Henry noticed that she was eating only a salad and he said, That's not enough for you." "I'm trying to lose weight," Lois lied.
He put his hand over hers. "I don't want you to lose weight, Lois. I like you just the way you are." She felt a sudden thrill. He was the first man who had ever said that to her.
"I'm going to order you a steak, some potatoes, and a Caesar salad," Henry said.
It was so wonderful, finally, to find a man who understood her appetite and approved of it.
* * *
THE NEXT FEW weeks went by in a delicious series of dates. At the end of three weeks, Henry said, "I love you, Lois. I want you to be my wife." Words she thought she would never hear. She put her arms around him and said, "I love you, too, Henry. I want to be your wife."
* * *
THE WEDDING TOOK place in Henry's father's church five days later. Gary and a few friends were there, and it was a beautiful ceremony, officiated by Henry's father. Lois had never been so happy.
"Where are you two going to honeymoon?" Reverend Lawson asked.
"Lake Louise," Henry said. "It's very romantic." "That's perfect for a honeymoon." Henry put his arms around Lois. "I expect every day to be a honeymoon for the rest of our lives." Lois was ecstatic.
* * *
IMMEDIATELYAFTER THE wedding, they left for Lake Louise. It was a spectacular oasis in Banff National Park, in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.
They arrived in the late afternoon with the sun sparkling over the lake.
Henry took Lois in his arms. "Are you hungry?" She looked into his eyes and smiled. "No." "Neither am I. Why don't we get undressed?" "Oh, yes, darling." Two minutes later, they were in bed and Henry was making exquisite love to her.
It was wonderful. Exhausting. Exhilarating.
"Oh, darling, I love you so much." "I love you, too, Lois," Henry said. He stood up. "Now we must fight carnal sin." Lois looked at him, confused. "What?" "Get on your knees." She laughed. "Aren't you tired, darling?" "Get on your knees." She smiled. "All right." She got on her knees and watched, puzzled, as Henry took a large belt from his trousers. He walked up to her, and before she realized what was happening, he smashed the belt hard against her naked buttocks.
Lois screamed and started to get up. "What are you-?" He shoved her down. "I told you, darling. We must fight carnal sin." He raised the belt and struck her again.
"Stop it! Stop it!" "Stay there." His voice was filled with fervor.
Lois fought to get up, but Henry held her down with one strong hand and slammed the belt against her again.
Lois felt as though her backside had been flayed. "Henry! My God! Stop it!" Finally Henry stood up and took a deep, quivery breath. "It's all right now." It was difficult for Lois to move. She could feel the open sores oozing. She painfully managed to get to her feet. She couldn't speak. She could only stare in horror at her husband.
"Sex is sinful. We must fight temptation." She shook her head, still speechless, still not believing what had just happened.
"Think of Adam and Eve, the beginning of the downfall of mankind." He went on.
Lois began to weep, huge gulping sobs.
"It's all right now." He took Lois in his arms. "It's all right. I love you." Lois said uncertainly, "I love you, too, but-" "Don't worry. We have conquered it." Which means that will be the last time that happens, Lois thought. It probably has something to do with his being a minister's son. Thank God it's over.
Henry held her close. "I love you so much. Let's go out to dinner."
* * *
IN THE RESTAURANT, Lois was barely able to sit down. The pain was terrible, but she was too embarrassed to ask for a pillow.
"I'll order," Henry said. He ordered a salad for himself and an enormous meal for Lois. "You have to keep your strength up, my dearest." During dinner Lois thought about what had just happened. Henry was the most wonderful man she had ever known. She had been taken aback by his-what was it, she wondered-fetish. Anyway, that was over. She could look forward to spending the rest of her life taking care of this man and being taken care of.
When they had finished their entrees, Henry ordered an extra dessert for Lois and said, "I like a lot of woman." She smiled. "I'm glad I please you." When dinner was over, Henry said, "Shall we go back to the room?
"Fine." When they returned to their room, they undressed and Henry took Lois in his arms and the pain seemed to disappear. His lovemaking was sweet and gentle and was even more enjoyable than before.
Lois hugged her husband and said, "That was wonderful." "Yes." He nodded. "Now we must atone for carnal sin. Get on your knees."
* * *
IN THE MIDDLE of the night, when Henry was asleep, Lois quietly packed a suitcase and fled. She took a plane to Vancouver and called Gary. At lunch, she told him what had happened.
"I'm filing for divorce," Lois said, "but I have to move out of town." Gary thought for a moment. "I have a friend who owns an insurance agency, sis.
It's in Denver, and that's fifteen hundred miles away." "That would be perfect." Gary said, "I'll talk to him."
* * *
TWO WEEKS LATER, Lois was working at the midwest insurance agency in a managerial position.
Gary had kept in constant touch with Lois. She had bought a small, charming bungalow with a view of the Rockies in the distance, and from time to time her brother would visit her. They would have great weekends together-skiing, or fishing, or simply sitting on the sofa, talking. I'm so proud of you, sis, he'd always tell her, and Lois was proud of Gary's accomplishments as well. He had earned his Ph.D. in science, was working for an international corporation, and had taken up flying as a hobby.