Seasons of Sugarcreek 03. Autumn's Promise Read Free Page A

her hands to shake. “I doubt that,” she said slowly. Their last conversation had been pretty final.
    “He told me he thought about you all the time when I saw him two days ago. Actually, he couldn’t believe it when I told him I hadn’t spoken a single word to you since you left.” Looking vaguely accusing, Cassidy murmured, “And I couldn’t believe it when he told me that you two had kept in touch.”
    “We only spoke a few times.” When she told him she was keeping the baby. And then when she’d told him that she’d miscarried.
    “But I thought you had broken up weeks before you left?”
    Lilly’s hands were shaking so much now, she kept them clasped tightly in her lap. This was why she hadn’t ever called Cassidy. She had too many secrets—and she still wasn’t much of a liar. “It’s complicated.”
    “How complicated?”
    “Well…you know…”
    As self-assured as always, Cassidy risked challenging her friend. “No. I don’t. What are you talking about? What exactly happened between you two?”
    “I can’t really talk about it.” Though her stomach was in knots, Lilly picked up her fork and made herself eat a too-big bite of pie.
    Something flickered in Cassidy’s eyes. Remorse? Disappointment? “I see.”
    No, she didn’t. But Lilly’s nerves felt so taut, she was sure if she said another word, she’d tell Cassidy everything. And then Cassidy would tell all their friends in Strongsville.
    And then she’d really never be able to go back again.
     
     
    “You do good work, Robert.”
    “Danke.” Robert looked over at his cousin Abe, who’d stopped by the shop under the pretense of examining his latest pair of kitchen chairs. Robert knew there was another reason he’d stopped by. He was out for information.
    Dipping his rag in the oil, he let the cloth soak up a good amount, then carefully ran it over a chest of drawers he’d just finished the day before. His customers were due by that afternoon to pick it up, and he wanted the piece looking its best.
    Abe watched him for a moment. “It’s been too long since you’ve stopped by the house. Weeks.”
    “I’ve been busy. You know that.”
    “Not too busy for family? Come over soon, why don’tcha? You could meet us for supper. Mary would like that.”
    “I’ll do that soon.” Not too soon, he added silently to himself. Lately Robert had gotten tired of Abe’s constant questioning about his business.
    “Tonight, perhaps?”
    “Not tonight.” Robert rested on his heels as Abe became more visibly agitated. “But I do appreciate your askin’.”
    “Tomorrow?”
    “Maybe another week.”
    Abe looked him over, chewed on his bottom lip for a bit, then shifted. “You know, I was asked to stop by and visit with you. By your father.”
    “There’s no need for that. If my daed needs to speak with me, he can come himself.”
    “He told me that the last time he stopped by, you hardly had time for him. Or your mother.”
    Robert remembered that visit well. His parents had shown up after suppertime one evening, and had been full of unwanted advice.
    “You shouldn’t be working this late, Robert,” his daed had chided. “There’s a time for work and a time for rest, jah ?”
    He’d had no need to go home. There had been nothing there except memories. “I’ll leave soon.”
    “Why don’t you leave now?” his mother suggested.
    “We’ll help you clean up.”
    There had been something in their voices that had grated on him terribly. He was a grown man. He’d not only taken care of his wife, but he’d cared for her as she passed in front of him from this earth. His business was making a profit. He neither needed their assistance nor their advice.
    “Nee,” he’d said with a bit too much force. “I’m not ready to leave.”
    “Robert. We came all this way to get you.”
    “And we have someone we’d like you to meet…”
    As he’d turned to his mother, the piece of paper he’d been holding fell to the floor.