A Sister's Test (32 page)

Roman set his cup down with such force, a splash of coffee spilled on the sandwich that lay before him. “If she’d wanted to say something to me, then she would have written or come for a visit.” He picked up the sandwich, tossed it in the lunch box, and slammed the lid. “Appetite’s gone now.”

Cleon stepped over to the workbench and laid his hand on Roman’s shoulder. “I think you’d better take a deep breath and count to twenty. You’re getting all worked up, and it’s not good for your health.”

“Maybe we should go up to the house,” Judith suggested. “I’ll fix some iced tea and we can sit in the living room and talk things through.”

“No way!” Roman folded his arms in an unyielding pose. “I’ve got work to do.” He glared at Rosemary. “Besides, I’ve got nothing to say to the likes of you, and neither does anyone in my family.”

Tears stung the back of Rosemary’s eyes, blurring her vision. Coming here had been a mistake. She should have stayed in Idaho, just as her son and daughter-in-law wanted her to do.

“I’m sorry I bothered you. I should have known you would still be stubborn like you were as a child.” With a strangled sob, Rosemary rushed out the door.

U
nable to stand the dejected look on her aunt’s face, Ruth hurried out of the woodworking shop after Rosemary. She thought her father was being cruel in his unwillingness to listen to what his sister wanted to say, and it wouldn’t be right to let the poor woman leave without someone saying something to her.

Aunt Rosemary was almost to her car when Ruth caught up to her. “Don’t go,” she panted. “You need to talk things through with my dad.”

Rosemary turned toward Ruth and sniffed deeply. “You heard what he said; he has nothing to say to me.”

“Dad’s upset right now. Give him some time to calm down and think things through.”

“Are you suggesting I try again?”

Ruth nodded. “Not right now, but maybe in a day or two.”

Rosemary shook her head. “I’m not so sure—”

“Mom will talk to him, and so will I. Please, won’t you come back in a few days?”

Tears glistened in Rosemary’s eyes. “There’s not much left for me here anymore. But I came all this way, so I suppose I should stay awhile longer.”

“Life is so short, and one never knows when their loved ones will be snatched away.” Ruth drew in a quick breath. “If you were to leave without making things right between you and Dad, you might regret it for the rest of your life.”

“I already do. I never should have left home in the first place.”
Rosemary opened her car door and stepped into the driver’s seat. “I’ve taken a room at Hannah’s House, a bed-and-breakfast in Berlin, so I’ll be back in a couple of days.”

As Ruth watched her aunt drive out of the yard, a lump lodged in her throat. Nothing was right anymore. Misunderstanding, misery, and confusion abounded at every turn. There seemed to be no answers for any of it.

With a heavy heart, she made her way back to her father’s shop. Maybe Mom had been able to talk some sense into Dad by now. Maybe when his sister returned, he would be willing to listen to what she had to say.

As Martha guided her horse and buggy up the driveway leading to her house, a gray compact car passed her on the left. A middle-aged woman with short brown hair sat in the driver’s seat. Martha didn’t recognize her. Maybe she was a tourist who had gotten lost and needed directions. Or maybe she’d had business at Dad’s woodworking shop.

Martha directed the horse to the hitching rail near the barn and climbed down from the buggy. After she unhitched the horse and led him to the corral, she went around to the back of the buggy to remove the dog carrier.

“Did you have any success at the auction?”

Martha turned and smiled at Grace, who held baby Daniel in her arms. “Jah, I got another female beagle to take Flo’s place.”

“That’s good. Let’s hope this one isn’t barren.”

“She’s already had one litter of pups, so I’m sure she’ll be able to have more.” Martha reached over and stroked the top of Daniel’s head. “Are you two out for a walk?”

“Not really. Cleon was supposed to come home for lunch, but it’s after one and he hasn’t shown up. I thought I’d better go down to the shop and see if he’s still planning to eat lunch at the house or if he wants me to bring him something there.”

Martha glanced toward the woodworking shop. “If you’ll wait a minute, I’ll walk with you. I’d like to show Dad my new dog.”

“Sure, we can wait.”

Martha took the dog out of the carrier and clipped a leash to its collar. “We’re ready.”

Grace smiled. “She’s a nice-looking dog. What’d you name her?”

“Polly. She already had the name when I got her.”

“I like it,” Grace said as they started walking down the path toward the shop.

“I saw Luke Friesen at the dog auction. He bought a female cocker spaniel to give his mamm for her birthday. We discussed the idea of me getting a male cocker later on and breeding the two.”

“Better not mention that idea to Dad.” Grace frowned. “I don’t think he’d be pleased about you making plans that involve Luke.”

“Dad’s been irritated ever since he fired Luke.” Martha grunted. “I used to think Dad liked Luke, and I can’t believe he and Ruth suspect Luke might have done all those terrible things to us. Luke seems like a nice fellow. I’m sure he would never do anything criminal.”

“I don’t think he could, either.” Grace stopped walking and turned to face Martha. “It’s been several months since there was an attack—not since Ruth and Martin’s buggy was rammed.”

“And we don’t know for sure that the person responsible for the accident was the same one who broke into our house and did all of the other acts of vandalism to our property.”

