His First Lady
Page 34
Mimi had already deemed this day the third happiest day of her life. As crazy as it sounded, she placed her own wedding, and first experience of child birth just before the wedding of her best friend to the man who was truly destined for her. Mimi still believed in true love even if she had yet to find it.
It had been difficult for Mimi to trust anyone and dating was almost a misnomer after having never received the call from Aaron that was promised to her. She even went as far as to call her phone company to see if there were problems occurring on nearby towers preventing her from receiving cellphone calls. Then one day after her thrice weekly Zumba class, her phone rang. Turn on the news, isn’t that Aaron? That’s what one of the girls from the church had asked; one whose advances hadn’t been reciprocated by Aaron. She had dodged a bullet.
Mimi collapsed in front of the television watching Aaron, hands and feet in shackles with his head held high as if he should have been proud walking with Federal agents on either side of him. It took a while for her to come to believe that the gentle hearted man she had fallen in love with was a cold hearted murderer for hire. She still cringed when she thought back to that day.
Now she had moved on. Slower definitely slower, but she had started dating again. She had brought Kevin to share this day with her. It was a leap because weddings were known to scare men off but she wasn’t giving him any secret messages, she was too grown for that.
Now, sitting and sharing this day with Evan meant everything. It meant that God still performed miracles. Seeing Evan struggling to put the back on one of her diamond stud earrings, Mimi placed her bouquet down on a table and walked toward her.
“I got it,” Mimi said taking the small back out of Evan’s hand.
Evan breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you,” Evan said looking at Mimi through the reflection in the mirror as Mimi placed the back on. “You look beautiful.”
Mimi smiled. “And you look absolutely radiant.”
Evan’s eyes watered.
Evelyn quickly handed her daughter a tissue. “Baby, aren’t you tired of crying? This is a time of joy; no more tears.”
Mimi nodded in agreement. “I agree wholeheartedly with you, Ms. Evelyn.”
Evan laughed as she dabbed her eyes carefully. “This time it’s because I’m so happy, momma.”
Mimi looked at the clock on the wall. “It’s time to go,” Mimi said getting more and more nervous as if it was her that was about to walk down the aisle.
“Oh, where’s my daddy?” Evan asked looking around in a panic. “Tell him that it’s time to pray.”
Evelyn hurried to get Evan’s dad who walked in as fast as he could not to make his baby girl late. They all grabbed hands as her father led them in prayer. When it was over, they hugged. Mimi handed Evan her bouquet then bent down to lift Evan’s train.
Evan placed her arm inside her daddy’s as she always did. “Ready daddy?”
Chapter 81
Two things that Greg hadn’t counted on ever happening in his life again was pastoring at JMC and falling in love. Greg had been unsure of many things in his life especially after Cara died. He had even questioned if he could go on living but he had. And one thing he was sure of today and that was that he loved Evan.
A part of him had resigned to being alone the rest of his life; somehow scared of ever falling in love again as if it would somehow lessen the amount of love he carried for Cara. But God had been merciful; not only had he fallen in love again but it was deep and in no way did it lessen his love for Cara. Evan had taken his breath away and he knew that it was God smiling down on him...again.
“Stand up straight, son,” Ben laughed as he straightened Greg’s tie.
Greg laughed. “You clean up well, Jersey boy,” Greg said looking at Ben who had traded his Yankees baseball cap and jeans for a black tuxedo and bowtie.
“I do if I must say so myself.”
“Maria is responsible for you looking this good, no doubt,” Greg said bending down with a cloth and wiping his shiny black shoes.
“She is,” Ben said with a wide smile. He stared at Greg for a moment.
Greg stood up and noticed Ben watching him. “What is it, man?” Greg asked.
Ben threw his arms around Greg in a big bear hug. “I’m so happy for you, my brother. I was worried about you for a while. Now, maybe I can get some sleep.”
Greg nodded and patted Ben on the back. “I never thought I could love another woman like this again. She takes my breath away.”
Ben grinned. “I know she does,” he said, “and I can see why.”
Greg laughed, putting on his tuxedo jacket. “Thank you for being my best man, again.”
“Of course.”
