Fighting for the Edge (32 page)

“The gold medalists and Olympic champions, representing the United States of America, Emily Butler and Christopher Grayden!”

Goose bumps covered my arms, and Chris and I gave each other the biggest grins. We skated to the middle of the ice and bowed to each side of the arena, blowing kisses in the direction of our families. Gliding to the podium, we exchanged congratulations with each of the medalists, receiving scowls from Maddy and Damien, but nothing could ruin my moment of total bliss. Chris stepped up onto the top tier and assisted me with the steep climb, and I looked over at Sergei behind the boards. His beaming proud smile sent another chill down my spine.

The official presented the two other pairs with their medals first and then stepped toward us. I bent forward, and he looped the red ribbon around my neck and shook my hand. The shiny gold medal had a hole in the center, making it look like a compact disc, but I didn’t care if it had ten holes in it. It was an Olympic gold medal. And it was mine.

As Chris received his medal, I tipped my head back and looked skyward.
Thank you, God, for being with me today.
You have blessed me so much!

After we all had our medals and bouquets of flowers, the announcer asked everyone to stand for our national anthem. I put my hand over my heart and gazed at the American flag rising above the ice. My shoulders trembled with a quiet sob, and tears rained down my face. This was the moment I’d dreamed of the first time I’d competed at seven years old. It was what I’d dreamed of every step of my career. When I’d almost quit the sport because I couldn’t overcome my competition anxiety, I’d wondered if my dream would stay unrealized forever. But then I’d met Sergei and Chris, and they’d given me new confidence. They’d given me a reason to believe again.

The final notes of “The Star-Spangled Banner” boomed through the arena, and my hand went to my stomach. My babies were gold medalists, too. That’s what I would tell them when we’d talk about this night. I wanted them to know how much they were always on my mind… how much they were in my heart. They’d made this night even more special than I’d ever dreamed.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chris and I didn’t have a chance to breathe over the next hour as we were hustled between photos and interviews. Finally we were able to change out of our costumes and board a van to the USA House, where we would see our family and friends. I was as excited to tell them about the twins as I was to celebrate our victory.

We walked into the pub, and the packed room erupted with cheers, rattling noisemakers, and swishing red, white, and blue pompoms. Chris spotted his parents, and Liza broke away from the front line of the crowd and tackled me with a hug.

“You were so-o-o-o awesome!”

I unzipped my jacket, and her eyes widened as she touched my medal. “Do you want to try it on?” I asked, reaching for the ribbon.

Her mouth hung open, but then she quickly shut it and shook her head. “I want the first Olympic gold medal I wear to be the one I win myself.”

I smiled and set my hands on her shoulders. “If you keep working as hard as you have been, I know you can do it.”

My parents and Aunt Debbie and Uncle Joe came forward next, and their teary eyes set me off again. None of us said very much as we shared long hugs.

“We’re so proud of everything you’ve done, Em,” Dad said, his voice thick with affection. “Not just the medal but how you’ve handled all the obstacles you’ve faced.”

I swallowed hard. “I had great role models growing up.”

Sergei’s mother Anna beamed at me over Dad’s shoulder, and I reached out to embrace her. I didn’t get to see her often, but Sergei and I talked to her at least once a week on the phone. Her English and my Russian were close to meeting in the middle.

“This is most wonderful night,” she said. “To see you skate like this when you carry baby… it is amazing!”

“I’m so glad you could be here.”

Sergei slid next to us and put his arm around me. “I wish Papa could’ve gotten away from work.”

“He watch on TV and he call me soon after,” Anna said. “He want me to tell you he is very proud.”

One of the federation officials motioned he needed Chris and me for pictures, but I asked for a few more minutes with my family. Sergei grinned at me, and I huddled everyone closer to us.

“So, we have something else to celebrate tonight,” I said. “We have some baby news.”

“You found out if it’s a boy or a girl?” Liza asked.

“Not yet. This is even bigger.” I paused and glanced at Sergei with a smile. “We’re having twins!”

The jaws of all the adults dropped, and Liza shrieked, “What?”

