Layla lived most of her life severely obese. But in the midst of someone out to murder her, to bring harm to her, God used something horrific and changed it into some healing in Layla’s life.
Envy carried the burden of her past on her shoulders for eighteen years, until God began to deal with her personally. She tried to escape the pain by seeking refuge from it in the arms of men, but God showed her that He was the Man she was looking for. Once she set her eyes on Him, then God could bring a man into her life that could show her what true love was.
Each of them, in her own way, experienced the divine, true beauty that God had placed in each of them.
A Special Invitation from the Author
If you have not made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, God Himself extends this invitation to you. If you have not trusted Him and believed Him to be the giver of eternal life, you can do so right now. We do not know the second, the minute, the hour, the moment, or the day that God will come to claim us. Will you be ready?
The Word of God says, If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved (Romans 10:9–10 NIV).
READERS’ DISCUSSION GUIDE
1. How do you feel about the change in Layla’s personality and outlook on life?
2. Why do Envy and Kacie feel the way they do about the change in Layla?
3. Does Dennis come off as too good to be true? Why or why not?
4. Would a man (or woman) accept someone with seven children in today’s society, especially if that person has never been married?
5. Discuss your opinions about the men in each of the friends’ lives: Tyreek, Dennis, Leonard, Thomas, Minister Cecil.
6. What do Layla, Kacie, and Envy have in common?
7. What are your feelings about Envy’s secret and the decision she made to tell her friends about it?
8. Does God honor the prayers of those who knowingly continue to commit sinful acts and then run to Him to ask for His forgiveness? Why or Why not?
9. Do you believe teenagers in today’s society really feel like Kenny and Jackie about sex? Discuss.
10. Why are there some subjects that many pastors steer away from preaching about in the pulpit? Alternatively, do you believe that subjects about sexual acts should not be talked about in church?
11. What are your thoughts about sibling rivalry? In True Beauty, who is to blame for the sibling rivalry—Nikkei or Envy?
12. What is your favorite part of this story?
13. Are there any characters that you do not like or that you like more than others in this novel? Why?
14. Do you believe Layla, Envy, and Kacie are true Christians? Why or why not?
15. What is your definition of true beauty?
16. Do men look at women through physical eyes, like Kacie seems to think? If so, is Kacie right to feel the way she does about her disability? Why or why not?
Bonus Chapter for Upcoming Novel:
What’s Blood Got To Do With It?
Release Date February 29, 2012
November 1, 1987.
Upon exiting the womb, the newborn uttered a barely audible cry. Was it born of prophetic significance? Everyone nearby heard it. Immediately, it was whisked away. A flurry of nurses preened, sucked, injected and wiped this one so small, so fragile, so precious.
Tears slowly cascaded down the mother’s pink cheeks as she whispered, “Adanya.”
“Come again?” said a nurse nearby.
“Adanya.”
“What is she saying?” the teenage girl’s mother asked.
“Oh, Adanya is that going to be your baby’s name.”
“Umm,” replied the mother with a nod.
“What a lovely name,” the compassionate nurse told the adolescent girl lying drowsily before her.
The difficult delivery left the mother’s braided hair a glowing, damp mess. An autistic mother and an unknowing father were not likely candidates to raise this child.
What lay ahead for Adanya? Who would the caregivers be? What kinds of tragedies would befall such a one? Certainly only God knew the answers. The hard delivery, coupled with a sedative put the mother into a deep, deep sleep.
Chapter One
“Pity is stronger than love.”
February 4, 2010
Tar black heels attached to shapely brown legs click-clacked across the cement floor. Self-assuredness marked each step. She was the personification of confidence. A black and white thigh-length dress typified her aura. A high-powered executive? She was not. A self-made millionaire? She was not. A well-kept mistress? She was not. A successful businessman’s wife? Not that either. A high-priced call girl? Nope. Born with a silver spoon? Sort of.
Adanya Katherine Anniston lived in a world of her own. One that was surrounded by lushness, where the sight of money and power was an everyday occurrence, and one that included love of God and family. She graduated from a prestigious all girls' preparatory school in Memphis at the age of sixteen and immediately entered Spellman College. Adanya appeared to have everything a twenty-two year old Spellman College Communications and Cultural Master’s graduate could imagine. She was raised by loving parents who were not severed by divorce like millions of other families. The Anniston’s were successful in their own rites.
Adanya adored her naturally curly, coarse, brown hair, along with her pronounced Puerto Rican and African ancestral facial features. She was gorgeous in her own classification of how physical beauty was often defined.
Her Puerto Rican mother, born in the Bronx of New York; and her father, a black man from the heart of Memphis, the Bible Belt some called it, defined her in ways she would learn throughout life.
Her maternal grandparents, Eva and Maurice Kaplan, Sr. much like a story book tale, met and fell in love while attending Lemoyne Owen College. For years, the Kaplan’s played a pivotal role in education as college professors, fought for civil rights as young people of color; and stood boldly to proclaim their faith and belief in what was right. The Kaplan’s were the proud parents of identical twin girls, Annalisse whose name carried on the Puerto Rican heritage of their family and Anaya, the African side.
