When she tapped the button on the bell, it rang out loudly. A teenaged girl scurried around a corner and stood facing her. “Sorry, I was shelving some things in back.”
“That’s okay. I just want to watch for a while and maybe skate a turn or two.” Carla pulled some cash from her wallet. “How much?”
“Will you need skates?” The girl chomped on her gum and blew a bubble that immediately popped on her lips. “Oops.” She grinned and licked the gum off.
Carla lifted her skate bag and raised her brows.
“Oh. You have your own skates. Okay. That’s five bucks.”
Carla’s stomach clenched as she pushed through the doors. Nostalgia washed over her as she walked down the short hallway. It was the same. The same photos and posters on the wall, with the addition of a couple of recent medal winners. She came to the changing area and sat on a bench to put her skates on then walked to the ice. She was grateful for the new rubbery material over the floor that made skate guards unnecessary. Other than that, the place seemed just the same. She caught her breath as she rested her hand on the rail. The same dent. You’d think they’d have fixed it by now. She took a deep breath then stepped onto the ice.
A skater whizzed by her, did a quick spin, and skated back. “Carla? Carla Daniels?”
Carla flashed a glance at the movie-star-handsome guy who skidded to a stop and stared down at her. Her breath caught. “Hi, Lee. Yep. In the flesh.”
A smile lit up his eyes, and his grin matched hers. “I can’t believe it. Little Carla Daniels.” His eyes ran over her. “You grew up.”
She laughed. “So did you.”
He grabbed her hand and spun her around. She couldn’t believe how quickly she responded to the movement. He laughed out loud and slipped an arm around her waist. “Come on.” They glided around the ice once, and then he started around again.
“Don’t do anything fancy, Lee. I haven’t skated with anyone in a long time.”
“Yeah, you sort of dropped off the face of the earth.” He pulled her a little closer. “I was crushed when I got your note.”
“Sure you were. It took you a whole three weeks to find another partner.” She gave him a sideways glance and smiled.
“That wasn’t my doing. It was our dear coach and my parents. What could I say? I was fifteen.”
He picked up speed and changed his hand position. “Okay, get ready. Here we go.”
“No!” But the next thing she knew she was twisting and sailing through the air, then her skates hit the ice. She stood, trembling, and glared at him. “What are you trying to do, kill me?”
He laughed. “You don’t look anywhere near death to me. And you landed it, even if you did two-foot it.”
Amazement shot through her. He was right. She grinned. The first throw-jump in years, and her body remembered exactly what to do. “Let’s try that again.”
The second and third times she was conscious of every move, and she fell, hard. The fourth time she hit the ice, she got up shaking her head. “I’m done. That first landing was a fluke.”
He skated her over to the gate. “I don’t think it was a fluke, Carla. You’ve still got it. You just need practice.”
“Well, not today.” She rubbed her thigh. “I’m going to be black and blue.”
“Put ice on it before you go to bed tonight. It’ll be fine. Let’s get out of here and go somewhere we can talk. I want to hear everything you’ve been doing.”
“Oh.” She glanced around. “Where’s your partner? Aren’t you here for practice?”
“No, I don’t train here anymore.”
By now he’d guided her to the gate. Carla grabbed her skate bag from under the bench where she’d stowed it and sat to remove her skates. Ten minutes later they sat across from each other at a coffeehouse.
Carla took a sip of her latte and patted her mouth with a napkin. “So tell me, what were you doing at the rink if you don’t train there?”
He stirred his coffee. “I like to stop in every now and then. For old times’ sake, I guess.”
She sighed. “I can understand that. I’d planned to check out the new arena, but the next thing I knew, here I was at the old rink. It sort of pulled me, I guess.”
“I’ve missed you, Carla.” A sad expression crossed his face.
