"Congratulations Hazel!" Mia squeals, hugging Hazel when we meet at the UCLA pool.

"Thank you." Hazel beams at her and accepts a hug from Ben.

It's the day of the relay races and we're waiting for the rest of Rushmore Academy's team to arrive. Mr. Elliot suddenly hurries up to us, phone to ear.

"The last student has chicken pox and the event management are refusing to accommodate him." He tells us and then quickly finishes the call.

"One of the others will have to swim two lengths. That's what the contest protocol states." He sighs, looking at his three remaining students.

"Hazel?" He asks.

Surprisingly she shakes her head, "No. Ben or Emily."

They both starting shaking their heads at this and Ben speaks up, "Hazel please. We have to win."

"But I had my chance last week." She tells him.

We adults watch in awed silence as the children discuss amongst themselves, who should swim the extra length. I feel proud hearing that Hazel wants to give someone else a chance to shine through. But in the end the others convince her that she's the fastest so she should do it.

She huffs and turns to Daniel and me for approval. "We will happy to cheer you on for the extra length." Daniel tells her and the other parents agree with him.

Mr. Elliot tells them the final order, which is: Emily, Ben and then Hazel will swim the last two lengths. We wish the children good luck as they follow their mentor towards their entrance and we outside to the pool to find our seats.

A section of seats are reserved for Rushmore Academy parents and we settle in. I take out my sunglasses and put them on. It's only 11 a.m. but the March sun is bright and warm.

As we wait for the races to begin, I lean into Daniel and place a hand on my pregnant belly.

"Are you okay?" He asks.

I shake my head, "He just won't settle down and it's making me feel feverish and uncomfortable."

"Is there anything I can do?" He asks.

I shake my head and check the time on my phone, "There's still time. I'm going to get a Diet Coke from inside. Do you need anything?"

He declines and I ask Mia and Emily's parents the same thing before heading for the refreshments stand. I purchase myself a Diet Coke and a water bottle for Mia before heading back to my seats.

The cool drink helps settle my nausea and thankfully baby boy decides to stop moving just as the welcome announcements commence. The layout is the same as the solo races.

Hazel's team is again part of the first age cohort. Emily joins the starting line and Hazel stays on the same end of the pool as her while Ben pads to the other end and takes his place.

When the whistle blows, Emily jumps into the pool. She swims well and reaches Ben right after the first boy hands over his baton to his teammate. This puts Rushmore Academy in second place. Ben and Hazel try their best but the margin at the beginning makes them come in at second place.

We cheer for our children to boost their morale for the final race. Hazel gives me a small wave from across the pool as she sits down to wait for the other cohorts to take their turns.

When it's finally time for the last race between the winners and runner ups of each cohort, I notice that Elliot changed the order of the team. Hazel will swim the first two lengths, Emily the third and then Ben the last.

Suddenly the crowd starts chanting and it takes me a second to make out Hazel's name. They are chanting Hazel's name! They must remember her from the solo races. I look at Daniel and he is as surprised as me. I pull out my phone and record a short video to show Hazel later.

This time when the whistle blows, Hazel is the fastest of all the swimmers who are kicking off for their teams and of course, Hazel's flip and push off strategy gives Emily a very big margin to swim back to Ben with. But she slows down at the end of the length leaving Ben neck to neck with another boy.

"Go Ben!" Someone screams from behind us and then we're all on our feet cheering for him as he puts in his last bit of energy and wins with only a second's margin.

Mia jumps up squealing and then bends down to give me a hug, "Congratulations!"

"Congratulations to you too!" I hug her back.

"Hazel truly did it. She won both races." Daniel says, kissing my head.

I nod with teary eyes, "She did."

The children run back to us as soon as they're allowed to and Daniel swings the still dripping wet Hazel into his arms and hugs her. "Bunny that was amazing!"

I kiss Hazel's cheek and tell her the same thing before turning to Emily and Ben and congratulating them on the win. "You all did so well!"

Mr. Elliot soon joins us and is all praise for his students. "I am going to inform the school. They will be ecstatic. Please feel free to get some rest. The award ceremony will be held at Beverly Wilshire at seven."

We were already aware of this so we had a suite booked for us in advance at the same hotel for us to rest and get ready in. After a few pictures of the team and then with parents, we say goodbye to everyone and head for the hotel.

Jeremy already checked in for us over the phone an hour ago so all we have to do is pick up the room key from the front desk and head up to our suite.

When we get to the room, Hazel announces that she's hungry and since it's time for lunch we decide to get room service. I send her into the bathroom to take a bath while Daniel orders a burger for Hazel and steaks for us.

By the time Hazel has showered and changed into her pajamas, the food arrives. We have our food at the suite's dining table and Hazel falls asleep immediately after. Daniel sets up his work station at the desk in the room so I join Hazel in bed and doze off.

I'm woken by my alarm that I set to give us two hours to get ready for the award ceremony. I wake Hazel up who doesn't offer much resistance as she's eager to get dressed and head downstairs.

Hazel changes into the pink dress I brought along for her and then I lightly curl her hair at the tips. Once she's happy with how she looks, I leave her to put on her shoes and head into the bathroom to change into my own dress. This I bought just a week ago so it fits perfectly.

An hour and a half later, we're all dressed and ready to head downstairs. We take the elevator down to the ballroom where we show our invitations at the entrance and then walk in.

"Mrs. Aaron?" A lady behind me asks.

"Yes?" I turn around to face her.

"I believe you were informed that we wanted a portrait of Hazel for our publications. Can you kindly come with me for that?" She says.

"Of course." I reply.

Daniel leads the way with Hazel and I follow them to one side of the ballroom where they've set up professional cameras at various angles and a huge backdrop with the American seal hangs in the background.

I help Hazel stand in the middle of the seal and then help her decide whether to have her hands by her side or clasped in front. She decides to keep them on her sides and once I'm sure that she's comfortable I step back for the pictures to be taken.

Twenty minutes later the cameramen and the lady in charge are pleased with the pictures they have. As Hazel walks back to us, the lady says, "You are a beautiful young lady. I cannot wait to see you in the news more often."

"Thank you." Hazel smiles at her shyly and then we walk to the front of the room where chairs are set up in neat rows facing the glamorous stage.

"Daniel Aaron." A voice stops us again but this time I recognize the man. It's the Governor of California.

"Gavin Newsom. I wasn't expecting to see you here." Daniel says, shaking hands with the Governor.

"I was asked to present the awards tonight. I read the name Aaron on the winners list but I didn't make the connection." Then he turns to Hazel and me, "Congratulations Mrs. Aaron and of course, congratulations to Hazel."

"Thank you." I politely smile back.

"I should go find my secretary. Please enjoy the night." He says, walking away.

"Why am I not surprised that you know politicians?" I say as we finally find our seats and sit down.

"Because you know politics and business go hand in hand. And I'm a businessman." Daniel nudges me with his arm and I smile at him.

The awards ceremony begins and we applaud for Hazel as she accepts her gold medal for her solo and then another gold medal for the team win.

I take pictures of Hazel and clap for her as my heart warms and a feeling of contentment takes over my mind. My daughter is happy and right where she needs to be.

I'm sorry for the update overdose in the last few days but I'm really in the mood of writing and I also had four consecutive days off from university, so... ;)

Also, what do you prefer: several chapters a day or just one chapter a day?

-T