Caroline's Secret Page 8

Caroline.

  She shifted from one foot to the other, chewing on her lip as she waited for him to come near. “I came to apologize for yesterday.”

  “Good afternoon to you too,” he said, doing his best to keep his grin at bay. After yesterday, he was afraid she would never talk to him again.

  A smile wavered on her lips, and he loved the rosy pink color that rose into her cheeks.

  “Why is it that I seem to be constantly messing up where you are concerned?”

  Andrew shrugged. “Just luck, I guess.”

  “I guess,” she echoed. “I brought you a pie.”

  He glanced down to the perfectly browned pastry she held in her hands.

  “It looks good.”

  “It’s cherry.”

  “I love cherry pie.”

  A strange little heartbeat stretched between them. An awkward moment in which Andrew wasn’t sure what to say . . . what to do. He shifted, suddenly uncomfortable in his own shoes.

  “I’m not one to turn down dessert, but you didn’t have to do this.”

  “Jah, I did. I overreacted yesterday. I know you wouldn’t let anything happen to Emma on purpose.”

  He gave a nod, then realized Danny was staring at them, not even bothering to pretend that he wasn’t hanging on their every word.

  “I’ll only accept on one condition.”

  “Jah?”

  “That you share it with me.”

  Caroline smiled, revealing the sweet dimple in her right cheek. “I would love to.”

  “I’ll be back in a few,” he told Danny.

  “But what about the Methodists’ table?”

  “I’ll stay late tonight.” Right now, he had amends to make.

  They walked down Main Street, stopping in the bakery for a couple of spoons before taking the pie across the street and into the park.

  “Where’s Emma?” he asked as they settled down at one of the picnic tables and prepared to cut the pie.

  “Napping.”

  Andrew turned the pie this way and that, searching for the best spot to cut.

  “We should have brought some plates,” Caroline said.

  “And a knife?”

  She smiled. “Definitely.”

  Andrew chuckled. “I’m not going to let that stop me.” He buried his spoon in the center of the pie and managed to carve a jagged line to the outside crust. Spooning up a big bite, he shoveled it in, not realizing until that moment that he had postponed lunch in order to work on the table, and now he was more than hungry.

  He scooped up another bite, his stomach rumbling with appreciation. “You know what this needs?”

  Caroline licked the remains of her last bite from the spoon. “What?”

  “Some of Onkle’s homemade vanilla ice cream.”

  “Yum,” she agreed.

  Andrew felt the tension drain out of his shoulders as they sat there in the park, the warm sun shining on his face and a gut freind across from him. The pie was just an added plus.

  Her friendship had come to mean so much to him over the last couple of weeks. And he was so relieved that Caroline was no longer upset about the accident with Emma.

  He scraped another bite together before asking, “How’s Emma’s knee?”

  “It’s fine.” She stopped. “Andrew, I’m truly sorry about yesterday.”

  “Forget it.”

  She reached across the table and laid her hand on top of his. “I shouldn’t have talked to you that way.”

  He patted her hand, resisted the instinct to turn it over and trace the lines on her palm. One thing was certain: He didn’t want to let her go.

  “I’ve already forgotten.”

  “You’re a gut freind, Andrew Fitch.”

  “As are you, Caroline Hostetler. As are you.”

  “So . . .” She pulled her hand away as yet another awkward moment stretched between them. Did she feel it too? Maybe it was just him trying to work through all the feelings he’d held for Beth. “Are we back on for dinner tomorrow night?”

  He’d been so upset over the fact that Caroline was angry that he had completely forgotten about their plans to get Abe and Esther to fall in love. “Jah, jah,” he said as he chewed the last bite of pie. “Your haus or mine?”

  A small frown puckered her brow.

  “I heard it in a movie once.”

  “A movie?”

  “A motion picture show.”

  “I know what one is,” Caroline answered, “I just didn’t know any districts that allowed them.”

