His First Lady (28 page)

“Can we pray with you Katie?” Evan asked.

Katie shook her head. “No, I don’t feel like praying.”

After a moment of anxious silence, Greg knew that there was nothing more to do. He nodded to Evan that it was over for today and time for them to leave. Katie seemed fragile and no matter what they thought, she was doing what she thought was best for Sundi. Evan stood up and hugged Katie tightly as tears ran down both of their faces.

“Tell Sundi that I love her and I’ll see her soon,” Evan said.

Katie nodded as she then hugged Pastor Greg.

“I understand.” It was all Greg said before walking out of the door.

As the door closed behind them, Greg put his hands in his pockets with a feeling of failure and defeat. He and Evan were both silent as they walked to their vehicles. They reached Evan’s car first as he was parked behind her. She began to open her car door then paused looking around as if unsure of what to say or what to do.

“Don’t you want to know why?” Evan asked.

Greg stopped and looked at her curiously. “Why what?”

“Why I didn’t leave when I found out?”

Greg shook his head. “No, I don’t.”
He just didn’t care that much
.

Evan seemed disappointed. “I want him to pay for his crimes and I want to witness it firsthand.”

“You don’t have to explain anything to me.”

Evan got angry. “Why not?”

“Because it’s not my business, that’s between you and God.” Greg began to walk toward his truck.

Evan became angry. “You just want to be alone all your life without having to care about anybody else’s life,” She shouted after him. “Cara didn’t expect you to live like that.”

Mentioning Cara made Greg stop and take notice. “Just because I don’t want to be in your business doesn’t mean I don’t care about anybody,” Greg said before continuing toward his truck.

Greg closed his eyes not believing that he was actually having this conversation with the First lady outside of Katie’s home.

Evan glared at him then looked down at the ground. “What do we do about Sundi?”

Greg looked over at her. “I’m going to file a report and it’ll be investigated. Then we wait.” He opened his truck door as Evan stood by her car.

“It’ll take down the church,” Evan said under her breath.

Evan’s words struck an uncomfortable nerve. Greg slammed the truck door and walked back to her. “Is that what you care about? Is that why you’re still in the house with a child molester?”

Evan became furious. “No, that’s not what I care about. I care about Sam, Sundi, Katie, and everybody that loves that church.”

“Loves the church or worships its pastor?” Greg asked angrily.

Evan folded her arms. “I don’t deserve that!”

“Oh yes you do,” Greg responded heatedly. “You deserve the truth whether you like it or not. You claim to be so concerned about Sundi yet you’re all made up like a Barbie doll for campaign photos.” He pointed his finger at her. “The least of your worries is the church.”

Evan grew angry at him. “Don’t judge me. You don’t know why I participated in that.”

“No judgment here First lady, I’m just enlightening you a bit. This right here is the tip of the iceberg with your husband,” Greg said as he walked away from her and toward his truck.

“Why are you being so mean to me?” Evan yelled out to him.

Greg stopped then turned around and looked at her. “Why are you still there?”

Evan looked embarrassed. “I’m the First lady, where do I go?”

“You leave! You just leave!” Greg snapped at her. “You keep running until God tells you to stop.”

Evan’s eyes began to water.

Greg took a deep breath regretting his tone. He looked around trying not to put his anger for Leon on to her. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be mean or disrespectful to you.” A look of bewilderment covered Greg’s face. “I just don’t get how you don’t hold him accountable for at least what he’s done to you. But more than anything, I don’t understand how someone so remarkable as you can be with someone who abuses you, lies to you, and hurts you. I don’t understand why you don’t know your worth,” Greg said.

Greg and Evan locked eyes for a moment before he opened his truck door and got in. He started his truck, backed out of the driveway and drove off leaving Evan standing beside her car watching him.

Wednesday night bible service at JMC was sometimes as loud and churchy as regular worship service. Leon’s bible study had the congregation on their feet, waving their hands, praising, and dancing like it was Sunday. Dressed in crisp dark jeans and a black button down, Leon raised his hands settling the congregation down after he looked at the clock overhead in front of him.

