Free Promising Angela by Kim Vogel Sawyer

workers. Are you starting something new?”
    Philip blew out a breath. “Ben, really, it’s not important.”
    “It is to me.” Ben folded his arms across his chest and looked into Philip’s face, even though the other man kept his gaze averted. “If we’re starting some sort of new program, training people to work with the handicapped population, I’d like to know that. It will make a difference in how I evaluate their performances.”
    Finally Philip faced Ben. “You won’t need to change how you evaluate performances. We aren’t turning into a training center for anyone other than the people with disabilities. I said ‘placement’ for Angela because she technically isn’t a hired employee.”
    Ben’s eyebrows rose. “Isn’t hired? You mean, she’s unpaid—a volunteer?” His heart gave a lurch. If she were volunteering here, he’d been entirely too hard on her. He owed her a thank-you for her service, not criticism.
    But Philip shook his head. “Not a volunteer. She’s here as … community service.”
    Ben’s jaw dropped. Community service? A judge would make that determination, which meant Angela had broken some kind of law. He glanced quickly at Angela. She handed a cereal box to Jannie then nodded in approval when the other woman dropped it in the appropriate bin. She’d broken the law? He felt his stomach clench.
    “What did she do?”
    “That, my friend, is confidential.” Philip put his hand on Ben’s shoulder. “Look, Ben, I wasn’t even supposed to let you know her employment here is temporary and court-dictated. I’d appreciate it if you would keep it to yourself. It could alter her relationships with the other employees as well as the clients.”
    “But is it safe to have her here?” Ben hated himself for asking the question, yet he couldn’t seem to stop himself.
    Philip released a low chuckle. “If it weren’t, she wouldn’t be here.” He pushed off from the desk. “Frankly, I think it’s done Angela a world of good to be part of the staff at New Beginnings. It’s given her a ‘new beginning’ of sorts, too. As I said earlier, it’s worked out better than I’d hoped. I call it a God-thing.”
    Ben wasn’t so sure about that, but he wouldn’t argue with his boss. He nodded, but the thought tormented him the rest of the afternoon. Angela had broken the law and been given a sentence of community service.
What secret is she hiding?

    “Pizza again!” Ben announced as he entered Kent’s apartment for their standard Friday night get-together.
    Kent’s eyes lit up. He sniffed the air like a bloodhound. “Pep–peron–i and pep–pers?”
    Ben laughed. “You know your pizza. Yep. Added peppers this time.” He carried the box to the living room and dropped it on the low table beside the couch. “Want to eat in front of the TV?”
    Kent nodded and pushed the chair to the end of the table. With a low grunt, he managed to lean forward far enough to get hold of the remote control. Aiming the black box at the television, he pushed buttons until he located a baseball game. He crowed with excitement. “Home run!”
    Ben headed to the kitchen to retrieve paper towels and get a grip on his emotions. Sorrow pressed his chest at Kent’s elation at watching the sport he’d once loved to play. Kent had been the champion home-run hitter on their junior high baseball team. His mother had taken down the trophy from the shelf in the family room, but Ben knew it was hidden somewhere in the house. He should ask for it, bring it over, and put it on top of the television. Kent might enjoy having it.
    He handed a wad of paper towels to his cousin then sank down on the sofa. Although Kent was already munching, he lowered his head and offered a brief prayer of thanks before picking up a piece of pizza. He got as caught up in the game as Kent, cheering for the pitcher and booing when the ump made a poor call. At one point, the camera zoomed in on the scoreboard where, for a few seconds,