[Kentucky Brothers 01] - The Journey (43 page)

As Suzanne headed down the driveway to get the mail that morning, she heard a loud
meow
. She turned and saw Samson, following in her footsteps. This was not unusual for the cat, because ever since he’d been a kitten he’d liked to go for walks with Suzanne.

Suzanne’s thoughts went to Titus, and how, when he’d first moved to Kentucky he’d made it clear that he had no fondness for cats.

she chuckled to herself.
I think Callie coming to live with him and giving birth to those kittens changed all that
. Sometimes when people were around someone long enough, they’d begin to see them in a different light. That had certainly been true of Suzanne and the way she felt about Titus. When he’d first come to work in the woodshop, she could barely tolerate him. Of course, she was sure the feeling had been mutual.

Since she and Titus had become better acquainted, she’d quickly discovered how much they had in common, and now saw him in a completely different light. What she’d previously seen as arrogance, she now realized was his way of disguising his feelings of inadequacy. Thankfully, he seemed more sure of himself now, as did she.

She’d come to realize more fully that Titus had a caring attitude toward others. He’d proven that when he’d helped out while Grandpa was recuperating from his fall. Even the way Titus had taken care of Callie and her brood was proof that he cared.

Suzanne looked forward to the time Titus would be staying at their house while he waited for his new home to be set up. She realized that since she and Titus had started courting, she been happier than she ever thought possible. All this time she’d been saying she didn’t need a boyfriend and didn’t care about getting married, but now that seemed to be all she could think about.

By the time Suzanne reached the mailbox, she’d convinced herself that Titus was the perfect man for her. She just hoped the feeling was mutual.

Paradise, Pennsylvania

When Fannie entered Naomi and Caleb’s store, she spotted Arie talking with Naomi at the front counter. She waited until Naomi had rung up Arie’s purchases and placed them in a paper sack; then she stepped up to Arie and said, “It’s good to see you. I heard you went to Michigan for your niece’s wedding.”

“That’s right.”

“How long have you been back?”

“We got home a week ago,” Arie said, avoiding eye contact.

“Did you get the message I left on your voice mail?”

“Jah.” Arie’s cheeks turned pink as she dropped her gaze to the floor.

“Then why haven’t you responded?”

“Let’s go outside.” Arie motioned to the door. “I’d rather not discuss this in here.”

Fannie glanced at Naomi and noticed a look of concern on her face. “I’ll be back to do my shopping after I speak with Arie,” she said.

Naomi nodded. “Of course. Take your time.”

Fannie followed Arie out the door and around back to the hitching rail where Arie’s horse and buggy were parked. She waited until Arie had put the paper sack in the buggy, then touched Arie’s arm and said, “If you got my message and have been home a week already, how come you haven’t replied by now?”

Arie’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why would you need my daughter’s address? Are you planning to write her because you’re still upset that she jilted your son?”

Fannie shook her head vigorously. “Of course not. Titus asked me to get the address for him.”

“Titus did? Whatever for? Is he hoping Phoebe will come back to him?”

“I’m sure that’s not what he has in mind. He just wants to set things right—to apologize for the ill feelings he’s had toward Phoebe and to let her know that he’s forgiven her for hurting him the way she did.”

Arie sucked in her lower lip and her eyes narrowed. “Is that all there is to it?”

“Jah.”

“All right then, I’ll give you Phoebe’s address, but I won’t guarantee she’ll answer his letter. For the last several months, she hasn’t responded to my phone calls or any of the letters I’ve written.” Arie sighed deeply, and tears welled in her eyes. “Unless God performs a miracle and changes Phoebe’s heart, I’m afraid Noah and I will never see or hear from our daughter again.”

Los Angeles, California

Phoebe’s stomach growled as she hurried down the street toward the ice-cream shop. She’d forgotten to set her alarm and had woken up late, so she hadn’t taken the time to eat breakfast. Not that there was much in her apartment to eat, anyway. She had cereal but no milk, bread but no butter, and coffee but no sugar to sweeten it. If she didn’t get more hours at her evening job soon, she didn’t know what she would do. Between Phoebe’s two part-time jobs, she was barely making enough to pay the rent and buy a few groceries. In order to save money, she’d started riding an old bike she’d bought at a pawn shop. It was cheaper than taking the bus to and from work and whenever she went shopping. It didn’t matter that the basket on the bike didn’t hold a lot, because she couldn’t afford to buy much, anyway.

