Page 20 of The Double Play

June shakes her head, her curls swinging across her face. I already told her no, but that hasn’t stopped her from trying to coerce Hazel.

“June, I said no, and so did Hazel. Now you can choose who you would like to stay with, or I will choose for you,” I say in a stern tone to discourage her from further protesting. She usually listens right away, but she also tends to get what she wants because she asks for harmless things. This isn’t something I can compromise on, though.

Tears well up in her brown eyes and her bottom lip trembles. She throws her arms around Hazel’s neck and begins to sob. Hazel’s face pinches and she looks as if she might cry too. I lift my ballcap and run a hand through my hair. I can’t handle both of them crying.

“What about if Hazel stays in here until you fall asleep?” I ask as the thought comes to mind. I should have asked Hazel first, but seeing as she’s on the verge of tears herself, I think I made the right call.

Hazel rubs June’s back soothingly. She looks at me over June’s shoulder and nods in answer to my unspoken question.

“What do you think of that idea, sweet pea? I’ll tell you a story like I do when your dad is gone, and then when you wake up, it’ll be time for us to hang out again.” Hazel infuses cheer in her voice, though I can still hear the tremble of emotion.

This is the second time I’ve seen her this way when June hasn’t wanted her to leave. I know the two have grown close, but it’s odd how strong their bond is. I’m happy, because I want June to like who’s taking care of her, but I’m also worried. It’s unlikely that Hazel will be in our lives forever. She might find someone, get married, and decide she doesn’t want to spend all of her days in someone else’s house. Or my parents could come back and want to take over again with June. What kind of son would I be denying them precious time with their granddaughter?

When Hazel has to leave, it’s likely to devastate June. But standing here watching the two of them embrace, it occurs to me that it would devastate Hazel, too.

“Th-that sounds good,” June says through her tears.

Hazel pulls back and wipes June’s face with all the love of a mother. My chest squeezes at the sight. Besides with my mom, June has never had this kind of relationship before. Her mom, Shelby, only comes around once a year at most and behaves more like a friend or distant aunt.

“Why don’t you go change into your pajamas?” Hazel asks with a soft smile.

“I’m going to wear my sunshine ones! ’Cause they have yellow on them,” June says, her mood quickly shifting back to her normal exuberance.

Hazel’s smile widens. “That sounds perfect.”

June grabs her suitcase and pulls it behind her into the bathroom. Hazel stands up all the way, then attempts to discreetly wipe beneath her eyes with the sleeve of her sweatshirt.

“You care about her,” I say, though I don’t know why. Yet another instance that Hazel has induced conversation where I’d normally stay silent.

“Of course,” she replies. A look crosses her face that tells me she wants to say more, but she doesn’t.

I clear my throat. “You can sit on the bed with June. I’ll sit in the chair until she falls asleep.”

“Oh.” She looks at the bed. “Yes, that makes sense. Hopefully it won’t take her long.”

“It’s been a long day. I’m sure she’ll be out like a light.”

The bathroom door opens, and out comes June in her pink pajamas with yellow sunshines all over them.

“I’m ready for story time,” June announces with a grin.

“Did you brush your teeth?” I ask her, realizing neither of the two adults in the room instructed her to do so.

“Yep! I did it all by myself like a big girl.”

I can’t help but smile down at her. “Good job. Now climb in bed. I’m sure Hazel has a busy day planned for you both tomorrow and you’ll need your sleep.”

June scrambles up onto the white hotel bed. She snuggles under the fluffy covers in the very center of the bed. Hazel slips off her tennis shoes and follows suit, sliding under the covers next to June. I sit down in an uncomfortable chair and prop my feet on the tiny ottoman. I hope I don’t have to stay here long. I’m not one to feel awkward, but it does feel odd watching them from across the room, and this chair is not going to feel great long-term.

Hazel runs her hand over June’s forehead and the crown of her head as she murmurs a made-up story about princesses and dragons. June falls asleep within a few minutes…and Hazel does too.

Now what am I supposed to do?

Chapter eleven

Hazel James

Myforeheadscrunches.Whyam I so warm? It feels like I’m sleeping in a furnace. My clothes stick to my skin. I tug at the collar of my sweatshirt as I blink my dry eyes open. I’m greeted with a dark, unfamiliar room, the only light source streaming from beneath a door nearby. My mind spins as I try to comprehend where I am.

---