More Lies and Alibis (Using Lies as Alibis #2) Read Free Page B

mistakes with the money I made by playing Bingo, it doesn’t mean I have a gambling addiction. 
    Bryan wasn’t even all that upset about me winning the money.  I think deep down he believed it was a blessing just like I do.  I understand why he was unhappy about the house flipping scheme I got caught up in after I won.  I was just trying to enlarge our territory, but I didn’t know it was illegal.
    I was upset about that too.  My friend Lenora told me all about the plan to buy houses, put in a few repairs and sell them.  But she left out the part about FBI agents showing up at my house.  I thought Bryan was going to pull my head right off my neck!  I have never prayed that hard before. 
    I’ve been praying hard since then, though.  Praying that Bryan stops letting the devil use him and forgives me completely. 
    “So tell me about yourself, Camille.”
    I pause before I reply, because I’m trying to decide if I’m staying.  This psychiatrist was recommended to Bryan by one of our friends in ministry.  I don’t know if I trust her yet, though.  I don’t even like her name – Dr. Rayna King.  She’s only been in Atlanta for a year and her card says something about healing the mind and the spirit. 
    When I need my spirit healed, I go to church.  And ain’t nothing wrong with my mind, so what is the point?
    “What do you want to know?” I ask.
    Dr. King stands up and runs water into a tea kettle and puts it on. 
    “If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be?”
    “Saved, sanctified and blessed,” I say without a moment of hesitation. 
    Dr. King chuckles.  I didn’t say anything funny.  This is why I don’t think saved people should go to these quack psychiatrists anyway.  I mean, I know they went to real school like my baby sister, but the fact that she laughs at my faith makes me want to get up and leave right now.
    “I thought you were a Christian therapist,” I say as Dr. King sits back down to face me.
    “I am a Christian.”
    “Then, why did you laugh?”
    She eases back into the cushions on her loveseat and smiles.  “I admit I was amused.”
    “Why?”
    “Because your response told me nothing about your character.  I am also saved, sanctified and blessed.  Do you know any more about me now that I told you that?  Besides the fact that we both claim a belief system of some sort?”
    My nose flares slightly.  I guess she’s right.  I know folk claiming salvation that are probably gonna bust hell wide open. 
    “Well, those are the most important things about me, and you only gave me three words.”
    “Outside of being a Christian tell me about you.  Give me three words that describe your character.”
    Now, I have to think for a moment.  I’ve never had anyone ask me this before.  I don’t even know where she’s going with this line of questioning. 
    “I’m loyal and a giver.”
    Dr. King smiles.  “Okay, one more.”
    Why is this so hard?  I should be able to think of three things about myself! 
    “I like craft projects…so artsy craftsy?  Can I say that ? Is that a word?”
    “You can say whatever you like here, Camille.  You are loyal, a giver, and artsy craftsy.  I love it.”
    I feel myself relax a little.  For a second I thought she was making fun of me, but now I don’t.  It seems like she’s trying to get to know me. 
    “I bet your friends love you,” Dr. King says.  “It sounds like they can count on you.”
    I think about this.  I really don’t have any friends that aren’t my family.  Sydney and Dionne are my best girlfriends and Bryan is supposed to be my best friend, right?  Husbands and wives are supposed to be best friends. 
    “My husband and sisters are my friends.  And yes they do count on me.”
    Dr. King lifts her eyebrows.  If she was holding one of those little shrink notepads, I think she’d be writing something down.
    “You don’t have any friends at church?” Dr. King asks.
    Sometimes