31
The sound of the ocean waves beating against the sandy beach was exactly what Shante needed. She pulled her dark sunglasses out of her hair and placed them over her eyes. The glare of the sun bouncing off the sand was blinding. She sat trying to block out the sound of the people enjoying the beach and Misha’s voice.
“This is the life,” Misha said.
Shante didn’t want to open her eyes for fear this was only a dream. No children, no husband, no congregants or fans; only a group of first ladies relaxing during their retreat.
“I wish Matthew was here,” Misha said.
“You would have to ruin it, wouldn’t you? You are always talking about your husband. Relax. Let him take care of the baby. I thought we taught you that last year at the first ladies’ conference,” Shante told her. Misha didn’t see her wishing Max and the children were there.
“This is not like last year’s conference. We were in Philadelphia, and it was cold. There were a lot of people around,” Misha continued.
Shante longed for the days when Misha was shy and quiet. Now, she talked all the time, more than Dee. No one thought it could be possible. Shante tried to soak up the sun on this beautiful Hawaiian beach, and Misha’s talking about husband, children and church, the three topics they had all hoped to avoid this week.
Their lives had changed since that chance meeting in Philadelphia last year. They arrived at the conference for different reasons but left changed people.
Camille had once again decided to join the women at the tail end of the conference just for some R&R and to spend time with her mother. She was basking in the sun with her large sunglasses shading her eyes from the early-morning sun, always the diva. She was all grown-up now with a husband and their own production company. They recently signed a couple of new Gospel artists to develop. Camille was making a conscious effort not to be so bossy and controlling. It was hard for her, but, she was learning.
Shante stretched out on her chaise trying to distract herself from Misha’s constant chatter. She was thankful for all her blessings. She had two beautiful daughters, three wonderful sons, and an outstanding husband. She had learned to balance family, career and ministry. In finding balance, she found herself. Her home was happier. Her children were happy and no longer doing things to get her attention. Repentance and forgiveness came into their home and made her and Max’s relationship better. Her home was no longer sick.
Misha was still talking. She had come out of her shell. She was no longer the shy, quiet young lady they met in the mall that day in Philadelphia. She learned to embrace her position as first lady and the wife of a famous entertainer. God healed her from her past, and she had a promising future as a stylist for many Gospel artists and ministers.
One never knows how God is going to move in their life. God had taken Misha’s rape and developed an international outreach ministry with her baby’s biological grandparents, who, Misha learned, were missionaries themselves. Now their church has a training center for people who desired to be missionaries. Who would have ever thought she would be able to allow these people to be a part of her life? It took God.
“Where’s First Lady Edmunds with our drinks?” Misha asked.
“When are you going to call me Alicia?” she said as she approached, carrying a tray of drinks.
It was wonderful to have First Lady Edmunds at the retreat. She needed the break too. She and Deandrea had bonded over the year. Last year she was on the brink of suicide. This year she was full of life.
“Misha, when are you going to have another baby?” First Lady Edmunds asked Misha who had finally stopped talking.
“Y’all, it’s hot out here.” Deandrea walked toward the group and sat on the lone chaise lounge next to Shante. “How can y’all stand all this sun? I’m about to burn up,” she complained.
No matter what was going on in her life, good or bad, the ladies came to realize that Deandrea was going to find something to complain about. They laughed at her. She was three months pregnant and looked six. Even with her second twin pregnancy, she insisted on coming on the trip. She was happy now. Getting back to her psychology practice, part-time, was good for her and had done wonders for her attitude.
Her seven thousand square foot house in Snowhill would be complete in time to welcome the twins. With the way she and Jarrod had been getting along lately, they needed that much space to welcome all the children that might show up in the future.
“Alicia, who’s going to be your keynote speaker at the conference this year?” Misha asked.
“Well, Shante is speaking, of course. Dee, are you going to be able to sing again this year?”
“I plan to be there,” Dee said. “Good thing the conference is in a few weeks. I don’t think I’ll be able to make it after that. But it shouldn’t be so bad. It’s not this hot in Philadelphia.”
“Hey, ladies, enough shop talk. Let’s sit back and relax,” Shante said. She lifted her tall glass filled with a sweet tropical drink. “To our first ladies’ retreat and all the ladies that wish they could be here,” she said.
Misha, Deandrea, Camille and First Lady Edmunds lifted their glasses. When they agreed to this trip, they didn’t know how good it would be for all of them. The scenery in Hawaii was breathtaking, and their spirits were relaxed and at peace.
Their group was so different. Camille, the sexy young diva, looked at life with great expectation. Misha, a woman with deep insight and wisdom, taught them how to overcome adversity. Deandrea, the career-minded, committed woman of God, taught them how important family was to ministry. First Lady Edmunds, the faithful one, had shown them how to bounce back after deep sorrow. As for Shante, well, she learned repentance and forgiveness. Each one of them had learned they could walk in front of, beside and behind their husbands without diminishing their husbands’ manhood or their own womanhood.
Shante laid back, listening to the chatter of her friends, realizing they were so different but quite the same. They were wives, mothers, career women, ministers of God and the first ladies of their churches. They were happy, and there were no more Sunday morning blues in their lives. To God be the glory!