CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Hazel sat up, blinking sleepily. She checked her bedside clock. Two A.M.
Getting out of bed, she padded to the guest room and opened the door. The sounds of soft weeping were coming from Jed.
Alarmed, she hurried over to him.
He was curled up on his side, sobbing quietly.
Hazel knelt by the bed and began rubbing Jed’s back as she faced him. “Hey, what’s the matter?” she crooned.
“At night, Lisa usually sings to me,” said Jed. “Is she really coming back? Or will I be left again?”
At the thought of Jed knowing what it was like to be left behind, Hazel’s stomach clenched so hard she thought she might be sick.
“Oh, Jed, you’re not going to be alone again.
Lisa and Joe are doing everything they can to make the paperwork complete so you can move with them.
She told me it looked positive. She said they’re expecting to hear in a day or two. ”
“Yeah? People have lied to me before,” said Jed, sniffling.
Hazel climbed on top of the covers, sat with her head against the headboard, and continued to rub Jed’s back.
As she talked softly to him, he nestled against her.
Though she wasn’t a good singer, she began humming an old camp song about the moon. Soon, his breathing slowed, and when she looked down, Jed’s eyes were closed in sleep.
Studying him, she felt a new, stronger feeling rise in her, the stirring of maternal protection.
The thought of anyone hurting a helpless child made her catch her breath.
Her eyes grew teary. She didn’t know all the particulars of being a parent, but she knew enough to know she’d work hard to keep anything from harming a child in her care.
In the quiet that followed, Hazel climbed off the bed and headed back to her bedroom.
Mike was asleep on his side.
She lay next to Mike, thinking of his childhood and the hurts he must have suffered, and felt her eyes fill with tears again.
Feeling a tenderness, she slid closer to him and felt a sigh escape him when he wrapped an arm across her body.
While he continued sleeping, she lay awake, grateful she’d experienced a stable, loving childhood. The idea of fostering a child remained firmly fixed inside her. She now knew that it wouldn’t be Jed, but one day, there would be another who needed her help.
###
The next morning, Hazel dragged herself out of bed to start the day. Mike and Jed were already in the kitchen.
She padded to them and grinned when she saw that Mike had made coffee, and he and Jed were working together to make eggs and bacon for breakfast. Mike had canceled early morning lessons for the few days Jed would be with them, and it was a relief to see that the day was off to a promising start.
“’ Morning, boys!” Hazel walked over to Mike for a kiss and then hugged Jed. “It’s going to be an exciting day. Jed, you’re going to the movies with me and a very special grandmother. Someone who babysits for a friend of mine. How’s that for a surprise?”
“I like movie surprises,” said Jed. “Why is she coming with us?”
“Because I want you to get to know her. Later in the week, she’s going to stay with you while I attend an afternoon meeting.”
Jed frowned.
“If you’re not comfortable with her, let me know, and we’ll find someone else,” Hazel said.
“Okay,” said Jed, giving her a solemn look.
“Wish I could go to the movies, too. But now that we have a beautiful day, I’ll be out on the courts teaching,” Mike said.
“Am I coming to tennis with you?” asked Jed.
“Yes. You can be my ball boy,” Mike said.
Jed grinned and gave him a thumbs-up sign.
###
After Mike and Jed left, Hazel straightened up the house and set the table for dinner. It was going to be a busy day, and she wanted the evening to go more smoothly than yesterday. She was still shaken by Jed’s crying during the night and knew a consistent routine might help him.
She went into work with a lighter heart and got busy with some projects for the Fall. She’d learned through teaching how important preparation was. If only she could tell Jed that he’d be allowed to move with Lisa.
Mike took care of lunch with Jed while Hazel finished typing up a report for the board overseeing the Center.
Hazel grabbed a cup of coffee and a cracker to eat as she went to pick up Jed.
Jed was waiting for her outside the Café with Mike as she pulled to the curb.
Mike opened the door for Jed and said, “You two have fun. See you later.”
After making sure Jed had his seatbelt on in the backseat, Hazel took off for The Woodlands.
“Ms. Lucy Nordby is the name of the woman we’re picking up,” said Hazel. “She’s excited to meet you. As I told you before, she babysits for a friend of mine and loves children. I think she’s lonely, which is why we need to make her feel welcome.”
Jed listened intently without speaking.
Hazel pulled up to the front circle of The Woodlands.
A short, blond woman with a curvy and well-kept body got out of a rocking chair on the porch and, smiling, waved at them, then hurried over to the car.
Lucy opened the passenger door and turned to look at Jed in the back seat. “Who is this handsome young man? My date for the afternoon?”
