Caroline's Secret by Amy Lillard Page A

between you and me.
    Emma. What a wonderful and beautiful child God has given you! How I wish I could be there with the two of you. My arms long to hold her and rock her to sleep as I did you when you were but a tiny boppli. Even now I would give anything I have to be able to touch your face and look into your eyes once again.
    I miss you, liebschdi, and pray every morning and night that one day you’ll be able to return to us.
    With love always,
Mamm

Chapter Six
    Everyone milled about after the service, talking about the weather and planning their afternoon. Caroline heard rumors of a volleyball game brewing at the Detweilers’ and a Bible reading at the Fishers’. But she had already made her plans.
    “Are you ready to leave now?” Esther gazed at her with concern and questions shining in her deep brown eyes.
    Where is Andrew? “Just a minute more.” Caroline smiled though she wanted to grimace. Emma was a heavy weight in her arms, her warm body pressed so close, creating trickling beads of sweat.
    She rocked from side to side in a gesture that appeared like she was soothing her sleeping child when it also enabled her to scan more of the crowd for her matchmaking partner.
    “Here he comes.” She managed not to sigh with relief.
    “Who?” Esther turned one way and then the other, a small frown on her brow.
    “I told Andrew I would meet him after the service.”
    “Oh.” Then “Oh” as the notion dawned on her. “Well, that’s gut then, jah ?”
    “Esther, I know that look, and it’s not what you think. We’re just friends.”
    “Jah, freinden.” Esther smiled in a way that let Caroline know that she did not believe her. What could she do but let the matter drop as Andrew stopped before them.
    “Good afternoon.” He nodded at each of them in turn.
    “Good afternoon,” they both echoed.
    “ Onkle and I were hoping that you ladies would join us for a meal.”
    Caroline almost laughed at the light sparkling in Esther’s eyes. She didn’t know which had the older woman more excited, the idea of spending time with Abe or an afternoon of matchmaking between Caroline and Andrew. She hoped it was the first one.
    “We’d love to,” Caroline said with a smile.
    “You can’t ride your bikes all the way to the farm. Would you like to ride in the buggy with us?”
    “Jah.” Caroline hated how stiff her voice sounded. She had better start acting natural or one of them would see through their ruse. “That would be gut .”
    Andrew nodded and started walking backward. “I’ll just go get Onkle .” He bumped into someone, then turned and made his way through the milling congregation.
    “If you wanted to go to dinner with Andrew, you didn’t have to drag me along,” Esther said.
    “You don’t want to have dinner with Abe?” Caroline asked.
    “I-I did not say that, it’s just . . .”
    “Just what?” Caroline returned.
    Esther pressed her lips together, then sighed. “ Danki , Caroline.”
    Caroline gave her friend a small smile. “You’re welcome, Esther.” It was the least she could do.

    Abe’s buggy was big enough that they could all five fit comfortably inside.
    As Abe helped Esther into the front seat, Andrew took the sleeping Emma from Caroline so she could swing herself into the back.
    She reached her arms out for her baby, but Andrew managed to hop into the back, the child still cradled to his chest, and settle down without disturbing her.
    “I can take her now.”
    “It’s all right,” he said. “I’m sure your arms are tired.”
    She didn’t like to complain. She had made her choices, after all.
    Caroline resisted the urge to rub the feeling back into her arms and instead enjoyed the sway of the horses. Clop, clop, clop, the hooves sounded against the pavement as they trotted toward the farm.
    How long had it been since she had ridden in a buggy? The thought brought tears to her eyes. As much as she loved Esther and her new life in Wells Landing, if she could go back she