Rachel was still reeling. It had been three hours since that fiasco in the lobby and Rachel still felt like an outcast in high school. It burned her insides to watch the one woman she couldn’t stand walk away with the one woman that she admired the most. Just like they were old buddies. Rachel had done her homework on Cecelia King. She knew everything there was to know about the woman and the first lady all but dismissed her to walk off with Jasmine, of all people.
“I wonder if they already knew each other,” Rachel mumbled.
“Why are you sitting in here talking to yourself and why aren’t you dressed?” Lester asked as he appeared in the bathroom doorway. “The welcome reception has already started.”
Rachel hadn’t even realized that she’d gotten lost in thought. She leaned into the mirror, dabbed some lip gloss on, and puckered her lips to smooth it out.
“Gimme just a minute,” she said.
“Honey, you look fine, really.” He pointed to his watch. “We need to get going.”
“I have to look better than fine,” Rachel said, running her fingers through her curls once again. She loved her youthfulness, but at the same time, she wanted an air of maturity about her so that these people would take her seriously.
He leaned against the door frame, a small smile creeping up the side of his mouth. “I’m still trying to understand why all of a sudden you’re so into this.”
Rachel scooted past him as she walked into the bedroom and picked up her suit, a cute peach Kasper number she’d gotten on sale at Macy’s. “Well, good grief, I can’t win for losing. You want me to be more of a first lady, then when I try, there’s still a problem.” She held the suit up. Suddenly, visions of Jasmine strutting in with some specially designed Vera Wang outfit turned her stomach. That’s another thing that would change when she became first lady—discount shopping.
Lester waited until she slipped the skirt on, then reached out and pulled her to him. “Sweetheart, don’t get me wrong. I love this side of you, when you’re not causing mayhem.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “I love seeing you excited about something. I love our life and I just want you to know, regardless of the outcome, I’m excited. I’m happy no matter what,” he gently said.
She patted his cheek. “Me, too, but I’ll be happier when you win.” She wiggled away and reached over to grab her suit jacket.
“Well, the kids are ready,” he said, pointing toward the sitting area of the suite.
“I know they are. That’s why I’m not.” She stopped and turned to face her husband. “We need a nanny like the Bushes have,” she said, thinking about the old woman traveling with Jasmine and Hosea. Although she didn’t look like she was playing with a full deck in that long, gnawed-off-looking mink coat, at least they had help.
“How do you know they have a nanny?”
“Didn’t you see Miss Jane Pittman, the old lady that got off the plane with them?”
“Rachel, that’s mean.”
“I can’t help it that she’s old as dirt. She probably was a secretary for Jesus.” She picked up her clutch. “But the fact remains that she was probably in there getting the Bush kids ready while Jasmine had all evening to primp. We should’ve brought a nanny.”
“We don’t have one,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Well, we should! We had to hire a freaking hotel babysitter to watch the babies tonight. Jasmine only has two kids. We have four. So getting a nanny is something we’re going to have to look into because as first lady of the ABC, I’m going to be pretty busy.”
Lester shook his head as he motioned toward the door. “Okay, sweetie, we’ll cross that bridge if we get to it.”
“Well, I’m letting you know now, that’s not open for discussion,” she said as she walked out of the bedroom.
“Yes, darling,” Lester said, following behind her. “Kids, let’s go,” he said as soon as they entered the sitting area.
Nia came barreling toward them. “You like my dress, Daddy?” she said, spinning around to show off her pink taffeta dress. Rachel loved how Lester treated Nia like a true daddy’s girl, loving her like she was his own. He treated both of her children like that and it was one of the qualities she absolutely adored about him. At the same time, he didn’t try to stop Jordan from having a relationship with his father, Bobby. They didn’t have to worry about Nia’s dad because that jerk had signed over his rights years ago and they hadn’t heard from him since.
“Yes, that dress is adorable, as are you,” Lester replied, lightly kissing Nia’s hand.
“Brooklyn and Lewis are still sleep,” she said, pointing to the toddlers who were napping in the playpen. The sitter was quietly perched next to them, engrossed in a book. “And Jordan won’t stop playing that stupid game and entratain me like Mommy said,” Nia continued.
“It’s entertain,” Jordan snapped, not glancing up from his PS2. “Learn how to talk.”
“I know how to talk!” she snapped. “But if I didn’t, at least I can fix it. You ugly forever!”
“Kids, stop that fighting,” Lester snapped. “Come on, Jordan.”
