Abram waved as the final pair of customers exited Brennemans’ Perks. “Thank you for coming. Have a good day!”

“You too.” The young man closed the door behind him and went down the sidewalk talking to his female companion.

Abram flipped the sign on the front door to Closed. While he’d been cleaning tables for the two o’clock Saturday closing, he couldn’t help but notice how the couple’s words had flowed easily between them, punctuated by laughter and demure looks over their coffee mugs.

He wanted that. Maybe he shouldn’t, since quiet awkwardness had defined most of his life, but he did. Not with just anyone, though. With Cilla. Over the last five months as he’d come to know her better and leaned on her for advice, he’d discovered he could open up with her in ways he’d never imagined doing with anyone except the person he’d believed was his twin, the one he’d grown up with. Strangely, it was the predicament of learning Ariana had been swapped at birth that caused Abram to begin going to Cilla’s house to talk.

Abram took the bin with its few dirty dishes into the kitchen.

“Whatcha got there?” Susie was putting on her coat.

“Two mugs, one plate, and two spoons.”

“It was a hectic Saturday, and I’m beat. Just fill the bin with hot, sudsy water, and I’ll wash them first thing Monday.”

That plan sounded good.

The back door swung open. “Hallo?” Ariana called.

“She’s here in her café!” Susie screamed. “Wilkum!”

Susie and Martha about knocked her over, book bag and all, and Abram steadied his sisters before wrapping them in a group hug.

“Great,” Skylar said. “Another Amish tradition I’m not familiar with. Who knew the Amish did their own version of huddle and squeal?”

Abram stood straight, and his sisters peeled outward, like a flower opening.

Skylar saw Ariana, and her eyebrows furrowed a bit. “Oh. Makes sense now. Carry on.” Skylar went behind the counter near the register, carrying the box of gourmet coffee beans she’d found in the loft after thirty minutes of searching for it.

“I come bearing good news.” Ariana smiled and held up the old book bag. “I have an envelope with a check for each of you, back pay for all your work. But could we sit and talk first?”

“Sure.” Susie beamed. “You’re here.”

Ariana grinned and went toward the dining area. Abram helped her scoot several tables together. She sat and pulled out the ledgers, papers, and a stack of envelopes. Abram, Susie, and Martha took a spot at the table.

Cilla remained standing. “I’m glad you’re finally here, Ari.”

“Denki. And I’m very grateful you and your sister helped out as much as you did.”

“We were glad to do it. I should go now so you guys can talk.”

“Could you stay for a few minutes? I have a couple of questions.” She peered around Cilla. “Skylar, you too, please.”

Skylar shoved the box aside, looking annoyed, but she came from behind the counter and took a seat.

Ariana picked up the envelopes and tapped the edge of the stack on the table. “This money can’t begin to cover all I owe you. My gratitude runs deep.” She set down the envelopes. “It took me a while to get the books straight.”

Susie laughed. “I bet. We made and spent money and kept shoving the receipts in a pile for you to figure out.”

“That was fine. It’s given me something to work on since I got home. But there is a bit of money still unaccounted for. We have several weeks of receipts tallied for the café, but no deposit was made. It’s not a big deal, but I thought maybe we could brainstorm what might have happened to it. Is there a safety box with petty cash?”

Cilla pressed her hands down her apron. “Money was spent for me. Could it be that?”

“All of that balances, Cilla, and it was money well spent. The only thing anyone in this room wishes is that it had been done for you sooner.”

Cilla relaxed against her chair. “Denki.”

Abram stood. “I don’t think it’s possible to still have a deposit here, let alone several.” He went into the kitchen.

“He’s looking in the crisper,” Susie said. “We put the money in a bank bag and keep it there.”

Ariana chuckled. “Gives new meaning to cold, hard cash, doesn’t it?”

“Nothing is there,” Abram called out and returned to the table. “We made one deposit each week before noon on Saturday.”

“Sounds like a good system. You said we.”

“We took turns. Whoever had time carried the deposit to the bank.”

“Does anyone remember anything unusual happening?”

“Did you talk to the bank?” Skylar asked.

“I did. We went over everything.”

“You’re being supernice,” Skylar said. “And I can hear Dad’s—sorry, Nicholas’s—words and voice in yours. But the bottom line is you think someone stole it. And by someone, I mean me.”

“That’s not true,” Ariana said. “I think money is missing, and it would help if we could figure out what happened to it so we can put it in the bank.”

