[Kentucky Brothers 01] - The Journey (15 page)

“No, but I just visited a cocky rooster.”

Esther tipped her head. “What are you talking about?”

Suzanne explained about taking the primroses to plant in the flower bed in front of Titus’s trailer and how he hadn’t even said
thank you
. “If I were you, I’d think twice about a possible relationship with Titus,” she added.

“Do you mean because he didn’t appreciate the flowers?”

“It’s not just that. Titus has recently broken up with his girlfriend back home, who apparently looks like me.” Suzanne grimaced. “I’m sure he’s not over her yet, so you may as well give up on the idea of him courting you.”

Esther’s eyebrows squeezed together. “Are you sure the reason you don’t want me to have a relationship with Titus isn’t because you’re interested in him?”

“Of course that’s not the reason. I’m not the least bit interested in Titus.” Suzanne leaned on the counter and pursed her lips. “Since I remind him of his old girlfriend, I’m sure that’s at least one of the reasons I irritate him.”

“Did he tell you that?”

“Pretty much.”

“That’s
lecherich
.”

“I agree, but while it might seem ridiculous to us, if Titus is still hurting because of his ex-girlfriend, then I guess looking at me makes him feel even worse.”

Esther’s forehead puckered. “If he’s not over her yet, then I suppose he’s probably not interested in beginning a relationship with me … unless I can make him forget her.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“How come?”

“I just told you. He’s trying to get over a broken heart. Besides, he hates cats.”

Esther slowly shook her head. “Not everyone is crazy about cats the way you are.”

“I’m not saying they have to be crazy about cats, but Titus doesn’t even like them. When I was there this morning, he chased poor Callie with a broom. Of course, he did help me get a can off her head.”

“What?”

Suzanne explained how Titus had cut the can off Callie’s head. “Poor Callie was really traumatized, and I’m surprised she’s still hanging around his place.”

“Maybe she stays because there are so many mice.”

Suzanne nodded. “That has to be it. She’s certainly not staying because she’s treated well. I think I’m going to head over there again and see if I can find her. If I do, I’ll take her back to my house where she’ll be safe.”

I
’m so sorry, Hannah,” Timothy murmured as he sat beside his wife’s bed, holding her limp hand in his. “I know how much you wanted this baby.”

Tears welled in her soft brown eyes, and she sniffed a couple of times. “D-didn’t you want the boppli, too?”

“Of course I did, but we still have Mindy, and if it’s God’s will, we’ll have another baby sometime.”

She pulled her hand away from his and turned her head toward the wall. “I … I can’t even think about that right now.”

“You’re right. You just need to rest and get your strength back.” He gave her arm a gentle pat. “Why don’t you close your eyes and try to get some sleep? I’m going down the hall to phone my folks and let them know we lost the boppli. Your mamm’s in the waiting room, and I’ll tell her you’re resting and that she can come in to see you after you’ve had a nap.”

Hannah only nodded in reply.

Timothy left the room and hurried down the hall, where he found a phone booth outside the waiting room. After he’d called his folks and left a message, he dialed the Yoders’ number and left one for Titus as well. He wished his twin was here now so he could talk to him about all this. They’d always been there for each other in the past, and it was hard to have Titus living so far away—especially now, when Timothy needed his support.

He gripped the phone so tightly that his fingers ached.
It’s Phoebe’s fault Titus isn’t here. It was because of her selfishness in running off to California that he decided to leave home. Titus should never have gotten involved with that selfish girl. He should have listened to me and courted Sarah Beechy, who was older and more mature. Of course
, Timothy reasoned,
it’s too late for that now. Sarah married Daniel King a year ago, and they’re expecting their first baby. What my twin brother needs is to find a mature woman who can cook as well as Mom, is sweet-tempered like our sister Abby, and enjoys the outdoors as much as Titus does
.

Pembroke, Kentucky

When Suzanne pulled her horse and buggy up to the hitching rail in Titus’s yard, it didn’t take her long to realize that he’d already left for work, because his horse wasn’t in the corral, where it had been earlier this morning.

Suzanne climbed down from the buggy and secured Dixie to the rail. Then she headed for the barn, hoping Callie might be there.

When she stepped into the barn, she blinked a couple of times, trying to adjust her eyes to the dimness there. “Here, Callie,” she called. “Kumme, kitty. Come.”

All was quiet, and there was no sign of the cat.
Maybe she’s sleeping in a pile of hay somewhere
.

Suzanne clapped her hands. “Here, kitty, kitty.”

Still no response.

Suzanne searched all around the barn, clapping her hands and calling Callie’s name, but the cat was nowhere to be found.

Suzanne left the barn and wandered around the yard, continuing to call for the cat. Nothing. Not even a quiet
meow
.

