Lies and Alibis (12 page)

~26~

Camille

“
When are you going home?” Dionne asks as I fluff the pillow behind her head.

Ever since Rod got out of the hospital, I’ve been taking care of both of them hand and foot.  And this is the thanks I get?

“You should hope I don’t go home before your baby is born,” I say.  “Ungrateful heffa.”

Dionne touches my hand. 
“Cami, you know I appreciate this, but what about you and Bryan?”

“
What about me and Bryan?”

No one at church knows that we’re separated.  Pastor would have a fit if he knew his Minister of Music had put his wife out.  But Bryan hasn’t even called me.  Not once in the entire month that I’ve been staying at Dionne’s.  I’ve called.  I’ve left messages.  And no response. 

“Are you two trying to work things out at least?” Dionne asks.

I roll my eyes.  Now that her husband has amnesia, all of a sudden she’s the marriage whisperer.  I do believe that it was God that made Rod forget he was a hoe, though.  Too bad there’s a little girl out there
whose father has no recollection of her. 

“
Bryan just needs to stop acting like he doesn’t know Jesus and forgive me.”

“
Well did you even apologize?”

Okay, now this makes me mad.  Why does everyone think I owe him an apology?  If I hurt anyone it was myself!  I’m the only one who was almost arrested.  If Bryan was doing what he was supposed to be doing as a husband and man of God, we wouldn’t need financial breakthroughs.

“I didn’t do anything to him.  He’s mad for no reason.”

Dionne shakes her head. 
“Okay, then.  I was just asking.  You know you’re welcome to stay here as long as you want.”

Sydney bursts into the bedroom looking fabulous.  She and Lucas have been to the Caribbean and she got the best tan.  She almost looks like me and Dionne now.

“Hey y’all!  Dionne how are you feeling?  Still nauseous.”

“
Yeah, a little.  What is that perfume you’re wearing?”

“
Why, does it bother you?” Sydney asks.

“
No, it’s the first perfume I’ve smelled in weeks that hasn’t.”

Sydney shrugs. 
“Something Lucas bought me.  I’m not sure the name of it.  I just put it on.”

“
Did you bring pictures from your trip?” I ask.  “I want to see that villa you were bragging about.”

Sydney hands me her phone and I scroll through the pictures.  In every one of them, either she’s smiling or Lucas is smiling.  I’m so happy those two are back together.  It took them long enough, but I know it’s the will of God.

I show Dionne a picture of the villa.  “Will you look at that place?”

“
Mmm-hmm!” Dionne says.  “I know you gave him some Sydney.  This place is oozing romance.”

“
I did not.  The next man that’s touching me is my husband.”

“
Well, I’m with you on that, Syd,” I say.  “God is going to honor that.”

“
If I do marry Lucas, I want Bryan to sing at the wedding.  So, I need you to go on and make up with him.”

“
When Bryan stops acting so prideful, he’ll come and get me.  He knows where I am.”

Sydney crawls into bed next to Dionne and puts her feet under the covers. 
“Okay, Cami.  You know him better than I do.”

“
I’m hungry, Camille!” Dionne says.  “Can I please have my lunch?”

“
I’m hungry too!” Sydney says.

I frown at both of them and head downstairs to Dionne’s gigantic kitchen.  As I scoop chicken salad onto croissants, I glance at my wedding ring.  It was way out of our budget, but I remember Bryan saying,
“We’re going to be together forever, so who cares if it takes forever to pay for it?”

I hadn’t cared back then.  Not about anything other than my husband and my church.  Somewhere, something had changed.  And I don’t want to admit it to my sisters, but I’m afraid.  What if Bryan doesn’t come for me?  I was so sure he wouldn’t last a week, but it’s been a month.

I take my telephone out of my pocket and grip it in my hand.  Does it mean I’m weak if I call him?  I bite my lip and sigh.

I quickly press the numbers before I change my mind.  It goes directly to voicemail.  That must be a sign from the Lord that I shouldn’t have called him.

I sit the phone down on the counter and wipe the tear that has trickled down my face.  Let me get this lunch for Dionne before she starts fussing and ringing that little bell I gave her.  I don’t know what I was thinking with that bell.

