His First Lady

by Davis Boyles, Kym

  Evan’s eyes followed him. “I think so. I hear that JMC is waiting for your return. They need you back badly.”

  Greg shrugged having already received enough pressure about going back as pastor.

  “You’re jumping on that bandwagon, too?”

  “No, you don’t need anyone else telling you what you already know. Sometimes running makes us feel free but then again it can also prevent us from being accountable.”

  Greg crossed his arms watching her. “Is that what you’re doing?”

  Evan smiled. “We’re different.”

  “How’s that?” Greg asked.

  “I’m running to God and you’re running from God. You’re called to be a pastor, you know it and… Cara knew it.”

  Greg’s smile dissipated at the mention of Cara’s name. He wasn’t offended or angry just appreciative that Evan wasn’t afraid to tell him the truth.

  Greg shook his head. “I can’t go back there.” He looked down not really wanting to have this conversation.

  “Greg, don’t use Leon as an excuse not to go where God has called you to go. That just gives Leon power that he doesn’t deserve. Every person that came to JMC looking for the word of God or just the meaning of their lives was hurt by what he did. But one human being has never had the power to destroy God’s church. I’m learning that God uses the people with the least confidence in themselves to change the world.”

  Greg turned away from her. “Leon is going to spend the rest of his life in prison so he doesn’t matter to me at all.”

  “Then what is your real reason for not returning to JMC? Why are you so cynical?”

  Greg cleared his throat. “I’m not cynical. It’s easy for you to say, go back and preach.”

  Evan walked up to where he was and looked in his eyes. “Why, because I came out unscathed in all of this?”

  Greg looked up at her realizing how ridiculous he sounded; she had gone through more than he ever had with Leon. He wanted to take his words back almost immediately.

  “I didn’t mean that,” He said apologetically.

  Greg knew she was right because he was running from God and the truth was that he had absolutely no confidence that he could ever preach again. Maybe he was just afraid that he couldn’t bring about healing and restoration to a church that had been so broken down and deceived.

  “Well, I’m got to get going,” Evan said picking up her purse and walking toward the door.

  Greg froze as he watched Evan approach the door. He was happy that she was starting over but sad at the notion of her leaving. He knew that if he let her walk out without telling her how he felt; he’d regret it the rest of his life.

  “I love you and I don’t want you to leave….me,” Greg said astonishing himself while watching Evan’s reaction as she turned around to look at him.

  Stunned and amazed, Evan stood in place. “What?” She asked.

  Greg took a step toward her. “I said I love you. I always have and I want to take care of you and I want to love you like you’re supposed to be loved; the way God intended you to be loved.”

  Evan stood in shock. She walked slowly over to his bar and grabbed ahold of the edge of it as if to steady her balance to keep from falling down.

  “Why are you telling me this?” Evan asked.

  Greg shook his head. “I don’t know; maybe because you deserve to know. Or maybe because I don’t want to live this life without you.”

  Evan was speechless. She stared at Greg in complete shock as if searching for words. Greg put his hands in his pockets as tears welled up in Evan’s eyes.

  “What do you want from me?”

  Greg shrugged. “I want…you.”

  Evan covered her face with her hands and began crying. He watched not sure of how to respond.

  She looked at him and wiped her eyes. “You want me?”

  Greg nodded. “I do.”

  “What? Why? Are you kidding?” Evan asked wiping her face. “Why would you even want someone like me?”

  Greg looked at her. “Because the world is a better place cause you’re in it. And…because my world is better because you’re in it.”

  Evan opened her mouth to speak but seemed unable to; she simply stared at him.

  “Say something, please,” Greg asked her.

  Evan placed her hands on her head. “What would people say? What would they think?”

  “I don’t care what anyone thinks about me. I only care about what God thinks.”

  Evan walked toward the window in his living room and looked out. Greg watched her as both remained silent.

