CHAPTER FIFTEEN
After work, Hazel pulled into her driveway ready for some downtime with Elliott. He’d been asleep when she left the house that morning, and she wondered how last night with Brooks had gone, as well as his interview at Beckman Lumber.
Elliott met her at the door. “I thought I heard your car.” He handed her a glass of red wine. “Come in, sit down, and relax. I’ve picked up dinner from the Lilac Café, so you don’t have to do anything about a meal.”
“Wow! How marvelous. It’s been a rough day.
” She accepted the glass of wine and walked into the kitchen and out onto the deck.
The deck was her refuge at home unless the weather dictated otherwise.
Tonight was pleasant after a cool front had entered the area with the promise of rain later in the evening.
“How did your meeting go at Beckman Lumber?” she asked Elliott.
Elliott’s face lit with excitement. “It went well. I can easily do the job they’re offering and still have time for other work.
Craig and I are talking about opening a financial consulting business together.
He has several clients, and Beckman Lumber will be my first client.
I already have leads on a couple of other small businesses in the area who might be able to use my help.
Rather than working for someone else, I would be working for myself. That’s a very appealing idea.”
Hazel let out a puff of satisfaction. “That’s even better than I’d hoped.”
“I can start with Beckman Lumber right away,” said Elliott. “The rest will take time to develop. But I’m very excited about it.”
“And how about Brooks? I thought I detected a note of interest there,” said Hazel.
“That, too, is something that might develop someday. He and I have a lot in common, and he’s really nice, very discreet.”
“I think I see a chance for you to move here permanently. Is this what you’re talking about?”
Elliott grinned. “Your group of friends is the best. Poppy will be moving out of her cabin in the next few weeks. I’ve already agreed to take over her lease. In the meantime, Craig said I could bunk with him for a while. He has a guestroom that isn’t often used.”
“All these decisions in a matter of days. I’m impressed,” said Hazel. “It takes a small town like this to make it work.”
“That’s for sure. Everyone knows someone who knows something. Amazing,” said Elliott, chuckling.
“I’m so relieved for you. Being open about yourself has already made you some new friends,” Hazel said.
Elliott gave her a thoughtful look. “Tell me about your day.”
Hazel took a sip of wine and set down her glass. “It was tough. Jed lost a foster sibling when her heart gave out. She was a child with many health issues and wasn’t expected to live very long. But Jed was very kind to Lucinda, helping her to exercise in the hopes that she would walk one day.”
Hazel took a deep breath to calm her emotions.
Elliott handed her a cocktail napkin to wipe her tears.
She took it, dabbed her eyes with it, and continued. “It’s made me realize a lot of things about myself and the life I hope to have.”
“What do you mean?” Elliott asked.
“I’ve wanted a family someday, but now I think I want to include a child that might not be my own. Someone who needs a loving home. Like Jed.”
“You’ve always been kind, Hazel. Maybe, this is a way to continue that,” said Elliott. “But first, don’t you think you’d better find a mate? It would make it a lot easier.”
Hazel chuckled at his teasing look. “I guess I’m getting way ahead of myself. But I have Mike agreeing to make my mother think we might be dating. That’s a first step.”
“He seems like a likable guy who’s being a good sport about helping you. But I don’t think his girlfriend, Tracy, will be pleased. She doesn’t seem like the sharing type.”
“You’re right, which is why Mike and I need to be careful.” She held up her empty glass. “How about a refill? I want to toast a little girl named Lucinda.”
Elliott left and quickly returned with the bottle of wine and a can of peanuts.
After he refilled their glasses and handed her the peanuts, he sat in his chair, gazing at her. “We’ve known one another all our lives, but I believe this is the first time we’ve both stated exactly what each of us wants for the future without filtering it through others’ expectations.”
Hazel smiled and lifted her glass. “Here’s to us. We’re finally growing up.”
Elliott laughed and saluted her with his wineglass. “You could say we’re late bloomers. It’s taken us a while to understand what we want from life on many levels.”
“I have plenty of time to make my plans come true. As you said, I don’t even have a boyfriend,” said Hazel. “And right now, I’m not looking.”
“Probably just as well,” said Elliott. “I’m impressed by how busy you are at your job. Your father would be proud of all your skills.”
Hazel snorted. “But my mother would be disappointed if she knew I’m not considering any serious relationship. And now that I know what I want in a family, I’m not likely to find anyone who shares my views. Not easily, anyway.”
