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Feeling a little out of my depth, I didn’t know what to say other than a repeat of Jasper’s “Thank you.”
She arched her eyebrows at me. “And I do expect to see more of you. Will you be competing for Canada or coming down to join us at U.S. Figure Skating?”
I opened my mouth and closed it again, and latched on to an appropriate diversion. “You work for the association.”
“Oh, yes, look at me not introducing myself. I’m Martha Maderline. I’m not high enough that it’ll do you much good to butter me up, I warn you, but I can still tell you how much we’d love to have you on board.”
Understanding dawned in Jasper’s eyes as he must have remembered seeing her before.
I couldn’t help asking, “What are you doing all the way up here in Dellville?”
Maderline gave her croaking laugh again. “I heard from a local friend that Jasper was performing again and I just had to take a quick jaunt up here to see it for myself. And imagine my surprise when I saw who was coaching you! Niko Okabe, what an unexpected delight.”
“Yes,” Niko said with obvious amusement. “It’s a little far from my usual territory. But you don’t get the chance to coach a talent like Jasper St. Pierre every day. And Lou, too. She’s a big up-and-comer, you know.”
“I could see that with my own eyes.” The woman patted my arm so fondly that I found myself warming to her despite her overblown personality. “Congratulations on holding your own with big names like these two. You’re really going somewhere, I’m sure of it.”
This time my smile came with a little uncertainty. “That means a lot to me.”
Maderline set her hands on her ample hips. “Well, I’ll let you get on with the celebration I’m sure you’re planning after that win. I just had to say hello, and also toinsistthat you come compete in the qualifying series if you’re at all inclined to return to Jasper’s home country. You still have a week to sign up before the cut-off. Don’t miss it!”
Jasper rubbed the back of his neck. “We’ll certainly think about it. Thank you again.”
She waggled her fingers at us once more and sashayed out into the parking lot. A giggle bubbled in my chest, but a prickle of nerves held it in place.
Jasper glanced at Niko. “She really thinks I’m back at that level again?” There was no mistaking the hope in his voice.
Niko snorted. “Of course you’re at that level. You’d breeze through the qualifying competitions, as long as you don’t get in your own way.” He prodded me with a teasing finger. “Both of you would.”
A softer smile curved Jasper’s lips, but one that looked totally genuine. “Maybe weshouldgive it a go. The way I felt on the ice today… It was almost like it used to be. Or better, just a little different than I’m used to.”
He aimed his smile at me, and my pulse fluttered. Getting such an eager vote of support from someone who worked for the national skating organization was huge—and it lit me up inside seeing Jasper acting more sure of himself.
“I guess it could be worth trying.”
“Worth trying?” Jasper gave my ponytail a tug of mock-consternation as we stepped out into the warm late-afternoon sunlight washing over the parking lot. “You should be chomping at the bit for this, Punk. Place high enough in the early competitions, and we could be at Nationals in a few months.”
It should have made my heart soar to see him talk about that possibility with nothing but happiness. Instead, a chill trickled through my veins.
If we started competing at larger competitions, especially south of the border, the chances that my mom would catch wind of my location would increase exponentially. I knew from my own figure-skating viewing that the qualifying competitions were mostly broadcast on specialized channels that people who moved in her circles weren’t likely to be tuning in to.
But Nationals? That’d be shown on any station with significant sports coverage.
Coach Balakin’s sallow, lifeless face flashed behind my eyes, and I had to restrain a shudder.
Every step further I took on this journey toward my dream, I put the two men with me in more danger. Danger they couldn’t possibly anticipate.
But how could I tell them that we should stay here and stick to tiny local competitions? How could I drop out of my partnership with Jasper when he’d just started finding his way out of his slump?
Nausea congealed in my gut, but I knew there was only one answer.
I was going to have to come clean. Tell them the whole story of who I was and where I’d come from.
And then I’d find out whether they even still wanted me around, let alone competing with them.
THREE
Luciana
