His First Lady Page 2

  Moreover, Leon was nothing like her father who had been a pastor for more years than Evan even had on earth; exactly forty years before he retired. Her father was a lover of God, his wife and family. Furthermore, he was a compassionate man who loved people and certainly cared about their souls. Leon didn’t quite see his calling like her father had. Her father thought being a pastor humbled him but Leon reminded her that he was going to do as a pastor what her father was never able to.

  At 28, Evan worked at being the First lady that Leon needed. Leon who was ten years older had the good solid looks of a leader and the demeanor and elegance in speech that made for a successful preacher. Let him tell it, he was groomed to do exactly what he was doing and that included building a mega church that in his words would become the forefront of Christianity.

  She loved being a First lady. Being First lady afforded her the opportunity to start JMC’s battered woman ministry, senior ladies ministry and a host of other ministries and outreach. Even with those ministries that made her happy, she was living the life that Leon wanted. Her hair had to be done every week; sometimes twice, her attire; fashionable yet respectful, but most importantly, she had to be a walking billboard for Leon and his church.

  She often thought about what life would be like if she had listened to her father and hadn’t married Leon so soon. She would have had her Bachelors and Masters’ degrees in early education by now; maybe a college instructor or a researcher like she had dreamed of.

  But nothing was as planned because of the pressure Leon put on her to marry him. It all happened so quickly. The two of them interacted often at her dad’s church; he was the Youth Pastor and she was the Pastor’s pretty young daughter. Leon never seemed to pay her much attention although all the young ladies fought for his. He dated often and the girls he did date spoke well of him; always talking about God and never inappropriate with them. But out of the blue it seemed, he became fixated with Evan and pressured her to marry him six months after they began dating. She agreed without her father’s approval.

  She was thrown into First lady Status quickly at the age of twenty having to quit college in her sophomore year because of Leon’s insistence that he needed his First lady with him and available and not sitting in somebody’s class somewhere else. He on the other hand had managed to go to seminary and now proudly displayed his Bachelors in Counseling, and Masters and Doctorate in theology. She dabbled with a few classes which he didn’t have much to say about as long as she was able to perform her First lady duties without distraction.

  Instead of Leon demanding respect for her, he constantly told her that she was insecure, jealous of his relationship with God and the flock that God had given him authority over. He had also told her that if she’d been the woman of God that she was supposed to be; taking care of him and bearing children, then she wouldn’t have time to allow herself to be a tool used of the devil against him.

  Evan straightened the bottom of her skirt approaching Leon’s office. But her curiosity was aroused when she noticed Sundi sitting on a bench outside of his office playing with a stray string from her sweater.

  “Hi Sundi, what are you doing here sweetheart?” Evan asked with a smile looking down at the little girl.

  “I’m waiting on my mom,” Sundi answered.

  Sundi was different. She didn’t embrace or react to Evan like she usually did. The pretty lite pink and yellow sweater that she wore did nothing for her sad demeanor. Evan had never before seen the usually upbeat and energetic little girl, despondent. Sundi kept her head low and her eyes averted to the floor.

  “Oh, okay,” Evan sat down beside her. “You look very pretty today. I love the colors on your sweater.”

  “Thank you,” she responded without lifting her head. Sundi kept her head down but Evan was able to see that her large brown eyes looked sad and tired.

  Evan smiled. “The Pastor probably has scissors to cut that string so that it doesn’t ruin your sweater.”

  Sundi shrugged. “I don’t care.”

  Her words took Evan by surprised. “Oh, well I was on my way to see Pastor also so I’ll wait right here with you.”

  Sundi stared down at her now badly chewed fingernails and balled her hands in a fist as if embarrassed that the First lady might see them. Evan had seen them noticing that she could only see remnants of pink polish that used to coat them.

  “You know that the weekend with the First lady is coming up. I’m excited and I can’t wait to have all you girls over to our home. We’re going to have so much fun,” Evan said with excitement in her voice.

