His First Lady

by Davis Boyles, Kym

  “I guess sleeping in the guestroom makes you a little cranky,” Leon said walking into the kitchen with a crisp black suit on and red tie. “I miss you beside me.”

  Evan lifted her head at the sound of his voice although the smell of the cologne had preceded it. She had worked desperately to avoid him at church and at home. And she planned on ignoring him now. She began walking toward the kitchen door to leave.

  “Can you give me a minute?” He asked.

  Leon’s question took her by surprise. She stopped without turning around.

  “I went to the guestroom to talk to you but you weren’t there. I thought you’d left,” he said with a sympathetic smile.

  Evan raised an eyebrow at his sudden humility and contrition but remained quiet.

  “I know you’re angry at me and I don’t blame you but I really want us to be on the same team. We need each other. That means that even though we’re still in the process of adopting our baby; I’m willing to give you what you want and that’s our own baby.”

  Evan turned around and faced Leon. She couldn’t stomach him and could barely look at him yet he had fixed his mouth to say that they were on the same team.

  “Do you see my neck?” Evan put her head back to show him the bruises that were still visible.

  “What am I looking at?”

  Evan looked at him. “You’re looking at the marks that your hands made while you were strangling me; your teammate.”

  Leon said nothing.

  She suddenly felt strong; not even sure where the strength was coming from but she had it. “You will never put your hands on me ever again.”

  Leon stared at her then took a deep breath. “I’m trying to move forward with you but it’s obvious that you want to dwell in the past.” He shrugged. “So, I wanted to let you know that we’re turning the guestroom you’re in right now into the baby’s room. You can move into the other guestroom if you choose or you can come back to our bed like you should.”

  Evan folded her arms. “You can do whatever you want with any of your rooms.”

  Leon took a coffee cup off the baker’s rack then looked at the Keurig that prepared Evan’s cup of coffee. He put his coffee cup back on the baker’s rack and took Evan’s cup from the Keurig. He began putting sugar and cream in it while she looked on.

  “Since I’m going to be focusing on my campaign, I need you to handle what expectant mothers usually handle,” he stirred his coffee, “like buying a crib, a changing table, you know stuff like that. If you need help, I can give Mimi the afternoon off.”

  Evan took a deep breath and tightened her robe. “You shouldn’t be preparing for a baby; you should be preparing for jail.”

  Leon turned and looked at her then smiled cynically. “I find it interesting that my First lady is preoccupied with me going to jail for something I didn’t do. You should focus on being a mother as we raise our family.”

  His words triggered anger in Evan. “I wouldn’t raise a roach with you Leon,” she said turning to leave.

  Leon chuckled. “I find it hilarious that you pretend to hate me so much but you’re still here.” Leon took a sip out of her coffee cup. “That either means that you don’t believe Sundi or it could mean that you love your First lady status more than anything else; in which case, you need me in order to keep that title,” Leon said peering over the raised cup at her.

  “Being a First lady means nothing to me if it means having to be married to you. I know you hurt Sundi and you’re going to pay for that.”

  “You don’t believe that.”

  Evan stared in his eyes to let him know that she would not cower again. “I believe it with my life.”

  “Then good luck proving that.” Leon brushed the lapel of his suit. “I have a meeting at the governor’s mansion today. I’ll call you later to make sure you don’t forget to go by the baby supply store,” Leon said.

  Leon’s face was almost orgasmic when he told her about the meeting at the governor’s mansion. He began walking out of the kitchen but stopped before he passed her. He cupped her face with his hand, leaned in to kiss her on the lips but she immediately turned away. He backed up and then handed her the cup of coffee that he had made his own.

  “Whatever you’re thinking, rethink it,” he said leaving her holding the cup.

  Chapter 61

  Leon looked down at the cellphone as he tried dialing Ariel again then the car hit a bump. He frowned and glanced up at the driver in the rearview mirror who caught Leon’s glare but quickly looked away. He couldn’t complain much though seeing that the governor had been kind enough to send his driver to the church to pick him up in a shiny black late model limousine. The driver was a young guy in a stiff suit and a black hat. He didn’t talk other than to say good afternoon and that was just like Leon liked it.

  He didn’t want to go into this meeting with the governor and the mayor with a bad attitude. It was a privilege just to be invited to this meeting because hog-noggin it with the upper crust was what he had to do if he wanted to move up the political ladder. He had dialed Ariel’s cellphone again after having left two messages, and three text messages. She would definitely know by now that he was annoyed at having to repeatedly call her once she got the last of those messages.

  He looked out of the limo window and saw that they were pulling up to the gates of the governor’s mansion. He secured his cellphone back onto the clip on his side then smoothed out his eyebrows. He reached into his pocket and took chap- stick out applying it to his lips. He hadn’t known for sure how far his destiny was going to take him but looking out at the beautiful manicured grounds of the governor’s mansion and the immaculate estate itself, he knew that the city council seat was just a first step of a grander stage.

