Later, they were outside checking over some rhododendron bushes in the front of the house when her parents’ rental car appeared.
She turned and faced them with happiness.Ever since her mother’s earlier visit, Hazel felt closer to her, more like friends than mother and daughter.And as always, just seeing her father filled her with joyful knowledge that she’d always be Daddy’s little girl.
Hazel waited beside Mike for her parents to get out of the car.Her mother kissed her hello and then gave Mike a quick hug.
Her father threw his arms around her, keeping an eye on Mike before kissing her on the cheek.After he released Hazel, he held out his hand.“So, you’re the tennis pro.Hi, Mike, I’m Raymond Belmont.Nice to meet you.”
“Mike Dawson,” he said, shaking hands with him.“Let me help you with the luggage.”
Her mother grabbed her purse from the car, and while the men unloaded the luggage, Hazel and her mother went inside.
“You and Dad will be staying in the guest room.I’ll explain about the posters later.”
While her mother freshened up and the luggage was brought in, Hazel took out the fruit and vegetable platter she’d ordered from the Café and placed it on a table outside.It was late enough in the day to start cocktails or simply have iced tea, sweetened the way her parents liked.
Her parents opted to have a glass of wine, so Mike opened a bottle of a light rosé perfect for the afternoon.
Her father looked around at the woods and beyond them to the river.“Does the river have fish?”
“I don’t know if it’s a good fishing river or not,” said Hazel.“But there are plenty of places to go.Mom said you wanted to find out information about it.”
“Yes, I think that might be a great way to relax,” her father said.He turned to Mike.“I thought that’s something we might want to do together.”
Mike’s look of pleasure was touching.“Yes, we can see what’s out there.Some of the guys in town fish and hunt.”
“I told Hazel we wanted to play pickleball,” her mother told her father.
“Yes, but as long as I have a pro to play with, I’d like to play a tennis game with Mike.”Her father smiled at him.“I brought my racket.”
“Sure.Let me know when you’re available, and I’ll work it around my schedule,” said Mike.
Hazel and her mother exchanged glances.It was clear that her father was making an effort to get to know Mike.
“Tell me about the posters in the guest room,” said Hazel’s mother.
Hazel caught her breath and then said, “You know about Jed, the boy that I’ve grown very fond of?He’s in the foster care system and has a safe home with his foster parents.But his life with them may be in jeopardy.Both Mike and I want to take him in if he can’t move to Pennsylvania with the rest of the family.Even if he can move with them, there may be a time when we would need to care for him until his move.”
“I see,” said her mother.“So, the boy would stay in your guest room?”
“Yes, but there’s more to it than that,” said Hazel.She looked at Mike.
“I grew up in the foster care system in Florida,” said Mike.“When I learned that Hazel was interested in fostering a child, Jed in particular, I was deeply touched.I guess you could say that the boy brought us closer.Now, we’re thinking that we want to do it together.”
Hazel’s father frowned.“Are you even engaged?”
Mike looked very uncomfortable.
“We’ve talked about a future together,” said Hazel.“We just haven’t had time to put our lives in order.”
“In truth, I was waiting to meet you,” said Mike to her father.“Isn’t that how it usually goes?”
“We need to be able to do things in our own time,” said Hazel.“It’s a bit upside down, but that’s how we want it.”
“Are you saying you would foster a child before you were even committed to one another?”asked Hazel’s mother with alarm.
“Only Jed,” said Hazel.“If we’re not needed for him, we’ll hold off on taking in other children until we’ve had a normal engagement, wedding, and time to settle.Mike has bought a home in The Meadows and will take ownership of it soon.”
Her parents turned to him.