  Andrew chuckled. “It’s not like that. I only saw one on my rumspringa. Best thing ever.”

  “Really?”

  “It’s the only thing about the Englisch world I could really get used to.”

  “Why is that?”

  “I don’t know really. It was just amazing. You walk into this big room and the lights are dim and the picture is so big. It’s like being in a completely different world.”

  “Now I can see why they are banned.”

  Andrew shrugged. “It would definitely take a body’s attention away from God. What was your favorite part of rumspringa?”

  She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “I’d better get this pie plate back to the bakery before it’s a stuck-on mess.”

  He reached out to stop her from walking away. “You don’t want to talk about your rumspringa?”

  She shook her head, her eyes on the empty pie plate she held. “My district doesn’t condone a run-around time for the youth.”

  “Really? I mean, I have heard of that, just never met someone who was in such a district.” He resisted the crazy urge to clasp her hands in his once more and rub his thumb across the smooth skin.

  “They really exist.”

  “But how do you know if you want to join the church?”

  “The bishop feels you either do or you don’t. No amount of tasting the pleasures of the world is going to settle down a heart that wants what is on the outside.”

  “Is that how you ended up here?”

  Caroline shook her head. “That’s a long story.”

  For sure and for certain, she didn’t want to talk about it. He could tell.

  Andrew gestured toward the plate in her hands. “I suppose that’s becoming a stuck-on mess.”

  “It is at that.”

  “Some other time then?”

  “Jah.”

  Andrew watched her go, wondering what she was trying to hide.

  Why, oh why was she always sticking her foot into a mess where Andrew was concerned? Caroline jerked open the door to the bakery, the bell above the door jangling frantically.

  Esther came bustling in from the back, her cheeks pink from the heat of the ovens and the extra exertion.

  “Caroline.” She pressed a hand to her chest as if to slow her heart. “You scared me. Was iss letz?”

  What is wrong?

  Andrew is too nice by far? I want to tell him how much he’s come to mean to me and answer all his many questions, but if I do will he forever look at me differently?

  “Nothing,” she mumbled.

  “It doesn’t seem like nothing the way you came flying in here.”

  “Just pulled the door too hard, that is all.”

  Maybe she was too sensitive, maybe she was guilt ridden. But when he had asked her about her run-around time, she had panicked and fled. Now she owed him another explanation.

  “Now who is the one not telling the truth?”

  Caroline shook her head. She had kept her secret for nigh on two years. There was no sense in sharing it now. It would only breed distrust and more problems for everyone involved.

  Nay, her secret was one best not shared.

  Dear Mamm,

  As we head further into the growing season, the differences between Wells Landing and Ethridge become more and more noticeable. The soil here is very rocky, and the men use tractors to farm their fields. The bishop also allows the men to drive the tractors into town and sometimes even to chur
ch!

  The hardest change for me to get used to is living in town. It’s convenient to be so close to everything, the stores and such, but I miss the chirp of the insects at night, eating green apples in the spring, and the horses.

  I have a new friend here that lives on a farm. He invited me and Emma out after church, and we got to see the horses and puppies he has on his farm. That is one thing I wish for Emma. It saddens me that she won’t grow up in the country, walking barefoot through the grass, milking goats and tending the tomatoes like I did.

  We have a gut life here, gut friends, and a fine business. But there are times when I can’t help but wish things had turned out a bit different. That’s when I pray and work even harder to understand what God has in store for me and Emma.

  I miss you and Dat so very much. I understand that he is still upset with me and has declared that you may not mention my name to him. But I ask that at night when he is asleep, please whisper in his ear and tell him that I love him. And I always will.

  Ich liebe dich too.

  Love,

  Caroline

  Chapter Eight

  Caroline looked up from the pan of cookies she had just slid into the oven to see Andrew enter the bakery.

  “Hi, Caroline.” He whipped his hat from his head, and she was struck immediately with the urge to fluff the dark, silky strands.

