The Search For Shattered Pieces *Complete*

Chapter Thirty-Two: Resuming Right Position

Lyra:

"Maksim has been called away on an important matter...I'm most displeased by this turn of events, but it seems it cannot be helped. In the meantime, with so little time, we've secured you a stand-in Coach. Apparently my step-sons are good for something." Stefan stares at me hard and waits for me to, what, speak?

"A stand-in?" I say.

"Quite right, just until Maksim has settled this business of his."

    What did my step-brothers have to do with this though?

    I come out of my memory from last night and continue to whizz around the ice rink. I practice loosely, freely and allow the music to flow around me. Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the flowers moves me and I move with it, loving the beautiful music almost as much as I love my freedom on the ice.

"That was beautiful, my dear?" The strangers voice stops me quickly and I spin around to find a lovely middle age women staring at me with a gentle smile on her face.

"I...I'm sorry...who...who are you?" I ask.

"No, I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself immediately, but I wished to see your free form. And I have to say that everything I've heard about you is true...more than true. You are a beautiful, beautiful skater, Lyra."

"Thank you." I say, still eyeing her warily.

"I'm Irene Rancic. I believe your father told you I would be coming?"

"OH!" I'm immediately horrified by my behavior. This is my temporary coach. How gauge to be caught the way I had been. "It's nice to meet you, Coach Rancic."

"Please call me Irene. Coach Rancic is my husband and lord knows I don't need to confuse those brothers of yours if you yell out Coach Rancic out on the ice."

I look at her with what I'm sure is a confused expression on my face. "I'm sorry, I don't quite follow."

"Oh, I'm sorry, they didn't tell you. My husband coaches the boys hokey team. He coaches your step-brothers. I'm his wife and coach at the local ice rink, figure skating, obviously."

So THIS was what my step-brothers had to do with it. They had brought their coaches wife in to coach me.

"Would you like to start with some warm ups?"

"I'm already warmed up," I say.

Coach Rancic smiles brighter. "You're a go getter aren't you? Well wonderful then how about you show me what you've been working on, and we can go from there."

    Just like that? No screaming at me? No telling me that I wasn't warmed up enough? I hesitate for just a moment before nodding, "Okay. I guess I can do that."

"At your pace, Lyra. This isn't an audition. I already know you're quite brilliant. Whenever you're ready."

I square my shoulders. "I'm ready."

                                            *****

    I'm sweaty and gross when I get back to my room to shower and change and I love it. Practice had been fabulous. And Coach Rancic was...was...well I'd never met a coach like her before. She was firm, but only with her words. And she was also...encouraging. God, she'd been so encouraging.
As I shower I have a large smile on my face.  When I come out of the shower I wrap a large fluffy towel around myself and wrap up my long hair.  I'm just stepping into my room when the door bursts open and Trenton and Tallis come barreling in.