Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir - Silence and Sound

Chapter 13: Reconciliation

"Most first steps, those were all you." Scott said, resounding.

Tessa became pensive, "I value pragmatism. I love you and you love me, why wait? Why spend the rest of our lives wondering if we both felt the same?"

"What changed? What made you so farouche and resentful?"

"The first surgery. You could've called, you could've showed up. I don't ever want to be the one waiting for something that never happens."

"So I end up being the one waiting for you."

"I waited ten years, Scott. I don't ever want to be that vulnerable again."

"I'm sorry I always mess things up."

"You don't, I just wish you had asked me how I was. So I could know you cared. Voicemails mean nothing when you're eighteen, alone, and in pain."

"I was so upset at myself, I didn't know how to."

"Why didn't you talk to me?"

"I didn't know how."

"So you can understand why I didn't know if I wanted to live the rest of my life with you."

"So why did you say yes?"

Sensing the tension, Persephone intervened. "Enough!"

Silence filled the room, as Scott looked crestfallen and Tessa confounded. 

Interviews would begin within forty minutes, and Persephone summoned their attention. "Ten years ago, it took dozens of psychologists and marriage councillors to sort through your history. I'm sending you back to Dr. Qureshi to discuss your issues. Right now, we need to resolve a different concern. Now compliment each other so your fans have something left to believe in."

Scott began. She was flawless, and managed to astound him beyond ways imaginable. Yet he still struggled to surprise her.

 "Compartment syndrome looks good on you."

Tessa's cheeks reddened, as Scott's words never failed to raise her spirits. 

"Thank you? Scott, you're so incredibly honest with yourself, myself, and the world. I admire that about you."

Interview preparation then began with one simple question, "Describe Marina."

"Strict."

"Conniving."

Tessa and Scott continued to list adjectives, until Scott finally elaborated:

"Marina welcomed us with open arms when she first met us. Her coaching was rigorous and demanding, but we felt like we thrived under that pressure. If either of us ever wanted to skip a practice session, she could read us like a book. We couldn't lie to her."

On cue, Tessa carried on. "After the Vancouver games, we felt that change. Marina's attentions became focused on Meryl and Charlie, the American team. We wondered if she shared the same loyalties to us as we committed to her."

Persephone was thoughtful. "Interesting. You once described that you felt that she 'wasn't in [your] corner'. Can you unpack that for us?"

"Certainly. I mean, nearing our competitions for the Grand Prix, Marina was absent. Many of the changes we needed to make to our program were either made by us, or other experts that we reached out to," Scott explained. 

"So why did you choose to train in Montreal for these Olympics?" Persephone asked. 

With grace, Tessa handled the question. "We had expected to retire. When Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon reached out to us, I think there was this curiosity within us. Both Scott and I had admired their work for all these years, it just felt right."

"Well versed, Tessa. Scott, paying attention to timelines is going to be crucial in your story. However now we need to address the largest threats to your careers: 1) Are you going to speak the truth about Marina? 2) Why did you keep your relationship a secret throughout your careers?" Persephone  inquired. 

As their discussion furthered, news of their covert operation became a public investigation.

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So the cookie crumbles...what do you think? As always, thank you for reading. There's always more of these two to come - I've already pegged 3 books in their names.

Twitter: twitter.com/CelestialHolmes