E van stopped Julia before she had time to step more than a few feet into the gym. “Hi. Is everything all right?”
Her concerned gaze fell on him, and she swallowed hard. “No. I was at the office when I received a call from Dr. Nora Blake, the heart surgeon that performed little Ali’s operation. His grandfather, General Marlon Willis, was just admitted to the hospital. He’s had a massive heart attack, and it doesn’t appear he will make it. Dr. Blake called me because Ali would be without a guardian if he dies. I’m the social worker assigned to his case.”
“Ali has gone through so much. I hope the general makes it. He hasn’t had a chance to get to know his grandson for long.” Evan moved closer. “Is there anything I can do?”
Julia shook her head. “It’s wait and see time. I thought after I finished here, I would go to the hospital and check on what’s happening. I want to be there for Ali. If his grandfather dies, he’s going to feel so alone.” Sadness jammed her throat. She knew what it was like to be alone without family for support.
“Doesn’t Sarah live next door to the general? I saw her earlier in here. Do you think she knows?”
“Probably not if she’s been here. It just happened. From what Nora told me, the general had come to the hospital to see Ali when he had his heart attack. In that sense, he was lucky. He was able to get help quickly.”
Evan turned toward the crowd in the gym and searched it. “That little boy has been through so much in his short five years. He’s already seen too much death. Ah, Sarah’s over there.” Evan pointed toward the far corner.
“I’d better have a word with her. Where will you be?”
With a flip of his hand, he gestured toward a half-finished booth under a basketball hoop. “And if I don’t get back there and complete my job, Olga will be breathing down my neck. She’s already informed me that I need to step it up.”
“After I see Sarah, I guess I’d better check in with her and see what she has planned for me.”
As if hearing her name, or else realizing Evan had stopped working, Olga approached, asking, “Is your booth finished?” Her gaze leveled at Evan.
“Almost.”
“Well, hop to it. That petting zoo won’t get set up by itself.” While Olga shooed him away, she turned to Julia. “I’ll need you to help him with the zoo. You two are a great team.”
Team? Olga was definitely working overtime as a matchmaker. “Where is this petting zoo going to be?” Julia asked, scanning the gym for a space big enough to house the animals.
“It’ll be outside.”
“But it’s been raining a lot lately. Do you think that’s a good idea?” And while we’re on the topic of good ideas, I don’t think Evan and I should team up. That means I’ll have to spend practically the whole weekend with him.
“We cannot have it in here—there’s no room.” In her usual dramatic way, Olga swept her arms wide to take in the whole gym. “After the way the children responded to the pets at the picnic, we need to have a zoo. It will be a hit.”
“Fine,” Julia said, seeing no way of getting out of assisting with the petting zoo. She sure hoped Olga found another couple soon to play matchmaker with. “I’ll help Evan, but I have to speak with Sarah first.”
“But—”
“I won’t be long.” Julia hurried away, leaving a frustrated Olga by the entrance.
Julia made a beeline for the redheaded teacher, who was putting the finishing touches on a booth. “Sarah.”
The slender woman spun around and smiled when she saw Julia. “Did you just get here?”
“Yeah. We need to talk. I got a call from the hospital right before I left work.”
“Is it Ali?” Concern darkened Sarah’s blue eyes.
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