When Phoebe entered the ice-cream shop she knew immediately that she was in trouble because her boss, Toby, stood behind the counter with his arms folded, glaring at her. “You’re late,” he growled, nodding at the clock on the far wall. “What’s your excuse this time, Phoebe?”

“I … uh … forgot to set my alarm, and—”

“You’ve used that line before, and it’s gettin’ kind of old.” Toby pointed to the freezer where the ice cream was kept. “As if your tardiness isn’t bad enough, the container of strawberry ice cream was nearly full at the beginning of your shift yesterday, and now it’s almost empty. What have you got to say about that?”

She dropped her gaze to the floor. “I … uh … sold a lot of ice cream yesterday.”

“Did everyone buy strawberry?”

“Well, no, but—”

“You think I don’t know what’s been going on behind my back, or when I’m not here in the shop?”

She gave no reply.

“You’ve been helping yourself to the ice cream whenever you want, haven’t you?”

A lump formed in Phoebe’s throat as she nodded slowly. “I … I was hungry.”

“What’s the matter? Have you been forgetting to pack a lunch, just like you’ve forgotten to set your alarm?”

She shook her head. “I don’t have much money, and I—”

“So you think it’s okay to steal from me?” His steely blue eyes seemed to bore right through her. “I thought you Amish folks were honest and upright.”

A feeling of shame washed over Phoebe. While she no longer dressed in Amish clothes, she’d told Toby when he’d first hired her that she’d grown up in an Amish home in Pennsylvania. She guessed he thought that meant she would set a good example. He was probably right—she should have—but he wasn’t the one doing without for lack of money. He didn’t have to work two jobs to make ends meet, either.

“I know I just got paid yesterday, but that money’s gone already, so I’ll pay you back for the ice cream I ate when I get my next paycheck.”

Toby shook his head. “There won’t be a next paycheck for you, young lady. I’ve had enough of your deceitful ways.” He pointed to the door. “You’d better turn around and head out now, because as of this minute, you’re fired!”

Phoebe stood a few seconds, letting his words sink in; then she whirled around and dashed out the door. With only one part-time job, she wouldn’t have enough money to pay the rent, much less get food. “What am I going to do now?” she wailed.

W
hen Titus woke up Saturday morning two weeks later, he looked around in amazement. He’d moved into his new house two days ago, and liked it a lot. No more squeaky drawers in the kitchen, bumping into the wall when he got out of bed, or dealing with leaky faucets or a toilet that overflowed. The manufactured home had been well cared for by its previous owners and had plenty of room. It had three bedrooms, one and a half baths, a full-sized kitchen, living room, dining room, and even a utility room where Titus’s new gas-powered wringer washer sat. It was nice not to have to haul his clothes to the Laundromat anymore.

Guess I should call my folks and let them know I’m settled into my new home
, Titus thought after he’d gone to the kitchen and poured himself some coffee.
Come to think of it, I haven’t been out to the phone shanty to check messages since I moved in here. Guess I may as well do that now
.

He added a spoonful of sugar to his coffee, picked up the mug, and headed out the door.

When he entered the dimly lit shanty, he turned on the battery-operated lantern, making it easier to see. The light on the phone was blinking, so he knew he had at least one message.

Titus took a seat at the table, punched the button to listen to the messages, and leaned back in his chair.

The first message was from Allen, reminding Titus that he’d be coming by later this afternoon to check things over on the house. He said he wanted to make sure everything was working right and that he’d picked up a used bedroom set he thought Titus could use if he had any overnight guests. Allen also said he’d be bringing the paperwork for Titus to sign in order to purchase the house and land.

He smiled.
Now that’s good news. Sure wish I’d had the manufactured home with an extra bedroom when Mom and Dad were here. Maybe Mom would have felt better about me living here if she’d seen this place instead of the old trailer
.

Titus listened to the next message. It was from Mom, saying she’d spoken to Arie Stoltzfus and that she’d gotten Phoebe’s address for him.

He picked up the pen lying beside the phone and started to jot down the information on his arm, but changed his mind and used the tablet instead. It was time to grow up and act more mature.

Titus stared at Phoebe’s address, and his thoughts took him on a journey to the past, remembering how things used to be between him and Phoebe….

“Sure wish I didn’t have to sneak over here like this in order to see you,” Titus said as he and Phoebe hid in the shadows behind her father’s barn. “It’s not fair that our folks won’t let us court until you turn sixteen.”

Phoebe moved closer until her arm was brushing his. “We can court without them knowing, just like we’re doing now.”