CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
With a tray in his hands, Wilder headed down the stairs to the basement. Amelia and Layla were down there already, emptying the tray Layla had carried down. All kinds of drinks and snacks covered the coffee table in front of the overstuffed couches.
They were getting ready to watch a playback of the long program of the figure skating competition at the Olympics. Since the games were taking place in Europe, the time difference meant that they were televised in the early afternoon in Serenity.
Because of school and work, they hadn’t been able to watch the competition as it was actually happening, but everyone had promised not to check the results before they had a chance to watch the competition together. They were going to pretend they were watching it live.
“Do you think they’re going to win?” Amelia asked as she moved the glasses from Wilder’s tray onto the coffee table. “Even though they’re in second coming into the final competition?”
“I think they can,” Wilder said. “Last time, they came in third and ended up second. And this time, it’s a lot closer.”
The short program scores between them and the team that ended up first had been within tenths of a point. But even if they weren’t first, they were definitely within striking distance. If they skated clean, he thought they’d take the gold. Their long program was incredible.
He hadn’t been able to read much in Lexi’s expression following the short program. She’d had a smile on her face as she sat with Mik and the coaches after they’d skated, but it was her professional smile.
The other three had been busy talking back and forth, while Lexi had sat there like a rock in a babbling brook. Calm in the midst of a storm. It was similar to how she’d been when she’d competed before. No matter how Mik and her coaches reacted, she kept her calm.
He and the girls planned to watch the whole competition, even though Lexi wouldn’t be skating until near the end. The others planned to come downstairs as it neared the time for her to skate.
He’d watched her short program on his phone between handling ski groups, but he wanted to watch this one on the big screen they had in the basement. Even if it meant watching it after the fact. He’d sent a text to Lexi to let her know their plans, so she’d know why he didn’t send a message right away if—when—she won.
“Let’s start the stream,” Amelia said, pointing at the television.
They were watching a playback of a livestream because sometimes the television stations didn’t show all the skaters, and Amelia, especially, wanted to see them all.
After grabbing their snacks and drinks, they settled on the overstuffed couches. Layla and Amelia took the loveseat, while Wilder stretched out on the large couch. Normally, he would have just watched the last six skaters, but since he didn’t have anything better to do, he decided to hang out with the girls.
At some point, Charli brought Shiloh down to hang out with them, and Wilder transferred to the floor to sit next to her.
“How many pairs have gone?” she asked as she stood for a moment watching the TV.
“Six.”
“Only six?”
“The long programs take longer,” Layla said.
“It’s just lucky we can fast forward through the ice resurfacing or we’d be sitting at four pairs.”
“Well, give us a head’s up when it’s almost time for Lexi,” Charli said as she headed for the stairs.
“I really like that girl’s costume,” Amelia said, pointing at the screen.
The girls chatted about what they liked about the pair currently on the ice. Wilder kept one eye on the screen, one eye on Shiloh, who was happily chewing on a toy as she sat with a pillow behind her.
When they were cleaning the ice for the second time, the camera showed some footage from behind the scenes.
“Stop fast forwarding, Uncle Wilder,” Amelia said. “Isn’t that Lexi?”
Sure enough, on the screen, Lexi and Mik were walking through the building in their Team USA uniforms. Lexi was pulling a small suitcase. They walked with confidence, not interacting with anyone along the way. Lexi looked like she had ear buds in, totally blocking out everything.
Even though this wasn’t live, and he wasn’t seeing her in person, Wilder’s breath caught in his lungs.
He was so proud of her. She had come back from a horrible set of circumstances to show the world that she still had it. He might not know if she had won, but that didn’t matter to him. He still admired her for working hard and braving a potentially hostile environment to try for Olympic gold one more time.
He made a note to ask her what she listened to when she was trying to block out the world. If they ever talked again.
Aside from the flowers and balloons after she and Mik were named to the Olympic team, they’d had no real contact.
He’d seen her at church a couple of times, but she’d sat near the back and left as soon as the service was over. He had no idea if her commitment to her training was simply because of the Olympics, or if she’d always trained so hard.
Had she always trained to the exclusion of everything and everyone else in her life? Or was it just to cut him out?
That day would show if it all paid off. He didn’t know how Lexi viewed it. But, in Wilder’s mind, if they skated a clean program, he would consider it a success. Regardless of whether or not they won gold.
Something told him that Mik and the coaches—and possibly Lexi—wouldn’t feel the same way.
By the time the second to last flight of skaters had finished, they’d seen a real assortment of programs. Some that had been well skated. Others, not so much.
“I’m gonna go tell Mom it’s almost time,” Layla said as she jumped to her feet.
