Read Whispers on the Ice Online
Authors: Elizabeth Moynihan
Whispers on the Ice (31 page)
“You made that bet—not me,” Aleksei countered.
“Yeah, I did, but you gave me the
look
.”
“What
look
?”
“You know, the
look
! That look that says ‘take him, he’s ours’!” Whittaker stated.
“Whittaker, you are a lunatic!” Aleksei laughingly stated, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Yeah, well, the two of you made me one,” Whittaker complained, his look encompassing both Aleksei and Jordan.
“And if you’re very lucky, we’ll continue doing so for many years to come,” Aleksei offered, smiling up at his coach.
“Promise?” Whittaker asked quietly.
“We promise,” Jordan answered softly for both herself and her partner, sleepily smiling into Aleksei’s and Whittaker’s surprised faces.
“I thought you were sleeping,” Aleksei offered, kissing her lips gently.
“Just dozing.”
“Well doze some more,” Aleksei suggested.
“I’ve been away from you long enough, I don’t want to be away from you anymore,” Jordan stated.
“Tell you what, you doze, I’ll stay here with you,” Aleksei suggested.
“Hold me?”
“I don’t know—I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You could never hurt me, Aleksei. Please?” Jordan pleaded prettily.
“Just for a bit—you need your sleep,” Aleksei agreed, carefully climbing on to the bed, laying on his side and gathering Jordan into his arms. Aleksei rested his head against the top of Jordan’s head, silky strands of coppery hair teased his lips and he blew the strands away from his mouth. “I’ve missed you!” Aleksei stated softly.
“Me, too,” Jordan agreed, inhaling the scent that was Aleksei’s alone. “You smell wonderful.”
“I can just imagine. I haven’t been real concerned with regular showers lately, I’ve had more pressing matters on my mind and had to make due with quick sponge-baths.”
“Alone or with assistance?” Jordan inquired off-handedly.
“Well, you were here but didn’t offer much assistance.”
“You’ve been with me the whole time?” Jordan asked in amazement.
“Where else would I be?”
“Exactly how long have I been here?” Jordan asked seriously.
“Long enough,” Aleksei answered cryptically, refusing to answer her further questions about the accident. There would be time later for all the details. “You’re supposed to be sleeping, remember?”
Jordan lay quietly against Aleksei, absorbing his warmth and strength, smiling as visions of their time in the cottage entered her mind. Jordan snuggled closer against Aleksei and sighed in pleasure. “Aleksei…”
“Sshh. You’re supposed to be napping.”
“Just one more question.”
Aleksei’s exaggerated sigh was his answer.
“What did
we
promise Whittaker?”
Aleksei’s chest rumbled as laughter rolled through him. “You’re suppose to know what the deal is, before you promise to fulfill it.”
“So how bad did I blow it?” Jordan asked sleepily.
“Nothing too far out there. You—I mean
we
—promised Whittaker Gold in four years,” Aleksei explained.
“Is that all? I thought it was something really tough,” Jordan mumbled as she slipped back into a peaceful sleep, wrapped in Aleksei’s arms.
Aleksei kissed Jordan’s head and snuggled against her. “That’s what I thought, too!” he agreed and moments later, joined her in a peaceful sleep filled with dreams of their future together, their breaths matching as they inhaled and exhaled in unison.
EPILOGUE
Four Years Later
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Long Program portion of pairs figure skating competition of the Winter Olympics.” Scott Hamilton intoned as he commented the evening’s events. “With the pair of Jamison and Rocmanov leading after the Short Program, I spoke with the pair before their Long Program and this was what they had to say…”
“How are the nerves tonight, Aleksei? Are you happy to be the third team on the ice?” Scott asked Aleksei, who stood alone outside the ladies locker room.
“In all honesty, we would have been happy going first. The waiting is probably the worst. We would just as soon get it done, and over with.” Aleksei answered, casting anxious glances toward the door.
Scott chuckled, “You seem to be waiting now.”
“These days I do a lot of waiting. Patience is something I’ve developed in the last eighteen months.” Aleksei answered, his smile growing as he watched Jordan exit the locker room and hand over their smiling, laughing son into his arms.
“Who’s your friend?” Scott asked, laughing as the baby grabbed the microphone and tried to wrap his drooling mouth around it.
“We’d like to introduce, Sergei Francis Rocmanov—our
greatest
achievement,” Jordan answered softly, her hand gently stroking the dark, wavy curls that covered her son’s head, smiling into the ebony eyes that smiled back at her, so like his father’s.
“He’s got potential in the broadcasting booth, he’s not afraid of a mic!” Scott suggested with a laugh, gently tugging the microphone from the baby’s grip. “I’d say things can’t get much better for you two.”
“Yeah, Scott, life’s pretty damn good!” Aleksei agreed, flicking Jordan’s nose playfully at her censorious look.
“So, Jordan. How are you feeling tonight?” Scott asked.
“I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to going out to eat at the
Out-Back Steak House
after we’re done here tonight,” Jordan stated confidently, laughing at Scott’s baffled expression, smiling up at Aleksei and returning his knowing wink. “Don’t worry, Scott, next time you’ve got an evening to spare, we’ll tell you the whole story. It’s one for the books!”
“I’ll hold you to it,” Scott agreed. “Good luck to you both and be sure to root for mom and dad, Sergei,” Scott suggested, chuckling as baby drool ran down the side of the microphone and onto his hand.
* * * * *
“It’s impossible to believe, that four years ago, the pair of Jamison and Rocmanov, were involved in a horrendous accident, that left Jordan Jamison seriously injured, and doctors with severe doubts as to her ability to ever walk—let alone skate—again. Tonight, however, the team of Jamison and Rocmanov, are celebrating their greatest achievement on the ice, as they did, indeed, win the Gold Medal for the United States!” Scott Hamilton later stated as he smiled broadly into the camera.
* * * * *
In the audience, Dr. Nicholas Devon, and his wife, watched the pair team of Jordan Jamison and Aleksei Rocmanov win the Gold Medal, as promised, and cheered wildly as the arena erupted in excitement, even as they knew they would be paying their own way to Australia.
* * * * *
From rink side, Whittaker, Dee and a squirming Sergei, watched the pair skate a perfect program and fulfill every promise they had made to themselves and each other.
Their near-perfect scores reflected the judges’ unanimous agreement.
Gold was the color for the evening.
* * * * *
“Ladies and gentlemen, Gold Medal winners from the United States, Jordan Jamison and Aleksei Rocmanov.” A voice in the dark boomed and the spotlight caught the pair as they stepped onto the ice and skated to their starting mark to perform their exhibition program.
And as the musical notes from
The Prayer
began, Aleksei voiced a silent
thank you
toward heaven, and whatever power had granted his prayer. The pair began to skate the program that had begun as a nightmare but turned into a beautiful vision of faith, trust and loyalty, but most of all, love.
And, as they had promised each other so many times—nobody left.
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