Adanya had an inquisitive nature since she was a toddler. She seemed to have a questioning curiosity, for no apparent reason, about her family circle. She had a keen sense, even at a tender age that far outweighed the intellect and wisdom of many of her cousins and relatives, startling her parents constantly with her innate ability to perceive every day happenings within her family and outside in the vast world. Her parents often remarked that Adanya acted older than her young years. In many instances, it was true.
Adanya strolled in the small classroom full of college students. Many were like Adanya, from the affluent, society driven, rich crowd. She gracefully approached her desk, placed her iPhone on top of it and set her gray leather briefcase next to it.
“Good afternoon. I trust each of you had an adventurous and pleasant weekend.” Adanya smiled slightly. Without further salutations, Adanya began lecturing the lecture hall full of students. Most of them, especially the men sat attentively as she lectured. Adanya had considered teaching public high school after she graduated but quickly decided against it after she consulted with her dearest confidante, her father.
Adanya and her father, Kenneth John Anniston were definitely a close pair. Kenneth absolutely adored his only child and daughter. He loved her infectious smile, the wave pattern of her hair, the innocence she portrayed, her gracefulness and the love she had for him, which was immeasurable. Anything he could do for her, Kenneth was willing to do.
Adanya, after all, was a precious gift from God. Her name alone appeared to instill within Kenneth a source of pride because of its Nigerian meaning - ‘her father’s daughter.’
The family background and how her name was derived
was not a talked about subject, nor was it part of Kenneth’s past that he chose to discuss. But true to his heritage, and much like Annalisse’s parents, his spiritual beliefs had brought him through the rungs of the past.
Not only were the Anniston’s wealthy monetarily, but they were wealthy in the blessings of their relationship. A strong couple, Annalisse and Kenneth remained faithful to each other even in lieu of their successful lifestyle. Many times money and power ruined marriages but not the Anniston’s. They were known throughout their community and the city for their philanthropic work.
Adanya was the type of child that soaked up everything her father told her. She was daddy’s girl, one whom when she was little, loved to climb on his lap whether he was at work in his huge office overlooking the mid-south or at home resting comfortably in the family library in his favorite pillow-soft indigo recliner. Adanya was an adult, a young woman, but she still relied heavily on her father’s love, guidance and direction.
She slowly strolled back and forth from one end of the classroom to the other as she lectured. “Gunther Kress in Communications and Culture states ‘Communication, the idea is a matter of great interest. Kress goes on to tell us that ours is the information age, where everything depends on communication. Great jobs are linked to the skill level of communication. Promotion in a job depends on it.”
Adanya’s form of college lecturing seemed to have a magnetic effect on her students. If one searched around the state-of-the art class room at the faces of the students, all eyes were pointed in her direction with an uncanny type of magnetism. Adanya, after all, wasn’t much older than many of them. Sometimes it was hard for her to make that distinction and to maintain professionalism after being approached by some very handsome, smart, going somewhere young men, in not only her class but throughout the college campus. Being a professor at such a young age was tough, but she wouldn’t trade her job or position for anything in the world.
Her first lecture of the day ended right before noon, just in time to meet her best girlfriend, Nanette, at the coffee shop less than a block away from campus.
Nanette was director of counseling for a private all boys’ school a few blocks away from where Adanya taught. She texted Nanette and told her she was on her way. Nanette texted back that she was walking into the coffee shop and she’d get them a seat before it got crowded.
“Hey, girl,” said Nanette when Adanya approached the table. “I already ordered your turkey burger combo and Arnold Palmer.”
Adanya sat down in the chair across the table from Nanette. “Thanks. I ‘appreciate it.”
“No problem. So, how has your day been so far?”
“Umm, pretty calm. Nothing much going on. I have a couple of more lectures and then I’ll be finished for the day. What about you?” asked Adanya.
Nanette shrugged her shoulders. “Same old same old. I’m not complaining about a thing.” The waitress brought both of their lunch orders. Before eating, Nanette stretched out her hand and automatically Adanya grabbed hold of it. They bowed their heads and Nanette blessed their food.
“Amen,” they said in unison after the short prayer.
“Hey, would you like to go to a Grizzlies game with me and Poppy tonight?” asked Adanya. Poppy’s best friend is out of town at one of their company conventions, so he has an extra season ticket seat.”
“I don’t think so. I have quite a few college essays to read. You mean your daddy isn’t out of town at one of those tech conventions he frequents. I thought he rarely missed them.”
“Believe it or not, he’s decided to spend more time in the office rather than flying around the country like he usually does, unless it’s absolutely necessary, of course. He finally has a pretty good group of loyal employees that he hired from some of the cities he usually travels to. It’s decreased his work load tremendously.
“I know you’re glad. You act like you and your poppy are joined at the hip.” Nanette giggled.
