“I am angry, because all over the world, and right here at home, things happen to women that are unacceptable, and what’s most frustrating is that many people prefer to see those as isolated incidents. It doesn’t happen in my country, my religion, my culture. Guess what, rape and domestic violence happens everywhere. Men are victims too, we are aware of that, far more often than those ‘false accusations’ you hear about from the other side. It’s a means for those who share first and foremost one belief, and that’s the one in patriarchy. If you come join Exodus, there will be no excuse not to behave like a decent human being. This is the big picture. Joanie is a part of it. The fact that you will have to discuss your family planning with your employer, if you’re not fortunate enough to work with Greene Industries or any of their partners, it’s part of it. The atrocities women endure in the name of culture or a sick twisted idea of family. If all of this makes you angry, then you should join us.” Hilary’s surprise had to show on her face, because Kerry gave her a knowing smile.
“I must admit, at first I wasn’t sure whether this was a good idea, for me and my partner. Not that I have any doubts in the success of Exodus—wherever we go from here will be forward in big steps, because no one has ever done this before. I thought, why not stay here and fight? I’ve come to realize something though—several things, actually. The community won’t be some isolated place. We want to be transparent. We want the world to see a better way, and frankly? I’m kind of tired of fighting. I’m tired of listening to a lieutenant governor who tries to brush off rape as something that women lie about, because they are oh so eager to have an abortion. Governor Miller cut funding that impacts my workplace directly, because he thinks murders happen in a social and political vacuum. That’s right, politicians have become doctors and criminologists, simply because they say so. When we go to California, I’ll be able to marry my partner and—”
Hilary wondered about the brief hesitation, and if Kerry had meant to reveal something else, but she stayed with the subject of marriage. “Here at home, the governor just confirmed that in his opinion, marriage equality is against nature and the law of what’s his idea of God, and whatever else he can conjure up. The vision of Exodus is based on respect and kindness for all people. You are making it come true.”
It wasn’t planned, because nothing about Kerry’s appearance had been planned in the first place, but when she turned to Hilary, the two of them embraced under the applause of the crowd. The seconds ticked by. For the first time since she and Marc had talked about developing some of their property for future use in the project, or for the first time since she and Kerry had the idea, she knew it was happening. There had never been a doubt that with the money and people behind them, they could jumpstart something…a charity, a college fund, education. The time for patchwork was over. They would focus all their energy, make a real, long-lasting impact. She held on, excited and grateful, but at the same time sad because of the woman they couldn’t save, the one she knew Kerry would never forget about.
* * * *
Vivien had observed the scene unfolding through a blurry veil. Kerry usually didn’t talk about her work more than the absolutely necessary, and when she did, Vivien always knew she’d gotten close to a breaking point. She could tell when Kerry called her earlier today to say she wouldn’t be home for breakfast, and when she’d returned shortly before they had to leave for the meeting, locking herself in the bathroom to take a shower and change.
She, too, hated to hear about the senseless death of Joanie Vincent. Every death was in some way senseless to the ones left behind, but Joanie’s shone a cruel spotlight on everything that was wrong with the world, and everything most people tried to ignore best they could, because the truth was overwhelming.
Hilary showed them some slides of the properties she and Kerry had seen, apartments, factories, buildings with huge solar panels. On the business bright side, Greene Industries had a lot more press than ever before. The absolute confidence they conveyed in selling the project had created an increased demand and probably sky high profits. This was the beginning of a revolution she had dreamed of since first reading the feminist classics in high school, struck by the fact that they were still discussing subjects and fighting wars that should have been over long ago.
You could never let your guard down. That was Vivien’s summary of her life as a thirty-something woman, lesbian, feminist in the 2010s. Once Exodus took roots and started spreading around the world, every one of them might breathe a little easier. Hopefully one day, women of the world would create an atmosphere of solidarity instead of competition, reject the same old that patriarchy had fed them over centuries. Make no mistake, if half of the world’s population banded together, adding the men who didn’t believe equality devalued them…Everything would be possible.
Eventually, Kerry returned to her, and Marc and Hilary started answering questions, some thoughtful, some hilarious, some worth rolling one’s eyes, but all of them legitimate in a way. Prejudice almost always came from fear. If you could explain something, if people realized that their worries were unfounded, you could have a conversation.
“Today, I talked to Mariann Peters from the Women’s Coalition for Freedom and Family,” a young woman who seemed to be a reporter, said. “She told me members of her group are, I quote, ‘disturbed’ by the prospect of Exodus, saying that it might rip families apart, women leaving their husbands based on false promises. What do you say to them?”
“I would tell her that those women would probably have a reason to leave their husbands. After all, Mrs. Peters’ organization has the terms ‘women’ and ‘freedom’ in its name. Don’t they want them to have the freedom to decide what’s best for them?”
