CHAPTER TWENTY
Lexi was exhausted when she got back to her apartment on Sunday evening. With the opening of the ski slopes, a lot more people than usual had been at the resort, and a good chunk of them had ended up at the rink.
A lot had apparently come to check out the rink, ending up at tables with coffee, hot chocolate, and pastries in hand. Not everyone had an interest in skating. But among those who were, there had been several who were getting on the ice for the first time, needing her help to learn the basics of skating.
She’d helped those who had requested it and remained thankful that no one had seemed to recognize her. It hadn’t been a difficult day, but she’d once again been up early to work out and spend some time on the ice, even though Mik and Irina weren’t back in Serenity yet.
Add into that the ongoing disagreement she had with her mom, and she was ready for some downtime.
Lexi went into her kitchen and opened the fridge. Her empty fridge.
Her biggest challenge at the moment was figuring out how to feed herself. Not just that night, but in the coming months. Her schedule was going to be much busier than it had been the last time she’d trained. Making herself meals was just not going to happen.
With a sigh, she closed the fridge door, then went to the pantry where she had a box of protein bars. Not the best, but it would have to do.
Taking the protein bar and a glass of water into her bedroom, she set them on her nightstand, then decided to take a shower before eating.
As she stood beneath the hot spray, letting it beat down on her tired body, Lexi’s thoughts went to her mom. They’d had two conversations since she’d broken the news to her about returning to competing with Mik.
Her mom had made it clear she wouldn’t have had any issues with Lexi re-entering the world of competitive skating if she’d been paired with someone else. Or if she’d chosen to do it as a solo skater. But she didn’t want Lexi to be with Mik.
Lexi understood that, but her mom needed to understand that she was going into this with her eyes wide open. Mik, Lev, and Irina were getting her professional commitment, but nothing on a personal level. They were now on the outside of the wall she’d built to protect herself.
The odd thing was that there were people within that wall who she never would have imagined ending up there. Wilder, for example. That man had managed to sneak through a crack she hadn’t even known was there until she’d suddenly realized that his presence in her life was a good thing.
And right then, she was a bit disappointed that she hadn’t seen or heard from him that day. Although she knew that he’d likely had as busy a day on the slopes as she’d had at the rink. Plus, he’d probably gone to church.
Thoughts of church stayed in her mind as she finished her shower and dried off, then pulled on her comfiest pajamas. Now that it was winter, she loved to wear cozy, fleecy things when she was at home.
Going through the apartment, she shut off all the lights and made sure the door was locked and the alarm was armed. Back in her room, she crawled beneath the covers of her bed, then reached for her laptop, where she’d left it on the other side of the bed.
After opening it, she clicked on a browser and typed in meal prep Serenity Point, and as she looked through the search results, she ate her protein bar and drank her water. She’d have to get back out of bed to brush her teeth, but that was fine.
There was one result that looked promising. She clicked through to the website, then read the information provided.
It was the best option so far, so she located the contact information for the woman and typed out a quick email, letting her know she was a professional athlete who needed meals prepped according to nutritional values.
She hated to think how much the service was going to cost her, but it was a necessity. At least she wasn’t paying for coaching. If Lev and Irina wanted her back that badly, she wasn’t going to be the one to pay them. She wasn’t earning any money from her skating the way Mik was. Plus, they didn’t have to pay rink rental at the resort because of her.
Mik had texted earlier to let her know they’d be arriving the next day and would be staying at the cheapest hotel in town until they could find rentals.
They were obviously pinning a lot on this reunion. Lexi, however, didn’t feel like she had as much on the line. Still, she was going to do her absolute best. She had nothing professionally now, so anything positive that came from this would be a step up.
She just hoped that her mom would come around and support her and Mik, but she knew it might not happen.
As she stared at the laptop screen, Lexi wondered if she’d see Wilder and other members of his family if she watched the livestream from their church. She put the name Wilder had given her into the search bar, then opened the site. It didn’t take long to find the livestream from that morning.
Relaxing back into her pile of pillows, Lexi began to watch it. Announcements scrolled through first, so she moved the video past those. When the stream went live, it was a wide-angle shot that showed a fairly full sanctuary.
She leaned forward to see if she could spot anyone she knew.
A tall Black man drew her attention, and when she spotted Charli standing next to him, she realized that he must be Jay. She hadn’t met him yet, but she knew he was Janessa’s biological brother.
