“Talk about a small world,” Destiny said. “Who is this friend anyway and how does he know Bertice?”
“His name’s Phil Harris. Apparently, he met Bertice through his work. He runs a temp agency downtown, HR Solutions. Do you know it?” he asked, even though he already knew she did. For some reason, her answer was important to him.
She nodded. “I’ve heard of it and him, too. In fact, Bertice recently introduced me to him. How do you know Phil?”
“I met him several years ago in my old job,” he said, pleased she hadn’t lied about knowing Phil. He wanted his instincts about her to be right. He much preferred to think of her as a needy person who’d gotten caught up in a scam, rather than as a greedy person who’d been ensnared by her own greed. For him, intent made all the difference. “I wouldn’t say that Phil and I are close friends but our lives seem to keep crossing.”
She looked up at him. “And Phil has this thing for Bertice?”
He nodded. “He’s got it bad.”
She smiled. “I’m not surprised. I thought I detected some heat between them when she introduced us, but so much was going on that I forgot to follow up with Bertice about it. I can’t believe my friend has been keeping this a secret.”
“She doesn’t know how Phil feels. I know he hasn’t told her.”
Destiny began to laugh. “So you’re telling me that Phil has a crush on Bertice?”
He nodded, though she made the idea sound as high school as Phil had told him it was. He hoped she wasn’t about to squash it before giving it a chance. He really didn’t have a backup plan if this one didn’t work.
“Phil has a crush on Bertice,” she repeated. “I can’t wait to tell her.”
“Hold on,” Daniel said. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Has she said anything about him?”
“Not to me,” she said. “Like I said, sparks were flying between them when she introduced us, but that’s all.”
“If she introduced you to him, she must be interested in him, right?”
Destiny lifted her shoulders in a slight shrug. “All I know is that he’s helped her out with some part-time work in the past and she thought he might be able to help me out this summer.”
“Was he?”
She nodded. “Yes, he was able to find something that paid well and didn’t conflict with my day job. And it won’t interfere with my work here at the church either.”
“I just counted three jobs. When are you going to sleep?”
She chuckled. “It’s not that bad. The job and the HR Solutions job are very flexible with working hours. That’s the only reason I’m able to handle the three jobs.”
“Okay,” he said. “I can see how you can handle three jobs, but why would you want to? That’s a lot.”
“I have some big goals this summer and I need money to achieve them. It’s that simple.”
Daniel waited for her to tell him what her goals were. When she didn’t, he changed the subject. “Well, it looks like God worked it out for you.”
“He definitely did. I had another well-paying part-time job lined up at the beginning of the summer but the offer was rescinded about a week before the job was to start. I thought my plans were going to die, but I’ve been given a second chance to make them come true. I’m more than blessed.”
“That you are,” he said. “That’s the way I feel about this project. I didn’t come to Atlanta with a plan to start these programs, but I believe God knew we’d be doing them. It was all part of his plan.”
“Is this matchmaking project of yours also part of a plan?”
Daniel chuckled. Sensing that she wanted to change the subject, he asked, “How about it? Do you think Bertice will go out with Phil?”
“I can’t answer for her. He’ll have to ask.”
Daniel tapped her on the shoulder. “Have a heart. Phil’s sorta nervous about it. What if the four of us got together and did something? That way, it wouldn’t be a big deal. Just four friends having a nice night out together. If something develops between them, so be it. If it doesn’t, well, that’s okay, too.” Daniel realized his words also applied to him and Destiny. The light in her eyes told him she saw the connection as well.
“I’m game,” she said, after thinking about it. “But it’ll have to be on Saturday or Sunday. With work and school, my weekdays are booked solid.”
“School?”
She nodded. “Yes, school.”
He grinned. “You really are a wonder woman, aren’t you? You may not have any time for going out.” Shaking his head, he said, “Your schedule is fine with me. Let’s try for lunch on Sunday, after church. That way I can kill two birds with one stone. I’ve been trying to get Phil to come to church; I think I’ve found the appropriate inducement. If Bertice will come, he’ll come too.”
“I’m not sure,” Destiny said. “All I can do is ask her. She doesn’t attend as regularly now as she did a few years ago.”
“What happened to make her stop coming?”
“What makes you think something happened?”
“There’s usually a reason folks stop attending church.”
She looked at him as though she were debating what to tell him. “Well, she has her reasons, but it’s time for her to put them aside. This double-date idea might be a good thing after all.”
Daniel put his hand to chest. “I can’t believe you doubted my idea.”
She smiled. “It’s just that I know you don’t have the best role models when it comes to matchmaking.”
He smiled back, knowing she was talking about Gavin and Natalie. “The good news is that we can’t be worse at it than they are. So are you willing to help get the two lovebirds together?”
She nodded. “I’m in. It’s about time Bertice came back to church anyway.”
“Good,” Daniel said. “Now that we’ve got that settled, how about we finish up the plans for these programs.”
