Wanted: A Real Family. Karen Rose Smith

food drive on Saturday.”

      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.