Girls Only! (9 page)

Several times throughout her lunch, she caught herself staring at Mr. Sterling’s note pad.
What was he writing while I skated?
she wondered.
Why was an old man taking notes at the rink?

At last, her curiosity got the best of her. She opened the flap and saw line after line of scribble. Scanning the first page, she tried to read the words.

When she’d finished, she flipped to the next page. Soon she’d read every word.

“He knows skating,” she whispered. “Who
is
Odell Sterling?”

Wanting to take good care of the old man’s tiny notebook, she slipped it back into her book bag for safekeeping.

Then, to save time, she began working on her assigned letters for Mrs. Smith. While she nibbled on pretzel sticks, she started writing the one on the tardy theme.

She stopped writing. Someone was staring at her. Livvy was sure of it.

Slowly, she looked up. There stood Diane.

The spiteful girl glanced at the chair across from her. “Mind if I sit down?”

Livvy tried to cover the letter, but she folded it instead and pushed it down into her sock.

“Look, I’ve been a jerk,” Diane said, her clear eyes holding their gaze.

Livvy nearly choked. “Excuse me?”

“Your best friend just filled me in and—”

“
Jenna
talked to you about me?”

Diane nodded her head up and down. “I decided the day you enrolled for school that I didn’t like you. I heard you were a star skater or something.”

“A novice.”

“Well, that’s supposed to be really good . . . for a sixth grader, anyway.”

Livvy didn’t know whether to say “thanks” or “get lost.”

But Diane wasn’t finished. “I didn’t want to get squeezed out of my chance at cheerleading. Or anything else around here. It’s a small school and . . . and I was jealous of you.”

“What did Jenna say about me?” Livvy asked.

“Just that you’re the coolest friend ever. And that your mother died last summer.” Diane’s eyes blinked awkwardly. “I can’t imagine not having my mom around . . . and I can’t think of going off somewhere new to live, where kids like me act like morons.” She stopped to find a tissue in her pocket. “What I’m trying to say is, I’m sorry, Livvy. I never should’ve called you on the phone like that. It was a cruel thing to do.”

Livvy shook her head. “You didn’t scare me—not really. I was mostly just mad.”

“So . . . can we be friends?” Diane’s eyes were pleading.

Out of the corner of her eye, Livvy spotted Jenna. She was smiling that winning smile of hers. “Friends? Sure.”

After Diane left, Jenna wandered over. “You shouldn’t be eating alone over here. You know better than that, girl.”

“Yeah, so?”

“I see Diane talked to you.” Jenna pulled her hair back, then let it float free.

“Very funny . . . you set it all up.” She gathered up her trash. “You’re a real peacemaker, aren’t you?”

“That’s what friends are for.”

Livvy took a long drink of her pop while Jenna picked at her pretzel sticks. She told her about being tardy for homeroom. “Now I have to write a long letter to someone as an assignment. I picked you, but you’ll never read it.”

“That’s what
you
think!”

Livvy took another sip of soda and felt something tickling her leg. “Why you!”

Jenna had reached down and pulled the letter out of Livvy’s sock.

“Give that back!”

“No way.” Jenna pretended to scan the letter, holding it high, out of Livvy’s reach.

Mrs. Smith strolled by just then.

Livvy didn’t want to chance another humiliating scene with her homeroom teacher. “Oh, so what. Go ahead and read it,” she said, giving up.

Surprisingly, Jenna returned the letter, eyes smiling. “I know what tardy means, silly. I wasn’t
too late
with Diane, was I?”

“Somehow, you knew it was time.”

Jenna glanced up. “It helps to talk things over with Someone who knows all things.”

“I figured you’d say that.”

“He’s never too late, Livvy.”

“I know.”

Dreams on Ice

Chapter Seventeen

The table at Jenna’s house was lit with several tall candles in a floral centerpiece. Jenna’s mother insisted on serving each person. And Livvy was amazed at the way the Saturday night supper was presented. The dishes were ornate with Oriental themes and swirling, colorful designs.

“It’s wonderful to finally meet our Jenna’s pen pal”—Reverend Song smiled at Livvy—“and her father.” Then he turned to engage Livvy’s dad in small talk.

