For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (45 page)

“
Well, apparently you needed some adult conversation, so we’re good.
”

“
Well, that’s silly. Luke, Tina, and Libby are here. I get lots of adult conversation these days.
”

“
Maybe you’re just in need of male adult conversation then.
”

“
What do you call Luke?
”

William shrugged.
“
I don’t know. Anyway, I found out what happened to Douglas Stuart.
”

“
Is he all right?
”

“
Well, sort of. He drove all the way to Rockland, pulled into what he thought was his driveway, parked and locked the van, walked up the steps, let himself into the house, and made himself at home in the family’s home office. He spent several minutes trying to get into their password protected computer, and then started ranting and screaming at it. A woman came in to see what was going on, and he ordered her from ‘his’ house. So the terrified woman ran out, went next door, and called the police.
”

“
Why would he do that? Is he ok? Is the
woman
ok?
”

He leaned his forearms on his knees and clasped his hands together.
“
Yep. Once she heard what happened when they took him to the station, she dropped charges.
”

Aggie waited, but William didn’t elaborate. After several seconds, she saw his lip twitch.
“
You’re not Luke. You won’t get away with it. What happened?
”

“
Well, apparently when he got to the station, they called Geraldine. She came down, and as soon as he saw her, his whole persona changed. It was as if he didn’t remember how he got there or what he’d done. He was horrified when the arresting officer told him.
”
William ran a frustrated hand along his jaw.
“
Mrs. Stuart promised to get him medical attention immediately. We’re probably looking at some form of dementia
--
possibly Alzheimer’s.
”

“
Oh, I can’t believe I’m saying it, but that poor woman!
”

“
Anyway, she asked me to tell you that she’ll have to withdraw her petition for visitation pending the doctor’s diagnosis and treatment options.
”

Aggie was thoughtful for a few seconds before she asked,
“
Do you think if I had the children make cards and send them it would be ok? It wouldn’t jeopardize the restraining order or anything?
”

“
I think that’s a very gracious idea.
”
He stood and walked to the steps.
“
By the way, it’s good to see you in pants, Aggie. I’d thought you were one of those self-righteous ‘skirts are holy; pants are evil’ types.
”
With that remark hanging in the air like a bomb ready to explode, he jogged down the steps toward his vehicle.

“
Oh, no you don’t. Get back here. Who do you think you are insulting me and then just walking off like that!
”

William turned on his heel, stunned.
“
I just paid you a compliment.
”

“
Backhanded one at best. You just passed judgment on a whole slew of people who are guilty of nothing but having different preferences and convictions than you. Since when is it a sin to choose not to wear pants?
”

Taken aback by her confrontational attitude, William forced himself not to become defensive.
“
It’s definitely wrong to judge those who don’t walk around in dresses all the time.
”

“
That sounds suspiciously like judging people to me! You’re assuming that if someone is wearing a skirt that they’re automatically judging someone who isn’t. That’s just as bad as if they actually are.
”
William tried to speak, but she continued in her tirade.
“
Do I act self-righteous when I’m in a skirt? Do I look down on Tina or Mrs. Dyke or anyone else wearing pants? Do I preach at them or judge them?
”

“
Well, no, but
--”

“
Then next time you see someone like my sweet Vannie wearing nothing but skirts, don’t you dare judge her and assume she’s judging everyone around her. That’s just as bad as assuming that anyone from the South has to be racist. I thought better of you.
”
With those words, Aggie stormed inside, allowing the screen door to slam behind her. William walked thoughtfully to his cruiser and drove down the road.

Everyone in the house all seemed on edge
--
almost walking on eggshells, unsure what to think. Libby spent much of the next hour giving Luke stern glances that were highly ineffective considering the smirk hovering around the corners of her mouth. Luke, on the other hand, seemed quite chipper. He whistled while he worked, while he played with the children, and while he tried to tease Aggie into better humor.

