His First Lady

by Davis Boyles, Kym

  “I didn’t,” Evan paused then looked at the pregnancy test stick waving it gently in her hand. “It’s negative,” She said.

  “Did you remove my tie from my tie rack because I’m in a hurry?” He asked as if not hearing her and not even looking at the test stick in her hand.

  Evan stood up without a word and exited the bathroom with her long silk gown sticking close to her body with every move she made.

  Leon watched her walk past him without an answer. “Did you hear me?” He asked indignantly.

  Evan quickly turned around facing him. “Did you hear me?” She asked before walking into their closet. She returned with a bright pink dress she had chosen for the ceremony.

  Leon eyed the dress. “You’re not wearing that, are you?”

  Evan sighed. “I planned to.”

  “No. Besides it won’t match my tie.”

  Evan sighed with frustration. “But you can’t find your tie.”

  He stood looking at her and shook his head. “Even if I never find it, that dress is awful. The mayor will be there, city council members, and lots of cameras.”

  It sounded harsh but the truth always did. Besides, she wasn’t about to upstage him in that bright dress especially since the photo ops were going to be outrageous today. This was his time; he was going to make his name known. He was preparing for future endeavors like the senatorial seat and nothing and no one was going to dim his shine.

  “Are you serious?” She asked still holding the dress.

  “Where’s the dress you bought for the ceremony?”

  “I just thought I’d wear a different one.”

  “Don’t think; just listen,” Leon said splashing on cologne. “Oh, ask Rosalie if she moved my tie for some reason; I’m not good at Spanish.”

  “She speaks English.” Evan glared back at him as she walked into their closet to hang the dress back up.

  “You could have fooled me since she acts like she can’t understand it whenever I’m speaking it.”

  “Maybe it’s the way you speak it to her,” Evan mumbled from the closet.

  Leon admired himself in the mirror. “Go ask her to look for it. I’m in a hurry.”

  Evan walked out of the closet and into the bedroom carrying the new dress; the gray one that he had anticipating her wearing.

  “Is this better?”

  “Much,” he responded watching her through the mirror place the dress on the bed then walking toward the door.

  She turned around looking at him. “The test was negative. I took two.”

  Leon adjusted his collar and turned to her. “Okay.”

  “I don’t think we’re spending enough time together.”

  Leon wanted to laugh. This girl was such a prude that she couldn’t even say the word sex. She was right; they weren’t having a lot of it but he didn’t care. He wasn’t that attracted to her and it was difficult pretending he was.

  “Sex,” Leon said. “It’s called sex.”

  Evan placed her hand on her hip instinctively waiting for him to continue.

  He shrugged. “Maybe your heart isn’t right about adopting this baby.”

  “What?” Evan asked defensively.

  “I think you need to pray and let God deal with your heart because it seems that you’re resistant to bringing a child into our home that isn’t our own. I told you where my heart was. We discussed it and we’re going forward with the adoption.”

  Evan looked confused as she stood at the bedroom door. “This has nothing to do with the adoption. You may not know my heart but God does. I agreed to the adoption but you also agreed to try.”

  “I’ve already spoken to an agency and there’s a woman due in February. That’s where we’re at.” He had to lie and didn’t feel bad about having to.

  “Due in February? What are you talking about? You did this without me?” Evan asked with a bewildered look on her face.

  Leon shrugged. “It wasn’t necessary for you to be there. I was just getting some information.”

  Evan folded her arms. “You shouldn’t have done anything without me,” She said irritably.

  “I want to make sure that you are where you should be before you meet with the agency. Your attitude could affect the entire process and we can’t risk that.”

  “My attitude?” Evan asked trying to calm down. “I told you that I’m ready for a family and I mean it.”

  “Then concentrate on that.” Leon fumed not even looking in her direction.

  Evan looked stunned but said nothing. Beginning to walk out of the door, she stopped and turned around. “This was kind of a big deal to me because I was really praying that it was positive.” She sighed. “And I was hoping that it would be a big deal to you too.”

