Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (28 page)

“Probably
for
the
great
gifts
he’d
be likely to
bring.”

Her
eyes
widened
and
her
chin
dropped
ever
so
slightly.
“I
bet
you’re
right!
Oh
man
,
they
scare
me
sometimes.”

“A
re
you
going
to
do
it?”

The
flashing
little
cursor
on
the
screen
mocked
her.
It
seemed
to
be
an
electronic
hand,
drumming
its
fingers
in
impatience.
“I
think
so.
It’s
a
lot
to
do
in
a
week,
and
it’ll
cost
a
fortune,
but
Allie
made
a
big
deal
out
of
Vannie’s.
I
think
the
kids
are
trying
to
tell
me
that
we
need
to
do
this.”

“
I
take
it
now
isn’t
a
good
time
to
discuss
dates
and
such.”

Without
hesitation,
Aggie
closed
the
laptop,
curled
up
in
her
corner
of
the
couch,
wrapped
her
hands
around
her
knees
and
grinned.
“It’s
a
great
time.”

“
I
suppose,”
his
fingers
ticked
off
days
until
he
was
satisfied,
“December
thirteenth
is
out.”

“Next
Saturday?”

“Yeah.”

Aggi
e
sighed.
“We
could
just
have
the
Vaughns
come—no
wait,
they’re
already
invited—and
have
a
brief
ceremony
at
the
end.”

“No
dress?”

“
Who
cares?
You
get
to
stay
then.”

“
I
could
go
for
that
,
but
I
think
in
twenty
years
I’d
regret
not
giving
you
time
to
have
a
dress.
”
Luke
nudged
her
foot.
“
A
bride
should
have
the
chance
to
be
bridal
for
a
bit.”

“Bridal
wave,
eh?”

“That’s
better
than
Bridezilla.
The
girls
are
taking
votes
as
to
if
and
or
when
you
will
turn
into
one.”

“The
girls?
Your
sisters?”

Luke
nodded.
“I
told
Connie
you’d
get
frazzled,
but
before
you
could
don
your
lizard
skin
and
bare
your
fangs,
you’d
go
marching
up
th
e
stairs
singing
It
Is
Well
with
My
Soul
or
something.”

His
words
stung
for
some
reason.
“
Am
I
that—that—”

“Encouraging?
Endearing?
Predictably
faithful?
Yep.”

It
only
took
a
second
of
hesitation
before
Aggie
unwrapped
her
arms
from
her
knees
and
scooted
next
to
Luke,
laying
her
head
on
his
shoulder.
“Thanks.
It
just
sounded…
um…
”
She
swallowed
hard.
Suddenly,
she
felt
as
if
it
looked
like
she
was
making
a
production
out
of
it
to
garner
attention.
“Oh,
I
don’t
know.
Pietistic
or
something.
Tryin
g
to
look
spiritual
or
ick..
.
It’s
just
a
habit.
I
usually
don’t
even
know
I’m
doing
it.”

“That’s
what
is
so
wonderful
about
it,
Mibs.
It’s
a
part
of
your
relationship
with
the
Lord.
It’s
who
you
are
in
the
deepest
part
of
you.
It’s
a
beautiful
thing.”