“Yeah, I’m more than glad. I don’t want Poppy to be heartbroken because I’m not enthralled with the IT business to the extent that he is. I mean, I have nothing against it, because it’s provided us with the comfortable lifestyle that we have,” Adanya said between taking a bite and chewing her juicy grilled turkey burger. “I’ll probably become more involved a few years down the line, but not right now. Too hectic for me.” Adanya smiled, and took a handful of fries and stuffed them in her round mouth.
“It’s still good to know you have your father’s IT business to fall back on if you ever decide to choose another career.” Nanette sipped from her iced decaf coffee, followed by a bite from her sandwich. “Hey, forget about work, maybe it’s time we get a love life, girl.” Nanette grinned. “Or should I say, maybe it’s time you get one.” Nanette pointed a finger at Adanya for emphasis.
Adanya giggled and wiped her mouth with her napkin. “Where did that come from? I don’t need a man in my life right now. I do not have time, even if I wanted one. It’ll only complicate matters. When it’s time, he’ll find me.”
“Love is never complicated, dawdling,” Nanette said in an exaggerated southern drawl and with one hand flowing in the air.
Adanya waved her off. “You are too crazy for me. Anyway, Poppy says I have plenty of time for a relationship. He wants me to concentrate totally on me for now,” Adanya emphasized by placing her hand flat against her busty chest.
“Your poppy, your poppy. To listen to you talk, the only person in your life is your poppy. I never hear you say anything about Mrs. Anniston. We’ve been best friends for two years, and I can count on one hand the times you’ve talked about her. And she’s such a nice woman too. And talking about pretty, you’ve got her looks.”
“Thanks. But really, Nanette, there is nothing wrong. I love my mommy. You know that, but you also know that she can go off on a tangent sometimes. She has select friends she deals with, and you know it. So I do not interfere with that. Plus, I can’t help it if I’m a daddy’s girl. I have his blood running through these voluptuous veins,” said Adanya without a hint of conceitedness. She ran her hand up and down the length of her arm and smiled.
“You are so silly. You have both of your parents’ blood running through your veins, as you put it,” answered Nanette and shook her head.
The two friends continued eating lunch. They commented in whispers about several cute guys that walked into the deli. Some of them were total hotties, whom they tried to guess if they worked at the Executive Plaza a couple of blocks away, or at the college campus or some other nearby business. A couple of them Adanya had seen before eating lunch at the popular deli spot. Several more, Adanya recognized as students from campus.
A few minutes into their girly game, Adanya’s eyes engaged with a pair of eyes that reminded her of the ocean and skin that likes the sands of Siesta Key.
She watched as he walked toward their table.
Nanette followed Adanya’s eyes. “What are you looking at?”
Adanya didn’t have time to response because green eyes were gazing into hers. “Hello, how are you lovely ladies doing this afternoon?”
Adanya shifted her gaze and locked eyes with Nanette.
Nanette, speechless, looked at the hunk standing before them and shrugged her shoulders.
“Are you talking to us?” Adanya glanced over her shoulder.
“Of course,” he answered. “Definitely you,” he said in a flirtatious tone.
Nanette cleared her throat and took her napkin and poised it over her mouth to shield the smile Adanya saw form on her face.
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
“Me too,” quipped Nanette and took a sip from her straw.
“My name is Bleak…Bleak Kissinger,” he said and extended his hand toward Adanya.
Adanya hesitated, glanced over at Nanette like she was pleading for help. Nanette gave none so Adanya shook his hand.
“Hello,” answered Adanya without giving up her name.” Uh, how can we help you?”
&
nbsp; “Well, you can help me by telling me your name,” he said in a flirty manner.
“I don’t think so,” responded Adanya. She suddenly felt a light but swift kick on her shins from Nanette.
“Ouch,” she said.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
“No, not at all. But if you’ll excuse us, we only have a few more minutes to finish our lunch.”
“Oh, of course. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. But I’ve seen you somewhere before. I can’t quite remember where.”
“Ohh, that’s ashamed,” answered Adanya in a rather sarcastic tone. Nanette continued to sip on her soda, not mumbling a word.
Adanya made a mental note to let Nanette have a mouth full as soon as she could get rid of Bleak.
“Well, Bleak, I’m not sure where you’ve seen me, but I really don’t have the time for conversation right now.”
“Sure. Understood. Maybe I’ll run into you again.”
“Yeah, maybe,” responded Adanya and then turned her back toward him.
Bleak walked away and headed out of the crowded restaurant.
“Girl, he was fine,” said Nanette. “I can’t believe you wouldn’t tell him your name.”
“Are you crazy? That was nothing more than a cheap pick up line. He’s probably one of the college students on campus. Just being a flirt, that’s all.” Adanya took the last bite from her sandwich and washed it down with her remaining soda. “Let’s get out of here.”
They paid their checks and proceeded outside. Stopping on the side of the entrance to the deli, they chatted some more. “Since you’re going to the game, I guess I won’t be talking to you tonight,” Nanette told Adanya and huddled herself inside her thick top coat to ward off the cold temperature.
“Probably not. I’ll be enjoying some daddy-daughter time.” A glow spread across Adanya’s face.
True Beauty Page 26
