Lady Elect by Nikita Lynnette Nichols Read Free Book Online Page B

and potatoes before placing it in the oven.
    â€œGood evening, sunshine,” Arykah greeted him.
    â€œGood evening,” Lance responded without making eye contact with her. His words were quick.
    Arykah knew that Mother Gussie had gotten to Lance. She could tell by his mannerisms.
    Lance always greeted Arykah with open arms and a kiss, but not that evening. But Arykah hadn’t spoken with Lance yet. So far he had only heard one side of the story, and there was no telling what Mother Gussie had said to him. Once he heard her side of the story, she was sure Lance’s coldness toward her would thaw.
    Arykah walked further into the kitchen and set her briefcase, purse, and keys on the center island. Then she stepped to Lance and tried to kiss his lips, but he turned away from her and Arykah caught the corner of his mouth.
    â€œIs something wrong?” she asked him.
    Lance rinsed his hands in the sink, dried them with the dish towel, then laid the towel on the counter. He leaned back against the sink, folded his arms across his chest, and looked at his wife. “I don’t ask you for much, Arykah. And because I don’t ask you for much, I expect that you’d be more dedicated and committed to whatever my needs are.”
    â€œIs this about Brother Cartwright?”
    â€œWhat do you think this is about?” he returned sarcastically.
    For the second time in one day, Arykah had to catch herself from losing her cool. Yes, Lance was indeed her husband and head of their household. But speaking to Arykah as though he were scolding a rebellious teenager, Lance was not going to do.
    â€œOkay. Before this conversation goes any further, you better change your tone. Don’t you dare speak to me like I’m a child, Lance.”
    Lance cocked his head to the side and raised his eyebrows. “I better change my tone?” His tilted head and arched eyebrows didn’t intimidate Arykah one bit. If Lance thought he was going to place blame where it didn’t belong, he was in for a rude awakening.
    â€œYes, you better.” Arykah placed the ball in Lance’s court. If he wanted to talk the issue out calmly, she was willing. There were no other options.
    â€œI don’t appreciate you telling me what I better do, wife .” Lance put special emphasis on the word “wife” to remind Arykah who was in charge.
    Arykah caught the emphasis, and it made her chuckle. “Oh, you must not know about me.”
    â€œWhat is that supposed to mean?” he asked her.
    Arykah mimicked Lance and folded her arms across her chest. “It means that I am not the one. Okay? I ain’t the one, husband.”
    They stared at each other like a lion and a hyena ready to battle. Truth be told, Lance was caught off guard by Arykah’s straightforwardness. When Mother Gussie informed him that Arykah had failed to represent him at Brother Cartwright’s house, Lance was all set to come home and demand an explanation. However, he wasn’t prepared for Arykah to stand toe-to-toe with him.
    â€œCan you please explain to me what happened today ?” His voice was calm.
    Now that her point was made, Arykah began massaging her temples again. The migraine was trying to make a comeback. “Look, Lance, I don’t know what to tell you. I went to Brother Cartwright’s house at one o’clock, the exact time Mother Gussie told me to be there. She tricked me.”
    Lance looked at Arykah like she was from another planet. “What do you mean, she tricked you? Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds? Why would Mother Gussie purposely give you the wrong time to go and comfort the Cartwrights? It doesn’t make sense.”
    Arykah was stunned. She was totally expecting Lance to see that she had clearly been set up. After all, he was well aware of the dislike the mothers of the church had for her.
    Arykah took a step backward and looked into her husband’s eyes. The same