Dear to Me (21 page)

As Gabe entered Dr. Franklin’s veterinary clinic, his face beaded with sweat. He hoped Melinda had left for the day, because he wanted to speak to Dr. Franklin without her knowing. He found the man sitting behind his desk looking at some paperwork.

 “Good afternoon, Gabe. I see you don’t have your dog with you today,” the doctor said. “Did you need something specific, or did you just drop by for a friendly chat?”

 “I was wondering if Melinda is here,” Gabe said, stepping up to the desk.

 Dr. Franklin shook his head. “She left half an hour ago.”

 A sense of relief swept over Gabe. “That’s good to hear.”

 The doctor’s eyebrows drew together as he squinted. “If you’re looking for Melinda, why would you think it’s good that she’s not here?”

 Gabe swiped the back of his hand across his damp forehead. He was already botching things and hadn’t even said what was on his mind. “I’m not actually
looking
for Melinda. I wanted to talk to you, but I don’t want Melinda to hear what I have to say.”

 Dr. Franklin leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk. “What did you want to speak to me about?”

 “Melinda and her plans to become a vet.”

 “Oh, I see.”

 “She said you were the one who gave her the idea. Is that true?”

 The doctor nodded. “Melinda’s got a special way with animals, and she could use her abilities much better if she furthered her education and got the right training.”

 “But she takes care of stray animals at her home.” Gabe made a sweeping gesture of the room with one hand. “And she helps you here at the clinic.”

 “Not the way she could if she were to become a vet or even a certified vet’s assistant.”

 Gabe clenched and unclenched his fingers. This conversation wasn’t going well at all. He moved a little closer and placed his palms on the desk. “I was hoping you’d be willing to discourage Melinda from leaving the faith.”

 “Why would I do that? As I said before, I think Melinda has potential.”

 “But if she leaves the faith, it will mean we can’t be married. It will also put space between Melinda and her family.”

 Dr. Franklin stacked the papers lying before him into a neat little pile, pushed his chair away from the desk, and stood. “Have you considered leaving with her? I’m sure you could find a job in the field of woodworking. From what Melinda’s told me, you’re an excellent craftsman.”

 Gabe rubbed his sweaty hands along the sides of his trousers. It was obvious that Dr. Franklin didn’t understand the way things were. All the man seemed to see was his own perspective, and he obviously had no idea of the consequences involved if Melinda left home. “So, you won’t discourage Melinda from becoming a vet?”

 The doctor shook his head. “Sorry, but no.”

 “Guess I’ll have to be the one to do it then,” Gabe mumbled as he turned and walked out the door.

Chapter 19

W
hen Melinda returned home from the veterinary clinic later that day, she found her mother standing in front of the kitchen sink peeling potatoes.

 “How was your day?” Mama asked over her shoulder.

 “It was good. Dr. Franklin had me hold a terrier so he could clip its nails. He said the animal seemed calmer with me there.”

 “I know how much you enjoy working at the veterinary clinic. Do you think you’ll miss it after you and Gabe are married?”

 Melinda sank to a seat at the table. “Who told you Gabe had asked me to marry him?”

 “I heard it from Freda Kaulp when I stopped by her store earlier today. She overheard a conversation between Susie and Leah Swartz the other day.” Mama sounded disappointed, and Melinda knew it wasn’t that she didn’t want Melinda to marry Gabe. More than likely, Mama was hurt because Melinda hadn’t told her the news herself.

 “I’m sorry you had to hear it secondhand,” Melinda apologized. “When Gabe proposed, we decided not to tell anyone until we had agreed on a date.” She sighed. “I guess Gabe must have told his mother. How else would Freda have found out?”

 Mama washed and dried her hands then joined Melinda at the table. “So,
have
the two of you set a wedding date?”

 “Not yet. We’ve had a couple of disagreements lately, and I don’t want to make any definite plans until we get some things resolved.” Melinda cringed. She hated keeping secrets from her mother. It would feel so good to tell the whole story about her wanting to become a vet and Gabe being unwilling to leave the Amish faith with her. But she knew how upset her parents would be if they knew she was thinking of leaving, and until she knew for sure, she didn’t see any point in revealing her secret.

