The woman said, “So you don’t recognize me? You don’t remember me?”

“I’m sorry,” I said. I narrowed my eyes and tried to remember. Now that she was standing up close, I knew I’d seen this woman before, but I couldn’t place her. Was she a friend from Xavier? A sorority sister? That would be the worst if she was one of my sorors and I didn’t remember.

"Oh.” The woman laughed, a sultry sound that I imagined had men giving her all of their money. "It's like that now? You're all that, a First Lady of a big church and so you can't remember an old friend?”

"I am so sorry," I said. "You'll have to excuse me, but I meet a lot of people. I do recognize your face; I just can't seem to place your name."

She laughed again, though this time, there was little humor in the sound. "I’m Sharonne,” she said as if I was supposed to recognize the name.

When she added nothing else, I said, “Oh...hi... Sharonne.” And then, I scoured through my memory bank. There was nothing.

Her sigh was filled with exasperation. “Sharonne from Pilgrim’s Rest.” Another pause. “Back in New Orleans."

She had taken me back ten years and I was able to conjure up a vague memory. At church...in the bathroom...when I was talking to First Lady Blake. But Sharonne and I were far from friends. She hadn’t even spoken to me that day, so now, I was surprised that she even knew my name.

Still, I was always in First Lady mode. So I said, “Oh, yes, Sharonne,” even though she and I had never had one pleasant exchange. “How are you?"

"Blessed and highly favored," she said. “What about you?”

“The same.” I nodded.

From the corner of my eye, I saw my sister move to the edge of her chair.

"So, do you live in D.C. now?" I asked.

"No," Sharonne replied. "I’m just in town to handle some...personal business." She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Well, I just wanted to say hello. You take care of yourself now.” She paused. “Oh, and tell that fine husband of yours, I said hello.” She gave a throaty laugh before she nodded at my sister, then sashayed away, her dress edging even higher up her thighs.

Sharonne was barely out of hearing range before she said, “Really?” Jada said. “You were friends with her?”

Shaking my head, I said, “Not at all. I had one encounter with her and that was enough. Really, I’m a little surprised she remembered me.”

“Hmmm....” my sister hummed. “Well, I don’t trust her, I don’t like her, she’s a snake, she’s a user and....”

With a laugh, I held up my hand. “You got all that from her standing there?”

Jada didn’t crack a smile. “Yes, I did. You know how I am. You know how I can feel people.”

Those words took my smile away. Because my sister told the truth.