Timothy and Becky attended a Mennonite church two blocks from Appleseed Creek’s square. It was another beautiful day, and I was happy we could walk to enjoy the weather. It also gave me a chance to burn off another of Becky’s colossal breakfasts. I knew she missed her family, but my cholesterol levels shouldn’t be put into jeopardy because of it.
I wore a knee-length skirt and a white blouse, and Becky wore an ankle-length skirt and blue T-shirt she’d worn the day before. Note to self: take her clothes shopping soon. It might be a fun outing and get our minds off the accident.
The church was a simple white building with a steeple, but I didn’t see a cross outside. “Is this church much different from your parents’?”
Becky scrunched her brows. “My family doesn’t go to a church building for Sunday meeting. Old Order Amish don’t have church buildings. The Amish have services in homes in the district.” She glanced at the simple structure. “This is the first church building I’ve ever been inside.”
“Oh.” I cocked my chin. “But Mennonites build churches? Why?”
She shrugged. “They’re just different.” She said this as if it were explanation enough, but I suspected something deeper than that.
Although Becky had insisted my outfit was fine for church, I felt self-conscious when we started up the walkway. All the women and girls wore long skirts similar to Becky’s. I tugged at the hem of mine, willing it to grow another twelve inches.
Despite the long skirts, the women wore colors and patterns. Many sported flowered blouses similar to the one Becky wore when I met her on the side of the road.
Becky took a deep breath. Three young women about Becky’s age stood at the base of the church’s cement steps.
“You okay?” I asked.
She straightened her shoulders. “I can do this.”
I squeezed her hand. “Of course you can.”
She walked up to them, and I followed. A pretty brunette held out her hand to me. “Welcome to our church. I’m Hannah Hilty. You must be Chloe.”
I blinked at her use of my name. Then again, I imagined the buggy accident had been a big topic of conversation in the Amish and Mennonite communities in Knox County.
I shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Hannah.”
She pointed to her friend with bright red cheeks. Was she embarrassed or recovering from a sunburn? “This is Emily,” Hannah said. She pointed to a second friend, this one rail thin and at least six feet tall. I wondered how she found skirts long enough for her frame. “And that’s Kim.”
I waved a hello.
Hannah examined Becky’s cast, now covered with the signatures of her siblings, grandfather, and me. “Becky, I’m glad to see you’re not more seriously injured. Does it hurt?”
Becky wrapped her left hand protectively around the cast. “Not much.”
“Have you spoken to Isaac?” Kim asked.
Becky tilted up her chin to look at the much taller girl.
“Do you know Isaac?” I asked. “Are you former Amish too?”
Emily snorted. “She thinks we’re Amish.”
Hannah looked annoyed. “No, we are all Mennonites. The church has a few former Amish members like Timothy, but most of us have never been Amish.”
Definitely the wrong question to ask. My first day at a new church and I was already inserting my foot in my mouth.
“Is Timothy here?” I asked.
Hannah’s eyes narrowed. “Are you looking for him?”
What’s her problem?
The church bell rang, cutting our conversation short. We headed inside to find wooden pews, white walls, and not a shard of stained glass in the place. Across the sanctuary, Timothy laughed at something his roommate Danny said. He looked handsome in dress pants, a blue button-down shirt, and a solid blue tie. It was the first time I’d seen him in anything other than work clothes.
He looked across the pews in my direction, and his eyes lit up, making my heart skip a beat. But his gaze didn’t meet mine. I turned and saw Hannah’s eyes locked on his, a full-mouthed smile greeting him.
I looked away and bit the inside of my lip.
Becky gave her brother a big hug as he approached us. “Chloe came just like she said she would.”
He smiled at me. “I never doubted that she would.”
My cheeks grew hot.
Hannah sidestepped me. “Timothy, we missed you at the social yesterday.” She pouted.
“Sorry I couldn’t make it,” he said.
Hannah glanced at Becky. “I hope it wasn’t because of the accident. I’m glad to see Becky is okay. We were so worried.” She turned to her friends. “Weren’t we, girls?”
“Terrified,” red-cheeked Emily said.
Hannah’s eyes darted to Becky’s cast. “The poor Glick family. I don’t know how they will ever recover, and Isaac must be devastated.”
Becky gave a small gasp when Hannah mentioned Isaac by name. Tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked them away.
Timothy took a step back from the Mennonite girl. “They are in our prayers.”
“Becky, this must be so hard for you, considering how close you were to the Glick family.” Hannah wrapped her arm around Becky’s shoulder and whispered something to her.
Becky gasped and pulled away. “Excuse me,” she whispered and left the church.
Timothy glared at Hannah. “What did you say to her?”
Hannah’s eyes grew wide as a doe’s. “I said I was praying for her. Why do you think that would upset her?”
The praise band at the front of the church began playing the prelude to the service.
Hannah linked her arm through Timothy’s and threw her minions a look. “Let’s find our seats.” They followed her as she walked with Timothy down the aisle.
Instead of trailing in their wake, I went in search of Becky and found her under a maple tree, cradling her right arm.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, but tears brimmed her eyes.
“Gee, that Hannah seems like a real sweetheart.”
Becky chuckled, but the sound of her laughter died away.
“No wonder you didn’t want to come today. What did she say to you?”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“What’s going on between her and Timothy?” I hoped my question sounded casual.
Her brows shot up. “Timothy and Hannah?” She sounded genuinely surprised. “Nothing. Why?”
I shrugged. “No reason. “ I doubted Hannah would give me the same answer, but I was happy to hear it from Becky. I changed the subject. “When I get a new car, we need to go shopping. You need some new things to wear to your new job.”
“I don’t have any money.”
“You can pay me back when you get paid.”
She grinned. “Okay. Can I buy a pair of jeans?”
I laughed. “You can buy whatever you want.” I glanced at the doors to the church. “Are you ready to go inside?”
She inhaled a deep breath. “Yes.”
I helped her up, then looped my arm through her good one, and together we strolled back into the church.