“I went over there.”

“No!”

“Yes!”

“Is she alive?”

That made me chuckle just a little. “She was when I left.”

“And Jeremy’s still alive, too?”

That made me want to cry.

“Dude,” Dru said as she picked up her wine again. “I can’t believe it.” Then she took a sip and shook her head. “You know what? I’m lying.”

“Wait.” I said that word so slowly, it sounded like it had seven syllables. “Are you saying you knew?”

“No.” She waved her hands. “Of course not. Because if I’d found out before you, your husband would be dead. No, I just meant that Jeremy’s not who he used to be. He’s different. He speaks to me differently. Like back in New Orleans, the three of us were friends. But now, he treats me...well, as an employee. I mean, that’s what I am, but you don’t treat me that way.”

“Because you’re my best friend first.”

“Exactly. But it’s not that way with Jeremy. It was when I first came here to D.C. with y’all. But especially since we’ve been in the new sanctuary and on that campus, he’s really different. I’m surprised you haven’t noticed.”

I shook my head. “And I’m surprised you’ve never said anything.”

She shrugged. “What was I supposed to say? Your husband’s caught up? It was bound to happen. All that money now, all that power. People shout out his name when he walks by. He’s in demand as a speaker. He’s the right Reverend Jeremy Williams now, you know?”

I filled my cheeks with air, then exhaled slowly.

“So what’s the plan? You're the First Lady, so you can't go rolling up on this Katrina chick. Does Jada know?”

“I didn’t want to talk to anyone before I talked to Jeremy. But now that all these days have passed and he’ll be home tomorrow....”

“Well, Jada and I can roll up on that homewrecker and take care of her tonight.”

Even though Dru was trying to lighten the moment, I couldn’t find a smile. Shaking my head, I said, “No. She didn't wreck my home,” I said with a sigh. “This is on Jeremy, if it's even true.”

She frowned. “What do you mean if it’s even true? You don’t believe her?”

“I did in the beginning because everything fit. But I guess I’ve had too many days of thinking and stewing and thinking and crying and thinking and....”

She held up her hand. “I get the picture.”

“And then on top of that, there’s this deal with Amazon.” I filled Dru in on what happened at the meeting.

“High. Seven. Figures?” She shook her head. “I cannot believe you kept all of this from me. I just thought you were off because of Mother Hayden.”