He knew there were always a few identifiable’s in the crowd who always wanted to
‘catch the Holy Ghost’
, when he was close to wrapping up the service but he wasn’t having it, not even on Wednesday. The church had contracts with media providers and those contracts meant that the service ended on time every time and he didn’t care who didn’t like it.

After prayer, he looked over for Greg to disperse the congregation as usual but he wasn’t in the pulpit. Minister Bishop noticed and stood immediately with no disruption to the flow of the service and no one in the audience would have noticed. There were some duties Leon just didn’t do and dismissal was one of them. But he didn’t like ever being made a fool of and Greg seemed to be trying him.

Leon left the pulpit through the side door from which he always entered that led to the hallway to their offices. He watched Ariel sitting with Rick and her children during the service. She was looking puffier in the face and belly but to someone as naïve as Rick, she was just bloated.

Making his way to his office, he saw Greg walking toward him. He and Greg made eye contact. Leon was determined to be courteous to Greg so he smiled and held out his hand to Greg to shake. “My brother, what’s going on? You weren’t on the pulpit behind me tonight. Is everything all right with you?”

Greg looked down at Leon’s hands then back up at him. Leon put his hands down.
Was Greg drawing a line in the sand between them?

“I didn’t make it in time, working on some things back here. You got out okay though?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Leon said looking Greg in the eye. “Were you listening back here?”

“I was,” Greg said.

Leon didn’t like the smug look on Greg’s face. He was seriously starting to dislike this dude. Leon patted him on the shoulder. “Let me get going brother, I have a meeting. We’ll talk later.”

Greg nodded as Leon started walking past him. Leon stopped and turned around. He decided that he couldn’t let it go.

“Greg,” Leon said placing his finger on his chin, “just one more thing, what happened on Sunday? I didn’t find out that you weren’t going to preach until you didn’t. Your name was printed on the program. You not showing up wasn’t decent and in order, brother.”

“I agree. I wasn’t as prepared as I thought.”

Leon nodded. “Uh huh, okay,” Leon said not believing him. “It was your time to shine. People are always wondering when you’ll preach then you get your chance and you don’t take it? They were disappointed.”

“I hope not too disappointed,” Greg said with little emotion.

Greg made Leon smile. This dude was funny. He didn’t care what anybody thought. Leon had to admire a man like that.

Leon pointed to his office. “I have a meeting right now but we’ll get together,” Leon said, “and talk.” Leon dropped his smile walking off from Greg. There was something that didn’t feel right with him.

He hurried to his office, walking in immediately noticing a large envelope on his desk. Placing his bible down, he opened the envelope that contained the recent campaign print ad pictures that he and Ev had taken. Looking over them, he was pleased. Leon believed that he could run on any platform he wanted. He was attractive and it was no secret that people voted for good looking people so he didn’t worry.

Aaron knocked on the already opened door. Leon looked back at Aaron. “Come in and close the door.”

Aaron walked in, closed the door but didn’t sit. Leon walked into his closet and got out a small nylon drawstring bag. He opened it for Aaron to see the money then pulled the strings back closed and handed it to Aaron.

“Twenty-seven five,” Leon mumbled.

“Is it all there?” Aaron asked.

“It sure is,” Leon answered.

Aaron looked satisfied. “Okay.”

“There’s a piece of paper inside with the address of the house that they live in now with her brother.” Leon sat down in his chair. “I don’t need to know anything specific, just that it’s done.”

“How many people are in the house?”

Leon grimaced. “I don’t know. That’s your job.”

“When do you need it done?”

“Yesterday,” Leon glared at him. “Did you see Pastor Greg out there?”

Aaron nodded. “I passed him out there. He’s working on one of the centers.”

“I can’t figure him out.” Leon stared off. “Anyway, I don’t want him to see you leave my office. Something’s up with him and I can’t put my finger on it.”

“Is he next on your list?” Aaron asked sarcastically.

Leon stared at Aaron for a moment then broke out in a laugh. “A photographer and a comedian?” Leon got up from his chair and walked over to his office door to open it. “I don’t want to hear from you unless the job is completed.”

