JULIA

Lisa led them up to the pool. Janet and I went to the kitchen and popped the cork on a bottle of wine. I got some crackers and an assortment of cheeses and put it on a platter. Janet was quietly crying, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Why are you crying?" I asked, pulling her into an embrace.

"I don't think Alice will ever understand my relationship to Chen, Domina," she said, starting to openly sob. "I'm afraid she won't accept him and me together."

I patted her back. "She can't accept what she doesn't know, pet. Perhaps she needs to see for herself. It's only through knowledge you...