Plain Death

by Flower, Amanda

  “I can paint, but not like I want to.” Her eyes lit up. “I want to study art—Picasso, Monet, all the masters. I want to learn about their work. I want to learn about light, reflection, and depth and how to be a true artist. I could never do that at home. Education is discouraged there. If I married, I would immediately have to think about raising a family. I’m not ready for that.”

  “Where have you been living?”

  “At home. I left today. I had an argument with my parents about Isaac. I’m glad we saw my eldest bruder. He will tell my mamm and daed I’m safe. I don’t want them to worry.” She tucked her portfolio back into her canvas bag. “Is that your mamm?” She pointed to the lone photograph on the mantle.

  I nodded. It was a picture of my mother not long before the accident. In it, she stood on a pebble-covered Lake Erie beach. It was a rare sunny day on the lake, and the golden highlights in her red hair reflected the bright sunlight. My hair was the same shade of red, but I doubted it was ever as beautiful.

  “You must miss her.”

  “I do.”

  “Will she visit you?”

  I bit the inside of my lip. The accident happened ten years ago, but it never got any easier to explain. “She passed away.”

  Becky paled. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It was a long time ago.” I waited for the next question. It was always the same one. “What happened?” Then I would say, “It was a car accident.” And then they would ask for more details. Details I didn’t want to share.

  To my surprise, Becky asked something different. “Where is the rest of your family?”

  Her question caught me off guard. Where was my family? Was it in Italy with Tanisha and her parents? Or was it in California with my father, Sabrina, and their children?

  Becky knitted her brows. “Did I say something that upset you?”

  I shook my head. “I’m tired. That’s all.” I tossed the remains of our dinner into the garbage. “You’re welcome to stay here for the night. You were a huge help to me today.” I didn’t add that we would be talking about her permanent housing plans tomorrow.

  “And you to me.” She gave me her beautiful smile. “We will be good frienden. That means friends.”

  “I’d like that. There is a box of blankets and sheets in the second bedroom.”

  She thanked me, and I picked up Gigabyte and climbed up the creaky stairs to bed.

  Alone in my new bedroom, I tried to put Timothy Troyer out of mind. Married or not, no way should I consider any kind of attachment to him. He was Amish. I was a computer geek. It would never work. I blamed matchmaking Tanisha for my lapse in judgment. Besides, I planned to be in Appleseed Creek for a short time, two years max. I was here to get the real-life work experience that every other institution and company said I lacked. In two years, I’d find a job in civilization.

  I changed into my pajamas and sat on the edge of my newly made bed to call my father. It was only a little after seven in the evening in San Diego.

  As usual I got his voicemail. I swallowed. “Hi, Dad. I’m in Appleseed Creek now. I moved into my new house today. It’s nice enough. I start working at the college tomorrow—”

  Beep! A female automated-voice much like Pepper’s came over the line. The mailbox you are trying to reach is full. Please hang up and try again.

  I tapped my smartphone’s screen and hung up, then moved to the window and peered out onto my narrow one-way street. The lights in the homes along the street were out, their owners safely tucked away in bed. Large oak trees lining the tree lawn blocked the streetlamps’ dim glow. Cicadas hummed their nightly songs, and birds twittered in the tree branches, waiting for sleep. I’d imagined country life would be like this—quiet, serene, safe.

  The jarring sounds of a car backfiring broke the evening’s tranquility. A pickup roared up the street, and I watched as its red taillights disappeared around the corner. Although I hoped it was my imagination, there was no doubt in my mind that the pickup was green.

  Chapter Four

  The next morning, the smell of fresh bacon wafted up the stairs. I found Becky in the kitchen, flipping pancakes on the stovetop. Gig purred as he wove in and around her bare feet. Undoubtedly, he hoped she’d drop a piece of bacon onto the floor for his breakfast. If Becky lived here much longer and kept cooking like this, I would be replaced in his feline affections.

