Page 45

“P oint. Game,” called out the pickleball ref. “Lopez, Hall. Eleven, nine.” She jotted it on her clipboard and then walked to the center of the court, where Daniel York stood with a microphone in hand.

“Wow, that’s some great pickleball right there!” he whooped, a huge grin across his face. “We’re going to take a bit of an extended break to thank our contributors, so hang around and make sure to stay for the rest of this fantastic championship match!”

Music started playing around Stadium Court as Daniel read from a printed list he held in his hand. The four players made their way to their seats while the audience chattered, some heading to the beverage tents.

Endy watched Sebastian lower himself to the bench with a grimace, his hand rubbing his knee. Behind him, wearing her trademark sun hat and cream linen tunic, sat his grandmother, Barbara. She tenderly laid her hand on his shoulder.

Sebastian reached up and covered Barbara’s hand with his own. Smiling, she pulled it closer, bringing his hand to her cheek.

Then Barbara leaned in close and said something to Sebastian that caused him to sit up straight. His mouth dropped open in a look of astonishment. Endy saw him take a deep breath, his shoulders softened, and his head bowed briefly.

And then he stood up and pulled Barbara into his arms, enveloping her. But when she tried releasing the embrace, Sebastian extended the hug, trapping her, and wouldn’t let go. Barbara tilted her head back and laughed with pure joy and delight.

Endy’s jaw dropped. She had never seen Barbara Tennyson look so … happy.

Endy’s mouth was still open and her eyes wide when she heard her name being called. She backed up, and without looking, turned abruptly, colliding directly with Daniel York.

“Endy, I’ve been looking for you to tell you—” Daniel started.

“Hey, Daniel,” Endy interrupted. “I’ve been talking to the regular Whisper Hills pickleball members.

They’re all having such a great time today that they want to have another event in the next week or two.

Kind of a send-off for the shutdown of the program and for, you know, the end of my job here. ”

Daniel grabbed Endy’s arm, his eyes excited. “No, no, no. Listen, I have—”

“The Grands said they want to rent out the Victor’s dining room, but—”

“No, Endy, that’s not going to be necessary because—”

“I know! I told them the same thing. Like, we could just have pizza and beer and that would be more than—”

“ENDY! Stop interrupting me and just listen, because you’re not going to believe this,” Daniel hollered. He madly shook Endy’s arm. “It’s been canceled!”

“How can the send-off event be canceled when we haven’t even set a date yet?” Endy asked with her eyebrows drawn together.

“Not the send-off event,” Daniel said, “the formal complaint.”

“The what? Daniel, what are you even—”

“She, Barbara”—Daniel grabbed Endy’s shoulders and pointed her body toward where Sebastian and his grandmother sat—“rescinded the formal complaint to the board!”

Endy’s eyes blinked quickly, and she stared at Daniel. “Barbara Tennyson pulled the complaint?”

Daniel’s face beamed. “Yes! The Whisper Hills pickleball program is back!”

Endy couldn’t wait to tell the news to George and Dawn, Steven, The Grands, and all the rest of the regular Whisper Hills pickleball players.

She needed to work her way to them in their courtside seats in Stadium Court.

But the pathways were crowded with groups of players done for the day and families standing in packs talking.

“Excuse me,” Endy said, pushing through the bodies. “Pardon me.” Near the beverage tent, she pressed up against a group of attractive young players forming a wall. Obviously friends, they were crowded next to each other, laughing and playfully grabbing and shoving each other.

“Excuse me,” Endy said again, pushing forward. She tapped the shoulder of the girl standing in front of her, trying to get past. The curvy girl’s dark hair was tied in two knots on the top of her head, and she was arm in arm with a girl with a long blond braid. “Excuse me.”

“ ?Ay! Who’s being so pushy?” Maria turned around, her eyes hidden behind huge square sunglasses.

“Maria?” gasped Endy, taking a step back.

“Endy, we’ve been wondering where you were!” screamed Maria, dropping Morgan’s arm and giving Endy a huge hug. She turned to the group. “Everyone, this is Endy!”

“Ennnnddddyyyy!” yelled the blond with the braid, holding up a can of hard seltzer.

“Ennnnddddyyyy,” repeated the others. They touched their cans to each other’s, then tilted them back and drank deep.

Collin Park leaned out from the beverage tent. “Maria, you want another?” He shook an empty hard seltzer can. “Let’s get one more then head back to our seats.”

“You have to come sit with us,” Maria told Endy, giving Collin a thumbs-up. “Sebastian’s friends are so much fun!”

Endy stood still, shaking her head, bewildered.

“Oh, I almost forgot. This is for you.” Maria reached into her sports bra and pulled out an envelope with Endy Andrews, Asst. Director of Racquet Sports scrawled on the front.

She hugged Endy. “I’ll save a seat for you,” she called over her shoulder and joined arms with Morgan. Inez came up behind them, draping her long arms over both their shoulders.

Endy’s eyebrows screwed together as she studied the envelope. She tore the flap open and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Her jaw dropped.

Inside was a check for $15,000 dollars made out to Picklers Youth Pickleball League, bearing the signature of Barbara Tennyson.