“Why I gotta go?” He pouted as he stood up. “This thing hurts my neck,” he said, pulling at the black-and-gray tie. “Why can’t I just stay here with her?” he said, pointing at the sitter.
“You don’t have to stay long,” Lester said, sighing. “But our children have to be introduced as well. Please don’t fight me on this.”
Rachel didn’t even pay attention to any of them. She’d gone back to the mirror and was surveying her reflection, debating whether she should change into the purple Donna Karan suit she was saving for tomorrow.
“You’re fine,” Lester said, as if he were reading her thoughts. “Can we please go?” He grabbed Nia’s hand and walked to the door, not waiting to make sure Rachel and Jordan were following.
The room was already packed with people, mingling and networking. An assortment of women in fancy suits and pillbox hats dotted the room, and almost every man in the room wore a black or gray suit. Rachel tried to pause in the doorway to give her family a moment to be noticed, but leave it to Lester to just walk on into the room before anyone could see them.
Lester immediately made his way over to a group of ministers who were standing around deep in conversation.
Rachel scanned the room, her eyes stopping on an elegantly dressed Cecelia King. She was standing in the center of the room, commanding that the circle of women give its full attention to her. She exuded power. Rachel found herself wondering how Cecelia would take no longer being the head Mrs. In-Charge.
Rachel was just about to head over to the circle when Cecelia walked away, Jasmine right at her side. The whole way Jasmine was clinging to the woman was sickening. The two of them stopped at the side of the room as Cecelia leaned down to shake a little girl’s hand. That must be Jasmine’s child, the way Jasmine glided to her side.
“Mommy, I’m thirsty,” Nia said, pulling on Rachel’s skirt.
“Okay, wait, I’ll get you something in just a minute.” Rachel took Nia’s hand and pulled her over to where Cecelia stood.
“Well, hello, ladies,” Rachel said, acting like she’d just bumped into them.
“Hello … ummm, Rachel, isn’t it?” Cecelia asked.
Rachel nodded, pleased that she’d remembered her name. “Yes, Mrs. King, and don’t you look lovely this evening.”
“Thank you,” she said, running her hand down her knit royal blue skirt. “Jasmine here got the St. John memo as well.” She laughed, motioning toward Jasmine’s cream suit.
Rachel struggled to keep her smile. “Jasmine.”
“Rachel,” Jasmine replied.
“And who do we have here?” Cecelia asked, leaning down to look at Nia.
“I’m Nia,” the little girl said.
“Well, Nia, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Cecelia said, shaking her hand.
Rachel looked around for Jordan. She spotted him just a few feet away, plopped down in a seat. “That’s my son Jordan.”
Cecelia glanced his way, lost her smile, then struggled to get it back. “Is he playing a video game? Here?” she asked.
Rachel was horrified. “Excuse me for a second.” She walked over and snatched the game out of Jordan’s hand. “Boy, what are you doing? Put this thing up,” she hissed.
“Awww, Ma,” he whined.
She leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Don’t ‘aww, Ma,’ me. We’re supposed to be making a good impression, so get it together before you make me act a fool.” Rachel stood, composed herself, then walked back over to Cecelia and Jasmine.
“Boys,” Rachel said, laughing lightly. “They can be a handful, huh?”
Jasmine just looked disgusted, but at least Cecelia smiled. “They sure can.”
Rachel glanced around, a flash of panic setting in. “Where’s Nia?”
Jasmine reached over and gently touched Rachel’s arm. “She’s okay. She’s right there, getting something to drink with my daughter.” For a moment, Rachel saw something in Jasmine’s eyes, a soothing maternal spirit. But just as quickly, it was gone.
“They both were thirsty,” Jasmine said, dropping her hand and turning icy again.
Cecelia must’ve sensed the tension because she stepped in. “So, are you ladies ready for the voting?”
Rachel was just about to reply when a loud wail filled the air. All three women turned toward the sound, to see Jacqueline crying hysterically as she raced toward them. Horror filled Jasmine’s face as she noticed the big red spot on the front of Jacqueline’s dress.
“Jacquie, what in the world happened?” Jasmine asked.
Jacqueline held her arms out like she was Carrie from the Carrie movies. You would’ve thought she was drenched in blood, the way she was acting.
“M … m … my dress,” Jacqueline sobbed. “She messed up my dress!”
“Is that punch?” Jasmine asked. “Oh, my God! This is a four-hundred-dollar Dior dress!”