  Evan turned to face him. “There was a time when I would’ve jumped at the chance to be rescued by a man as wonderful as you. You are one of the most amazing and selfless men I know. Your passion for Jesus reminds me of my father. But I just can’t trust myself to make the best decisions anymore.”

  Greg took a step toward her. “I’m asking you to trust God.”

  Evan’s mouth turned up in a slight smile. She shook her head. “No. I don’t even know how to love myself or how to expect someone to treat me like I deserve to be treated. I’ve been through hell and back and it wouldn’t be fair to you for me to come into your life as a broken and battered woman.”

  Greg’s heart sank. He closed his eyes listening to her words rip through his heart. He wanted to beg her not to leave but he knew he couldn’t.

  Greg opened his watery eyes and looked at Evan then smiled. Evan stood staring at him before he walked over and engulfed her body fully in his arms; wishing he could hold her and protect her forever. More tears ran down Evan’s face and onto Greg’s shirt. And the more she cried, the tighter he held her.

  “I love you, First lady.” Greg released her then walked to the door and opened it for her.

  Evan looked at him before walking to the door where he stood. She touched his face and kissed him on the cheek. He turned his head causing their lips to meet neither resisting, relishing the moment as their mouths touched. Evan opened her eyes staring into his before she hesitantly walked out of the door.

  “Goodbye, Pastor Greg,” she said brushing gently against his arm as she walked by him.

  He didn’t know if he’d see her again but he had told her his heart and although she was leaving it broken, he had told her. It wasn’t the first time that God had taken love from him. Greg closed the door behind her.

  15 months later

  Evan removed her glasses from her face and placed her book on her night stand. She reached over to turn out her light then stopped and looked at her cell phone. Suddenly, her thoughts turned to Greg. It had been over a year and she hadn’t talked to or seen him. She’d been too busy but truth be told; she was purposely busy to not think about him or the kiss they shared that sent shivers down her spine. She still hadn’t gotten over it.

  Mimi, who had come and spent several weekend visits with her always seemed to keep her updated on Greg’s ventures without Evan even inquiring. The latest from Mimi was that Greg was doing well and had decided to go back to preach on a temporary basis at JMC. For some reason, Mimi kept pressuring her to give Greg a call even going so far as to pretend to dial his number one day.

  Evan didn’t have the guts to call him and she wasn’t ready for rejection. Greg had given her a chance and she had turned it down; why would she even attempt to disrupt his life now? But Mimi still held out hope for the two of them, When you find that someone that shares your soul, don’t be afraid to give it to them. Those were Mimi’s words to her one Saturday night as they watched a movie and shared a half gallon of Rocky Road.

  Evan didn’t want to think about Greg but it was nights like this when her studying was completed that she did. And almost every night, she’d stare at the phone debating whether to call him and say hello. But then every night, she’d turn off the light, turn away from the phone and doze off; counting it a victory the next morning because getting involved would only be a distraction. She was on her own, soon to graduate, and
on track to start her non-profit earlier than expected. Besides, it was just crazy to consider seeing Greg. She could imagine the rumors it would spark: former pastor’s wife romantically linked to associate pastor. She wouldn’t even blame anyone for gossiping about that headline; it even sounded bizarre to her.

  She looked at the clock. It was 10:15. She wondered what he was doing; how he was doing. Did he think of her as often as she thought of him? Though she doubted it; she still wondered. She tossed and turned in her bed but for some reason she was unable to get comfortable. Suddenly, thoughts of Greg bombarded her. I’m not ready Lord. Why did she want to hear his voice so badly? She had gone this long without talking to him; she’d be fine, he’d eventually be out of her system.

  Evan sat up from her bed quickly. She stared long and hard at her phone. It was crazy. She needed to sleep; after all, she had an early class and she had a full schedule of classes from morning to night so there would be no time for a nap. But without thinking, and in a moment’s time, she reached over and picked up her cell phone and dialed.

