Ariel splashed water on her face then dabbed it with a towel from the rack. As she opened her eyes, she caught a glimpse of her reflection. She stared in the mirror and looked closer at her face. She placed her hands to her face and gently pushed her cheeks back. She remembered such a time when there would have been nothing to push back. This pregnancy was taking her looks away from her; she hated it.
She looked around the bathroom. Although the apartment was beautiful, the bathroom was like all the other areas of the apartment, small and cramped feeling. She was annoyed that Leon had her there; he knew that she liked her space. She powdered her face then reached in her cosmetic bag for her gloss. Zipping her bag, she looked in the mirror one more time. Although she hadn’t moved in yet and she was still living at home, she needed to call Rick to give him an update on her uncle’s status like she said she would.
She walked out of the bathroom and over to Leon who was standing by the kitchen table looking at his cellphone. He looked up at her before placing it back in the clip on his side. He looked worried.
“What’s wrong with you?” She asked.
“Why does something have to be wrong with me?”
“Maybe because you’ve barely said anything to me since we’ve been here,” Ariel said sitting down at the dining room table.
“We’re here to work on the campaign and that’s my primary focus right now.” He frowned before placing his hand to his chin looking over at the campaign signs that leaned up against the wall. “I don’t like the color of the signs. Why would you think I like this color?”
Ariel frowned looking at the sign and seeing absolutely nothing wrong with it. “Purple is royalty and I thought you’d at least appreciate the irony.”
Leon glared at her. “I want them red. Red is power.”
Ariel frowned and crossed her arms. “Leon, it’s a little late now.”
“Tell them that if they can’t correct it then I’ll go with someone else and I’ll remember this.”
“Leon,” Ariel said massaging her temples. She wasn’t in the mood for this especially when battling this morning sickness.
“You’re to run my campaign the way I want it ran,” Leon said sitting down at the table.
“What’s with you today?” She asked throwing her hands up. “Who were you talking to earlier, the First lady?”
Leon began flipping through the campaign documents on the table. “Actually no. I’ve got some work that has to be done today and I was trying to get in touch with the guy to get the status.”
“What kind of work?”
Leon looked up from the papers on the table. “Demolition.”
“Oh? A new project?” She asked.
“You ask too many questions. I’m here for you to prep me for this rally. I don’t have time for anything else.”
“You used to.”
Leon nodded. “You’re right, used to.” He flipped through some papers. “Have you taken care of the venue, the food, the music? I don’t want this to look like my first time.”
“You know I did Leon. I hired a DJ, the best caterer in the state, and I’ll contact the printer about the signs later.”
“A DJ? This isn’t the club Ariel,” Leon snarled at her.
“No, it isn’t but I thought you were trying to reach a younger hipper voter.”
Leon shook his head as if not in the mood to even argue with her and that disturbed her. If he didn’t give his energy to even argue with her then it meant that he didn’t care enough.
Leon continued flipping through the documents. “Also make sure that we have everything to accommodate the mayor. Find out what he likes to eat, drink, if he likes women…whatever?”
“Women?” Ariel repeated. What was going on here?
“I said find out what he likes,” Leon said with piercing eyes.
Ariel nodded dabbing the information down on her notepad. “So, he’s definitely speaking? I want to make certain before I add him to the program?” Ariel asked struggling to keep her focus on the campaign.
Leon cut his eyes over at her as if not appreciating the question. “He will be.”
She watched Leon continue to look through the campaign information she had put together for him. “How are you and the First lady doing?”
Leon didn’t look up at her. “Why are you so threatened by the First lady?”
“I’m not,” Ariel replied angrily. “Should I be?”
“Where’s the information on staffing?”
Ariel angrily shuffled through the papers in front of her. She shoved a piece in front of him. “This is the campaign’s staffing plan and your out of pocket.”
Leon looked at it and frowned. “What happened to the volunteers?”
Ariel glared at him, annoyed. “Leon, you have a ton of volunteers. But you have to pay somebody and I’m one of those somebody’s.”
Leon leaned back with the paper in his hand and looked at her. “Oh, I think you’re getting paid handsomely,” He said looking around the apartment.
“You think I should do flips over an 1800 square foot apartment? Get real.”
“No but you should flip over the check on the dresser in the bedroom, the once a week shopping sprees at Gucci, expensive lunch treats for your friends and this 1800 square foot apartment,” Leon said angrily.
Leon’s phone rang. He looked at it anxiously then stood up and walked out of the room. Ariel slammed her palm onto the table; there he was again making her the least of his priorities. She could hear him whispering in her bedroom. She couldn’t make out the conversation but she knew that he was speaking purposely low and the issue was deathly serious to him.
Hearing him end the conversation, she began looking over her rally notes lest he accuse her of being nosey. She looked up at him when he walked in appearing to have a look of satisfaction on his face.
“You look like you’re feeling better,” Ariel said.
“Actually, I am.” He rubbed his hands together and sat down.
“What’d you do, have the First lady killed?” Ariel laughed.
Leon looked at her then looked back down at the papers in front of him without an answer.