Vivien was always impressed about how Marc could deflect this kind of disbelief. She was lucky to know a few smart and kind-hearted men, like her father had been, like Gabe working at the center, like Marc Greene—she just wished that they could be always louder than those who wore their cavemen mentality with pride. Who was in the majority? She wanted to believe that most men cared about the women in their lives as much as themselves, but all too often, that belief had been shaken. Nevertheless, she appreciated Marc’s calm, matter-of-fact approach.
“You know, when you look at the history of human rights, it’s really interesting—the tactics used by the opponents have always been the same. It’s not a new thing to accuse women of ripping families apart. Apparently, opening the workforce to women would do that, or the right to vote, or, let’s say, contraception. The opposition against ERA was based on that theory. Every step forward is met with backlash, and frankly, Mrs. Peters is doing a great job enabling this backlash. I’m not sure what her motives are, but I don’t think she’s helping any families or women. No, it’s not our intention to rip families apart. We are not sending anyone off to war, it’s just another state. Our company will provide for everyone taking part in this project, as we always have with those who worked with us.”
“Is this a way of getting back at Governor Miller after you invested so much in his opponent’s campaign?” an older man wanted to know.
“Look at the people here. We might have lost the election, but we didn’t lose. We gained strength to do the right thing, and the support of many people. We don’t mean to get even—we’re getting ahead.
“Is this a project primarily directed at women and minorities?”
“Hey, I’m an old white guy,” someone further in the back said. “I signed up.”
“Is that enough of an answer to your question? It is for everyone who wants to help build a better world.” There was laughter in the audience.
“Let me get this straight. You’ve been talking about a ‘bigger picture.’ Do you honestly think that earning a few cents less to the dollar or getting some whistles or catcalls are comparable to a woman getting raped, then blamed and murdered in some backwards country?”
“Well, it’s the same backwards thinking,” Hilary answered. “Why
is any of it happening, something that might be annoying, making us feel unsafe, and on the other hand, something unspeakable? Why is it even possible for these things to happen? If you don’t think that women deserve equal pay for the same work, if you think that women are somehow less likely to tell the truth, aren’t you saying that they are somehow less relevant…less human? The big picture is ugly, no doubt about it. Lives aren’t always, but often, in acute danger, and we want to bring down those numbers with everything we can. That’s why we support women’s organizations far beyond our state and country. We are stepping up, all of us, families, single persons, women and men. The war on women is global and we can fight it globally if we manage to concentrate our resources.”
“I wish she could be president,” Vivien whispered to Kerry.
“I don’t know. I think this is just fine,” Kerry said.
Chapter Fourteen
Hilary couldn’t believe her eyes. She was dumbfounded, to say the least, when she recognized the woman walking up to her as Katherine Rhayne, famous trauma specialist and feminist. As an undergraduate, Hilary had stood in line for an autograph, clutching the book in shaking hands, too star-struck to say more than a few stumbling words when it had been her turn. Bodily Integrity, my God-given right had been the title that made her a household name and a controversial figure to many. Rhayne had argued that any higher power not on the side of equality was irrelevant, that the concept of any spirituality came with balance and fairness, otherwise it would be nothing but an invention of man. She’d earned criticism from religious leaders of all faiths. Even in feminist circles, some had been wary of her approach, mostly because the image of God had been used so often to justify oppression—but that was exactly her point. You couldn’t imagine a meaningful God, in any form, without equality, and you couldn’t do equality without believing in some basic rules, whether that included the concept of a Higher Power or not.
“Ms. Rhayne.”
Oh my God. She still had that effect, even all those years later, and more grey hair.
“Mrs. Greene, pleasure to meet you. I’d like to get right to the point. I love what you’re doing. I think this could be the most important project in the country right now, and I believe you could use my help. When can we meet?”
“Oh…tomorrow if that works for you. 6:45 a.m? You signed up, if I may ask?”
Katherine Rhayne laughed. “This is only the most exciting change about to happen on a long time and you’re asking me that? Of course I did. I can’t thank you enough for breaking through everyone’s apathy after Miller’s election. I did my research too. The foundation of this, as I understand it, will be your staff plus friends and family, most of which believe in the cause, but are not necessarily threatened by immediate harm. They will form the shelter you’ll need to help the women who are, is that right?”
“That’s the plan, yes.”
“You work on that foundation. I’m sure you are aware that you’ll also have an influx of disadvantaged people who will need shelter, therapy and can’t necessarily give back in monetary ways, yet. I can help.”
“We appreciate that,” Hilary told her. “Thank you so much. It is our intention to provide everyone with as much opportunity as possible, but you’re right that we’re going to need everyone’s skills to make it happen.”
“I believe so and I’m sure you have thought of transportation for those who cannot afford it, but support Exodus.”
“Yes. We’ve been working on that. Not every single detail might be perfected yet, but we’re getting there. When we move headquarters, we’ll make sure than everyone who wants to come with us, will be able to, and we’ll make sure that the option will exist later on.”
“Good. Thank you for this informative evening, Mrs. Greene. I look forward to talking some more.”
Hilary watched her walk away, unaware that Kerry had joined her.
“Wow, that was really her?”
