Free Lady Elect by Nikita Lynnette Nichols Page A

hips and thighs.”
    â€œI’ve gained ten pounds since we’ve been married,” Monique confessed.
    â€œAnd I’ve probably gain more than that. What’s your point?”
    â€œMy point is that spring is approaching. It’s time to shed these pounds.”
    â€œHumph, you go ahead and do what you gotta do. I’m married to a chef and I like to eat, so I ain’t worried about it. You bought those Tae Bo exercise DVDs. Go home and work out.”
    Monique belched. “Chile, please. When I get through eating the only thing I wanna do is Tae Adonis.”
    The two best friends finished their meal making small talk about planning their next vacation before heading home to their husbands.
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    Arykah was lying across the bed watching a movie on the Lifetime Channel when Lance entered the bedroom undoing his necktie. “Hey, Cheeks.”
    â€œHi.”
    He walked to her side of the bed and knelt down to kiss his wife. Arykah connected her lips with his and got a whiff of his cologne. “You smell yummy.”
    â€œI missed you at Bible class,” Lance said as he turned toward his closet. “Did you have appointments this evening?”
    Arykah turned to lie on her back. “No. Monique and I met for dinner. I needed to vent.”
    Lance poked his head out of the closet and looked at her. “Vent about what? Did something happen at the realtor’s office today?”
    Arykah rolled her eyes. He’s so dumb, Lord . I asked You to change that . “I wanted to talk with her about what happened yesterday.”
    â€œYesterday? You mean the Cartwright issue? Cheeks, I thought we got past that.”
    â€œWhy? Because we made love last night? Lance, sex doesn’t change the fact that Mother Gussie lied, and you did nothing about it. I feel like I have to compete with your church members.”
    He raised his eyebrows. “My church members?”
    Arykah mimicked Lance and raised her eyebrows as well. “Well, heck, no one at Freedom Temple has accepted me as their first lady. They’re your members, Lance.”
    Lance didn’t want to inform Arykah just yet regarding his revelation about Mother Gussie earlier that day. He knew that Arykah would demand that she’d be fired from her position as church secretary, but Lance had a plan for both Mother Gussie and Mother Pansie. For now, Lance knew the best thing to do, at the moment, was to keep his wife’s enemies close. Eventually whatever the mothers were planning would blow up in both of their faces. He had to lay low and watch the snakes slither just a little bit longer.
    â€œWell, Cheeks, you haven’t exactly shown the congregation that you’re approachable. Every Sunday before the benediction is given, you and Monique grab your things and leave the sanctuary. In the four months that we’ve been married you have yet to stand with me to shake hands and fellowship with the people when they leave the sanctuary. You know I do that every Sunday.”
    Arykah knew that Lance was speaking the gospel truth. And it wasn’t that Arykah didn’t want to stand at her husband’s side and greet the members when service was over, but Arykah didn’t believe that she’d be welcomed. Oftentimes Arykah had walked through the church doors and saw members talking among themselves. When she spoke, she wasn’t acknowledged so she decided “to heck with them” then. She wouldn’t waste her breath or go out of her way to get anyone to talk to her. And it wasn’t the men who shunned Arykah; only the women. But right now talking with Lance, Arykah had an epiphany. She decided that she’d kill the ladies at Freedom Temple with kindness.
    â€œYou know, honey. You’re right. You’re absolutely right about me not making myself approachable and friendly. So, from now on, I’ll stand with you after morning service and greet the people. And