So what was I going to do? How was I supposed to spend this time as I waited for still another twenty-four hours for the results that would tell me what I knew my husband never would — the truth.

“Oh, God,” I whispered as I lowered my head. I needed to pray, needed to ask God for patience and peace as I waited. But just as I rose to take my cares into the sanctuary, the bell rang from the side door that led to our offices.

That made me frown. The only person I was expecting was Lizzy and she had her key. Moving from my office to the hallway and to the security panel right beside the door, I hit the button to turn on the outside camera. Our church was in a changing neighborhood, near R and 13th Streets in the Northwest section of the district. Still, we were a church, as vulnerable as anyone with the way the world and guns were set up today.

As the camera scanned the area and settled on the heads of the two women, I sighed. My first instinct was to pretend no one was home. But when she heard the whir of the camera, Sonya looked up and wiggled her fingers in a wave. Plus, the two would’ve walked past my car to get to the door. I was stuck.

So I hit the buzzer, and watched the door open before Sonya and Cecily stepped inside.

“Good morning, First Lady Ginger,” they said in unison as if their greeting had been rehearsed.

My eyes narrowed. What was this about? They’d never addressed me this way. “Good morning,” I said, making no move to invite them further into the church. “I wasn’t expecting you ladies.”

“Oh, we know that,” Sonya said. “But Cecily and I were talking last night and we wanted to check on you.”

“Okay...I’m fine. Check complete.” I stopped there, wanting them to get the hint, knowing they wouldn’t.

“Ginger, honey, would you mind if we had a word with you in your office?” Sonya asked.

There were only two reasons why this wish would be granted. One was because it was Sonya, and not Cecily asking. And the second — I’d been raised by Valencia and Theodore Allen. I’d been raised right.

So, with a smile I didn’t feel, I pivoted and led them down the hall, the sound of their footsteps marching on the parquet floor behind me. Inside my office, I glanced first at the loveseat and two chairs on the far end of the room, the place where I often had meetings. But I kept moving, offering instead, the less comfortable chairs in front of my desk to Sonya and Cecily.

Once they were settled, I planted my arms on the desk as if I were preparing to speak at a formal meeting. “So ladies, how can I help you?”