His First Lady (43 page)

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?”

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.”

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
.

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?”

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.

“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.