His Last Wife

“Greetings, my sister,” Brother Krishna said, bowing like all the others. He walked into the room and came to sit on the couch beside Kerry and Val. Nzingha sat beside him in a move that said in all contexts that she was making claim to him—or at least trying to.

“Hi,” Kerry said.

Val just looked and took him in. The physique in the shirt. The smile. It was to look at a man who was supposed to be so dignified, but who also happened to be handsome without thinking more of the latter than the former. With a name like “Brother Krishna,” Val was expecting another Baba Seti with the 1970s throwback kufi and dashiki.

“It is a wonderful day when sisters like yourself join us here at the Fihankra,” Brother Krishna said. “I am happy you have come to do the good work. Had we been expecting you, we would’ve prepared a proper feast and had more of a welcoming tribute. But, no worries. The sistren are steady preparing your feast now.”

“I apologize for coming unannounced and it’s really not necessary to do all that,” Kerry said. “We were just looking for Baba Seti. He invited us here.”

“Yes. He is a good man,” Brother Krishna said fondly.

“Do you know where he is?” Kerry asked.

“That’s not all,” Val cut in before Brother Krishna could answer. “We’re here looking for my—” She stopped herself and looked at Kerry. “We’re looking for her husband.”

“Jamison Taylor,” Kerry said. “Baba Seti said he was here. I want to see him.”

“All in time, my sistren. All in time.”

“What does that mean?” Val pushed, clearly out of step with the respect Nzingha and Kerry were showing Brother Krishna.

“It means that now is not the time. We are preparing,” Krishna said. “This place, here, we don’t operate on the clock that moves with wants. We work with needs. And right now we need to prepare for a uniting.”

“What exactly is this place?” Val asked.

“We are the light where there is darkness. A refuge for those seeking change and wanting to be free from tyranny, for ultimate rule. Those who want to live in justice and security. Where education and food and health care and love is available to all, and all equally.”

“That’s how all of these people got here?” Val followed up.

“Yes. Our community reaches far and wide,” he said, adding to what Baba Seti had claimed. “Some settlements more advanced than the others, but all growing from generous members and their contributions.”

Val remembered the money from Jamison’s will and insurance policy. Suddenly, every dollar spent on every item in the room registered in her brain.

“Here in Cuba, we are a self-sustaining facility. We eat what we grow, we provide our own security, medical attention, build our own homes, teach our own children,” Brother Krishna added, standing. “Our community all work only for the community to thrive. No more. No less.”

“How long have you been here?” Kerry asked.

“The voice has been here as long as time. We have been here a little over a decade.”

As Brother Krishna spoke, one of the teenage girls walked into the room and whispered something into Nzingha’s ear. Nzingha nodded and the girl quickly left the room again. When she opened the door, outside, Kerry and Val could hear the chanting getting louder.

Brother Krishna looked at Nzingha, who rose and nodded to him, saying, “It is time.”

“Wonderful,” Brother Krishna said, walking toward a window of sliding French doors that faced the front of the building. He turned to Kerry and Val. “Ladies, won’t you join me in addressing the people,” he said.

Nzingha rushed to the window and opened the doors, before waving for Kerry and Val, still seated, to come over.

Kerry and Val looked at her and Brother Krishna and then each other hesitantly.

“Please, sistren. It’s really just our evening greeting. We all gather here to give thanks,” Nzingha said. “So many people have gathered today just to see you. It would be good for them to know you are here in support.”

“Gathered to see us?” Val said.

Remembering the look in the woman’s eyes holding the baby downstairs, Kerry rose and began to walk toward the window where loud cheers that neared pandemonium could he heard.

Val saw Kerry almost in a trance and reached for her, but she kept walking.

Brother Krishna nodded and stepped out onto the small Juliet with Kerry, holding her hand.