“Well, I’ve missed you, too, Lee.” In all honesty, she’d thought of him very little the last few years, but when she did think of him, nostalgia kicked in. And there was no denying her heart sped up every time he looked at her. She’d forgotten his amber-flecked brown eyes that went so well with dark gold hair. Even his skin tone had a touch of gold. Probably from a tanning bed, but who cared? She swallowed. “And I’ve missed skating with you.”
“Who have you been training with? I haven’t heard anything since you left.”
“I trained for a while, but after a few months we couldn’t afford it. Grams was the one who’d always paid for my skating, and suddenly Dad wouldn’t let her anymore.” Carla set her cup on the table and picked up her napkin. “I think it broke Grams’s heart more than it did mine.”
“Why didn’t you ever stop by when you came to visit?”
“We didn’t come very often, Lee. And when we did, we were always busy with the family. Grams would come see us a couple of times a year before she got sick.” She took a deep breath. “She passed away last year.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t know.” He reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze.
“It’s all right. How could you know?”
“Where did you go when you left here?”
“We went to Tulsa.” She frowned at the memory and shuddered. “I hated the dry heat there, but Mom and Dad love it. They’re still there.”
“They? Not you?” He glanced at her left hand and she grinned.
“No. I went to Wichita to college. But I had to drop out at the end of my junior year due to finances.” The old anger and grief came back at the memory and she bit her lip and pushed it back. “I hope to go back and get my degree soon. Maybe very soon.”
“Oh, what’s causing the change?”
“I’m about to receive an inheritance. I’ll keep working, but I don’t mind that. I love my job.” She shifted and sat up straighter. “Enough about me. Tell me about your partner.”
He drew in a breath and blew it out in a loud whoosh. “No partner.”
“What happened to her?”
“Blamed me that we didn’t make it to the World Championships this year. She found another partner and left me flat.”
The phone on the kitchen wall jangled. Todd yanked his hands out of the dishwater and made a grab for it while dripping soapy water all over the floor.
“Berry’s Diner.” Please God, let it be Carla.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I have the wrong number.” The voice was polite, but Todd felt like slinging the receiver across the room.
He slammed his hands into the water and resumed scrubbing the enormous stockpot. She’d promised she’d call when she got to Colorado Springs yesterday. It wasn’t like Carla not to keep her word. He’d finally called her cell phone around eight o’clock, but she hadn’t answered. She might have turned her phone off and gone to bed early after traveling all day. He’d hardly slept last night, picturing her in a pileup on the highway or in a ditch on the side of a winding mountain road.
He’d tried again this morning and still no answer. He had to restrain himself from calling the highway patrol and checking for accidents. More than likely she and her cousins were catching up and she’d forgotten her promise.
But if she didn’t call him within the next hour or two, he was calling the highway patrol. He could kick himself for not finding out where she was staying.
When the kitchen was clean, he removed his apron and headed for the coatrack. He might as well head home.
He groaned as he heard the bell over the door. He’d forgotten to lock up. He went to the front and found Julie Harrington standing inside the door
, a radiant smile on her face.
“Hi, Todd. I was afraid I might have missed you. But this was perfect timing.” Her eyes danced, and she waltzed over and gave him an uninvited hug.
He stepped back. “What’s up, Julie?”
She pouted her lips—very luscious lips, he had to admit. “That didn’t sound very welcoming, Todd.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve had a hard day and I’m tired, but I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“Oh, I understand, and all is forgiven. Actually, I’m having a dinner party next week, and I’d love it if you’d come.”
“I don’t know, Julie. The diner is really busy. What night?” He had no desire whatsoever to spend an evening with Julie and her friends.
“Wednesday night. Dad will be there, and he asked me to invite you. I think he wants to discuss the business venture the two of you are working out.” She closed the gap between them and looked up into his eyes. “I’m sure you’ll have a great time, and I do hope you’ll say yes.”
He felt sweat break out on his forehead at her nearness and stepped back again. “Sorry. I don’t think I can make it.”