Greg looked at his watch. “I guess it’s time,” Greg said turning to walk out of the door.
“Um, one more thing,” Ben said looking a bit uncomfortable.
Greg looked at him strangely. “Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, I wondered if we could pray.”
A startled look came across Greg’s face as he wondered if he’d heard Ben correctly. Ben had been attending the church and Greg never made it an issue. He knew that God was doing something and he would just wait but to hear the word prayer come out of Ben’s mouth was exhilarating.
“Yeah brother, we can pray,” Greg answered not making a big deal out of it.
The two men fell on their knees and bowed their heads.
Chapter 82
“I now pronounce you husband and wife in Jesus’ name,” Pastor Rob said then looked over at Greg specifically. “Pastor, you may kiss your bride.”
Greg looked into Evan’s eyes a moment before leaning forward and placing his lips gently on hers. Ignoring the cheers and claps, they kissed each other as if there was no one else around.
Pastor Rob patted Greg on the back with a laugh. “Later Pastor, later,” Pastor Rob said as their guests laughed and applauded.
Evan hadn’t remembered the last time she had felt so much joy and happiness and she had never seen Greg smile so hard. The two stood in front of their guests as the music began to play. Evan looked down the aisle that she thought she’d never be able to walk down again, in a church that she never thought that she’d ever enter again. But this time it was hand in hand with a man who had proven that he’d love her as God intended a husband to love his wife; as Christ loved the church.
She glanced down at their hands, fingers intertwined as the crowd clapped all around them waiting for their departure. Evan looked over at Sundi who stood next to the piano confidently with a smile on her face and the microphone in her hand, ready to sing. Evan nodded at her with a proud smile. Following Bobby’s lead on the piano, Sundi closed her eyes and opened her mouth. Sundi sang from the depths of her soul causing tears in the eyes of many who listened.
Taking their first step down the aisle as husband and wife, Greg leaned over and whispered in Evan’s ear.
“Thank you for taking a chance on me.”
She looked over at him and touched his face. “Thank you for loving me.”
He winked at her as they held hands tightly beginning their walk together down the long aisle as Sundi sang. Ms. Emily, who stood clapping ecstatically stopped the couple and gave them both a kiss on the cheek. Greg thanked her for everything.
As they continued to walk, Evan waved, passing her parents who waved back with watery eyes as did Rosalie who sat beside them. Katie sat behind them looking strong and proud not only for Evan but for Sundi. Then Evan noticed the First ladies sitting in the fourth row, some with their husbands and some not but they clapped and smiled seeming genuinely happy for her.
As Evan held her husband’s hand, it suddenly hit her that it didn’t matter what anyone thought or said because she was in love with him and all that mattered was that God had loved them enough to bring them together. Staring at him with a big smile, he looked over at her and as if knowing what she was thinking, he squeezed her hand gently then raised it to his lips and ki
ssed it.
Stepping outside of the church, Evan quickly closed her eyes and opened them again just to make sure it was all real. Upon opening her eyes and feeling the security of Greg’s loving grasp, she knew it wasn’t a dream. As Greg and Evan stepped off of the last step, Evan heard Mimi call her name. Evan turned around to a smiling Mimi who ran toward them and put her arms around Evan.
“See, God does do amazing things, First lady.”
A tear trickled down Evan’s cheek as she hugged Mimi. “Yes, he does. But I don’t need a title anymore. God knows who I am and so do I.”
“Yes, he does,” Mimi said. “I love you.” The two friends embraced before Evan blew Mimi and their loved ones trickling out of the sanctuary a kiss. She waved as she and Greg ran toward his decorated truck in the midst of claps and cheers.
Greg opened the door for Evan then held the train of her dress in one arm while helping hoist her up into the truck with the other. Before he closed the truck door, he looked at Evan and touched her face. She leaned her face into his hand and kissed it looking deep into the eyes of the man who had just become her husband.
“I love you,” she said looking into his eyes, “and I trust you.”
He paused before closing the door. “I love you more,” Greg said before placing his lips gently on hers.
The kiss gave her butterflies and it felt exactly like she always knew kisses were supposed to feel when you loved someone: accepted, secure, and adored. Yes, God does amazing things.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
15 months later
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82