Page 46 of Shining Through

Anton dropped his phone in the pocket of his blazer and looked away, watching passengers board the next departing flight, bound for San Diego, California. Was San Diego far from the city where Tabitha trained?

“This is about Tabitha.”

“You said yourself that this season needs to be about skating. That’s your priority.”

“And it is my priority. But if I’m happy in one part of my life, won’t that improve my skating more than if I’m not happy?”

“But things can change. Are you prepared for that?”

He didn’t want to think about that and resented Anton for even suggesting it. “You’re going to tell me not to see her, aren’t you?” Daniil hated defying his coach, whom he liked and respected. But if it meant not seeing Tabitha, he wouldn’t hesitate.

“No,” Anton said. “What would be the use? I know you. And I know what I would do in your situation. What I did in your situation. I have nothing against Tabitha. I like her. But I know what this season means to you. And I know federation politics.”

“And that’s why Bogdanov’s congratulations are a bad thing?”

Anton gave a short nod. “It’s no secret the federation backs Domachev to compete in Grenoble. But he didn’t medal in Chicago, and you medaled here. So now you are ahead of their chosen one, both in the International Series, and in world standings. That makes Bogdanov look bad. He’ll do what he can to help Domachev rise, even if that means getting rid of the skater ahead of him.”

That skater was Daniil. “But if I continue to out-skate Domachev, I should be fine, right?”

“In perfect world, yes. But Bogdanov’s reputation is tied up with Domachev making the team and he’ll be looking for any reason to keep you off. Don’t give him one.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

THE FRENCH ALPS WERE Astunning backdrop for the photo shoot involving the Winter Games’ biggest corporate sponsors. America’s top hopefuls modeled the official team attire, created by one of the nation’s top fashion designers. The streamlined navy blue training pants and jackets had a weird, 1970’s sci-fi style. “We look like the crew of the Starship Enterprise,” Brett had muttered.

The select group of athletes—skiers, speed skaters, bobsledders and snowboarders—posed outside the lodge where they would stay during the actual games. With team trials for most of their sports still weeks away, this was the closest to Grenoble some of the athletes would come. Would Tabitha be one of them?

The prospect was too awful to contemplate.

After the group photos, the athletes headed off to other sites around the Village and downtown Grenoble. Tabitha expected she would go with Brett and a newlywed ice-dance couple, but the photographer held her back, along with Mia Lang. “I’d like to get shots of you two, first being serious, then just clowning around together.”

Clowning around? As if American figure skating’s two fiercest rivals ever clowned around, much less together. It was bad enough to think they’d be rooming together in St. Petersburg. Mia’s eye roll suggested she didn’t like the photographer’s suggestion either.

The photographer posed them back to back, arms crossed, in front of the giant linked rings that sat in the Village center. As his assistants fiddled with the lighting, Mia asked. “So Tabitha, have you worked out the problems you were having with the axel?”

Tabitha did her best to ignore Mia’s presumptuous question. “The axel’s fine,” she said.

“That’s awesome,” Mia said, feigning cheer. “It seemed to give you lots of trouble in Chicago.”

“No trouble,” Tabitha said, with a shrug. “The season’s first competition is never my best. I’m working all the bugs out of the programs.”

“I thought you’d won Star Spangled Skate the last two years in a row.”

Which Tabitha had.

Flash. Flash. After the serious poses, the style team touched up their hair and make-up. A wardrobe guy pinned the collar on Tabitha’s navy blue team jacket, which insisted on sticking up. Mia tilted her head back as the make-up artist applied fresh color to her cheeks.

“Your confidence is so inspiring,” Mia said. “I mean, if I’d placed any lower than silver in the Maple Leaf, I’d be freaking out right now! The St. Petersburg Cup is like, what? Four weeks away?”

“Three,” Tabitha said. As if Mia didn’t know how many weeks remained until they faced off in Russia. Heck, she probably knew how many hours.

The St. Petersburg Cup was the last International Series competition before the finals in Barcelona the first week in December. Then in January, came the all-important national competitions that would decide who skated in Grenoble. “And I’m feeling great about my programs. Peter’s pleased at how they’ve come together.”

“That’s a relief,” said Mia. “Because a bad skate going into Nationals could really mess with your mind. And a bad skate at Nationals could mean not making the Winter Games team at all!”

Thanks for pointing that out.

“Okay, now for the fun part,” The photographer handed Mia the official cell phone of the US team. “I want these next shots to be relaxed and natural. Imagine it’s the Opening Ceremony, and you’re thrilled to be here, capturing the moment in a selfie.” He bent forward and sucked in his bearded cheeks. “See what I’m going for?”

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