“That’s true. Whoever hit the buggy could have been drinking. Maybe they got scared and fled the scene when they realized they had caused an accident.”

Martha shook her head. “Try telling that to Ruth. She thinks the person who hit them did it on purpose, and she’s convinced that Luke is the one responsible for that, too.”

“How could it have been Luke when he drives a horse and buggy?”

“He owns a truck and keeps it hidden in the woods.”

Grace’s mouth dropped open. “Really? This is the first I’ve heard that.”

Martha clamped her hand over her mouth. She couldn’t believe she’d blurted that out. Especially after Ruth had asked her not to say anything.

“Does Dad know what Ruth suspects?”

“No, but I talked to Luke soon after the accident. In fact, I came right out and asked what he was doing on Christmas Eve.”

“What’d he say?”

“Said he was home all evening, except for a quick trip to the Kings’ place to borrow something his mamm needed.”

Deep lines etched Grace’s forehead. “Then he could have done it.”

Martha shook her head vigorously. “I asked Luke if he’d been driving his truck on Christmas Eve, and he said he hadn’t.”

“And you believe him?”

“Jah. He said he went to the Kings’ around four o’clock. Since Martin and Ruth’s accident happened sometime after six, he couldn’t have done it.”

“Well,” Grace said, releasing a sigh, “we can’t solve anything standing here speculating. Let’s get into the shop before my arms give out.” She smiled at Daniel, fast asleep in her arms. “This young man feels like he weighs a ton.”

Martha chuckled. It was good to see Grace feeling better these days. For a while after Daniel was born, Grace had been sullen and mildly depressed.

They stepped onto the porch of Dad’s shop, and Martha had no more than opened the door, when she heard Mom’s pleading voice.

“Roman, won’t you please listen to reason? This may have been your only chance to—”

“
My
only chance?” Dad bellowed. “It’s that woman who had a chance. But she threw it out the window the day she left home.”

“What’s going on?” Grace asked, looking at Cleon, who stood off to one side with an anxious expression. “I thought you were coming up to the house for lunch.”

“I was, until things got sticky in here. Figured I’d better hang around and see if I could help get your daed calmed down.”

Martha felt immediate concern. “What’s wrong with Dad?”

Cleon nodded toward the workbench where Dad stood beside Mom. “Better let him explain.”

Martha hurried across the room. “What’s going on? Why were you shouting at Mom?”

“My sister came home,” he said with a groan.

Martha gasped. “The sister who’s been gone more than thirty years?”

Dad gave one quick nod.

“That’s wunderbaar,” Grace said.

“Your daed doesn’t think so.” Mom shook her head. “He sent Rosemary away.”

Martha glanced out the window. “That must have been her in the car I passed when I came up the driveway. Oh, Dad, how could you have sent her away? Didn’t you think we’d all like to meet her?”

“Ruth met her,” Mom said. “Apparently Rosemary went up to the house, and then Ruth brought her down here.”

“Did she say where she’s been all these years?” Grace asked.

“Boise, Idaho. She said her husband died recently, so she came here to see her family.”

“It’s too late for that,” Dad mumbled. “She never cared a whit about her family before, so why now?”

Mom frowned. “If you’d given her the chance to explain, you might have the answer to your question.”

Polly whined and pulled on her leash, and Martha looked down. She’d almost forgotten her reason for coming to the shop. “I came here to tell you that I bought a female beagle today,” she mumbled. “But I guess that’s not so important right now.”

“It is important, dear one.” Mom patted Martha’s arm. “But at the moment it’s hard to get enthused about anything.”

“Will Aunt Rosemary be back?” Grace asked. “I’d like to meet her.”

Dad shook his head. “If I have my way, I’ll never have to see that woman again.”

“I’m sorry about lunch being late,” Sue said as Abe pulled out a chair and took a seat at the table. “Molly got into a jar of petroleum jelly and made a mess of not only herself but the sofa cushions in the living room.”

Abe grimaced. Instead of things getting better for his sister, they seemed to be getting worse. Even with the four older ones in school,
Sue had her hands full caring for Molly and Owen during the day.

“I’m sorry to hear about your troubles.” He glanced over at Molly’s high chair and saw that it was empty. “Where’s my little girl now?”

“I gave her a bath after she made the mess. As I was drying her off, she fell asleep. I put her to bed and figured she could eat when she wakes up.”

“That makes sense.” Abe looked over at Owen and then back at Sue. “Should we bow for prayer?”

They nodded and lowered their heads. When the prayer was over, Abe helped himself to a piece of bread and slathered it with butter.

“I got a letter from home this morning,” Sue said.

“Was it from the folks?”

She nodded. “It was from Dad, letting me know that Mom fell and broke her hip last week. He asked if I could come home.”

Abe nearly choked on the bread he’d put in his mouth. “Ach! I’m sorry to hear about Mom.”

“I hate to leave you in the lurch, but she really needs me right now, so—”

Abe held up his hand. “No problem. You’re needed there more than here. I’m sure I can find someone to take your place.” He grabbed his glass of water and gulped some down. “I’ll start looking for a helper right away.”