Amelia scooted down onto the floor next to Wilder. “I hope Lexi does good and doesn’t fall.”
Wilder glanced down at her. “She’s trained very hard, but sometimes, things happen.”
“Maybe we should pray for her,” Amelia said. “That she has a good skate. Do you think God would care about that?”
“I think He would.” Wilder considered his niece, then said, “Did you want to pray now?”
Amelia nodded and reached for Wilder’s hand. Smiling as her small fingers tightened over his, Wilder listened as she asked God to give Lexi a good skate and to help her win the gold medal.
Did God answer prayers retroactively? Hopefully He did so that Amelia could see that answer to prayer.
Soon, the ice cleaning was done, and the last flight of skaters was on the ice to warm up. Layla reappeared, followed soon after by Janessa and Will. The rest of them showed up a few minutes later.
Will sat down in one of the armchairs, and Janessa settled on his lap. Lee and Rori sat down on the loveseat, while Amelia and Layla stayed on the floor with Wilder. Charli and Blake sat on the couch with Shiloh, who was having a bottle.
Amelia continued to show her knowledge of the sport as she pointed things out during the warmup for Lexi, Mik, and the other pairs. It rankled a bit to see Lexi skate hand in hand with Mik, but Wilder knew it was all part of being a pairs skater.
They skated together around the rink, practicing a few jumps and a throw before they separated to warm up on their own. Wilder wished the camera would stay on Lexi, but he had to be content with glimpses of her as the warmup progressed.
Finally, the warmup period ended, and most of the skaters exited the rink, leaving only the fourth-place team on the ice since the teams skated in reverse order of how they placed after the short program.
Lexi took her guards from the coach, then slipped them on. She disappeared with the other skaters as the first team to skate took their position at center ice.
The fourth and third place pairs both skated, with the third-place team faltering and ending up in second after the fourth- place pair, who had skated a flawless program. It just showed how easily things could change with a simple two footed landing or a hand down on the ice.
“I’m so nervous,” Amelia said as she clutched her hands under her chin, her wide-eyed gaze on the television.
Finally, Lexi and Mik circled the ice hand-in-hand, then stopped in the middle of the ice to get into their starting pose. None of the nerves Lexi was surely feeling showed on her face. Her expression was beautifully serene as she lifted her chin and waited for the music to begin.
“I love her costume,” Layla said. “It’s so beautiful.”
Wilder had to agree. Lexi had mentioned changing her costume for this one, and though he wasn’t sure why, it was clear that she’d made a good decision. It had a fitted top and a flowy skirt in shades of dark purple and blue, but it lacked the nude illusion that many of the other female skaters had chosen as part of their costumes.
Her dark hair was pulled back from her face in an intricate braid, showing her delicate features. There was determination on her face, and on Mik’s as well. The camera zoomed in on her face just as her eyes closed.
Wilder thought that this was more than just a skate for a gold medal. At least for Lexi. This was her opportunity on a world stage to rise above the things that people wanted to pin on her because of her father’s actions.
“Here we go,” Wilder murmured as the music started and a hush fell over the room. When Lexi opened her eyes and began to move, Wilder wondered if she’d been praying or if it had just been part of the starting position.
There was no denying the chemistry on the ice between Lexi and Mik. It was an athletic chemistry that showed itself in how easily their movements flowed around each other. It was like they knew exactly where the other person was at all times. Their skill and athleticism were equal.
They both completed the difficult jumps without error and the jump combinations with ease and flow. And it was like the music had been written just for them.
“Oh, that was so beautiful,” Amelia murmured when the program came to an end. “They have to win.”
Wilder agreed. The end of their Romeo and Juliet program might have been tragic, but the program itself was a triumph for both Lexi and Mik. Wilder wasn’t sure they could have skated it any better.
He thought the program deserved the gold, but the last team to skate had done a great job in the short program, so it stood to reason that they’d also do a great job in the long one too. These were the best of the best, after all.
The commentators had calculated how much was needed for them to temporarily take first place and maintain their silver position. The wait for the scores seemed to stretch on forever.
There was tension on the faces of Mik and the coaches. A lot was riding on this for them, too. Even Lexi showed some uncharacteristic tenseness as she waited. There was no smile on her face as she stared up at something, presumably the scoreboard.
“They’re taking too long,” Layla said. “Why is it taking so long?”
It did seem to take an eternity before a roar went up from the crowd, and the commentators shared the score, which well exceeded the amount they needed to retain their position.
“This team has had a limited season together, so this is a season’s best,” the man said. “But it’s also not far off their personal best. I’m not sure they could have skated this program any better.”
