Authors: Laura Peyton Roberts
Walk on Water (27 page)
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Beth demanded.
“That was Lexa’s decision to make. Besides, I thought I saw a different outcome, and it looks like I was right.”
“I’m so sorry.” Lexa felt as if she’d said nothing else for days.
Weston patted her hand. “He’s your father. You
ought
to train with him.”
“It’s just . . . skating with you has been so incredible. I want you to know how much it meant, and how much I learned. Eric feels the same way—he’s afraid you won’t coach him now.”
“Ah,” Weston said. “I’m afraid he’s right. But I will help him find my replacement. There are plenty of great coaches out there—younger, less crotchety coaches.”
“You’re not crotchety! I love you.” Lexa’s eyes filled instantly. She hadn’t known she was going to say that, but it was absolutely true.
“Oh, hey now,” he said, reacting to her tears. “You don’t think I feel the same way? I’m not going anywhere but back to retirement. If your grandmom will have me around, I’ll still be here all the time.”
“Really?”
“Of course I’ll have you around!” Beth exclaimed. “What a thing to say.”
The two of them shared a smile that caught Lexa off guard. Apparently she wasn’t the only one who had developed feelings for Weston. And unless she was very mistaken, those feelings were returned. Her concerns about leaving Beth alone seemed suddenly much less pressing.
“If you want to apologize to someone, apologize to the fish,” Weston told her. “Thanks to you, I’ll be back to bothering them full time.”
Lexa nodded with dawning happiness and wiped her face one last time. “I won’t tell them you’re coming.”
TWO WEEKS LATER
Hawthorne Civic Arena was packed to the rafters for ladies short program. Lexa stepped out for her warm up with butterflies in her knees and her pulse hammering her throat. She hadn’t trained for nationals, not properly, but as her first blade touched the ice, her nervousness melted away.
I’m just here to skate,
she reminded herself, dodging the other girls in her group as she built speed around the oval.
It doesn’t matter where I place—just being here is the prize.
She breezed through her warm-up jumps on faith and adrenaline, landing even the triple lutz without difficulty. People in the crowd yelled down to their favorites, waving homemade signs and banners. Lexa took in the judges and media as she circled again. Then, a few rows above them at center ice, she spotted her own cheering section: Bry, Ian, Jenni, and, most surprisingly, Adam Yale. Jenni had convinced him to drive his Prius through the night so that she could afford to be there.
Jenni waved wildly. “Go, Lexa!” she shouted. The guys stood up as well, Bry brandishing a sign that read
HAPPY 17th, LEXA WALKER!
Lexa waved back, thrilled that they were there to cheer her on. Her friends’ presence was a bittersweet reminder that her grandmother wasn’t coming, though. Beth had never missed a nationals, not since Lexa’s first competition in the junior ranks. But this year, even with short program falling on Lexa’s birthday . . .
It’s not her fault
, Lexa thought, trying to fend off the pain before it showed up in her skating. All those years Beth had traveled alone just to watch her skate had been exactly like this one—and not remotely the same.
I can’t blame her for not wanting to see me back with Blake.
Although, in fairness, that wasn’t Blake’s fault either.
Lexa threw a double axel and nearly lost the landing, knocked out of her mental zone. As she muscled the last rotation around into a shaky glide, a flash of movement caught her eye. A couple near the end of the oval had jumped up to wave, her smooth bob like liquid silver under the lights, his iron gray hair glinting.
“Let’s go, Lexa!” Beth’s voice was nearly drowned out by the shouting all around her, but Lexa could see her face clearly, and the gratitude that sight provoked brought water to her eyes. Whether her grandmother had changed her mind or Weston had changed it for her, the fact that she’d come after all meant more than a medal ever could.
Weston pointed to his throat, to the spot the silver star he’d given her was pinned to her midnight blue dress, and flashed her a thumbs up. His message was unmistakable. Lexa touched the star he still believed she was, and then, hidden beneath her neckline, Kaitlin’s gold cross and skate—her past and present merging into a future that had never felt more right. She waved back frantically and threw another double axel, this one effortless. Then Blake gestured from the rail and she skated over to join him.
“You look like you came to skate today,” he said. “You look strong out there. Confident. So don’t leave it all in the warm-up. Give yourself a chance to settle and catch your breath.”
“I hate pulling first draw,” she said, a touch of nerves returning.
“It was never my favorite either, but here we are.” Blake smiled. “And whatever happens is going to be fine.”
“It is,” she agreed.
“I’m so proud of you. Do you know that? Proud to be your coach, but even prouder to be your dad.”
Lexa nodded. For the first time in her life, she did know that. “I’m proud of you too.”
The remaining skaters were called off the ice. Tension in the arena ratcheted upward. Lexa’s group was about to compete.
Blake took her hands over the railing as he delivered his final instructions. “Keep your head up. Sell every landing. If something goes wrong, smile. If you fall, smile harder. This is your moment, right here. Show these people what a Walker looks like.”
Lexa’s name boomed through the building. Blake let go of her hands. “Are you ready?”
She nodded and was about to push off when he held out both his fists.
“Walk on water,” he said.
Her gasp wasn’t the only one as old-timers in the audience realized what they were seeing. She hesitated only long enough to memorize the moment before bringing her fists down on his. “I’m working on it.”
“It all starts right here.”
Lexa’s smile beamed straight from her heart as she took her position at center ice. Her destiny was in her own hands now, and she finally understood what she’d been born to do.
The first note sounded and she was off, off to start walking on water.
Laura Peyton Roberts is the author of numerous books for teens and tweens, including the Clearwater Crossing series,
Ghost of a Chance
,
The Queen of Second Place
,
Queen B
,
Green,
and
Walk on Water
. Laura has degrees in both geology and English, and worked as a geologist before becoming a writer. She and her husband live in San Diego, California.
Visit Laura’s website:
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