For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (44 page)

Before she could process the information, Libby entered carrying a glass of juice, a muffin, and a bottle of ibuprofen.
“
Morning, Aggie. Kenzie has been perched on the top step for the past half hour waiting to hear you moving around. She just came tearing down the steps seconds ago.
”

“
I didn’t hear her.
”

“
She’s wearing her skid-free socks ‘to keep quiet for Aunt Aggie.’
”

“
Did you see what Luke brought me? Isn’t she cute?
”

“
I did. That’s why Kenzie has been waiting so patiently. I think she’s hoping for some personal bonding time with the clucker.
”
Libby winked as she handed Aggie the juice.
“
Drink up. We have to keep you hydrated.
”

As she sipped her drink, Aggie leaned back against the headboard and rubbed her shoulder blade against it, scratching a pock.
“
How did he know I love pansies?
”

Libby, with a thoughtful look on her face that made Aggie feel like she’d missed something, stood before her
--
silent. At last, after several long seconds, the smiling woman recited,

“
Pansies are for thoughts.

So let it be:

Mine are for you.

Let yours be of me.
”

“
I’ve never heard that before. How does it go again?
”

Libby recited the little poem once more, and her voice held a reminiscent aura as she added,
“
I wonder if Luke remembers that little verse. I used to recite it each year as we planted them along the walk. Those are special memories for me.
”

“
It sounds like your children had a delightful childhood. I never planted flowers with my mom.
”

Sympathy filled Libby’s face.
“
I imagine that is a hard thing for your mother at times
--
remembering the things she wished she had the strength to do with you and your sister.
”

“
Did Luke enjoy planting them? Did he help?
”

After pushing the muffin plate into Aggie’s hands, Libby settled herself on the end of the bed as if ready to share a wonderful story with a child at bedtime.
“
Oh, yes. They all helped. Corinne liked to create the layouts and boss everyone around, Luke did all the digging and clean up. Except the snapdragons. He always planted a corner of snapdragons that were just his. My Luke used to bring them to me whenever he’d gotten into trouble. Cassie planted the seeds and Melanie always transplanted the potted plants.
”
She grinned remembering.
“
And if she dared hurt one of the pansies or if Corinne didn’t plan enough of them, they were sure to hear about it.
”

“
I suppose he just sent his favorites, eh? Well, I’ll have to let him know that they’re my favorites too.
”

Libby, with a gaze that held Aggie’s hostage, continued with a soft voice,
“
Considering my Luke’s feelings for you, I think he chose them for you rather than for him.
”
She pointed at Aggie’s half mangled muffin and mostly full juice glass.
“
Finish your breakfast, and take your time. I expect Laird to start spotting soon. He’s looking a little tired, and he was complaining about being hot when Tavish suggested a hike through the fields.
”

Aggie stared at the empty doorway lost in thought. Had she heard what she thought she had? Her mind whirled over past and recent conversations, but each one seemed more contradictory than the last. Nothing made sense, and her head began to ache with the concentration.
“
Ok, Lord. Can we revisit this one later?
”
The p-mail flew from her lips before she realized she’d spoken.

The cool morning air sent shivers over her. She reached into her closet and found the box marked
“
winter clothes
”
and plowed through it, looking for her comfortable knit pants and her oversized t-shirt.
“
Perfect clothes for a lazy morning when you’re sick,
”
she muttered as she stumbled through to the bathroom, her feet still
“
asleep
”
from sitting on them in bed.

Grabbing a brush, she pulled it through her hair a few times, tied a hair tie around it, and washed her hands. Running her tongue around the inside of her mouth, she was relieved to discover no new pox. Vannie’s mouth looked miserable, and Aggie was a little nervous about oral eruptions.

As she stepped from the bathroom, her bed mocked her. She hated leaving her room disheveled, but as often as she’d been napping lately, it seemed like a waste of time to make it. Forcing herself to ignore the guilt, Aggie hurried downstairs, the crummy plate in one hand and half-empty juice glass in the other. Libby, seeing the unfinished juice, gave Aggie a
“
look,
”
but the girl promised to drink it.

