Dear to Me (27 page)

 “How come you’re out here by yourself?”

 Melinda whirled around at the sound of a deep voice. In the light of the full moon, she realized it was Gabe’s friend, Aaron.

 “I–I’m just getting some fresh air.”

 He grunted. “Jah, fresh and chilly. Fall’s right around the corner, and winter will be here before we know it.”

 “I assume winter’s not your favorite time of the year?”

 He shrugged. “I can take it or leave it. To tell you the truth, I prefer the warmer days of summer when I can go fishing.”

 Melinda rubbed her hands briskly over her arms. Aaron was right. It was kind of nippy.

 “I’m sorry about you and Gabe breaking up,” Aaron said. “Seems a shame you two can’t find some way to work out your differences.”

 Melinda swallowed hard, hoping to push down the lump in her throat that wouldn’t go away. So Aaron knew, too. Probably all the young people here tonight had heard the news. “Gabe doesn’t understand how I feel about things,” she murmured.

 “Seems to me that you don’t understand him, either.”

 Melinda cringed. Had Gabe told Aaron all the details of their breakup? He must have, or Aaron wouldn’t have said such a thing. Now everyone would soon know the truth, if they didn’t already. She wasn’t sure she was ready to deal with that. Especially since she still hadn’t told her parents any of the details.

 “Uh, Aaron, please don’t say anything to anyone about me wanting to leave the faith, okay?”

 “Huh?”

 “I haven’t told my folks I’m thinking about becoming a vet, so—”

 “Whoa!” Aaron held up his hand. “You’re thinking of what?”

 “I thought you knew. From what you said earlier, I figured Gabe must have told you everything.”

 Aaron let out a low whistle. “Now I know why he seemed so upset.”

 “You mean he didn’t tell you what I’m thinking of doing?”

 He shook his head. “Just said you’d broken up because he wants to hunt and you’re opposed to the idea.”

 Melinda grimaced, feeling like someone had punched her in the stomach. Aaron hadn’t known the truth until she’d opened her mouth and blabbed the whole thing. Now he might tell others, and then things could get really sticky.

 She glanced to the left and caught sight of two people walking toward one of the open buggies. Her heart plummeted when she realized it was Gabe and Mattie. When Gabe helped Mattie into the passenger’s seat then climbed up beside her, Melinda’s whole body trembled. It hurt to know he had gotten over her so quickly.

 She turned away, unable to watch the couple drive off together.

 “Sorry you had to see that,” Aaron said, touching her arm.

 “I’d better get used to it, because from the way things look, Gabe will probably marry someone else and I’ll be—” Her voice caught on a sob. “Oh, please, Aaron, don’t say anything about what I’ve shared with you tonight.”

 He shook his head. “It’s not for me to say, Melinda.”

 “Danki. I appreciate that.” She sighed. “I wish the singing was over and I could go home. Papa Noah won’t be here to pick me up until ten o’clock, but I’ve got a headache and don’t think I can make it through the rest of the evening.”

 “I’d be glad to give you a lift home right now,” Aaron offered. “It would save your daed a trip and keep you from having to stick around here.”

 Melinda sniffed. “I’d hate for you to miss all the fun on account of me.”

 “Nah. I wasn’t havin’ much fun anyway.”

 “Are you sure? I mean, isn’t there someone else you’d rather escort home?”

 Aaron shook his head then chuckled as if he were embarrassed. “If I ever find a woman I’m willing to court, she’ll have to be spunky like my mamm. I’d want someone who likes to fish and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, either.”

 “Most Amish women I know work in their gardens. Doesn’t that count as dirty work?”

 “I reckon so, but that’s not what I meant.” Aaron led Melinda toward his buggy.

 “What did you mean?”

 He tipped his head to one side. “Any woman I’d even consider courting would have to be willing to do lots of outdoor stuff.”

 “Oh, you mean she should be a tomboy?”

 Aaron shrugged. “Guess that’s one way to put it, but that’s not likely to happen, because there are no women around here that I’d be interested in.” He released an undignified grunt. “Even if there was, I’ll never get married.”

 “Why not?”

 “Just won’t; that’s all.”

 Melinda didn’t argue the point, and she found herself wondering if Aaron might not have the right attitude about staying single. If she left home to become a veterinarian, she would probably stay single unless she met and married some English fellow. That thought did nothing to make her feel better. She’d been miserable since she and Gabe had broken up, but she saw no way they could get back together unless one of them made a huge concession. Gabe would probably be better off with Mattie. She was cute and wanted to remain Amish.

 “Well, Aaron Zook,” Melinda said as he helped her into his buggy, “I hope you have better luck at finding love than I’ve had.”

Susie’s stomach felt as if it were filled with a bunch of swarming bees as she settled herself on the seat of Jonas’s buggy and he reached for the reins. The fact that he’d asked to give her a ride home tonight was like an answer to prayer. She just hoped she didn’t say anything stupid that might make him wish he hadn’t asked.

 “I saw you talking with Melinda earlier this evening. Are you and she still good friends?” Jonas asked as they turned out of the driveway and headed down Highway C.

 Susie nodded. “Although we don’t see eye to eye on much these days.”

 Jonas chuckled. “I guess that’s true with most friends and even family. My cousins John and Jared, who live in Montana, don’t always think alike, and they’re identical twins.”

 He flicked the reins to get the horse moving faster, and Susie gripped the edge of her seat. She had hoped they could take a leisurely ride home so she could spend more time with Jonas.

 “Is Melinda still drawing pictures of animals and taking in strays?”

