“It’s okay. Being gay isn’t going to rub off on you or anyone. Clay and Dell are good people,” Mark told him quietly, and Isaac, regardless of how unsettled he felt, remembered his manners and was determined not to make a scene or to show just how much he didn’t understand about these people, life—even himself.
“Can I go play?” Archie asked, breaking through Isaac’s tension.
Dell smiled at his son warmly. “Yes. We’ll call you when it’s time for cake.”
Archie took his plate to the sink and then hurried out of the room, with the dog that had been sleeping under the table right behind him.
Isaac figured it might be best to try to change the subject, even though he had so many questions he wanted to ask. He only wished he had the courage to actually bring them up.
“Would you like some more?” Clay asked.
Isaac shook his head. “No. Thank you.” Man, he was full.
Clay checked with the others and began clearing the table. “Do you have appointments tomorrow?” he asked Dell, who smiled adoringly. Isaac remembered when his parents used to look at each other that way, but that was a long time ago. Now his parents went through their days stoically, doing what was expected of them. To Isaac, it seemed like a life without light or fun, and he wanted more than what his parents had. Maybe it was because of his age, but he kept wondering what was out in the larger world.
“No. It’s been quiet the past few weeks, but a heat wave will change all that and everyone in town will have air conditioning problems. Archie has a play date at Sally’s, so you and I have a day in the cheese house.” Dell grinned, and for a second, Isaac wondered if that was some sort of code, but quickly realized it was a cute reference to making cheese. “We’re getting a lot of requests for our newer varieties, and I have the orders organized so we can get them filled and out.”
Dell helped clear the dishes, and Isaac followed their lead, taking his own to the sink. Things here were very different from at home. His mother did all the kitchen work, including setting the table and taking care of the dishes. His sisters helped and worked with her to learn how things were done. Ruth seemed happy following in their mother’s footsteps, whereas Hannah hated every second of it but had no choice. Just like Isaac had no choice in what he did either.
“What is it like where you live?” Mark asked.
Isaac shrugged. “We don’t have fancy houses like this one. Our lives are much… simpler, I guess you could say.” It was home—what he knew and how he’d lived his entire life.
“Do you really get to have more than one wife?” Mark asked.
Isaac shook his head. “No. I hear the rumors in town and I know what people say, but we aren’t like that.” He lowered his gaze. “We worship and live our lives close to the land and close to God.” It felt like he was reciting what his father had said many times, but it was the only answer he had. “I was born in the community and on the land there. So were my sisters. It’s a quiet place.”
“What do you do for fun?” Mark asked. “What television shows do you like?”
“Television? Oh, the plays in a box. I’ve seen that in town sometimes. No, we don’t have television, and we don’t have electric lights either. We use oil and candles for light, and we work based on the sun. I suppose you do that too.” He wasn’t going to defend their life to anyone, even if it didn’t seem to fit him.
“No TV?” Archie asked as he came back in the room, his mouth hanging open. “Do you watch on a tablet?” He got his and brought it to Isaac, who had seen them as well but had no idea how they worked.
“No. Nothing like that,” Isaac told him. “We do have a dog, though, and there are other young people in the community. When we have free time, we play together or have young people evenings. They’re usually organized around the church, though.”
Archie still stared at him. “What about internet?”
Isaac shook his head. “Sorry. Mostly we work hard. Even the young ones like you do what they’re able to. Boys help their fathers, and girls help their mothers. Each family has a purpose and things they’re responsible for.”
Mark nodded. “I think I can understand that. Everyone contributes to the overall well-being. But what I don’t understand is who decided who does what.”
“My father,” Isaac answered. “He’s the community leader.”
“Is he elected?” Mark asked, and Isaac shook his head.
“He’s the one who organizes everything and makes sure that everyone is doing what they’re supposed to do. My father is also the one who dishes out punishment. If a family doesn’t do their share, then the leader of that family has to stand in front of the community. It’s not a good thing.” He actually shivered a little because him being here could get his own father called in front of the community. Granted, he had started out doing what his father had told him to do, but if his father knew that he was working for people who didn’t measure up to what his father thought was acceptable… it would be bad. Still, Isaac was curious about these people—and himself—and that overrode everything, at least for now.
“Is it cake time?” Archie asked.
It was getting dark outside, and Isaac stood. “I should be going. I’m sorry to miss the cake, but I need to walk home and there will be things I have to do before I go to bed.” There was always work to do, and it wasn’t like his father was going to cut him a lot of slack because he was out working. He would still be expected to complete his chores back home. Isaac went to the door and pulled on his boots.
Clay met him there and handed him some cash. “Per our agreement, I’ll pay you at the end of each day.”
“Thank you,” Isaac said. He put his hat on his head and left the house and the bright lights for the darkness that enveloped him outside. He carried his dinner pail and ate what his mother made for him on the way home. Bringing it back full would rouse suspicion, and he couldn’t bring himself to throw it away.
The walk grew even darker the farther he got from the farm and the closer to home. The lights faded behind him, with only the occasional flickering light in the windows of the small houses that made up their community. Isaac knew the way well. He went inside and up to his father and handed him most of the money he’d made, hiding a small amount for himself. No words were spoken as he went back outside and into the barn to finish the day’s chores.
Chapter Three
Mark got to the farm early and hurried through his chores. The plan was for Isaac to do the morning milking, but Mark wasn’t sure Isaac was going to show up. It was pretty clear to Mark that Isaac was more than a little overwhelmed, and frankly, he felt a little stupid. He should have guessed that Isaac was going to be uncomfortable around all of them. It was a farm run by gay men, and Isaac had been raised in a very conservative community. Mark gave Clay props for wanting to hire the guy, and when Isaac had been here last night, he’d done great work and Archie liked him. That kid was the barometer to end all barometers for good people. The only exception to that rule was Mark’s father, for some stupid reason.