"The kids" didn’t let them down. They skated cleanly both times. When they landed a jump, the camera consistently panned to Ryan and Dhalia jumping up and down with excitement for their protégés. They were so proud! Their marks didn’t matter to them; they were perfect in their eyes. Scott and Diane truly became Canada’s sweethearts. After they were done, Scott and Diane skated over to what skaters referred to as the kiss and cry, where one’s options were typically one or the other. As they waited in the box for their results, they hoped what they heard wouldn’t bring on tears.
When their scores revealed they won, Ryan and Dhalia kissed out of excitement. They had hit another milestone in their careers, the coaching of a champion team. Dhalia wept from happiness. Damn if those pregnancy hormones had anything to do with it.
The Final Show
Universal personnel was in a frenzy preparing for the live show of interviews after Worlds. It was a no-holds-barred, two-hour episode of questions and answers with everyone appearing, including Bradley. She hadn’t seen Bradley since Toronto.
Everyone was taken in a bus from the arena to the local university auditorium for the final show. It was going to be videotaped in front of a live studio audience. They had screens positioned behind the host to replay preselected scenes that were going to be re-aired, which were chosen by Justin. Two white Natuzzi couches and the host's chair were placed in front of a coffee table with a box of tissue on it and a drink for Justin.
The auditorium had low lighting, except for a spotlight on the couches, which made one perspire if one sat under it too long. The seats were filled with an audience that had been watching the show from the start. Pictures of athletes and coaches created a dramatic backdrop. No one, except Justin, knew who or when we would be called up to the stage and what scenes from the year would be re-televised.
Justin did all the interviews personally. If circumstances were different, and Ryan and Dhalia hadn’t become such a big part of the story, they probably would have been the ones to host. In the end, it didn’t really matter.
Justin introduced all the skaters involved at the camp, and their faces appeared on the screen behind them as they walked on stage. He announced the big winners first off, since viewers would already be in the know given Worlds had air earlier. A group picture was up on the screen and all the skaters faded out of the picture only leaving Scott and Diane’s faces remaining.
Scott and Diane were jumping up and down excitedly hugging each other. All the other skaters appeared genuinely happy for them and they clustered around the happy couple hugging and congratulating them. Confetti and streamers were released from from the ceiling throughout the studio and “We Are the Champions” played in the background. Canada’s favorite pair had won Worlds.
The audience clapped and Justin shook the couple's hand as they took their seats. The stage grew dark where the rest of the skaters were standing and the ones who would be appearing were brought back to the holding area. The rest took seats at the top of the theatre.
Justin said, “Let's have a recap of your journey, shall we?”
The lights dimmed and the cameras recorded Scott and Diane as they watched their progress over the past year. Clips included those when they were selected as a couple, Scott saying good-bye to Paris, Diane’s dramatic makeover, and finally, their win at Worlds.
The lights came back on and Justin segued into his interview.
“Any regrets or resentment for not being able to compete as singles instead of a pair?"
Scott spoke up, “Not at all, Justin. It took some time for us to get used to the idea, but once we were, we focused on the task at hand.”
Justin crossed his legs and turned to Diane. “You were quite strong during makeover time, as most women would have cried having their long locks chopped off! Do you recall what Scott whispered in your ear?”
Diane shrugged. “Sure, I do. He told me to close my eyes and be brave, it would all be worth it in the end.”
“Was it?”
“Yes!”
Justin looked at the pairs team who were holding hands on the couch. “The two of you seem to get along rather well. Are you dating?”
Diane smiled. “Not currently, but Scott has truly become my best friend. With such intensive training, there’s been no time to even think about relationships.”
“Scott, are you and Paris still an item?”
Scott reddened. “I broke it off with Paris.”
“Will you and Diane compete next year, to try to win an Olympic title?”
Scott smiled at Diane. “Most definitely; it’s an Olympic year.”
Justin took two envelopes out of his pocket and said, “On behalf of the Association and Universal Television, we'd like to present you with two checks for one hundred thousand dollars each. Congratulations!"
There was a break, which Dhalia assumed was a cut to commercial. Scott and Diane remained seated. The lights came back on and soon after the show resumed.
“Scott and Diane, please welcome Paris back to the stage.” Nobody knew Paris was going to make an appearance. She must have been in a different holding room.
Paris came dressed in a beautiful purple, backless dress and five inch heels. Her hair was swept up in a blond bun. She was, in a word, stunning. She shook Justin’s hand and took a seat.
“First, we would like to congratulate you for your second place finish. Bravo!”
Paris smiled at Justin. “Thank you.”
“So apart from Scott and Diane’s win in the pairs category, you are by rights the person who placed the highest overall above all the people who attended the camp.”
“I did,” she agreed.
“Were you angry when you were asked to leave the camp?”
“No, Justin, I think it made me more determined to work hard and prove that I didn’t need it to do well.”
“You definitely did prove that, Paris.”
