Destiny's Whisper (4 page)

“Mom, he’s so straight laced it’s ridiculous. You’d think that now he’s twenty-one, he’d want to be out there partying. Is he? No! His idea of a hot Friday night is critiquing skating tapes and drinking iced tea! I tell you, living that dangerously, he might as well be an engineer!” Dani complained.

“Chronologically he’s twenty-one. Unfortunately, sometimes I think he’s an old man in a young man’s body, he’s too serious for his age. I don’t want him to miss out on being young because he thinks he has to prove he’s mature enough not to do something stupid, something childlike. Some of life’s hardest lessons come from making mistakes,” Jordan said.

“Sergei hates to make mistakes!” Dani stated knowingly.

“Don’t I know it!” Jordan sighed in agreement, knowing how difficult the path her son was moving toward was going to be and wishing she could make his trek an easier one.

Whoever said being a parent was easy had obviously never been one!

CHAPTER 3 

S
ergei held his head in his hands, his palms covering his ears as he attempted to muffle the shrill sounds of too many female voices talking excitedly at once. Leaning against the low wall, his elbows rested on the wall of the rink, his dark, frazzled gaze stared at the tiny lines scored by numerous blades in the ice directly below him. The headache, which had begun as a mere annoyance, now throbbed painfully in tempo to the pulse that beat strongly at his temple. How had this happened?

The sudden hearty slap on his back and Whittaker’s booming greeting, caused Sergei to close his eyes, shake his head and wonder for the forty-ninth time what in the hell he was doing here.

“I see you made it,” Whittaker boomed, smiling as he looked across the ice and the numerous girls, of all ages and sizes, as they skated in slow circles around the rink, warming up muscles and getting a feel for the ice.

“I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t.” Sergei growled, his look one of disgust as he watched one of the girls blow him a kiss from across the rink. “What is all this?” Sergei questioned sharply.

“Rumor’s out you’re looking for a partner.” Whittaker answered simply, his sharp eyes continuing to scan the skaters on the ice. “I made the decision two days ago to become a pair. How can word spread this quickly?”

“Rumors are like wildfires; don’t ask me how they happen, they just do!” Whittaker answered with a negligent shrug.

“Yeah, right! Well this is turning into a wildfire, totally out of control and unwanted. If this is what it’s going to be like finding me a partner, I’m out of here!” Sergei growled, running his hands through his hair in frustration and cringing as a high-pitched, voice screeched his name. Looking toward the source of the sound, that in all likelihood could scare away dogs, the flamboyant figure of his
would be
girlfriend waved exuberantly.

“Isn’t that Felicia?” Whittaker inquired with a sly wink.

“Felicity,” Sergei growled dangerously in correction, his dark gaze narrowing in a silent threat at his coach’s deliberate mispronunciation of the girl’s name.

“That’s right!” Whittaker agreed, banging his head with his palm, “I’ve never been good with names.”

“Bull! Your mind’s a steel trap, you never forget a thing, except things you
want
to forget.” Sergei argued, trying to ignore Felicity’s repeated shout of hello across the ice.

“You’d better answer her or she’s never gonna shut up!” Whittaker urged, nodding his head in the direction of the offending noise.

Sergei offered a minimal wave and returned his attention to his coach. “Satisfied?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. I’ve heard less screeching coming from alley cats. Too bad, her packaging is plenty nice, but when she opens her mouth that’s all you’ll remember.”

“There’s something to be said for her
packaging
, Whittaker. It’s not exactly what it seems.” Sergei offered cryptically.

“Do tell!” Whittaker urged, a wicked glint lighting up his eyes.

“My mother taught me if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything. I’d never sully a lady’s reputation with vicious rumors.”

“Well, your mother raised you to be noble. My mother had no such aspirations and took great pleasure in gossiping at every opportunity and on every subject imaginable, so spill it or I’ll find out from a reliable source.”

“I’m sure Dani would be more than happy to fill you in on every detail–correct or otherwise–that’s been said about Felicity.” Sergei suggested, an amused light sparking in his dark eyes.