 Mama reached over and took Melinda’s hand. “We’re all human, and disagreements come up even between two people who are deeply in love.”

 Melinda nodded.

 “Just keep God in the center of your lives, live each day to the fullest, and after you’re married, never go to bed angry at one another.” Mama smiled. “It’s important to work through your differences and pray about things rather than harboring resentment if you don’t always get your way.”

 “I know that, Mama, but it’s not always as easy as it seems.”

 “I never said it would be easy. A good marriage takes work, just like anything else that’s worthwhile.”

 Melinda fiddled with the stack of paper napkins piled in the wicker basket on the table. Could she and Gabe be putting themselves first? Was that why they’d been having so many problems lately? “Gabe’s coming by around six o’clock to take me on a picnic supper,” she said. “Maybe we can talk some things through then.”

 “That sounds like a good idea. Will you want help filling the picnic basket?”

 “The note he left in the birdhouse out front said he’s going to furnish the food. But I thought it would be nice if I took a loaf of bread and some of Grandpa’s delicious jam.”

 “I baked a batch of honey-wheat bread this morning, so help yourself to a loaf. And we have several pints of Grandpa’s rhubarb-strawberry jam in the pantry.” Mama popped a couple of her knuckles and smiled.

 Melinda winced. “Doesn’t it hurt when you do that?”

 “To me it feels good. Keeps my fingers from getting stiff.”

 Melinda didn’t think she would ever crack her knuckles, no matter how old she was or how stiff her fingers might become. She stood. “Guess I’d better get my cat’s supper ready before I go upstairs to change clothes for my picnic date with Gabe.” She cupped her hands around her mouth and called, “Here Snow! Come, kitty, kitty. It’s time for your supper.”

 “That’s odd,” Melinda said when, after a few minutes, there was no sign of the cat. “Snow usually comes running on the first call. Have you seen her, Mama?”

 “Not since early this morning when she was racing around the house like her tail was on fire. I figured she might be after a mouse or something.”

 “Has she been outside today?”

 “Not that I know of.” Mama popped two more fingers, with an audible
click, click
. “I’ve never known a cat that liked to hang around the house the way that one does.”

 Melinda frowned. “I wonder if Isaiah’s playing a trick on me and has hidden her someplace.”

 “He’s upstairs in his room. Why don’t you go ask him?”

 “I think I will.” Melinda turned toward the door.

 “I hope you find Snow. I know how much you care for that cat,” Mama called.

 “I care about all my animals.” Melinda sprinted up the stairs, making her first stop Isaiah’s bedroom, where she rapped on the door.

 “Come in!”

 She found her brother sprawled on the bed with a book in his hands. “Isaiah, have you seen Snow?”

 “Not since last winter. Sure hope we get plenty of it this year, ’cause I plan to do lots of sledding.”

 Melinda shook her head. “Ha! You must get your funny bone from our mamm.”

 “You’re right; Mama can be kind of silly at times.”

 “Seriously, have you seen my cat today?”

 Isaiah closed his book and sat up. “No, but awhile ago I thought I heard her out in the hall.”

 “Upstairs or down?”

 “Up here.”

 “You heard Snow but didn’t see her?”

 “Right. I heard meowing, and then it stopped. Figured if it was the cat, she’d probably gone downstairs.”

 Melinda made little circles with her fingertips across her forehead, hoping to stave off the headache she felt coming on. “I didn’t see any sign of Snow downstairs, and when I called, she didn’t come. It’s not like her to hide when it’s time to eat.”

 “Maybe she ain’t hungry.”

 “Always has been before. And it’s
isn’t
, not
ain’t
.” Melinda leaned against the door jamb and gritted her teeth as frustration rolled through her body like a whirling windmill. Why did her little brother have to be so difficult? “Has Snow been in the house all day?”

 “Don’t know. Haven’t seen her at all.”

 Melinda cocked her head. “Did you hear that?”