Chapter 57
Daniela and Ariel didn’t wait long for Candy to open the large marble doors to her home after they rang the doorbell. It was almost as if Candy was waiting at the door for them to ring it. Dani’s eyes widened with surprise seeing that Candy was overly done up for a girl’s night with a short black sleeveless dress, a red bauble necklace and red heels.
“Did you ladies forget to give me the memo that this ladies night was going to be an elegant affair?” Daniela asked looking at Candy when she opened the door.
“I just never changed today,” Candy said stepping aside for the ladies to enter.
Daniela didn’t respond knowing Candy was lying. Seeing Candy’s exorbitance made Daniela smile awkwardly seeing that while she was dressed in simple jeans and a tee; Ariel and Candy chose to dress up like they were attending a dinner party. These ladies didn’t dress for a girl’s night, their dresses were meant for each other and only each other.
“Ladies, make yourselves at home,” Candy said throwing her arms around Daniela and air kissing her on the cheek.
She moved toward Ariel. “Ariel, sweetie, you look beautiful.” She hugged Ariel. “It’s been so long,” Candy laughed. “Then again so recent, I guess I should say.”
“Thank you for inviting me, sis,” Ariel said with a large smile. Her eyes grew wide as she continued walking through the foyer. “Candy, your house is ginormous. It’s absolutely beautiful!”
Candy’s house was enormous and beautifully decorated. To Daniela, all of the First ladies had beautiful homes but Candy’s was on a different scale altogether with huge staircases leading to the multiple levels in the house and cathedral ceilings that seemed to go up forever. Daniela’s home was considered modest but she didn’t complain; that’s not why they were in ministry.
“Thank you, sweetie. It
was my gift from my hubby for having those babies.”
“It was clearly worth it, my dear.” Ariel responded looking around. “Do I need to remove my shoes?”
Candy shook her head. “Of course not, girl I’m not anal about those types of things.”
Candy and Daniela gave each other a quick look as Ariel walked around the house admiring it. Daniela leaned close to Candy as she gave Candy her jacket and purse then whispered, “Be on your best behavior.”
“Always, darling.” Candy winked at Daniela.
Ariel removed her thin shawl and handed it and her purse to Candy; holding onto her cellphone.
“No cellphones on ladies night.” Daniela said.
“Oh no; you can have the bag and the shawl but not my phone.” Ariel laughed. Dressed in a short signature red dress, dazzling diamond teardrop earrings and silver stilettos, Ariel looked around before sitting down on Candy’s large white leather sofa. “This feels wonderful, but how do you keep it looking this perfect with children?” She asked feeling the soft leather.
“They’re not allowed in here…ever.” Candy laughed.
Daniela listened to the exchange between Ariel and Candy wondering if she was at the wrong girl’s night function. After finding out about Ariel’s text to Daniela, Candy suggested that she invite Ariel over for a carefree casual evening where they would have a chance to discuss her involvement with Evan’s husband but now it seemed more like Daniela was trapped in a sorority sister’s twilight zone.
“Speaking of the little ones, where are they tonight?” Daniela asked.
“I’m on my own tonight. The kids are spending the night with grandma and Will is out of town,” Candy answered.
“Lucky you,” Ariel said. “And girl thank you for inviting me; it is such a small world,” Ariel said making herself comfortable on Candy’s large white leather sectional. “I can’t believe that you two know each other. When I texted Daniela to see if she wanted to do dinner and she said that you invited her to dinner, I was like, “are you kidding, that’s my soror.”
“All day long, sis,” Candy said leaning over and high fiving Ariel.
Daniela cleared her throat. “That was a crazy coincidence but I’m glad that you could make it,” Daniela said to Ariel.
Candy sat across from the two on a matching white leather chair and crossed her legs. “It’s crazy,” Candy said moving a strand of her sweeping bang out of her eye, “that we’re seeing each other again so soon after we hadn’t seen each other in years. How bizarre is that?”
“I know,” Ariel said.
“Is JMC your church?” Candy asked with a puzzled look.
Ariel nodded. “Sure is, my husband’s a deacon there,” Ariel answered.
Daniela looked at Candy. It was too soon for her to go there so quickly. “Um, Candy. I’m thirsty.”
Candy gave Daniela a sharp look. Daniela could feel the fury from it.
“Dinner is almost ready; can you wait?
Daniela coughed. “My throat is really dry.”
Candy stood up. “Sure, I can get you something to drink if you like,” Candy said staring at Daniela coldly, clearly not appreciating the interruption.
“Please?” Daniela responded.
Candy maintained a smile as she walked out of the living area but Daniela could tell that she would hear about this later.
“Candy, do you mind if I look around?” Ariel yelled out getting up from the sofa.
“Make yourself at home,” Candy yelled back.
Ariel began walking around Candy’s large home, walking first to the large marble fireplace eyeing Candy’s family pictures on top. Daniela stood up and walked toward the kitchen meeting Candy in the hallway on the way back with a tray and three glasses on top.
“Do you need some help?” Daniela asked reaching out for the tray.
Candy stopped and looked around the corner to see if Ariel was standing there. “Why did you interrupt?” She asked in a low tone of rebuke.
