Wanted A Real Family(17)

She remembered the event Kaitlyn had told her about when she’d moved in. “Can I bring Amy?”

“Sure. It’s at the day care center. A couple of volunteers will keep the kids occupied so we can work.”

“What time?”

“We’re starting early, around 8:00 a.m., but when you get there, you get there. I’m hoping we’ll have so many hands, it will all get organized quickly.”

“You can count on me to be there.”

The two women moved closer to the desk again and looked at the picture Amy had drawn. Right away they could see she’d drawn a tall male stick figure in blue jeans and a T-shirt. She’d drawn herself beside him in a pink shirt and shorts. She was lopsided but recognizable. Her stick fingers were on top of Jase’s. Beside them, she’d drawn a long green vine.

“Jase took Amy for a walk while the investigator talked to me,” Sara explained. “I think she had a good time.”

“Maybe you and Jase should go for a walk,” Marissa suggested with a sly look in her eye.

“No, I’m not going to encourage...chemistry. My life is just too unsettled right now.”

“Chemistry could be fun,” Marissa said with a twinkle in her eyes.

But Sara knew chemistry could also blow up in her face.





Chapter Four



The rest of the week passed quickly as Sara helped her patients recover from injuries, build up strength after surgeries and resume function after a debilitating stroke. Her work kept her focused but every now and then she thought about what Marissa had said. Could others sense an attraction between her and Jase? Was he as attracted to her as she was to him?

She was still asking herself that question among others—like, Did Jase believe she could have set the fire?—as she sorted through a box of donated groceries Saturday morning at the day care center. Carrying the box across the room to station three where the canned vegetables were being stored, she smiled at Kaitlyn who seemed to work tirelessly in her practice as well as help parents whenever she could. With her blond hair and green eyes, Kaitlyn should be on the cover of a magazine rather than trying to make kids laugh when she used her stethoscope.

“I think we have enough canned vegetables for an army,” Sara told her now.

“I’m hoping some of the growers will donate fresh produce, too. The kids will go for carrots and celery sticks. Amy looks as if she’s having fun.”

Glancing over to the corner of the room where the four-, five- and six-year-olds were playing games with Marissa and other volunteers, Sara had to agree. “Candyland is one of her favorite games.”

“I wonder if I could come up with a board game with vegetables on it,” Kaitlyn joked.

Sara was about to reply when a newcomer entered the center. Her heart began pounding faster as Jase carried a large carton of canned goods toward them.

“I didn’t expect him to be here,” Sara murmured, feeling suddenly off balance.

After a quick glance at her, Kaitlyn explained, “Jase offered to pick up food for us at other drop-off points.”

When Jase’s gaze met Sara’s, he stopped for a moment. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen next...if he was just going to drop the box on the table and walk away, or if he was actually going to talk to her. Why did she suddenly feel like a teenager in high school?

Except a teenager in high school wouldn’t have to worry about an insurance investigation or a marriage that had turned out so much differently than Sara had wanted...or expected.

Kaitlyn’s smile was wide as she greeted Jase and then asked, “So how did we do?”

“My truck is full. Do you want it all on this table?”

“Are you going to stick around after you bring it in?”

“I can. What do you need?”

After Kaitlyn scanned the room to check on the progress of her volunteers, she said, “I have a list of the families who will be accepting donations. You and Sara could start boxing, if that’s okay with the two of you.”

What could Sara say? “That’s fine.”

Kaitlyn pointed to a stack of coupons on the table. “Don’t forget to include one of those for each family. The coupon will enable them to take home a free turkey or ham.”

“Got it,” Jase said. “I’ll empty the truck and we’ll get started.”

Once Kaitlyn gave Sara the list, Sara began the packaging process. After lining up twenty cartons on the floor, she added an assortment of fruits and vegetables and packaged goods to each box, checking expiration dates. Though she was aware of Jase coming and going, she kept her mind on what she was doing until...

He stood beside her and asked, “How can I help?”