“Listen, we have a few days before your mother comes, let’s just enjoy ourselves,” said Elliott. “I heard there’s a superb Mexican place outside of town. Are you up for that?”
“Yes, but I also want to go with you to Stan’s for some delicious seafood. Maybe we can do that tomorrow night.”
“Deal.”
“Tonight, I’m too tired to do anything else but enjoy the food you brought home,” said Hazel. She couldn’t get memories of Jed’s sad face out of her mind.
“Just relax. I’ll take care of everything.”
Hazel took Elliott at his word, sat back in her chair, and lifted her feet onto the deck railing, telling herself she deserved some downtime. Elliott wasn’t really company but a friend staying with her for a while.
Later, when Elliott suggested they go to Jake’s, Hazel shook her head. “You go. I’m off to bed to read. It’s the only way for me to relax before going to sleep, and I have to get up early.”
After seeing him off, she picked up the book she was reading and headed to her bedroom.
Her cell phone rang. Her mother.
Hazel let it go to voicemail. She still had a lot of thinking to do before she faced her mother’s usual questions.
After she got ready, she climbed into bed, picked up her book, but laid it down, her thoughts whirling.
Tomorrow, she’d ask Lisa what she could do to help both her and Jed.
The absence of Lucinda’s presence and her constant needs would leave a huge hole behind.
They’d worked hard to help her the best they could.
###
The next morning, Hazel went to the tennis courts, unsure whether Jed would be there. But as she approached, she saw him sitting on a bench, his head in his hands. She called, and he lifted his head and gave her a little wave.
“How are you doing today?” she asked him, sitting down beside him.
Jed shrugged. “It’s very quiet in the house with Lucinda gone.”
“Oh, yes. We’re all sad about it. You can talk to me about her anytime you want.”
He stood and picked up his racket.
Hazel got to her feet, and they went onto the court.
Their game was one of the best they’ve ever played, with serves going in and balls being returned.
Hazel had no idea they were being watched until after a long rally between them, with her winning the point, Hazel heard the sound of clapping and turned to see Mike.
“You both are doing great,” said Mike, beaming at them.
“Yeah, but Hazel beat me,” said Jed.
“That, my man, is no reason to be upset,” said Mike. “You played well. We can work on any improvements together.”
Hazel walked over to the fence to grab her towel and wipe down her face.
“Can we talk?” asked Mike, coming up beside her.
“Sure, give me a chance to cool down,” said Hazel.
Mike chatted with Jed, and then Jed took off for home with a promise to call if Lisa needed help.
“You really care about him, don’t you?” said Mike.
“I do,” Hazel answered. “Knowing him has opened my eyes to many things.”
Mike followed her off the court to a bench and sat down beside her.
“I told Tracy about our arrangement when your mother comes for a visit. She was upset until I explained to her that neither one of us had any interest in the other. Right?” His green-eyed gaze rested on her.
A stab of disappointment made her feel off-balance. Hazel studied the man she’d come to admire. That was the deal. Just friends. “You can tell her she has no reason to worry.”
“Okay, but just so you know, I’m sure she’ll be watching us closely,” said Mike. He kept his gaze on her and then got to his feet. “Are you available for another doubles match as part of training?”
“Sure, that was a lot of fun,” said Hazel. “Though Elliott is staying with me, we’re pretty much on our own, except tonight we’re going to Stan’s to hear some music and get some seafood. Want to join us?”
“Thanks, but Tracy has already made plans for us,” said Mike.
“Maybe another time,” said Hazel, thinking Misty and David might like to join them.
When Hazel got to her office, she called Misty and they quickly arranged to meet at Stan’s at seven o’clock that evening. Landscapers tended to work late hours in the summer, Misty explained, but she and David needed a break.
Satisfied they had a pleasant evening ahead, she called Elliott to give him the plans.
“Okay,” he said. “Brooks is playing there tonight with another guitar player and a singer. He wanted me to come and see him perform.”
“That makes it even more fun,” said Hazel, pleased that Elliott was forming friendships.
###
After work, Hazel raced home to freshen up and change for the first night out of town in what had seemed a long time.
Wanting to be able to learn where things were, Elliott drove.
When he pulled into a dirt parking lot outside a rustic, wooden, one-story building painted red and sitting next to a narrow stream, Elliott turned to Hazel. “This is it?”
She laughed. “It isn’t fancy, but they have the best fried clams and fresh lobster around.”