Chapter 13
Flora was happy to see Talia when she showed up at noon. Talia brought along more clothes, including a bathing suit. Flora didn’t think she would ever use the bathing suit, but maybe she would be comfortable enough to wear some sort of bathing suit one day.
“Listen, I know it might be overwhelming here, but you’re doing great,” Talia said.
Talia’s words helped, but she wondered if she was really doing great. She needed something to break up her day. She’d read much of the book Q had given her, but she needed more. She needed something to keep her hands busy.
“It has only been a few days, I guess. It’s just been difficult.”
“Is there anything I can do to make it easier?”
Flora shook her head. “I don’t think so. I don’t know what else I need to do. I think everything is handled, and then life gets complicated.”
Talia laughed. “Life is almost always complicated. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not too bad, but there are so many times I wished things were easier.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
Talia shook her head. “No. I’m fine now. Not that long ago, my sister tried to kill me by selling me to a man in another country who would have killed me after I was no longer any use to him.”
“Oh no. I’m so sorry. That sounds awful. What happened to your sister?”
Talia shrugged. “I haven’t heard from her or anything about her. She might have escaped. I don’t know.”
“That is so awful.”
“It was, but I got through it. I grew stronger, just like you’re going to grow stronger. Lean on us, and it will get better.”
“Do you really think everything will get better?”
“You’re free now. You have us to help you navigate the world.”
“That’s the scary part. I don’t know what is next. How will I survive? I’ve come to realize as I’ve read Q’s books that I won’t be able to survive on my own.”
Talia put her hand on Flora’s shoulder. “There is no way we would ever let you slip through the cracks. We will keep helping you.”
“But I need to be able to support myself.”
“You’re smart and capable. I’m sure you’ll learn something soon enough. And until then, you have your friends who will help. Also, Q will help.”
Heat rose up Flora’s neck to her face. “He’s already been too nice. I don’t know how long he’ll be willing to help without expecting, well, you know.”
Talia’s eyebrows lifted. “Are you interested in that?”
She froze. “I don’t know.”
“Would that be too bad, you know, being with Q?”
Flora shrugged. “Maybe not. It’s just that I’ve never…” silence stretched between them and Talia narrowed her eyes.
“Had sex?” Talia asked.
Flora gasped and shook her head. “Oh goodness, no. I’ve never kissed anyone before.”
Talia sat up straighter and held Flora’s gaze. “Oh, so you’ve never kissed or anything else?”
Flora shook her head. “I’m not really sure what else there would be. They just told us we had to do whatever our husbands wanted, that we were to obey them in all things.”
Talia huffed. “First off, they are wrong. You don’t ever have to do anything you don’t want to, even with a husband.”
“But—”
“No buts. You get to decide what you do with your body.”
Flora shook her head. “How can you be so strong?”
“The same way you are. You left, and that shows how strong you are. You were able to leave, and it’s amazing. I’m proud of you for getting yourself out of there. Has any other woman ever been strong enough to leave like you did?”
Flora shook her head. “No, no one ever left. Once in the community, always in the community.”
“Well, you were strong enough to leave, and I know you’ll be strong enough to make it here. I know it.”
“I’m going to need to borrow some of your faith as things go on.”
“Well, I’ll be around, and you can borrow some anytime you need.” Talia checked her phone and winced. “I wish I could stick around, but I need to get back.”
“Thank you for stopping by. It means a lot.”
“Keep in touch. Call or text if you need anything.”
Flora nodded then waved goodbye as Talia left.
She didn’t know what to do with herself for the rest of the day, but she was bound and determined to figure out a way to be valuable enough for someone to pay her money.
She needed a skill she could use to gain work.
She just wasn’t sure what she was good at or where she would fit in.