Soon, Wilder stepped into view, reaching out to hug Jay and the Black woman standing next to him. Other people she didn’t know greeted Wilder with hugs or handshakes.
When the music began, the camera zoomed in on the group of musicians on the stage at the front. The screen no longer showed Wilder, but Lexi didn’t end the livestream.
It might be a nice way to wind down before she went to sleep. With that thought in mind, she let it continue to play while she dashed into the bathroom to brush her teeth, before she went back to the bed.
The songs were familiar, and she found herself singing along. She had always enjoyed the music at their church in Maine. As far as she was concerned, it had been the best part of the service.
When it was time for the sermon, Lexi almost clicked to close the livestream. But she wanted to know what it was that drew Wilder there of his own free will. She’d attended church because her parents had told her she had to, but she didn’t think that was the case for Wilder. And she wanted to know why.
The music had been good, but it was something he could have heard on any Christian music radio station. So it had to be the sermons.
The pastor had a surprise for her, however. “Before I bring the message this morning, I’d like to ask Wilder Halverson to come up and share a bit about what he was doing last summer.”
Lexi made the livestream full screen, then leaned closer as Wilder walked up onto the stage. The two men shook hands, then the pastor left Wilder alone on the stage. She’d only ever seen him in jeans and T-shirts, but that morning, he had on a pair of black pleated slacks and a light blue, long-sleeved button-up shirt.
“Good morning,” Wilder said, The warm smile he gave the congregation made her skip a beat even though it wasn’t directed at her. He gripped the edges of the podium as he gazed out at the congregation, apparently not needing any notes. “Most of you know me, but if you don’t, you probably know at least one of my family members. I fall in the lower half of the order of us children, and I still hold the title for giving Mom the most gray hair.
“For reasons my parents have never understood, each spring, I choose to head off for places around the world before returning in time for winter to work at the resort as a ski instructor. Throughout my travels, I’ve visited a lot of beautiful places.”
Wilder shifted behind the pulpit. “It might seem to be a frivolous way to live life, but staying in hostels has given me the opportunity to connect with people I might not have, otherwise. I’ve been able to share about God’s love with many of them.
There was a shift in his expression. “But a couple of years ago, as I visited one of those beautiful places, I stumbled across something ugly.” Wilder looked down at the podium, clearing his throat before lifting his head. “In the process of rescuing a child who was being hurt, I came in contact with an orphanage there. The people operating that one, in turn, introduced me to another orphanage in another country. It opened my eyes to a whole new world. One where good people work hard to rescue the most innocent among us, who are preyed on by the most evil.”
Lexi frowned as she listened to Wilder speak. This was a side of him she hadn’t seen before. So far, she’d known him as a lighthearted man who liked to travel and ski. Oh, she’d seen moments of seriousness, but most of them had been related to her life.
But this… His passion and emotion bled into his words in such a compelling way.
“At those orphanages, I witnessed the resilience of the children. Given a safe place to live with food and a roof over their heads, they blossomed. It was my privilege to be able to spend some time helping at these orphanages and to see how God is using His people to care for these children.
“Being there also showed me the needs that they have. It’s not cheap to run a large home for many children and to pay for people to help them and still be able to buy food and clothing. So many things are needed to raise kids, even very simply.
Smiling at the pastor in the front row, Wilder said, “Today, Pastor Kennedy has given me the opportunity to share this need with you. I’ve put together some pamphlets with more information on the orphanages and how you can help them. They’re at the table in the foyer, so please pick one up and pray about how you can support this very valuable mission.
“Also, in a few weeks, we’ll be having a fundraiser for the orphanages out at the resort. Stay tuned for more details on that. As we move into a time of year that’s characterized by generosity, I hope that you can spare a few dollars to help those who have next to nothing. No donation is too small. And whether or not you can donate, I ask that you pray for the orphanages, especially for their safety, as not everyone where they’re located supports what they do. Thank you.”
Wilder waited for the pastor to come back up on the stage. This time, the pair exchanged a hug, then Wilder walked down the steps and disappeared out of the view of the camera.
Lexi sat back, mulling over what Wilder had shared. She knew about the orphanages, but for some reason, it hadn’t resonated with her just how important the cause was to him.
Now she really wanted to spend more time with him, to learn more about the things he was truly passionate about. And it made her realize that she was very one dimensional with her passion for skating. It would always be something she was passionate about, but maybe it was time to expand her passions to more meaningful things.
