For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance)

by Havig, Chautona

  “Corinne and Olivia both say it’s common for elementary kids to get their work done in two to two and a half hours. I’m not saying you can’t do more, but I think they should at least try to work faster.”

  “Well, maybe next week will be better. Meanwhile, what do we want for dinner? I’ve already called for pizza twice this week.”

  ~*~*~*~

  Tina arrived just after eleven while Aggie chatted on the messenger with Libby. Within minutes, the young women sat on opposite ends of the couch, a huge bowl of ice cream in their hands, and talking over the recent changes in Aggie’s life. “So, what’s the worst part of home-schooling?”

  “Kids who don’t want to do the work.”

  “I thought Allie’s kids liked school!”

  Aggie shrugged. “They seemed to last year, but this year it’s like pulling teeth. I think they have a lousy teacher or something.”

  “That’s ridiculous, and you know it.”

  “Luke says they’re taking advantage of me because I’m not confident.”

  After a few seconds thought, Tina nodded. “That makes sense.”

  “We’re going to try having higher expectations next week and see how it goes.”

  “‘We,’ huh? Interesting.” At Aggie’s blush, Tina grinned. “He’s getting to you, isn’t he?”

  “He’s a good man, Tina. I don’t want to hurt him, but I don’t know how to do this.”

  “Let it happen. That’s how. You’re going to sabotage it with your over-analytical tendencies. Just let him…” Tina searched for the word she needed. “I don’t know, woo you. Ugh, that sounds stupid.”

  “Yeah, but I know what you mean. He claims he’s going to ‘romance me,’ whatever that means, but I don’t think he knows any more about it than I do.”

  “That’ll keep things interesting.” Her friend carried their bowls into the kitchen and returned with cups of piping hot coffee. “Ok, so tell me something, Aggie.”

  “Hmm?” Aggie sipped her coffee, burning her tongue slightly.

  “If you had to decide today if you were going to marry Luke, what would you decide?”

  Immediately, Aggie shook her head. “Oh, Tina. I couldn’t do it. I have a lot of respect for him, I am fond of him, and I might even love him in my own way, but I don’t really think it’d be right to marry him when I don’t know how I really feel.”

  “Do you think he knows that?”

  “He knows I’m not ready, yes.”

  “No, Ags. Do you think he knows that you might have some affection for him?”

  With a slight shake of her head, Aggie sighed. “I don’t think so.” Tina’s disapproving face elicited a protest. “I can’t just say, ‘Oh, and I thought you should know, I do have some kind of feelings for you, but I don’t’ know what they are. Just thought you oughtta know.’”

  “Can’t you find a way to show him instead of tell him?” At Aggie’s stunned expression, Tina shook her head. “Not like that. I’m not talking about throwing yourself at him. I just meant that there had to be some way-- compliment him or seek him out in some way so he notices you are making an effort.”

  “I suppose. I don’t know, Tina, this is all so crazy.”

  “See, if you had accepted William’s proposal, this would be a moot point. You’d probably be married by now.”

  Aggie shuddered visibly. “Oh, Tina. Wouldn’t that be awful?”

  “Maybe for you. Not every woman is going to see him as repugnant as you do.”

  “I don’t think he’s repugnant. I just think he’s all wrong for me and that gives me the willies. He’s a good man--handsome if you ask Vannie. She was quite disappointed that I didn’t accept the man in uniform. I think she considers Luke a poor gal’s William.”

  “Well,” Tina began with an enigmatic smile that became clear as she spoke, “not every woman is as immune to him as you seem to be.”

  “You can have him.”

  Tina shrugged. “I think we have to let him decide that, and I’m not so sure he’ll agree.” The young woman stood, grabbed her duffel bag and backpack, and started toward the guest room. “I know it was crazy to come down like this, but I kind of missed your crew.”

  “G’night, Tina.”

  “Goodnight, Aggie. We’ll figure out your love life tomorrow.”

  As Aggie climbed the stairs to her room, she replayed Tina’s words in her mind. Her friend’s lightheartedness was exactly the medicine her analytical heart needed, but the seriousness of the situation also tugged at her conscience. She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and coated her hands and feet in lotion as she considered the changes in her life.

