Diary of a Mad First Lady Read Online Free PDF Page B

headache would have to wait.
    I moved toward the door, and I could discern that both Twylah and Chanice wanted to interject, but for the sake of avoiding a reprimand, they thought better of it and let me peaceably and without objection walk out of the door.
    In the hallway, Elder Tyrone looked as if he’d seen a ghost when he saw me. Before he had the opportunity to tell me about his worries of me walking around instead of resting comfortably in the lounge, I waved my hand in a way that suggested his silence for the moment. I would hear his concerns later. As of right now, my destination was clear: the pastor’s study.
    As I passed my own office en route to my husband’s, several church members offered everything from prayer to homemade soup, to help me cope with what was obviously a situation no one could define. After brief moments with one or two of them, I steadied myself as I prepared to mentally confront the sister of the woman who’d tried to ruin my life. I could only pray that God would have mercy on her, because mine had run out completely. While I knew that she didn’t have anything directly to do with Daphne’s behavior, I had a feeling that she was going to be instrumental in continuing the saga.
    I could hear my husband’s voice before I opened the door.
    “So, let me get this straight,” I heard him say. “You’re Daphne Carlton’s twin sister and your sole purpose for being here today is to reconcile with me and my wife on behalf of your family.” After a brief pause, he continued. “Because, Dawn, I’m having a hard time believing that. You could have easily extended your apologies via phone or e-mail. You didn’t have to come here in person. I take it that you know the trauma that your sister caused not only my wife and me, but my church, and it’s interesting to me that your step toward reconciliation would be to show up in person. Please, help me understand because right now, I don’t.”
    I could hear the stress in Darvin’s voice, and it was making me angrier by the second. How dare this woman come and interrupt our lives?
    “Pastor,” Dawn pleaded, “you have to believe me. I’m here because my family feels terrible about the trouble that Daphne caused you . . . and your wife. We want to somehow offer restitution to you.”
    “Why do you care?” I heard Darvin ask. “Your sister has been dealt with. She knows that she cannot come anywhere remotely close to my wife or me, or anyplace that we are, and if she does, she’ll be immediately locked up. So, I still don’t understand your reasoning.”
    “Daphne is dying, Pastor,” Dawn softly spoke. “One of her wishes includes letting you know how deeply sorry she is for everything she’s done.”
    Dying? Whatever. I had heard enough. It was my time to ask the questions. I barged into the room. Both Darvin’s and Dawn’s eyes were on me. His was a look of worry, and Dawn’s was a look of fear. I, without a word spoken, assured Darvin that I was fine.
    “It’s Dawn, right?” I asked.
    “Yes,” she spoke timidly.
    Coming face to face with her, I could see that there were more visible differences in their appearance other than Dawn’s long hair. Daphne’s eyes were hazel; Dawn’s were grey. Dawn also had a small mole underneath her nose. And, not to mention she had a lighter voice and timid personality. Daphne was the exact opposite: arrogant, prideful, deceitful.
    “I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation that you were having with my husband. If I understand you correctly, your sister Daphne is dying and she’s sent you hear to clean up her dirty work,” I said, not caring to hide my frustration.
    “Well, I wouldn’t put it like that, First Lady Johnson. She’s unable to travel herself because of the stipulations that have been placed on her by the authorities here and for the reason of her illness. So, she asked if I would come in her stead. So I did.”
    I studied Dawn’s look of defeat and was unfazed.