I ran my hands along the skirt of my flower-print dress, unsure of what to wear when I visited Timothy’s church again. Since the congregation was Mennonite, most of the women wore long skirts. I didn’t believe Becky when she said anything I wore would be fine.
“You look beautiful. I don’t know what you’re so nervous about. I should be the one who is nervous. I’m the one everyone is talking about,” Becky said. “I’d rather be home with Gigabyte watching Paula Deen.”
Becky had recently discovered Food Network. She was obsessed.
“You’re going as a favor to me. Timothy wanted you to come too.”
Becky shook her head. “I don’t think so. He likes you. I’ve never seen him act this way around anyone else, not even Hannah.”
Did she have to keep bringing up Hannah? It was bad enough I knew she would be at the picnic that night.
The picnic area behind the church was filled with people and four gas grills loaded down with hotdogs and hamburgers. It smelled divine. These hamburgers would be much better than the one I gagged down in Harshberger’s cafeteria.
Timothy stood next to a middle-aged man at one of the grills. He waved at us and jogged over. “I’m so glad you could come.” He ran his eyes over me. “You look nice.”
I blushed. Hopefully he’d think the redness on my cheeks was just a sunburn from the hike we took that morning.
He started back toward the grill, and gestured for me to follow him. “I want you to meet someone.”
Becky bumped into me. “Don’t leave me,” she whispered.
I grabbed her hand. “Then come with us.”
Timothy gestured to an older man at the grill. “Chloe, this is John Hilty.”
I knew where Hannah got her good looks. John Hilty was a handsome man, with a tan from working outside and laugh lines that creased the corners of his deep-set eyes.
Mr. Hilty removed his oven mitt and held out his hand. I shook it. “It’s nice to meet you. How do you know Timothy?”
I nodded to my housemate. “Through Becky.”
“Hello, Becky,” Mr. Hilty said.
From yards away, Hannah waved in our direction. “Daddy!” She wore a flowered dress similar to mine, but as my dress hung straight from my shoulders, hers hugged her curves. I wished I’d followed Becky’s advice and worn my jeans. At least then it wouldn’t look like I was trying to copy Hannah.
Kim and Emily followed behind Hannah at a respectful distance, as if they were ladies-in-waiting and she was the princess. Church members beamed as Hannah floated by. Maybe she was the princess.
Hannah fake pouted. “Timothy, I’ve been waiting for you to get here, and you go straight to my father instead of saying hello to me.” Her pout morphed into an adoring grin.
The worst part? The affectionate expression he offered her in return.
Mr. Hilty pointed a metal spatula in my direction. “Have you met Chloe, Hannah?”
Hannah gave me the smallest of smiles. “Yes, we met last Sunday. It’s nice to see you again, Chloe. Will you be attending our church on a regular basis?”
Not if you ask me like that.
Hannah put a hand on my wrist. “We shouldn’t distract the men when they are cooking. Why don’t you and Becky join my friends and me?”
I opened my mouth to make an excuse, but Timothy nodded. “That’s a great idea. Have fun!”
Becky and I followed Hannah and her friends to a picnic table as if our shoes were full of lead. Suddenly Becky stopped. “Oh, I see someone I have to talk to.”
“Wha—” I grabbed at her as she ran in the opposite direction.
Hannah glanced over her shoulder. “Are you coming, Chloe?”
I looked heavenward and followed. At the table, I perched on one of the benches next to Kim. She seemed the least ferocious of the group. Besides, from this vantage point I could see Timothy at the grill.
Hannah folded her hands on the table. “You seem to be spending a lot of time with Timothy and his family.”
I decided to change the subject. “Becky told me that you knew about her job interview?”
Hannah arched an eyebrow at me. “I did. She mentioned it to me when we met in town one afternoon.”
“She told you that she’d be driving my car.”
There was a pitcher of lemonade on the table, and Emily poured us each a paper cup full.
Hannah took a sip. “She told me that she was driving a car. I didn’t know it was yours. To be honest, I wasn’t all that interested. You think a lot of the Troyers, don’t you?”
I glanced at Timothy, who laughed with the other men around the grill. “They’ve been so welcoming.”
“I’m surprised, considering . . .”
I looked to Hannah. “Considering what?”
“That you are an English girl.”
I didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, I watched Timothy flip hamburgers on the grill and laugh with Hannah’s father. I could never imagine him doing that with my father. I could never imagine my father doing that with anyone, for that matter.
“For Amish, the Troyers are more accepting than others in their district. I’m sure it’s the grandfather’s influence.” She took another sip of her lemonade. “After everything that’s happened, they’ve come to accept me as part of the family too. I know his parents are Amish, but I think they now know that I’m a good match for Timothy.”
I froze. “A good match?”
“Didn’t Timothy tell you? We are a couple. We are practically promised to each other.”
“Promised to each other? What does that mean?”
She laughed lightly, her eyelashes fluttering. “That we will be engaged soon.”
My face grew hot. “A person is either engaged or not engaged.”
“Why are you getting so upset?” She crushed her empty lemonade cup in her hand. “Emily, pour me another. I want a fresh cup.”
Emily did as she was told.
I swallowed. “I’ve never heard the term before.”
“It might not be something people say in the big city you’re from, but in Knox County it’s common.”
“Oh.” I took a deep breath. Get a grip, Chloe.
“You are getting so upset, I . . . well . . .”
“What?” My temper flared.
She gave her lilting laugh again. “I’d almost think you have feelings for him.”
Her minions giggled.
She took a sip from her fresh cup. “That’s silly. You have to know his family would never approve of you. You’re English.”
I cocked my head. “So are you.”
“True, but I’m Mennonite. I guess his family feels if he’s going to leave the church, I’m close enough. We share the same faith and values.” She frowned. “I’m surprised he didn’t tell you about me.” She crushed the second empty paper cup in her hand. “I’ve heard all about you. You were trapped in the tornado together. No wonder you have a crush on him.” Her eyes narrowed. “How cute.”
“I’ve got to go.” I got up from the table and walked away. How dumb of me to come. My version of plain clothing or not, I did not belong here. I was better off with my high-tech toys. Hannah was right; she was a much better fit for Timothy than I could ever be. If Timothy had been promised to her, it was no wonder he’d been reluctant to talk to me about his past. The question was, why did he bother to tell me at all? I knew I should go to Timothy directly and ask him. That’s what Tanisha would have done. But I didn’t have my best friend’s nerve. I couldn’t bring myself to do it at the picnic with Hannah close by. I needed to get out of there to clear my head.
I was almost to the parking lot when Timothy touched my arm. “Chloe, what’s wrong? Where are you going?”
I tensed. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“You’re upset.”
“I’m not upset.” I could hear my own voice catch, and took a breath. “I’m going home.”
“What happened?”
“Ask Hannah.”
His eyes were concerned. “Is Hannah all right?”
His question was like a punch in the gut. Maybe she had been telling the truth. “I have to go.”
“It’s late. How are you going to get there?”
“Same way I got here. I’ll walk,” I snapped.
He jerked back as if I slapped him. Then he let go of my arm and let me walk away.
As I walked home, I felt ridiculous for getting so upset. I let Hannah get to me without giving Timothy the chance to explain. He deserved the chance to do that. As I walked along the sidewalk, a flush ran up the back of my neck into the crown of my head. How could I be so stupid?
As I made my way up the path to my house, a silver car drove by me very slowly. I tamped down a shiver. I must still be spooked from today’s encounter with Curt and Brock. I put the key in the lock, then glanced at the silver sedan’s taillights. At least it wasn’t a green truck.