Free Caroline's Secret by Amy Lillard Page A

smart and talented but as distracted as they came. “I think if you’re going to capture his heart, the first thing you’ll need to do is let him want it.”
    Esther shook her head. “I can’t do that. That would be most improper.”
    Caroline glanced back to where Abe and Andrew sat. “Improper or not, it may just be the only way.”
    Half an hour later, Abe scooped up the semi-soft ice cream into bowls and passed them around.
    “Yum . . . banana,” Caroline said, taking her first bite after their silent prayer’s ending aemen. “My favorite.”
    “I like strawberry the best,” Andrew said, settling down next to her.
    Esther accepted a small bowl from Abe and took it over to where Emma was playing quietly in the grass with the horse Abe had just finished.
    Caroline was astounded by his talent and generosity, but he insisted that Emma take it home with her.
    “You know if you give her that to eat by herself, she’ll have it all over the place in no time,” Caroline warned.
    “ Jah , but she’ll wash up.” Esther handed the bowl to the toddler, then plopped down on the grass next to her.
    “You know what would be gut with this?” Andrew asked.
    Caroline spooned a bite into her mouth and nearly sighed as the yummy concoction melted on her tongue. “What?” she asked, scooping up another bite.
    “Cowboy cookies.”
    Caroline laughed. “You think everything needs cowboy cookies.”
    “ Jah . Everything does.” Then he lowered his voice. “What happened between the two of them?”
    “I have no idea,” Caroline whispered in return. She looked from Esther, sitting in the yard next to Emma, back to Abe.
    When they had arrived at the house after church, everything had seemed fine. Between then and now, something had Abe acting like Abe, and Esther acting like he was invisible.
    Normally Esther would be staring at the furniture maker with lovesick puppy eyes. Now she wouldn’t even look at him.
    The upside was Esther managed to get more of the ice cream in Emma than on her dress. At least the toddler wouldn’t be too sticky for the ride home. And that was a gut thing. The slow ride back to town would be uncomfortable enough with the chasm that had cracked between Esther and Abe.
     
     
    The rift that had formed between Esther and Abe seemed to grow by the yard all the way back to town.
    Andrew rode back to the bakery with them, and Caroline was glad. Emma was tired from the afternoon’s activities. She sat quietly in Caroline’s lap all the way home, one thumb tucked in her mouth and the other hand fisted in Caroline’s kapp strings.
    Andrew kept casting question-filled glances in Caroline’s direction, but she had no more idea what had happened than he did. Finally she mouthed that she would find out what was wrong as soon as she could and left the matter at that.
    Finally, they arrived back on Main Street. Abe pulled the buggy to a stop and set the brake. Without waiting for any help, Esther slid the door open and hopped to the ground. “ Danki for a lovely afternoon.” She gave a quick nod to Abe, then turned on her heel and made her way around the side of the building. Caroline was just stepping down with Andrew’s help when Esther disappeared around the back.
    “Thanks for having us,” Caroline said, including Abe in her sentiment. She shifted to bring the exhausted Emma into a more secure hold.
    Abe gave her a nod but otherwise looked as distant as he usually did. Caroline wasn’t sure if he really didn’t notice that Esther was upset or if he was choosing to pretend like he didn’t know. With a man like Abe Fitch, it was hard to say.
    “Do you want me to take her around for you?” Andrew asked.
    “Nay”. Caroline shook her head. “I’m sure you have a lot to do at the farm.”
    Andrew opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Jah,” he said. “Then I’ll see you later.”
    “Jah.”
    Andrew swung himself into the buggy next to his uncle.
    With a smile and a wave, they were