Just as they sat down for lunch, a florist’s van arrived with a
“
get well
”
bouquet. Tavish brought it in and presented it to Aggie with a flourish announcing,
“
Look! An imaginationally challenged bouquet special!
”

Vannie flushed, frantically waving her hands and trying to swallow her soup in order to stop her brother, but it was too late. The three adults stared at one another and at Tavish who was clearly confused as to why they looked at him as if he’d committed a terrible faux pas.
“
Tavish, that was daddy’s private joke for us. You just
--
it’s just that
--
Oh, Tavish!
”

“
What?
”

Libby took the arrangement from Aggie’s stunned hands and carried it to the sink. With kitchen scissors, she carefully snipped each stem of the flowers, inhaling their scent.
“
I love the spiciness of carnations, don’t you? Oh, look. It’s hard to see under that big bow, but the mug says, ‘Rx: One bowl chicken soup, one funny movie, and lots of hugs from loved ones.’
”

Aggie took the card and read it aloud.
“
‘Hope you are feeling better. I am sorry I offended. William.’
”
Aggie pasted on a smile.
“
Well, that was thoughtful.
”

Vannie took a deep breath as if performing a dreaded task.
“
It’s something daddy used to joke about, Aunt Aggie. Every time someone did something traditional like sending flowers, giving chocolate, using candles with dinner
--
anything like that. He always called it ‘imaginationally challenged.’ Anytime he brought Mommy flowers, he would say, ‘Sorry, I was a little imaginationally challenged today.’
”

A few snickers, followed by chuckles, eventually evolved into hysterical laughter that even the twins and Ian, although they didn’t understand why, joined in enthusiastically. Not even ever-gracious Libby could suppress her amusement. Aggie and Luke, trying to control their mirth, failed miserably and spent the rest of the meal snickering and chuckling whenever someone muttered,
“
imaginationally challenged.
”

Determined not to be caught laughing while thanking him, Aggie called and left a thank you message on his voice mail. As she hung up the phone, she turned to Luke.
“
Do you think he’s going to wonder why I sounded so strangled in thanking him?
”

Before anyone could reply, Laird lifted his shirt to see what had bit him and groaned.
“
My turn, I guess.
”

Luke says:
What are you doing up? You looked done for two hours ago!

Aggie says:
I fell asleep for exactly an hour, and now I’m wide awake.

Mibs says:
Oops. I think I forgot to change my name after talking to my dad the other day. Mibs was confusing him. He kept seeing the M and thinking he was talking to Mom.

Luke says:
Well, I guess I won’t get offended then.

Mibs says:
You’re so understanding.

Luke says:
Is Laird still taking it hard?

Mibs says
: Yeah. Poor kid really thought he wasn’t going to get it. Apparently he did some boasting to Tavish too, so Tavish going last… the little brother thing…

Luke says:
Yep. I never had a little brother, but I imagine a sister is about as mortifying… if not more so. On the bright side, a little humiliation is very character building.

Mibs says:
You speak from experience, I assume.

Luke says:
Guilty as charged.

Mibs says:
Well, not to change the subject but…

Luke says
: You have another subject.

Mibs says:
Very astute of you Mr. Sullivan.

Luke says
: It was, wasn’t it?

Mibs says
: So, are you up for dinner with William this weekend?

Luke says:
If he wants to ask me out, why doesn’t he do it himself? I would have thought after the Mrs. Dyke fiasco…

Mibs says:
*giggles* That’s a good one.

Luke says:
Seriously, though, why would you want both of us there?

Mibs says:
Well, at first I thought Tina wanted me to invite him so she could get to know him better. She seemed not to trust him. Now, I’m wondering if there isn’t a little more personal interest there. She took great offense to his objections to home-schooling. I just don’t want to be a third wheel.

Luke says:
Oh.

Mibs says:
Is it a problem for you? I’ll understand if it is. Ick, it feels like I’m asking you out or something.

Luke says:
I understand. I’ll be there.

Mibs says:
Thanks, Luke. Both for understanding and for coming.

Luke says:
Mom is bugging me for the computer. I’ll let you talk to her if you like. I’ll be back in a bit. Her dryer isn’t drying the clothes.