She nodded. “Sounds good to me. I just want to agree with Gavin and say again how great it is of you to do this.”
“It’s not me,” he said. “It’s all Gloria. It’s what she would want.”
“I think she’s looking down from heaven with a smile on her face.”
“I hope so,” he said, thinking of the first time Gloria had come into his office at GDW Investigations for help with a financial adviser who had conned her nonprofit out of a hundred thousand dollars. Her visit had changed the trajectory of his life in ways he could not have imagined when he first met her.
“I promise you I’ll do everything in my power to see that these programs live up to her memory,” Destiny said, as if sensing how much he loved his wife and wanted to honor her. “She’ll be proud of the work the money is doing.”
“Thank you,” he said, “for understanding.”
She nodded. “I do have a question though.”
Daniel braced himself for a question about Gloria or their marriage.
“Which program do you want to start with—the small business development one or the personal finances one?”
He relaxed at the softball question. “Any chance we could launch them around the same time? If you’re up for it, I can take the lead on the small business development one and you can take the lead on the personal finances one.”
Destiny wasn’t sure she was the right person to take the lead on anything related to personal finances, but she guessed she was better equipped for that one than she was for the small business development one. “No problem. I have all the notes from our meeting with Gavin and Natalie. I’ll sort those out and e-mail them to you by tomorrow. When should we plan to meet again?”
“We each have a lot of legwork to do, so let’s say next week. You’re welcome to come here to the office to work anytime you like. We don’t have any extra space but I’m willing to share mine. I’ve asked Gavin about putting a second desk in here and he plans to get it done by next week. Until then, we can share my desk.”
Destiny began shaking her head. “
I don’t want to put you out.”
“You’re not putting me out,” he said. “For now, this office is the home base for the two programs, so this is your space as much as it’s mine. If we find sharing doesn’t work, we’ll come up with another option, but for right now, let’s just go with it. Okay?”
“But it’s your space,” she said again.
He put his hands on her shoulders and smiled down at her. “It’s our space now. I want to hear you say it.”
She smiled back. “You win. It’s our space now.”
Chapter 17
DESTINY CHECKED HER BANK BALANCE ONLINE AT THE kitchen table while she waited for her kids’ nightly call. She couldn’t help but feel some relief at the numbers. Her check from Marshalls had been deposited, of course. She’d gotten a totally unexpected deposit from Faith Community even though she hadn’t yet worked a full week. That had to be Natalie’s doing. She’d have to thank her friend for looking out for her. And her first deposits from the HR Solutions work had been made. Though those deposits caused a hefty increase in her balance, she felt a little guilty at the small amount of work she had done to earn them. She’d filled out ten surveys, each taking less than an hour, and gotten ten checks. Upon getting the checks, all she’d had to do was keep 10 percent of the money and forward the balance to the HR Solutions account number Phil had given her. The old adage, If it’s too good to be true, it probably is, rang in her ears, but she pushed it away. She was giving up the negative and focusing on the positive. This job was a gift from God and she’d continue to treat it that way.
The sound of her doorbell interrupted her thoughts. “Who could that be?” she asked herself as she got up and headed for her front door.
When she peeked through the side curtains, she saw her mother standing outside. With a sigh, she opened the door. “Hi, Mom,” she said. “What brings you by?”
Patricia Madison walked fully into the house. “It’s good to see you, too, sweetheart.”
“I’m glad to see you, Mom,” Destiny said, following her mother back to the kitchen. “I’m just surprised at seeing you so late.”
“It’s not that late,” her mother said. “I had choir practice tonight. Don’t you remember?”
Destiny did remember, but that still didn’t explain her mother’s presence.
“I hope I didn’t interrupt anything,” her mother said, looking at the papers spread out on the table. “What were you doing?”
Destiny quickly walked around her mother, gathered up the papers, and moved them away from the older woman’s prying eyes. “I was catching up on bills.”
Her mother pulled out a chair and sat at the table. “Where are your manners, Destiny? You haven’t even offered me anything to drink.”
Destiny rolled her eyes as she headed toward the kitchen. “What do you want? I have diet soda and tea.”
“Tea, please,” her mother called out.
Destiny brought her mother the tea and then sat at the table across from her. “You still haven’t told me what brings you by.”
Her mother took a long swallow of tea. “That’s good,” she said. “Exactly what I needed.”
“Mom!”
Her mother looked at her. “What’s your problem, Destiny? Do I really need a reason to visit my only daughter? Maybe I should have called first. Are you trying to rush me off? Do you have a date or something?”
Destiny rolled her eyes. “I’m not trying to rush you off and I don’t have a date.”
“Well, how am I supposed to know? I haven’t seen you or talked to you since the kids left town. A lot can happen in a month.”
Destiny began shaking her head at her mother’s exaggeration. “The kids have been gone only a few weeks.”
“Three weeks to be exact,” her mother said, “though it seems like much longer to me.”
