Don't Tell A Soul Read Online Free Page A

I give her my friendliest smile, my real smile—the one I save for new folks that visit the church who just might need to meet the Lord.
    â€œIs my girl Taylor here yet?” she asks.
    Oh, wait. I remember her. She’s Taylor’s old friend. I can’t quite place her name, but she started attending our church with Taylor many, many years ago. She never came back after Taylor had an affair with Yvonne’s husband and had a baby with him.
    I wish she had returned. She would’ve witnessed a stone-cold miracle that only God could’ve orchestrated. It’s hard to believe that a scorned wife could be reconciled to the mistress, but that’s what happens when you put God in the mix.
    â€œNo, I don’t think she’s coming tonight,” I reply as I walk over with an extended hand. “But do you remember me? I’m Pam. You’re welcome to stay and join us, even if Taylor can’t make it.”
    She looks down at my hand and then up at my face. “That’s okay. I’ll just come back when she’s here, but I do remember you, Pam. I’m Shaquan.”
    â€œYes, that’s it! Shaquan! Welcome back to New Faith.”
    â€œI wouldn’t say that I’m back,” Shaquan says. “Taylor just wanted me to meet her here. You know, she stays on me about coming to church.”
    It’s all coming back to me now. Shaquan was a member of New Faith for about five minutes, and she dated Deacon Wallington. Seventy-year-old, arthritic Deacon Wallington.
    As Shaquan heads to the door, Yvonne swoops in like the prayer warrior that she is. “Are you sure you don’t need some prayer?”
    The woman takes a step back. “Y’all are awfully aggressive up in here. I’m just coming to catch up with my girl. I’ll let you know if I’m trying to pray.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come across that way. I just want you to know that you’re welcome, whether Taylor is here or not.”
    Yvonne gives Shaquan a warm and genuine smile and then takes her seat in the circle of chairs. Carmisha and I follow her lead.
    â€œCarmisha, do you have any prayer requests?” Yvonne asks.
    â€œYes, I do, Sister Yvonne. I need a financial blessing.”
    While Carmisha tells Yvonne all about her newest trial, I glance over at Shaquan out the corner of my eye. She lingers at the door, as if she’s not quite ready to leave but unsure if she wants to stay.
    She takes one step toward the circle when Rhoda and Rochelle burst through the door and scurry over to the circle in a rush. Shaquan stays by the door and watches with her arms folded. I smile over in her direction, but she remains firmly stuck in place.
    â€œI tell y’all, it’s only the blood of Jesus that keeps me from going slap off on some people,” Rhoda declares.
    Yvonne sighs. “Who are you going slap off on now?”
    â€œAre you mocking me, Yvonne? Huh? Is that what you’re doing?”
    Yvonne chuckles. “No, Rhoda, not at all.”
    â€œBecause you know what the Word says. It says God’s anointed ain’t to be mocked. Whatever a heffa is sowing, that she’s gonna reap tenfold, heaped together, until she can’t contain all the vengeance of the Lord.”
    â€œOoh, Sister Rhoda, I felt that down in my spirit,” Rochelle, Rhoda’s gossip in training, says.
    If the two of them spent more time actually reading the Bible, they probably wouldn’t have time for all their perpetual drama. I’m just saying.
    â€œWell, your spirit is broken, then, because that is not in the Bible!” Yvonne says.
    Shaquan bursts into laughter at the door and finally walks over to the circle and slides into a seat. “Okay, y’all are entertaining. Maybe I will stay.”
    â€œAnyway!” Rhoda continues. “Like I was saying, some people in this world are blessed that I know Jesus as my Lord and