“Shush,” Daniela used her hand to tell Candy to lower her voice. “You were starting the conversation too quickly. When you talk to her about Pastor Leon then you need to tread lightly. I want it to be kind not mean spirited.”
“Let me do this,” Candy snapped back in a low whisper.
Daniela looked at the wine glasses on the tray. “Is that alcohol? She can’t drink that.”
“I’m aware of that.” Candy rolled her eyes and bumped Daniela slightly on the shoulder as she walked past her into the living room. Daniela rolled her eyes following behind Candy back into the living area.
“Candy, you have a beautiful family and if your girls don’t look like you? Wow, I love it,” Ariel said still admiring Candy’s home and the large black and white framed photos on the walls.
“Thank you,” Candy said sitting the tray down on the table.
Candy handed Ariel a glass. “You have children, don’t you?”
“I do,” Ariel answered taking the glass from Candy. “Three boys.”
“I’m sure they’re handsome fellas,” Candy said.
Ariel smiled holding the glass while looking at the rest of Candy’s decor. “You know they are.”
Daniela sat back down and took a sip. “Wine?” She looked over at Ariel for her reaction.
“Oh no,” Ariel winced. “Is this alcohol?” She smelled her drink.
Candy smiled. “Just a little wine; not much alcohol. More water than anything.”
“Do you have water?” Ariel asked. “Or juice?”
Candy gave a look of surprise. “Oh sure. I thought I remembered that you loved a good glass of chardonnay. I guess that was so long ago.”
“Not these days,” Ariel said.
Candy smiled. “Oh, okay.” Candy glanced over at Daniela in satisfaction as she walked to the kitchen.
“Daniela, how long have you known Candy?” Ariel asked while still walking and gazing the large living area.
“A few years,” Daniela replied.
“How?”
“Both of our husbands are pastors.” There, she had said it.
Ariel quickly looked up at Daniela. She smiled. “You never mentioned that your husband was a pastor.”
Daniela took a sip of her drink. “No, I guess I didn’t.”
Ariel glared at Daniela a moment then back at a bronze eagle statue on a glass stand. “I guess we talked about our children but never what our husband’s did.”
Candy walked in with a glass of ice water and handed it to Ariel.
“I hope you ladies don’t mind Mexican,” Candy said.
“I love Mexican but I can’t imagine you taking the chance for cheese to mess up that gorgeous dress of yours,” Daniela said.
Candy cut her eyes over at Daniela. “I wasn’t talking to you Dani; I know you eat whatever’s offered to you.”
“I love Mexican,” Ariel said sitting back down on the sofa. “Candy, your husband must be preaching up something good to be living like this,” Ariel said looking around the room with a light smirk on her face.
Candy smiled. “He does pretty well.”
“What about your husband Daniela? Are you living like this?” Ariel asked looking over at Daniela.
“Um, we have a bit of a smaller ministry.”
“I guess that means that you have a smaller house,” Ariel said putting her glass of water up to her mouth.
Candy stood up from the chair. “Let’s move to the dining room, shall we?”
Chapter 58
The ladies talked and laughed sitting at Candy’s formal dining room table that was adorned with white dinner plates, lit votive candles, and a huge centerpiece of mixed fresh cut flowers that protruded a sweet scent throughout the room.
Candy had disappeared for a moment then returned with a small keepsake box containing old sorority photos that she removed the lid from and placed on the table. “I’m waiting on the enchiladas but look what I found.”
Daniela reached in looking at a few before handing
some to Ariel. Within minutes, the ladies were chuckling at old outfits and big haired photos.
“You ladies were a piece of work,” Daniela said.
“You have no idea,” Candy said.
Ariel held up one. “Remember this?” She asked Candy.
Candy grinned looking closer at the picture that Ariel had in her hand. “Yes! We were cleaning up highway 5 and you and Michelle got into a fist fight right there at the Blue star sign.”
Candy and Ariel laughed.
Daniela chuckled in curiosity with them. “What happened?”
Ariel shrugged as she continued looking through the photos. “Michelle was one of our sisters who was just jealous that her boyfriend seemed to pay more attention to me than he did to her. We had words, she slapped me and I slapped her harder.”
“That was a mess,” Candy said. “It took a long time for you two to get over that one.”
“Did you two ever make up?” Daniela asked.
Ariel laughed. “I told her bye when she moved out of the sorority house, if that counts.”
Candy got up from the table. “Girl, you were something else. Let me check on the enchiladas.”
When Candy walked out, Ariel leaned over to Daniela. “Does she know that I’m pregnant?”
“Did you tell her?” Daniela asked not wanting to lie.
“No, not yet.”
Candy walked back into the dining room. “Everything’s ready if you ladies are hungry.”
Daniela raised her hand. “I’m over ready. I’m starved.”
Candy brought out the enchiladas, chicken tacos, and nachos with cheese. Daniela loved when Candy cooked because she did it so well. And she was pleased that the night wasn’t going anything like she’d expected. She had been nervous for no reason because Candy was on her best behavior.
Candy handed Ariel the serving spatula. Ariel stood up and wasted no time placing an enchilada on her plate from the serving dish. “Candy, do you have a little Mexican lady hiding in your kitchen because this looks quite authentic?”
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