Good to Me Read Online Free Page A

together. “Everyone,
     let’s give the staff a hand in advance for all the hard work, long hours, and sacrifices they’ll put in to make Horizons the
     best counseling center in Charlotte.” After the applause, Charity thanked her attendees again and invited them to take some
     of her promotional pens, pads, and business cards on their way out.
    The three Horizons staff members escorted people out of the building. As Charity walked and talked with a small crowd, she
     felt a tap on her shoulder.
    “Hello, Judge Fulton,” she said, turning around to hug the juvenile court judge she’d befriended years ago when she worked
     as an adolescent counselor. She hated being subpoenaed to court by her clients’ probation officers, but she took a liking
     to Judge Fulton because it was obvious that she cared for the kids in her courtroom. Charity watched judges sentence kids
     to detention centers and boot camps without asking any questions. Judge Fulton always asked questions. She’d talk to the family
     members who were present and would counsel adolescents right there in her courtroom. She was well-known for ordering family
     counseling, drug treatment, and community service at an orphanage, children’s hospital, or homeless or battered-women’s shelter.
     Charity would be subpoenaed time after time to testify against repeat offenders sentenced by the other judges, but Judge Fulton’s
     kids rarely came back through the system. It was Judge Fulton who encouraged Charity to open her own practice. “Long time
     no see. How are you?”
    “I’m well. I can see that you are.”
    “Oh yes, God is good. You know this wouldn’t have been possible without your prayers and support.”
    “Glory to God. I’m proud of you. You’re a young woman and you’ve got so much ahead of you. You’re opening the way for many
     others who’ll come behind you.”
    “Aaaawww.” Charity hugged her again. “We’ll have to do lunch soon and catch up. I’ve got to run. The Humphries lock up at
     eight o’clock sharp. That gives me less than an hour to clean. I’d hate to be locked up in here.”
    “I know that’s right. Speaking of the Humphries, there was some talk in the courthouse about Present Day closing because of
     some financial or legal troubles or something. Is that true?”
    “I hate to think.” Charity frowned. “The black Taj Mahal closing? And I just gave them my whole life savings. That best be
     just a rumor.”
    “That’s what I said when I heard it. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open. If I hear anything, you’ll be the first to know it.”
    Even though Charity felt the information about Present Day’s closing was false, she had the same sinking feeling in her stomach
     that she’d felt when Harmony made mention of her former life.

Chapter 2
    SHE BARELY LOCKED THE DOORS BEHIND HER before she had half of her clothes off. The only thing Charity wanted to do was to soak in a long, hot bath surrounded by
     candlight. It had been one of those days. She had had her share of smiling, entertaining, and pretending to be interested
     in other people’s opinions. She just wanted to relax and go to bed. Since now-six-year-old Xavier was with his father for
     the weekend, she planned to do just that.
    She hung her purse on the coatrack by the door, then kicked off her navy high-heeled sling backs and carried them to her room.
     She placed them in the shoe rack on the floor of her walk-in closet and hung her navy wool blazer and skirt up behind other
     winter suits. She pulled her silk, pink-blush blouse over her head and hung it between the shirts and blouses in the front
     of the closet. Leaning back on the edge of the bed, she extended her legs in the air and rolled her thigh-high hose off as
     if she were in a commercial shoot.
    Having a restful sleep was essential tonight. Charity looked for the one gown she knew would make that easy to accomplish.
     She went through two drawers of clothes to find the long, thin