“When are you arriving?”asked Hazel, thinking it would be pleasant to have his company.
“I’ll be driving north, and I should be there within a week.I may make a stop or two along the way.”
“Whenever you get here, your guest room will be ready for you,” said Hazel.“I’ve missed you, but I’m very happy living in Lilac Lake.”
“No boyfriends yet?”asked Elliott.
“I haven’t found the right guy,” said Hazel.“Right now, I’m too busy to think of it as I get my arms around the job at the Sports Center.”
“Well, we both have plenty of time,” said Elliott.“I’ll be in touch as I travel north.”
“Okay, see you soon,” Hazel said, pleased that Elliott was finally making this change in his life.
###
The next morning, Hazel was surprised once more to see Mike show up as she and Jed practiced hitting balls back and forth.
“I thought I’d give you two a workout,” he said.“I’ll be hitting balls back to both of you.We’ll make a game of it.You two against me.”
Jed looked at Hazel and grinned.
“We’ll be the ones giving you a workout,” said Hazel.“Right, Jed?”
“Right,” he said proudly.
Hazel loved how Mike had effortlessly made Jed feel part of a group.
The game started slowly, with Mike allowing Hazel and Jed to get used to the speed of the ball returned to them.
Then the game began in earnest, with Hazel and Jed learning to play doubles, stepping in when necessary, giving a partner room to play.
When Jed and Hazel began placing balls to keep Mike running, they all laughed as he tried to keep up.“Okay.I’ve had an excellent workout, and the two of you are playing well together.We’ll have to include you in some doubles in your age group.Hazel, you are part of our tennis team, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” said Hazel.“I joined the other day and will be playing for the Center in local tournaments and some of the individual contests in the club.”
“Okay.And, Jed, I’m placing you on the club’s beginner’s team, but I don’t expect you to stay there very long.We’ll see.It’s important for you not to feel pressured but to simply have fun.”
“I have a lot of fun here,” Jed said.
“Good.Tracy is coming.I have to go,” said Mike.“Jed, I’ll see you this afternoon.Hazel, you might want to come to the tennis team practice to watch him.”
Hazel smiled at both of them.“I’ll try.”
She was glad to see how much Mike cared about Jed and realized he was identifying with Jed’s experience of being a foster child.
###
Later, when Hazel saw Craig in his office, she decided to talk to him about Elliott.
She knocked on his door, and at his response, she came inside the office and sat in a chair in front of his desk.“I hope I’m not disturbing you, but I need to ask you for some guidance on a personal issue.”
Craig gave her a look of concern.“How can I help?”
Hazel told him about Elliott and his upcoming visit to Lilac Lake.“He’s one of my best friends.And though we’ll never marry like his family wants, I care about him very much.He’s coming here to prepare to tell his parents he’s gay, and that’s why we won’t ever be a couple.”
“And how do you want me to help?”asked Craig, taking off his glasses and giving her a steady look.
“You’ve said you’re comfortable with who you are.Perhaps you can talk to him about your journey,” said Hazel, hoping she wasn’t being too intrusive.“Elliott has hidden so much about his inner self from others.He must be twisted into knots.There’s only so much I can say.”
