The Chronicles of the Crone Wars: Justine Closes the Deal

Justine felt a little guilty about not helping Operation Sacred Land.

Martine reassured her.

“Our mission is not only to do the invisible works we can pull off, but to make sure that we continue to live fulfilling lives.”

“Go entertain your pastor. Tonight may be an important evening for both of you… And besides, I think he may become helpful to our cause once he hears about it.”

“So you think it’s alright to tell him?

“Don’t tell him about this specific operation, but share the mission with him. Let him know what we care about and why we are being called together … maybe even around the world, from what I am hearing.”

Justine was thrilled that her journey to capture the pastor's heart had succeeded. Well, at least to get him to dinner at her home. Wednesdays had progressed to grabbing a bite at the diner and walking in the park. She had taken it slow.

The most reverend Jacob Montgomery was completely enthralled with her, and she was ready to move from feeling her life was over with no love to a deeply involved and caring woman.

The reverend was younger, maybe ten years younger. At first, this deterred her, but she saw the sadness in his eyes disappear when she was with him.

That evening, she still wondered if it was a good idea to tell him about the movement of older women. Some of those women were members of the congregation. She remembered Martine’s words:

“Use your judgment. We older gals who have lived so long have judgment. We can, with practice, read the environment and trust our guts.”

The table was set, the delicious meal prepared. She remembered that he said he missed having home cooked meals. Justine was an excellent cook, but decided to keep it simple. She made her very special meatballs and spaghetti with her own fragrant sauce from scratch, and of course, there was an apple pie warming in the oven.

Justine was a little nervous. Although she had had experience in a very strict, somber marriage that did not work out, she felt something more for the pastor. It was like being a teenager all over again: the uncertainty and the shyness.

Suddenly, she remembered the words of her very wild girlfriend confined to a wheelchair.

“I don’t have time to waste on fiddling around with difficult clothing. If I catch a guy, I have to make it easy for him to lift me into bed and get going.”

Justine was always embarrassed by her friend’s forthrightness about sex, but this time she was grateful that she took it seriously.

“Always be ready. Have fresh sheets on the bed, condoms underneath the bed, and easy access to music. Don’t forget low lighting, wear your favorite fragrance, but not too much.

This works for me and should work for you since you are no spring chicken.”

He loved her pies and sandwiches and small snacks that she brought to his Wednesday night practice sessions for sermons, but on this night, she invited him to her home for dinner. One thing was clear when the pastor walked in the door: he smelled the good food, he saw the preparation, but he was hungry for something more than dinner.

“Would you like a glass of wine? Red or white?”

“Oh, I'd love a glass of red, please.”

Justine was not much of a drinker, but she was prepared, and she had her favorite Beaujolais Village, fruity, not too heavy, but definitely French.

Pastor was a little nervous as he entered, but all the fragrances reminded him of that sensual woman sitting in the front pew listening to his practice sermons. He had grown accustomed to walking hand and hand with her around the park, but he knew this night would be different.

Justine could hear Maxine's voice in her head: “ Justine, sometimes you have to make the first move, it's like priming a well.”

“ What do you know about priming a well?

“It's just a phrase. I mean, go ahead, and kiss him on the cheeks gently and slowly.”

Justine did just that. And then she helped remove his coat and place it on the coat rack.

Pastor Jacob felt her warmth move through him. He reached out and wrapped her into his arms and kissed her deeply.

Justine looked up at him, eyes open, feeling her heart beat.

Removing her now ruffled apron, “ I think you should come in and sit down.”

The pastor looked troubled. “Was that alright with you, Justine?”

“More than alright.”

Maxine was right. The pastor came to life, swept her up in his arms, and moved them to the next level.

Justine took his hand, guiding him to the sofa. “If I seem a little nervous, it’s been a long time since I’ve…

“Me too.”

Justine thought to herself. “The well was definitely primed.”

She was glad she had listened to Maxine in preparing for this evening.

One thing she said was,” Don't wear something so complicated and intricate. Keep your clothing simple. Wear a simple blouse and skirt.”

Justine wondered why Maxine had said that, but as the Reverend clumsily began to unbutton her blouse, peering into her eyes and asking, "Is this okay?" Justine understood.

For a moment, she remembered the unpleasant evenings with her husband, who never really kissed her and just pushed into her once she was in bed. Maxine, fortunately, served as a wonderful interruption in her mind. “Just enjoy every moment. It’s ok to slow it down. Once they’re primed, they can move like a freight train.”

Justine didn’t want to slow it down.

Justine felt warmth moving through her body. She wanted him.

He looked in her eyes, catching himself.

“I know you're a good cook, but I don't care about that right now. I just want you. I want to see you, I want to explore you, I want to feel your warmth against me, and I want to touch those breasts that peeked at me on one of those days you wore that sheer nightgown under your coat.’