“I know,” Destiny said. “Kenae and KJ can be a handful when they’re around, but this place is too quiet without them. Too quiet, too big, and too empty. I’ve been trying to keep myself busy so I don’t miss them so much. It’s not working.”
“I know what you mean,” her mother said. “I miss those little rascals, too. And you becoming a stranger has not helped.”
“I’m sorry, Mom,” she said. “I’ll do better. I promise.”
“I hope so,” her mother said, running her finger down the side of her glass. “I hate hearing news about my daughter secondhand.”
Now they were getting to the real reason for her mother’s visit. “What are you talking about? What news have you heard?”
Her mother shrugged. “Oh, this and that.”
Destiny fought hard to keep from rolling her eyes again. She didn’t want to play games with her mother. She’d tell her what she wanted to hear and let her gloat. “You must have heard that I’m back in school.”
Her mother looked up at her, eyes full of surprise. “School? You’re back in school? That’s great, Destiny. You should have told me.” She reached out and covered Destiny’s hand with her own. “I’m so proud of you.”
Destiny took little joy in her mother’s praise for she knew all too well how fleeting it was. “There’s nothing to be proud of yet,” she said. “Classes don’t start until Monday.”
Her mother pulled her hand back. “That doesn’t matter. The important thing is that you took the initiative and enrolled. This is a great move for you. Things are really shaping up for you on all fronts.”
“All fronts?” Destiny asked, wondering who had been talking to her mother about her and what they had been saying. “What are you talking about?”
Her mother smiled. “Your going back to school is great news. A little bird told me that something else good was happening for you. I don’t know why you’re being so closemouthed about it.”
Destiny saw no use holding out on her mother. Experience told her the older woman would win. “You must have heard about my job at Faith Community.”
Her mother’s eyes widened and again Destiny saw surprise in them. “Job?”
Destiny nodded. “It’s been a little over a week now. I’m planning and administering two new church programs.”
“This is a paying job?”
Destiny smiled. “Yes, Mom, it’s a paying job. A paying part-time job.”
“Which is about all you can handle with school and your day job. I must say I’m impressed, Destiny. You’re really making the most of your summer without the kids.”
“I’m just trying to keep busy.”
Her mother shook her head. “You’re doing more than that,” she said. “You’re taking charge of your life, making moves that will positively affect your future and the future of your kids. They’re going to be as proud of you as I am. You just wait and see.”
“Well,” Destiny said, uncomfortable with her mother’s praise, “I may not have to wait long. I’m going to treat myself to a long weekend trip to visit the kids in a few weeks. I’d love to stay longer, but my summer schedule won’t allow it.”
“What a great idea! It’s going to be hard going through the entire summer without seeing them. I just may join you on this trip. Would you mind?”
Destiny hadn’t thought of her mom joining her but she couldn’t tell the woman she couldn’t come. “Of course, you’re welcome to go with me, Mom. The kids will love to see you.”
“And I can help with expenses.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Destiny said. “I had planned to cover the trip myself. I have it all budgeted. Your going won’t add that much. I can cover you.”
Her mother began shaking her head. “I’m going to pay my own way, Destiny. If you have extra money, spend it on gifts for the kids or use it to stay in California longer. It’s up to you.”
Destiny considered her mother’s offer. She would be crazy to turn it down. “Thanks, Mom,” she said.
“Don’t thank me,” the older woman said. “I should be thanking you. The summer was looking pretty bleak without the kids and with seeing you so littl
e. Now I have something to look forward to.”
“Just don’t mention it to the kids when you talk to them. I want the visit to be a surprise.”
Her mother nodded. “Have you told Kenneth and Mary Margaret that you plan to come? Have you agreed on a date?”
“No,” Destiny said. “I wanted to make sure my money was right first.”
“Well, let me know as soon as you decide on dates. My summer is wide open,” her mother said. “Another perk of being a teacher. It’s a great field for someone with children. It’s still not too late for you to think about joining the teaching ranks.”
Destiny didn’t bother to respond to that statement since she’d made her feelings clear on the matter several times before. “School and my job at the church were surprises to you, so what did your little birdie tell you about me?”
Her mother smiled. “What you told me is better than the gossip I heard, so let’s just forget it.”
Before Destiny could respond, her cell phone rang. Looking down at the phone, she said, “It’s the kids.” Then she handed the phone to her mother. “You answer it. They’ll be surprised to hear your voice.”
Smiling, her mother reached for the phone.
Destiny sat back and listened while her mom spoke first to KJ. She appreciated the easy way her mother had with her children. She wished the relationship she had with her mother was as positive as the one her children had.
Chapter 18
WE HAVE TO HAVE A REAL LADIES’ NIGHT OUT ONE DAY soon,” Natalie said as Destiny twisted her hair.
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Destiny said.
“I’m all for that,” Bertice said. “I’m just surprised you two sticks in the mud are up for it.”
Natalie rolled her eyes. “Just because we don’t want to go clubbing every weekend does not make us sticks in the mud.”
The Summer of Me: A Novel Page 10