  “Hello.” She twisted her hands in the fabric of her flour-streaked apron to still their absurd impulse. She had never been so bold. Not with anyone but Trey, and look how that turned out. “Wie geht?”

  “I wanted to make sure that we are still planning on dinner tonight.”

  “Jah.” Caroline threw a look over her shoulder toward Esther. Then she dropped her voice. “Have him here at seven. We’ll eat and play a board game, then you and I can go out to the park. That’ll give them plenty of time together.”

  Andrew chuckled. “It might be better if we stayed. Onkle isn’t good at picking up on subtleties.”

  Caroline returned his laugh. “You may be onto something.” She had debated on telling Andrew about Esther’s declaration to give up on Abe, but since Esther had changed her mind, Caroline kept that information to herself.

  How many secrets was she going to keep from him? She pushed the thought away and concentrated on what he was saying.

  “We could send them out to . . . to . . . walk.” Andrew shook his head. “I’m not sure that will make a difference. Maybe we should stick to our original plan.”

  “I think you may be right.”

  “Goedemiddag, Andrew.”

  Caroline jumped as Esther spoke behind her. “Gut himmel. You scared me.”

  Esther smiled as Caroline’s heart continued to pound in her chest. More than anything Caroline wanted Esther and Abe to fall in love, but she didn’t want her dearest friend to know that she and Andrew had any sort of hand in the matter.

  “So tonight?” Andrew asked.

  “Tonight what?” Esther asked, reaching into the display counter and pulling out a pastry. “Whoopie pie?” she asked, offering it to Andrew.

  “Danki”. He accepted it with a grateful smile, then took a huge bite, leaving Caroline to answer.

  “Andrew and I were talking about getting together tonight for supper.”

  Esther clapped her hands together. “What a gut idea. The two of you can go down to the restaurant, and I’ll keep Emma.”

  Caroline shook her head. “Nay! I mean, Andrew and I were talking about sharing a meal. All four of us. Me, you, him, and Abe Fitch.”

  But Esther was already planning her own evening. “Perfect. He and I can keep Emma while you two go out.”

  “But I—”

  Thankfully, Andrew picked that moment to swallow and jump into the conversation. “Why don’t we all go to the restaurant for dinner?”

  “That’s a fine idea, Andrew. A fine idea indeed.”

  He smiled, satisfied with his save.

  Caroline breathed a small sigh of relief. “Seven o’clock?”

  Andrew finished off the sweet treat then licked the filling from his fingers. “Seven o’clock.”

  “Onkle,” Andrew started as the clock ticked steadily toward the hour of seven. “I thought you might want to change your shirt before we leave.”

  “Eh?” His uncle looked up from his work with the hand plane and pushed his glasses a little farther up the bridge of his nose.

  Andrew tempered his sigh so it was not quite as discouraged as he felt. “You should change your shirt before we go to dinner.”

  Abe looked down at himself, then back up to Andrew. “This shirt is allrecht.”

  He shook his head. “It’s covered with sawdust.”

  Abe glanced down again, brushing the fine particles from his shirt front. “We’re just going to Kauffman’s.”

  Andrew shook his head. “But we’re going with Esther and Caroline.”

  “You want to go courtin’, so I have to change my shirt.”

  “What if I told you that I think Esther likes you?”

  But Andrew had no more started the sentence before Abe was once again bent over his latest project, smoothing out a rough spot his loving hands had found.

  “Onkle?”

  “Eh?”

  “Are you going to change your shirt?”

  Abe looked down at himself.“Jah?”

  Andrew laughed. “Jah, Onkle.”

  Abe ran his hand over the spot again, then with a satisfied nod, went to the back room to fetch the extra shirt he kept there.

  He returned moments later, pulling his galluses over his shoulders as he walked. Thankfully he had washed his hands, and the strands of hair surrounding his face were dark and shiny with water. It was more than Andrew could have hoped for.

