[Kentucky Brothers 01] - The Journey (40 page)

It’s not my place to say anything
, Titus decided.
If Suzanne told Nelson about the table she made, she might not have said anything to Isaac. Even if she did, it’s best if I don’t let on that I know. It might not set well with Nelson or Isaac if they learn that I was the first person Suzanne told
.

“Would you like me to take lunch out to the men now?” Suzanne asked her mother after they finished making some tuna fish sandwiches with zucchini relish.

“I’d appreciate that,” Mom said. “I still need to wash another load of clothes.”

“No problem. I think I’ll put some of my banana bread in the lunch basket, too. They can have that for dessert.”

“That’s fine. Oh, and don’t forget the jug of apple cider in the refrigerator. I’m glad we were able to use the Beilers’ cider press to make more, because I opened the only jar left from last season.”

Suzanne put everything together and headed out the door. When she entered the woodshop, she discovered that Nelson and Grandpa weren’t there and Titus was working alone.

“I brought lunch out for the three of you,” she said to Titus, “but it appears that you’re the only one here right now.”

He looked up from staining a door and nodded. “Nelson and your grandpa had an errand to run and left me in charge of the shop until they get back.”

Suzanne frowned.
I wonder why they didn’t call me out to help. Maybe Grandpa didn’t think they were busy enough for my help today. Or maybe Nelson talked him out of letting me work in the shop
.

Titus motioned to the basket she’d placed on Grandpa’s desk. “If you made enough food for three of us, why don’t you stay and join me for lunch? I sure can’t eat it all by myself.”

“Thanks, I think I will.” Suzanne took everything out of the basket. Then after Titus washed up at the sink, they took seats on either side of the desk and said their silent prayers.

“I made tuna fish mixed with relish again,” she said, handing him a sandwich.

He grinned at her. “That sounds good.”

They ate their sandwiches in silence; then Titus leaned forward and looked intently at Suzanne.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Have I got tuna fish on my face?”

He shook his head. “I was just thinking what pretty eyes you have. They’re darker and bluer than I thought.”

She felt the heat of a blush spread across her cheeks. “Danki.”

“I hope you weren’t upset with me for not taking you home last night. With the way I smelled, I didn’t think you’d want to sit in the closed-in buggy, holding your nose all the way home.”

She chuckled. “You did smell pretty bad.”

Titus sniffed his arm and snickered. “It took two more showers after I got home, but I think I finally got the smell off. I washed my clothes, too, but my shoes are ruined.” He shook his head. “Still can’t believe how I fell into that manure pit.”

“It was awfully dark, and you couldn’t see where you were going.”

“That’s the truth. Sure hope nothing like that ever happens to me again.”

“I guess the only thing worse than falling into a manure pit would be getting sprayed by a skunk.”

He wrinkled his nose. “That happened to me and Timothy once. We were heading outside to feed the chickens and ran into a couple of skunks in the yard. Before we knew what happened, they let us have it.” He waved his hand in front of his nose. “That smell was horrible! It took a whole lot of soap and a good dousing with tomato juice before Mom would even let us in the house.”

She laughed. “I guess there are some things from our childhood we’ll never forget.”

“You’re right about that.” Titus smiled. “I got some good news this morning that made me almost forget about the manure bath.”

“What news?”

“I’ll be getting a double-wide manufactured home soon. Allen’s having it brought in and will be taking the old trailer out.”

“That is good news. The trailer is still in pretty sad shape, and it’ll be nice for you to have something better to live in.”

He nodded. “Especially since I’m planning to buy the place and stay where I am.”

“I’m glad you’re staying.” She handed him the loaf of banana bread. “Would you like some of this?”

He took a slice and chomped it down. “Your lemon shoofly pie was really good, but so is this. You ought to take some of the banana bread to the produce auction on Saturday. I’m sure folks would buy it when they stop to look at your colorful mums.”

“That’s a thought. Maybe I will take some banana bread.”

He winked at her, and another wave of heat washed over Suzanne. Was Titus flirting with her, or was he just in a jovial mood?

“I thought you might like to know that this morning I told my family about the table I made,” she said, changing the subject.

“What’d they say?”

“Mom and Grandpa seemed to understand my desire to work with wood, but Nelson wasn’t supportive at all. He got pretty upset when Grandpa said I could help in the shop during busier times. I think he’s still convinced that a woman’s place is in the house, slaving over a hot stove or scrubbing floors.” Suzanne took a piece of banana bread for herself. “If you want my opinion, I think my twenty-year-old brother is more old-fashioned than my seventy-four-year-old grandfather.”

“I guess age isn’t always a factor when it comes to being old-fashioned.” Titus smiled. “I’m glad you’ll be working in the shop. If there’s anything you need help with, just let me know.”

