Back home, Hazel poured herself a glass of iced tea and took it out to the back deck, which overlooked woods and farther down, the river.She needed time to reassess herself.
Sitting in a chair, she gazed out at the woods, enjoying the sunshine on her face.She hoped she’d done the right thing by turning down a transfer to another school.She was stubborn and could be quick to act.But her gut was usually right.
The one thing she knew for sure was that she didn’t want to return to her hometown outside of New Orleans.God knew she loved the food there, and she loved her family, but she felt more alive here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire where mountains, rivers, lakes, and adventure beckoned.It was a tight-knit town where people were comfortable in jeans, boots, and fleece jackets.Where women didn’t use a lot of makeup, just a little lip gloss.
Hazel knew she was attractive; she’d often been told she was beautiful.But she didn’t want to think of herself in those shallow terms.Looks fade.Instead, as she’d wanted to hear from Nolan Deere, she hoped to be thought of as creative, energetic, and fun.
Her mother told her she needed to be ladylike to be able to attract a good man.But she knew that belief was an archaic thought by which her mother and grandmother had been raised.It was laughable.At least to Hazel, who was named after that same proper grandmother.
Hazel went inside.She’d acted spontaneously by going to see Ross without a resume.Time to change that.
She sat at her desk in her small office and started to type up a list of all the jobs she’d held both during and after college.Though she came from a family where money wasn’t an issue, earning it had always pleased her.
When her cell rang, Hazel picked it up.Misty.
“Hi,” said Misty.“I just want to make sure you’ll be at Jake’s.I know that Melissa and Ross will be there.Maybe you can talk to Ross about a job opportunity.”
“I have already talked to Ross,” said Hazel, “and I think there might be something at the Sports Center for me.He has to talk to Mike first, and then he’ll get in touch with me.I was very encouraged.”
“Mike should have no problem with you working there, even after a date that didn’t go anywhere.”
“He’s nice, but I have the feeling he’s a playboy.A bunch of groupies are always hanging around him in their little tennis skirts and shorts,” said Hazel.
“You’ve got to admit he’s a hottie if there ever was one.That ripped body, crooked smile, and those green eyes of his.Any woman would fall for him.”
“Yes, but he seems to play them all, going from one to the other,” said Hazel.“Even now he’s bringing a co-worker, a woman, to Lilac Lake to help with the tennis program.”
“Well, that’ll make it easy for everyone,” said Misty.“No competition from anyone here.”
“Thanks for thinking of me,” said Hazel.“I need to finish typing up my resumé before I take off for Jake’s.I’ll see you there.”
Hazel ended the call.She hoped Misty was right and working with Mike wouldn’t be a problem.There was something about him that annoyed her no end.
CHAPTER TWO
Hazel decided to walk to Jake’s Bar and Grill on Main Street just a few blocks away.This was another pleasure of living in a small town.
She headed out.As she strolled along the sidewalk, she admired the colorful flowers people had planted in their front yards, placed in pots by the front door, or in baskets hanging from hooks on the front porch.Some of the houses flew the American flag, giving a real small-town feel to the setting.
On Main Street, she studied the cluster of intriguing shops and enticing restaurants.The town took pride in keeping to its reputation of being postcard-pretty.
The shops displayed different-colored awnings, many of them purple.Beside each door, at least one pot held flowers.The decorative lampposts along the street held baskets of petunias and other summer flowers.
She passed Pages Bookstore, Poppy Browning’s Wild Flower Boutique, Petals Flower Shop, and other retail establishments whose windows held interesting displays.Across the street, Bullard’s Hardware Store filled the entire corner.
Jake’s sat midway down Main Street and was where Hazel and her friends gathered at least a couple times a week to relax and catch up on the latest news.Two tables were usually reserved for them in the back corner, where they had some privacy from the tourists who came to Lilac Lake year-round.
Tonight, Hazel was one of the last people to arrive.She greeted everyone and placed an order for a cold beer and a chicken Caesar salad, catching the waitress before she left the table.
“How is everyone?”she asked brightly.
“The real question is how are you doing?”asked Whitney, one of the three Gilford sisters whose grandmother used to own the Lilac Lake Inn.“I heard from a neighbor that you won’t be teaching at the elementary school next year.”
“Nothing is secret for long in this town,” grumbled Hazel.“But I suppose it’s just as well to get the news out there.Instead of being transferred to another school, I decided to leave teaching.”She glanced at Ross, who grinned at her.“I’m looking for other work.Something that will keep me here in Lilac Lake.”
“We certainly don’t want you leaving,” said Whitney, looking wide-eyed.
Hazel held up a hand to stop such a notion.“Even though my parents want me to come home, I have no intention of leaving here.I love Lilac Lake.”