  When the car stopped and the driver opened the door, Leon stepped out spewing confidence. It was now or never and he couldn’t blow it. He may have just been a pastor but apparently he had made enough waves that made someone notice or enough waves that made someone nervous. Either way, he was determined to leave his mark when he left today. Buttoning his jacket, he walked up the steps to the door that opened when he reached it as if someone had been looking out of the window at him.

  Greeted by a smiling young bunned brunette in a black dress, Leon made sure that his smile was large but not overzealous which could come off as too anxious. He stepped into the mansion at the young lady’s pleasant insistence who stepped aside as he entered.

  “Pastor Leon Ladson.” The governor walked up seemingly out of nowhere and extended his hand to Leon. “My friend, I’m glad that you could make it.”

  The governor’s southern twang bothered Leon but his high energy excited him; it’s what helped Governor Shipley get elected. Leon had studied the man’s campaign and admired how he put that energy to work. “Thank you Governor Shipley, it’s a pleasure to have been invited.”

  The older white man with perfectly arranged salt and pepper hair wearing a white button down and khaki slacks patted Leon on his back. “I should hope that you’re ready for some good food and good talk because you know that the people’s business doesn’t get done when their leaders are hungry or sober.” The governor laughed and so did Leon.

  “Let’s pray that sobriety is a prerequisite to laws being signed,” Leon said.

  The governor laughed loudly as he walked Leon through the long beautiful marble hallway of the mansion. He had never been inside before but it was more impressive than he had imagined. Mayor Wilson wearing a gray suit was all smiles when Leon and the governor entered the dining area. The mayor appeared relaxed and perfectly at home which had Leon wondering how many times these two had scratched each other backs to get where they’d gotten.

  The dining room had an old world flare, exquisitely adorned with large dramatic crystal chandeliers, detailed paintings of soldiers hanging on the walls and the state’s flag and the United States flag displayed on either side of the room.

  “It’s a gorgeous house, isn’t it Past
or?” Governor Shipley asked sitting down at the table. “We’ve been remodeling since we’ve been here, with the people’s approval of course.” He winked. “My wife’s in charge of that. You know how women are. They want to control everything.” He laughed.

  “It’s intriguing,” Leon said looking around the dining area.

  “This house has a lot of history son,” the governor said laying a napkin on his lap.

  Leon was in awe of the house indeed. He looked down at the antique polished table and saw his reflection. Then it hit him. He looked over at Governor Shipley sitting at the head of the table and realized that he deserved to sit where the governor was sitting. What made Governor Shipley so good that he was there hosting lunches sitting people around him according to where he thought they should be? Nothing made him that good but his plan and executing it.

  “Pastor Leon,” the mayor said. “Would you like a drink?”

  “Mayor,” Leon looked over at the mayor who brought him out of his thoughts, “call me Leon and yes I need something to loosen me up so I’ll have what you’re having.”

  The mayor laughed. “You must be having what the governor is having because I’m drinking sparkling water.”

  The governor began laughing and Leon maintained his smile in spite of feeling a bit discomfited.

  “I like pastors like you, Leon; you’re not afraid to be yourself.” The governor looked at the wait staff and nodded. “Give him a shot of vodka to loosen him up a bit.” The governor laughed again.

  Leon joined in the laughter unsure though if he was joining them to laugh at him or about him. Nevertheless, he’d go along with it this time. He couldn’t get hung up on petty things that wouldn’t put a vote in his ballot box.

  “Lunch will be served in a minute, sirs,” An older black man with a full head of gray hair said who had just walked into the dining room. Leon figured he must have worked at the governor’s mansion all of his life.

  The governor nodded. “Leon, the mayor here tells me that you are the up and coming firecracker that’s taking the city by storm. I even hear that you’ve got a big rally planned. Coming in with a bang.”

  “I’m just a man for the people,” Leon said.

  Governor Shipley nodded. “Of course, you are.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. “You know that local government is a thankless job. After you win, you won’t ever have peace again.”

  Leon grinned. “That’s if I win.”

  “When you win,” Mayor Wilson said holding up his napkin and giving it a good shake.

  “Pastor Leon, tell me why you would want to enter this demonic world of politics when it seems to me that the real money is in being a pastor.”

  Leon laughed.

  The governor laughed with Leon. “So, what are your plans, young man because I hope we can help each other?”

  Leon smirked inside; someone had certainly taken notice. He sat up straight because this was the moment that he’d been waiting for. As he opened his mouth and began to speak, the text message alert could be heard from his phone. It was just a beep but it still threw his thoughts off. It was a fine time for Ariel to respond seeing that he was in the middle of a serious perhaps life changing conversation.

  “You were saying,” the governor said.

  Leon cleared his throat. “I apologize, gentlemen.”

  “You’re a busy man. That’s alright,” the mayor said leaning back as one of the wait staff placed a bowl of soup in front of him.

  “I was saying that I admire what you two men have done for the people. It’s apparent that you two are determined to see this city and state succeed by showing Washington that they won’t keep terrorizing and taxing our citizens unnecessarily. I’m just a simple man that believes that we must start in our own backyard then show Washington the power that the people have.”

