CHAPTER SIX
The following Saturday, Wilder held the door open for everyone, then followed them into the rink. Blake carried Shiloh’s car seat to the bench they used for putting on their skates, while the girls headed straight for Alexandra.
She greeted them with a smile. But even from a distance, Wilder could tell that it was a polite, cursory thing. This woman might be confident, but she was also aloof and somewhat prickly.
“Good morning, Alexandra,” Charli said as she joined them. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, thank you.” Alexandra’s smile briefly reappeared for Charli. “How are you?”
“We’re good. The girls are very excited about the lesson today. They’ve been practicing through the week.”
“Uncle Wilder took us to the rink four times so we could practice the stuff you showed us,” Amelia informed her.
Alexandra’s gaze landed on Wilder briefly before she addressed the girls. “That was nice of him.”
Wilder had figured that with Blake and Charli both working, it would be a help for them. Plus, it wasn’t like he had a ton of stuff to do. He was just biding his time until the slopes were ready for skiers.
When the girls went to the bench, Wilder and Blake helped them lace up their skates. Once done, the girls walked over to the ice, where they removed their guards and joined Alexandra on the ice.
They’d only been skating for a couple of minutes when the door to the rink opened again. Wilder glanced over to see Lee and Rori walking toward them.
Since arriving home, Wilder had enjoyed getting to know his brother’s girlfriend. Rori was sweet and had a sense of humor that he really appreciated. He could see that Lee absolutely doted on her, and he was more protective of her than Wilder ever remembered Lee being of previous girlfriends.
“Oh, I’m glad we’re not too late,” Rori said as she came to stand beside Wilder at the boards.
“Yep. They just went out on the ice.”
“I wish I could have taken skating lessons when I was a kid,” she said.
“It’s never too late,” Wilder told her. “I’m sure you could learn enough to enjoy skating.”
“She looks so at ease on such a thin blade,” Rori stated after watching the girls and Alexandra for a few minutes. “It’s like she’s walking on the ground.”
“I’m sure she spends a lot of time in her skates.” Lee slipped his arm around Rori’s shoulders. “Skating is probably like walking for her.”
Wilder hadn’t attended the girls’ lessons with their previous teacher, so he wasn’t sure how she’d been with them. Alexandra looked to be a firm, but also demanding, coach.
“Try it again,” Alexandra said when Layla landed her jump on two feet. “You want to flow out of the jump with your foot and leg leading the way.”
Layla headed off to circle around and try it again. While she was doing that, Amelia was working on a spin. Alexandra switched effortlessly between the two, never making it seem like she was ignoring one while working with the other.
The next jump was much better, but it didn’t appear to be good enough for Alexandra.
“You did a good job of keeping your foot off the ice, but we need more flow.” Alexandra did the jump herself, not needing nearly as much ice coverage to pop up and spin into the air before landing, her leg positioned higher and straighter than Layla’s had been. “You need more leg extension. Both of you come here.”
Once Layla was in front of her, Alexandra had her get into the position she should aim for at the end of her jumps. “Hold that and make a note of how it feels.”
She had them both get into the position, then hold it for several seconds before lowering their leg and doing it again. After having them do that a few times, she sent Layla off to do her jump again. Then she had Amelia try the jump she’d been working on that week.
Wilder wondered if this coaching thing was a good fit for the girls. He knew from talking to Layla that she had no desire to go to the Olympics or anything like that. She just wanted to be able to do a few programs in pretty costumes and to be better than her friends.
Amelia, for all that she was the shyer of the two, seemed more interested in pursuing competitions. But even there, Alexandra seemed better suited as a coach to skaters who definitely wanted to compete at elite levels.
He wasn’t going to share his thoughts with anyone, however.
“She’s so beautiful and elegant,” Rori said as they continued to watch Alexandra show the girls jumps and spins.
Wilder had done some research on Alexandra over the past week. While Layla had known a lot about her skating record with her pairs partner, what Wilder found was more gossipy.
From what he’d read, Alexandra might have been a favorite of some because of her skill, but she wasn’t a favorite among fellow skaters and even some skating fans. She’d been nicknamed the Ice Queen, and it hadn’t seemed to have anything to do with her mastery of skating.