Out of the group, Aunt Debbie collected herself first and corralled both Sergei and me into a hug. “That is definitely big news!”

“Wow,” Dad said and kissed the top of my head. “I was not expecting that.”

“How did you find out?” Mom asked.

“I had an ultrasound last night because I was spotting a little.” I saw alarm pale her face and I waved my hands. “Everything is totally fine. The spotting stopped, and the ultrasound showed the babies are right on schedule.”

“We got to hear their heartbeats.” Sergei grinned even wider.

“You have two baby?” Anna touched my face and then Sergei’s. “This is miracle!”

It was indeed. The fact that I’d gotten pregnant at all while on the pill had been a miracle. Twins… well, God had really worked overtime on that one.

Mom rubbed my arm. “Sweetie, thank goodness you’re okay.”

“Will they be identical or fraternal?” Liza asked. “There are two girls at my rink who are fraternal twins.”

“We don’t know yet,” Sergei said. “They could be two girls, two boys, or one of each.”

“Ooh, I want one of each!” Liza said.

“We’re going to have a lot of fun planning this baby shower,” Aunt Debbie said.

“Em!” Chris called from across the room and pointed to the photographer waiting with him.

“I guess that’s my cue. We’ll have more time to celebrate tomorrow,” I promised.

I scurried over to Chris and ran into Aubrey along the way. We only had a minute to laugh and cry together before the photographer interrupted us.

“Sorry,” Chris said as he posed next to me. “I figured the sooner we do our duties, the sooner we can get back to the party.”

“You mean you can get back to Aubrey.” I poked his arm.

His mouth stretched into a huge smile. “She has to go back to the dorm in a little while since she has early practice, so… yeah, I’m trying to get in as much time with her as I can.”

“Have I told you how much I love seeing you together?”

“How many guys get the girl of their dreams and an Olympic gold medal all within twenty-four hours? It seems too crazy to be real.”

“How many women find out they’re having twins and win an Olympic gold medal all within twenty-four hours? I think we’ve both been hit by some magic spell.”

The photographer pointed his camera at us. “Keep smiling just like that.”

After we finished with the photos and did all the necessary mingling with the officials and sponsors, Sergei took me aside and asked, “Are you getting tired?”

The exhaustion I’d felt on the ice had been replaced by euphoria, and I’d been flying high on it since the medal ceremony. I had to make sure I didn’t overextend myself, though.

“I’m still pretty wired, but I know I should probably rest. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day with all the press we have to do.”

“Well, I have a place we can go that will be very comfortable and quiet and private.” He slipped his hands around my waist. “Just the two of us.”

“I like the sound of this place.”

“There’s a hotel room not far from here waiting for us. Kristin helped me set it all up.”

“So we don’t have to go back to the Village tonight?”

He pulled me closer. “We don’t have to go back the rest of the week.”

I smiled and clutched the lapels of his dark suit. “Can we leave now?”

“I’ll see if the car’s ready.”

While he went to find Kristin, I bid goodnight to my family with promises to see them the next day before they had to fly home. I met Sergei at the door of the pub, and we hopped into the van and sped off to the hotel.
What a difference a day makes
, I thought as we traveled the dark roads of Torino. The previous night when I’d taken a similar ride, I’d felt more frightened than I’d ever been in my life. Now I had nothing but joy in my heart.

The van dropped us at the Grand Hotel Sitea, and I gaped at the luxurious lobby and the old-world European charm of our room. “This place is gorgeous. How did you get a room here? Everything in the city is booked up.”

“It pays to have an agent with great connections,” Sergei said as he took off his suit jacket.

I went over to the marble-topped table and uncovered the silver bowl next to the bottle of sparkling water. “Chocolate-covered strawberries!”

“I thought you might be hungry.”

I bit into one and savored the juicy sweetness. “Mm… so good.”

Sergei stood behind me and gently removed the pins from my hair, brushing my long curls over one shoulder as they tumbled down. He kissed my neck and nipped on my earlobe, and my knees weakened. I sighed and leaned back against him.

“My Olympic champion,” he murmured as his lips grazed my hair.

I smiled. “I’ll never get tired of hearing that.”