  Her heart pulsated and her hand shook as the phone rang, she immediately regretted it and wanted to hang up. It was probably a bad idea because he probably had forgotten all about her anyway or was seeing someone. A man who loved the Lord as much as he did and looked that good couldn’t still be single anyway. She panicked then hurried to find the ‘end call’ button when she heard his voice.

  “Hello?”

  Chapter 78

  Greg closed his bible and looked up at the clock; 10:20. It was still early since his nights were usually long and unpredictable since he’d returned to pastoring. The thought of turning in early was very exciting since he rarely did. He jumped up from the chaise where he was studying and dropped to the floor, 150 push-ups and 150 crunches, his every night routine. He was working on raising it to 200 each, soon. He had been disciplined when it came to his body but he was working on trusting God especially when he didn’t understand what his purpose was.

  And he didn’t know why God was pushing him to JMC. Evan was right, he was playing Jonah and God was using whatever he could to get his attention. Board members were relentless as they campaigned for his return to JMC as their senior pastor. They auditioned several pastors who spoke on various Sundays but insisted that none were the right fit. They quoted scriptures, prayed with him even solicited the mothers of the church in an attempt to persuade Greg to come back as JMC’s senior pastor. But it was God using Emily that had softened his heart in returning, at least temporarily.

  He was surprised when Emily had called him and invited him to dinner at her daughter’s home. It was over a well-seasoned pot roast and red potatoes that she spoke about Sam and how she had missed him terribly. She added that even at her old age, God was teaching her to forgive, something she once thought she had down pat. Then she thanked Greg profusely for the love he had for Sam and his commitment in honoring him. Greg, who was never comfortable accepting praise, nodded appreciating her sentiments as he kept eating the peach cobbler from the dish in front of him. Then out of nowhere, she told him how much Sam had always thought that he was the one that God had called to pastor JMC, anyway. Those words had almost caused Greg to choke on his piece of peach cobbler so he put the fork down and listened to her.

  She expressed that her resentment had kept her originally from returning to JMC because every time she walked into that church, she was reminded of what was taken from her; the greatest love of her life. But she didn’t want Greg to carry that same burden and Sam would have never wanted Greg to waste the gifts that God had given him because of what the enemy had fashioned. She then wrapped her thick arms around him and called him son. He surrendered but he promised only on a temporary basis and they had accepted it.

  Since his return, JMC had grown beyond his imagination. The people who had left were back and whether they were gawkers or not, they were hearing the word of God pure and simple. Ben had even attended a few services. Greg never imagined that his skeptic best friend would show up in the house of God in a million years. Ben still insisted that he didn’t believe but he and Maria still came every few Sundays. Every time Greg saw Ben, he thought of Saul. In due time, he thought.

  So much had happened; the centers had been dedicated to Sam, construction on the new buildings was halted until further notice, pending God’s direction. He declined the White Houses’ invitation so the church could focus and heal. Not much else had changed; he was still in his small church office, lived in his small condo, and still drove his old truck.

  He finished his last crunch feeling the tingling in his abdominals and thought of Evan. He always thought of her. He hoped she was well, he heard from Mimi that she was well. He hoped that she was happy. He dared not contact her; he wasn’t a begging man. He prayed that she’d find the love of her life one day. Maybe even maybe he’d attend that wedding if invited. The phone rang. He grabbed it without looking at the caller ID.

  “Hello?”

  Chapter 79

  Daniela’s hands shook nervously as she held the newspaper in her hand and read the article one more time. She and Rob were one of the few people that she knew that still received a daily newspaper delivered to their home and it was only because Rob was a newspaper man, no internet reading for him. Although she didn’t normally read the newspaper as she considered it late in terms of news, paper was tangible; providing the reader with the uncanny ability to unleash every emotion onto it.