He’d watched some videos of her and her partner competing, and even with his limited knowledge of the sport, Wilder had been able to see how talented the pair were. They were beautiful on the ice, athletically skilled but yet also dramatic artistically.
Several articles had touched on the fact that Alexandra and Mikhail had been engaged, so after everything had transpired with her dad, she’d lost more than just her career as an elite athlete, she’d also lost the man she’d planned to marry. That had to be devastating.
“Do you know how to skate?” Rori asked as she looked up at Lee.
“Yep. Like Wilder, I played some hockey. I was never going to be a pro player, but I got pretty good at staying upright on the ice.”
“Maybe we should go skating some time, and you can teach me.”
Lee smiled at her. “I’d love to do that.”
“You should come to the rink when I take the girls for practice,” Wilder said. “It’s usually not too busy.”
“Are you going to be able to keep taking them once you start working?”
“Yep. I’m usually done by five in the winter. Earlier even when the days are at their shortest.”
Rori smiled at him. “That’s so good of you to help out like that.”
Wilder hadn’t spent a lot of time with his nieces and nephews over the years, but as he’d gotten more involved with the orphanages, he’d realized what he was missing out on. If he could spend time with kids he didn’t have a connection to, he should be able to do it with the ones in his family.
“I’ve enjoyed it because I go skating as well. I don’t just leave it to them.”
Wilder glanced down the boards to where Charli and Blake stood. Shiloh must have been sleeping in her car seat on the bench because she wasn’t with them.
It never failed to surprise him to see Charli with Blake. Over the years, she’d kept pretty much every man at arm's length. Now, though, if Blake was nearby, she was next to him.
At that moment, Charli was watching the girls with a frown, her hands clasping the top of the boards.
Wilder wondered if she regretted her decision to bring the girls to Alexandra for coaching. Charli had always loved children and was protective of her own. Even Amelia and Shiloh, who weren’t hers by blood. If she thought working with Alexandra would harm the girls on some level, she would put a stop to it for sure.
At the end of the lesson, Layla once again asked Alexandra to do some jumps and spins. He wondered how long it would before Layla tried to talk the woman into skating one of her old programs for them. Modified, of course, since she no longer had a partner to skate with.
“Goodness,” Rori exclaimed as Alexandra did one of her jumps. “She jumped so high, and she skates so fast.”
Wilder thought of their race the previous week, and he wondered if she’d get mad if he hung around again. He was intrigued by her, but he was also thinking that if he could get a read on her, he might be able to help Charli feel more comfortable about her coaching the girls.
“How long until I can do a program?” Layla asked as the three of them skated to where Wilder and the others stood watching them.
Alexandra paused before she asked, “What do you know about programs?”
“Not too much.”
“Okay. So here’s some homework for you,” Alexandra said. “I want you to do research into what the requirements are for programs at your level. Once you can tell me what’s needed, then we’ll talk about doing a program.”
“Do I need to do that too?” Amelia asked.
Alexandra looked down at her and nodded. “Yep. You can work together to get the information and get your mom or dad to help too if you need it.”
“We’ll do that,” Layla promised. “I can’t wait to have a program.”
“Keep working on your elements. You’ve done well this week.”
“Will you take us to the rink again, Uncle Wilder?” Layla asked as she stepped off the ice.
“I think I probably could,” Wilder said. “For a fee.”
Layla’s brows rose. “What sort of fee?”
“Brownies would work. Or double chocolate chip cookies.”
That brought a smile to Layla’s face as she laughed. “I can make those for you.”
Wilder held out his hand for her to shake. “Consider it a deal.”
Alexandra stayed on the ice while the girls headed to the bench with Blake and Charli.
“You’re a very beautiful skater,” Rori said to Alexandra with a friendly smile. “How long have you been skating?”
“Thank you. My folks put me on skates when I was two or three. I ended up having a natural talent for it, so they got me official lessons with a coach.”
“That’s amazing. I’d love to see you skate a program.”
Wilder held his breath, hoping Alexandra wouldn’t lash out at her for bringing up something that was probably pretty painful.
“I don’t really perform anymore,” Alexandra said, her expression unreadable. “But I’m sure you could find videos online of me skating.”
“I can send you the links to a few,” Wilder volunteered.