He turned me so we were face to face. “You were so brave tonight. I’ve never been more proud to be your coach and your husband.”

I stared into his adoring eyes and thought of all the tough days of training when he’d been by my side, encouraging me and showing me nothing but patience and support. There weren’t enough ways to express my appreciation for everything he’d done for me.

“You give me so much strength. I couldn’t have done any of it without you. Thank you for believing in me and teaching me and loving me.” I took the medal from my neck and slipped it around Sergei’s. “You deserve this just as much as I do.”

His eyes shined with his own gratitude, and he cupped his hands under my chin and kissed me deeply. I pressed against him, moaning softly as his lips stroked mine.

He broke our kiss and removed the medal, placing it on the table. “We don’t want this to get damaged.”

I unknotted his tie and started on the buttons of his shirt. “That’s not the only thing that needs to come off.”

He sank his fingers into my hair and claimed my mouth once more. Together we moved toward the bed, and I pulled off his shirt as he eased me down onto the pillows. I flattened my palms against his chest and slid them across his warm skin and over his broad shoulders. Oh, how I’d missed the feel of him, the heat of his body next to mine.

He untied my wrap dress and spread it open, and his gaze traveled slowly over me, filling me deeper with desire. Bending his head, he touched his lips to my stomach, and I shivered from the softness of his kiss.

His mouth brushed below my navel, and he whispered, “I love you.”

My heart melted, springing tears to my eyes. I didn’t know if it was possible for the babies to hear Sergei, but I believed the love in his voice was strong enough to reach them.

He lifted up and kissed my mouth, and I grasped his face between my hands. “I love you so much.”

Our bodies came together, and he professed the same to me, showing me time and again that night just how much.

****

Aubrey circled her arm around Chris’s waist and flashed a smiled to the line of clicking cameras. They finally had a chance to hang out after Chris’s whirlwind day with the media, but his obligations hadn’t ended. He had one last appearance to make, so they stood among a crowd of athletes, celebrities, and sponsors at Club Bud, a big party spot at the Games. She had another practice the next day, so she couldn’t stay long at the event, but she wanted to see Chris, even if just for a little while.

“How was practice today?” he asked as the second-ranked American pair Candice and Shawn took their place in front of the photographers.

“Not bad. We’re trying to pace ourselves since we still have three more days until the competition, but it’s getting harder. We’re both just so ready to get on with it.”

“I’m gonna do my best to come watch you guys tomorrow. Since it’s in the morning, I might be able to do it before the craziness starts again.”

“Do you have another full day of press?” she asked.

“Think so. I know we’re doing a skit for
The Tonight Show
and a couple of photo shoots. Kristin said we might be on a Wheaties box.”

“My boyfriend, the superstar.” She grinned.

Having never been in a relationship, she was surprised how easily the word “boyfriend” slipped off her tongue. It felt amazingly natural… and wonderful.

“Posters of you will be hanging on the bedroom walls of teen girls everywhere,” she said. “Next you’ll be in
Tiger Beat
.”

He laughed. “If it pays well, I’m all over it. I don’t wanna have to worry about money for a long time.”

“I know. The money I make on tour this summer is going to help my college fund greatly.”

“It really sucks you’ll be gone almost all summer.” Chris hugged her against him.

“You can come visit me at some of the stops.”

His face lit up. “I won’t tell you which ones so you’ll never know where I’ll pop up next. It’ll be the most fun surprises ever.”

His wide-eyed enthusiasm made her giddy. She kissed him and gave him a bear hug, but her smile quickly disappeared when Damien slithered through the crowd toward them.

“Let’s get some drinks.” She tugged on Chris’s hand.

But she couldn’t get him through the jumble of people quickly enough. Damien folded his arms and smirked at them.

“I should’ve known you two were together, the way you’re always trying to act like her hero,” he said.

“Just leave us alone.” Aubrey dragged Chris away from him.

“Hey, I can give you some tips on what she likes,” he said, raising his voice over the music. “She likes being on top, I remember that.”

She froze and sucked in a breath.

Chris wheeled and stormed into Damien’s face. “What did you say?”