“Oh.” Anamária had been pouring the wine for them both, and now went back to pour several more ounces into each glass. “He’s half right,” she admitted. She sighed, a look of devastation on her face. “I am very, very sorry. In December, I emailed Connie Zielstra—remember, we met her in Colorado Springs? I didn’t blackmail her. Idid, however, suggest that we could come to a quid pro quo, much as I’d helped her son with some placements years ago. I regret that already. She rejected the proposal, and I’m glad she did. The fact that you got on the team still speaks toyourskill. You earned your spot, completely on your own.”
She raised her dangerously full wine glass. “And you got silver entirely on your own. That routine was magnificent. I’ve never seen that before—when did you create it?”
Adonis raised his glass to meet hers. “In between all of my other practices.” He cracked a small smile. “You know. With all my free time.”
“You’re not hiding your sarcasm very well.”
“Good, I didn’t mean to.”
Anamária sighed. “Like I said, I owe you several apologies. I’ve worked you too hard, and I’ve been a bad mother, using the excuse that I was at least a good coach and a good manager. I’m very sorry.”
Adonis nodded slightly. “Thank you for saying that. I forgive you.”
Anamária’s eyes were wet. “I want to do better.”
Adonis gulped some of the wine, hoping for a shot of liquid courage. “Well, maybe we should talk,” he said. “I’ve been thinking a lot about my future, and I’m sorry that I haven’t brought you fully into that thought process, but I think I’ve made some decisions.”
Anamária tensed briefly, but then nodded. “Go on.”
“I don’t want to skate professionally after I graduate. I know you’ve invested so much time and money in me and in my skating, and I’ve always enjoyed skating, but as I think about my future, it just isn’t what I want to do with the rest of my life.”
His mother was silent for a moment. She took a long drink of her wine. “Okay,” she said at last. “And you’ve really thought about this?”
“I have.”
“What do you want to do instead?”
Adonis’s turn to return to his wine. “Law school,” he said.
“Law school?”
“Law school. I…I took the LSAT, and I applied to a bunch of schools.”
“When?”
“Like I said, with all that free time I have.” He managed a smile. “Mom…I’ve gotten into several schools.”
She offered a genuine smile. “Honey, that’s incredible. Have you thought about what kind of law you want to practice?”
“Yes. Sports law.” He swallowed. “What happened with Damien only reinforced for me that I want to work with young athletes to advocate for our—for their—rights. I want to be their voice. I don’t know if that eventually means nonprofit or foundation work, but something like that.”
He could already see the wheels turning in Anamária’s head. “Yes,” she said after a moment. “I love it. I think you’ll do a great job at that.” She paused. “Law school is expensive—”
“I know. I’ll apply for scholarships and loans—”
“But,” she continued. “I think there’s an angle I can work here.”
“What do you mean?”
She took his hand. “Adonis, you have a dozen brands chomping at the bit to sponsor your skating career. I think I can work some of my magic to turn some of those sponsorships into scholarships.”
His eyes lit up. “Really? Is that a thing?”
“When has that ever stopped me?”
He laughed. “Good point.”
“If you want,” she said, “and only if you want, I can help you with this.”
