Matchpoint

Chapter 62:

Sitting in the box of the centre court is such a surreal feeling. I'm no longer a spectator in the crowd, I'm a coach. I mean something.

Dom's sitting on his bench, headphones on, face forward, and focused. Alcaraz is already on the baseline doing his routine starting game warm-up.

Beside me is Stack, Paul, and Philip, the three of them deep in conversation. To my right is Jayce, his eyes also trained on Dom.

Just as I'm about to ask Jayce what he's thinking, I feel small hands wrap themselves around my shoulders.

"Mumma says we get to see you more." The little voice hits me like a ray of sunshine. I turn around in my chair, coming face to face with a bright faced, firey haired girl.

"Hello, Zara." I smile softly, wrapping my arms around her. My eyes meet her parents standing behind her, their faces stretching with bright smiles.

Though Zara releases me, I stay seated facing the family. "How are you all?" I ask.

Dom's mum finally takes her seat. "We're great, darling, just happy to see our boy in the final. And it's all thanks to you." She reaches her hand out, fingers lacing with mine.

"No, Dom did this all on his on." I smile, my heart fluttering as she squeezes my hand tightly.

"You lit the spark. He ran with it." It's then that I notice the well of tears forming in her eyes. "There's never been a coach quite like you. And we couldn't be more grateful that you found each other." Her husband, Dom's dad, places his hand on her shoulder, showing his support. "When... when we found out about what Dom had been through with his old coach, we were so close to pulling the plug on him playing. That was my baby, and he had been weaponized. It broke my heart."

She takes a shakey breath, the entirety of her clearly overcome with powerful emotion.

"When be told us he was moving to Queensland, we were terrified, we didn't want him to go," she looks at he husband for reassurance, and he nods softly. "And the night of his arrival, he called us, and he said 'I found my coach' and told him to take it easy. He'd been there less than twenty-four hours. And we watched his first match with Ladley, bless her, but there was something missing. This wasn't the spark that Dom seemed to explain he had. And then came you. It all made sense. Watching him play under your direction, it was like watching Dominic come alive again. Something I was so scared we'd never see after his old coach..." She goes silent, and I squeeze her hand.

"I never meant for all the drama that came with Dom and I, but the truth is, he brought back my love for the game, something I'd given up years ago. At first, it wasn't easy. We're both firecrackers, but working with him is the best feeling I've ever had. It's a rush unlike anything else." I smile up at all three of them. "He's an amazing person, I'm so lucky to be able to do this alongside him."

"Win or lose, we too are lucky that you two have been able to repartner." His mother tilts her head, the appreciation clear in the way her eyes sparkle.

"Every time you sat in this box, my son was the happiest he's ever been." His father finally speaks, a soft, timid voice. "We notice the small things. He is our son, after all." The father smirks, and I feel a rush of heat flood my cheeks.

"We're hoping this means we'll be seeing more of you, Clove, I know Zara certainly is." Mrs Fraser reaches out and brushes my cheek delicately.

"I hope so too." I feel the tears begin to well in my own eyes. "I really care about him." I whisper so only they can hear.

"We know, and it's certainly reciprocated," his mum whispers. "With us too."

"Thank you for bringing hus spark back." The father says finally, and as he does, their eyes flutter over to the court. Dom has risen.