I wonder what you would do for a cherry on top, Jamie thought, but then gave herself a mental slap for such a wicked thought.

After finishing the scrumptious dessert and settling the check, which Jamie protested she should pay half, but Erin wouldn’t allow it, they decided to walk to a near-by park to talk some more.

As they stood to go, Erin hesitated. "Could I ask you a favor?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"I left Artemis home because it’s a little close here and I didn’t want her to be in anyone’s way. So could I take your arm?" Even after all the time had passed since her accident, Erin was still reluctant to give up her independence, but she also realized that there are times when sighted people have to lean on others. There was also a small part of her feeling guilty because she was going to take pleasure in being that close to her new friend.

"A...of course." Jamie hoped her nerves weren’t showing through in her voice.

Side by side they walked slowly down the street, Jamie guiding them through the other pedestrians going on about their busy lives. Erin walked on her right side listening to the cars driving by, several reckless ones surpassing the posted limit. One irritated and irritating driver leaned on his horn for reasons Erin couldn’t detect. She caught snippets of conversations from passers by, topics ranging from political comments to marital complaints to a lone stranger humming Stayin’ Alive to himself. She smiled, not at his action, but his choice of songs. Her taste in music could definitely be called eclectic, but that particular selection not being a favorite.

The skin on Jamie’s upper arm was warm under the yellow shirt she was wearing. Knowing it had nothing to do with the 83-degree air temperature and everything to do with the fingers gently resting there. She found herself relaxing a little more with every step. As they waited at the corner, to cross the street to get to the park, Jamie took a quick glance at her watch. It was one fifteen, which gave her a little over two hours before she had to leave to get ready for work.

"If you don’t mind my asking," said Jamie. "How are you going to get home?"

"Bridgett will be at the mall all afternoon. I’ll give her a call when I’m ready."

Once in the park, Jamie found a bench under a nice shady tree and seated them both. The conversation continued, with Erin doing most of the talking as usual. But that was fine with Jamie. She was never any good at small talk. After a few false starts she finally jumped into the fray and asked an important question. "How did you come to write Noah Factor?"

"Well that’s kind of a long story," Erin said and paused for a long breath. "I'll give you the short version. When I got home from the hospital, after my accident, I went through the normal adjustment period, which is usually dominated by anger and I was no exception. I asked all the questions, why did this happen to me, what did I do to deserve this? I went through all the ‘I hate the world’ curses and I didn’t want anything to do with life. I spent two weeks sitting in the same chair in my dark living room, not listening to a television I couldn’t see. I went from the chair to the bed and back again the next morning and that’s all I did. Brig brought me two meals a day and I always ended up yelling at her to leave." The blonde head shook at the memories of her sister’s love during that hard time. "I put her through hell, but she never gave up on me."

"You’re lucky to have a sister like that. I don’t have any siblings and they say you can’t miss what you never had or at least don’t remember, but part of me always has. I didn’t mean to interrupt, please go on."

"One day while I was still in full anger mode, I was sitting there and I started to hear this soft squeaking sound. I thought it was the water heater, air conditioning, something. But the noise got louder and started to sound like something alive and something definitely in distress. I made my way to the door, banging into every piece of furniture along the way. When I opened it, the sound became very clear and very close. I eased my way down the stairs and then practically crawled across the ground toward the noise. For some reason my fear felt like nothing compared to whatever it was that was crying out. I reached the small flower garden and felt around through the neglected plants and found the problem. A kitten, that couldn’t have been more than two months old, was entangled in the weeds and vines. I had no idea how it got there; the nearest house is half a mile away. Fighting with tiny claws and teeth, I finally managed to free her. I picked her up and then she started trembling. I just sat there on the ground patting her and holding her close. Soon she settled down and began purring and I laughed as she rubbed against my face."

Jamie smiled at the thought.

"I took her inside, but was afraid to put her down. I didn’t want to step on her. So I carried her around and had the store deliver some things to take care of her, temporarily. I wasn’t sure what to do, I couldn’t take her to a shelter and I couldn’t keep her. I had finally decided to let Brig find her a good home. The next day there was a knock at the door. With kitten in hand, I answered it, navigating the room much better by then. A little voice called out, "Snickers!" The mother explained that the kitten had wondered away when they were visiting the beach the morning before. I told the little girl to keep a close eye on Snickers. I felt the tears on her face when she hugged me and thanked me for saving her pet." Erin paused for an emotional breath. "Snickers found her way home and I opened my eyes for the first time in five weeks. I realized that that tiny thing survived against incredible odds. But she survived only because she let me help her. She was scared and she fought me, but she still let me help. I knew I wanted to survive, but only then did I realize that I couldn’t do that without getting help. I went to San Diego to a school for the visually impaired. A few months later, I returned home, once again an independent person. It was my brief stint with animal rescue and my personal survival that gave me the idea for Noah Factor."

Jamie covered the author’s hand with her own. "Well, Snickers and I had a lot in common. I was trapped in a web too, a self-spun web of deceit and betrayal. But we both had you for a savior."

Erin dropped her head in an attempt to hide the blush creeping onto her face. After several silent moments she finally composed herself enough to ask, "Now its your turn. Why two jobs? I mean maybe it’s none of my business, but I know the publishing company pays well."

The dark head nodded. "Yes it does, but I don’t work there full time and I don’t want to be there until retirement. I’m saving up for something that’s always been a dream of mine...but it’s an expensive dream."

"What is it?"

Jamie thought about her secret wish, the dream she’d never told anyone about. "How about if we save that for another time." She realized she’d just committed herself to spend more time with this woman, but she was starting to like the sound of that. Maybe I can do this, she thought; maybe I can have a friend.

"That’s a deal," said Erin, as she felt for the time on her watch. "I’d better give Brig a call. I’m sure it’ll be at least half an hour before she can tear herself away from the stores." She made the call and sure enough, Bridgett told her she’d pick her up in about forty minutes. "I don’t want to keep you," she told Jamie. "I assume you’re driving tonight."

"Yes I am, but I’ve got some time. Besides I don’t want to leave you here alone. I wouldn’t leave anyone alone," she added, trying not to insult the sightless woman.

"Actually I wish I could just sit here all week," Erin said, wearily.

"Is something wrong?"

"Not wrong, but…I’m not supposed to tell anyone this, but I trust you. And I think you’ll be particularly interested in this. I am in negotiations to turn Noah Factor into a movie. But I want it done right! I’m going to be in meetings all day tomorrow with the producers. They’re going to let me write or at least co-write the screenplay. I won’t just sell the rights, its to important to me, especially now," she added with a smile.

The dark haired woman was oblivious to that part of the comment, but she added her encouragement. "Go get’em tiger."

"My stripes are showing huh?"

"Absolutely."

"So have you ever chauffeured a movie premiere?"

"A few."

"Well," Erin prompted for more. "I don’t want to sound like a star struck fan, but what about celebrities? Who have you driven?"

"Well, I’ve never had you in the back of my limo." Oops that went beyond teasing girl, flirting is off limits. Jamie fumbled to save herself. "I mean you’re the most important person I’ve ever met."

She shyly accepted her friend’s compliment. Erin was sure the driver only said it to cover her flirting, but she found that even more flattering.

The remainder of their time in the park was spent talking about casting for the movie. All in fun suggestions, from Sarah Michelle Geller to Brad Pitt were made and quickly rejected, for various reasons.

Minutes later Bridgett pulled up to the curb in her green mini van. After strong requests from both Erin and her sister, it was the word please, uttered by the blonde author that finally got Jamie to accept a ride home.