Read Online The Summer of Me by Angela Benson - Free Book Online Page A

the child-support money. She was beginning to realize she couldn’t have both. “Is it what you want? Do you want to cut the trip short?” she asked. She could bluff as well as he could.
    â€œYou know it’s not what I want but you have to be reasonable. You have to contribute something. Mary Margaret—”
    â€œI thought we were leaving Mary Margaret out of this.”
    â€œThese are our kids, Destiny, not hers. She’s trying to be a good stepparent, but she can’t be fully responsible for them. I won’t do that to her.”
    Destiny sighed, knowing she had lost this round. Unfortunately for her, everything Kenneth said made sense. She hated when facts got in the way of a good argument. “Okay, okay,” she said. “What if you keep half and send me half? Will that work?”
    â€œThat’ll work,” he said, much too quickly. She wondered if she’d given in too easily. “I’ll have the money transferred into your account tomorrow.”
    â€œThank you,” she said.
    â€œI’m not a bad guy, Destiny. I want to do right by you and the kids.”
    â€œI know you do, Kenneth. Just don’t do anything like this again. You have to talk to me.”
    â€œI know,” he said. “But you can be unpredictable. There was a time when you really would have held the kids hostage to get what you wanted.”
    â€œThat was a long time ago. It’s not fair of you to hold the things I did back then against me. I’ve been nothing but reasonable with you and Mary Margaret. I want only what’s best for the kids.”
    â€œSo do I,” he said. “Are we clear on everything now?”
    â€œYes,” she said. “Give Mary Margaret my regards.”
    â€œRight,” he said, the word dripping with sarcasm.
    She chuckled. “Good night, Kenneth.”
    When she hung up the phone, Destiny knew she had made the right decision to relent about the money. She also knew that, as a result, her plans to get the house in Gwinnett were even more in jeopardy. Not only did she need extra money to move, she also needed more money to maintain her current household. Her situation was growing dire.

Chapter 9
    D ANIEL SMILED AT THE WOMAN, UNABLE TO RECALL her name. He only knew she was a member of the matrons group at Faith Community. According to Gavin, the women brought him lunch on special occasions, but they had brought lunch every day since Daniel’s arrival, with a different woman delivering the meal each day. “Thank you so much,” he said. “But you-all really don’t have to feed me every day.”
    â€œWe don’t mind, Brother Daniel,” the woman said. “It’s part of our ministry.”
    A knock on the open door interrupted their conversation. “Something smells good in here,” Natalie said, walking fully into the office next to Gavin’s where Daniel had been installed. “What do you have here, Eve?” she asked. “I hope there’s enough for me.”
    Eve smiled, but Daniel noticed the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Of course, Sister Weston. We brought enough for you and the pastor. We’d never leave you out.”
    Natalie leaned over and brushed a kiss against the woman’s cheek. “I knew you wouldn’t,” she said. “I was just teasing.” Natalie rubbed her stomach. “Gavin loves your cooking, so you know he dived in as soon as you brought it to him. I stopped by his office before coming here to meet with Daniel so I dived in with him. You are the best cook I know. I’ve been meaning to talk to you about catering the upcoming regional pastors’ wives luncheon. Not a big group, about forty women. Do you think you’d be interested? You’d make some great contacts.”
    Daniel watched as Eve’s eyes brightened.
    â€œI’m more than interested,” she said. “Thank you so much for