Alexandra turned her icy blue gaze on him, and her eyes narrowed slightly as she regarded him. “You’ve looked up videos of me skating?”
Wilder shrugged. “You’re working with my nieces. I don’t think me being a little curious is unexpected.”
She stared at him for a moment before she nodded. “Look up the long program from the World Figure Skating Championships two years ago. It was my favorite program, and we skated it flawlessly that day.”
“I think I watched that one,” Wilder said. “It definitely deserved the gold.”
“It did.” A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, but it was fleeting. “Which was why we won.”
The statement could come across as prideful, except that he’d watched the program, and it had been stellar. She and her partner had obviously worked hard at it. She was merely stating a fact.
After watching those videos, Wilder had a bit more understanding and sympathy for the magnitude of the loss she must be dealing with now that she was no longer skating competitively. Especially since stopping hadn’t been her choice.
“We’re heading out,” Charli said, then turned to Alexandra. “Thank you again for your time.”
The girls chimed in with their thanks, then the family headed for the door.
“We’re going to the church for worship practice,” Lee said. “See you at home later.”
“Are you skating today?” Alexandra asked once it was just the two of them.
“I don’t know. I feel like I don’t rate sharing the same ice as you.”
Alexandra let out a huff. “Flattery won’t get you anywhere, I’m afraid.”
Wilder was sure that was true. How could you flatter someone who had already been showered with gold? There was nothing he could say that she hadn’t heard before.
“Unfortunately, I’m not really up for learning how to jump or spin,” Wilder said. “And I doubt you’re interested in hockey tips.”
Her nose wrinkled as Alexandra shook her head. “Not really, no.”
“Do you still watch the competitions?” Wilder asked.
Alexandra rested her arm along the top of the boards. “I shouldn’t because it probably isn’t healthy, but to be honest, I just can’t help myself.”
“I suppose when it’s been your world for so long, cutting yourself off from it is nearly impossible.”
“It’s what I should have done.” Alexandra plucked at the cuff of the fitted workout jacket she wore. “But it’s the second season since I… quit, and I still haven’t managed to not watch at least some of the programs.”
“Does being here doing this make it worse?” Wilder asked, gesturing to the rink.
“Maybe.” She shrugged. “But I don’t have any other skills that aren’t tied to skating. I probably should have taken some college courses or something.”
“I have one brother who could have played basketball professionally and another who’s still hoping that will be his future, but my parents insisted they each get a degree in something unrelated to the sport in case something happened to prevent them from playing.”
“And did something happen?” Alexandra asked.
“Well, Cole is still hoping he’ll make it, but Jay decided not to follow that path. He ended up back here in Serenity, working at the medical clinic my family runs.”
“Do you all work there? I mean, except for Kayleigh?”
Wilder let her guide the conversation away from herself, knowing that they’d been mired in a difficult subject. “Nope. Most of us don’t, actually. My oldest brother is a doctor there, along with Jay’s wife. Jay is in charge of the office, and our sister, Janessa, is the nurse. My other sister-in-law is also a part-time nurse/receptionist there.”
“Was that a brother or sister?” Alexandra asked, gesturing toward the door.
“Oh. I forgot to introduce you to them. I’m sorry. That was my brother, Lee, and his girlfriend, Rori. He’s a vet, and Rori works as a receptionist at the same clinic.”
“I can’t imagine having that many siblings.”
“How many do you have?”
“None. I’m an only child.”
“Well, to be honest, I couldn’t imagine that.”
“I was so focused on my skating that I didn’t really miss not having a sibling.”
Wilder wondered if that also applied to friends. Just because she hadn’t been friendly with her competitors didn’t mean she hadn’t had friends off-ice.
“Say, Kayleigh mentioned that you and her were discussing having a themed night here soon.”
Alexandra nodded. “I’m not sure what else to do to encourage people to spend some time at the rink. That sort of thing is not my forte. I wasn’t responsible for bringing people into the events I was a part of.”
“And yet a lot of people came because of you. I saw the posters with your name and face on them in the crowds where you competed.”
Alexandra’s shoulders stiffened. “I’m not using my fame—or notoriety—to bring people in. I already told Kayleigh I wasn’t willing to do that.”
“You don’t think people will recognize you?” Wilder asked.
“It’s possible that some might, but I don’t want my name to be what attracts people. Those aren’t the type of patrons we want.”
