“Have you stopped to really think about what it is you want to do when you get to college?” Hailey asked.
“Not really,” Misty answered honestly. “I mean, they say you really have a couple years to decide what you want to major in while you finish your basics.”
“That’s true,” Hailey conceded. “I guess you have plenty of time.” She paused. “I’ve just been thinking a lot lately. As much as I didn’t want Grant to leave, the last seventy-two hours have been nice. I needed this time to myself to think, and it’s like, all of a sudden, I began to consider that I might want to do something more in my life and, for the first time, I truly believe that I can…that anything is possible. There are so many opportunities out there that have never even crossed my mind before.”
“You don’t sound like the girl I know, Hails,” Misty replied.
“I don’t think I am,” Hailey replied, unashamed of her admission. “I mean, I’m still the same person, obviously…but I’ve spent the last couple days reflecting and evaluating and ultimately realizing that being born and raised in a small town has sheltered me from a lot of things that I’m not sure I don’t want to experience. I think the girl I used to be was content…which is a good thing to some degree, but I had fallen into such an easy contentment that I somehow began believing that my options were limited. Being with Grant has taught me so much. Being around him, I have become aware of my insecurities, and I truly feel like all my insecurities are rooted in the fact that I have never considered that I have a chance to be more than I am. Grant believes in me more than I have ever believed in myself. I owe it to Grant and to myself to be the best me I can be. I want to contribute to our relationship in ways I never imagined. Obviously, I’ll never be as intelligent as he is; he has a rare gift. But, it’s not a competition. I believe that God gave all of us gifts and unique talents that he expects us to use. I want to find mine.”
“So I’m guessing that’s why you were in town at the library when I called earlier?” Misty asked knowingly. “You were off practicing up on four syllable words to impress your man?”
Hailey laughed. “No, but I think I figured out what I’m supposed to do.”
“Really?” Misty seemed surprised.
“Misty, you should have heard Grant’s voice the night he called me to tell me about his niece saying his name. She has Autism, and she’s been completely non-verbal, but they’ve been working really hard, and she’s learned to communicate and engage and say several words. I’ve never heard Grant sound so in awe of anything. So much of what he says is so laced with sarcasm, and all of that is gone when he talks about her. For him, her saying his name was more of an accomplishment than him being elected to government office one day. His eyes light up when he talks about her. He reads a lot about Autism and the medical research going on. I know it’s one of the causes he will champion as a politician. I picked up some books at the library because I wanted to learn more. Mostly, I just wanted to learn more about the issues Leah faces because I know what a special part of Grant’s life she is. But, as I was reading, I began to think. I looked at other books about kids with various special needs, and, without a doubt, that is what I want to do. I want to work with special needs children in some capacity. I want to make a difference in their lives and the lives of their families.”
“You sound like a grown up,” Misty laughed.
“Yeah, I guess I do,” Hailey nodded. “I didn’t realize until now how much I’ve changed since this summer.”
“You sound happy,” Misty commented. “I think I’ll be happy at the University of Memphis. I think I want to stick around here. I love it here.”
“I love it here too,” Hailey agreed. “I would never trade growing up here; I think it has given me such a solid foundation. God has blessed me with so much, and I want to pay it forward and be a blessing to others in return. It’s become really important to me that Grant and I pray together about our future. We prayed on the phone together the other night, Misty, and it was awesome! It was like, in that moment, God was telling me that I was on the right track. I know that if I’m going to be with Grant, there are going to be so many new experiences thrown at me, but, for the first time, I feel like I’m ready.”
Hailey was alone in the empty gym, shooting hoops when Grant walked in. He stood at the door for a moment, just watching her.
“Miss me?” he said after a moment.
Hailey froze at the sound of his voice. He wasn’t due back for another day. A smile stretched across her face; she dropped her basketball and ran to him. He lifted her off the ground as she hugged him tightly.
“I met a woman while I was gone,” Grant confessed instantly.
Hailey laughed, startled by the candidness of his admission. “Okay…this story better end well…”
Grant grinned as he lowered Hailey to her feet. “Her name was Erin. She was probably perfect for me.”
“Okay, not liking how it is starting,” Hailey frowned, her tone still playful.
Grant nodded as he scooped the basketball from the court and nailed a two point jump shot. “She was absolutely beautiful. She was brilliant. Her resume was impressive. She was clearly ambitious. She was intensely passionate about her work. She found me irresistible.”
Hailey wrinkled her nose. “So why aren’t you there with her now?”
“She wasn’t you,” Grant smiled.
“Pretty, smart, ambitious, crazy about you…as opposed to me?” Hailey laughed. “Thanks, Grant!”
“I needed Erin, more than she will ever know,” Grant’s eyes met Hailey’s and intentionally held her gaze, so she wouldn’t miss his point. “I needed to cross paths with her…she was my test…and I let myself play the game…I flirted hard core…really turned on the charm…”
“This speech could use a little work, unless your intention is for it to end with me slapping you across your face,” Hailey declared.
“She was my confirmation,” Grant nodded. “I didn’t go seeking it out; I didn’t even realize that I needed it, but I did. To prove something very personal to myself.
Erin, despite being beautiful and intelligent and driven and intriguing…”
“You’ve covered that,” Hailey motioned for him to move the story along.
Grant smiled. “Despite all of the qualities that seemingly made her such a perfect match for me, she was like everyone else in my life…I could walk away…and I did…I walked right back here…to the one girl I swear I will never walk away from.”
Hailey smiled back at Grant. She had questions about what exactly had gone on with Erin, but those could wait. Grant was a closed book when they first met, so guarded and distant that Hailey wondered if she would ever peel away all the layers that protected his heart. Staring up at him, she felt blessed to know the person that the rest of the world wasn’t lucky enough to know.
It was only days before Christmas, and Hope Hull was playing their last game before the holiday. The Trailblazers from Moore City were in town, and the game had gotten off to an aggressive start even before the two teams stepped on the court. As Hope Hull and Moore City shook hands before the game, number fifteen, one of the two star guards for the Moore City squad, took it upon himself to pop Hailey on the bottom, announcing, “let’s get it on, Baby!”
“What’d you say to her?” Grant asked, stepping into his path.
Number fifteen shoved Grant away. “Take it easy; I was talking about the game.”
Grant was assigned to guard number ten, known to be a super quick guard with a mean outside jumper, while Hailey was in charge of covering number fifteen, who continued to prove himself to be crude and disrespectful.
Grant had half-expected to run into more characters like him throughout the season, but had been pleasantly surprised to learn that most of the guys on the teams they faced treated Hailey just like any other player on the court. They had respect for her ability to play, and any trash talk that went on was strictly basketball related. Two minutes into the game, it was obvious that number fifteen lacked the class and confidence necessary to play against a girl who could match him step for step.
“That guy has his hands all over you!” Grant barked as they ran down the court.
“It’s basketball!” Hailey fired back. “He’s just guarding me! Do you have a problem with that?”