 “Jah. She works part-time for our local vet, too.”

 “That sounds interesting. I admire anyone who has a way with animals.”

 Susie’s heart gave a lurch. Was Jonas interested in Melinda? Had he offered Susie a ride home only to ask about her niece? Was that why he kept asking questions about Melinda?

 “I’ll bet Melinda would like it where I live,” Jonas continued. “There’s more wildlife in Montana than you can imagine.”

 “Do you hunt?” Susie hoped her question might take Jonas’s mind off Melinda.

 “Jah. Got me a nice big buck deer last year and also a turkey.”

 “Some of the menfolk in our community also hunt deer. Melinda’s boyfriend, Gabe, likes to hunt.” Susie figured mentioning that Melinda had a boyfriend might discourage Jonas from taking an interest in her niece. She saw no reason to mention that Melinda and Gabe had recently broken up. No point in giving Jonas any hope of courting Melinda, if that’s what he had on his mind.

 “Say, I was wondering about something,” Jonas said, breaking into Susie’s disconcerting thoughts.

 “What’s that?”

 “I’ll be leaving for Montana by the end of next week, and I was wondering if it would be all right if I write to you sometimes.”

 Susie’s heart began to hammer as hope swelled in her breast. If Jonas wanted to write her, did that mean they were courting?
No, of course it doesn’t mean that,
she berated herself.
Since I acted so interested in Montana, he probably just wants to write and tell me about some of the things going on there.

 “Well, is it all right if I write to you or not?”

 “I’d like that,” she said, hoping the excitement she felt didn’t show too much in her voice. She didn’t want to appear overeager.

 He smacked the reins to get the horse moving faster. “I’m kept pretty busy with my job and all, but I’ll write as often as I can.”

 Susie smiled. “I’ll write often, too.”

“I appreciate you giving me a ride home,” Mattie said as Gabe directed his horse onto the highway.

 He nodded and forced a smile. Deep down, he felt miserable. When he’d seen Melinda talking to his so-called friend, he’d felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach. It had been only a short time since Gabe and Melinda had broken up. He couldn’t believe she’d found someone to replace him so quickly. And Aaron Zook, of all people! Didn’t she even care that Gabe and Aaron had been friends since they were boys? How could she have proclaimed her love just a few short weeks ago and suddenly taken an interest in someone else?

 “I figured you’d be taking Melinda home tonight,” Mattie said, breaking into Gabe’s troubling thoughts.

 “Why would you think that?”

 “Since the two of you are courting, I just assumed—”

 Gabe shook his head. “We’re not courting. Not anymore.”

 Mattie’s pale eyebrows furrowed. “Did you break up with her?”

 “Let’s just say it was a mutual decision.”

 “Mind if I ask why?”

 Actually, Gabe did mind. He didn’t want to think about his breakup with Melinda, much less talk about it. “We…uh…decided that since we both wanted different things it would be best to go our separate ways.”

 “That’s too bad. Melinda always seemed so happy whenever the two of you were together. I figured it wouldn’t be long before an announcement of your betrothal would be published in church.”

 “I thought that, too,” Gabe mumbled. “But things don’t always go the way we want. I’ve come to realize that some things just aren’t meant to be.”

 Mattie reached across the seat and touched his arm. “I’m real sorry, Gabe.”

 He gave a brief nod. No one could be any sorrier than he.

Chapter 26

I
came by to check on some kitchen cabinets I plan to give Faith for Christmas,” Noah said when he stepped into Swartz’s Woodworking Shop on Monday morning, two weeks after Gabe and Melinda had broken up.

 Gabe leaned against his workbench and crossed his arms. “My daed’s delivering some furniture right now, but I know your cabinets have been made and are waiting to be sanded and stained. I’m sure they’ll be ready in time for Christmas.” He thought about all the orders they had for holiday gifts and how Pap had allowed him to make some chairs and a table for the bed-and-breakfast in Branson. They’d turned out well, and Pap had said he was pleased with Gabe’s work.

 “I’m glad to hear the cabinets will be ready soon, because the ones in our kitchen were bought used when we built the house next to my folks’ place,” Noah said, jolting Gabe out of his musings. “They need to be replaced, and my wife’s been wanting new ones for quite some time.” Noah shifted from one foot to the other. “I…uh…wanted to tell you that I’m sorry to hear about you and Melinda breaking up. I like you, Gabe, and was looking forward to having you as my son-in-law.” He handed Gabe a plate of chocolate chip cookies wrapped with cellophane. “I made these last night and thought you might like some.”

 “Danki. That was nice of you.” Gabe placed the cookies on one end of his workbench. The truth was, he thought highly of Melinda’s stepfather and figured Noah would probably make a good father-in-law.

 Noah placed his palms on the workbench and leaned toward Gabe. “Melinda’s been acting like a kitten with sore paws ever since you two split up. She spends most of her time with those critters of hers, and Faith is fit to be tied because she has to prod Melinda to get any work done.”

 Gabe pondered Noah’s words before responding. “If she’s so concerned about going our separate ways, then why’d she ride home from the last young people’s gathering with my best friend?”

 “Aaron Zook?”

 “Jah, that’s what I heard.”

 “I didn’t realize that. I thought one of the girls who had no date had given Melinda a ride home that night. I was supposed to pick her up, but she arrived home way before ten.” Noah looked intently at Gabe. “I’m thinking this is something you and Melinda need to discuss. I don’t believe she’d like the idea of me butting in on something that’s really none of my business.”

 “There’s a lot more going on than just her riding home with Aaron.”