Wilder grinned at the commentator’s words. He thought they’d skated it amazingly well, but he wasn’t the professional. And he was a bit biased. So hearing someone who knew what they were talking about say that it was great was a good sign.
“I know I shouldn’t wish for someone to fall,” Amelia said, her voice soft. “But I really hope that they do. Sorry, Daddy.”
Blake gave a huff of laughter. “I understand why you feel that way, Berry. However, sometimes even doing your absolute best doesn’t guarantee winning. And their victory would mean more if they won against another program that was skated well.”
“Yeah. I suppose.”
It was probably a difficult concept for someone Amelia’s age to grasp. However, it was a good learning experience, especially if she hoped to go into competitive skating herself.
The first placed team skated well, with no falls, but as far as Wilder was concerned, their program lacked the beauty of Lexi and Mik’s. So, in his mind, there was still hope for Lexi and Mik.
“This team is going to need a season’s best in order to beat the program by Alexandra Corbyn and Mikhail Andropov,” the female commentator said. “Their personal best score would do it, but they haven’t achieved that this season with this program.”
Wilder said a prayer that all the hard work Lexi and Mik had put into their skating would pay off. Blake was right. As long as they skated a clean program—which they had—they should be pleased with themselves. But he had a much more laid-back approach to things, even sports. Lexi and Mik’s mindset was probably a lot different.
A roar went up from the crowd, but Wilder didn’t know who they were cheering for. But then Amelia jumped to her feet, punching the air with her fist.
“Alexandra Corbyn and Mikhail Andropov take the gold,” the commentator announced. “After a break in their partnership for a year and a half, and Mikhail taking on a new partner for a season, they’ve come back together and won the gold.”
Lexi’s smile had grown a bit as she hugged Mik and their coaches. It was like she was finally letting her emotions show. And for good reason.
As he watched them celebrate, Wilder wished he could be there with Lexi to share her joy after what they’d accomplished. But was there a place in her life for him? Was there a place in his life for her?
Would she even want him in her life?
He stared at the screen, watching as someone interviewed Lexi and Mik. Like previous interviews Wilder had seen of them, Mik took control. Unlike those previous interviews, however, Lexi didn’t stand there looking up at Mik with a smile. Though she had a smile on her face, her attention stayed on the interviewer.
“And how about Worlds?” the woman asked. “Will we see you there?”
Wilder held his breath as he waited for Mik’s response. He glanced down at Lexi, then looked back at the interviewer with a sly smile. “We’ll have to see.”
Wilder wasn’t sure if he hoped that they’d go or not. But in the end, he’d support Lexi either way. He just hoped that she didn’t get pressured into it by Mik and the coaches if she really didn’t want to go. However, maybe having had a taste of competing again, she’d be tempted to return to that life… for more than just this season.
He’d been praying a lot lately about his feelings for Lexi. He knew that he couldn’t just base his decisions on how he felt. Pursuing anything with her would be a major change in his life, and he couldn’t just jump into it without seeking God’s will.
They continued to watch as the winners were presented with their medals. Lexi shook hands with the other skaters as she and Mik made their way to the gold medal position on the platform that was set up for the ceremony.
Wilder felt tears prick his eyes as the American national anthem began to play.
When it finished, Charli cleared her throat and said, “Well, that was amazing.”
“I want to skate in the Olympics,” Amelia announced. “And I want Lexi to show me how to do it.”
Wilder glanced at Charli in time to see her exchange a glance with Blake. Was that an oh no look, or an I told you so one? He’d heard a lot of stories about athletes who’d been motivated to go to the Olympics after being inspired by watching an athlete perform at the Olympics. Maybe this was Amelia’s moment.
“Do you think I can do that, Daddy?” Amelia asked, looking over at Blake.
“You can do anything you want, Berry. As long as you’re willing to do the hard work.”
Amelia nodded. “I’ll do the hard work.”
“I don’t think I want to go to the Olympics,” Layla said. “Lexi has had to work so hard, she hasn’t even been able to coach us. But I’ll be there to cheer you on.”
Amelia smiled at her sister. “Thanks, Layla.”
Soon the broadcast of the Olympics pairs skating final ended. There was still one more skating event, which was the team finals, and then Lexi would be able to come home.
Or would she go to France to see her mom? Or would she go to Maine?
He had no idea what her next plans were.
Everyone got up and began to gather up the snacks to take everything back upstairs to the kitchen. Even the girls pitched in, picking up the garbage.
Once everything was cleaned up, Wilder jogged up the stairs to his bedroom, then dropped down on his back on the bed. Lifting his phone, he tapped out a message to Lexi.