“Thank you for sharing, Wilder,” the older man said. “I join him in urging you to pray for these orphanages and the people who work there, and, if you are able, to send some money their way. In fact, let’s take a moment to pray for them right now.”
Lexi bowed her head, then remembered that the service wasn’t live. Still, she remained that way, listening as the pastor prayed for the orphanages and their needs.
When the prayer was over, she shifted onto her side, moving the laptop onto the bed beside her so she could still see it.
“In everything, give thanks,” the pastor said as he gazed out at the congregation. “For this is thewill of Godin Christ Jesus concerning you. That is Thessalonians 5:18, and today, I want to talk about our thankfulness as Christians. I figured it was a good time for that, as we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving in a few days.”
Thanksgiving? Already?
Her dad had been even less interested in Thanksgiving than he’d been in Christmas. And because their Russian heritage hadn’t included celebrating Thanksgiving, her coaches hadn’t seen a reason not to go to the rink for at least a few hours on that day.
She’d be at the rink this year too.
As she listened to the sermon, Lexi felt convicted over how unthankful she’d been in her life. Because even in the midst of a horrible couple of years, she’d had a few reasons to be thankful.
Thanks to the money she’d saved from collaborations and endorsements, she hadn’t been left financially destitute. And while one parent had ended up behind bars, she’d still had her mom. During the worst time of their lives, the two of them had been a support for each other.
Even now, she had things to be thankful for. A nice rink to work at. The opportunity to coach. And people who were offering her friendships like she’d never experienced before.
And, of course, she was thankful for the opportunity to compete one more time.
When the pastor finished his sermon, the congregation sang another song before they were dismissed. Lexi watched to see if Wilder would reappear, but then the stream went to a static image and began to scroll announcements again.
Lexi reached out and closed the lid of the laptop, plunging the room into darkness. Rather than focusing on the downsides of her life right then, she took a moment to talk to God, thanking Him in a way she never had for the good in her life.
She resolved to be more thankful—more faithful—even as the weeks ahead promised to be difficult at times. As she fell asleep, she did so with a lighter heart than she’d had in… ever?
The next morning, Lexi was at the rink at her usual time, long before anyone else would be there. After she flicked on the lights, she stood staring out at the rink.
The ice sparkled, reminding her of George, and the way he took care of the ice, sharpened skates, and helped the people who wanted to rent skates. He always had a smile and a greeting for her. Knowing that she could have ended up with a much different type of co-worker, Lexi was thankful for him.
She was also thankful for Luke, who’d learned her favorite drink and made it whenever he saw her headed his way. And though she didn’t see Talya much, she was thankful for her as a co-worker so she could have two days a week off. She’d also been nice to Lexi whenever they had spoken.
Smiling, she headed for her office, where she took off her boots and outerwear, shoving her mitts into the pocket of her jacket before hanging it up. It had been below freezing that morning and had reached a cold even she found uncomfortable.
Once she was just in her skating workout clothes, along with the thin gloves she wore to ward off the cold while she trained, Lexi grabbed her skates and sat down to tug them on. After tying the laces, she picked up her phone and left the office.
Since she’d already worked out that morning, Lexi only needed to stretch a little before she got on the ice, even though she’d been out in the cold. After taking a couple of smooth strokes, she alternated lifting one leg, then the other up behind her, holding onto her ankle to stretch out her quadriceps.
She’d completed a couple of laps and had done some spins, when, as she came out of one, she noticed Wilder standing at the boards. Glancing at her watch, she saw it was nearly eight. That meant that he had a bit of time before he started work at the ski shop.
Smiling, she stroked over to where he stood. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” he replied, giving her a warm smile in return. “How’s the ice?”
“It’s good. Just doing some spins and footwork. I don’t want to strain my legs too much in case Irina has a big day planned for us tomorrow. I’d rather not go into our first training session with legs that might be tired.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Not really. I just want to get going. We don’t have a lot of time to prepare, so I want us to just get to work.”
“Will it bother you if I stop by here in the morning to see how it’s going?”
“Won’t bother me ,” she said with a laugh.
“Might bother them?”
“Might.”
“So should I stay away?”
“Nope. Feel free to come by. I’ve already told them you’re friends with the owner, so they can’t really complain.”
