A Preacher's Passion by Lutishia Lovely Read Free Book Online Page B

huh?” Robin said distractedly, her untouched slice growing cold on the plate.
    “I’m not uh, uh, uh’ing about some meat and cheese, sistah. It’s about the…Robin? Have you heard a word I’ve said?”
    Passion had been talking a mile a minute from the time Robin walked into her modest abode. Normally she wouldn’t be mentioning her desires to anyone, but with their shared childhood history, she felt comfortable talking to Robin. An added bonus was that Robin didn’t go to Logos Word, didn’t know Lavon, and was therefore one less woman she’d have to keep away from her blessing. But now, as she munched on her third slice of pizza, she studied her friend. Robin surely wasn’t the girl she’d known in Georgia, but who was the same person after twenty years? Robin always seemed, well, she didn’t want to say odd, but a bit different. It hadn’t bothered Passion in the past and she was determined not to let it affect her now. She was too busy floating on her own cloud to want potential rain from another. Still, she felt it her Christian duty to try and uplift her friend.
    She put down the pizza, took a long drink of soda, and leaned back against the back of the sofa. “Okay, girl, what’s wrong?”
    “Nothing,” Robin said much too quickly.
    “Girl, please. I may not have seen you for twenty years, but you’re still Robin and I’m still Passion. You’ve been in a mood since you walked in my house, when after all these years I thought we’d be having a ball reminiscing and everything. You might have kept to yourself back in the day but around me, you were never the quiet type. Talk to me.”
    “I fell in love too,” Robin said.
    Passion leaned forward and picked up her half-eaten slice. Was that all? She should have known Robin’s mood was about a man. “Is that what has you down? Man problems?”
    Robin nodded.
    “Well, girl, drop the dime and share the info. Are y’all fighting, did you break up, what?”
    Robin couldn’t think straight. A part of her wanted to share with Passion her story about Derrick but the other part was too paranoid to reveal any information. After all, Vivian may have been controlling Passion, just like she did all the others.
    “C’mon, Robin. It’s me you’re talking to.” Passion rested her hand on Robin’s arm until Robin looked at her. Something about her eyes isn’t right, Passion thought, even as she maintained the smile on her face.
    “Well,” Robin said. “I used to hang with this guy, years ago, and then a woman came between us. Now, I want him back. That’s the short version.”
    “Are he and this woman married?”
    “Yeah, but—”
    “Wait a minute, Robin. It’s a married man you’re after?”
    “Yeah, but he was mine!” Robin’s eyes narrowed, her breathing became rapid. She’d forgotten to take her Peridol and talking about Derrick increased her anxiety. “Where’s my damn pills?” she said to herself, as she ransacked her junk-filled bag.
    “What pills?” Passion felt a moment of real concern for her friend.
    Then, in an instant, Robin’s behavior changed. She calmed down and closed her purse. “No, just, uh, pills I take for migraines.” She held her forehead. “I’m having one now.”
    “Oh, hold on,” Passion said, rising from the couch. “I’ve got some prescription strength Tylenol. Let me get them.”
    “It’s okay,” Robin said. She grabbed her purse, rose from the couch, and headed toward the door. “Sorry, girl, but I’m going to have to cancel on the movie. I’m not feeling well.”
    Passion hugged Robin, told her she’d pray for her, and watched Robin get in her automobile. The car was old, rusted, and rattled loudly when Robin started it up. A billow of smoke followed as she drove away from the curb. Passion watched the smoke swirl into the air and then disappear, much like her desire to reconnect with her former best friend.

11
Too Late for Games
    As much as she was glad to see Robin again, Passion was