Chapter 10 Chapter nine

A smile played on Lois Reynolds' lips as she heard the roar of the plane passing low overhead.gary.He is late.Lois offered to pick him up at the airport, but he said, "No trouble, sister. I'll just call a taxi." "But, Gary, I'd love to go—" "It's better for you to stay at home and wait for me." "It's up to you, brother." The older brother has always been the most important figure in Lois' life.Her formative years in Kelowna were a nightmare.Ever since she was a little girl, Lois felt that the whole world was against her: glossy magazines, fashion models, female movie stars—just because she was a little fatter.Where is it written that a healthy and beautiful girl can't be as beautiful as a sick, skinny one?Lois Reynolds often takes a hard look at herself in the mirror.She had long blond hair, blue eyes, delicate pale features, and what Lois thought was a well-developed body.A man can hang out with a beer belly hanging from his belt, and no one else will make irresponsible remarks.But making a woman put on a few pounds becomes the object of ridicule.What male idiot has the right to decide that the ideal female figure has to be 36-26-36?

In Lois's memory, her classmates always laughed at her behind her back-"fatty", "tar barrel", "piggy".Those words broke her heart deeply.But Gary has been unswervingly guarding her side. By the time Lois graduated from the University of Toronto, she had had enough of being taunted.If Prince Charming is looking for a real woman, it's me. One day, unexpectedly, Prince Charming appeared.His name was Henry Lawson.They met at a church event and Lois fell in love with him at first sight.He was tall, thin, blond, with a smile on his face and a personality to match.His father was the pastor of the church.Lois spent most of that day with Henry, and during the conversation she learned that he had a successful nursery and was a nature lover.

"If you have nothing to do tomorrow night," he said, "I'd like to treat you to supper." Lois said without any hesitation, "Okay, thank you." Henry Lawson took her to the famous Sasha Flats, one of Toronto's finest hotels.The menu was tempting, but Lois ordered only one side dish because she didn't want Henry to think she was a glutton. Henry noticed that she only ate salad: "You can't get enough." "I'm on a diet," Lois lied to him. He put his hand on Lois's. "I don't want you to lose weight, Lois. I like you the way you are."

She felt a sudden rush of excitement.He was the first person to say that to her. "I'll get you some steak, potatoes and a Caesar salad," Henry said. Great to finally find a man who understands and agrees with her appetite. The next few weeks were spent in a series of feasting dates.At the end of the three weeks, Henry said, "I love you, Lois. I want you to be my wife." This sentence was something she thought she would never hear.She put her arms around him. "I love you too, Henry. I want to be your wife." The wedding took place five days later in Henry's father's church.Gary and a few friends were in attendance, and the ceremony was very moving, officiated by Henry's father.Lois had never been happier.

"Where are you two going on your honeymoon?" asked Reverend Lawson. "Lake Louise," said Henry, "it's very romantic." “Perfect location for honeymoon.” Henry put his arms around Lois: "I expect every day of our lives together to be a honeymoon." Lois was ecstatic. Immediately after the wedding, they set off for Lake Louise.Lake Louise is a spectacular oasis in Banff National Park in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. When they arrived in the evening, the setting sun shone golden on the lake. Henry hugged Lois into his arms all at once: "Are you hungry?"

She looked into his eyes affectionately, and smiled sweetly: "I'm not hungry." "I'm not hungry either. Why don't we undress?" "Oh, yes, dear." Two minutes later, they were in bed, Henry making love to her so delicately and thoughtfully.Excellent.Hearty.Refreshing. "Oh honey, I love you so much." "I love you too, Lois," Henry said, standing up. "Now we must fight against adultery." Lois looked at him, confused: "What?" "Kneel down." she laughed. "You're not tired, honey." "Kneel down."

She smiled: "Okay." She knelt down in bewilderment, only to see Henry pull a thick leather belt from the waistband of his trousers.He walked up to her, and without a word, swung his belt and whipped her bare buttocks hard. Lois exclaimed, trying to get up: "What are you doing—?" He shoved her down. "I told you, dear. We have to fight adultery." He swung the belt and whipped her again. "Stop! Stop!" "Stay still." His voice was passionate. Lois struggled to get up, but Henry held her down with a strong hand and whipped the belt again. Lois felt the skin on her buttocks. "Henry! God! Stop it!"

Finally Henry straightened up and took a trembling breath: "It's all right now." Lois couldn't move.Can feel the wound bleeding.She struggled painfully to get up.speechless.She could only stare at her husband with wide eyes in horror. "Sex is a sin. We must fight temptation." She shook her head, still speechless, still unable to believe what was happening before her eyes. "Think of Adam and Eve, the beginning of the fall of man," he gushed. Lois began to cry, whimpering loudly and painfully. "It's all right now." He pulled Lois into his arms. "It's all right. I love you."

