“I had breakfast yesterday with Phoebe and Kristen.”
The line went silent. Not surprising, given Tasha mentioned his high school sweetheart’s name. “Mom’s trying to get her phone. Merry Christmas, sis. Love you.”
“Love you.” Tasha waited for the handoff of the cell phone.
“That boy.” Mom muttered a phrase in Russian. “Did you get your white Christmas?”
Tasha pointed her phone at the window for Mom to see. “It’s snowing right now.”
“Good for you. Phoebe sent me a video of your winter ice show this morning. Why you not mention it?”
Phoebe would do something like that. The woman was always sticking her nose where it didn’t belong, but she also did it with kindness. Still… “Phoebe only knew because I needed some costumes.”
“I thought I recognized them.”
Tasha’s jaw dropped. “You watched the show?”
“All of us did.”
For once, Tasha didn’t hold her breath, didn’t tense, didn’t cross her fingers. No matter what Mom said, Tasha was proud of the show and especially the performers, including herself.
“The choreography was simpler than you’ve done for our shows, but you didn’t have the same number of skilled skaters, either. You did a fabulous job. And you’re skating stronger than when you won bronze.”
“Thank you.”
“I would have been at your performance if I’d known.” The hurt in Mom’s voice was unmistakable.
“It was a small-town Christmas show. I didn’t think you’d care.”
“I care. We all care, but I would have probably tried to turn it into a much bigger production.” The hurt tone turned into amused.
“Broadway.”
“Off-Broadway given the outdoor rink,” Mom teased, letting Tasha know everything was okay. “The only thing I didn’t like was your ex-partner. He’s a…”
“Tool!” Dad and Alek shouted in the background.
“He is.” Tasha would thank Phoebe for sending her mom the video. “You were right, Mom. I’m doing what you suggested. Putting the past behind me so I can move forward. Coming here. Working on the show. Seeing Drew. Performing again. I got the closure I needed. No one will drag me down again.”
“I’m happy to hear that. Seattle will be a nice transition spot.”
Yelena Ramson spoke as if it were a done deal. Mom never gave up. Neither would Tasha. “It might be.”
That was all she would say.
“Hey, Tasha.” Dad appeared on the phone. His hair was grayer now, but he was still handsome and in shape. “You've had a rough time, and we should have handled selling the rink differently.”
Tasha raised her chin. “Yes, you should have. Finding out the way I did hurt. As much as when you told me not to say anything about what happened with Drew. All to protect Alek’s hockey career.”
“Back then, I said I could handle whatever happened,” Alek spoke up. He tired to get int the picture with Mom and Dad. “There was no reason for Tasha not to speak up.”
“It would have to much of a distraction,” Mom countered. “No team would have wanted that kind of attention with a young player. It was right decision.”
Maybe for her and Dad, but not for Tasha. “Well, I stood up to Drew at the show and spoke to Savannah yesterday. She admitted he’s the reason I was fired from the ice show in November, but he won’t be bothering me again.”
Alek cursed. “I’ll kill him.”
“You’ll do no such thing.” Mom’s voice was firm though Dad didn’t appear as convinced.