  Leon stared at her. “It’ll be a big deal to me when you tell me that it’s positive.”

  Chapter 33

  Looking beautiful in her ceremony ready attire, Evan stood to the side of the church clapping her hands and swaying to the awesome tunes of their choir. She was prepared all around for today’s ceremony, from whitened teeth to her new dramatic eyelashes that Leon felt would create better pictures for her. She knew that no one could have guessed that their gorgeously dressed, manicured, powder puffed First lady was aching inside. She hid it well at church.

  There was still a little time before the throng of people would swarm the church grounds for the ground breaking ceremony. She had to admit that she was a little anxious yet excited about it all. She had invited Nina and the First ladies that she had lunched with previously almost feeling like she had to since the ground breaking had been the talk of the church folk for weeks she’d heard. How would it look if she didn’t invite them?

  Everyone was busying themselves around the church like worker bees decorating, congregating and getting camera crews where they needed to be. She had no idea that it would turn out to be such a huge event; Leon was slowly but surely becoming the star that he wanted to be. But that wasn’t where she wanted to place her energy. Instead, she watched the choir proudly wearing gigantic smiles glowing in their new white and gold robes. It was an amazing feeling but she couldn’t help but think of Sundi.

  She missed the little girl so much. When she had the microphone, she always had the congregation on their feet and it wasn’t hard to see that singing was what she was created to do. Evan couldn’t imagine what the excitement of this day would have been like for her. Evan’s thoughts of Sundi and Katie had suddenly darkened the joy of watching the excited choir who praised God to the top of their lungs eager to perform for the cameras to show why they were chosen to sing for the President of the United States.

  As the song ended, everyone hanging out in the sanctuary applauded and the choir seeming to feed off the crowd’s enthusiasm, started another song. As much as she wanted to continue to listen, Evan needed to catch up on a few things in her office before the ceremony began. She began making her way to her office hoping not to get stopped by any of the many people filling up the church so she could get something accomplished.

  Evan hurried down the aisle when she felt a hand gently grab her arm causing her to stop and turn around abruptly.

  “Hi,” Ariel said. “I was calling your name but you were just rushing out of here.”

  “Were you?” Evan asked.

  “Yes.” Ariel placed her arms around Evan in a friendly hug. “How are you? You look so beautiful.”

  Evan smiled embracing Ariel. Evan had always felt that Ariel was one of the few deacons’ wives that she hadn’t yet figured out. She once thought it was all in her head but the more time she spent with her, the more she was convinced that it wasn’t.

  “Thank you,” Evan said responding to Ariel.

  “We’ve been missing each other lately,” Ariel said taking a step back looking at Evan. “I expected to see a little bulge in the stomach area but as tight as that dress is, nothing’s in there.” Ariel laughed, placing her hand on Evan’s stomach.

  “Excuse me?” Evan
asked removing Ariel’s hand from her stomach.

  “The church is waiting on those two words,” Ariel said.

  God, why was she having this conversation with Ariel? Evan sighed not knowing how to take Ariel.

  “You look very nice,” Evan said choosing to ignore the comment. “I love that dress.” Her mother had always taught her how to diffuse a situation; place the attention back on them. She did admire how Ariel always seemed at the head of the class when it came to appearance; no hair ever out of place and perfect face all the time. And today, maybe it was the lighting but she even seemed to have a slight glow.

  “Thank you; I didn’t see Pastor Leon today,” Ariel said looking around the sanctuary. “Do you know where he is? I wanted to congratulate him on the ground breaking.”

  “He’s all over the place today. I know that he had some meetings lined up before the ceremony so he could be anywhere. But I’m sure he’ll appreciate the thought.” Evan nodded hoping to move on from the awkward conversation with Ariel.

  The church was getting busier and louder. Evan really needed to make it to her office and the stranger the conversation was with Ariel, the stronger the urge was to end it.