  “Sit, sit,” Becky said. “I made you breakfast.” She had tied a white apron over her skirt and flower-printed blouse. It was the same outfit she’d worn the day before.

  I sat at the small dinette table in the corner of the kitchen. Usually, the most I had for breakfast was a piece of toast and a glass of orange juice. Becky had made enough food for a five-course meal: eggs, pancakes, toast, bacon, and sausage. “Where did this come from?” I asked. She set a heaping plate in front of me. I swallowed. I’d never be able to eat so much food, especially when I was already nervous about my first day at Harshberger College.

  “Timothy brought it this morning. He noticed we didn’t have any food in the house and didn’t want us to starve.”

  My stomach did a little flip. Now I really wouldn’t be able to eat. “That was nice,” I managed to squeak.

  She set a plate for herself across from me. “My bruder is thoughtful.” She straightened her shoulders. “Chloe, I need to talk to you about something.”

  I set my fork on the edge of my plate.

  “I want to live here. I can pay rent.”

  “How? Do you have a job?”

  She shook her head. “No, but I can get one.”

  I picked up my fork. “I don’t know, Becky. I just got here. I don’t know anyone, or anything about Appleseed Creek.” The green pickup came to mind again, but I shoved the thought aside. I needed to get a grip. Nothing bad could happen in a town like Appleseed Creek.

  “That’s why you need freinden like me.”

  “You’re welcome to stay for a few days, but any longer than that, I’ll have to think about it.” I forked a bite of pancake. It melted in my mouth.

  “I’ll get a job today, Chloe. I know it. Meet me downtown after you are through at the college. I plan to be there all day knocking on doors, looking for work.”

  I wasn’t sure that was the best way to find employment. I’d search online for job postings. However, I could see why that wouldn’t work for Becky.

  “I’ll meet you,” I said. “But I still have to think about you living here full time.”

  Becky frowned. “I understand.” She rose and started clearing the kitchen counter. “Meet me outside Amish Bread Bakery. It’s right on the square.”

  I drove to Harshberger still wondering what to do about Becky. It seemed cruel to ask her to leave when she had nowhere else to go. Tanisha’s family took me in when I needed a home. Could I do the same for someone else?

  I pushed Becky from my mind. I had a meeting with the college dean at nine o’clock. From half a block away, a large stone sign announced Harshberger College. I drove onto the campus’s main road, which divided the grounds in two. All the buildings matched in a tan brick façade, except for one that looked like it had once been a horse barn. The thwack, thwack of hammers split the silence as I passed the barn building. I leaned out of my open driver’s side window and looked up to find the silhouettes of Amish men moving back and forth across the roof.

  I parked in the small lot in front of the administrative building. A little courage would be great right now, Lord. I stood a little straighter and prepared myself to join the professional world.

  In front of the glass door, I adjusted my blazer in my reflection. Straight red hair fell to my shoulders, freckles ran across the bridge of my nose, and anxious hazel eyes stared back at me. Tanisha’s mom always said I was as “cute as a button.” But did anyone actually want to look like a button?
I wasn’t beautiful, not like Becky. Instead, I resembled Little Orphan Annie playing dress up.

  I followed the signs pointing to the dean’s office. In the reception area, two men stood in front of the secretary’s desk. One was more than six feet tall with a dark JFK Jr. pompadour, polished good looks, and the physique of a serious athlete. The second was a small round man wearing glasses and a big smile.

  “I couldn’t be happier with the college’s reception to my idea,” the taller man said. He smacked the shorter man on the back.

  The smaller man stumbled forward and caught himself on the edge of the desk. “You’ve been so generous, Grayson. Harshberger and Appleseed Creek are in your debt.”

  “I know how much my father loved this place. It only seemed right I would come to Harshberger first.”

  “He was an institution here and is still greatly missed.”

  A smile worthy of a toothpaste commercial spread across the taller man’s face. He spotted me standing in the doorway. “Charlie, you have a student here to see you.”

