Page 13 of Shining Through

Everyone in his section applauded wildly for Katia, and though he cheered for his teammate, he ached for Tabitha. As Machiko Furakawa skated out, Daniil hoped yesterday’s stunning performance was an anomaly and that today, she’d skate like the inexperienced fourteen-year-old she was.

No such luck.

Skating to music from “Phantom of the Opera,” the tiny teen flitted with amazing speed, nailing jump after jump, even a crazy-difficult triple-axel half-loop triple-flip combination. Machiko’s performance earned her a standing ovation, the highest-ever score for an International Series debut... and the gold medal. Katia took silver. And to everyone’s shock, Tabitha Turner came in third.

America’s golden girl wasn’t invincible.

CHAPTER SIX

ON THE PODIUM, TABITHA BENTforward to accept the Star Spangled Skate bronze medal. A photographer was recording every reaction, so she smiled, and hoped it looked genuine.

She’d lost a medal she’d expected to win. A medal everyone had expected her to win. At the start of the most important season of her career, she’d fallen short.

Just like last time.

No! No! Don’t think that way. Peter says it’s not the end of the world. Believe him.

One shaky skate didn’t necessarily doom the entire season. She still had the next International Series competition, the Series championship in Barcelona, and U.S. Nationals. This had no direct impact on Grenoble. But if she’d had her preference, she would stand where she’d stood last year, and the year before that.

The place where Machiko Furakawa stood now.

The bronze medal rested against her pale blue dress. Smile frozen in place, Tabitha shook hands with the three skating officials who congratulated each winner. The youngest official had still been competing when Tabitha began her rise. How had she felt losing to younger, hungrier skaters, and knowing that her lifelong dream of skating in the Games would die unfulfilled? When did she first realize that her days atop the podium were behind her?

The white and red Japanese flag rose above the ice, with the Russian and American flags on the right and left. As Japan’s national anthem played, Machiko mouthed the words. Happy tears glistened on her cheeks. Tabitha wondered if the skaters down in the locker room could hear the medal ceremony.

She never wanted to find out.

A press conference followed, and Tabitha did her best to be both confident and contrite. “No, it wasn’t my best performance,” she said, echoing the reporters’ foregone conclusion. “There are things I’ll be working on, but it’s a long season, and I’m looking forward to my next competition in St. Petersburg.”

Afterward, Peter embraced her and Tabitha released a sigh of relief. He put a comforting arm around her as they walked, and spoke in a low voice. “Don’t take it too hard. What’s important is that you medaled. The only way to go is up. We’ll get back to LA Sunday night, you’ll get a good night’s sleep, then Monday afternoon we’ll work on the axel. Your take-off wasn’t good, but a few sessions with the jump coaches and you’ll have it back.”

“You really think it’s that simple?”

“Absolutely. You are the strongest technical skater I’ve ever coached, and eight weeks is plenty of time to get ready for St. Petersburg. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Tabitha wanted to feel Peter’s assurance. Except for the fall, which could happen to any skater, no matter how skilled, her performance hadn’t been that bad. Peter believed a better take-off would fix the problem. But she knew the problem went deeper than her take-off technique. She hadn’t captivated the audience like Machiko. She only wished she knew what to do.

~

“Smile!” At the post-competition reception, Tabitha leaned close to Katia and Machiko. The new Star Spangled Skate gold medalist captured the thrilling night in a selfie. The phone’s camera clicked. Machiko glanced at the photo and nodded. “I shared.”

“Wait, can I see?” Tabitha began, but her words were lost as a swarm of hugging and squealing fans and teammates surrounded Machiko. Tabitha turned to Katia Filipova. “I hope the picture wasn’t too awful.”

“With selfie, who can know?” Katia offered a wan smile, and then disappeared into the crowd that filled the luxurious private suite on the arena’s top level.

A short distance away, Mary Anne Devore, a 1970’s two-time World medalist stood with a group of middle-aged women. None appeared happy. Obliged to at least say hello, Tabitha greeted them. Mary Anne, a petite but formidable woman in a fur coat that looked too heavy for the still-balmy weather, offered chilly congratulations. Once more, Tabitha felt like crap.

She posed for another picture with an international figure skating VIP whose name she couldn’t recall. When the woman wandered away, Tabitha looked around, desperate to see a friendly face. Peter chatted with Mia Lang. Samara and her friend Xtina had taken off after the competition and were probably upstairs enjoying movies and room service. That and a nice long bubble bath sounded like utter heaven. Unfortunately, the party had just started. She couldn’t leave yet. As always, skating obligations outweighed everything else.This is what you’ve always wanted, remember?

Near the appetizer buffet, Fiona was talking with Ilya Zaikov, her posture angled, her smile bright. When she touched his sleeve and leaned in close, Misha’s widowed father smiled, but appeared slightly uncomfortable. Tabitha had to look away. Did her mother have to flirt with every man she met?

Then again, if Daniil Andreev had been here, Tabitha would do the same. Even though she knew it was a terrible idea.

She’d noticed him in the audience Friday and Saturday night, though she’d tried to put him out of her mind. Talking with him at the practice rink had felt so good—-too good. But after seeing her mom and sister cope with chronic heartbreak, Tabitha knew it was best to steer clear of a man with a reputation for trouble.

It seemed like such a simple thing, and she’d resolved to do it. Then she’d come off the ice after the free skate, lower than low, and saw him applauding as if she’d turned in the skate of her life. His unwavering support had meant the world. She sensed that if he were here, he’d know exactly the right words to say. Too bad there was no sign of him.

Peals of laughter rose from a nearby table. Machiko and her friends huddled around a cell phone, cracking up. Could the selfie be that bad?

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