  Climbing beneath the covers, she snapped off the lamp. Once comfortable on her pillow, Aggie’s heart reached out to the Lord in prayer. “Lord, I think I am ready for this. I’m a little excited about it, and I’m looking forward to seeing what it means in all of our lives, but Lord, please don’t let me make a mistake. It’ll hurt both of us and the children. I need to know that this is Your will for our lives. Help me make the right decisions so that I never ever regret it.”

  Saturday, October 4th

  The bed shook as if an earthquake rocked the house. Aggie, groggy from sleep, pried her eyes open and saw Vannie and Kenzie bouncing on her bed as they tried to rouse her from sleep. Kenzie’s voice pierced her eardrums as she screeched, “Wake up! Luke sent a really weird bouquet of flowers in a funny vase. There’s a note and everything! Wake up!”

  With her fists working the sleep from her eyes, Aggie tried to focus on the shifting blurs on her bed. “Can you go get it?” She hoped the few seconds of silence would help her wake up less painfully.

  The girls flew from the room, their nightgowns billowing from behind like dresses in a period movie. Whoever spoke of the pitter-patter of children’s feet had never experienced life in Aggie’s house. With footfalls loud enough to wake the dead, or at least Tina, the girls thundered downstairs and then back up again, carrying the flowers as carefully as swiftly moving feet can-- Ellie now following close behind them.

  Vannie’s sigh was comical in its predictability. “Isn’t it pretty! It’s so unusual. There’s a little present, too-- Kenzie, where is the present?”

  Kenzie handed over a small book-like parcel tied in jute. The juxtaposition of the rough twine and satiny paper was lovely. Aggie wondered if Luke had excellent packaging taste or if Libby had helped him. Vannie’s excited voice broke through her thoughts again. “What do you think is in the package?”

  “Why don’t you open it for me and see?” Aggie, her face buried in the bowl of flowers, was too distracted by the heady scents to realized that later she might be disappointed not to have opened it by herself.

  Kenzie pulled the envelope from the floral pick in the bowl. “Can I read the note?”

  “Sure.” She hardly heard the question, being occupied with fingering the petals of a jonquil.

  “Aunt Aggie,” Kenzie’s voice sounded as confused as her face looked, “why did Luke send a note that says, ‘I hope that you can de--de--”

  Vannie peeked at the note. “Decipher.”

  “Decipher all I want to say?’” Kenzie flipped the card over to see if the back held an explanation.

  Thus far, aside from her brief confidence in Vannie, Aggie had hoped to keep Luke’s feelings and intentions private, but she now realized it wasn’t possible. Things would be too complicated if she didn’t just explain now. “Well, it’s kind of a long story, but a couple of weeks ago when William was here, he told me he wanted me to marry him--”

  Before she could continue, Kenzie bounced excitedly on the bed and squealed with delight. “Oh, Aunt Aggie! How exciting! Can we come?”

  “I told him no, Kenzie,” Aggie confessed, almost feeling as if she’d squashed the little girl’s hopes deliberately.

  Kenzie’s face fell, but Ellie looked curiously at her. “Then why did Luke send you flowers?”

  Aggie settled back against the headboard, st
acking pillows behind her back for comfort, and crossed her legs yoga-style. “Before I told William no, I asked Luke what he thought. He’s a good friend, and I value his opinion.” Aggie’s eyes met each girl’s before she continued. “Luke told me that if I don’t love William, and I don’t, then I shouldn’t marry him. Then he told me that he…” She grabbed her water glass and took a sip, trying to find a way to share the story without being careless with Luke’s words.

  “Aunt Aggie has two men who want to marry her! Isn’t it exciting!” Vannie’s eyes sparkled and her face glowed at the thought.

  “Ok, girls I want you to listen to me for a minute. I know it all sounds very exciting and romantic, but things aren’t always as they seem. Yes, William told me he wants to get married, but he doesn’t. He wants to help me, and this was how he thought he could do that best. It was very noble of him, but it was wrong. I cannot agree to marry someone who doesn’t want to marry me for me. Does that make sense?”

  Three heads nodded, but Kenzie’s face pouted. “But I love Mr. Markenson. He could be like a daddy.”

  “No one could be like Daddy.” Vannie’s voice showed that she felt Kenzie had betrayed their father by even suggesting it.

