[Kentucky Brothers 01] - The Journey (23 page)

Suzanne nodded. “Nelson. He’s special.”

Mom snickered. “I wasn’t talking about your bruder. I was hoping some nice young man would have the good sense to ask if he could escort you home from the singing.”

“Well, no one did. Esther got an invite, though.”

“From who?”

“Titus. He took her to see the Jefferson Davis Monument yesterday, too.” Suzanne smiled. “You should have seen the dreamy look on Esther’s face when Titus came over to talk with us.”

Mom puckered her lips. “I’d rather hoped it would be you Titus took an interest in, not Esther.”

Suzanne shook her head. “It’s fine with me if he and Esther get together because I have no interest in him at all.”

“Why not? He’s nice looking, and from what Nelson and your grossdaadi have said, Titus is a hard worker.”

“That may be so, but he’s not interested in me, nor I in him.” Suzanne covered her mouth and yawned. “Think I’ll head upstairs to bed.”

Mom gave Suzanne’s arm a gentle pat. “Sleep well, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

As Suzanne climbed the steps to her room, she thought more about Titus taking Esther home from the singing, and a feeling of envy washed over her. It wasn’t that she’d wanted Titus to give her a ride home; she just wished someone—even someone she didn’t care for that much—would have brought her home from the singing. Of course, she wouldn’t admit that to anyone. Let everyone think she was content to be an old maid, because that’s surely where she was headed.

When Titus woke up the following morning, he’d only been out of bed a short time when his cell phone rang. When he hit the T
ALK
button, he was surprised to hear Mom’s voice.

“Hi, Titus. I’ve been wanting to call ever since I heard you got a cell phone and was hoping I’d catch you before you left for work this morning.”

“You caught me all right. I haven’t even had breakfast yet.” Titus rose from his seat on the bed. “What’s up, Mom?”

“I wanted to see how you’re doing.”

Titus wandered out to the kitchen and turned on the propane-powered stove. He needed a cup of coffee in order to wake up. “I’m good. How are things with you and Dad?”

“We’re both fine, but we miss you.”

“I miss you and the rest of the family, too.”

“Your daed and I stopped by to see Timothy and Hannah yesterday afternoon.”

“How are they doing?”

“Better. Hannah’s not quite so depressed anymore.”

“That’s good to hear.” Titus moved over to the sink and filled the coffeepot with water. When he glanced out the kitchen window, he spotted Callie slinking across the grass.
Stupid cat. She ought to be in the barn with her kittens. Sure wish I hadn’t gotten stuck with her
.

“I hesitate to bring this up,” Mom said, “but I spoke with Phoebe’s mamm during the meal after church yesterday.”

“Oh?” Titus’s head started to pound. He hoped Mom wasn’t going to lecture him about Phoebe again.

“Arie’s been awfully worried since the last time she spoke with Phoebe on the phone.”

“How come?”

“Apparently, Phoebe and Darlene are living in a rundown apartment in a bad part of town. Arie’s concerned that it might not be safe. Phoebe’s also been running around with some English kids, and from what little Phoebe’s told Arie, she believes they do some things our church would not approve of.”

“There isn’t much Arie can do about it, Mom. Moving to California was Phoebe’s choice, and she obviously wants to be on her own.”

“I know that, but Arie’s also worried that Phoebe might never return to Pennsylvania and the Amish way of life.”

“She’s probably right about that.” Titus set the coffeepot on the stove and took a seat at the table to wait for it to perk. He wished Mom didn’t feel the need to talk about Phoebe—especially when he was trying so hard to forget her.

“I’m glad Phoebe moved away, because if she’d stayed, she may have dragged you down.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I know how easily you were swayed by her, and I’m glad she’s finally out of your life.”

Titus’s fingers tightened around his cell phone. Thinking about Phoebe living in California was bad enough, but did Mom need to mention that he’d been easily swayed by Phoebe? It wasn’t as if he’d let her talk him into doing anything bad. Titus’s biggest error was in believing Phoebe when she’d promised to join the church and marry him.

“While your daed and I were visiting with Timothy yesterday,” Mom continued, “he mentioned that he’d talked to you, and that you’re courting a young woman there.”

“Her name is Esther, and we’re not really—”

“I’m glad you’re seeing someone, because I’m sure it’s helping you get over Phoebe. But I hope you won’t rush into anything. You need to make sure you know this young woman well before you become serious about her.”