“How much is missing?” Martha asked.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m not here to—”

“Oh, I think you are,” Skylar snapped. “You just don’t want anyone to realize what you’re actually saying.”

Ariana separated the envelopes, placing each on the table and never looking up. “I hear Nicholas’s words and voice in yours, projecting your thoughts on me as if they’re mine. I can assure you that wasn’t how I felt, but since your conscience is so quick to accuse me of accusing you, I do wonder why that is.”

“Take it back.” Skylar stood up fast, sounding like an angry school kid. “Or I’ll drag you out of your café by that silky blond hair of yours.”

Abram started to speak to Skylar, but Ariana raised her hand slightly.

Seeming as calm as a sleeping baby, Ariana looked at Skylar. “You have no idea how much I appreciate your hard work and inventive ideas. I see you as an asset.”

“I didn’t do any of it for you.”

“Of that, I’m sure. But you worked hard, and you showed the others what needed to be bought, things we wouldn’t have without you. Almost half of all profit made since the machines arrived has been through the sale of coffee. So I prefer you knock the chip off your shoulder and sit down. But if you wish to drag me out of here by my hair, I promise you it’s a fight I won’t lose.”

“You are so full of it—from your fake gratitude to your ‘it’s a fight I won’t lose.’ ”

Ariana’s face grew taut. “While you had a lifetime of Mom chauffeuring you from one cushy event to the next, going to movies, eating out, and taking every artsy lesson that suited you, I was working every muscle in my body helping to put food on the table. And since you really don’t want to be here…” Ariana slid an envelope with Skylar’s name on it across the tables to rest in front of her, and then Ariana turned her attention to Susie, Martha, and Abram. “Any ideas?”

Skylar folded her arms. “You can’t come into this café for the first time in months and tell me to leave.” She sat.

Despite Skylar’s words Abram saw the anger drain from her. She seemed in the midst of a revelation of some type, but he didn’t think it was the fact that Ariana would fight her and win in short order. Something else, something puzzling, registered in Skylar’s eyes.

The conversation about the money started again, but no one had any ideas about what could’ve happened.

Cilla tapped the table. “I need to go.”

“Sure.” Ariana pushed an envelope toward her. “If you think of anything, even something silly that might have happened, let us know, okay?”

“I don’t feel right about taking this. I told Abram I was volunteering my time. Then Abram—all of you—paid for my medical bills.”

“What’s in there is yours,” Ariana said. “It’s less than the others because you worked fewer hours, and I deducted accordingly for medical things.”

Ariana did what? Abram didn’t want her medical bills deducted.

Cilla grinned. “Denki.” She grabbed her coat and went out the back door.

“How much did you deduct from her pay?” Abram asked.

“ ‘Accordingly,’ ” Skylar said. “Didn’t you take note of the angel’s smoothness?”

“She’s right,” Ariana said. “That was the gloss-over word, not fully honest, not dishonest. I kept a portion from everyone’s paycheck based on the agreement made when you began looking for a doctor, but I kept more from hers, just enough that she’ll feel as if she paid for her own medical bills. But she didn’t.”

“But she deserves to have all she worked for,” Martha said. “We did the medical bills as a gift.”

“This way frees her, Martha. She will no longer feel as if she owes any of us.”

Abram pointed at Ariana. “Welcome back.”

Ariana dipped her head as if bowing. “I knew you’d like that plan.” She cleared her throat and handed out the other envelopes. “The sums in the envelopes aren’t the same even though you basically all worked the same number of hours. I used an Englisch formula to arrive at the pay grade. If you disagree with what I’ve done, let’s talk about it.”

Skylar tapped her envelope on the table. “Anyone want to guess who made the least?”

Ariana raised an eyebrow. “I’d rather you didn’t. It’s best not to discuss wages. I’d like that to be the policy, no talking about it.”

“Isn’t that just great for you.”

Ariana slammed her hands on the table. “What is your problem, Skylar?” Ariana closed her eyes, regaining control. “You didn’t earn the least. You were paid based on your personal contribution, which was quite significant, not just for the last few months, but for years to come because you knew how important various coffees are to people, types of coffee I hadn’t even heard of until I was in your world. I’m grateful for what you’ve done, and I did not let your mouthy attitude toward me get in the way of the math.”

“My mouthy attitude? I’ve hardly said a word to you in weeks.”

“But you’ve made yourself heard, haven’t you?”

“Finally the queen speaks an ounce of truth. Admit it: you really don’t want me in your home.”