“Lucy, this is Jed. Jed, this is Ms. Lucy,” said Hazel.
“I’m always excited to meet new people,” said Lucy, sliding onto the passenger seat. “And I love going to the movies. What movie have you picked for us to see, Jed?”
Jed grinned. “It’s a new Disney movie.”
“Oh, I love that. Thank you for making such an exciting choice,” said Lucy. “I have a feeling we’re going to get along just fine.”
Hazel saw through the rear-view mirror that Jed was nodding his head up and down. She let out a sigh of relief. She didn’t mind having the responsibility of caring for Jed, but she liked having a backup person to support her.
Inside the theater, Hazel bought popcorn and water for everyone, and they got seats in the theater showing their film.
As the movie continued, Hazel checked on Jed and was pleased to see a look of delight on his face. She’d gladly work extra hours next week to make up for this time with him.
###
They’d just dropped off Lucy at The Woodlands when Hazel’s cell phone rang. Lisa.
“Fantastic news! We just got the okay to transfer Jed to the foster care system in Pennsylvania.”
“Oh my God! That’s wonderful. Let me put you on the speaker. Jed is in the car with me now.”
As Lisa shared the good news all over again, Hazel watched Jed’s face light up in the rearview mirror.
At the sight of his wide smile, Hazel’s eyes filled.
She was thrilled for him and for Lisa and her family.
Still, she knew she’d miss Jed and wondered how this would affect the relationship between her and Mike.
The idea of fostering children is what brought them together.
###
At home, Hazel went about fixing their dinner. When Mike came in from work, dinner would soon be ready. She’d compromised by making their meal a bit later, knowing Jed had enjoyed popcorn at the movies.
When Mike came into the house, Jed ran over to greet him.
“How’s my ball boy? What did you do today?” Mike asked Jed, who stayed by his side as Mike walked into the kitchen to give Hazel a kiss.
“Hi,” he said, before pulling away. “I’m going to eat and run right after dinner. I have two couples’ matches going on this evening. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. Lisa called to say it’s all worked out for Jed to move to Pennsylvania. It’s going to be a low-key evening for Jed and me to celebrate. We might even read a book together.” She glanced at Jed, and he nodded.
A while later, they were sitting at the kitchen table having dinner when Jed said, “I don’t feel good.”
“You don’t have to eat anything more,” said Hazel. “You’ve done quite well. You can go ahead and get started on your bath.”
After Jed left the kitchen, Mike said, “He shouldn’t waste food.”
“I know, but you shouldn’t force a child to eat. This has been an emotional time. Thank God, he knows he’ll be moving with his family.”
“Help!” came a cry from Jed.
Both Mike and Hazel jumped to their feet to see what was going on.
Jed had thrown up all over himself and the bathroom floor and was now kneeling by the toilet.
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m sorry. Let me help you get cleaned up.” Hazel pressed a hand to Jed’s forehead and rubbed his back. “Did you get it all up?”
Jed gave her a sad nod.
“Well, don’t worry about anything. Let’s get you in the tub. Take off your outer clothes and then we’ll start the water for your bath. In the meantime, I’ll start to clean up.”
“Hey, Bud, I have to leave for tennis classes, but Hazel will take care of you,” said Mike, giving him a pat on the back.
“Stay with him for a moment,” said Hazel. “I have to get some cleaning supplies.”
She returned to the bathroom with the items she needed, trying not to gag at the smell.
“See you later,” said Mike, and gave her a quick kiss.
Left alone with Jed and the mess, Hazel drew a deep breath. This childcare business was harder than she’d thought.
###
Hazel sat on the edge of the bed, reading to Jed. She’d always loved reading aloud to her students in class and was pleased to see that she’d helped draw Jed into a book about a boy who took a magical trip to the moon.
Jed’s eyes began to droop.
Hazel came to a point in the book where she could stop and halt the reading. “We can finish the story tomorrow. Now, you need to get some sleep. Just call out if you need me. I’ll keep your door open and mine too. I’ll be reading in bed.”
“Okay, thanks,” said Jed.
“See you in the morning,” Hazel said, giving him a quick hug. She’d talked to Jed and realized between what he’d had for lunch, the popcorn, and dinner, that it was not the flu that had made him sick.
###
When Hazel felt Mike’s arms around her, she realized she’d fallen asleep in bed reading. She lifted her head, said hello, and lay down again.
“Hey, I’m going to take a shower. Come join me,” he murmured into her ear.
“Not tonight,” Hazel said, clinging to her pillow. Romance was definitely out of the question. She was still trying to recover from the effort to remain cheerful and unaffected by the throw-up she’d had to deal with.