Free The Summer of Me by Angela Benson

don’t think we realized how much until you got here, but God knew.”
    Daniel agreed with her. His primary reason for being in Atlanta was to support Gavin and the church ministry, but working this case with Phil was also part of the reason he was here. He hadn’t been able to balance the two in the past.He hoped to do better going forward. “Enough about me,” he said. “I got another idea listening to you and Eve talk about her catering business. What would it take to get something like that up and running?”
    Natalie shrugged. “I have no idea, but I bet Eve does. You should have asked her.”
    Daniel shook his head. “I wanted to talk to you first. I had thought to use Gloria’s insurance money to help folks get themselves out of personal financial binds, but maybe we can focus on helping folks start small businesses where they can employ folks in need.”
    Natalie’s eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea, Daniel, but I don’t see why we can’t do both things. You’re starting with a good bit of money. There’s no reason we can’t help folks out short term and also help them long term with starting a small business. Of course, folks are going to need some education in what starting and running a small business entails but you’re the perfect person for that. Look what you, William, and George did with GDW Investigations. You’ve come a long way since you started.”
    Daniel nodded. GDW had started with just the three of them working out of rented space above a Chinese restaurant on the outskirts of downtown Memphis. Today, they had a floor of offices in a major downtown business complex and employed more than fifty full-time staff. “The business certainly exceeded our expectations.”
    â€œSo let’s call the programs you’re starting here the Ephesians 3:20 Project. This fund is going to be the answer to somebody’s prayer in a way they never imagined. You thinkyou’re popular now. Just wait until folks find out what you’re doing.”
    â€œThe name works for me,” he said, “but I don’t want folks knowing that I’m funding the project. Let’s keep the focus on what the project is doing rather than who is funding it.”
    â€œI understand you want to be humble about it, Daniel, but folks are going to figure it out since you’re running the project.”
    He shook his head. “Then I won’t run it. I’m sure you know somebody in the congregation who could do it.”
    â€œYes, but you’d still need to be involved, especially with the small business education.”
    â€œI’m on board with that,” he said. “I just don’t want to be the face of the project. You can bring on somebody to do that.”
    Natalie smiled. “I think I have just the person. And you’ve already met her.”
    â€œEve?”
    Natalie shook her head. “Destiny.”
    Daniel eyed her. “This is not you matchmaking again, is it?”
    Natalie chuckled. “Let’s just say it’s matchmaking plus. That you and Destiny would get to spend some time together as friends and coworkers is a bonus. The real truth is that Destiny could use the extra work and the money that goes with it.”
    Daniel hated to think of Destiny in need. He’d been raised by a single mother so he knew that finances could get tight. “So her ex-husband is one of those deadbeat dads?”
    Natalie shook her head. “It’s more complex than that,” she said. “If you want to know more, you’ll have to talk to Destiny. You are going to see her again, aren’t you?”
    Daniel grinned. “You don’t give up, do you?”
    â€œNever. Not when it matters. And you and Destiny both matter.”
    â€œWell, you and Gavin have done your parts. Now you need to step back and let us figure out the rest.”
    â€œYes, sir,”