Jon Reskind - The abducted bride

"What should I say to her? I've been worried sick about this thing and to be perfectly frank, I don't even know where to begin."

"Why don't we stop and have a drink and discuss it quietly before we go to the hotel," she suggested. "Jean won't be awake for several hours yet and I think I can give you some valuable advise, young man. After all, we French are supposed to be experts at this sort of thing."

"Good," Kevin replied, obviously relieved. It would give him more time for preparing himself for the meeting with Jean, and Monique just might have some excellent ideas.

Monique directed the driver to take them to a small quiet bar not too far from the hotel and instructed him to wait across the street with Kevin's luggage.

The bar was dark and cool inside and Kevin was happy to get in from the hot sun that was beginning to bring the outside temperature up to an unbearable level. He had never liked heat and had argued with Jean about coming to Europe in August. He had heard it was impossible this time of year but, as usual, she had not listened to him. He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and began wiping the sweat form his brow as they sat at a small intimate table in a darkened corner.

Monique ordered two tall cool drinks from the waiter who brought them almost immediately. Kevin took a long hard sip, sighing at the same time. "Mmmmmm, that was good. I think I needed it." The cool liquid ran refreshingly down his throat, relaxing him from the tension he had built up on the train worrying about what he would say when he arrived. He felt fortunate. Monique seemed to have developed Jean's confidence and also seemed to have given their problems a lot of thought on her own. She just might be able to help him as her understanding of another woman's emotions would probably be much more concise than his own. In fact, he had just about given up trying to understand his wife at all. Perhaps, this French woman was a God-send from above. At any rate, it could do no harm discussing it with her.

"Now, Kevin, let's get down to your problem," Monique said, after taking a long drink from her glass. "We've got a lot of thinking and planning to do."

"I don't know quite where to begin," Kevin reflected. "It goes all the way back to the time we first started dating and covers all the details in between that time and now. There were a lot of frustrations on both sides, I suppose."

"Well we don't have a year, my dear boy, you had better just give me the outline so I can understand it a little better from your view point. I've already heard the other side and it doesn't sound too favorable to you."

"Monique, I'm not going to try and defend myself, if that's what you're expecting. I'm willing to concede that I was completely wrong. I just want to apologize to Jean the best way I know how and promise it won't happen again. It's too complicated to try and unravel in such a short period of time. We've the rest of our lives to adjust to each other and I'm just going to beg for another chance."

Monique shook her head, an obvious impatience with what he had just said reflected in her tight lips.

"My dear young man, if you do that, then you've conceded your position as master of the house for all time to come. No man should put himself in that situation, nor would any woman want it." She was working the subject subtly to his pride in masculinity and smiled to herself as she watched his eyes absorb her words. He took another long swallow from the glass and waved to the waiter for another. Monique knew it was merely a question of time now.

"A slave in my own home, is that what you mean?" he said, looking straight ahead across the darkened room.

"If that's the way you want to put it," Monique answered, placing her own hand warmly over his on the table. "You seem so much stronger than she thinks you are, Kevin. I feel your only hope is to prove you are."

"Did she say that too?" he asked wryly.

"Well, yes she did. After all, you had many chances before you were married but never pursued them. Jean said she always felt like a china-doll and that you were afraid of breaking her."

"I suppose I did, there were times when I almost took her bodily, I guess I should have."

"Yes, you should have, my dear, but not like you did in Paris. Women like to be ravished sometimes, but ravished tenderly, or at least, not hurt too much. As I said in the taxi, however you do it, you've got to make them enjoy it. Strength alone doesn't do that. You've got to be able to understand when a 'No' means yes and also, when a 'Yes' may sometimes mean no."

"And just how does one fathom the depths of women like Jean's mind, I'm not a psychiatrist. If someone says no, I'm accustomed to it meaning no, and not something else. She's angry now because when she said, "No," I didn't take her. In Paris, she said yes, and I did take her. How in the hell am I supposed to know what to do and when."

Monique felt that now was the time to drop her little bomb. He was ready for it and sufficiently worked up that he wouldn't stop to think too strongly about it.

"You could learn what to do when you do take them, my boy. That's the secret. No woman minds being had if she's had correctly."

"And just where and with whom an I to get all this on the job training," Kevin said without thinking. "And what about the time? She's waiting for us now."

"I think I can arrange these things," Monique answered quickly. "I like you and Jean so much that I can't bear to see your happiness spoiled by a little thing like this. The important thing is that we must have time. I think one night should be sufficient."

"And how am I going to explain not arriving when I said I would?" Kevin asked skeptically.

"I have an idea about that, but you must be strong about it," Monique said slyly. This was the key to her entire plan and he must accept it.

"Okay, let's hear it. I'm open to suggestions."

"Well," Monique said softly, almost holding her breath, "I'll go back to the hotel and say there was a message from you saying you were having a wonderful time in Paris and would be down in several days. You would cable her the time."

"That's probably the best plan I've ever heard for losing her completely. You don't know Jean like I do," Kevin objected, shaking his head hopelessly.

"No, I don't know Jean like you do, but I do know her like a woman and that's more important. Didn't her little run-out act bring you crawling down here?"

Kevin reflected on this for a moment. Monique's argument did have basic logic. Jean had done it to him and it had been extremely effective. In fact, she had always been doing this to him. Perhaps, a change in roles would be good for her. Maybe she should squirm for a while.

"Let's do it," Kevin said, making a snap decision. He was desperate now. From the things Monique had told him, he knew something drastic had to be done or he would lose Jean sooner or later. It was better to take the chance now while he still might gain some respect in her eyes.

"Good boy, I knew you had more strength than she gave you credit for having. She'll be eating out of your hand in several days, I promise that."

"Let's hope so," Kevin said with resignation. "This is going to be an all or nothing try."

"Don't you worry, Kevin, it's going to work beautifully. Come now, let's get you a hotel and I'll work out the details. I'll call you later this afternoon." Monique smiled happily to herself as they left the bar. The plan was working well and Monique's chest swelled a little in pride at her resourcefulness. She couldn't fail now. She tucked the little note she had the naive American write in her purse, patting it lovingly. This would be the final blow that would destroy any spirit of resistance the girl might have left after the Arab finished with her.