“If they invite you again next year, would you be willing to go?”
“I’d be honored.” She smiled and looked at the audience.
“Are you dating?”
“No, not currently.”
“Are you still friends with Scott?”
“Not at all.” Justin nodded at her in understanding.
“Any resentment towards Diane?”
“No, it just made it easier for me to win my medal!” She flashed a winning smile.
He redirected, “I hope we see you next year at the camp! Thank you so much for coming as a guest on the show.”
“You’re welcome. Thanks for having me.” Justin gave all three competitors hugs and then there was a break.
The show resumed with Justin in his chair and both couches vacant.
“I would like to call all the athletes back to the stage please. Please help me welcome them.” The audience clapped and everyone came back out.
Justin introduced them one by one starting with the men and going on to the women. He congratulated all of them and discussed how they placed and their individual programs. Justin then gave the audience a question and answer period. They would put their hands up and Justin walked around with a microphone.
The show was approximately half an hour in when the athletes were thanked and left the stage. Yet another commercial aired between takes.
Upon return, Justin introduced Sandra, Jay, Michael, and Matt.
“Sandra, it looked for a short time like you had eyes for Ryan. Would you say that’s correct?”
Sandra laughed. “Well, look at him! Any red-blooded female would have eyes for that man!” The audience clapped and whistled in response.
“When did you stop actively pursuing him?”
“Oh, Justin, must we go there? It was evident that Ryan only had eyes for Dhalia, but I guess I would say I stopped after the attack.”
“Did you get along with Dhalia?”
“Sure we did. I offered for her to stay in my room and helped her get away from the press when she needed to.”
“Are you seeing anyone now?”
“As a matter-of-fact, I’ve just been asked out on a date!”
“May we ask who the lucky guy is?”
“Sure, it’s Michael!” Everyone clapped. Michael wasn’t a very public man, so he blushed as a result.
Justin laughed. “No pressure, Michael!”
“I must comment,” Justin added, “I wouldn’t be surprised if you won an Emmy for your choreography!”
Sandra grinned. “Thank you.”
Justin turned to Michael. “I guess I’ll congratulate you first on the date you’ve acquired!”
Michael shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Thanks, I guess.”
“Would you say you are close to Ryan and Dhalia?”
“Sure! I coached them for eight years before they turned professional. It was like working with family.”
“Is it true you were the first to find Dhalia after the infamous attack?"
“Yes.”
“What did you do? How does one react to such violence?”
“I called 911 and helped the EMTs take her to the hospital.”
“How did she look?”
“Terrible. Her face was swollen and bleeding. She couldn’t even open her one eye. It took three people to get her into the ambulance. Understandably, she didn’t want to go to the hospital. She cowered in the corner of her room, afraid to move.”
“How did you get her to leave?”
“Sedation.”
“Have there been any more attacks?”
“Not of which I am aware.”
They cameras cut to another commercial. Justin spoke with Matt and Jay but their voices weren’t picked up.
The next segment dealt with coaching strategies. Justin looked at Jay and then back at Matt. “You guys were rough out there with the skaters!”
Matt took the lead. “It gets results.”
“Did you have to reduce them to tears?”
Jay defended Matt. “The kids are under significant amounts of pressure so they break down quite easily, but the skaters are used to it from the coaches.”
“Was there any one particular skater you were excited about more than the rest?”
Matt responded again, “No, they were all talented in their own ways, in their own rights. They all worked very hard, and we’re proud of all of them.”
Jay added, “Usually if we aren’t yelling at the kids then the parents are. I think it's mostly that the arena is so large and you are trying to be heard over the music that’s playing in the background.”
Sandra jumped in. “Figure skating is an intense sport that requires a lot of hard work, discipline, and money. Parents in the skating world can’t be compared to the likes of parents in glamour competitions. That’s a completely different ballgame.”
Justin argued, “If that were the case, why didn’t you allow the parents to stay at the Village with their kids?”
Sandra responded, “I had no say in the matter, but I would surmise the powers-that-be wanted significant control over the kids to ensure their success. They didn’t want any of our coaching undermined. When you watch other reality shows or even in local arenas you see parents pretend to be coaches. Since so much money and time are invested, parents feel they have a right to intrude on the coach-athlete relationship.”
Justin congratulated them on their fantastic tutelage that could be seen in the results of the competitors.
The show cut to another commercial, leaving an hour of taping. It was evident the next hour would be focused on the assault by way the interviews were going. The box of Kleenex on the coffee table might as well have had Dhalia’s name on it, because nobody else was going to need it.
Justin introduced her for the next segment. He shook her hand and pointed to where he wanted her to sit.
“Thanks, Dhalia, for allowing me to interview you and letting me discuss what happened to you on such a public forum.”
She nodded hesitantly.
“What made you decide to go public after the attack?”
“I didn’t really. Ryan forced it. He thought it would help me and other victims who’ve been brutalized.”
