her brother and scurried outside.

  The wall had a row of scribbles three-feet height scattered across it and its chair rail. Aggie wanted to cry. She took a deep breath, but it did no good. The frustrated tears hovered at the back of her eyes but she willed herself to keep them under control.

  “Mibs?”

  “Know how to get Sharpie off the wall?” The quaver in her voice irritated her. She needed to learn not to care.

  “Are you ok?”

  “I will be when I get Sharpie off that wall,” she ground out the words between clenched teeth.

  Luke turned her away from the scene of the crime and pushed her toward the kitchen. “What’s the matter, Mibs?”

  “I just decided that I won’t care anymore. Caring will leave you disappointed. I have to resign myself to a house full of dings, scrapes, dirty corners, and marker on the wall.”