“Dani’s a very reliable source. She’s rarely wrong about such things and I know for a fact, she was very concerned about your–ah–
interest
in Felicity.”

“Dani’s a busy-body who takes great delight in tormenting me in every way she can imagine and a few her friends have suggested to her.”

“She loves you,” Whittaker stated easily.

“She loves to make me crazy, and in her own warped way, you’re right, she loves me,” Sergei amended, holding up his hand to stop Whittaker’s attempted interruption. “But, she’s got to understand that, unlike her, who doesn’t seem to notice there’s another gender on the planet–much to Dad’s happiness–I have noticed the other gender and enjoy spending time with them. It doesn’t mean I intend to have a serious relationship with the first girl who smiles at me. But I don’t think I should have to constantly be worried that my little sister is going to cause havoc if I decide to invite a girl to dinner and a movie.”

“I agree. Dinner and a movie’s fine, keep it simple and fun and uncomplicated and then you can concentrate on your skating.” Whittaker stated seriously.

“Do you ever think of anything other than skating?” Sergei asked in frustration.

“Skating has been the focus of my life for more years than I care to count and your father did more than his fair share of putting gray hairs on my head with his antics before he met your mother. I believe if you commit yourself to something, you had better be dead serious about it or don’t waste my time. God only knows how many more years I’ve got to whip you into shape and I don’t want to be wasting those years chasing you from woman to woman. You concentrate on your skating and let me find you a partner.”

“It was agreed I would have the final say as to my partner. Remember?” Sergei reminded his coach sternly, his gaze steady, his tone firm.

“I remember, and you will have final say. But let me select who I think would be a good match for you and then you and I will decide who’s best. Agreed?” Whittaker asked, offering his hand to Sergei.

Sergei accepted Whittaker’s hand, clutching it firmly and shook in agreement. He trusted his coach to do what was right for him and his soon to be partner, whoever she was. And at the same time, Whit-taker knew Sergei could make his life a living hell if he chose to do so. After all the years of having to deal with Aleksei’s rebellion phase, the last thing he wanted to do was go through the same torment with Sergei.

“You won’t be disappointed, Sergei. Trust me. I’ll find you a partner the likes of which you’ve never seen before.”

“I’m sure you will. But just remember, I’m much easier to please than Dani, and Dani, despite her sworn statement to keep her nose out of my business, is going to put her two cents worth in whether we want it or not. Dani’s the one you’re going to have to convince, not me, and unfortunately, the girl knows her skating.” Sergei stated truthfully.

Whittaker’s frown of understanding spoke volumes. It was true; Sergei was much easier to deal with than his younger sister was. Sergei was the calm, easy-going, sensible, slow to anger sibling while his sister was a powder keg of emotion and passion just looking for a place to explode. She loved her brother completely and unquestioningly, and despite her oft-erred attempts to save him from himself, she found herself having to face the fact once her brother got something in his mind, he finished it to completion. Right or wrong, good or bad, fast or slow, and it broke her heart to know she could have kept him from experiencing some of the pain, both physical and emotional, he’d had to go through, if only he would have listened to her.

Now, both he and Whittaker, would have to find a partner whom his sister could accept, who could skate on the same level as he and was physically capable of both keeping up with him and matched styles. No easy task, for sure!

Sergei cast a final glance at the crowd of girls circling the rink and shook his head in frustration. “You’ve got your work cut out for you, Coach. Good luck. I hope you know what you’re doing.” Sergei voiced in concern, turning and walking toward the double doors that exited the ice rink.

“That makes two of us, son. That makes two of us.” Whittaker mumbled to himself, then returned his attention to the rink filled with female skaters, picked up the remote microphone and announced the official try-outs would begin.

Sergei flinched in surprise as the excited scream filtered through the brick walls of the ice house, and reached him at the snack bar where he awaited his ordered soft drink. The shrill noise caused all in the open lobby to look toward the direction of the ice rink, and the young girl attending the snack bar smiled as she handed him his drink. “Let me guess, the auditions for your new partner are underway!” she offered brightly, handing him a straw.

Sergei opened his mouth to say something, didn’t, then closed it and shook his head in disbelief. How had his life become so crazy?