“I appreciate that, and I’m glad to know you don’t disapprove.”

“Not at all. I think everyone ought to have the right to do what they like best.”

“By the way,” Suzanne said, “I was wondering what you plan to do with Callie’s kittens now that they’re fully weaned and getting so big.”

“Guess I’d better run an ad in the local paper or put a sign out by the road.” Titus reached for another piece of bread. “While I can’t say that I’ve become a cat lover, I have learned to tolerate Callie. But that doesn’t mean I want a whole passel of cats hanging around.”

“I’m sure if you advertise you’ll be able to find them all good homes.”

Titus swiped a napkin over his mouth and studied her intently again.

“Now what’s wrong?”

“Nothin’. I was just wondering if you’d like to—”

The shop door opened, and Bishop King stepped in. “I need to order some new kitchen cabinets,” he said, looking at Titus. “Can you have them done in time for my wife’s birthday next month?”

“I think so,” Titus said with a nod. “Let’s go to the back of the shop, and you can pick out the wood you’d like.”

Titus would be busy with the bishop for a while, so Suzanne gathered up the leftovers from lunch and headed to the house. She couldn’t help wondering what Titus had been about to say before the bishop came in.

After work, Titus hoped to speak to Suzanne again, but Verna informed him that Suzanne had gone to the Beilers’ store. So Titus headed for home, hoping he’d have a chance to speak with her tomorrow, for he still had one question he wanted to ask.

When Titus arrived home, he took care of Lightning, then headed to the phone shanty to call his folks. He was surprised when Mom answered.

“Titus, is that you?”

“Jah. I was going to leave you a message and was surprised when you answered the phone.”

“I just came out to the phone shanty to check for messages and heard the phone ring. Did you have a nice birthday? Did you get our card and phone message?”

“I sure did.” Titus picked up the pen lying beside the phone and drew a doodle of a cat on the tablet. “Suzanne made my birthday special, too.” “Oh?”

“She invited me to supper and baked a real good pie.” He snickered. “Even served it with birthday candles.”

“Suzanne’s the young woman who looks like Phoebe, right?”

“Jah, but she’s really nothing like her. In fact—”

“Your daed and I had another surprise today,” Mom interrupted.

“What’s that?”

“Samuel dropped by this morning and told us that Elsie’s expecting another boppli.”

“I already know, and it’s good news.”

“Did Samuel call you?”

“No, I talked to Zach. He said Samuel had given him the news when he got to work this morning.”

“Oh, I see. So how are things going with you?”

“Pretty good. Allen came by this morning, and he’s bringing in a used manufactured home to replace the old trailer.”

“That’s good to hear,” Mom said. “I wasn’t too impressed with the one you’re living in now.”

“I haven’t been impressed with it either.” Titus chose not to mention that he planned to buy the new place. He figured he’d tell Mom about it later. If he mentioned it now, she might become upset and start going on about how she didn’t want him living in Kentucky.

They talked about other things for a while, and then Titus finally told Mom the reason he’d called. “I was wondering if you could do me a favor.”

“Sure. What do you need?”

“I was wondering if you’d speak to Arie Stoltzfus and get Phoebe’s address for me.”

There was dead silence on the other end of the line.

“Mom, did you hear what I said?”

“I heard. I just can’t believe you’d ask me that. I thought you moved to Kentucky to get away from everything that reminds you of Phoebe. Now you want to contact her? What’s happened, Titus? Are you hoping to get back with her? Are you going to try and convince her to move to Kentucky and marry you?”

“ ‘Course not. It’s over between me and Phoebe. I just want to write and let her know that there are no hard feelings and that I’ve forgiven her for hurting me the way she did.”

“Is that all?”

“Jah.”

“Well, if that’s the case, I’ll speak to Arie sometime this week and ask for Phoebe’s address.”

“Danki, Mom. I appreciate it.”

“As soon as I get the address, I’ll call and leave the information on your voice mail.”

“Okay, Mom. Tell everyone I said hello.”

When Titus hung up the phone, he sat a few minutes, wondering if Mom would really ask Arie for Phoebe’s address. If so, would Arie give it to her? If she did, what should he write to Phoebe, and what, if anything, would be her response?

F
annie stared at the phone, trying to figure out what she should do. She’d told Titus that she’d get Phoebe’s address for him, and she wanted to believe what he’d said, but the fear of them getting back together plagued her so much, she wasn’t sure she could follow through with what she’d promised. Maybe if she let it go awhile, Titus would forget the whole idea.

That wouldn’t be right
, she told herself.
I said I’d do it, so I need to keep my word, and I need to believe that Titus was telling the truth when he said he wasn’t trying to get back with Phoebe
.