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“I know you’re worried, and that you can take care of yourself,” he said softly, his lips brushing against her forehead. “Just know that we’re in this together. I won’t leave you high and dry. I promise.”
Angela’s hands tightened their hold on his shirt. She didn’t want to do this alone. She’d done so much on her own for so long. She didn’t want Isaiah to be another person to disappoint her. “You say that now?” Her voice carried the teasing note she wanted to convey and not a hint of the fear trembling inside. Fear that she’d be left to clean up another mess in her life.
He lifted her chin and met her eye. Not a hint of teasing in his clear eyes. “I promise.” Then he kissed her softly. Maybe it was the kiss, or the truth of his gaze, but she believed him, and that scared her more than him leaving.
CHAPTER 20
They fired her.
Angela sat in her car outside of the advocacy center. Her hands were clenched on the wheel, the box of personal items from her office on the passenger seat. She didn’t bother to breathe in the lavender scent from her diffuser charm. There wasn’t enough lavender in the world to settle her anger.
They’d made their new relationship official on Sunday. The media had eaten it up like a free all you can eat buffet. She’d given her supervisor the heads-up on Monday. The story had aired Wednesday. They waited until the end of the day on Friday to fire her.
“We don’t need that type of publicity,” Mr. Cooper had said. “The integrity of our advocates is the most important thing. I’m sorry, but working at a strip club and…doing things in the back room doesn’t equal integrity.”
Angela had to fight the urge to toss her stapler at his judgmental face. For him to question her integrity when she’d worked hard for them for years was laughable. Out of everyone there, she had the best record of volunteers actually visiting their assigned children. She’d won advocate of the year from the city last year. All of that down the drain because of one incident.
Angela sighed and hit the steering wheel. Jerry had smiled smugly at her as she’d walked out. She couldn’t prove it, but she’d bet money he was the one who’d told Mr. Cooper that Angel from the story and Angela in the office were the same person.
She turned on the car and drove to pick up Cory. At least basketball camp was over. Keri had even offered to let him volunteer and help with the younger summer camp kids in the last few weeks before school would start. With no more camp, school a few weeks away and him turning fourteen soon, Angela had accepted she’d have to trust him enough to stay home alone in the evenings.
Keri was behind the counter, looking frazzled when Angela arrived.
“Hey, Keri, what’s up?”
Keri sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Our assistant director quit today.” Keri’s disbelieving tone said the resignation hadn’t been expected.
“Why?”
“She got a new job in Miami. I can’t blame her, but it leaves us in a bind. She handled a lot of the programming and budget stuff.”
“That could be a good thing. You might get promoted.” Angela tried for a bright side.
Keri cringed. “No. If I’m being honest, I don’t want the responsibility. I like what I’m doing just fine.”
“I’m sorry she left unexpectedly. Maybe I can catch some of her luck. I got fired today,” Angela said.
“Oh, no! What happened?”
“Some foolishness.” If Keri didn’t automatically tie her and Isaiah to the story that aired, then Angela wasn’t going to make the leap for her. “No worries. I’ve got a part-time job I can get more hours from. I’ll start looking for a new day job tomorrow.”
Keri’s eyes brightened. “Well, maybe you should consider our assistant-director position? I’ve worked with you over the years and I think you can handle it.”
“Really? I’ve always veered toward social work.”
“You’d be helping people here, plus, we need someone with some sense,” Keri added with a laugh.
Cory came from the back then. “Maybe I’ll think about it.” Angela waved and walked over to Cory. She didn’t look for Isaiah. He said he was leaving camp early for preseason stuff. She was glad he wasn’t there. She was still processing that they’d fired her. She didn’t want him to witness her in angry, freak-out mode. Once they were settled in the car, she told Cory about getting fired.