Lois said suspiciously, "I love you too, but—" "Don't worry. We've conquered it." Which means, this will be the last time something like this happens, Lois thought.Probably had something to do with him being the priest's son.Thank God, it's finally over. Henry hugged her tightly: "I love you so much. Let's go out to dinner." In the restaurant, Lois couldn't sit down.It hurt badly, but she was too embarrassed to ask for a cushion. "I'll have some," Henry said.He ordered a salad for himself and a big meal for Lois. "You've got to keep your strength, my dearest."

While eating, Lois recalled the scene just now.Henry was the nicest man she had ever met.She was taken aback by his—what, she couldn't figure it out—faith.Anyway, it's over.She can look forward to spending the rest of her life with this man, caring for him and being cared for by him. After finishing the main course, Henry added another dessert for Lois: "I like women covered in meat." she laughed. "Glad I please you." After dinner, Henry said, "Shall we go back to our room?" "it is good." Back in the room, they undressed, Henry took Lois into his arms, and the pain seemed to disappear.His lovemaking was sweet and tender, even more rewarding than ever.

Lois hugged her husband: "It's great." "Yes." He nodded. "Now we must atone for the crime of adultery. Get down on your knees." In the middle of the night, while Henry was fast asleep, Lois quietly packed a suitcase and ran away.She flew to Vancouver and called Gary.At lunch, she told him what had happened. "I'm going to go through divorce proceedings," Lois said, "but first I have to move out of the city." Gary thought for a moment: "I have a friend who runs an insurance company, my sister. It's in Denver, fifteen hundred miles from here." "That's great." Gary said, "I'll talk to him." Two weeks later, Lois was working for an insurance company in the Midwest, where she was part of the management team. Gary was in constant contact with Lois.She bought a beautiful little bungalow overlooking the Rocky Mountains, and her brother visited from time to time.They spend their weekends together - skiing, fishing, or simply talking on the couch.I'm proud of you, sister, he always told her, and Lois is proud of what Gary has accomplished.He earned a Ph.D. in science, worked for a major international company, and flew as a hobby. While Lois was thinking about Gary, there was a knock on the door.She looked out the window to see who was coming, and it turned out to be an acquaintance.Tom Huebner.He was a tall, gruff-looking, licensed pilot, a friend of Gary's. Lois opens the door and Huebner enters. "Hey, Tom." "Lois." "Gary hasn't arrived yet. I think I heard his plane just now. He'll be here any minute. Would you rather wait or—?" He looked at her: "you haven't watched TV yet?" Lois shook her head. "No. What happened? I hope we're not at war again—" "Lois, I'm afraid I have bad news. Really bad news." His voice was tense. "It's about Gary." Her body was stiff: "what happened to him?" "He died in a plane crash on the way here to see you." He saw the light in her eyes go out. "I'm sorry. I know you two are brothers and sisters." Lois tried to speak, but she couldn't breathe: "How-how-how-how-?" Tom Huebner took her by the hand and tenderly led her to the couch. Lois sat down and took a deep breath. "It happened—what happened?" "Gary hit a cliff a few miles outside of Denver." Lois felt dizzy: "Tom, I want to be alone." He looked her over, worried. "Are you sure, Lois? I can stay—" "Thank you, but please leave." Tom Huebner stood there hesitantly, then nodded. "You have my number. Call me if you need me." Lois did not hear him leave.She sat in a daze, terrified.It was as if someone had told her that she was dead.Her mind began to flash images of their childhood.Gary was always her protector, fighting boys who bullied her, and accompanying her to baseball games, movies, and parties when they were older.The last time she saw him was a week ago, and she replayed the scene in her mind, like a film film that was blurred through tears and was slowly unrolling. The two of them sat at the table. "Aren't you eating, Gary?" "It's delicious, sister. But I'm not very hungry." She observed him for a while: "Do you have something on your mind?" "You always knew, didn't you?" "It's about your work." "Yes." He pushed the plate away. "I think my life is in danger." Lois looked at him, startled: "What?" "Sister, there are only five or six people in the world who know what's going on. I'll fly back next Monday and spend the night. I'll be in Washington on Tuesday morning." Lois didn't understand: "Why go to Washington?" "Go tell them about Prima." Gary went on to explain what Prima is. Now Gary is dead.I think my life is in danger.Her brother didn't die in a flying accident.was murdered. Lois looked at her watch.It was too late to do anything, but in the morning she would make that call to avenge her brother.She will fulfill Gary's wish.Lois suddenly felt exhausted and managed to get up from the sofa.She skipped dinner, but the thought of food made her stomach queasy. She went straight to the bedroom and fell on the bed; she was so tired that she didn't even take off her clothes.She lay there dumbfounded until she fell asleep. Lois dreams that she and Gary are on a speeding train with all the passengers smoking.It was getting hotter, and the smoke made her cough. The cough woke her up and she opened her eyes.He looked around in amazement.There was a fire in the bedroom, the flames shot up the curtains, the room was filled with smoke, and Lois staggered out of bed with a choked throat.Holding her breath desperately, she staggered into the living room. The whole room was enveloped in flames.She took five or six steps toward the door, her legs became weak, and she fell to the ground. The last thing Lois Reynolds remembered was the flames licking greedily all the way to her.