Free Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance) by Chautona Havig Page A

much of anything else. A squeal of fury erupted from the little girl, and she plowed across legs and feet to reach Gramma Milliken ’ s side. Reaching the drooling infant, the angry girl snatched the box from the baby and slapped his face and hands repeatedly. Aggie had reached her limit. Picking up the furious toddler, she attempted to remove Cari from the room.
    Geraldine protested, softly at first and then quite vehemently. “ It ’ s her birthday, Aggie. You are being quite cruel. I insist that you put Cari down. The child didn ’ t understand. ” Looking at the screaming kicking little girl Geraldine said, “ You thought he was hurting your present, didn ’ t you, darling? That box was for him, honey. ”
    Cari screamed, “ Nooooo! My birthday. My pwesents! Ian not have my pweasants! ”
    Aggie gave Geraldine a pointed look and continued her journey upstairs to deal with little Cari. Aggie suspected that this outburst had more to do with Cari sensing the underlying tension in the room and being overwhelmed with the sheer volume of stuff than anything, but her remaining in the room was only making things worse. She also wondered why Mrs. Stuart couldn ’ t see it and keep quiet. At the very least, the woman could keep calm so as not to make a bad situation worse.
    “ Aggie, let her have the present. For heaven ’ s sake, he ’ s a baby and won ’ t know. I ’ ll buy him something later. You can ’ t ruin her birthday over something so insignificant. ”
    Ron stood and nodded to Aggie, who escaped into her room to try to calm Cari. “ Geraldine. My daughter was right. Cari was out of control and needed to be removed from the room. ”
    “ I ’ ll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself, Ronald Milliken. Your daughter obviously has no idea how to handle a high-spirited child. ”
    Martha Milliken had tried to keep calm and silent, but this was too much. With a quiet but firm voice, she spoke. “ Geraldine Stuart, sit down. You are making things worse. Cari was overwhelmed with all of these gifts. ” Her eyes flashed with uncustomary rage. “ You know Doug and Allie didn ’ t allow you to bring very many gifts, but you deliberately chose to override it this time because you knew Aggie wouldn ’ t be prepared for it. You ’ ve hurt Cari, Aggie, and the rest of this family with your ostentatious display, and I think you ’ d better leave now. The girls ’ birthday is ruined. ”
    The strain was too much for Martha, and she slumped back into her chair weakly. A look of alarm crossed Ron ’ s face, and he quickly found his wife ’ s medication. “ That ’ s it. Douglas, Geraldine, you have the choice to leave, or I ’ ll call the police. Either way, you will go now . ”
    “ You do not have the authority to throw us out, as you well know. ” Geraldine was unfazed.
    “ Geraldine… ” Douglas seemed ready to acquiesce, but the irate woman shot her husband a look that silenced him.
    “ I may not, but if I call the police, Aggie will tell the officers that she wants you off of the premises. Do you understand me? Shall I call now, or are you leaving? ” It broke Ron ’ s heart to hear the children sniffling and see them beginning to huddle together, but due to previous experiences with Geraldine, he knew that this was only going to escalate.
    “ I am not leaving. I am going upstairs and bringing that poor child down here to enjoy her party. ”
    Aggie ’ s voice interrupted. “ Mrs. Stuart, you are doing nothing of the kind. If necessary, I will bodily stop you from moving up these stairs. ”
    Turning to the children Aggie said, “ Go out back -- all of you. Now ! ”
    “ You will not raise your voice to my grandchildren. The court will hear about the verbal and emotional abuse of these poor mother and fatherless children -- ”
    “ Parentless or not, these children are in my care, and I have not and would never hurt them in any way. I have called the police to report a domestic