Kiss and Cry

“Of course,” Janice said. “I’m very sorry for your loss.” Her gaze flicked down, and she smiled.

I realized I’d unconsciously reached for Henry’s thigh when he’d tensed, my hand still resting there. I squeezed before letting go and said, “Thanks for understanding.”

“Of course,” she said. “Hey, did you guys get a new house? How much over asking did you bid? My nephew lives in Toronto, and he’s been trying for months.”

“Yeah, we had to go two fifty over asking. It’s insane, but we fell in love with the backyard. There’s a nature preserve behind us, so it’s really peaceful, but we’re still in the burbs.”

“Square footage? What’s the commute? At least this arena’s out of the city.”

A makeup person powdered us for camera while Janice and I talked real estate and Henry surely wished he was back on the ice.

When they were ready to roll, Janice asked, “At this time last year, did you even dream you’d be coaching a national champion?”

I answered, “Honestly, we knew Grace was capable, but we didn’t expect it for another season or two.” I didn’t add that the past US champion had choked—hard—and that luck had factored into Grace’s win. “We’re still learning and growing as coaches, and we’re hitting that next level with Grace. She’s improved so much this season. We think if she does her best, she can win again.”

“And I’m sure you and Grace are looking to the next Olympic Games in two years. After all, you’re both Olympic medalists, with Henry of course winning gold in Calgary and silver four years later in Norway. Theo, many were surprised when you retired after Calgary. Did you ever regret it or consider competing again?”

“Nope. I loved touring, and when I started coaching part time, I realized how much I loved helping other skaters. For me, it’s more satisfying. It made me fall in love with skating in a new way.”

Actually, it made me fall in love with skating full stop as opposed to doing it because I won and was good at it, and that it was what I’d always done.

“Speaking of falling in love, it was even more surprising when the two of you tied the knot a few years after Calgary! How did you keep your relationship a secret from the public for so long?”

Step one: I didn’t tell my mother we were getting married until Henry and I eloped in Barbados, I thought wryly.

My sisters were thrilled for me, my dad was happy if I was, and my mom was…a work in progress. She was what she was. I didn’t stress about it. Much.

I glanced at Henry and said, “It wasn’t that hard, actually. He was still training, and I was touring a lot, so we were long distance for quite a while. But we made it work.”

Janice looked to Henry expectantly. He said, “Being apart helped us know we were right together.”

I elbowed him playfully. “Now he’s stuck with me all day at work and at home.”

“Not stuck,” he said simply, and my heart swelled. Even after all these years, Henry’s little declarations made me stupidly happy.

Janice beamed. “And what’s the secret to your relationship?”

“If I answer, I’ll probably get us in trouble.” I winked playfully at Janice as Henry sighed.

She laughed on cue. “Henry, you’d better field this one!”

Most people would make their own joke, but not my Henry. He seemed to genuinely ponder it before he said, “We’ve always taken care of each other.”

It was a miracle I resisted kissing him right then and there.

“As coaches, are you still competitive with each other?” Janice asked Henry.

“No. We have the same goal to make our students the best they can be. We’re still new coaches. We’re learning together.”

“Do you have a sort of yin and yang approach?”

I answered, “Yeah, I’d say so. Henry’s more of the technician. He has such an eye for detail. He’s the artist too—he has amazing musicality. I’m the cheerleader.”

Janice smiled. “And an excellent one, I’m told. Speaking of music, Grace’s long program this season is a piano piece composed by Etienne Allard, the former ice dancer who’s your brother’s long-time partner, Henry. What was that collaboration like?”

His lips curved into a smile. “Very rewarding. Etienne’s quite talented.”

Janice refocused on me. “Theo, what’s your primary role with students?”

“My job’s more about motivating and encouraging them. Especially when they’re tired and don’t want to do run-throughs. Henry will still do run-throughs all day if you let him.”

Janice laughed. “Is it tough to juggle coaching with performing in shows?”

Henry shook his head, and I said, “Not really. The shows tend to be over the holidays or in spring and summer. We take turns performing so one of us is here with our kids.”

Her eyes lit up, and she went off script. “Speaking of kids…”

Henry kept his poker face while I laughed and said, “We’ve got our hands full with our cats for now.”