Her chin lifted, and for a moment her eyes stormed, then she lowered them. “At least think about it. Okay?” She flashed him a smile.
“Okay, I’ll think about it.” Anything to end this. “I really have to go. I’m expecting a phone call any minute.” He said a quick prayer for forgiveness, but then again, there was a very fine line between expecting and hoping, wasn’t there?
Chapter 3
The training session for beginners was in progress. Children, some eager, others with fearful expressions on their faces, stood on the ice staring at the young woman who was teaching the class. Carla’s heart did a somersault as a memory flashed through her mind.
She’d stood trembling at her first session, wobbling on her beginner skates. The rest of her group followed their teacher bravely across the ice, but Carla, panicking, took one hesitant step and froze. Suddenly, an angelic creature with a smooth black ponytail and smiling Asian eyes glided up to her and held out her hand.
“Hi. Would you like to skate with me for a while?”
Mesmerized, Carla reached for her angel’s hand, and by the time they’d gone slowly around the rink and pulled up next to her group, confidence had risen up inside her.
A beautiful smile flashed in her direction, graceful tapered fingers waved at the teacher, then her angel glided away.
“What is Michelle Kwan doing in Colorado?” one of the parents asked.
“She and her sister are skating with a group of special needs kids next hour.” The group trainer grinned. “Guess she came a little early. She’s wonderful, the way she loves to help beginners.”
Her teacher’s words confirmed what Carla’s five-year-old heart had already grasped. Michele Kwan was special.
She smiled at the warm memory. Michelle would always be an angel to her.
A warm breath touched her neck, and she turned to see Lee grinning. “I know it’s not those little kids that have you so entranced.”
Why did her heart lurch at the sound of his voice? She smiled. “Hi, Lee. No, just lost in memories. What are you doing here today?”
“When you didn’t answer your phone, I thought you might be here.”
Carla gasped and grabbed her cell phone from her jacket pocket. She’d turned it off during the drive yesterday and, in her excitement and exhaustion, she’d forgotten to turn it back on.
“Oh no.” She shook her head. “My phone’s been off since yesterday. I need to check my messages. Excuse me for a few minutes?”
“Sure, I’ll meet you in the break room when you’re finished.”
Carla glanced at the time. Todd would be busy at the diner. She couldn’t call him now. But she knew he’d be worried sick. There were several missed calls from him, and a number of text messages. How could she have forgotten to contact him and let him know she’d arrived safely?
She sent him a text with an apology and a promise to call that night. Then she took a deep breath and went to meet Lee. Hopefully, she could keep her heart rhythm from speeding up. He’d always been a nice-looking guy, but now, oh brother. His partner must have been an idiot to leave him.
A warning twinge ran through her. She’d only heard Lee’s version of what caused the breakup. She knew he’d had problems at Nationals, falling several times, but that could happen to anyone. She couldn’t imagine anyone leaving their skating partner over one failed competition.
She found him leaning against the wall outside the break room.
He pushed away from the wall. “I’ve got an idea. It’s getting close to lunch time. How about we go grab a pizza? I’d like to talk to you about something.”
Curious, Carla agreed. A few minutes later, they were seated in a nearby pizzeria with a pepperoni and mushroom on the table between them. Carla served herself a slice then took a sip from her glass of iced tea.
Lee got right to the point. “Carla, have you ever thought of competing again?”
She almost choked on the cheesy bite. She swallowed and grabbed her glass again.
Lee laughed. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I’m fine. But to answer your question, of course I’ve thought of it. Who wouldn’t? It was part of my life for years.”
“Well? What do you think?” He lifted his brow in a quirky way that sent chills down her arms.
“What do I think? I think it’s been way too long since I’ve trained. I told you we couldn’t afford it after we left. I think I was fifteen when I had to stop. No coach would take me now and certainly no partner. I’m twenty-four. Way too old to get started again.”
“I disagree. You still have great form. Your edges are good. Your jumps and spins will come back. And what do you mean no partner? How about me?”