  Sundi was silent and continued looking down. Evan was confused knowing how much Sundi was looking forward to it. She had told her as much.

  “Sundi, is everything okay? How’s school?”

  “It’s okay,” Sundi answered.

  The question didn’t cause a change in Sundi’s affect. A look of concern crossed Evan’s face causing her forehead to wrinkle.

  “I heard that your dad should return soon. Have you been skyping with him a lot?”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  “I bet he misses you and your mom so much. What about singing for the President? How great is that? I’m excited myself to take that trip with you all,” Evan said nudging her playfully.

  Evan’s words seemed to cause Sundi even more discomfort as Sundi grimaced.

  “I don’t want to sing anymore,” Sundi said looking into Evan’s eyes, “and I don’t want to sing for the President.”

  Evan looked shocked at Sundi’s words. “Why? Are you nervous?”

  “I just don’t want to sing.” Sundi dropped her head. “I don’t want to even come to this church anymore,” Sundi said folding her arm on her lap and placing her head down on it.

  Evan’s eyes widened with surprise. She couldn’t believe this was coming from the little girl who had been in their church for years. She placed her hand on Sundi’s back. “Sundi, do you want to talk about anything? Did anything happen?”

  Sundi said nothing but kept her head down.

  Evan got up from the chair and kneeled down in front of her. “Sundi?”

  Sundi looked up at Evan as if ready to speak before the pastor’s door flew open causing them both to look over at Katie walking out. Evan looked back down at Sundi who had a frightened look on her face.

  Chapter 3

  Leon didn’t bother to look up at Evan when she walked into his office; he continued scribbling on a note pad behind his desk. She sat down in the chair across from him waiting until he had finished his thought; learning from the first time she had interrupted him in the middle of one and was scolded like a child.

  Evan looked around the office. It was as immaculate and error free as his side of the bedroom or his side of the closet; seemingly unused or unlived in. Leon stopped writing and put down his pen. He looked up at her.

  “Hey,” Evan said with a smile.

  Leon didn’t return the smile. “Hey.”

  “I sat with Sundi in the hall. She’s really upset.”

  Leon’s eyes grew wide. “What did she say?”

  “Not much but she did say that she didn’t want to sing anymore and she didn’t want to come back to this church. What’s going on?”

  Leon leaned back in his chair. “Katie said that Sundi was acting out a bit at school and at home. I’m going to work with her to devise a plan to help her out a bit.”

  “Oh,” Evan said with concern on her face. “What can I do to help? This isn’t like her at all.”

  “She’s a kid that needs to be disciplined.” Leon looked annoyed. “Katie dropped the ball when Ben was deployed and now Sundi’s acting out. But this tantrum of hers is affecting everybody especially the choir’s performance at the White House.”

  Evan looked at Leon in amazement. “Who cares about that? We’ve known her since anyone even knew she could sing. I find it strange that all of a sudden, Sundi’s acting out.”

  Leon raised his eyebrows and leaned back. “Nobo
dy said or did anything to her. She’s nine years old. She just needs direction and some good old-fashioned discipline.”

  Evan grimaced in response to Leon’s cynical remark. “I think it’s more than that.”

  Leon crossed his arms. “Well, I think we have it. Sundi is just a little defiant but it’s nothing we can’t handle.” Leon took a deep breath and looked at the cross clock that hung near his office door. “So, you came to see me?” he questioned her as if quickly wanting her to get to the point.

  Evan hated how he quickly dismissed her feelings about Sundi. But she refused to make anything of it. “Yeah, I was wondering if you’d like to do a late lunch; just the two of us.”

  Leon shook his head. “No, someone bought me a salad and a small steak so I’m good.”

  “Really?” Evan’s eyebrow rose in curiosity. “I was starving. I would have loved a steak and salad.”

  “Maybe they didn’t know you were hungry. It’s no big deal.” Leon stood up and stretched. “I do have Greg coming in here for a meeting in a few minutes though.”

