Val’s legs froze. She took a moment to absorb what she’d just heard. Francine’s sister? There was so much more that she wanted to know, but she didn’t get a chance to ask. As soon as they entered, a woman pulled Julia away and started talking to her. Val had no idea who this person was. As she looked around she noticed several unfamiliar faces.

Small groups of people huddled together having work clique conversations. All were busy with their own chatter. Val stood alone. Drs. Phelps, Chang and Stedman were in the far corner near the refrigerator. In front of her, about ten feet away, a woman talked to Dr. Blythe and Howie. This was Zoe Beauchamp, the birthday girl. She would have joined Howie and Zoe if Dr. Blythe wasn’t with them.

Her gaze continued to travel around the room and then it stopped, locked on a bulletin board that hung on the far wall. A good portion of the board was covered with employee photos, obviously pictures of the many parties that probably took place in this break room. It was more so the banner on the one side of the board that caught her attention. As she read it, her heart began to beat faster.

“To our good friend Oliver—gone but not forgotten.”

It was a small tribute to Oliver Solaris. Val had no idea what this man even looked like, and here he was, captured on film, his image on the bulletin board. She had to see this. Now, how to do this so no one notices?

The refreshment table was next to the board. Val casually walked over and helped herself to a piece of cake, glancing at the pictures as she did. There were a handful of people in each shot. Which one was Oliver? She went with a process of elimination. He would be the one she had never seen before. Unfortunately, there were several people she didn’t know in the photos.

Realizing that she was staring at the board for too long, she browsed through the assortment of soda and selected one, glancing back up as she poured. One of those two must be him. She jumped as someone reached past her for a bottle of diet Sprite. The person spoke.

“Val, did you manage to get the rest of that paperwork completed for me? I’m still waiting,” Candace said.

“I’m sorry. It’s done. I can run and grab it for you now.” Val took a step backwards towards the door, hoping to get away.

Candace put her hand on Val’s arm. “No need. You should stay and enjoy the party. Just get it to me later. So, how are you fitting in with our little family?”

“Things are going fine.” The hand stayed on her arm.

“You know, just between me and you, I’ve heard some talk about you. It’s probably nothing, so don’t be worried.”