Changing Faces by Kimberla Lawson Roby Read Free Book Online Page A

on my nerves. She was sounding too much like she was badmouthing Taylor behind her back, and I wasn’t going to continue listening to her. Although to be fair, I must say that, knowing Charisse, she probably wasn’t saying anything she wouldn’t say straight to Taylor’s face, but I still didn’t like what I was hearing.
    “I’ll have to call her when we hang up,” I said, hinting that I wanted to end our conversation.
    “I hope you do. And I hope you tell her how irresponsible she is for blowing off her health condition. And if that man of hers was worth anything, he would see that she took better care of herself.”
    “Charisse, please. Taylor is the last person you should be calling irresponsible. And as far as I can tell, Cameron is a good person. So, let’s talk about something else.”
    “Okay, then let’s talk about you and the fact that you’re not doing a single thing to lose any of that weight. I mean, we’re talking at least a hundred pounds, Whitney. And you know how dangerous obesity is because I’ve told you a thousand times about all the health problems you’re setting yourself up for. I mean, what is it going to take? A heart attack? A stroke? What?”
    “You know, Charisse, most of us do the best that we can and not everybody can be as flawless as you are.”
    “Meaning what? Because I’ve never said that I was perfect. But at the same time, I want you and Taylor to do the right thing. I don’t want to lose either of you before it’s time.”
    “Well, you’ve said yourself that God has all of our destinies determined and that’s what I believe, too. So, the bottom line is that we’re not going to die until it’s time for us to anyway.”
    “Maybe. But the Bible also says that we ourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in us. And that if anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him for God’s temple is sacred and we are that temple.”
    Good grief. I’d known it was just a matter of time before Charisse doused me with a few of her favorite scriptures. She always did this when she couldn’t get me to agree with what she was saying. But today, I had my own scripture ready and waiting.
    “The Bible also says that he who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
    “And what is that supposed to mean?”
    “Do I have to tell you? Because I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.”
    “I can’t believe you would even bring that up.”
    “Well, I wouldn’t have, Charisse, but I get so tired of you judging Taylor and me. Maybe you mean well, but when you say some of the things you say, it sounds like you never do anything wrong and that we’re basically a couple of heathens.”
    “But you know that’s not true. And if I offended you, I’m really sorry. God forgive me.”
    She did this all the time, too. Saying she was sorry and then asking God to forgive her for stuff she was certainly going to do again. She was so predictable.
    “Don’t even worry about it,” I said. “And as a matter of fact, let me get off of here so that I can call and check on Taylor.”
    “Tell her to call me later, okay?”
    “I will.”
    “And Charisse, I’m really sorry that I upset you.”
    “Like I said. Don’t even worry about it.”
    “Talk to you later.”
    I hung up and smiled. I wasn’t a cruel person, not by a long shot, but I loved reminding Charisse about her skeletons—those that were dangling silently and eternally. I loved reminding her that I knew a whole lot more about her than even Marvin, Taylor, or any of her church members did.
    Of course, I would never tell another living soul for as long as I lived.
    Not when Charisse was one of my very best friends.
    I would never tell another living soul unless she forced me to.

Chapter 7
    C HARISSE
    C HARISSE TURNED to the last page of Matthew, read a couple of lines, but then slammed her Bible shut. For two hours she’d been trying to calm