Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (155 page)

“Down
the
street
to
that
corner
and
turn
left.
Two
blocks
up
on
the
right.”

Aggie’s
fingers
felt
like
sticks
as
she
tried
to
untie
her
skates
and
tie
on
her
boots.
She
grabbed
her
purse
and
waited
impatiently
for
Luke
to
get
his
shoes
on
to
carry
the
weeping
Kenzie
to
the
van.
The
two
and
a
half
block
trip
felt
like
a
trek
across
the
country.
Kenzie
screamed
and
wailed
at
every
slight
bump
or
turn.

Once
at
the
clinic,
the
child
refused
to
try
to
walk,
holding
her
arm
and
kicking
if
Aggie
got
near
her.
A
nurse
came
to
see
who
was
in
the
unloading
area
and
tried
unsuccessfully
to
urge
the
child
out
of
her
seat.
“We
can’t
help
you
if
you
don’t
come,
sweetie.”

“I
can’t!
It
hurts!”

Patience
exhausted,
Aggie
stepped
up
into
the
van
and
hung
herself
over
the
back
of
the
seat
in
front
of
Kenzie.
“You
will
get
out
of
that
seat,
Kenzie.
Do
you
want
to
do
it
with
my
help
or
without?
That’s
the
only
choice
you
get.
You
can
do
it
yourself
or
I
will
help.
Five
seconds
to
decide
or
I
decide
for
you.”

“I
don’t
want
to
get
out!
It’s
going
to
hurt
more!”

“Two
seconds
left.”

“No!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

With
a
glance
at
the
nurse
that
clearly
said,
“Get
ready
for
this,”
Aggie
situated herself
behind
Kenzie
and
hooked
her
arms
under
the
girl’s.
The
child
kicked
and
fought,
obviously
making
her
own
pain
worse,
until
Aggie
froze
and
said,
“Stop
kicking.
Now.”

That
magic
word,
“Stop,”
seemed
to
snap
some
sense
into
the
child.
Her
screams
subsided
into
pain-filled
tears
and
she
allowed
herself
to
be
led
from
the
van.
Another
nurse
appeared
with
a
wheelchair,
obviously
trying
to
appease
the
little
drama
queen,
but
Aggie
shook
her
head.
“Her
legs
are
fine.
I
think
she
needs
the
exercise.”

Aggie
had
no
idea
if
it
was
the
right
thing
to
do
or
not,
but
she
felt
like
if
she
didn’t
make
sure
Kenzie
obeyed
on
something
small,
the
girl
might
turn
the
coming
visit
into
a
nightmare
of
monumental
proportions.
Once
inside,
a
volunteer
with
clacking
teeth
and
a
hearing
aid
that
clearly
needed
a
new
battery
thrust
the
usual
mountain
of
paperwork
into
her
hands.
They
were
shuttled
into
a
small
cubicle
and
left
while
Aggie
filled
out
the
forms.

“I’m
sorry.”

The
voice
was
so
quiet,
Aggie
almost
missed
it.
“I
forgive
you.
It’s
hard
not
to
get
upset
when
you’re
scared.”

“I
don’t
think
I
like
ice
skating.”