Page 76 of Hazel and Elijah Find Out: First They F*cked Around

Patting my pockets, I looked for my phone. I walked faster, finding him with my phone in his hand and his held to his ear by his shoulder. He deftly guarded against my attempt to get my device back as his thumb scrolledmyFacebook.

“Really?” he said into the speaker, completely ignoring me as I tried again for my phone.

He defended with his back, extending his arm all the way out as he searched. Taking a different tactic, I snatched the phone from his ear. He cursed.

“Sterling, what the hell’s goin’ on?” I held the phone to my ear. “Is Haz—everybody okay?”

Judging by Sterling’s pause and the downturn of Seb’s mouth, my stutter did not go unnoticed.

“Yeah,everybodyis fine,” Sterling answered. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you. Have you checked the community page?”

I knew he had been, but I’d avoided his calls and texts ever since I overheard him and Ben talk shit about my relationship behind my back.

“No, why?”

“Huh.” Seb stopped scrolling. With his eyebrows drawn together, he finally handed memyphone.

On the screen, Hazel’s grin was huge and proud in her profile photo. She held her arms out, Vana White style, with the clinic in the background. I couldn’t help but smile back, even as it twisted my guts into knots. Below her name was a post,

It’s been a couple of weeks since the auction, and I don’t believe I’ve properly thanked everyone who came out to offer their hard-earned money, or the gentlemen who gave their time and their trade. I have a special thank you for everyone who coordinated the event, and of course, Benji for hosting.

Our town coming together to support our animals in need means the world to me. It is the subject I am most passionate about.

Thank you.

But there is one person I know I didn’t thank. He not only offered his support and time, but he saw a need in our community and coordinated a way to fix it. And because he didn’t do it for attention or admiration, very few people know, and I just recently found out.

Because of Elijah March, we now have a fund for households in financial need to get veterinarian help. He sought out the help of Mrs. Simons and Mrs. Creger, and the three of them arranged a collection that will benefit our entire community.

Thank you.

Sterling’s voice became background noise as I read and reread Hazel’s post. She had to have known it would cause the divided comments—some attacked her personally or promised to take their business elsewhere. The word “socialism” was repeated. Of course, other’s came to her defense.

When someone accused her of misusing the business my dad sold her, she openly remarked that he had changed the terms of the deal right before contracts were signed, leaving her in a lurch to provide the donation that the humane society depended on. That she and her staff, along with members of the community, had found a way to make that donation. That she did not apologize, and she would hold the auction again for as long as there was interest.

The long thread of comments asking for another auction next year took a while to scroll through.

But when Tara Nelson made a disparaging comment about me, Hazel argued,You can make whatever claims you want; I can’t change your mind or stop you. But I hope everyone reflects on how Elijah treated them when he was here. Let his actions speak louder than the people who want to do him harm.

It was exactly the kind of attention she shied away from, but she did it anyway. And more so, she bore it with grace and courage.

For me.

“Eli?” Sterling’s voice cut through my thoughts.

“Yeah. I gotta go.” I looked up from my phone to find Seb considering me.

He reached his hand out, and I handed him his phone.

After he hung up with Sterling, I said, “I gotta go.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Tonight?”

“Yeah.”

Blinking, he jerked his head to the side. “Really?”

I looked out the window and saw giant white snowflakes illuminated by the streetlights. My shoulders fell, and I nodded slowly. “Yup.”

---