“Mom, it’s not like I’m going to marry Esther. We just went to see the Jefferson Davis Monument on Saturday, and then I took her home from the singing last night.”

“Two days in a row? That sounds like you’re getting serious to me.”

“We’re just friends.”

“What’s Esther like?”

“She has a pretty face and a pleasant personality.” He paused, debating about how much he should tell Mom. He didn’t want her to think he was getting serious about Esther when he wasn’t sure yet how he felt about her. “I’ll let you know if we end up getting serious, but right now I need to go. I have to call the phone company. I discovered a shanty out back, and I need to see about them getting the phone in it up and running, and then I need to head to work.”

“If you’re getting a phone connected in the phone shanty, does that mean you’ll be getting rid of your cell phone?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll let you know when I decide.”

“Okay, son. Take care, and please keep in touch.”

“I will, Mom. Bye.” Titus clicked off the phone and drew in a deep breath. He wished Mom hadn’t mentioned Phoebe. He wished he could forget he’d ever met the beautiful young woman with shiny auburn hair and sparking blue eyes.

As Titus entered the woodshop that morning, he discovered Suzanne sitting at her grandfather’s desk, going over the books. “How’s your grossdaadi doing?” he asked.

“He’s in a lot of pain, and since his wrist is sprained quite badly, he won’t be able to do the bookwork for a while, so I’ll be coming in to get it done.”

“I’m sure he appreciates your help.”

“I only wish I could do more.”

“Is there something I can do to help today?” he asked.

She hesitated a minute and finally nodded. “If you can stay after work for an hour or two, there are several chores you could help Nelson and the boys with.”

“Sure, no problem.”

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll be taking some of our bedding plants to the auction, so that will cut into some of my time around here.”

“I’ve seen the auction building, and I’m hoping I can stop by there sometime.”

“I’m sure you’d enjoy it. If you come hungry, there’s a place to get food there, too.”

He grinned and thumped his stomach. “I’m always eager to find places that serve good food.”

Suzanne finished the bookwork, then left the woodshop and went out to the phone shanty to check for messages. Mom’s sister Karen, who lived in Michigan, had called saying that she’d be going to the hospital in a few days to have surgery on her back.

Suzanne hurried into the house and gave Mom the message.

Mom turned from her job of doing dishes, and deep wrinkles formed in forehead. “I knew Karen’s back was getting worse and figured she might need surgery. I just wasn’t counting on it happening so soon. I’d like to go and help out, but with Dad needing more care right now, this isn’t a good time for me to be gone.” She dried her hands on a dish towel and moved toward Suzanne. “Unless you think you can take over for me while I’m gone.”

Suzanne could tell by the look of desperation on Mom’s face that she really wanted to be with her sister. But if Mom went away, she’d be responsible for most of the household chores, as well as fixing all the meals. She contemplated things for a few more seconds, then finally nodded. “I’m sure I can manage while you’re gone. I just hope no one gets sick from my terrible cooking.”

S
uzanne’s mother left for Michigan the next day, and for the next few weeks, Suzanne’s life was a blur. Besides seeing that Grandpa’s needs were met, she’d been going to the produce auction once a week, and out to the woodshop to do the books twice a week. She was also responsible for seeing that her younger sister and brother did their chores every day, not to mention being stuck with the responsibility of preparing all the meals. Since Suzanne didn’t know how to cook much of anything very well, she knew they’d been eating a lot of soup and sandwiches.

She had been hoping to spend some time in the woodshop, making birdhouses to sell at the auction, but the only time she could work there without anyone knowing was late at night, and by then she was too exhausted. Even though Titus had been helping with some of the chores, Suzanne had more than she could handle.

Since today was Saturday and the woodshop was closed, it would have been the perfect time to do some work there. Unfortunately, she had to be at the auction the first half of the day, and the last half, she’d spend doing household chores and making sure that Effie cleaned her room.

As Suzanne hurried to make breakfast that morning, her head began to pound. How did Mom manage to get so much done and make it look so easy?

“You look
meid
this morning,” Grandpa said as he hobbled into the kitchen, using his cane for support.

She yawned and stretched her arms over her head. “You’re right; I’m very tired.”

“That’s because you’re trying to do too much and not getting enough sleep.”

“There’s much to do, and so little time to do it.”

“You don’t have to do it all, you know. Some of the bookwork in the shop can wait until your mamm gets home, and I’m sure Russell would be happy to take the bedding plants to the auction for you.”