Congratulations! What an amazing accomplishment! All your hard work has paid off. It was an absolutely beautiful, strong performance!
He didn’t expect an answer, since it was likely she was asleep, given the time difference. After thinking it over, he composed another message.
We’d love to throw you a party when you get back. Do you think you’d be up for it?
If not, that’s fine. We were all just so excited to see you win!
After he sent the messages, he groaned as he tossed the phone onto the bed beside him. He should have waited until she responded to his first message before sending off the second and third. His impatience had gotten the better of him.
He went downstairs a little while later to help with supper by entertaining Shiloh. Blake was flipping burgers on the stove, while Charli manned the French fries in the air fryer. The girls were in charge of setting the table in the breakfast nook. Janessa and Will were up in their room since Janessa wasn’t feeling great. Lee and Rori were out on a date.
It was a simple meal, but Wilder wouldn’t complain because it tasted great. The girls ate theirs quickly, then asked if they could take their dessert downstairs to eat while they watched some television.
Once it was just the three adults and Shiloh, Charli sat down across the table from Wilder, cupping her mug in her hands.
“What do you think about Amelia wanting to be an Olympic figure skater?” she asked.
“The dream has to start somewhere, right?” Wilder plucked a cookie off the plate in front of them. “And for someone hoping to rise to those levels of competition, it’s probably best they start young.”
“I’m not sure we can afford to have her train the way Lexi trains.”
Wilder wanted to say that Lexi probably wouldn’t charge them that much. However, it would mean going from one lesson a week to more. Many more. And he had no idea if Lexi was actually going to come back to Serenity to coach.
Blake reached out to cover Charli’s hand. “If it seems that Amelia really has potential, we’ll figure out how to make it work.”
Charli nodded. “I want to make sure she can get the training she needs.”
“We just have to pray for God’s guidance as we talk with her and figure out if this is indeed her future.”
“Do you know if Lexi is planning to come back here to coach?”
Wilder shook his head. “No clue. We haven’t talked about her future or anything past the Olympics. At this point, I don’t even know if she’s going to Worlds.”
“Haven’t you guys been talking at all?”
“Not really,” Wilder admitted. “She made it clear that her priority was her training, so we haven’t talked much beyond just the odd text here or there.”
“That’s just so weird,” Charli said. “Every time we’ve all been together, she’s really seemed into you.”
“I don’t know.” Wilder broke off a piece of cookie but didn’t eat it. “We get along really well, but we both agreed that friendship was all we could have. Our lives are too different for anything else.”
“So does that mean that if circumstances had been different, you’d date her?”
Wilder shrugged, then ate the piece of cookie to buy himself some time.
“Do you really like her?” Charli asked when he didn’t respond.
He definitely did like her, but it went more than that. The connection they’d shared confused him because they were so different. But there was no denying that he loved her. He’d never really understood the saying absence makes the heart grow fonder until Lexi had put distance between them.
Each day they were apart made him realize that he wanted her in his life every day. He wanted to stop by the rink before his shift to say good morning. And once he was finished on the slopes, he wanted to be able to go to the rink to see how her day went.
But that only worked when they were both in the same place, which, given his current life, would only be for a few months out of the year.
“Have you prayed about this?” Blake asked.
Wilder nodded. Lexi was the first woman he’d really focused prayer on. Anytime she came to mind, he said a prayer for her, which meant that he was saying several prayers a day for her.
Charli looked at them over the rim of her mug. “And how do you feel God is leading you?”
“I don’t know.”
How was one supposed to know?
His feelings weren’t leaving. If anything, they were getting stronger. Was that from God?
“Are you ready to make changes in your life?” Charli asked. “Because obviously that would be required if you were going to pursue something with Lexi.”
He’d been thinking about that, trying to figure out if there was a way to keep part of his summer plans while still having a relationship.
“Don’t run from love without giving it serious thought,” Blake said as he wrapped his arm around Charli. “We were fortunate to have gotten a second chance, but that’s not always the case. Don’t let Lexi be your biggest regret.”
“Try,” Charli encouraged him. “You’ve only been looking at why it won’t work. Take some time to think and pray about how to make it work.”
Wilder nodded. He could do that, but Lexi had to want to do that too. It wouldn’t make any difference if he was willing to consider a serious relationship with Lexi if she wasn’t willing to do the same.
It was time for a real conversation with her. Hopefully she’d come back to Serenity once the Olympics were over, and she could spare him a few minutes for a talk, even if she was preparing to go to Worlds.
Maybe it was time for more balloons and flowers.