“I wasn’t sure, but it’s pretty. I’m better at helping other people braid than doing it myself. I guess that’s why this is my calling, helping others. If I had to braid my own hair, well, it’d look awful. That’s why I usually wear mine in a bun, or a messy bun, or sometimes . . .”
Sister Raquel filled every moment after Jacob’s departure with talk and the entire time, though I never said a word, I was part of the conversation. Soon I was back in bed and completely relaxed. I laughed at some of her stories and also practiced my sponging, learning things by listening to her friendly voice. I also learned more about my training. She joked that I’d undoubtedly already heard all the lessons and sermons that Sister Lilith would recite, and if I promised not to snore, I could probably catch a catnap under my bandages and still be able to answer all her questions.
When Sister Raquel mentioned her husband, Benjamin, her voice filled with adoration. I got the sense that their relationship was similar to what Jacob had described, one where she put her full trust in Benjamin and he assumed full responsibility for her. Her obvious contentment with her marriage gave me hope for my own. The only time she sounded sad was at the mention of children, sharing that she and Benjamin didn’t have any. Even then, she quickly said that she believed God would provide them in His time. She confessed in a whisper that she needed to work on her patience.
I realized that if she and Benjamin were trying to have children, Father Gabriel must not preach against sex. For some reason that made me smile. I couldn’t remember having been with Jacob in that way, but he said we had a good marriage and loved one another. The idea of being intimate didn’t scare me as much as the thought of his correction. As a matter of fact, as my thoughts lingered on his washing and drying me, parts of my body woke from their sleep. I pondered who my husband was in the bedroom. Is he the protector with a reassuring tone or the disciplinarian who demands obedience?
I wouldn’t be finding out as long as my leg and rib were in their current conditions, but with the way my insides tingled, I suspected that whoever he was, I liked him.
Raquel’s conversation reassured me. Instead of facing Sister Lilith alone, I would have her by my side. Therefore when the door opened and Sister Lilith’s high-heeled shoes entered, I was confident that I was ready to begin.
“Sister Sara,” she began, “It’s Sister Lilith. I’m happy to see you’re ready to start this review of your training.”
I nodded.
Raquel sat beside me on the bed where Jacob had been as she spoke. “I’m sorry if you weren’t notified, Sister Lilith. Brother Jacob asked me to stay, at least for today. You see, Sara can’t get to and from her bed to the bathroom by herself. Brother Jacob didn’t want to burden you with the task.” Though I’d zoned out through part of Jacob and Raquel’s conversation, I didn’t think Jacob had gone into that much detail.
“Well, yes,” Sister Lilith replied. “We could always call for you . . .”
“Sister, I would go”—Sister Raquel’s shoulder rubbed mine as it shrugged with her casual reply—“but I’m confident that Benjamin would punish me if I disobeyed Brother Jacob. And I wouldn’t want Brother Timothy to learn that you suggested my disobedience.”
“Of course not,” she responded quickly. “Sister Raquel, we’ll make do with all three of us today. I wasn’t suggesting disobedience. We’ll just forget that we even discussed it.”
Oh, that is definitely a conversation I’m glad I sponged. I liked Raquel. “Sister Raquel?” Sister Lilith asked. “Before we begin, do you know Dr. Newton’s plans for Sister Sara’s cast? I believe I heard she’ll be receiving a walking cast soon.” From the sound of the chair over the tile, I could tell she’d brought it from beside my bed toward the foot.
“I don’t. He’ll be here later. I’ll let him know you’re curious.”
“Thank you. I’m just thinking it’ll make our future review sessions easier for Sister Sara.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Now, Sister Sara, since you’re unable to respond, once I’ve read Father Gabriel’s declaration of faith for The Light, I’ll ask you basic yes-and-no questions. Your answers will help me determine where we’ll go from there. Do you understand?”
I nodded.
Pages fluttered. “We the members of The Light believe in Father Gabriel and the enlightenment . . .”
CHAPTER 9
Jacob
Father Gabriel began each morning at Assembly with prayer. Only the members of the Assembly and the Commission were worthy to meet daily with our leader, though that privilege didn’t always mean meeting in person.