Pleased, Hazel followed Tom into his office, which contained samples of outfits strewn on a table and a box of blue baseball hats with a logo Hazel didn’t recognize.Shelves in his office contained several trophies.
“Oh, I see you’re a wrestler,” said Hazel.“Wow!A state champion.”
“That was my sport,” said Tom.“Now, I coach the high school team.”He indicated a chair.“Please sit down.I’m anxious to hear what you have in mind.”
Hazel lowered herself into a chair and removed some papers from her purse.“This is a list of ideas I had for how we can cooperate.The Center doesn’t have a retail outlet yet, but both Ross Roberts and Mike Dawson agree we should have one.Until we add that, I think we can display some items from your store on the wall behind the reception desk and in the main entrance.”
“And you’d do that because …” Tom said smiling.
“Because we’d get a percentage of the sales through the center.In addition, we’d offer our clients special offers to your store, again for a percentage of sales.The Center is drawing people from all over for a variety of sports.It could be a very smart arrangement for both of us.”
“I agree,” said Tom.“I can come to the Center and help you devise a retail area there.Let me talk to my father and then come meet with you and the owners there.”He stood.“This is a fabulous plan.I have you to thank for it, Hazel.Now, let’s take care of what you need.”
Pleased, Hazel followed Tom into the store, picked out a racket, and tried on several outfits before choosing a skirt, shorts, two different tops, and a jacket, all interchangeable.
It was a big investment for her, so she was excited when Tom gave her an employee discount.
“Whoever selects women’s clothing has done a fabulous job,” said Hazel.
“That would be my wife, Evie,” said Tom, waving an attractive blonde over to them at the checkout desk.
After introductions were made and the two women had chatted for a while, Hazel invited her to visit the Center.
“I’d love to see it,” said Evie.“When I heard that Mike Dawson was the tennis pro, I decided that, somehow, I’d make time for a private lesson or two.He could’ve stayed on the circuit and decided not to.He’s that talented.”
Hazel had never heard the story, but now she began to wonder about Mike’s life before coming to Lilac Lake.
She said goodbye to Tom and Evie and left with Tom’s promise to come to the Center soon with her new tennis racket strung especially for her.
###
After bundling her purchases into her car, she drove to Office Depot to pick up supplies that were already approved by Ross.In addition to completing her own office, Hazel was helping Craig set up his office and buying supplies for all aspects of running the center.Paper clips, staplers, pens, stickers, and other office supplies were listed.Hazel ordered business cards for herself and the other management people with the Center’s logo on them, so they all were consistent.
Next, she drove to a discount store to pick up small towels and a new water bottle.She wanted to get permission to order special towels and water bottles with the Sports Center logo on them, but she still had some research to do on it before she presented the idea to Ross and Mike.
As she headed back to Lilac Lake, satisfaction filled Hazel.She liked being in charge and organizing everything.She was nervous about her upcoming tennis lessons but wasn’t going to let that stop her from doing her job.Besides, after being relatively inactive during the winter and spring months, she was eager to get back in shape.
Mike left for a quick business trip to Florida, giving Hazel time to practice hitting tennis balls on her own.She started a routine of getting up early to go to the Center to use one of the automatic tennis ball machines on one of the courts.
On the third morning of seeing the same boy sitting on the grass outside the fence watching her, Hazel’s curiosity got the best of her.She walked over to him.
Up close, she could see he wasabout ten years old, with auburn hair and a sprinkle of freckles across his nose.He looked up at her with hazel eyes and stood, prepared to run.
“Hi,” she said, smiling.“I’m Hazel.Who are you?I see you here in the mornings.Do you play tennis?”
He studied her, as if assessing her, and said, “I’m Jed.Jed Abbott.I’d like to play tennis, but my foster mom says we can’t afford it.”
“Have you ever played?”she asked, drawn to the longing in his face.
“Yes.I went to a day camp in my other foster home.The tennis teacher told me I was really good.”
Hazel’s heart went out to the little boy.She couldn’t imagine what his life was like, going from one foster home to the next.
“Come around to the gate,” said Hazel.“I’ll lend my racket to you.Let’s see what you can do.”
Grinning, Jed sprinted to the gate and entered the court.
Hazel noticed he was wearing sneakers, a pair of jeans that were a little short on him, and a navy shirt with no design.