  “I better go make sure that Leon’s ready for the cameras,” Evan said raising her voice above the now chaotic noisy church hoping to make a quick exit.

  Ariel moved a string of hair from Evan’s face. “Go find your husband. You know he needs you. I don’t know what he’s going to do when you get that baby and have so little time for him.”

  Evan wanted to smack Ariel’s hand away from her. All of a sudden, it went from just an urgency to get away from Ariel to wanting to hear the girl out.

  Ariel seemed taken aback by the look on Evan’s face. She reached out and touched Evan’s arm. “Rick told me that you two are in the process of adopting.”

  A thousand thoughts ran through Evan’s body. How could Leon embarrass and humiliate her so?

  Ariel bit her bottom lip. “I’m sorry. That was out of line. Men are so insensitive sometimes. That’s probably something that you and Leon weren’t prepared to share publically just yet.”

  Shaking her humiliation off, Evan smiled. “It was not out of line. Isn’t God good?”

  It was all Evan knew to say. Embarrassed wasn’t the word she would use, mortified might have been better. How could everyone else know something that she barely knew about? What process of adoption? How were they in the process when she hadn’t even met with the agency and didn’t know what baby he was even referring to that was due in February?

  Just as Evan looked to gracefully make her exit, Ariel’s face brightened as she looked and stepped past Evan.

  “Candace Rivers, is that you?” Ariel asked with one hand on her hip.

  Evan looked shocked when she turned to see that Ariel was referring to Candy who came running toward Ariel with Nina and Linda trailing behind. The two ladies let out a shriek of exuberance before embracing. Evan couldn’t help but be amazed at the visual display as she stood alongside the other two First ladies.

  With an arm around Candy, Ariel turned to Evan. “This is my soror. I can’t believe she’s here. I haven’t seen her in ages.”

  “Wow.” It was all Evan could say. She didn’t know if this changed how she felt about Candy or not. But being friendly with Ariel made a friendship certainly debatable.

  Evan thanked the ladies for coming before feeling a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see a gaunt looking Katie standing behind her.

  Chapter 34

  Evan immediately threw her arms around Katie and hugged her tightly. Her body felt thin and fragile. Forgetting that she was thanking the First ladies for coming, Evan pulled Katie to the side. Her unkempt appearance took Evan by surprise. Always maintained, Katie’s appearance didn’t seem like the Katie that Evan knew; she looked older, sadder, appearing to be a hanger for a larger woman’s clothing.

  “I’m so happy to see you,” Evan said hugging her again. “How are you?”

  Katie smiled. “I’m fine.”

  “Wait,” Evan said causing Katie to pause. “Is Sundi okay? Where is she?” Evan rambled looking behind and around Katie for Sundi.

  Katie’s eyes looked sad. “She’s not with me today. We’re living with my brother Kevin now outside the city. I heard about the ceremony and knew that it was time to come see you. The church is really growing, huh?”

  Evan looked around then smiled at a disheveled looking Katie whose hair was in a frizzy bun; her eyes, tired and baggy. “It is. I’m so happy to see you; I’ve been so concerned.”

  Katie looked down at the floor then over toward the choir. “I see that the choir is preparing for DC. They sound great and the pastor is getting everything he ever wanted.” Katie said looking around at all the hoopla.

  Evan grabbed both of Katie’s hands and held them firmly. “Everybody really misses you two. I miss you. Do you need any help? Anything at all?” Evan asked unsure of how to suggest that even if Katie needed money, she wanted to help.

  Katie shook her head. “I didn’t come to stay, First lady. I just wanted to tell you how much you’ve meant to me and Sundi. You’re resilient and I wish I were more like you.”

  Evan looked down; if Katie only knew.

  “I didn’t think I was strong enough to come back. It’s funny how God does what we can’t do.” Katie smiled. “By the way, you look very beautiful today, First lady.” With a quick hug, Katie walked off.