Wilder understood what she was saying and agreed with it. “So what theme are you thinking?”
“An 80’s night.”
“You want people to come dressed in 80’s fashions?”
“If they want, but we’d also play all 80’s music to skate to.”
“That would include some great tunes,” Wilder said. “I like the hair bands of that era.”
“But I’m not sure how to get the word out. I am not the right person to design posters or social media posts.”
“I can help with that. I have some experience in marketing and digital design.”
“Really? I thought you were a ski instructor.”
“I am, but as I said earlier, my parents insisted that we all get a useful degree, though they didn’t force us to use it. I’m the only one with a degree who doesn’t have a full-time job in their field.”
“So you could design posters for the event?”
“I can, yep.”
A relieved smile crossed Alexandra’s face. “I want the event to be a success, but had no idea how to make that happen. Are you sure you don’t mind helping?”
“I don’t mind at all. We’ll have to run it by Kayleigh, just to be sure, but I doubt she’d have a problem with it.”
“Oh, that would be great.”
“I know it’s not convenient right now, but if there’s a time that would work for you to meet and go over details, just let me know.”
“I guess I should get your phone number,” Alexandra said as she slipped her guards on her blades. “My phone is in the office.”
Wilder waited by the boards while she retrieved her phone. When she returned, he gave her his number to input into her contacts. His phone chimed with a text alert, and he pulled it out and checked to make sure it was from her.
“Got it.” He quickly added her to his contacts. “If you have any ideas, be sure to jot them down.”
“Will it be a problem if I don’t?”
“Nope. We can brainstorm together.”
“Kayleigh also said that Alexander spoke to her about us putting on some sort of Christmas skating program. Do you think there are enough skaters in the area who might be interested in being part of that?”
“Possibly. As long as you don’t want them to do anything too tricky. Even I can skate in a straight line.”
“Maybe you could be Santa.”
That made Wilder laugh. “I don’t know about that. Would you be Mrs. Claus?”
As soon as the question was out of his mouth, he realized that she might take it the wrong way.
Alexandra shrugged. “The girls would probably like to be elves.”
“I’m sure they would.”
“I don’t normally work with children,” Alexandra said. “I might need some help coming up with a creative idea for a Christmas program.”
“Charli’s an elementary teacher, so maybe she’d be able to help. I’m pretty sure that she creates programs for her class at Christmas.”
“I hate to impose on you all.”
“No imposition,” Wilder assured her. “I can’t promise that Charli will be able to get involved, but there’s no harm in asking. My help, however, you can count on.”
“I appreciate that, as I don’t have the connections that would be necessary to pull off something like this.”
“Be honest with Kayleigh about stuff like that, because she might just not be thinking of what’ll be necessary. She’s very business-minded and is used to delegating.”
Alexandra nodded. “I’ll talk to her.”
“Excellent.” Wilder smiled at her, hoping she might give him a truly genuine smile back. Unfortunately, it was just a fleeting moment across her face. “I’m going to head off and let you get on with your day.”
After they said goodbye, Wilder left the building and got into his car, but he didn’t start it up. He sat for a moment, wondering if he should move out to his folks’ place since their company had left.
The idea didn’t hold a whole lot of appeal now that he’d experienced living at Charli and Janessa’s. He enjoyed being surrounded by his siblings and their children. It was more lively, and he liked that.
He doubted his parents would be upset with him over the decision, so he just needed to talk to Charli and Janessa to see if they minded. If they had any reservations, he’d move back to his parents without hesitation.
Resolved to talk to them, Wilder backed out of the parking spot and headed for home. As he drove, he couldn’t help but wonder if Alexandra struggled with what most likely was a lonely life in Serenity.
Even if she hadn’t had lots of friends or a large family to support her, she had had a group of people—her partner, her coaches, and her parents—who were always around her. Losing all of that must have been a real blow to her.
Wilder wasn’t sure that there was anything he could do about that for her, aside from inviting her to things with his family. He didn’t know how Kayleigh and Hudson would feel about that, though, since she was technically their employee. Any invitation should probably come from one of them—preferably Kayleigh.
At the very least, he could talk to Kayleigh and see what she thought. Apparently, conversations with his sisters were on the agenda for the afternoon.