Read Online Promising Angela by Kim Vogel Sawyer - Free Book Online Page B

she contemplated digging her cell phone from her purse and calling him to apologize. Experiences from her past stung her memory. Some of what Ben intimated—her penchant for flirting—was accurate. She’d done so many foolish things. The inability to change them now brought a rush of frustration. Would she pay forever for the mistakes of her past? Although the desire to apologize was strong, the desire to protect herself from further condemnation won out. She didn’t reach for her phone.
    But she did add Ben’s name to her list. At the bottom.

    Ben leaned back in his chair and bit down on the inside of his cheeks to keep from laughing. Angela and three clients sorted a stack of clean recyclables, and the confusion of the activity was enough to make a grown man cry. Yet there she was, with her shining head of hair all tousled, directing the chaos as well as a traffic cop directed the noon rush.
    “Now, Pete, plastic goes in the middle bin. See? This says plastic. Ketchup bottles are plastic. Yes, I know there’s a picture of a tomato on the front just like the one on that can, but see? We have to look at what’s under the picture. This is tin.” She clinked her fingernail against the can. “And this is plastic.” Thunking a finger against the bottle, she demonstrated the differences in the materials. “Do you understand? Now hold up, Jannie, we’re not going to start a band here!”
    Ben could barely contain his laughter as each of the clients chose an item or two from the bins to
clink
and
thud
. Angela’s sweet laughter rang over the top of the noise. Finally she managed to convince everyone to put the “instruments” away and return to sorting. Her smile covered any hint of reprimand, and the clients each giggled, delivering friendly pats on Angela’s back to show their willingness to cooperate.
    Ben shook his head. How far she’d come … Based on his observations of her first couple of weeks, he would never have imagined her ever settling in. Yet she had, and he realized it was largely due to her commitment to emulate Jesus. He’d observed her attentiveness in church and Sunday school, and her focus during her Bible reading on her break was nearly impenetrable.
    Although they hadn’t spoken to one another except in passing since his visit to Elmwood Towers almost a week ago, he had continued to pray for her daily. Lifting her in prayer helped him feel connected to her even if she had pulled away.
    The bell at the front door tinkled, announcing someone’s entrance. Ben shifted his gaze to the door and spotted the center’s owner, Philip Wilder, striding through. Philip paused beside the sorting table and visited with Angela for a moment. The beaming smile she aimed at him made Ben’s heart lurch. He’d missed having that smile turned in his direction.
    Philip laughed at something, gave Angela’s arm a quick squeeze, and then walked to Ben’s desk. Leaning against the desk’s edge, he used his head to gesture toward the sorting table. “They’re having fun over there, aren’t they?”
    Ben watched for another few seconds—long enough to see Pete try to put an empty butter tub on Angela’s head for a hat and Angela return the favor—before answering Philip. “Oh, yeah, but I think in the midst of their fun, they’re figuring out what needs to be done.”
    Philip nodded, chuckling, his gaze on the group. “Yes. I’m glad now I followed Carrie’s recommendation. Angela’s placement is working out better than I had anticipated.”
    Ben sent Philip a sharp look. “Placement? What do you mean by that?”
    Philip gave a start. He jerked his gaze in Ben’s direction, and he pulled his lips into a grimace. “It doesn’t matter.” He turned away, seeming to concentrate on the group at the recycling table.
    Curiosity got the best of Ben. He stood and rounded the desk to stand next to Philip. “No, really. What did you mean by placement? Our clients go into different placements, not our