Chapter Thirty-Two
Attitude
Tonight, Regan will have her turn on the ice and prove just how amazing my wife is.
Yeah, I'm the luckiest jerk on the planet, having this woman in my life.
I realize just how much the Winter Olympics mean to her after decades of practices that began when she was a young girl.
Now she's a grown woman. Sometimes I wish I could've seen her back them.
I'm standing in the VIP section of the arena, surrounded by other players' families and Olympic officials.
Everyone, from the dads to the mothers and me too, wait anxiously for Regan Hannigan to step onto the ice.
My wife wanted to change her name and blew a raspberry at me when I suggested she doesn't need to that for my sake.
"Banks and Hannigan families?" an usher shouts as he approaches us, clipboard in hand. "You can move to the front row now."
I grab my jacket and follow him down the concrete steps. My pulse is faster, and sign of how much I want my wife to win the gold. The ice looks pristine, and ready for a certain skater to step onto the ice. This is Regan's moment.
As I settle into my seat, I spot Coach Winters approaching. The man who once benched me for a crucial playoff game now extends his hand with a smile. "Your wife will make history tonight, Mike."
"She's been making history since she first laced up her first skates."
The cheers as the announcer introduces the competitors. Among the line of athletes, I see the one I'm waiting for---Regan. She stands tall and confident. Even from this distance, I can see the determination on her face.
The announcer's voice booms through the arena. "Ladies and gentlemen, representing Team USA, Regan Hannigan!"
I lean forward, clutching my knees as she raises her hand to acknowledge the crowd. Regan changed her name when we got married last year. I glance at the scoreboard where her name flashes in bold letters: "HANNIGAN, R."
"Easy, tiger," my dad whispers from the seat beside me, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "She's a pro, and we all know Regan's the best of the best."
"I know that, Dad."
This event is bigger than any championship I've ever played in.
The weight of decades of training, sacrifices, and countless highs and lows rest on Regan's shoulders.
Not to mention the early mornings and late nights.
I know understand what it feels like to carry a legacy and feel the weight of expectations.
This is her dream, built from the ground up.
The music begins, and she moves onto the ice with fluid grace, like an angel plucked from the stars. Every movement is sheer beauty, like she's an angel plucked from heaven. The arena falls silent as she glides across the frozen surface, a lone figure in a spotlight.
"That's my daughter," John whispers from my other side while tears well up in his eyes. "I couldn't be prouder of my little girl."
Regan launches into her first jump---a triple axel---and lands it perfectly. The crowd cheers, but I barely hear them. All I can see is her, moving across the ice like she was born for this moment.
"Absolutely perfect." When she glides into a series of intricate spins that seem to defy gravity.
"Look at that extension," Bohdan murmurs beside me. "Pure athletic precision."
My phone buzzes in my pocket. It's probably another text from the team group chat blowing up with support for Regan. I ignore it, not wanting to miss a single second of her performance.
The music swells as Regan enters the most technically challenging portion of her routine. She's always been fearless, but watching her launch into that quad toe loop blows my mind. Four revolutions? That's mind blowing.
She lands it cleanly, of course, and the crowd cheers.
"Holy shit," my dad mutters, rising partway off his seat. "Did she just---"
"She did," I confirm.
My wife just made Olympic history. The first woman to land that combination in competition.
As she flows into her final spin, moving faster than seems humanly possible, I'm transported back to that first night we met.
Her determination then matches the elegance and power I'm witnessing now.
The arena seems to fade away until it's just me and Regan, husband and wife.
She finishes with arms outstretched, face lifted toward the ceiling, and for a single heartbeat.
Then the arena erupts into thunderous applause.
People jump to their feet, flags waving, camera flashes popping up everywhere.
I can't move, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of what she's accomplished.
"Go," my dad urges, nudging my shoulder. "That's your cue, son."
I snap out of my daze and muscle my way toward the exit, navigating around bodies and trash cans as fast as possible without knocking anyone over.
Security waves me through with a bright smile, having been prepped for this moment.
I virtually sprint down the corridor. The media area is already buzzing when I arrive.
Reporters are lined up three deep, cameras and microphones at the ready.
I notice the Kentucky Devils' PR director in the corner, giving me a thumbs up.
"Mike!" A journalist calls out, but I hold up my hand, not ready to share this moment with anyone but Regan first.
She enters the room flanked by Olympic officials, her face flushed with exertion and triumph. Our eyes meet across the room, and the world narrows to just the two of us.
"Regan!" I holler, unable to contain myself.
She breaks away from her entourage, ignoring the calls of reporters and the flash of cameras, running straight into my arms. I lift Regan off her feet, spinning her round and round as her joyful laughter tickles my senses.
Her body is still trembling from the adrenaline of her performance, but she's grinning despite her fatigue.
"You did it," I murmur in her ear, holding her tight.
"I couldn't have done it without you, Mike. Thank you for believing in me."
"You believed in me too and helped me become the quarterback whose team won the Super Bowl."
A commotion at the doorway draws our attention. Bohdan pushes through the throng wearing the biggest grin I've ever seen from the normally stoic coach.
"Regan!" he shouts, his Ukrainian accent slightly thicker. "That was---how you say---magnificent!"
My wife pulls back from my embrace but keeps one hand firmly in mine as she turns to face her coach. "Bohdan!"
He embraces her, lifting her off her feet with surprising strength for a man his age. I watch the tears roll down both their faces.
"History!" Bohdan exclaims, releasing her. "You have made history, Regan!"
The media descends on us like a tidal wave, microphones thrust forward, cameras clicking frantically. I instinctively move closer to Regan.
A reporter shouts, "Mrs. Hannigan! You're the first woman to land that combination in Olympic competition. You must be flying high in the clouds, hey?"
"Yeah, for sure." Regan straightens, slipping into her poised public persona. "I can't even describe my feelings right now. This is the beginning of a new phase in my career and my life."
"Mike! Over here!" Another journalist shouts. "What was going through your mind watching your wife make history?"
I ignore the question and watch Regan gracefully field questions. And I suddenly realize I'm married to a woman who will go down in sports history. After all, the Bigfoots took the Super Bowl trophy. We're both legends in the making.
"Mr. Hannigan!" a reporter calls out, recognizing my father. "Your son and daughter-in-law are making quite the power couple this season!"
"They sure as heck are!" my dad agrees. "Can't do better than a Super Bowl champion and an Olympic gold medalist."
"We need to talk," Regan whispers when I reach her side. "Alone, please."
Bohdan notices our exchange and discreetly looks away.
Regan rises onto her tiptoes to whisper in my ear. "I've been carrying this since the qualifying round. Couldn't tell anyone---not even Bohdan."
"Are you okay?"
"Better than okay." She smiles with pure joy as she shows me a blue stick. "We're having a baby, Mike. I'm pregnant."
I struggle not to whoop with joy because that would alert everyone to what's going on. "Regan, that's amazing. How far along are you?"
"Eight weeks. I found out right after qualifying. Can you believe it? Our child was with me on the ice tonight."
"Was it safe do all those spins and those jumps?"
"Oh, Mike." She pulls back, placing her hands on my face. "I spoke to the team doctor. It's early stages. Everything was cleared, and I've been careful. But Mike, I've been thinking---what about our future about fame and glory?"
"We'll make it work. This is our baby, Regan. Our family."
And I can't wait to meet the newest member of the Hannigan clan.