  I felt my face turn the color of my hair. “I’m sorry to interrupt. I’m Chloe Humphrey. I’m here to meet with Dean Klink.”

  “Chloe!” The shorter man hurried over and gave me a brisk handshake. “I’m Dean Charlie Klink. This is Grayson Mathews, an Appleseed Creek legend. He’s the only one to leave our little town, play football for Ohio State, and turn pro.”

  “Oh, nice to meet you,” I said. I might have been more impressed if I knew anything about football.

  Mathews laughed. “I only played pro for five years. It wasn’t exactly a long career.”

  “Grayson, Chloe isn’t a student. She’s our new Director of Computer Services. Chloe, welcome, welcome. We are so glad you’re finally here!”

  Mathews examined me. “Did you graduate college when you were fourteen?” His sparkling white smile took the bite out of his words.

  “Chloe is a whiz, Grayson. Trust me. I knew the moment I received her credentials she was the person to turn computer services around. So many great things are in store for the college this year.”

  My face grew hot.

  “Well, I’ll let the two of you do your business.” Mathews turned to Dean Klink. “It was nice talking to you, Charlie. We’ll be in touch.”

  As Mathews left the office, a curvy woman with a bouffant hairstyle sauntered into the room carrying a file. Dean Klink nodded in her direction. “This is my secretary, Irene. Irene, this is Chloe.”

  Irene gave me one brisk nod and sat behind her computer.

  “I’m so glad you are here, Chloe,” the dean said a second time.

  “Thank you so much for this opportunity—”

  He waved away the little thank-you speech I’d prepared with a flick of his chubby wrist. “No, thank you. You will take technology on campus to the next level. I just know it! Did you find a nice place to live?”

  I nodded. More or less that was true. The house needed a lot of work, though. Perhaps Timothy could help with that . . .

  He grinned. “Excellent! Did you have trouble settling into your new home?”

  “No, everything went fine.” If you discounted my run-in with the locals in a green pickup, my unwitting adoption of a runaway Amish girl, and embarrassing myself in front of her attractive brother, everything had gone fine.

  He clapped his hands together. “Now, right to business.” He handed me a piece of paper. “This is our agenda for the day. The first day is always the most overwhelming. You will do exciting things like get your parking pass and meet with the computer services department to set up your e-mail. What am I thinking? You are the computer services department. You’ll be up and running in that respect in no time.” He laughed as if he’d just told the funniest joke ever.

  “Your office is in Dennis, one of our academic buildings. It holds faculty offices and classrooms. Since we are in summer, it’s all but empty now. We’ll head there now and give you a chance to settle in.” He tucked a pen into the pocket of his short-sleeve white button-down shirt. “Irene, I’ll be back in a jiffy.”

  Irene nodded. Unlike her boss, she wasn’t the talkative sort. Perhaps she’d given up trying.

  The dean continued. “You may have noticed some workmen on the barn when you arrived on campus. They’re fixing the barn’s roof and making other general repairs to all the buildings. We want everything to be shipshape when the students arrive at the end of next month.”

  “When do classes start?”

  “The last Wednesday of August. That may be only a little over a month from now, but the days will pass quickly. That’s why we are so anxious for you to start. We want topnotch technology for our students.” He jiggled with excitement. “I’m thrilled about the expertise you bring to campus. I know the students and faculty will benefit from it.”

  “Thank you, Dean Klink.”

  He waved a hand. “Please call me Charlie. I don’t stand by fancy titles. We are all people who should be treated equally. It’s a value that Harshberger was founded on.”

  Despite his height, Dean Klink—I mean, Charlie—set a brisk pace across the main green, and I increased my own stride to keep up.

  The closer we came to the barn, the more deafening the sound of pounding nails. The noise didn’t discourage the dean’s enthusiasm as he shouted out the names of buildings. Two Amish men sorted through a wooden toolbox. Mabel lay on the ground next to them. I tucked my hair behind my ears. Timothy must be close by, but I wasn’t prepared to see him today.

