Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance) Read Online Free

up the stairs. She noticed the lack of laundry underfoot as she crawled over the mountainous pile at the end of the hallway, blocking the entrance to her room. “ Mount Never-Rest, ” she muttered as she forced the door closed. She now understood what Allie meant by that phrase.
    Aggie avoided a glance at Sarge. She knew it was late, but she chose to remain blissfully ignorant of just how late. Tonight, the formula was on a tray next to her bed, and with hot water in the bathroom, there would be no more going downstairs for her! The best news was that tomorrow was Saturday, and she planned to sleep until at least eight a.m.
    Physically spent, but feeling a little more confident, she snuggled amidst the sheets with her laptop and a cup of chamomile tea that Tavish assured his frazzled aunt would calm her nerves and give her deep and restful sleep. The laptop booted slower than usual, nearly sending Aggie over the edge. However, moments later, she signed into her favorite instant messenger program, and her fingers flew as she conversed with her oldest and dearest friend, Tina Warden.
     
     
    Aggie says: Tina
    Tina says: How are you girl? I ’ ve imagined you taken hostage by a group of miniature savages!
    Aggie says: LOL. Not yet.
    Tina says: How is it really going? Are you doing ok? We ’ re praying, but I feel so helpless!
    Aggie says: Oh, Tina, this is so hard. Can I do this?
    Tina says: Well, God sure seems to think that you can. He says that He won ’ t give us more than we can endure…
    Aggie says: Well, that ’ s true, but how do I convince my heart that my mind is right? Besides, doesn ’ t it end with something about a way of escape? Doesn ’ t that imply that if I don ’ t think I can hack it, I can run away and whimper? How does a twenty-two year old child-illiterate make this work?
    Tina says: I don ’ t know. Probably, one day at a time.
    Aggie says: Well, maybe in a few hundred more days things will seem more manageable. Right now, I just barely make it from day to day.
    Tina says: I ’ d say that sounds Biblical. If His mercies are new every morning, then it only stands to reason that He ’ ll help us make it from day to day.
    Aggie says : Hmm. It ’ s not very reassuring perhaps, but   it makes sense.
    Tina says: That ’ ll be one French Crème on the rocks.
    Aggie says: Don ’ t say that. Don ’ t ever say that.
    Tina says: Why? What?
    Aggie says: French Crème. You ’ ll never guess what I did with it the other morning…
    Tina says: Do tell!
    Aggie says: While sleep-deprived, I mixed Ian a bottle of it.
    Tina says: NO WAY!
    Aggie says: WAY… he was bouncing like Tigger on his tail, while the rest of the kids were snug in their beds. And the diapers that followed…
    Tina says: tee hee…
    Aggie says: Listen you; I know where you live, and I will come and find you…
    Tina says: Like you dare leave the house for that long. Face it Aggie m ’ dear; I ’ m perfectly safe to enjoy your maternal escapades from this safe distance.
    Aggie says: I ’ d love to tell you what I think about those escapades, but I hear a late night marauder wandering the hallway. I ’ m guessing Cari has finally discovered Ellie ’ s candy stash. I ’ ll bet she thinks she can snag some while Ellie sleeps. Bonsoir, my friend. I go to stop the natives from their plundering!
    Tina says: Poofs then!
    Aggie says: Poofs!

Chapter 2
     
     
    Along with the Hits
     
    Saturday, March 2nd
     
    Sarge ’ s off-key bugle sounded the alarm promptly at six a.m. Aggie, through the thick fog of interrupted sleep, and determined not to allow another day of early morning chaos, jumped up, slammed her fist on Sarge ’ s “ head ” and extricated herself from the tentacles of her covers. Without wasting time searching for her slippers, she tripped over the mountain of laundry that covered the hamper outside her door, creating a short trail behind her. She raced down the hallway, throwing doors open and calling, “ Up and at