Just as I grab the tray to go upstairs, I see my phone vibrate on the counter.  I nearly drop the food going to pick it up. 

It’s Bryan!

“
Hello.”

“
Camille, I missed your call.  Is everything okay?” Bryan’s voice sounds concerned.  I don’t hear the anger anymore.

“
Yes, everything is fine.”

“
Oh.  Well, then...I guess...”

“
No, Bryan wait!  Everything isn’t fine.  I-I want to come home.”

There’s silence on the other end.  What does this mean?  Is he considering it?  Did he hang up?

“I miss you, Bryan.  I’m so sorry for what I did.”

“
You could’ve ruined us, Camille,” Bryan says.  “Do you understand how serious that was?”

“
I do.  I promise I won’t ever do anything like that again.”

There’s another long pause.  Too long.

“Come on home, Camille.  I miss you too,” Bryan finally says.

Hallelujah!  I drop my phone on the counter and cut a sanctified praise step right there on Dionne’s marble floors.  My God is good!  Won’t He do it?  Yes He will!

“Thank you, Jesus!” I shout to the heavens.

I thank God for putting forgiveness on Bryan’s heart.  God is a healer, a restorer, a
way maker and a provider.  I knew he was going to reconcile Bryan’s heart to mine, because we are destined for greatness.

And I still feel prosperity in my spirit!  God isn’t through with our finances yet.  My Father in heaven owns many mansions, and He’s only shown me a taste of His wealth!  This time though, when I get ready to launch out I’m going to let Bryan know every step of the way.  He came that I might have life, and that I might have it abundantly!

I feel a rush in my spirit.  A surge of power.  Do you know what I think it is?  Honey,
that’s
the power to get wealth!

The End

Discussion Questions

1. Do you know any women like Sydney?  Saved, successful and alone?  Was Sydney holding herself back from love or protecting her heart?
   
2. Is Dionne crazy for taking Rod back?  Do you think he’ll get his memory back and go back to his former ways?
   
3. What about Camille?  Does she have the correct view of prosperity?  Why or why not?  Do you know anyone like Camille?  How would you counsel her?
   
4. Have we seen the last of Peach?  What about Ming Nah?
   

About the Author

Tiffany L. Warren is the author of novels for women and young adults (pen name Nikki Carter).  Her writing career started when her very first book
What a Sista Should Do
was published in 2005 and hasn't slowed down since.  She specializes in Christian Fiction for women with her most popular titles being
The Bishop's Daughter
and
Farther than I Meant to Go, Longer than I Meant to Stay
. 
Tiffany is also a playwright and songwriter and adapted
What a Sista Should Do
into a gospel stage play. 
The Replacement Wife
and
Just Like Yo' Daddy
are two of Tiffany's productions that will debut in Dallas in 2012. 

Tiffany has a passion for literacy in youth, because her writing career is a direct result of her love of books as a child.  She has turned this passion into a very successful line of young adult novels under her pen name Nikki Carter. 

You can reach Tiffany online at
www.tiffanylwarren.com
, where you can read excerpts of her novels and find out about her upcoming tour dates.  She's also on Facebook and Twitter at
http://www.facebook.com/tiffanylwarren
or
www.twitter.com/tiffanylwarren
. 

Would you like to go on a cruise to the Bahamas with authors like Victoria Christopher Murray, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Marissa Monteilh, Tiffany L. Warren and more in the summer of 2014?  Visit
http://bookloverscruise.eventbrite.com
for more information!

Also By Tiffany L. Warren

The Sista Series

Wolf In Minister’s Clothing *

What a Sista Should Do

Don’t Tell a Soul

Farther than I Meant to Go, Longer than I Meant to Stay

The Bishop’s Daughter

In the Midst of it All

Chocolate Dreams*

A Slim Chance
*

Coming Soon...

The Replacement Wife (February 2014)

More Lies, More Alibis (December 2013)

(* - e-book exclusive)

Teen Novels (
written as
Nikki Carter)

So For Real Series

Step To This

It Is What It Is

It’s All Good

Cool Like That

Fab Life Series

Not a Good Look

All the Wrong Moves

Doing My Own Thing

On the Flip Side

Time to Shine

Get Over It