Life on the Edge (45 page)

“I’m never going to get tired of seeing your face, if that’s what you’re worried about.” He smiled and cupped his hands under my chin. “We’ve survived the toughest year imaginable, and we’re stronger than ever. Together there’s nothing we can’t handle.”

His adoring eyes had a way of making everything seem possible. Lost in their blue depth, I slid my hands along his collar and bent his head toward mine. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

My lips took hold of his. One kiss opened the floodgates to many more, each with intensifying passion.

“That’s what I wanted to do as soon as you stepped off the ice,” Sergei said.

I smiled wryly. “Maybe it would’ve gotten us better presentation scores.”

****

Over the next two weeks, I soaked up every ounce of the Olympic experience. Sergei, Chris, and I took advantage of the free tickets offered by sponsors and sampled a variety of events–curling, ski jumping, biathlon, bobsled–we traveled all over the city and into the mountains. After Aubrey and Nick excitedly finished their competition in twelfth place, they got in on the fun, too.

In the Village, I met numerous athletes who were ecstatic just to participate in the Games, and at event after event, competitors who finished near the bottom of the standings rejoiced, thrilled with their Olympic accomplishment. My silver medal began to shine brighter as pride lightened the disappointment weighing on my heart.

Two nights before the Closing Ceremony, Chris and I skated to U2’s “Beautiful Day” in the Champions Gala, and the uplifting lyrics stuck with me long after we returned to my apartment. My roommates went to bed, and I asked Chris to stay for a talk.

“All night, I’ve been thinking . . .” I folded my legs under me on the sofa. “Maybe it wasn’t our time to win gold. We’ve risen so quickly in three years together. Maybe this was God’s way of telling us we need to work more for it.”

Chris propped his feet up on the coffee table. “You’d think God would’ve helped out a good church-going girl like you. Unless my religious shortcomings outweighed your virtue.”

I tapped his arm. “I’m trying to be serious.”

“It’s a good theory,” he said. “Of course, there’s the other theory that some people didn’t want us ending forty years of Russian dominance.”

“Are you afraid we’ll run into the same problem next time? You know in four years Russia’s going to have another team near the top.”

“I think we’ve got bigger problems at the moment. What are we
gonna
do if Sergei gets suspended?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” I pulled my hair away from my face and twisted it in my hands. “I don’t feel like I’m done skating, but having Sergei as our coach is a big part of the dream for me now.”

Chris put his feet on the floor and sat up straighter. “I’m not ready to give up either. Even after what happened here, I still think we can win. And working with Sergei gives us the best chance.”

“Remember how mad you were at Sergei when you found out we were dating?” I squeezed Chris’s shoulder. “I’m so glad we got past all that.”

“I know he has my back just as much as he has yours. He’s proven that. The three of us . . . we make the ultimate team.”

I nodded. “We do. And I know his other students feel the same way. I have to make sure the Ethics Committee hears that.” I thumped my knuckles on the sofa cushion. “I’m going to do everything I can to convince them Sergei deserves to keep his job.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Once we returned to the Cape, I didn’t waste any time gathering support for Sergei. The Chairman of the Ethics Committee was due in town soon to conduct interviews, so I called all of Sergei’s students and their parents and asked them to gather at my house the next evening. I didn’t divulge the reason for the meeting, but I expressed the importance and hoped they heeded the urgency in my voice.

Sergei stayed away from the gathering so he couldn’t be accused of trying to influence anyone. I welcomed everyone into the living room, where I’d brought up chairs from the kitchen for extra seating. Curious faces watched as I took a spot next to the big picture window. Only Chris, who sat beside me, knew my agenda.

“I really appreciate you all coming on such short notice,” I said.

Trevor assessed the group and asked, “Are you planning a surprise for Sergei or something?”

“I wish it was something fun like that.” I scrubbed my palms on my jeans. “Unfortunately, it’s a very serious situation I need your help with . . . that Sergei needs your help with.”

Courtney, Mark, and a couple of Sergei’s junior-level students swapped anxious looks. Their parents angled forward, their curiosity phasing into concern. With the room staring at me, I dove into the speech I’d practiced.

“Sergei is being accused of violating the Code of Conduct because he and I are seeing each other. We’ve been dating over a year, and before the Olympics we got engaged.”

Courtney’s eyes and mouth doubled in size. A few of the parents shot each other quick, wrinkled-brow glances, and Trevor scratched his chin. “Chris, you knew?”

“Yeah,” he replied. “And I support
Em
and Sergei one hundred percent. Sergei shouldn’t be punished for this.”

“He could be suspended for five years.” I paused as Courtney and Trevor’s partner Leigh gasped. “The Ethics Committee is meeting next week, and the Chairman will probably call some or all of you. I asked you here so I could tell you the news first and hopefully gain your support. Sergei wanted to be here, but he didn’t want to chance interfering with the process.”

Leigh’s mom, Brenda, stretched her arm across the back of her daughter’s chair. “Do you know if Sergei’s had relationships with other students before you?”

I’d expected to receive that type of question and had prepared a calm and thoughtful response. “He hasn’t. I know what people think when they hear about a coach and student being involved. They think the coach may have pressured the student and it’s not a sincere relationship. But Sergei has never done anything questionable. He’s treated me with respect on and off the ice, and he hasn’t let our relationship affect his work.”