Livvy worried that her father might clam up and make things awkward all evening. She honestly didn’t know what to expect. As quiet and withdrawn as he was, Livvy could only hope that her dad would try to fit in. At least for this one evening.

“I understand you are the new pastor in town,” her dad remarked as they sat at the elegant table.

Reverend Song nodded, his eyes squinting a smile. “Yes, and what a delight to know that by moving here, our daughters will be able to become better acquainted.”

Livvy grinned at Jenna, sitting next to her. “I think our dads are getting along just fine,” she whispered.

Jenna nodded. “They ought to . . . they have
us
in common.”

When the hot tea was poured in each tiny cup, Mrs. Song sat down. Her husband bowed his head and began to bless the food. “Thank you, Father in heaven, for this evening together with new friends. I ask a special blessing on Livvy and her father as they put down roots in this small community. And I pray that you will lead and direct them. May they experience your divine love and wisdom.” He went on to thank the Lord for the food and the hands that prepared it.

All the while, Livvy clasped her own hands in her lap, paying close attention to this kind and gracious man’s prayer.

After a full-course Korean dinner, Jenna took Livvy upstairs to her room. They hung out together, laughing and talking, while Livvy’s dad chatted with Jenna’s parents in the living room.

Later, when she was alone in her own room, Livvy knelt beside her bed. “Dear Lord, I’m sorry about ignoring you for so long. I guess you know how angry I’ve been.”

She sighed. “It wasn’t easy losing Mom, especially when I wish you would’ve done something to stop it. But that doesn’t mean I don’t still have faith in you . . . with all of my heart. Please help Dad come to believe in you soon. Let him know your love and that you didn’t let Mom die to punish him—just because he isn’t a Christian yet.”

At the end of her prayer, Livvy thanked God for bringing her to Alpine Lake, “even if it’s the Podunkiest town on earth. Amen.”

Two days later, Grandma Hudson arrived. Livvy rode along with her dad to the Colorado Springs airport.

“There’s my honeybunch,” Grandma said, squeezing Livvy’s cheek.

“Hi, Grandma. Welcome to Colorado.” Livvy stepped forward as passengers walked past her.

Her dad kissed his mother, offering to carry the overnight case. “The altitude’s much higher here than Illinois,” he warned, “so you may have to take things slow and easy.”

“Oh, I’ll adjust in no time,” Grandma said.

Livvy spoke up. “If you drink lots of water, it helps take away altitude sickness.”

“But some folks never have any trouble,” Dad said, hugging Grandma once again. “We’re going to have a wonderful time together.”

“How long can you stay?” Livvy asked. She was hoping for a four- or five-day response . . . maybe even a week. But not more than that.

Grandma raised her eyebrows and offered a broad smile. “Well, I’ll just have to see about that. Looks to me like you could use a good dose of mothering, Olivia Kay. Are you eating three good meals a day?”

Livvy nodded reluctantly. She was eating just fine—and cooking for her dad, too!

All the way up the long concourse to the main terminal, she wondered what Grandma meant about “a good dose of mothering.” The idea that her father’s mother had come to take over the household worried Livvy. She noticed that her grandmother had packed very light. Maybe things would be super fine after all.

Livvy could only hope so.

Dreams on Ice

Chapter Eighteen

One week later, Livvy and Jenna were eating ice cream at the Oo-La-La Café. They’d chosen a table outside on the patio section of the tiny mall restaurant. The breezes were warm and gentle.

“September in the mountains isn’t so bad,” Livvy said.

“Sounds like Podunk is growing on you,” said her friend.

“Oh, maybe . . .” Livvy’s ice cream was melting fast. Licking it kept her from having to say more.

“My mom signed me up for ballet classes,” Jenna said out of the blue.

“With Natalie Johnston?”

Jenna’s mouth dropped open. “How’d you know?”

Livvy told her about meeting Natalie and her students
at the ice rink. “I see her working with her skaters several times a week. She seems really nice.”

“My mom thought so, too. She interviewed her yesterday and toured her dance studio. I can’t wait.”