  “I didn’t say he could be daddy, I said like a daddy. Mr. Markenson likes me.”

  “Yes he does, Kenzie, but he doesn’t love me.”

  “But Luke does, doesn’t he, Aunt Aggie?” Ellie’s voice was confident. Aggie often thought that little escaped the girl’s notice.

  “Yes, Luke loves me.”

  “And he wants to marry you too?” It was evident from her tone that Kenzie considered Luke second best but acceptable.

  “Yes. Luke said he loves me and wants to spend more time with me. He wants to see if I can learn to love him too. How do you girls feel about that?”

  Silence hovered in the air for several seconds until Kenzie shrugged. “I like it. I’d like Mr. Markenson more, but I like it. Maybe he can marry Aunt Tina. That’d be almost as good.”

  Anxious to change the subject, Aggie reached for the book Vannie had unwrapped and read the title aloud. “Floriography: The Victorian Language of Flowers. What a mouthful.” She grinned at the eager faces waiting to know what it all meant. “So, who wants to help me figure out what these flowers mean?”

  Ellie nodded, Kenzie squealed, and Vannie bounced just enough to remind Aggie that her eldest niece was still a little girl in many ways. “Ok, then. Ellie, you go grab me a pen and paper, Vannie, you find the flowers in the book.” She stared at the bouquet, her face a picture of confusion. It became readily apparent that her knowledge of horticulture was sorely lacking. The illustrations in the tiny book were not much help, but after a time, they had compiled a respectable list.

  “Well, I’ll have to ask Luke if we have this right, but so far we have a red carnation. What is that?”

  Vannie flipped to the R’s and found nothing. Under carnation, she found several colors including red. “Ok, it says ‘Alas for my poor heart.’ What does that mean?”

  “I think it means he’s trying to garner sympathy. What about red chrysanthemum?”

  Pages shuffled as she flipped a few. “I love.” A group of collective sighs followed the pronouncement. Aggie couldn’t help but wonder what a house full of incurable romantics would do to the testosterone levels of the boys.

  “Ok, columbine. It’s purple if that matters.”

  “They’re all in the C’s, aren’t they?” Vannie muttered as she flipped through the little book on the quest for columbines. “Here it is, ‘Resolved to win.’”

  A small smile played around Aggie’s lips. Luke had certainly been thorough. Tina stood in the door watching. After a nod and a smile, Aggie returned to their project. “Ok, daisies.”

  “I found that one easily enough. ‘Innocence.’”

  “Forget-me-not.” Aggie frowned. “At least, I think that’s what they are.”

  “True love. Forget-me-not.” Vannie’s nose wrinkled. “I always thought that was such a silly name for a flower.”

  “I suppose you prefer ranunculus?”

  The girls all giggled. Ellie shook her head as Vannie turned the pages, trying to find the flower. “It sounds like ridiculous.”

  “I found it. Ranunculus. ‘You are radiant in charms.”

  “Wow. Luke must really like you!” Kenzie’s voice sounded awe-struck.

  “How about honeysuckle?” Aggie pulled one of the blossoms from the flower and showed Kenzie and Ellie how to suck the nectar from it.

  “‘Generous and devoted affection.’”

  With each floral declaration, Aggie’s face grew redder. When Luke said he planned to romance her, he hadn’t understated things. “Ok, jonquil or daffodil.”

  “Well, jonquil is ‘I desire a return of affection.’” The girl fanned the pages searching for the daffodil. “Here it is; daffodil, ‘uncertainty, chivalry, respect, or unrequited love.’” Vannie shook her head. “I think it’s supposed to be a jonquil.”

  “Let’s hope so. The lilac is purple if that matters. I think most lilacs are, but I’ve heard of white ones.”

  “Well, it says the purple lilac is ‘First emotions of love.’” Vannie had begun to sound embarrassed.

  “Lily of the valley?” Aggie ignored the snicker from Tina’s side of the room.

  “Um… ‘Return of happiness.’ What does that mean?”

  “I have no idea,” Aggie confessed. “Well, this one is easy though. Violet.”

