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“No, it’s just… you know Hazel. She’s really good at taking care of other people and putting their needs first. Sometimes I think she’s afraid that if she isn’t useful then we’ll leave her.”
I decided that it was time to find ways to punish Hazel’s parents even more.
“She realized pretty early on that her grandmother struggled to pay for everything. At nine years old, she’d do odd jobs around the neighborhood to make money to buy groceries. She’d forgo school clothes and all that other beginning of the year stuff kids want so Gran could pay rent. So at some point she pushed away her dreams and pretended it wasn’t something she really wanted so she could help pay the bills.”
I hated that Hazel had to struggle.
“She begged my parents at ten years old to be able to wash dishes for extra money. They said no until we turned twelve.”
I frowned. Twelve was far too young for Hazel to take on a job.
“She was determined to find something that would pay her under the table. They were afraid whatever place she found would take advantage of her and figured it was better to let her work here.”
Lacey wasn’t wrong. Hazel would’ve found something on her own. And I was happy she had the Belmonts by her side to keep her as safe as they could.
“I don’t think Hazel would admit it’s still her dream.” Lacey gestured at the stage. “But if you watch her up there and listen to her sing, her soul is crying out to have that opportunity.”
“When is she scheduled to sing again?”
“How quickly could you get someone here?”
“Let me check.”
I texted Lance Scott. I knew I had to handle this delicately. If I pushed and forced V&S Productions to sign on Hazel, she’d never accept it. She had to know she did this on her own.
JARETH
I want to send a scout to The Wooden Nickel in Providence, Rhode Island ASAP.
LANCE
That’s not how this works.
Our company was not an equal split of ownership. If he pushed this, I’d use my influence to take over the remaining part of the company and destroy him.
JARETH: I’m not asking.
The ellipses kept coming and going, letting me know he was crafting a response.
LANCE
Fine.
JARETH
How soon?
LANCE
Two nights from now. And before you push, yes, that’s the earliest I can do.
“In two nights. Can we make it happen?”
Lacey’s eyes pricked with tears. “Should we tell her?”
“Not yet. I don’t want to make her nervous.”
“True. Let’s invite all her friends and family. She’ll do better with the news when she walks in and sees them.”