“If it’s truth you want, I suggest you stop looking at me or Brandi or Nicholas as the source of the sour milk inside you and look in the mirror. They love you, Skylar. I am grateful to you beyond words. But you never look over the fence into our lives and see the bounty of the garden we’d like to share with you. You only see the weeds.”

Abram saw both sides to the emotions being displayed, but Ariana was trying to be fair and kind, and Skylar was clearly trying to ruffle feathers. Was Skylar looking for an excuse to quit the café and walk away from the Brennemans?

Cilla walked back in. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but something’s wrong with the rigging again.”

As much as Abram had hoped to avoid time alone with Cilla, he was grateful for an excuse to get away from this escalating rivalry.

He rose. “I’ll tend to it. You stay inside where it’s warm until I have it fixed.” He put on his coat and went outside.

Cilla followed him. “It’s really exciting about the money, isn’t it?”

“Ya.” Abram inspected the rigging.

“Any fun plans?”

“Nee.” He continued following the leather lines.

“I know what I want. I want ice cream.” Her teeth chattered as she jumped up and down to stay warm. She was teasing, and he refused to get pulled into it.

“The breeching near the tug needs repair.” Abram went to his rig and pulled out the repair box. He toted it to her carriage and set it in the snow. He had repaired this same spot once before. “You used the wrong rigging again.”

“Nee.” Cilla removed her gloves and tugged on the tattered leather. “I was paying attention this time, but the good ones were taken, and my only choice was to use this or stay home.”

“It’ll take me a bit to fix it. You should go back inside where it’s warm.”

“You sound as if you’re concerned, but I think you’re just trying to get rid of me. You’ve hardly said a word to me all week, and it’s not my imagination, Abram.”

Most of his life he’d been too awkward, too weird, too quiet to have a connection with a girl he liked—until he got to know Cilla. But now her situation had changed, and his current goal was the same as it’d been all week: get her in the rig and gone with as little interaction between the two of them as he could get away with.

“Abram…what’s going on with you?” Her soft voice seemed to fill him. “I thought maybe you were worried about Ariana. But she seems to be faring better than we are.”

He couldn’t think of anything to say.

“You can talk to me about anything. If you doubt that, just look at all we’ve been through over the last five months.”

His mind reeled with memories. She was a good listener, a hard worker, and a lot of fun to be around. He opened the repair box and searched for the right leather strips. “I’m sure I have what’s needed.”

“So either I can drop it or continue to beg you to let me in. Is that it?” Her voice shook a little at the end of her sentence, and he knew he would have to come clean or he’d hurt her even worse.

“I don’t know how to say it. I may say things wrong and hurt you.” He found several of the straps he was looking for and turned around to face her.

“Just try, please. For me.”

Abram looked at the ground. There was no easy way to say what was on his mind. “Now that you’re better, you’ve got other men interested in you. Problem is, you’re interested right back. That’s fine. You should be.”

Cilla looked as if his words were hot pokers. “I wasn’t…I would never…” She took a breath, closed her eyes, and seemed to be trying to refocus her thoughts. “Abram, sick or well, I like being with you.” She took the leather strips from his hands and threw them on the ground. “I’ve been very clear how I feel, how I’ve always felt. You’re the one who asked me to slow things down. You!” She stormed off, heading for the café.

Her words washed over him. Had he let jealousy and insecurity cause him to see things that didn’t exist? New guys were interested. He hadn’t imagined that part. “Wait.” He hurried to catch up with her. “Please.”

She stopped, and he moved in front of her, facing her.

Her beautiful hazel eyes had tears. “Abram, how could you not talk to me about this?”

“I didn’t know how to begin, what to say.”

All traces of anger disappeared. “Oh. This is my fault. I should’ve—”

“Saul?”

“He can be funny.” She peered at the door, as if making sure no one was there to hear her. “But that’s his only quality. I would trust a rabid dog more, and since he dated my sister, I’ve got my reasons for knowing things about him.”

“Gut.” Relief surged through him.

She walked back toward the rig and picked up the straps she’d tossed into the snow. “I know how hard it is for you to speak your mind, and I should’ve prodded you when I noticed something was different.”

Was that who he was, a man unable to speak his mind? He didn’t like that description at all.

She smiled. “I’m sorry, Abram. I—”

He silenced any more apologies with a kiss. Her lips were soft and warm, thawing parts of his soul that he hadn’t realized were chilled.