Fortunately for Jasmine, she was able to find work that she enjoyed. Working with the elderly in the Primrose Senior Citizen Center was often the highlight of Jasmine’s day. Singing in the choir standing next to her best friend, Sinclair, was the absolute high point of her week. Jasmine loved Sinclair like a sister, but there were times when Jasmine felt the uneasiness that jealousy can cause. She loved Sinclair, but there were those moments; those rare occasions when she felt envious of her friend. Things seemed to come easily to Sinclair. Everyone loved her and the men fawned over her. Even though Jasmine was also a beautiful vocalist and a beauty in her own right, her gift and good looks were often overshadowed by Sinclair’s overwhelming and much celebrated talent and attractiveness. Jasmine really tried to shake the negative feelings that sometimes crept into her spirit regarding her friend, but it wasn’t always easy to do - especially when it came to Edward.
Just as long as Edward had loved Sinclair from a distance - playing second fiddle and accepting whatever attention she would offer him - Jasmine has been doing the same with Edward. She liked him as soon as she met him. He was easy-going, engaging and a lot of fun even as a little boy.Now as a man, those same admirable qualities persisted. In Jasmine’s mind, Edward would be considered a ‘catch’ for any woman, but Sinclair continued to dismiss how wonderful he was and take him for granted. Jasmine would never do that. She watched Edward, cared about him and even dreamed about sharing a life with him. But all of that had remained a part of her fantasy life because he only had eyes for the lovely Sinclair.
Jasmine had been very patient. There had been times when she wanted to blurt out to Edward how much she loved him - how she longed to be there and to take care of him - but something always held her back. She feared he didn’t see her through the same loving eyes that he saw Sinclair; that somehow he saw her as less than. But even with all the self-doubt, Jasmine knew one thing to be true - Edward loved the Lord and she did, too. The spirituality she saw in Edward was the same spirituality and love for God she felt in her heart. Jasmine believed that that was enough to conquer any of the differences that may exist between the two of them. And now, she was willing to lay it all on the line for the man she loved. Edward needed to know that he no longer had to long for and chase after someone who didn’t appreciate or deserve him when Jasmine was waiting right there for him; her arms wide open and ready to receive him.
Watching Edward watch Sinclair as she sang and hearing the high praise being lifted within the congregation, Jasmine couldn’t help but feel the resurgence of the green eyed monster. She tried her best to quiet the burgeoning beast, but it was hard. She longed for the focused and fixed gaze of the man she loved and the accolades from the church members she regarded as family. Knowing that it wasn’t going to be - not today and maybe not ever - Jasmine accepted the relegated position she had been placed in and tried to smile through her pain. At least with the pastor taking the rostrum finally the focus would no longer be on Sinclair.
Pastor Robinson stood in front of the congregation with his bible opened to the scripture he intended to use for the day’s sermon. He waited patiently as the saints continued with their high praises, shouting hallelujah and lifting up the name of the Lord after such a heartwarming rendition by the choir. He, too, had been genuinely touched by Sinclair’s beautiful musical styling. What a wonderful First Lady she would be, he thought to himself.