All is as expected.

Dorothy laughed. "It's sure to be something with Mrs. Patterson," she said. "And I'm sure you'll find a way to satisfy her." She laid a hand on the front of his trousers. "I see you're working on it already."

Henry let his wife take the measure of his erection before he adjusted his trousers. "Pastor has to look after his flock," he said.

"Give her my love," Dorothy said.

"I'll do that," Henry said. He headed out to the car.

As he expected, Mrs. Patterson had much to say to Reverend Dicks about the union of Miss Patience Dicks and Miss Serafina Concha, as well as the urgency of keeping the church vital by recruiting new members. He listened with sympathy and concern as he explained why things needed to proceed as they would.

When she was satisfied he'd heard everything, she led him to the kitchen table where there were tea and cookies waiting, and they chatted about the wedding coming up.

"That will be just darling," Mrs. Patterson said. "They're doing the full deal?"

"That's what the bride asked for," Henry said. "'Just like mom and dad's', she said."

Mrs. Patterson beamed. "As it should be. As it should be."

Henry mentioned the World Neighbors Exchange couple they were hoping to host.

"Put in for another," Mrs. Patterson said. "There's plenty of room, and I could do with a reason to have folks over, you know, to visit the visitors."

"I'll mention that to Dorothy," Henry said.

"Let's pray together, Reverend," she said.

Mrs. Patterson led Henry to the padded rocking chair facing a print of the Wedding at Cana interpreted according to the Loving Community traditions. The bride was being unveiled and disrobed for her receiving line, while the matrons and widows jostled in front of the groom, merry with the miraculous wine.

Henry and Mrs. Patterson stood together, heads bowed and hands linked, praying.

"Reverend?" she said, handing him a guest towel.

Henry laid the towel on the cushion of the rocking chair. He removed his trousers and sat down on the broad seat.

Mrs. Patterson straddled his lap, facing away, and kneeled on the chair cushion. She raised the tail of her housedress and said, "Bless me, Reverend."

"Be blessed, Sister Eleanor," Henry said. He parted his parishioner's buttocks. The thick labia curtaining her womb opened. She was moist and fragrant, smelling of the salt sea. For thirty years only her husband had known her, but in church she had blossomed. "Sit back now." He guided her down to settle onto his penis.

"Oh, bless you Reverend," she said, feeling him deep inside her. She sat down hard on him. "Ah."

He smiled. He had known all the women in the Upper Church, as Dorothy had known all the men. And if one should cleave to him upon a silent midnight, he would know her name, each by her scent and the feeling of her vagina on his manhood. "Sister Dorothy sends her love with mine."

"Bless her," Mrs. Patterson said. "For bringing me to your church. Being so patient and welcoming until I could accept love. So much love."

"You have bloomed, Sister Eleanor," Henry said. And it was so. For all the trouble she gave Henry, she was a staunch and ardent supporter of the Hope Primitive Love Communion. And popular, for all her protestations. A young man was most apt to choose Mrs. Patterson as his partner for Confirmation, moreso even than Dorothy, to his wife's chagrin.

And Eleanor Patterson had brought several families to the church, including Joy and Al Wilson, the congregation's first Black couple. Joy and Al had introduced them to Walter and Delora. Friday. He and Dorothy would share with them again Friday. Henry hardened inside Mrs. Patterson, thinking of the lovely Black vice-principal's cunt embracing his cock as he and Delora watched Dorothy take her joy receiving Walter's big football-player cock.

"Rock, Henry," Eleanor said.

Henry set the chair to rocking. Mrs. Patterson ground her cunt onto him, pressing her soft buttocks into his belly.

"Henry. Reverend," she sighed. She started rising and falling, rolling her hips and sighing with pleasure.

Henry's sighs rose to meet hers, but he held out long enough for Mrs. Patterson to reach a full-throated moan of satisfaction before he spurted into her. They sat in union for several long minutes before Mrs. Patterson dismounted and they said a final benediction together. He patted her wet parts with the towel before dabbing himself and donning his trousers.

"I admit I was holding a piece of news back," Mrs. Patterson said as Henry put his hat on at the door.

"Is it ready to share?" Henry asked. "Or should it be given a chance to get real first?"

"Well, you'd have to be the judge," Mrs. Patterson said. She looked to see if he was going to ask.