Chris jumped in. “He’s been totally professional this whole time. You guys would’ve noticed if he’d acted differently or gave
Em
more attention. Obviously, he’s handled everything very well.”

I gave Chris a thank-you smile and scanned the faces of my fellow skaters. “We have such a good group. I’ve heard you all talk about how much you love working with Sergei and how much you’ve learned from him. If you could tell that to the Ethics Committee and help them see how important Sergei is to our careers, I think it will make a huge difference.”

“I’ll definitely tell them,” Trevor said. “There’s no way Sergei can be suspended.”

“I’ll be glad to talk to them, too,” Courtney’s mom Karen said. “I see Sergei every day at the rink. I can vouch for his professionalism.”

I clasped my hands together. “Thank you, it would mean so much. Having all the parents speak on his behalf would really help his case.” My eyes implored the adults sitting before me.

Slowly, a series of nods and affirmative replies spread through the group. I spent a few minutes with each person, answering questions and expressing my thanks. Brenda had the most reservations, worried Sergei’s involvement with me could cause distractions at the rink. I patiently addressed her concerns and assured her Sergei was fully dedicated to his job.

Courtney and her parents waited to speak to me last. I approached them with a tentative smile, not sure if Courtney was upset I’d kept the truth from her.

“I knew you and Sergei liked each other!” she exclaimed. “When we saw you at the symphony, you were on a date, weren’t you?” Excitement colored her cheeks, and I exhaled with relief.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you. We couldn’t tell anyone because we knew it could cause problems, like what we’re dealing with now.”

Karen touched my arm. “I’m really happy for you. You deserve to be with someone who supports you and understands everything you’re going through. Sergei is a great guy.”

I reached out and returned her gesture. “Thank you, that means a lot to me. It’s so nice to finally reveal our good news to everyone.”

After Courtney and I shared a few hugs and the crowd cleared, Chris and Trevor helped me carry the kitchen chairs downstairs before leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Besides Sergei’s students and their parents, my mother and father were going to meet with the committee chairman. Mom had come so far in her attitude toward Sergei, from questioning his character to now going to bat for him, and I was counting on Dad and her to make strong statements. I was also counting on the strength of my own testimony. I needed it to be polished yet heartfelt. I needed it to be just like my Olympic performance, except this time with a winning result.

****

Mom and Dad emerged from the Hyannis hotel’s small conference room, and I stopped pacing in the hallway to rush over to them. They’d been with Brian, the Ethics Committee Chairman, for an hour.

“How did it go?”

“I think it went well.” Dad wiped his glasses on his jacket. “His questions were fair, and we told him why we support Sergei as a part of both your personal and professional lives.”

Mom slipped her arm around my waist. “You should’ve heard me singing Sergei’s praises.”

“Brian said to send you in when you’re ready.” Dad kissed the top of my head.

I closed my arms around my parents, drawing one final touch of comfort. I was the last person the chairman was going to talk to before he would report to the committee. Over the past two days, he’d conducted all his interviews and had spoken with Sergei at length.

I entered the conference room and greeted Brian with a firm handshake. In his position as a judge, he knew me from competitions over the years. I’d always been a little intimidated by his snooty demeanor. With his beady eyes peering at me, I sat across from him in a matching swivel chair and smoothed my pencil skirt. He opened a plain manila folder on the round table between us, revealing a thin stack of typed pages.

“David and Maria did a very thorough job when they interviewed you, so I don’t have any questions. I wanted to give you this opportunity to share any other information you thought the committee should know.” He pointed the tape recorder on the table toward me and pressed one of the buttons. “I’ll be recording your statement for them.”

A mix of nervousness and adrenaline, similar to competition jitters, boosted my heart rate. I swallowed and returned Brian’s unblinking stare.

“Before Sergei became my coach, my career was headed nowhere. You saw firsthand how I couldn’t handle the pressure of competition. But Sergei taught me how to overcome that. He’s inspired me with so much confidence and given me a sense of freedom on the ice. He found a strength in me I didn’t know existed.

“I’ve been fortunate to not only have Sergei as my coach but also to work beside him. I see the thought and care he puts into every lesson and how the kids respond to him. He has a way of finding what makes each of his students special and teaching them to let it shine.

“His work has never been compromised by his personal life. He asks us to give our best every day, and he does the same.”

My eyes drifted to the recorder and back to Brian’s stoic expression. “I hope the committee will understand how important he is to so many people and allow him to continue to do what he does best–teach and inspire everyone around him.”

I watched for some sign of empathy from Brian, but his face remained as blank as a sheet of ice and left me feeling just as cold. He waited a moment and asked, “Is that everything you’d like to say?”

Satisfied I’d done all I could, I nodded. “Yes.”

He shut off the recorder and shut the folder. “I appreciate your time, Emily.”

He stood, and I did the same while extending my hand. “Thank you for the opportunity.”

Mom and Dad met me outside with hugs, and I sighed. “He didn’t give any hint of what he might be thinking.”

“I’m sure they’ll examine all our statements carefully.” Mom held me against her side.

“Brian told Sergei he’s going to have a conference call with the committee this evening, and we can probably expect the ruling tonight.”