“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve made peace with my faith, but I’ll never engage in organized religion again.”
“I’ve already come to that conclusion.”
“You’ll have to find a belief system that works for you.”
An ironic smile tugged at Zach’s mouth. “It feels odd to have the freedom to believe whatever I want.”
“I know. But give it some thought. Make some decisions about your spirituality. It will help you make peace sooner.”
His brother hesitated, as if he had a subject he was reluctant to bring up. “You’re no longer married?”
“No, but I plan to get married again.” This time for real.
“To Heavenly?”
Beck nodded. “It’s complicated since I share her with Seth, but we’ll figure it out.”
“What did you do before you were married? I assume you had…relations with other females?”
“No one calls it that in the outside world. They have sex. Make love. Fuck. All those phrases have slightly different connotations, but… You want to know how finding a woman works out here?”
Zach winced. “It sounds so selfish to think about my gratification now, but I’ve been weeks without Faith’s comfort, and now that she’s gone…”
“Yeah.” Beck blew out a breath. He should have seen this coming. “I’ll make a phone call and set you up with a woman.”
“I-I don’t see myself getting married again.”
“You don’t have to. That’s not what I’m saying. I’m just going to hire you some company for the night.”
His brother reared back. “A paid woman? I don’t think—”
“Listen, I know that goes against your moral code. But think about it this way: it’s more honest than marriages among The Chosen. You need sex. She needs money. No one is lying about piousness or God’s will or spiritual devotion. Everyone gets what they want and they go their separate ways, happy. No harm. No foul. No pretenses.”
“Except it’s fornication, pure and simple.”
“You’ll have to decide when you’re ready to unshackle yourself from that moral stricture and find your own values.”
“But the word of God…”
“Isn’t the only word to live by. Out here, you have to make peace with yourself, too.”
Slowly, Zach nodded. “Can I think about it?”
“Absolutely.” Beck wondered if he’d be calling Gloria to send Zach one of her girls sooner rather than later. He also suspected his brother would find kinky coping mechanisms, like he had. “Just let me know. And if you’re not ready for that, you should know that masturbating isn’t really a sin.”
Zach didn’t look convinced. “Do you mind if I sleep now?”
Beck nodded and rose. His brother probably needed it. “I’ll show you to your room. We’ll talk more later.”
“I can’t thank you enough.”
“You don’t have to. Just get some rest.”
And once Zach was settled, Beck intended to peek in on Heavenly, make sure she was okay, and check her pulse about Seth’s behavior. Then he’d focus on how to get behind the man’s barricades so they would finally get the truth.