Four hundred dollars! Rachel wanted to scream. For a kid’s dress?
Jacqueline continued sobbing as her mother dropped the dress and held her tightly. Rachel would’ve thought Jasmine would be too concerned about messing up her designer duds to hug her daughter so tight. But it was obvious Jasmine’s only focus was Jacqueline. The way she was trying to comfort the little girl almost made Jasmine seem, well, human. Almost anyway.
“Calm down, sweetie,” Jasmine said, finally pulling away from her daughter, “and tell me what happened.”
“Sh … she did it,” Jacqueline wailed, pointing to Nia, who was standing off to the side, her head held low.
Everyone turned to Nia, who suddenly started crying herself as she raced into her mother’s arms. “It was an accident, Mommy!” she cried. “I didn’t mean to do it.”
Rachel’s eyes grew wide. Nia did this?
“I was tryna to pour me some more punch and she bumped into me.” Nia buried her head in her mother’s midsection.
“Shhhh, calm down,” Rachel said soothingly as she stroked her daughter’s hair. While Rachel didn’t condone messing up the girl’s dress, she couldn’t help but feel that’s what Jasmine’s bourgie behind got. Really, who would spend four hundred dollars on a kid’s dress for a reception that the child would only be at for thirty minutes?
Jasmine cut her eyes at Nia like she was trying to determine if it was indeed an accident.
“I told her I was sorry,” Nia sniffed.
Rachel looked over at Jasmine. “I’m so sorry about this,” Rachel said, sincerely.
Jasmine took a deep breath but didn’t respond. Some of the punch from Jacqueline’s dress had seeped onto her suit, from when she’d hugged the little girl. She glanced down at the spot on the front of her suit as well. “Let’s go get cleaned up,” Jasmine said, pulling her daughter toward the door.
Wow, this couldn’t have worked out better, Rachel thought as she watched them walk off. She made a mental note to remind Nia about being more careful, then she’d take her out for ice cream to celebrate a job well done.
“Jordan,” she called out to her son, who was still sitting against the wall, pouting. “Come get your sister and take her upstairs to the sitter.”
“Can I stay in the room?” he asked, finally getting excited.
Rachel nodded.
“Yes!” Jordan exclaimed. “Come on, clumsy mumsy.”
“I’m not clumsy, it was an accident.” Nia pouted as she stomped off behind her brother.
Rachel took a deep breath and turned back around to Cecelia. The woman had stayed silent during the entire exchange. “I’m so sorry about that,” Rachel said.
“I understand,” Cecilia said, although she didn’t sound believable. “I have two grandchildren myself and they can get rather rambunctious.”
Rachel released a sigh of relief as she tried to change the conversation. “So do you mind if I ask, how do you enjoy being the first lady?”
“Well, it has its challenges, but it’s a position I enjoy tremendously. I was actually quite disheartened the reverend has decided not to seek reelection.” She was talking to Rachel but her eyes seemed to be scanning the room. “So are you worried at all?” she asked, her gaze settling back on Rachel.
“Not at all,” Rachel lied, even though she was getting more worried by the minute, especially with her kids acting up. “I think Lester would make an excellent president and when I look at all that he’s done for our church and our community, I can only imagine what he could do if allowed to branch out. I love our church, but I feel like he’s been limited there. He’d be able to soar as president of the ABC. Personally, I think the membership wants a young, seasoned, Southern minister. I understand your entire family is from Alabama?”
“We are,” Cecelia replied, turning her full attention back to Rachel.
“So you know all about those Southern roots?”
“And we’re very proud of them.”
“My point exactly. I have nothing against Rev. Bush, but I think that we don’t want to lose the family-feel of the ABC. We don’t want to become just another organization filled with members who do nothing.”
She pursed her lips as she glared at Rachel. “So is that what you think we are now?”
“Oh, no, no,” Rachel said, cleaning things up. “I think the organization is wonderful under Reverend King, and as a matter of fact, I just told Lester on the flight here that I wish Reverend King weren’t retiring. But if he does have to be replaced, Lester should be the one replacing him.”
Cecelia gave Rachel a fake smile, before saying, “Well, it’s been nice chatting with you, but I see some other people I must go mingle with. Enjoy the rest of the reception.”
Rachel watched as Cecelia walked off. This had not gone at all like she’d planned. She had to take a deep breath and get it together. Cecelia was going to be a hard nut to crack. And Rachel didn’t know how she’d do it, but she knew she couldn’t rest until she got Cecelia King on her side.