  “Ok, hold on.” Vannie’s forehead furrowed as she concentrated on finding the right page. “‘Violet--faithfulness; sweet modesty.” The girl frowned as she realized that was all of the flowers. “There aren’t any roses! Shouldn’t there be roses? Even I know red rose means love and yellow means friendship.”

  “Maybe after hearing Laird describe ‘imaginationally challenged’ bouquets, he decided not to risk it.” Tina’s joke sent the whole room into snickers.

  Before she could catch herself, Aggie sighed contentedly. Ellie frowned. “Aren’t you happy, Aunt Aggie? I thought the bouquet and the flower messages were nice.”

  “I am happy, Ellie. It was a wonderful thing to wake up to this morning.” Though she was embarrassed to admit it, Aggie forced herself to share the reason for her sigh. She wanted the girls to get a glimpse of what romance looked like when removed from the pink glow of Hollywood’s lights. “I just got that funny feeling in my stomach you hear about and got a little emotional, I guess.”

  Kenzie’s hand felt Aggie’s forehead. “Does Luke make your stomach feel funny?”

  “I guess you can say that. I’ve felt that same lurch before, but I never really gave it a second thought.”

  “You might be allergic to him. Maybe you need allergy medicine for when he comes over like Murphy takes because of the cat.”

  Amid giggles, Aggie tried to explain to Kenzie that sometimes a funny feeling in your stomach was a good thing, but the child was adamant that Aggie needed medication. At last, the young woman said, “Let’s just say that I think Luke will be happy to hear that I felt a little odd when I got his flowers, ok?”

  The young mother sent out a plea with her eyes for Tina to pull the girls away and give her a minute alone. As her friend led the trio of giggling girls down the steps, Aggie heard Kenzie say, “Aunt Aggie says she’s not allergic to Luke, but I still think she is if he makes her stomach feel bad.”

  Knowing Tina was downstairs keeping an eye on her charges, Aggie sank back against the pillow again, turning the pages of the Floriography and occasionally sniffing a flower from the bowl-like vase. The deep red vase would look beautiful on her island, making Aggie wonder if it was purchased for that purpose. So intent was she in her reading, that she didn’t notice one of her youngest nieces creep into the room until she felt a light tap on her arm.

  “Hello, Lorna,” she whispered. “Do you want to see my flowers?”

  The child’s wide eyes were solemn as Lorna shook her head. “U
nh uh.” The little girl’s face was comical as differing expressions whizzed across the surface, but at last, in a conspiratorial whisper, she leaned close to Aggie and confessed, “I broke the picture of Mommy and Daddy that goes in our room.”

  As quietly as Aggie could muster, she replied, “Oh, you did?”

  Lorna nodded solemnly. Her face, the picture of seriousness looked pixieish and endearing as she added in the same quiet whisper, “I hid it under Vannie’s bed so you wouldn’t find it, ok?”

  Aggie snickered as she picked up the little girl. “Sweetie, I have a better idea for next time.”

  The child’s eyes grew wide. “Am I in trouble, Aunt Aggie?”

  Smiling at the girl’s earnestness, Aggie shook her head. “Not this time, Lorna. Next time something breaks, just come and tell me, and I’ll take care of it for you.”

  “M’kay.”

  “You didn’t cut yourself on the glass, did you?” Lorna held out her hands for inspection, shaking her head as she did. “Good. It’s never a good thing to try to cover up your mistakes. It’s always better to confess to an adult in charge. Ok?”

  “Yeth, Aunt Aggie. When I break something else, I’ll tell you before I move anything.”

  Although not comforted by the assurance that Lorna expected to break more items, Aggie couldn’t help but be charmed by the little lisp that always emerged when she was troubled. It never lasted long, but it did help Aggie differentiate between the girls at times. She sent the little one on her way, made her bed, and pulled fresh clothes from the closet.

  Getting dressed hadn’t been so fun in years. Now that she was no longer forced to exist in stained, worn, dingy clothing, the variety alone was a treat. In addition, knowing that seeing her dressed nicely made Luke happy helped keep the interest in her appearance from getting lost in the shuffle of life as a home-school “mom.” She brushed her hair until it shone, left it down now that she had no worries about becoming a rogue paintbrush, and smiled at her reflection in the mirror. She’d never be the kind of beauty Tina was, but she looked nice.