Aaron threw the bag over his shoulders. “Most definitely.”

No matter how Leon felt about Aaron, he could deal with an idiot like Aaron. It was Katie and Sundi that were the problems. They were thorns in his side and the sooner they were eliminated, the better. If that was all that Aaron was good for then so be it.

Mimi brought out the casserole with a giant smile and sat it down in the middle of the dining room table in front of Aaron. He absorbed the aroma of meat and potatoes, just like his mother used to make. Black yoga pants and a cute pink tank, she was relaxed and flirty yet was still very much a lady, which made Aaron smile. He was glad that she was comfortable around him now to be so laid back. Mimi was everything that he could ever want: beautiful, smart, and she cooked. All his planning that included finding a beautiful woman didn’t come close to what he found in Mimi. How had he gotten so lucky?

“I made this especially for you, baby cakes,” Mimi said with a quick ticklish poke in Aaron’s side.

He grinned; he was badly ticklish and Mimi knew it. They had gotten to that point now where they playfully teased each other and he loved it.

“It looks delicious baby,” He said reaching for his plate.

“Do you want to eat in the living room, I rented a movie?” Mimi asked walking back into the kitchen.

“That’s cool,” Aaron said standing up from the dining room chair.

Mimi opened the oven then stopped and looked at him. “Are you okay?”

“I’m great.” Aaron picked up the silverware and napkins. “Why?”

“You just seem like there’s something on your mind,” she said walking back toward him with a pan full of buttered rolls.

Aaron watched her place a warm roll on each of their plates then as she scooped out squares of casserole. He did have something on his mind but it wasn’t anything that he could share with her.

“I’m just tired but I couldn’t wait to see you today,” Aaron said carrying the plates to the living room.

Aaron placed the plates down then went back for the glasses as she followed him in. They plopped down next to each other on the couch and began situating their plates. As if feeling Aaron’s eyes on her, she looked up at him.

“Why are you staring at me?” Mimi asked.

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe because I’ve never met someone as beautiful as you.”

She looked away. “Stop that.” Mimi squeezed his cheek.

Aaron looked down at his plate. He just wanted to love up on this girl. She was everything that he’d ever wanted.

“Mimi, why do you like me?” Aaron asked picking up his roll just to do something with his hands.

Mimi’s eyes widened as if she was taken off guard by the question. “Well,” she looked down, “you’re different from the guys that I’ve dated before.”

Aaron scrunched his forehead. “What does that mean?”

“I mean that you intrigue me. I’ve never met anyone like you before; you’re an amazing person.”

Aaron didn’t respond. Instead he picked up his fork and began to use it to slice off a piece of casserole.

“Grace?” Mimi asked stopping him from digging in.

“You do it,” Aaron said closing his eyes never having felt good enough to pray so he just never did.

As Mimi prayed Aaron watched her. He wanted to reach out and touch her face but didn’t. He closed his eyes just as she finished praying.

“Oh, the movie,” she said putting her plate on the table and walking over to the television to start the movie.

Aaron watched Mimi start the movie wishing he didn’t have to tell her that he wouldn’t be staying although he wished with everything that he could. “I need to leave a little earlier tonight because I have to take care of some business,” Aaron said unsure of how she would react.

She looked back as she pushed play on the blue ray machine. “Will you be able to stay the entire movie?”

He nodded. “I think so. I hope this is action,” he said trying to diffuse the situation.

“It is,” Mimi replied. She kept looking at him, puzzled. “I didn’t know you made other plans tonight.”

“I didn’t,” Aaron said, “I mean it’s last minute; just something that the pastor wants me to take care of.”

“Oh,” Mimi said after starting the movie and sitting back on the couch beside him. “He’s taken a liking to you.”

Aaron made a face. “Why do you think that?”

“It’s church Aaron, plenty of nosey people,” She said as if he should already know. “Some people have seen you meeting with the pastor a few times.”

Aaron shifted on the couch. That piece of information didn’t sit well with him. “People spying on me like that and running back to tell you?” He asked with a frown on his face.