  A tear ran down her face as she began reading the article again from the beginning. How many times this morning had she done that? But she wanted to read and understand every word written. She looked up at the picture above the article; Candy and Will looked as handsome and admirable a couple as any ever could. The picture was like a gorgeous magazine photo-shop; flawless faces, bright smiles, and not a hair strand out of place.

  Daniela looked at the clock. She didn’t want to be late. She had debated whether to go or not after the news, especially after reading the article but decided that she had to be there. She skimmed the headline again. Bishop William and his First lady, Candace Rivers killed in devastating one car accident. According to the article, the two had just returned from their wedding anniversary vacation in the Cayman Islands and had taken a cab ride from the airport home when the cab driver lost control and hit a utility pole. The two died instantly; the cab driver was not seriously injured.

  Daniela dabbed the tears from her eyes. She thought about Candy. The two had been the closest out of all the First ladies supporting each other through so many situations yet she realized that she hadn’t known the woman she called friend at all. She had kept many secrets. Their last encounter had been two and half years ago in her church office. She never dreamed that the meeting would truly be the last time they’d ever speak to each other.

  Equally distant was now her relationship with the other First ladies although she maintained contact with them but after Ariel’s death, her life was just never the same. She and Rob struggled with putting their lives back together. He loved her but he loved God even more so he never left her side. Now, according to the police, Ariel’s case had gone cold and with Will and Candy’s deaths, she was the only living witness to the truth.

  Daniela folded the newspaper and sat it on the side table. She looked down at one of her silver heels noticing a scuff mark. She rubbed it off. She looked up when Rob walked in looking handsome and debonair in his navy suit. She smiled grabbing her silver rhinestone clutch from beside her. Rob held his hand out and taking it, she stood up.

  “Are you sure that you want to go?” Rob asked having heard the news that had spread all around the church community. “We can always stay home, have them get another preacher and send them a gift.”

  She shook her head not wanting to cry; fearing ruin of the makeup that she’d worked so hard on. “I want to celebrate for a change,” she said.

  Rob kissed her on the cheek. “Let’s go then, beautiful.”

  Wearing
a lilac and rhinestone dress, and a huge lilac hat, Emily bore a wide smile on her face as she looked around the beautifully decorated church. Beautiful white Posies and Magnolias wrapped with pale lavender bows and billowy white satin ribbon filled the large sanctuary. She placed her arm within the handsome young usher’s arm as he escorted her to the front row of the church where Greg personally wanted her seated; being given a special place of honor by him. She was flattered.

  Emily felt a little like a celebrity as she walked down the long aisle feeling beautiful and special knowing that so many were watching her. She realized as she looked around at the dressed up attendees all there to bear witness to love, that the more she came into JMC with a clean heart, the more she saw what God was up to in her life. Yes, she had lost the man she had loved for what seemed like forever but their love had not been in vain.

  In spite of her pain, she still had life and she had to honor God with it. Now, it was just her and her children; they were grown but they were very close. Emily’s life was full; living with her oldest daughter and son-in-law who had just found out that they were expecting a child in six months; the families’ first grand. Sam would have been over the moon. Maybe they all would finally go on vacation; somewhere fabulous, somewhere that Sammy always wanted to visit. She’d have to get some brochures but she was ready to continue living as God intended her to do.

  The usher seated her on the front row next to a pretty brunette with a big-haired up-do. The lady smiled at Emily and extended her hand.

  “Hello, I’m Maria. My husband’s the best man.”

  Chapter 80

  The changing room of JMC was meant for such a time as this with big sofas, bright track lighting, and big mirrors. Sitting in the changing room of JMC, Mimi held her pale lavender Dahlia bouquet silently watching an elegantly dressed Evelyn bending down on the floor and fluffing out every wrinkle that only she noticed and every speck that only she saw on Evan’s cream taffeta gown. But Evan sat in silent nervousness watching her mom fuss over every detail. She looked over at Mimi and they both grinned; secret language for mom was overdoing it but just let her be, after all it was her day too.