Finally, resigned to the fact that she wasn’t going to find the cat today, Suzanne untied Dixie and climbed back in the buggy.

When Suzanne arrived home sometime later, she found Mom outside hanging clothes on the line.

“Do you need my help?” she asked, stepping up to the basket of laundry.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m almost done.” Mom motioned to the paper sack in Suzanne’s hands. “I take it you stopped by the store on your way home?”

“Jah. I needed more thread to finish Esther’s quilt.”

“Are you close to having it done?”

“I’m getting there, and since Esther’s birthday is only a week away, I really need to work on the quilt for the rest of today. Unless you need me for something else, that is.”

Mom shook her head. “You’re free to work on the quilt.”

“Okay, great.”

“Did Titus like the primroses you took over to his place this morning?” Mom asked.

Suzanne shrugged. “I really don’t know. He didn’t even say thanks.”

“Well, some men don’t appreciate flowers that much.” Mom smiled, although unexpected tears had gathered in her eyes. “Except for your daed, of course. He enjoyed the beautiful flowers we grow in our garden as much as I do.”

Suzanne nodded. “I think you’re right, and I sure do miss him.”

“Me, too.” Mom sniffled, as though trying to hold back her tears. “Last year was hard, losing first my mamm, and then your daed. But for all our sakes, I’ve tried to focus on the positive.”

“You’ve done a good job of it, too.” Suzanne gave Mom a hug. She was thankful they still had Grandpa with them, and hoped he’d live a good many more years.

A few minutes before noon, Verna Yoder came out to the shop with lunch for the men.

“Where’s Suzanne?” Titus asked when Verna set the basket on Isaac’s desk. “She’s usually the one who brings lunch out to us.”

“Suzanne’s in the house, working on a birthday present for her friend Esther.”

“Oh, I see. Maybe I’ll stop by the house after work today because there’s something I need to tell her.”

“Would you like me to give Suzanne a message?” Verna asked.

“No, that’s okay. What I have to say is best said to her face.”

Nelson looked over at Titus with raised brows. “Is there something going on between you and my sister?”

Titus’s face heated. “ ‘Course not. I just need to tell her something, that’s all.”

“What kind of sandwiches did you bring us?” Isaac asked, as though sensing Titus’s discomfort.

“Bologna and cheese.” Verna smiled. “There’s also a jug of milk and some brownies in the basket.”

Titus smacked his lips. “Brownies sound good; I like most anything chocolate.”

“You wouldn’t like my sister’s chocolate pie,” Nelson said. “She made it once, and—”

“You should get busy and eat so you can get back to work.” Verna gestured to the stack of wood in one corner of the room. “Looks like you’ve got plenty to do.”

“That’s a fact,” Isaac said with a nod. “Just this morning we got an order for a custom-made storage shed, and also a set of kitchen cabinets. If things keep going like this, I may need to hire another man.”

Verna smiled. “I’m glad you’re keeping busy. It’s better to have too much work than not enough.” She moved toward the door. “I need to check the clothes on the line, so I’ll leave you three alone to eat.”

After the men’s silent prayer, Titus grabbed a sandwich and eagerly ate his lunch. Everything tasted good, and he found that he was even hungrier than he’d realized.

They’d just finished eating when an English man who lived in the area entered the shop, also wanting a storage shed.

While Isaac wrote up the man’s order, Titus and Nelson started working on a set of cabinets that had been ordered last week. Titus was glad they were busy, because being busy helped take his mind off his concerns for his family back home. He wished he knew how Hannah was doing.

Shortly before quitting time, Verna returned to the shop and told Titus that she’d discovered a message for him on their voice mail.

“Who’s it from?” Titus asked.

“Your brother, Timothy, and I think you should go out to the shanty and listen to the message yourself.”

It must be bad news about Hannah
, Titus thought as he hurried out the door.

When he entered the phone shanty and listened to the message, his suspicions were confirmed. Hannah had lost the baby, and Timothy sounded very upset. He said he didn’t know what he could do to comfort Hannah, and asked for Titus to remember them in his prayers.

Titus let his head fall forward into the palms of his hands and said a prayer for them right then. Hearing the grief in his brother’s voice made him wonder if he should ask Isaac for some time off so he could go home. But with all the work they had piled up in the shop, he knew that unless it was a real emergency, he probably shouldn’t ask for any time off. If only he could call home more often and speak directly to someone, instead of leaving messages all the time.

Titus sat a few more minutes; then he lifted his head, picked up the phone, and dialed Allen’s number. He was glad when Allen answered on the second ring.

“Hey, Allen, it’s me, Titus. If you’re not busy on Saturday, would you be free to come and get me? I want to go to Hopkinsville and see about getting a cell phone.”