Free Twist of Fate by Mary Jo Putney Page B

depression are huge. If you're unsure, now is the time to bail out."
    "I'm sure." He turned the key in the ignition and the truck's engine lurched to life. "Tonight I'll start work on the files you gave me. When I'm up to speed, we can talk strategy."
    "It's a deal." She smiled wearily. "We're off to a good start, I think."
    Rob hoped so, or Daniel Monroe was doomed. But as Rob turned into the afternoon traffic and headed downtown, it was Val who dominated his mind. Now that he knew just how much he wanted her, what, if anything, was he going to do about it?

 
    Chapter 7

     
    Sunday afternoon in the park. Enjoying the lazy sunshine, Val pulled into the grassy lot and parked at the end of an irregular line of vehicles. In the last eight days she had decided to open her own office, committed herself to what was going to be a gut-wrenching case with little chance of success, spent far too much time fantasizing about her new landlord, and learned that a local Big Sister/Little Sister organization was having a potluck picnic. She wasn't sure whether so much change was exciting or terrifying.
    No, she was sure. It was both.
    She climbed from her car, telling herself that attending a picnic was not a commitment. Anita Perez, the social worker who coordinated the group, had explained the program over the phone and invited her to the outing. The other people were mostly existing Big/Little pairings along with other family members, but there would also be kids in need of partners and a few other women interested in becoming Big Sisters.
    Val removed the bakery fudge cake she'd brought as a contribution and headed toward the sizable crowd picnicking under the oak trees. A card table held blank nametags, so she stopped to print her first name on a tag.
    She was following the scent of broiling hamburgers when she was approached by a relaxed middle-aged woman with shrewd eyes and an easy smile. Glancing at the tag, the woman said, "Hi, Val. I've been hoping you would make it. I'm Anita Perez."
    "It's nice to meet you in person. I feel ridiculously nervous about today."
    Anita laughed. "No need. Have some food, meet people, talk to some Bigs and Littles to see what they think of the program. The girls who need a Big Sister are wearing red T-shirts that say I'M SOOOOO COOL on them. If you want to strike up a conversation with one, that's fine, but no pressure. We take a lot of pains to make a match that will work for both parties." Anita took Val to the nearest grill and made some introductions, then moved on to greet others.
    Val's nerves began to unwind. Her friends used to say that she could strike up a conversation with a flagpole, so the fact that she didn't know anyone was not a problem. These were nice people. It took a generous spirit to reach out to a child who needed some extra attention, and if Val was any judge, the relationship benefited both sides. Certainly they all enjoyed telling her what a great program this was.
    After hot dogs, hamburgers, salads, and sodas had been demolished, picnickers fell upon the dessert table, where her fudge cake was rapidly reduced to crumbs. In the lazy lull after eating, the more energetic in the group decided to play softball. Teams were formed with much teasing and giggling.
    Val was considering whether to volunteer for shortstop when she noticed a spot of red at the far end of the grove of trees. A girl was perched on the most distant picnic table, feet on the bench and nose in a book. She looked frail and very alone.
    For an addicted reader, hiding with a good book was the most fun possible. Still, Val decided to go investigate.
    The little girl was maybe ten or eleven, with a wild tangle of dark hair and one of the I'M SOOOOO COOL T-shirts. Her nametag read LYSSIE, and the wiry hair and caramel-colored skin suggested that she was of mixed race.
    Val hitched herself up onto the picnic table, sitting as far from the girl as possible so as not to invade her space. "Hi. Good book?"
    The girl