The Secrets

The First Lady

Wednesday night service was all over the place. From the short stubby Apostle, to our new first Lady that completely came out of the blue.

For the next couple of weeks that was all the gossip in the church.

The Pastor and his first Lady. And Donivan disappearing from the church with no word.

Everything came down and hit the church hard and no one knew how to take it. Church was quiet and if we were socializing it was fake.

It was a couple of weeks before Christmas and Pastor Mcdonald had the praise team raising funds so that we could buy our praise team outfits for the Christmas program.

"Judy!!!" Lady McDonald screams.

"Yes, yes, yea First Lady!"

"Have you seen Pastor Mcdonald?"

"No." shrugging my shoulders.

"He was just over there washing cars and now he is gone. How does he just disappear?"

In my head I'm thinking, why is she so dramatic? Maybe the man went to the restroom or something. But she was frantic as if Pastor Mcdonald had been kidnapped.

First Lady is pacing back and forth. Going in and out of neighboring restaurants looking for Pastor Mcdonald. She finally pops a squat on the curb with her hands on her head.

I continue flagging cars down and directing them into the church parking lot to get their car washed and free food.

My hands dropped, my sign flew into traffic. This pearly white Cadillac with chrome rims. It wasn't the car that intrigued me but the man behind the wheel.

He pulls up to where I'm standing.

"Aye, where's the pastor?" Said Barrington.

Clears his throat.

"Miss... Hello!"

His voice and his demeanor, I was in another world.

"Latonya, what's wrong with your girl? Is she deaf? "

Latonya and him both laughed.

Latonya nudges me to knock me back into reality.

"I'm sorry did you need something?" I said.

"Naw ma Tonya got me covered!"

He smiles gives me a wink. And proceeds over to park his car.

" Girl, what in the hell got into you?"

Latonya doesn't even give me a chance to respond.

"Judy, don't fuck with him. I'm warning you now, he is NO GOOD!" she yells and walks away.

I'm standing there still a little in shock. And wondering how could a man like that be NO GOOD.

I look to my left and First Lady is frantic still pacing back and forth.

As she does Pastor Mcdonald walks from out of the side of the building fixing his clothes. Shortly after to my surprise it's Donvian falling behind.

First Lady jumps up from the side walk. Runs over to the Pastor scream and yelling.

" You lied to me, you told me you would stop. This would be the end. How could you? "

Acting as if First Lady was crazy.

Pastor Mcdonald proceeded, " Woman what are you talking about? Get yourself together! Your church is watching."

" My church is watching? You mean your flock is watching. The people you are supposed to lead to God they are the ones watching."

He drags her to the car by her arm. Throws her in the passenger seat and slams the door. He walked over to Mother Patricia and tells her to wrap things up he was headed home to handle his situation.

Pastor and first Lady got home. He hopped out the car slammed the door and proceeded into the house. First Lady sits in the car collecting herself before heading in.

She went into the bedroom. As she opens her mouth he yells,

" I don't want to hear it woman! Take a shower and go to bed. "

She puts her head down as if she was a five year old and goes into the restroom to get showered and ready for bed. She crys and crys. Her fifteen minute shower turned into an hour. She got dressed and headed to bed. Trying to snuggle up to the Pastor he pushed her away and continued on his phone. She rolled over closed her eyes and began to pray.

" Lord, it is your will that we be reconciled together and that our love for each other will grow and blossom, no matter what has happened between us in the past.

Lord, heal our marriage of all spiritual attacks and manipulations. Let this healing start with me.

Lord, have mercy on our relationship and rebuild the trust and honesty that has eluded this marriage. Remove and break all ungodly soul-ties.

Lord, I command seven-fold restoration of the trust and honesty that the evil one has stolen from us, in Jesus name. Amen. "

He looks over at her with a look of disgust.

" What you praying to God for? You think He wants to hear all that? Our marriage is fine. You over thinking and making shit more than what it is. "

He continues on, " ask God to fix your attitude. Ask Him to put some hair on your chest cause you too weak. "

" You knew, I know you knew."

In tears she is trying to figure out what's going on and where all of this is coming from.