Without a word, he took his drink and left the building.

All that was left to do now was wait to hear from Whittaker.

“I take it the search for your partner started off badly,” Aleksei’s deep voice stated softly, walking quietly to his son’s side and sitting down beside Sergei on the park bench. Gazing across the expanse of water that reflected the clear blue sky, the gentle ripples and soft breeze soothed Sergei’s soul and brought comfort and calmness back within his son’s reach.

“Don’t ask,” was Sergei’s soft reply.

Aleksei crossed his arms, his muscles clenching, then relaxing as he reminded himself he couldn’t take care of every problem his children faced anymore. Jordan had reminded him, more than once, that sooner or later the kids were going to have to learn to stand on their own, even if for only short periods of time. It was a still a concept Aleksei didn’t like, but he understood it and tried to do as his wife asked. Watching his son second guess his decision to skate pairs was tough to do, but he knew it was Sergei’s decision to make. For Aleksei, himself, the decision had been made for him, and for a long time, he’s battled against the decision. Thankfully, he’d come to his senses, and the pairing of Jamison and Rocmanov had become legendary. Now, their son was facing the history his parents had made and actually considering stepping up to challenge it. Something Aleksei wasn’t even sure he’d be brave enough to try. Challenging a path of gold was always treacherous. If nothing else, Sergei had courage.

“Exactly how bad was it?” Aleksei asked softly.

Sergei shook his head in disgust, trying to forget the scene of screaming girls. “I’ve never seen anything like it, Dad, dozens of girls of all ages and sizes, literally screaming to be noticed by me. I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life, not for myself but for the girls. I felt as if I was expected to hold up a point value sign for each one.”

“Not exactly a smooth start to finding you a partner,” Aleksei agreed, “What did Whittaker say about the whole mess.”

“He told me he’d take care of things and to get my butt out of there,” Sergei growled, running his long fingers through his thick, dark hair, the same color as his father’s, minus the touches of gray at the temples. “I never expected anything like this to happen. I’m beginning to think this whole suggestion that I take up pairs is liable to be the biggest mistake of my life.”

Aleksei looked out over the calm water of the pond, remembering another pond, this one frozen, he and Jordan had discovered, smiling at the memory of how they’d made love in the snow beside that pond and then skated afterwards. How they’d laughed and teased and fallen a little deeper in love on that pond. Now, their son found solace in this peaceful glen gazing out over another pond. Some things were simply made to be. Apparently bodies of water brought comfort and peace to the Rocmanov’s.

“Do you want to go back to singles?” Aleksei asked quietly.

Sergei frowned. “How can I go back to singles, when I haven’t even officially tried pairs yet? I’m not going to quit just because the situation’s not what I’d like it to be. I’m not a quitter!” Sergei growled, surprised by his father’s question.

“I never said you were. I’d just hate to see you so disillusioned by this episode that you decide it’s not worth skating at all.”

“That’s not even a possibility. Skating is as big a part of my life as it is yours. Would you have ever considered giving it up?”

“More times than you’d think, especially after Whittaker signed me up to skate with your Mother. We didn’t exactly
mesh
immediately, you know.”

“But you worked through it.”

“Yes, we did work through it and there have been moments during our career that both of us questioned the wisdom of skating full-time, especially after you kids were born. But we managed to find a solution that worked for all of us and kept us together more often than not. It wasn’t perfect, by any means, but we all worked at it and if I do say so myself, our family didn’t turn out too bad.”

“With the exception of maybe Dani.” Sergei mumbled, a hint of a smile touching his full lips.

“Dani,” Aleksei sighed, running one hand through his hair; his baby girl was growing up before his eyes and, try as he might, he couldn’t stop it. For the hundredth time he wondered how he was going to survive the next few years.

Sergei cast a sideways glance at his father, and recognized the expression on his face, one of confusion, amusement and bafflement all mixed together, it was the same look he’d often seen on Whittaker’s face. “Is it worth it?”

Aleksei looked at his son, their identical dark eyes blending in understanding. “Skating or having a family?”

Sergei’s broad shoulders lifted in a small shrug. “Either? Both?”