Wilder chuckled at that. “Friends might be stretching it. More like an acquaintance. Kayleigh and Hudson are closer to him. I’m closer to his kids since they always want me to be on the slopes with them when they come.”
“Guess you’ll be seeing them in a few weeks then, since Alexander appears to be planning to spend Christmas here.”
“Yeah, he is, but he’ll have to come in early for the fundraiser, since we’re not going to schedule it that close to Christmas. It’s a busy time for people, so we’ll get a better turn-out if we have it early in the month.”
“I saw you telling people about it at church yesterday.”
Wilder’s brows lifted. “You watched the livestream?”
“Not when it was live,” she said. “I watched it last night when I got home.”
“The whole thing?” he asked.
“From start to finish.”
He smiled, his brown eyes showing his happiness. “Nice. Did you enjoy it?”
“It was a good service. Probably the first one I’ve ever actually chosen to sit through of my own volition.”
“What did you think of my presentation?”
Lexi stared at him, contemplating her response. “It was really good. You did a great job sharing about the orphanages and how people can help.”
“I was thankful that Pastor Kennedy was willing to give me the time to talk about it all.”
“How did the people there seem to react to what you shared?”
“I had several people tell me they planned to donate, and I had several more that asked how they could help with the fundraiser.”
“How is all that coming along?”
“It seems to be coming along well. My mom and Denise—Misha’s mom—have really stepped up to help out. With them taking charge, I think it will all work out just fine.”
“Sorry if me deciding to train again has messed things up.”
“It hasn’t. Not at all. No one else is putting their life or job on hold for this, so you shouldn’t have to, either.”
Lexi appreciated that sentiment, but she still wanted to make sure that she was pulling her weight for the fundraiser. “Oh. Did the Santa Claus outfit work?”
Wilder grinned. “It sure did. How about yours?”
“Yep. Mine fit too. I need to wear it on the ice at some point to make sure I can move okay in it.”
“Are you wearing a new outfit for your skating program?”
“Yes. Mik can keep his old costume, but I want a new one.”
She’d sent an email off to her costume designer, along with a sketch she’d made, to see if she could do a new costume in a short period of time. So far, she hadn’t heard back from her, which might mean she wasn’t interested in working with Lexi. But she really hoped that the designer’s lack of response was just because it had been the weekend.
If the woman wasn’t willing or able to help her out, Lexi wasn’t sure where she would go. There were other costumers that they’d worked with over the years, but the woman she’d contacted had been her favorite. Plus, she’d made the original costumes for this program, so she would still have the swatches from Mik’s outfit to match hers.
The woman had file cabinets full of envelopes containing the swatches of each and every costume she’d made. So she’d have that for this particular set of costumes, which would be helpful for her if she agreed to work with Lexi.
“Are you diving right into things tomorrow?” he asked.
“I assume so. Irina hasn’t given me a definite schedule, but I’m operating under that assumption.”
She’d been surprised at how quickly Irina and Mik were returning, but she knew they were anxious to get things going. And they were right. The more time they had to practice before Nationals, the better.
“I talked to my friend’s dad about whether they had any rentals available, and he said they have two one-bedroom apartments at one of the fourplexes they own.”
“Really? That might be perfect for them.”
“What are they doing for a car?” Wilder asked. “There’s no public transportation out here from Serenity.”
“Mik said that they’d be renting a vehicle at first, but his dad will be driving Mik’s car out for them to use.”
“That’s good.”
It would be good as long as she didn’t have to see the man. He’d been one of the many willing to take his anger out on Lexi and her mom. No one seemed to want to believe they hadn’t been aware of what her dad was doing.
Over the next few minutes, they talked about their weekends, which hadn’t been terribly exciting since they’d both been working. As it neared time for Wilder to go to work, he said, “So you’ll be training early in the morning each day?”
“That’s the plan. Kayleigh said we could use this rink during the hours when it’s not open to the public. Hopefully, it will be enough for Irina. If not, we’ll look into using the rink in town whenever it’s available.”
Lexi had no doubt that they would both object to the setup. It was definitely a few steps down from the rink her dad had had built just for her and Mik. They hadn’t had to work around anyone else’s schedule, which had been perfect. That wouldn’t be the case in Serenity.
It just showed how desperate Mik and the coaches must be. Even knowing the setup and that they’d have to train around her work schedule, they were still willing to tackle it.
Only time would tell if it was going to work or not.