should I say the green areas.”
To this bit of wit and wisdom, Gabriel relaxed, but only a little.
“And for that, I could never resent what you had to do to get us to this point.” She stood and
moved between his thighs, allowing her robe to open of its own accord. “We converse with men
as equals, not as some piece of—” she looked away for a moment, but finally said, “—property.
You have set a high standard, and we strive to keep it.”
Gabriel’s mother had taught him exactly how much these very things could mean to a woman.
He had seen it in the way his father defied society to be with a woman they deemed inferior
because of the color of her skin.
“I’ve felt more proud to be a woman than I have at any time before I met you. I could never
resent that,” she said. “The classes here have been rigorous. The days are long for us because
there is so much more to be done. We believe, but we’re weary.”
“So maybe a little less work,” Gabriel whispered, cupping his hands around her full buttocks.
“And more of those family celebrations they were used to?”
“That’s a start, love.” Jean planted a soft kiss on his forehead. “Some other aspects of what’s
happening here have been a little disconcerting. You have to realize that by sending them to
study other religions, you’ve caused some to question who and what they believe in. And that’s
a hard place to be.” She weaved her fingers within his soft curls. “There’s no temple or place to
worship here.”
“You know how I feel about that,” he protested, tensing as they came to another sore point.
“There’s a small altar in everyone’s chamber. They can pray to whatever God they believe in.
God is a personal God.”
“That is where you erred in this,” she said, giving him a lingering look. “For them, spirituality
is a collective celebration. They need the sharing, the ability to recognize God together. They
draw strength from it and from each other. When you took that away, you took something very
valuable.”
Gabriel pulled away, insulted by this unhappy fact. And also embarrassed that it had taken his
wife to bring home a point that he should have considered long before now.
She walked to the windows, peering out for a moment at the lush gardens that separated their
complex from the next family’s. “You’ve changed the dynamics of relationships. Four women
to every one man. The women have finally settled into that. In return, can’t you at least offer to
give them what they need spiritually?”
Jean made her way back to Gabriel and leaned in, pressing her lips to his, exploring him a
moment until his erection hardened again. Then she held him against her breasts and whispered,
“Lucille must go, Gabriel, or you will have hell to pay.”
60 | NKLC Magazine