  “You’re not simple by any stretch of the imagination, Leon. I’ve seen that church of yours,” the governor said.

  All three men laughed. The mayor watched Leon with a grin then looked over at the governor as if proud that he was the one to bring the young enthusiastic would be apprentice into their fold. The mayor took a sip of his soup while another waiter placed a bowl in front of Leon.

  “We need to increase the middle class. Frankly, let’s get these dead beats off of welfare; make them get a job. No more giving out food stamps because you choose to have five babies with five different baby daddies,” Leon said when his cellphone vibrated on his side. He tried to ignore it and continue his thought. “I don’t care if they work the midnight shift at McDonalds.”

  The men laughed.

  “Somebody has to work it. I love a Big Mac,” The mayor said.

  “Me too.” The governor laughed.

  His phone vibrated again. “I see more infrastructures in this city leading to greater job growth numbers. This provides families with the opportunity to be independent and to own their own homes leading to an increase in the housing market.” Leon’s face was flushed from embarrassment as his phone continued to vibrate.

  “Go ahead and take that,” Mayor Wilson said. “We have time.”

  Leon nodded maintaining a smile on his face as he took the phone off of his side promising to curse whoever it was out. He stood up, “Excuse me, gentlemen,” he said as he walked out of the room with the phone in his hand.

  He didn’t really understand what Deacon Harris was rambling on about because of the poor reception that he was getting inside the house. Leon tried to stop him explaining that he was in an important meeting but he could hear that Deacon Harris was frantic. He did clearly hear one thing the deacon said and Leon said he’d do it immediately. Leon hung up then walked back into the dining area.

  He grinned. “I know this is rather odd but apparently this is an emergency.”

  “I hope you don’t have to leave so soon,” The governor said looking slightly annoyed.

  Leon shook his head. “Oh no sir, actually,” Leon paused feeling a bit uncomfortable at the moment, “is there a television nearby where I can tune into a breaking story on channel 27?”

  “Oh, of course,” the governor said then called to one of the wait staff.

  A young man in a black tux and shiny shoes scurried in.

  “Paul, please turn the television on channel 27 in the library for the pastor.”

  “Yes sir,” the young man answered quickly exiting the room.

  The governor stood up. “I’m quite interested in this breaking story myself. The president probably sent troops somewhere and it’s going to cost us about a billion dollars a day.”

  Mayor Wilson chuckled. Leon noticed that he was quite humble in the governor’s presence. Apparently there was a chain of command and the mayor followed it.

  Leon was humiliated that he seemed to be disrupting such an important meeting. One thing he knew for certain, powerful men didn’t like unnecessary distractions. He followed the governor to the library as Paul picked up the remote control from a shelf which surprisingly opened up a cabinet that held a large mirror which turned out to be the television.

  “Impressive,” the mayor said looking over at Leon, “isn’t it?”

  A breaking news banner flashed across the screen. The news broadcast showed a beautiful brown skinned news reporter talking about how police were still looking for clues while emergency medical personnel were still in the area where the body was found. Cops had taped off part of the area with crime tape while a few others controlled a group of people who seemed to stop to see what was going on. Leon looked confused until a large banner appeared at the bottom of the screen. ‘Body found believed to be that of woman reported missing last night’. Then the woman’s picture appeared on the screen.

  Chapter 62

  Daniela watched the kids through the kitchen window kick the ball around in the backyard as she stood flipping turkey burgers on the stovetop grill for their lunch. She was trying to hold it together but ran to the window every time she heard a car outside. Sh
e was certain that she would be arrested any moment now and she was sure that waiting was worse than actually being arrested.

  The small kitchen television was on but it was just noise in the background as she thought about Ariel and what had happened the night before. She was barely holding it together. She couldn’t think straight, her hands were still shaking while holding the spatula and there was no way she could keep this secret for much longer. She almost hoped that she’d be arrested so it’d be easier to tell Rob what happened.

  She stared out at her kids; their smiles, their happiness, their joy. Why had she risked their lives for Candy’s? She hadn’t slept any last night trying desperately not to toss and turn too much that it’d wake Rob. She had waited for Candy’s call; but there was none.

  She pretended to be asleep when Rob got up this morning at six to be ready for his weekly prayer bible study at the prison by eight. As soon as she heard his car leave the driveway, she called Candy. Since then, she had left 3 messages for Candy to return her call. She was frantic. Had Candy called the police and was now in jail? What was going on?

  Now it was 12:30 and she still hadn’t heard anything from Candy. She jumped nervously, hearing the front door open but hearing the jingling of keys, she knew it was just Rob coming in. She took a deep breath trying to appear relaxed until she realized that she was still flipping raw burgers. She hadn’t even turned the stove on.

  “Hey, baby,” Rob said placing his attaché case on the kitchen table. He walked up to her and kissed her on the cheek. She closed her eyes. He smelled so good and his touch felt even better.

  “How are you?” He asked.

  “I’m fine,” She lied, “how was the bible study?”

  Rob had a large smile as he went to the glass door and looked out at the kids in the back. “We had six new men to show up and three of them gave their lives to Christ.”