  “Okay,” Evan shrugged. “Well, in that case I was thinking that maybe we can run a little this evening just to have some one on one time.”

  Leon shrugged. “You’re doing too much running from the looks of things,” he said looking her up and down.

  “It makes me feel good, Leon.”

  “It makes you not have babies,” Leon snapped back.

  “What?” Evan frowned at the off colored remark. “How could you say that?”

  Ignoring her, Leon looked through some papers on his desk. “Before I forget, check with Mimi and see if she’s booked my travel arrangements for Dallas. She’s not picking up her cell.”

  “Um,” Evan shifted in her seat, “I’ve taken that over.”

  Leon stopped looking at his papers and over at her. “You’ve taken what over?”

  “Mimi has a lot to do for you and Greg not to mention everything else so I figured that as your wife that I could handle that. That way, I won’t have to check with staff members when I need to find you.”

  Leon didn’t look pleased at all. “I have a cell phone if you need to find me. It sounds to me like you’re checking up on me.”

  Evan frowned. “That’s not what I’m doing.”

  “You don’t have enough First lady duties so now you’re making travel arrangements?”

  “What’s the big deal?” Evan asked before hearing a knock on the door.

  Leon paused looking angrily at Evan as if he had more to say but there just wasn’t enough time. “Come in,” Leon said.

  Greg peeped his head in. “I’m sorry to interrupt, am I early?” Greg asked looking in at the two of them with a dimpled smile that could light up the dark if possible, Evan thought.

  Leon slapped his hands together and with a huge smile walked over to greet Greg at the door. “No sir, the First lady was just leaving.”

  Dismissed, Evan stood up from the chair. She attempted not to draw attention to her embarrassment by smoothing out her dark skirt. She smiled at Greg who returned the smile.

  “How are you First lady?” Greg asked seeming as if he hadn’t noticed Leon’s insolent discharge of her.

  “Just fine, Greg.” Evan responded. “How about you?”

  “I’m well,” Greg answered.

  Leon watched Evan as she walked to the door. “Oh, in case Mimi didn’t tell you, make sure that I have an executive suite; no little rooms. They make me claustrophobic.”

  Evan nodded as she walked with her head high, back arched pass Greg and out of the office. Leon closed the door behind her without as much as a goodbye. She stopped; looked back at the closed door before walking back down the church hall toward her office.

  Chapter 4

  The smell of Evan’s perfume as she walked past him caused Greg to do an unsuspecting double take. But as beautiful and graceful as she was, her smile always seemed forced. He was curious why that was but it wasn’t his place to ask and it certainly wasn’t his business. What he did know for sure was that Leon was a blessed man.

  Closing the door, Leon patted Greg on the back as if so glad to see him. Greg never really knew how to take Leon. He believed that Leon was serious about the church’s business but what he wasn’t sure about was the direction Leon wanted to take the church; a direction that Leon was adamantly promoting.

  “I could have come back. I don’t like to intrude,” Greg said taking a seat in the chair that the First lady was seated in a minute ago. “You know that if the First lady isn’t happy then nobody’s happy.”

  Leon didn’t laugh. “You didn’t intrude,” Leon said. He rubbed his palms together and walked quickly around his desk to pick up some papers. “However, I wanted to share this with you,” He said handing the papers to Greg. “I’ve written a proposal for the board regarding the purchase of additional land that the church needs. I’ve also included all the info on the land. I think we need to make a move and do it ASAP.”

  Greg looked through the papers and felt immediate apprehension. He had been aware of Leon’s eagerness to purchase additional land for some time but never expected this so soon. Greg was not the combative type but he relied on the Holy Spirit for direction so he was always careful about what he would sign off on. As Greg read over the papers, Leon paced the floor behind him waiting for his response.

  Leon eagerly held his hands up in anticipation of Greg’s response. “So, what are your thoughts?”

