Naked Hero - The Journey Away

was being dismissed: a boy who wasn’t privy to the adults’ conversation. They would decide his future for him. They knew best. But it was all for show - Lewis knew the real reason why Scott had held back. He didn’t want to risk the locker room with the knowledge he had given him.
    “Get used to it, boy!” he quietly muttered. “That’s the price - or at least part of it. But it’s worth it! It has to be... In a few days, he’ll be all yours! And there’s no way he’s going to be disappointed when he tests out the waters at last!”

Chapter 53
    Lee arrived at the house whilst Lewis was still at Melbourne Park. He’d brought along a large bag containing the new kit which HIM Clothing were supplying for the final, and a variety of other items should Lewis decide to go with a different supplier. The HIM consignment had arrived from Sydney in the morning and Lee wanted to make sure that it fitted okay, and that Lewis was happy with the designs should he decide to go with them. He had a whole range of different options, but knew the ones he wanted Lewis to wear on the day. He was sure that he would agree with most of them. Only one might prove too much for the lad. Lee still wasn’t sure if he should even show it to him.
    “What have you got there, Lee?” asked Fiona as she let him in.
    “It’s the kit for tomorrow. Is Lewis back yet?”
    “No, not yet.”
    Lee deposited the bag in the living area then sat down at the table. By force of habit, Fiona put the kettle on and set about making them tea. It had become a sort of routine for them and one that they both enjoyed – two unlikely souls who’d found a loose alliance that was communed in this most British of rituals.
    “How is he today?” Lee asked as Fiona busied herself with the task.
    There was a pause. A deep sigh, and alarm bells went off.
    “Fiona?”
    She turned to look at him. Wariness was still there – Fiona doubted if that would ever go. But she saw concern and she saw an improbable friend. “I’m not sure. There’s something wrong... well, not wrong, but...”
    “What’s happened?” asked Lee, anguish in his voice.
    The pot was filled and b rought to the table, the crockery was already there and waiting. “Och, I shouldn’t say,” Fiona baulked then quickly relented, “but what harm can come of it? It’s already out in the open... Jim’s thinking of retiring, and Scott might take over as coach.”
    Adrenalin coursed through Lee Porter’s veins – he sensed a calamity and feared it was of his creation. “That’s good, isn’t it?” he asked, masking his concern. “If that’s what Jim wants, and what you want, then Scott would be the best man for the job.”
    Tea was poured and Lee took a quick sip to wash away the bad taste in his mouth. That phrase again: ‘Best Man’ – it galled him to say it. But Scott was the best man, in so many respects where Lewis was concerned, so Lee tried to sound persuasive with his use of it.
    “Yes. I suppose he is,” agreed Fiona, not sounding in the slightest convinced.
    Suddenly Lee realised the extent of the problem. “Does Lewis know? They surely didn’t tell him this just before the final.”
    Fiona let out a nother sigh to betray her annoyance. “Aye, they did. They should have waited. They thought it would be a boost for him to know that Scott would carry on the work – at least give it a trial and then decide. But it seems to have backfired and he’s very subdued.”
    “So, that’s what last night was about,” said Lee, as much to himself as to his tea drinking partner. “I must say, I would have thought that Lewis would have been happy with the idea.”
    Fiona looked at him intently – sharp lioness eyes searching his face having sensed danger near her cub. “So would I! Something tells me there’s more involved though. Lewis is very pragmatic when it comes to his tennis, but this isn’t just about tennis, is it?”
    Lee shrugged. “How would I know, Fiona?”
    “Because he talks to you about things other than tennis,” she answered accusingly. “There isn’t anyone else he talks to like that.”
    “He hasn’t mentioned anything.” It was barely a lie, but Lee still felt uncomfortable delivering it, for he knew that she knew, et cetera ad infinitum.
    “Perhaps he will, when you see him later,” she stated with a curt smile, not dragging it out any further.
    “Perhaps,” said Lee, though he seriously doubted it.
    They sat quietly for a few