Her skin went clammy and she felt numb. Suddenly she couldn’t breathe. No, no. Not now. She hadn’t had a panic attack in three years.
Suddenly a bag was placed in her hands and she breathed slowly. Slowly. In and out. Breathing in the brown paper bag. Everything was okay. She just had to focus. Finally, she pulled the bag away from her mouth.
A waitress stood over her and Lee was leaning forward with one of her hands in both of his.
“You okay?”
She nodded. “Where did the bag come from so fast?”
He grinned and patted her hand. “I remembered that’s what you did when we were kids and you’d have one of those attacks. So I asked the waitress for one.”
Carla smiled up at the kind-faced woman. “Thank you so much. I’m fine now.”
When the waitress left, Carla glanced at Lee. “Sorry about that. I’m not sure what brought it on. Too much excitement, I guess. Of course you weren’t serious. Your coach would never stand for it.”
“I’m very serious. And as a matter of fact, I’ve changed coaches.” He grinned again. “Andrei is coaching Laura and Conrad. I decided to save him the anguish of divided loyalties, so I signed with Vladimir.”
“Well, still. He’s not likely to want you to pair up with someone like me, who hasn’t trained professionally in so many years.”
“Nonsense. I’ve already had a talk with Vlad, and he is quite agreeable to coach us on a trial basis.” He took her hand again. “What do you say, Carla? We had so much promise.”
“We were kids.” But the protest was weak, and she could tell from his triumphant smile that he knew it. “I don’t know. I’d need to think about it.” What in the world was she saying? She’d have to change her whole life.
“Of course. I don’t expect you to make a decision right now. But you can meet Vlad and talk about it, can’t you?”
“All right. But make sure he knows that I’m not committing to anything. And even if I agree, it will have to be on that trial basis you mentioned.”
Todd clicked on his living room lights and walked through to the kitchen. He put the Styrofoam to-go box on the table. He hadn’t eaten since hi
s early lunch and now it was after eight. His stomach rumbled. He’d eat and then take a quick shower. But the sudden awareness of the restaurant smell clinging to his skin and clothes changed his mind. He headed for the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, he was back in the kitchen, his hair dripping down his forehead, wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt. Nothing quite so comfortable on a cold autumn evening. He slid the chicken and vegetables onto a plate and slipped it into the microwave. The phone rang, and he almost tripped getting to the counter where he’d left it.
The sound of Carla’s voice sent waves of relief over him. She’d said in her text she’d call tonight, but he hadn’t wanted to get his hopes up again.
“I’m so sorry, Todd. I can’t believe I forgot to call you or even turn my phone on. I’ve had so much going on.” Her voice sounded breathless, as though she’d just gotten in from the cold.
“Well, why don’t you tell me all about it? What’s been going on? I guess you’re having fun with the cousins.” He needed to slow down. He must sound like an idiot.
A little pause on her end of the line sent his radar soaring.
“Well, I won’t actually see them until the end of next week. Then we’ll start our week at the Broadmoor. I’m not sure they’re even in town yet.”
“Oh? You wanted to do some sightseeing on your own, I guess?” He winced. What right had he to question her?
Her breathless little laugh came through the phone. “Well, that was the original plan. But I ran into Lee Swann. You won’t believe this, but he’s without a partner and asked me to train with him.”
His stomach tightened as though he’d been punched. He took a deep breath.
“Is that right? What did you tell him?”
“At first I laughed. I thought he was joking, but he’s serious.” She paused. “I don’t know, Todd. I told him I’d think about it.”
His stomach continued to tighten. He didn’t know what to say. It would be easy at this moment to start yelling at her. Tell her to come home before she did something stupid. He took a deep breath. “I’ll pray that God will show you what to do. Let me know when you decide. I’ll need to find someone to replace you if you aren’t coming back.” The harsh words were out before he could stop them.
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