  Greg took a deep breath before responding. The church had certainly grown in recent years; bigger than anyone could have imagined initially and Leon was responsible for much of that vision and growth. But this was huge and it leaned more to the argument that the church was getting too impersonal and more like a business rather than the Lord’s house. Currently, it was certainly comparable in size to a few mega churches that were easily recognizable. But Leon’s vision was even bigger now and Greg just wasn’t certain if he could cosign.

  “This is big.” Greg nodded slightly uncomfortable. “And I know you’ve wanted this for a while but I want to be sure about this.”

  A wide smile spread over Leon’s face as he hit the desk quickly with excitement causing Greg to look at him peculiarly.

  “That’s what I’m talking about; it is big. I know you’re a man that likes to be sure of what you sign onto; I respect that. But our God is big and he wants us to do big things. JMC is the church for it and this is the time for it.”

  Greg continued looking at the papers and pictures of the land then back at Leon whose face was lit with enthusiasm. Leon was a salesman by nature it seemed and could probably sell an ice cube to a refrigerator, Greg thought.

  “Adding on to this church is going to take this church to an awesome place. We’re going to be able to reach out to people that we haven’t been able to reach. I’m aiming to change our concept of church and make it truly the kingdom of God,” Leon said returning to his desk chair; leaning back relaxed.

  “Pastor, the kingdom of God has already been defined.”

  Leon waved his arms in the air. “We’ve got to think bigger and broader than what we believe our minds can fathom. This is the vision that God has given me.”

  Greg wasn’t about to get into an argument about scripture or visions with Leon. “Look, I love the thought of reaching more people but I have to wonder if this is the way right now.”

  “We can’t question how God decides to move, Associate Pastor Greg.”

  It was something about the way that Leon said ‘Associate Pastor’ that caused Greg to maintain his gaze a little longer on Leon. The fact that Leon rarely used Greg’s title said one thing and how Leon maintained his smile, was another thing altogether.

  Greg took a deep breath. “I need to pray on this one.”

  Leon joyous affect changed as he looked at Greg. “Come on man, I’m the pastor. I’ve turned what used to be this small trailer church into this mega church that you are now associate pastor of.” Leon smiled bu
t Greg could feel the daggers from his words. “I don’t make a move without praying first.”

  “There’s no denying what you’ve been able to do,” Greg said.

  “And we’re going bigger. I just really need you to see my vision and support me. You’ve got to have my back because those 15 board members don’t see what we see.”

  Leon’s tone was direct and unyielding as if making it clear to Greg not to dissent.

  “I just want to make sure that this is where God is leading us,” Greg said.

  Leon sat on the edge of his desk. “This church is growing by leaps and bounds and we’re going to be bigger than what people expect our church to be. I’m talking flying into other countries in our own planes and building schools from the ground up. I can’t make you see the vision; you’ve got to see it for yourself.”

  Greg watched Leon’s joviality. There was an awkward silence between the two as Leon seemed to wait on Greg to say something.

  “I’ve already done the work; had the land surveyed, obtained the zoning ordinances, even met with the contractors. All we need to do now is sign on the dotted line.”

  “The board won’t easily approve this,” Greg said.

  “That’s why we’ve got to be a team on this,” Leon said. “That way, they won’t have a choice.”

  Greg was certain that Leon had no idea how big of a team he would need for the board to approve such a large investment especially right now. “Well, if this is where God leads then it will be.”

  Leon walked over and shook Greg’s hand. “Thank you, brother. You know it’s not just me. You’re my associate pastor. What God does for me, he’s doing for you. You are leading this congregation with me. Together we can change this church, this state, and this country.”

  Greg didn’t know if he should laugh or not but looking into Leon’s eyes, he knew that Leon was serious as he had ever known him to be about anything. Whatever he may or may not have agreed with, he knew it was hard to come up against him. Leon had enemies on the board but Leon also was powerful in the eyes of the people in the church and very few ever went up against him.