Seasons of Sugarcreek 03. Autumn's Promise Read Online Free PDF

surface. “Looks like you’ve got your share of paperwork.”
    “I do. One of my supplier’s statements didn’t add up. I’ve been sitting here for the last thirty minutes trying to figure out if it was their mistake or mine.”
    “Any luck?”
    “No. All I’m discovering is that I still don’t have the head for numbers that I wish I did.”
    “Math isn’t my strong point, either. But if it was, I’d try and help you,” she said with a smile.
    “Well, then,” he mumbled. Still looking uneasy, Robert stepped a little closer.
    With some dismay, she realized he was probably about to show her to the door.
    He probably couldn’t wait for her to get out of there. To leave.
    He looked ill at ease. Tense. Was she making him feel that way? Wow. Maybe she’d completely misread things at the restaurant. Maybe when he’d asked her about her book he was just being nice?
    But, she could have sworn when their eyes first met that he hadn’t looked upset to see her…merely surprised.
    “Hey, how about a tour?”
    “Sure.” Half smiling, he pointed to his desk. “This is my least favorite part of the operation. My desk.”
    She laughed. “Show me your favorite part.”
    “Gladly.” He walked her through a doorway and down a small hall. When they turned left, it was into a back-room, one that was far more brightly lit and large. “This is my workshop.”
    Lilly inhaled. “It smells like heaven in here.”
    “I’m not quite sure what heaven smells like, but I doubt it smells like this.” Meeting her gaze, his expression warmed. “I wouldn’t mind if it did, though.”
    As he guided her through a maze of wood, saws, benches, and toolboxes, Lilly looked in amazement at the wide assortment of furniture that was displayed everywhere. “Robert, it’s all beautiful.”
    “Danke.”
    “What’s it all made out of?”
    “Oak, mostly. But there are a few things built from cherry. One customer just asked me for a dresser out of pine.”
    Unable to help herself, she ran a hand over a cherry dining room table. “I like this.”
    “You have good taste. That piece took me a whole month to build.”
    “Is it sold?”
    “I thought it was. But the people who ordered it backed out.”
    “That’s rude!”
    He shrugged. “I don’t think so. The man lost his job. I feel bad. I had to keep his deposit because I bought the wood special for him. But I don’t blame him.”
    “I’m sorry. I guess I’m the one who’s being rude.” As she heard her words echo in the vacuous space, she groaned. What in the world was she doing? Flirting? Just being friendly?
    Sometimes she didn’t even know herself anymore.
    To her relief, he only shook his head slowly. “No, Lilly. I don’t think so.”
    The way he said her name, almost reverently, made her skittish. She turned away before he saw how it affected her. “I like this rocking chair.”
    “It’s a gut one. Sit down.”
    She sat, and let her hands slide over the smooth wood planes. “It’s lovely. It really is.”
    He looked fondly at it. “This one here is for a mother in Berlin. She’s expecting a boppli .”
    Whether it was his kindness or the reminder, she blurted, “My mom just told us that she’s pregnant. That’s why I was crying last Monday.”
    “Ah.”
    Catching his eye—still not very sure why she was even telling him so much—she added, “I was really upset. Devastated, really.”
    “Because you lost a baby of your own?”
    She started. Over the past few months, she’d done her best never to talk about the miscarriage. Most everyone else she knew never mentioned it, either. But now, here was Robert, bringing it up in conversation. Like it was something that they should talk about.
    Something that she should share. “Yes,” she said slowly. “Because of that.”
    Robert regarded her a long moment before walking to stand next to another chair. The additional space between them gave her breathing room. She watched his brows furrow as he gave the