  “How is it coming along this morning?” Dean Klink asked the men.

  The one with the full gray beard smiled at us. “Very gut. We should be finished with the roof today.”

  “Excellent. Excellent.”

  The younger man closed the toolbox’s lid and stood up. I drew in a sharp breath. Isaac Glick. In her painting, Becky had captured him perfectly. He smiled shyly at me, his brown eyes kind. I suspected he’d have no trouble finding any number of Amish girls ready and willing to take Becky’s place in his affections.

  Dean Klink peered at me, his forehead wrinkled. “Are you all right, Chloe?”

  I mumbled something about breathing in all the fresh country air.

  “Yes, it is a change for you.” He smiled at the men. “Chloe is new to Harshberger. She’s our Director of Computer Services.”

  The man with the gray beard smiled.

  “This is Bishop Glick, Chloe, and his son.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Does Becky know Isaac and his father are working with Timothy?

  A familiar voice called from the side of the barn. “I found the nails you wanted, Bishop.” Timothy pulled up short. Unlike his friends, who wore plain dark trousers, white shirts, and suspenders, he wore blue jeans and a plaid work shirt.

  Mabel jumped up and ran to Timothy, who bent and scratched her between the ears. Her long plume of a tail wagged back and forth with such force I was afraid her back end might take off like a helicopter.

  If he worked with other Amish men, why had he left the district? Was he like Becky? Was there something he’d like to learn from the outside world, but couldn’t with his own people?

  Dean Klink clapped, startling me out of my thoughts. “There’s our expert carpenter now. Timothy, I’d like to introduce you to Chloe Humphrey.”

  He stared at me. “We’ve already met.” From his neutral tone I couldn’t tell if he was happy or disappointed by our acquaintance.

  Chapter Five

  The computer services department was housed in the back corner of Dennis’s main floor, closest to the emergency stairwell. The department consisted of a main workroom divided into three staff cubicles and a small conference area. My office was tucked into a small area in the back.

  When Dean Klink and I entered the department, we found the confere
nce table covered with a computer graveyard worthy of my collection. Two men sat hunched over a table sorting through the pieces.

  “Clark, Miller, look who I brought.” Charlie’s jovial voice cut the silence. “This is Chloe Humphrey.”

  Jonathan Clark shook my hand. “Nice to meet you.” The tall African-American man spoke in a baritone voice. He was the first nonwhite person I had seen since arriving in Appleseed Creek. I was surprised I hadn’t noticed this before, considering I had lived with Tanisha’s African-American family throughout high school.

  Darren Miller was as short as Clark was tall. He tugged at spiky, dark blond hair and fidgeted in his desk chair until I extended my hand to him. He shook it, and when he did, nervous energy reverberated through his fingertips. Would he be patient enough for computer programming?

  “You have one more member of your staff. His name is Joel Schrock.” Charlie’s eyes darted around the room. “Joel must have stepped away from his desk.”

  Clark and Miller shared a look.

  Charlie opened my office door, then placed the key ring on my desk. “Those are for you. They include keys to Dennis, the two campus computer labs—they are down the hall—your office, the server room, and a few other places I can’t remember. Just ask Joel. He’s worked for Harshberger a long time. He knows the ins and outs of the entire campus. He’ll be your go-to man.”

  “Thank you.”

  “We are so happy to have you on board, Chloe. Harshberger is small but mighty.”

  He considered his watch. “Oh dear, I have an academic review meeting in twenty minutes. I’m sure you won’t have too much trouble, and if you do, they’ll come around, you’ll see.” He wiggled his fingers in farewell.

  Trouble? What kind of trouble?

  Clark scrunched his nose. “Do you think Klink realized he just compared Harshberger to dog food? Small but mighty?”

  “Naw. He probably thought he made that up,” Miller said. He held up his hand, and Clark gave him a high five.

  I broke into their gab session. “How small is Harshberger?”