Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (43 page)

“I
think
it’s
reasonable
to
be
disappointed
if
a
special
birthday
seems
to
be
forgotten
by
people
who
usually
remember
it.
”

Her
face
brightened
visibly—even
in
the
dim
light
from
the
hallway
and
the
moon.
“I
don’t
feel
bad
anymore.
Why
is
that?”

“I
think
you
were
feeling
guilty
for
being
disappointed.
That
guilt
is
gone,
and
relief
from
guilt
is
a
wonderful
thing.”
Luke
nodded
at
the
present.
“Come
on,
get
it
out
of
the
box.”
His
eagerness
was
contagious.

Ellie
flipped
the
lid
and
her
smile
was
all
that
he’d
hoped
it would
be.
“Oh,
I’ve
wanted
to
try
pastels!
This
is
on
how
to
draw
from
photographs.
Look
at
the
brushes
and…”

With
each
exclamation,
her
voice
rose
until
Luke
stifled
a
laugh
and
put
his
finger
to
his
lips.
“Shh!
You’ll
wake
up,
Kenzie.”

He
gave
her
a
hug,
whispered,
“Happy
Birthday,
Elspeth,”
and
turned
to
leave.

“Luke?”
The
whisper
belonged
on
a
stage.

“Hmm?”

“This
was
my
best
birthday
ever.”

Luke says:
Ok, I’m home.

Mibs says:
Took you long enough.

Luke says:
I knew you were trying to get rid of me.

Mibs says:
Yeah, right. Um, we forgot to open our presents.

Luke says:
We can open them later. I was a bit preoccupied with something else.

Mibs says:
Would that be me or my children?

Luke says:
She flirts!

Mibs says:
Goodnight.

Luke says:
Aw, come on, Mibs.

Mibs says:
No fair.

Luke says:
No fair what?

Mibs says:
Saying, “Aw…” I can hear it. You kill me.

Luke says:
I’ll remember that for later.

Mibs says:
Oops.

Luke says:
Oh, before I forget, you might want to talk to Vannie

about your venture into the world of vows.

Mibs says:
I heard.

Luke says:
She was still bothered, huh? I’m sorry. I thought she was ok with it after our discussion.

Mibs says:
No, I mean, I actually heard. I was in the hall. You did

great.

Luke says:
You heard.

Mibs says:
You’re silent. Are you upset that I listened?

Mibs says:
Oh, Luuukkkeeey. Lucas!

Luke says:
Sorry. I just tried to remember everything I said. I knew I had to try to prevent her from romanticizing the idea of vows.

Mibs says:
I wish someone had been around to explain all that when I was younger. Dad tried, but he didn’t make it as clear as you did.

Luke says:
I wasn’t criticizing you—just trying to prevent something I sensed in Vannie.

Mibs says:
But you nailed me. I think that’s why Dad didn’t let me out of it. He knew all that but didn’t know how to get it through to me.

Luke says:
Well, I didn’t mean for you to feel rebuked. Besides, we have a bigger problem.

Mibs says:
What?

Luke says:
I didn’t say anything when I was there because I didn’t want you to feel like you had to try to make up for it yet, but Ellie and Tavish had a special birthday today—one that none of us remembered.

Mibs says:
None but you. I knew it was a bad idea to do this ON their birthday instead of Saturday like we’d planned.

Luke says:
The kids went all out, didn’t they? I mean, they really had us going.”

Mibs says:
Sure did. I almost didn’t agree to the mid-week party. Seemed like a crazy thing to do.

Mibs says:
So, what about tomorrow?

Luke says:
I was thinking maybe a birthday breakfast tomorrow? Have all the awful things that are not good for you? Turn the tree decorating party into a birthday bash?

Mibs says:
My children are blessed in ways they have no idea. Let’s do it.

Luke says:
Goodnight then. I’ll be there in about four hours.

Mibs says:
Four hours!

Luke says:
Um, yeah! It’s almost one o’clock and you know as well as I do that Tavish’ll be up by six or six-thirty.

Mibs says:
Since when does he get up at six?

Luke says:
Nearly every day…

Mibs says:
Why?

Luke says:
My guess: he likes the quiet.

Mibs says:
Yeah… I know how he feels. I just prefer to enjoy mine in bed.

Luke says:
Speaking of which, we both need to be there. I’ll bring… something.

Luke says:
G’night, Mibs.

Mibs says:
Before you go…

Luke says:
Yeah?

Mibs says:
I know I’m feeling sorry for myself, but I can’t help wondering…

Luke says:
Wondering what?

Mibs says:
Will I ever quit forgetting the kids’ birthdays?

Luke says:
LOL. Yep… my guess is anytime in the next year or two, they’ll learn that they have to be your memory in that department.

Mibs says:
I’m yawning. I think you’re right. Night, Luke.

Luke says
: Hey, Mibs

Mibs says:
Yeah?

Luke says:
Thought you should know, I love you.

Luke has left the conversation

Aggie
stared
at
the
screen.
“That
stinker.”

Merry Birthday

Wednesday,
December
10
^th

A
pair
of
blue
eyes
opened
and
then
blinked
as
the
sun
blinded
them.
His
head
rose, and
he
smelled
something.
A
smile.
Flopping
his
head
back
on
his
pillow,
Tavish
inhaled
deeply.
Cinnamon.