  Evan stood mesmerized as she watched a thin and unusually frazzled appearing Katie walk off into the crowd. Evan looked around realizing that she had walked off from the First ladies that she had invited. Seeing Katie rattled her; everything about how Katie looked left her feeling sad.

  She looked around but didn’t see the First ladies in the crowd. She decided to go quickly to her office and catch them on the way back. The last thing she wanted them to think about her right now was that she had been rude to them especially after she had invited them. She hurried through the crowd and out into the church’s office areas.

  Approaching her office, Evan noticed a wrapped box on the floor in front of her door. She looked around to see if there was anyone that looked like they may have left it. She stepped up her pace and picked up the gift. She opened the card taped to it and it was addressed to her but there was no name identifying who it was from. She unlocked her door and walked inside her office. She stared at the package and examined it suspiciously. As she began to undo the tape, her phone rang.

  Chapter 35

  Leon had shifted several times in his chair as he sat in his office looking at his watch. Clenching his teeth, he leaned back in the chair. He hated tardiness and anyone who knew him knew that. All eyes would be on him today and he made sure that the mayor and city council members were invited along with plenty of cameras and press. He had managed to make it to his office under the radar, expecting Aaron. Specific goal; get him in and get him out.

  There was a knock at the door. He knew it was Aaron with that stupid knock like they were in some mafia movie. He reached inside his desk drawer, pulled out an envelope before looking in the small mirror that sat on his desk. He straightened his tie then cleared his throat.

  “Come in.”

  A sophisticatedly attired Aaron wearing a gray tailored suit and a huge grin walked in. Leon tilted his head curiously at him unable to figure out what could have amused him so. Leon sat stone faced nodding to Aaron to close the door behind him. With the door closed, Leon pushed the envelope forward on the desk.

  “Pastor,” Aaron said picking up the envelope from the desk. “You’re looking sharp and ready for your close ups.”

  “You as well,” Leon sighed taking a deep breath. “But my momma always said that you could dress up trash but it still stunk.”

  Aaron laughed. “I like that one.”

  Leon remained calm resisting the strong urge to jump up and grab Aaron by his collar and choke the very life out of him. He watched as Aaron opened the
envelope and counted the money.

  Leon saw on Aaron’s face that he was satisfied when he closed the envelope and slipped it inside his suit jacket pocket. “Now that you’ve got your money, we don’t have any more business with each other. No, I’ll do one better; I don’t even want to know you exist.”

  “It’s extra for that,” Aaron joked.

  Leon didn’t laugh. Nothing Aaron did or said would ever be funny to him. Leon stood up and grabbed his suit jacket. “Have a good day. I’ve got a ceremony to attend,” Leon said as he slipped on his jacket and adjusted his sleeves.

  Aaron sat down causing Leon to pause, frozen in place.

  “Actually Pastor, if you got a minute, I’d like to talk to you about a job.” Aaron sneered.

  Leon looked astonished. “What!”

  Aaron sat forward in the chair. “I need to make a living and we discussed me taking some pictures of the church at your house…remember?”

  A bewildered Leon shook his head wondering if he was in the middle of a bad dream. “Are you serious?” Leon asked quickly getting angry. “Are you stupid or do you just think I am?”

  Aaron shrugged his shoulders then grinned. “You act like it’s the worst thing you could do. This is a church; job search is a part of your ministry isn’t it?”

  Leon folded his arms then looked up in the air. “You think you’re going to shake me down?”

  “No, I don’t Pastor.” Aaron shook his head. “I just need a job and I’m trying to get my life together.”

  Leon took a step toward him. “Just because you’re wearing a suit now doesn’t change the fact that you’re still the same thug walking down the street with your pants sagging sipping on a big gulp. You’re a joke.” Leon hissed with his entire face wearing his rage.

  Aaron seemed unaffected by Leon’s ire. “Why are you so angry?”

  The vein on the side of Leon’s head bulged as he fought the fiery adrenaline that tempted him to put his hands on Aaron. He bit his lip, thought about all the people that were waiting for him and calmed himself.