When the course ended, the instructor waved them over.“I heard what you said about wanting to help out a child in our system whose foster parents might be moving out of state.It doesn’t always have to be a difficult process to transfer a child, but often it takes time, and sometimes it doesn’t work out.I’m confused, though.Which one of you wants the child?”
“I do,” said Mike and Hazel together.
The instructor studied them.“Single foster parents are allowed, but you’d do much better to be living together, working as a team, married even, if it comes to an in-state decision.Just a thought.”
Hazel turned to face Mike.
“We’re just beginning our relationship,” he told the instructor.He glanced at Hazel.“But it’s something to think about.”
As they left the building, both Hazel and Mike were silent.
“I don’t want to be pushed into anything,” said Hazel.
“Me either,” Mike said.‘I like living together, though.”
“Let’s see how things unfold,” said Hazel.“It’s working so far, but let’s not jump ahead of ourselves.”
“I agree,” said Mike.“I’m relieved to hear you say that.”
Hazel remembered how Mike had said he’d fight for her.She hoped they weren’t empty words.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The mid-summer tennis tournaments at the Sports Center were something Hazel had worked hard on.For all ages, the matches ran from early morning to evening for two days.She was especially excited about the kids’ tournaments on day one.There were three.One for ten to twelve-year-olds, one for kids thirteen to sixteen, and lastly, one for seventeen to twenty.
Both Hazel and Mike were looking forward to seeing Jed’s match.He’d wanted to play against older kids, but Mike thought it was best if he competed with kids more his age in the first group.
On this late July morning, Hazel stood watching Jed prepare on one side of the court, facing a twelve-year-old who was talented for his age.
Once play began, it was evident how much Jed wanted to win with the way he moved and swung his racket, putting his natural talents and strength to work.
In one instance, a rally between the boys went on and on with each player determined to win the point.
When a soft shot dropped on Jed’s side of the net, Jed shot forward to get it and tripped.In his eagerness to win the point, he’d stretched too far and lost his balance.He stumbled, twisting his ankle, and fell to the ground with a shriek of pain.His racket clattered to the hard surface beside him.
Hazel and Mike rushed onto the court.
“Ow!”Jed held onto his ankle as tears rolled down his cheeks.
“Be careful.Don’t move him,” said Hazel, kneeling beside Jed and holding onto his hand.
Mike called the EMTs.
Hazel swept a hand across Jed’s brow, looked into his eyes, and said, “Lie still.We’re getting help for you.”
Outside the fence, spectators gathered, trying to get a look at the situation.
The boy Jed had been playing against looked on from the circle of concerned people who’d formed around Jed.“I’m sorry.”
Hazel looked at him and shook her head.“It’s not your fault.It was an accident.That’s all.”
Mike returned to them, and shortly afterward, the EMTs arrived on the scene.
After checking Jed over carefully, one of the men said, “It looks like a badly sprained ankle.But we need to make sure.We can take him over to the Emergency Clinic to be checked out.”
“We have to wait for his foster mother to approve,” said Hazel, still holding onto Jed’s hand.“She’s on her way.”
She looked up as Mike and Lisa hurried toward them.