“Did it?”
“It was hard. I would have to say, to a degree, yes.”
“Were you physically assaulted or sexually too?”
“Both.”
“Who attacked you?”
“Bradley Hotman. Head of the Association.” People acted shocked although the news had already been broadcasted by the media.
“Let’s take a look at some clips I've collected.” The camera focused on her as she looked at images of Bradley punching her in a darkened room, them in the boardroom after the attack when her face was swollen and bruised, and twice in the courtroom, once when she was talking to Bradley and again when the jury was watching the videotaped evidence.
Dhalia started to cry when the rape flashed back in her mind. She grabbed a tissue to avoid having her mascara run down her face as she tried to pull herself together.
“It’s still hard?”
“Of course. It’s getting easier.”
“When you bumped into Mr. Hotman in court, what did he say to you?”
“He said he was sorry. He said he cared about me so much that he couldn’t control his anger when he found out I was back with Ryan.”
“Have you forgiven him?”
“I’m trying.”
“Did it bother you he got off so easily?”
“Yes.”
“What was the reasoning for that?”
“The courts felt it was an isolated incident and that he would be of more use helping the community and contributing to charities rather than taxpayers supporting him in jail.”
“How have you been handling difficult situations since the attack?”
“Not well,” she looked down. “I’ve been taking Paxil, an anti-anxiety medication, and I’m still going to counseling.”
“Has the medication or counseling helped?”
“Again, to a certain degree. Things like this are challenging to overcome.”
“Are you currently in a relationship?”
“I don’t know how to answer that. I’ve been trying to sort through my feelings, but I’ve been really messed up.”
“Is it true both men, Bradley and Ryan, are actively pursuing you?”
“Yes.”
“Is it also true you are pregnant?”
“Yes,” she answered. The audience collectively gasped and then they clapped.
They cut to another commercial and the lights came back on. Justin introduced Ryan and gestured for him to sit next to Dhalia.
“Thanks for coming, Ryan.”
“It’s great to be here.”
“Let's look at some clips with you and Dhalia.”
The camera focused on Ryan as he watched tapes of himself. All the clips were of them happy and together. Dhalia couldn’t help but start laughing. Justin picked up on it.
“What’s so funny, Dhalia?”
“It’s not too obvious who you guys like me with!”
“Dhalia, you can’t blame me for trying to influence your future decisions.” Justin looked over at Ryan. “Honestly, are you still in love with Dhalia?”
“Most definitely.”
“Is that why you followed her to Jamaica?”
“No, my original reason was because I found out Bradley followed her. I wanted to protect her.”
“Is it true you punched Bradley on more than one occasion?”
“Wouldn’t you?” he countered.
“Is the baby yours?”
“In my heart. I want it to be but I don’t know, we haven’t gotten the test results back.”
Justin stood up and said, “Bradley, come on out!” The audience booed at the sight of him. Justin gestured for him to take a seat on the empty couch after shaking Bradley's hand.
“Thanks for being here.”
Bradley nodded.
“Go ahead, Bradley, you can explain if yo
u would like.”
“I was in what I thought was an exclusive relationship with Dhalia, and when I found out she still had feelings for Ryan, her ex-husband, it unleashed a jealousy I didn’t even know I was capable of.”
“Do you still feel this jealousy?”
“Yes. I hate him.”
“The feeling’s mutual, asshole!” Ryan hissed. The audience gasped.
“Are you still in love with Dhalia?”
Bradley looked into her eyes. “Yes, I am. I want to marry her and be a father to her baby.”
“Does Ryan know how you feel?”
“No, he doesn’t.”
“How did Dhalia respond to that?”
“She didn’t. I kissed her and when I went to pull away, she kept kissing me.”
The audience made a noise indicative of shock. Ryan looked mad, really mad.
Justin turned to her. “Is it true? Do you still have feelings for Bradley?”
“Yes, I do. I understand he was very angry and couldn’t control his rage. He’s repeatedly told me how sorry he is for doing what he did. He said he would spend the rest of his life making it up to me if he had to. No matter how hard I try to fight my attraction to him, I can’t deny that I am. I also know he would be an excellent provider.”
“Ryan?”
“Ryan is an amazing man. He held my hand and led me out of some of the darkest moments in my life. As you know, we have a history. I love him, he’s supportive, handsome, and truly amazing. Both have their admirable traits. I can't deny that.”
“Did you and Bradley plan to go to Jamaica together?”
“No, he followed me there, attempting to win me back.”
“Was he successful?”
“Somewhat. He did win a small level of trust back. I know deep down, that he won’t attack me again. By the end of the trip, though, I couldn’t be intimate with him. I wasn’t ready for that yet.”
“Now?”
“I don’t know.”
“So can you tell us what happened in Jamaica?”
“Ryan found me.”
“How so?”
Kiss & Cry, Where Passion Awaits Page 21