“Yes, that was her. I guess we’re really with the cool kids now.”
* * * *
After the last people had filed out of the room, Hilary suggested Kerry and Vivien join them for dinner and stay overnight. In front of the town hall, there were some people who weren’t ready to go home yet. Members of the Women’s Coalition for Freedom and Family were holding a “wake for the babies about to be killed by the Exodus project.”
As they were passing them by, one of the women broke away from the group.
“Detective, wait.” Reluctantly, Kerry turned around. She was certain this could mean nothing good.
“Mrs. Fuller.”
The woman gave her a disdainful look. “You really thought this would work? I can imagine you look forward to running away, if you treat witnesses like that all the time. I’ll have you know that our family filed a complaint against you for harassing our son.”
“You know that won’t stick, with your son sending rape threats via email,” Kerry said. At this point, she simply wanted to curl up and lie down somewhere. She hoped she would make it to one of Marc and Hilary’s guest bedrooms first.
“My son is defending innocent lives, just as I am. You wouldn’t know anything about it. I warned you, Detective, stay away from my family.”
“I suggest you do the same. Good night, Mrs. Fuller. Don’t ask,” she said to the rest of their small group, holding up her hands. “Just…don’t.”
“She can’t do that, can she?” Vivien asked. “I mean…we have that email.”
“If she’s any trouble, let us know,” Marc added. “I guess we’ll have more to talk about, but frankly, I’d appreciate it if we could eat first.”
“We’ll do that—and from now on, no more going alone, okay? We’re all in this together.”
Kerry held Hilary’s gaze for a moment, before she nodded. That might be the hardest part, accepting—anything—even from a friend, knowing that she couldn’t always go alone to try and protect the ones she loved. “We are,” she said.
* * * *
Kerry wasn’t going to talk tonight, not about the threat the Fuller family possibly presented to her career, or the way she might have crossed a line there. She wasn’t going to talk anymore about the murdered woman, Joanie Vincent, either. Vivien accepted those facts for what they were, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t worried. Her thoughts kept chasing one another around in circles. At three a.m., she was as awake as she’d been when they went to bed. She silently slipped out of bed, put on some clothes, and walked down the stairs to sit for a bit in the Greene’s spacious den. Well, everything was spacious here—she hoped she wouldn’t get lost. Maybe the warm colors and textures of the room, the view of the lake, and the fireplace would help her relax. At this point, Vivien didn’t have much hope. She knew that there were good , bad, indifferent, or ignorant people, anywhere in the world, but she was beginning to think they’d be better off going west. It wasn’t like they’d never be confronted with blatant homophobia ever again, but it was a fact that in states and countries where equal rights were advanced, people got over it at some point. There were only so many times you could try to repeal a law.
What about Roe vs. Wade? Vivien sighed to herself. People wanted simple solutions. Even some of the most cold-hearted homophobes might have a chance of turning around when being confronted with true love and commitment. It seemed harder to get a majority to believe that women, all women, deserved complete bodily integrity—and women like Jay Fuller’s mother or Annette LeBlanc weren’t making it easier.
No wonder she was still up at three in the morning. Too late, Vivien noticed the light coming from the den as she walked inside, realizing she wasn’t the only one not asleep.
“Oh, hey. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
“That’s okay. Come on in,” Marc said. “What a day.”
“One of many to come,” Vivien commented, taking a seat in one of the big armchairs. For a few moments, they stayed silent. Her gaze fell on the bar in the corner, and she couldn’t help but smile. The
only other time she’d see this kind of setup was in soap operas. For some reason, it amused her that real life rich people actually did that.
“No kidding. Can I offer you a drink?” It hadn’t gone unnoticed by Marc where her gaze was going.
“Yes, please, thank you. I already feel like I’m in a scene from The Young and the Restless.”
He chuckled as she prepared the drink for her. “True. There’s enough drama for a soap going on, and it’s only going to be more.”
“Are you okay with all this?” Vivien blurted out. “I mean…no disrespect. We are all friends, right, but—I’m sorry. Since Miller came into office, everyone is getting paranoid which obviously includes me. What you and Hilary have done with the company, what you do for people all over the world, it’s astonishing. I wish more big business people would have that kind of sense.”
“Yeah. I don’t really think it’s astonishing though. It just seems that way, because so many hang on to the old strategies,” Marc mused. “They worked to a certain extent, but if keeping people in fear—your wife and your employees—is the only thing you have to show for at the end of the day, that’s pretty sad.”
“I like you. I’ve always liked you.” Vivien was well aware that she was drinking faster than she should have, but she sorely needed the warm burn of the alcohol and the relaxing effect.
“Thanks.”
“I’m scared Kerry might need a lawyer, that she’s in bigger trouble than she thinks she is.”
“I don’t think the Fullers have much leeway there. From what I understand, it’s her word against his. She’s a police officer and he’s a jerk who writes nasty emails and tweets about it. She’ll be fine.”
The Exodus Strategy Page 16
