Dear to Me

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  Susie pursed her lips and squinted at Melinda. “And you are?”

  “Well, I—”

  “I know Gabe loves you, Melinda, but he’ll have to break up with you if you go English and he doesn’t.”

  Melinda grimaced. “At first Gabe said he would pray about things. But then we had an argument in the woods over him target practicing so he can hunt in the fall, and he ended up telling me that he won’t leave the Amish faith.”

  “I can’t believe this. I just can’t believe it,” Susie mumbled with a shake of her head.

  “Do you think I’m wrong for wanting to take care of animals?”

  “Not wrong for wanting to take care of animals. Just wrong for wanting to leave the only life you’ve ever known.”

  “That’s not true,” Melinda corrected. “I lived in the English world with my mamm and my real daed until I was six years old.”

  “You can’t tell me you remember much about that.”

  “I remember some things.”

  Susie groaned. “I can’t imagine how it would be not to have you in my life, Melinda. How can you even consider leaving your family and friends?”

  “This isn’t an easy decision for me, and I know the sacrifices I would have to make.” Melinda nibbled on the inside of her cheek. “I feel a need to care for animals, and Dr. Franklin says I can’t do it properly unless I have professional training.”

  “What do your folks have to say about this?”

  “They don’t know yet.”

  “You haven’t told them a thing?”

  Melinda shook her head.

  “But they know Gabe’s asked you to marry him, right?”

  “No. I figured I’d wait until after I passed my GED test to tell them that, too. But since Gabe’s not going to leave the Amish faith, there’s really no point in telling them about his marriage proposal.” Melinda clasped Susie’s hand. “You’ve got to promise you won’t say anything about this to anyone. Do I have your word?”

  “I still think you should tell them, but until you’re ready, I’ll keep quiet.”

  Chapter 18

  On Monday morning, Melinda stopped at the birdhouse out front before she headed for work. There she discovered a note from Gabe.

  Dear Melinda,

  I’m sorry about our disagreement yesterday, and I hope we can figure out some way to resolve our differences. I was wondering if you would be free to go on a picnic supper with me this evening. I’ll bring the food, and I’ll check the birdhouse for an answer before I pick you up. If you’re willing, we can leave around six o’clock.

  Always yours,

  Gabe

  Melinda smiled. Gabe had said he was sorry. Did that mean he’d changed his mind about leaving the Amish faith with her? Did he finally understand her need to become a vet?

  She removed the pencil and tablet from the birdhouse and scrawled a note in return.

  Dear Gabe,

  I accept your apology, and I hope we can settle things between us. A picnic supper sounds nice. I’ll be waiting for you at six, and I’ll bring a loaf of homemade bread and some of Grandpa’s rhubarb-strawberry jam.

  Yours fawnly,

  Melinda

  With a feeling of anticipation, Melinda slipped the note into the birdhouse and climbed back into her buggy.

  Things would be better now that Gabe had apologized, and she looked forward to their date tonight. For now, though, she needed to hurry or she would be late for work.

  “Melinda, can you come here a minute?” Dr. Franklin called from examining room one.

  Melinda set the mop aside that she’d been using to clean another examining room. “What do you need, Dr. Franklin?” she asked when she entered the other room and found him clipping the toenails of a little black Scottie.

  “Would you mind holding Sparky while I finish cutting his toenails? He’s as jittery as a june bug this morning.”

  “I’d be happy to help.” Melinda stood on the left side of the examining table and gripped the little dog around the middle with one hand. With her other hand, she held his front paw so the doctor’s hands were free to do the clipping. She had assisted Dr. Franklin several times when he had a dog’s nails to trim, and the animals always seemed relaxed and calm in her presence.

  “Say, Dr. Franklin, I’ve been wondering about something.”

  “What’s that, Melinda?”

  “Well, actually, it’s more Isaiah who wants to know the answer to a question.”

  He glanced up at her. “What does your little brother want to know?”

  “Isaiah told me one day that he’d heard that if a dog has a dark mouth, it means he’s smart. But if the inside of his mouth is light, then he’ll likely be dumb.” She giggled, feeling self-conscious for having asked such a silly question. “I told him it was probably just an old wives’ tale, but he said I should ask you about it.”

  The doctor continued to clip Sparky’s nails. “Actually, there’s some truth in what your brother told you. It’s not documented that I know of, but many animal breeders take stock in the color of a dog’s mouth. I’ve heard it said that a dark mouth means a smart dog.”

  “Hmm…that’s interesting.”

  “Sparky’s sure doing well,” Dr. Franklin commented. “He’s a lot more relaxed with you holding him than he was when I tried working on him alone.”

  Melinda smiled in response. It made her feel good to assist the doctor, and if she could help an animal relax, it was an added bonus.

  “If you were a certified vet’s assistant, I’d have you helping with many other things here in the clinic,” the doctor said.

  “I’d like that.”

  “And if you ever do become a veterinarian, I might consider taking you on as my partner.”

  “Really?” Melinda’s heart swelled with joy. How wonderful it would be to work side by side with Dr. Franklin as his partner, not just as someone who cleaned up the clinic, helped with toenail clipping, or gave flea baths to the dogs and cats that were brought in.

  “I really mean it. In fact, I’ve been thinking that I’d like to help with your schooling.”

  “Help?”

  “Yes. Financially.”

  Her mouth fell open. “You—you’d really do that for me?”

  He nodded. “As you know, my wife and I have no children of our own. It would give me pleasure to help someone who has such a special way with animals. You’ve got real potential, Melinda, and I’d like to see you use your talents to the best of your abilities.”

  “And you think in order to do that I’d need to go to school and become a vet?”

  “Let me just say this. If you were my daughter, I would do everything in my power to make it happen.” He set the clippers aside. “There you go, Sparky. All done until next time.”

  “Do you want me to put him in one of the cages in the back room until his owner comes to pick him up?”

  “Yes, if you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t mind at all.” Melinda scooped the terrier into her arms and started for the door.

  “Oh, Melinda…one more thing,” Dr. Franklin called.

  She turned back around.

  “I know my wife said she would drive you to Springfield next Friday to take your GED test, but her mother, who lives in Mansfield, fell and broke her hip last week. So Ellen will be helping her mother for the next couple of weeks, which means she won’t be available to drive you to Springfield after all.”

  Melinda forced a smile to her lips in order to hide the disappointment she felt. “That’s all right. I’m sure I can find someone else to drive me that day. I’ll also need to give my folks a legitimate reason for me going to Springfield.”

  “You’re still planning to wait and tell them after you’ve taken the test?”

  She nodded.

  “I hope it works out for you.”

  “Me, too, Dr. Franklin. Me, too.”

  As Gabe entered Dr. Franklin’s veterinary clinic, his face beaded with sweat. H
e 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

  When 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.