Caroline's Secret by Lillard Amy

Author:Lillard, Amy [Lillard, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2014-06-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

“Tell me again where you are going?” Esther folded her arms in that motherly fashion that had Caroline shaking her head over the fact the woman had never had children of her own. She was a natural.

Caroline folded another dress and placed it in her suitcase. “My grossdaadi fell and hit his head. He’s in the hospital.”

“I know what you told me. I’m just having trouble believing that there’s not more to this story.”

Caroline whirled around to face her. “I am telling the truth.”

“I did not say that you were being dishonest.”

The breath left Caroline in a huge rush, and she felt herself crumble under the weight of her deceit. She had kept so many secrets, lied to everyone she loved. She was tired of the dishonesty.

She eased down on the bed, trying to find the words to tell Esther the truth. It was the least she could do considering everything Esther had done for her since she had come to Wells Landing.

Tears welled in her eyes. “I haven’t been totally honest with you.” Her fingers twisted in her apron as Esther drew near and sat down on the bed next to her.

“About your grandfather?” Esther asked.

“About everything.” Caroline gulped down a sob and straightened her shoulders. She had made the decision to hide the truth from all these wonderful people in Wells Landing. But no longer.

Esther took Caroline’s hand into her own and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Tell me.”

She took a moment to gather her thoughts. Ever patient, Esther waited for her to ready herself to begin.

“As you know, my home district in Tennessee is very conservative.”

Esther nodded.

“The elders don’t allow the young people to have a run-around time. Most of the young people know whether or not they can keep up the traditions of their parents. I was certain I could. So it was no big decision to bend my knee and join the church. Then I met him.”

Esther held her hand throughout the entire story. How Caroline had met Trey, fallen in love with him, and then survived the utter heartbreak of hearing that he had gone back to school without even bothering to tell her good-bye.

“But it was all a lie.” Caroline wiped the tears away with the back of one hand. “Trey never knew about Emma.”

“A sadder tale I’ve never heard,” Esther said, drying tears of her own.

“I’m sorry,” Caroline said. “I never meant to deceive you. But—”

Esther shook her head. “We all believed what we wanted to believe about you.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

Esther smiled. “You are a gut and kind person. That’s all we could see from you. So we made up a past that fit the person we see in you.”

Even though her chest was constricted with heartbreak and trepidation, Caroline laughed. “Are you saying that I’m a gut girl, so that’s what you saw in me?”

“Jah,” Esther said. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“I’m not sure my vatter would agree with you.”

“I’ve been in this world for a while, Caroline Hostetler, and one thing is certain: You can’t judge a person by the sum of one of their actions.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.