Caroline's Secret by Amy Lillard Page B

wouldn’t. Because that would mean a life without Emma. Caroline was homesick. It was as plain as that. She missed her family, her parents and their conservative ways. She missed her cousins, the closest thing she had to siblings of her own. She missed the services in German, the potluck after, and her mother’s roasted chicken.
    Andrew nudged her with his elbow, gently bringing her back to the present. “Are you all right?”
    She nodded, unable to speak around the lump in her throat. Reminiscing and wondering were not ways to accept her newfound life. She could never go back to Ethridge, never go back to the life she had there.
    “You don’t look fine. You look like you’re about to cry. What has you so sad, Caroline Hostetler?”
    “I was just thinking about my parents.”
    Andrew’s crystal eyes clouded over with regret. “I am sorry I mentioned it. Have they been gone long?”
    It took a moment for his question to register, then Caroline shook her head. “They’re not dead. Just in Tennessee.”
    “That’s where you moved here from, Tennessee?”
    “Jah.”
    “I miss my parents too, but after . . . Well, I thought it best to get away for a while.”
    “Does that mean that you’re only visiting Wells Landing?”
    He gave a small shrug. “That depends on Onkle . I came down to help, and when he decides he doesn’t need my help anymore, I’ll go back to Missouri.”
    “What’s it like there?”
    “Missouri? A lot like here, I guess. Except we don’t use tractors. But everything else is pretty much the same. Our church services are in German. But that’s all. And I farm instead of make furniture.”
    “Do you like one more than the other?”
    But Andrew didn’t have time to answer as they pulled to a stop. Abe hopped down from the front and opened the gate while Esther clicked the reins and directed the horses inside.
    Once the gate was closed behind them, Abe climbed back into the buggy, shooting Esther a quick smile.
    Andrew leaned close. “That was promising.”
    Caroline nodded, ignoring the soft scent of his detergent mixed with the sweet smell of the shampoo she used to wash Emma’s hair. The combination gave her heart a squeeze.
    What was wrong with her lately? She had gotten teary eyed over her parents and near angry that Andrew had been gentlemanly enough to help her with Emma. Maybe she needed a trip to the doctor for a checkup.
    She pushed the thought away as Abe reined in the horses and the buggy stopped.
    “You ladies go on inside, and we’ll be in directly.” Abe pointed toward the front door of the little white house.
    “I’ll help you with the horses after I lay her down.” Andrew gestured toward the sleeping child in his arms. Caroline did her best not to sigh wistfully at the sight they made together, her friend and her baby.
    “I can help,” Caroline added. It had been a long time since she had tended horses, but skills like that weren’t easily forgotten.
    Esther looked to the big roan beast that pulled Abe’s buggy with distrust in her eyes. “It seems like you have plenty of help with horses. But I can stay if’n you want.” Caroline wasn’t sure if anyone else saw it or not, but Esther’s eyes begged him to say no.
    Abe shook his head. “You could go on into the house and make us something to eat.”
    “Why, Abe Fitch, is that the only reason you invited us out to sup? So we’d prepare food?” The teasing light in Esther’s eyes took the sting out of the question and replaced the fear Caroline had seen there earlier.
    Abe flushed red to the roots of his hair.
    Caroline laughed.
    “If that was the case, Esther Lapp, I would have invited you years ago.”
     
     
    “I think it’s working,” Andrew bent low and whispered in Caroline’s ear.
    Emma was sleeping soundly, snuggled on Abe’s bed and surrounded by mounds of pillows to protect her from falling off.
    Esther and Abe stood at the stove stirring soup and flipping grilled cheese sandwiches on the