  “Ready?” he asked as Abe started past his workbench and slowed. He ran his hand across the top of the bureau he was crafting, an unsatisfied frown wrinkling his brow.

  “Just let me—”

  Andrew rolled his eyes affectionately and grasped Abe by the elbow. “Come now, Onkle. We have women waiting.”

  Kauffman’s was busy for a Thursday night. Caroline crowded in with the rest of the group, rubbing elbows with tourists waiting on their own tables.

  Millie Fisher ran by, a pitcher of tea in one hand and a pitcher of water in the other. “I am so sorry,” she called to the group at large. “I will have you a table as soon as I can.” Then she hurried away to fill drinks.

  Abe stroked his beard. “Looks like a bus must have come in.”

  Caroline absently rubbed Emma’s back as she looked around. “Maybe two.” Every table was crowded with Englischers wearing shorts and T-shirts. Most of the shirts were the same, telling her without a doubt a tour bus had come into Wells Landing.

  Esther tsked. “The chamber of commerce usually tells us so we can be prepared.”

  “But it’s good for the town, right?” Andrew asked.

  “Jah,” Abe said.

  Millie picked that moment to return and join in the conversation. “But it’s also gut to have enough staff on hand to care for them.”

  “I think we should make other plans for supper tonight,” Abe said, glancing around the room once again.

  Caroline barely saw the crestfallen look on Esther’s face before the other woman hid it behind her usual smile. “I suppose it would be best.”

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m hungerich.” Andrew patted his belly.

  “If we eat here, it’s going to be a while,” Caroline said, adjusting Emma into a more comfortable spot on her hip.

  “Why don’t you put in an order to go?” Millie suggested.

  Caroline looked at the milling people. Some were sitting, but most stood as all the chairs in the entry had been taken. “I guess we could wait at the bakery.”

  “I have a better idea.” Andrew’s so-blue eyes sparkled with something akin to mischief. “We can go play a board game.”

  “I could give you a call when it’s read
y,” Millie suggested.

  “That would be gut.” Andrew’s dimples slashed, and Caroline knew that he was quite pleased with the idea. Strange, though; a small part of her felt a little sad that he was only happy because it gave them the perfect excuse to get Esther and Abe together. There was another little part of her that wished he would be just as happy to spend the time with her.

  They placed their orders and nudged their way out the door and to the sidewalk.

  “It’s going to be busy tomorrow,” Esther said as they started toward the bakery.

  “Jah,” Abe agreed.

  Andrew shot Caroline a look.

  Tomorrow would be a busy day with two busloads of Englischers milling about, buying goods and taking pictures of everything from the kinner to their laundry lines. But hopefully the increased foot traffic would keep down the questions Caroline would have to face at lunch tomorrow. Really, she loved her freinden, but they seemed determined to marry her off to the first Amish man to come along.

  Yet as determined as Lorie and Emily were, Caroline knew it would only delay the inevitable. It was no wonder they thought they saw a relationship brewing between her and Andrew. It was what they wanted to see. But would it be so bad?

  She pushed the thoughts away as Esther unlocked the doors to their backroom apartment and lit the propane lamps. Caroline had had her chance at that kind of happiness, and it had slipped through her fingers.

  “She looks heavy. Do you want me to take her?” Andrew sidled up beside her as they walked into the schtupp.

  The family room.

  Family. That was what they looked like standing there. Mother, father, baby.

  “I’m fine,” she managed to say through the knot of emotions.

  But even as she said the words, Emma leaned toward Andrew, begging him to hold her. Caroline had no choice but to let her go.

  Andrew’s smile beamed. “I think she likes me.”

  What’s not to like? “Jah, I think she does.”

  Esther chose that moment to return to the room, Scrabble and Upwords in her arms. “That’s because you sneak her cookies when Caroline isn’t looking.”

  “Andrew.” Caroline turned toward him.

  The faint pink of a blush stained his face from forehead to chin and even reached down to his neck.