Lady Jasmine Read Online Free PDF Page A

know.” He shook his head. “It’s not like I’ve ever led a church before.”
    “What are you talking about? What about Crystal Lake Cathedral?”
    “I was on staff there and led a couple of ministries, but I never led the church. And even though Crystal was one of the largest churches in Chicago, it’s still only half the size of City of Lights. There’re eight thousand members here.”
    Eight thousand? She knew City of Lights was huge, but she never thought about the size of the congregation. She had to press her knees together to stop the shaking. She was going to be the first lady of an eight-thousand-member church!
    Hosea sighed. “I want to honor Pops’s request, but…”
    “What?”
    “I can’t imagine it.” He faced her and smiled a little. “And it’s not like I can really see you being a first lady.”
    He chuckled, but she didn’t.
    He said, “I mean, are you really going to spend your time visiting the sick and shut-in? Or praying with a grieving widow?”
    She didn’t know why he was smiling; she didn’t see anything funny. How could he not imagine her doing those things? The way she saw it, she was stepping into her destiny.
    But all she said was, “Your father would never have written that letter if he didn’t want it this way.”
    “I know.” He leaned forward, resting his arms on his legs. Staring at the door that led to his father’s room, he said, “Five seven.”
    Jasmine looked up. Saw the numbers on the wall.
    Hosea said, “God’s numbers. His grace and the number ofcompletion.” Sad seconds of silence sat between them. Until Hosea said, “I’m not ready to let my father go.”
    “Oh, babe,” she said, putting her arms around his shoulders. “That’s not what you’re doing. You’re keeping things in order until he gets better.”
    Slowly, he nodded, like he agreed. But when he faced her, she could see that he didn’t. In his eyes, she saw her opportunity of being the first lady slipping away.
    “This is what your father wants,” she pushed gently.
    There was more conviction in his nod this time. “You’re right.”
    She hugged him, whispered in his ear, “You’re doing the right thing.” When she pulled back, she glanced at her watch. “It’s almost three. We’ve got to get going.”
    “The meeting isn’t until six.”
    “Yeah, but we’ve got to go home and get ready.”
    When he frowned, she added quickly, “I mean, don’t you want to take a shower? Maybe even rest a little.”
    “I’m not leaving Pops until I have to.”
    “It’ll give you a little time to see Jacquie, and you don’t have to worry about your dad. There’s an entire staff watching out. Nothing’s going to happen.”
    He shook his head. “I can’t—”
    “Hey, Hosea.” Jasmine heard the squeaky voice before she saw Ivy. The woman leaned over to hug him. “How’s your father?”
    As Hosea filled Ivy in, Jasmine frowned. Ivy hadn’t said a single hello to her. Looked like she’d been initiated into the band of bandits. That’s okay, Jasmine thought. By tonight, she would be the first lady, and everyone was going to have to step to her with some serious respect from now on.
    “So you haven’t been home?” Ivy’s eyebrows rose almost to the top of her forehead.
    Before Hosea could answer, Jasmine said, “But we were getting ready to leave.”
    “Oh, Jasmine,” Ivy said, just noticing her. “I’m so rude.” She giggled.
    Now Jasmine ignored her; she spoke to Hosea. “You’ve got to go home and at least take a nap before we go to the church.”
    Ivy said to Hosea, “Go. I’ll stay with your father.”
    “Are you sure? I don’t know how late it’ll be when I get back.”
    When Ivy caressed Hosea’s hand, Jasmine’s squeezed her fingers into fists.
    Ivy said, “It doesn’t matter. No matter how late, I’ll be here waiting for you.”
    Jasmine hadn’t been sure if she liked Ivy before, but she definitely didn’t like her now. Not that this woman could