 “Sounds like the cat’s somewhere nearby.”

 “I’m going to find her.” Melinda left the room and followed the meowing sounds until she came to a small hole in the wall at the end of the hallway. It seemed too little for her cat to have gone through, yet she could hear Snow’s pathetic meows inside the wall.

The first thing Gabe did when he pulled into the Hertzlers’ driveway was to check inside the birdhouse to see if there was a response from Melinda. Sure enough, she had left a note saying she would go on the picnic supper with him.

 He grinned and glanced at the surprise he had in the back of his buggy. He hoped she would be so pleased with the gift that she would see how much he loved her and change her mind about leaving home to become a vet.

 Gabe hopped back into the buggy and picked up the reins. A few minutes later, he tied his horse to the hitching rail and took the porch steps two at a time. He knocked on the door and waited. It took awhile for someone to answer, and when the door finally opened, Melinda’s brother stood on the other side.

 “I’m here to pick up Melinda. Is she ready to go?” Gabe asked the boy.

 Isaiah shook his head. “I don’t think so. She’s sittin’ in front of a hole in the wall upstairs.”

 Gabe’s eyebrows lifted. “Why would she be doing that?”

 “Her cat’s stuck in there, and she can’t figure out how to get the silly critter out. The hole’s too small for Melinda to reach her hand into.”

 “What does your daed have to say? Can’t he cut a bigger hole?”

 Isaiah shrugged. “Guess he could, but Papa ain’t here. He’s workin’ late at the tree farm and probably won’t be home until it’s almost dark.”

 “I’d better go see what I can do to help,” Gabe said, stepping into the house.

 Isaiah led the way, and Gabe followed him up the stairs and down the hall until they came to the place where Melinda and her mother were on their knees calling to the kitten.

 Gabe cleared his throat, and Melinda looked up at him with a dismal expression. “Snow seems to have squeezed through this tiny hole, but she can’t get back out.”

 “She was probably after a mouse,” Faith put in.

 “I can cut a bigger hole if you want me to,” Gabe offered. “Where does Noah keep his saws?”

 “Out in the barn.” Faith nodded at Isaiah. “Run on out there and get one of your daed’s saws, would you, son?”

 “Okay.” The boy scampered off.

 Gabe squatted beside Melinda. “I can patch the hole I make with a piece of Sheetrock, and it’ll be good as new.”

 “What if Snow won’t come to me once the hole is bigger?” Melinda asked.

 “Does that answer your question?” Gabe smiled. “Sounds like your cat can’t wait to get out of there.”

 “I agree,” Faith said. “Once Gabe cuts a bigger hole, you can stick your hand inside. I’m sure Snow will come right away.”

 Isaiah showed up a few minutes later holding a small handsaw, which he handed to Gabe. It didn’t take long for Gabe to make a larger opening, and he was careful not to let the blade of the saw stick too far through the other side. He knew if he cut the cat by mistake, Melinda would never forgive him. She might even see it as one more reason for her to leave home.

 Once the opening was made, Melinda put her hand inside. “Here, Snow. Come, kitty, kitty.”

 There was a faint
meow
, and when Melinda pulled her hand out again, she had Snow by the nape of the neck.

 Gabe breathed a sigh of relief. The cat was okay, and Melinda was smiling again.

 “Danki, Gabe,” she murmured.

 “You’re welcome.”
Maybe now she’ll realize how much she needs me. And when she sees what I have in my buggy, she’s sure to know how much I love her.

 “I think I’ll take Snow downstairs and feed her while you patch the hole.” Melinda stood and hurried off toward the stairs.

 “If there’s a scrap of Sheetrock in the barn, I can fix the hole now,” Gabe said, turning to Faith. “If not, I’ll bring some over later on.”

 “I appreciate that. It’s very kind of you. It’s obvious you like working with your hands,” Faith said. “The little deer you carved for Melinda turned out very nice.”

 “Danki.”

 “Speaking of deer, Melinda’s been spending a lot of time in the woods lately, drawing pictures of the wildlife she sees there. Has she shown you any of her pictures?”