“
I got so used to watering down some for Ian that I prefer mine diluted now.
”

“
Now if that isn’t a mother’s occupational hazard, I don’t know what is.
”

“
Waking up with a chicken’s box full of pansies?
”

“
I wondered if you’d get the joke.
”
Luke
sounded
pleased.

Aggie was startled at the sound of Luke’s voice. She turned to see him on a ladder replacing a light bulb in the dining room, and shook her head.
“
Oy. Those are all new bulbs, even!
”

Everyone seemed to disappear from the room as they spoke
--
well, everyone but Kenzie.
“
Aunt Aggie, can I go bring your chicken down so she’s not up there all alone?
”

Luke grinned down at the little girl.
“
Why don’t you do that, and I’ll help you plant the pansies later.
”

As Kenzie skipped out of the room, Aggie’s eyes caught Luke’s and held them.
“
Thank you. It was a nice thing to wake up to today.
”

“
Mom used to recite a verse every year as she planted them, but there wasn’t room on that dinky little card.
”

“
Something about pansies and thoughts? She quoted it for me, but I can’t remember it.
”
Aggie’s brow furrowed in concentration.

“
Yep. I’ll write it down for you later if you like.
”
His ears burned, much to Aggie’s amusement.

“
That’d be nice.
”

Awkwardness hung between them until Luke whipped out a marker.
“
You and several others have new pox and bare arms and faces. I think it’s time for pictures again. What do you think?
”

“
Lead on, artist dude.
”

Luke rolled his eyes.
“
Dude? Really?
”

“
It works!
”
she protested, scuttling to the library.
“
Luke is drawing pictures. Line up and see what he finds today!
”

For the next hour or so, Luke drew pictures on arms, legs, and faces, they watched
Anchors Aweigh
, and put together puzzles in teams, races, and upside down. Luke, once finished drawing on everyone else, arrived at Aggie’s side, took a fractious Ian from her, and gave the baby to his mother.
“
He needs a nap, and Aggie needs a decorated face.
”

He returned and wiggled his pen at her menacingly.
“
Ok, which arm gets a picture? You can’t be the only one without war paint.
”

Aggie stuck out her arms.
“
Both!
”

“
Ok, close your eyes and see if you can figure out what I draw.
”

He drew each line in long slow movements, but Aggie immediately identified it as a daisy. The picture on her next arm wasn’t as obvious. Two loops made her tempted to say daisy again, but the rest was all wrong. At last, she surrendered.
“
I don’t know. What is it?
”
As she opened her eyes, she grinned.
“
That is the most lopsided rabbit I’ve ever seen, but I like him.
”

He began drawing on her cheek, but mid picture, Luke’s face fell as his eyes noticed something.
“
Oh, no!
”
He glanced around the room and groaned.
“
Um, it’s good that you like them… do you want me to finish this or not?
”

“
Why? What’s wrong?
”

Closing his eyes, he passed the marker over to her.
“
I thought I grabbed the washable one…
”

“
Sharpie. I swear; I should ban these things from the house.
”
As severe as she tried to sound, Aggie’s laugh betrayed her. Luke looked ready to fire back a witty retort, but William’s knock interrupted them.

“
Can I come in?
”

Aggie beamed up at him from the floor.
“
Sure! How do you like my arms?
”

Lips pursed, William held the door open.
“
Do you feel up to a chat on the porch?
”

She rose, shrugged her shoulders at Libby and Luke, and followed William to the octagon that housed her furniture. With one leg tucked under her, she settled into the wicker chair and sighed, contented.
“
Isn’t this weather just beautiful? If I didn’t itch so badly, I’d want to take the kids apple picking or something. I wonder when apples are ripe, anyway.
”
Aggie chattered as if unaware that William must have come for a reason.
“
Did I tell you that I found out Luke’s sister home-schools? I’m going to call her this evening after her husband is home to watch the kids and talk about curriculum choices. Tina and I are making the final decisions tonight. They’ve already missed two weeks as it is. We’ll be starting behind, but Libby says
--”
She stopped.
“
Sorry. Did you need something?
”