Livvy’s heart sank. She wished
she
could say she was signing up. One thing at a time, her mother had always said.

“It’ll be tough juggling gymnastics and ballet,” Jenna told her. “But I have my goals. And I decided not to try out for cheerleading.”

“Me neither.”

Jenna spooned up her chocolate ice cream. “Gotta keep focused.”

“Speaking of that, I have a date with an ice rink,” Livvy said, grabbing a napkin out of the holder. She wiped up the melted mess off the table before excusing herself.

“I’ll come by later,” Jenna said. “We can walk to my house afterward.”

“Okay. See ya.” Livvy hurried the few yards through the café to the mall.

She wasn’t too surprised to see Mr. Sterling again. He was wearing blue dress pants and a white long-sleeved shirt. He looked dashing, almost younger than his years. As usual, he sat on his favorite bench.

Someone else was there, too. Mrs. Newton, all decked out in bangles and bows.

“Ready for the show?” she asked, looking at both of them.

“Skate away,” said Mrs. Newton. “That’s why we’re here.”

Mr. Sterling inched up his shirt sleeve, studying his wrist watch. “Her Grace is right on time.” He chuckled and settled back against the bench.

“I’ve learned my lesson about being late!” Livvy remembered the strange assignment she’d written for her homeroom teacher.

Taking her time, she pulled on her skates. She’d learned so much already right here at this mall rink. By herself. Yet, to be honest about it, she knew that most of her practice methods had come straight from Elena. All those years with such a super coach . . .

Livvy had come to accept the fact that she could only go so far on her own. Somehow, it seemed all right. Because today she would not daydream about performing for a huge audience. Today she would skate her heart out for two wonderful people. Two of her biggest fans.

Above all, she would enjoy her skate session for herself.
I’ll just have fun
, she promised.

She took the ice with more energy and dash than she’d ever known. At least since her arrival here.

First one spin, then another. Fancy footwork across the width of the rink. Next, Livvy flew into the air, smiling
as she practiced her jumps. She was having such a good time.

When forty minutes had come and gone, she could hardly believe it! And she wouldn’t have known it if Mr. Sterling hadn’t waved his hands in the air. “Time for a break,” he called, motioning her to the sidelines.

She flew across the ice to him.

“Good, clean skating this afternoon.” He leaned on the railing that circled the rink.

“Thanks.” She was surprised to see that he’d abandoned his bench. And glancing back, she realized that half of her audience was missing. “Too bad Mrs. Newton couldn’t stay around.”

He nodded. “Oh, but she saw some splendid moves before she returned to work.”

The playful flicker in his eye made Livvy wonder why Mrs. Newton had
really
come.

She took a quick drink from her water bottle.

“Olivia . . . I want to talk to you about something.” She couldn’t help but chuckle. “Do you have some more suggestions for me?”

He pulled out his note pad, grinning. “What do you say I give you a few pointers?”

“That all depends on how much you charge.”

He reached for his pen. “We’ll settle that little issue later.”

“You used to coach some of the very best skaters back east, didn’t you?”

His eyebrows flew up and hovered over his pensive blue eyes. “You’ve done your homework on me, I see.”

“I sure did. I called Elena, my former coach, and she told me all about you.”

“Well, well. You’ve discovered my secret.”

“So you
have
to charge me,” she insisted. “As well-known as Coach Odell Sterling is—”

“Was,”
he said with a wink. “I’m hiding out in Podunk, remember?”

“Alpine Lake is the place to be.”

“Thanks to you, Her Grace. Now . . . don’t breathe a word, or I won’t have much of a retirement, will I?”

“I
have
to tell my father. And my best friend and . . .”

He shook his head, chuckling. “Really, Livvy. I’m doing this for you. Only you.”

“You’re too good to be true, Mr. Sterling.”

His eyes narrowed, and he put his hand on her shoulder. Just like Elena used to. “I believe in you, Olivia.”

“My mother used to say that.”

He was nodding. “She had every reason to.”

Livvy’s heart was full of joy.

Jenna stopped by later, and Livvy introduced her to Odell Sterling. “He’s a famous skating coach,” she said. “But we can’t tell anyone.”