The next day...

Catherine, Mary, Emilly, Joan and Kimberly arrived at the sports center where Emilly was going to compete.

Emilly was a little upset because she called Joshua before leaving the house and he didn't answer. She tried again, but was unsuccessful.

"He doesn't answer, mom," she said to Catherine.

"Daughter, maybe he worked too hard yesterday. He'll call, be patient," Catherine replied to her.

The coach called Emilly to meet with the other athletes. "I need to go, mom. Wish me luck," she said to Catherine.

Catherine hugged her and kissed Emilly on the forehead. "Good luck, daughter. I love you and no matter the outcome, you have been my champion since the day you were born. Stay calm."

"Okay," Emilly replied.

Mary hugged her, too. "Good luck darling."

"Thank you, Mary."

"Go on and rock, Emilly," Joan said and hugged her, too.

Emilly smiled. "I will try, Joan."

"Kim?" Emilly called to her.

Kim hugged Emilly's legs. "I'm here, Emilly."

Emilly picked her up and Kim kissed her cheek. "I will see you win, sister."

"Thank you, love of my life," Emilly replied to Kim.

Catherine took Emilly's hand and led her to her coach. "Take good care of her."

The coach smiled and took Emilly with the other athletes.

Catherine and Mary were talking while Joan and Kim were playing.

"I'm very sad about what you told me about John," Mary said to Catherine.

"It's not like we're teasing his girlfriend because we don't like her. She's rich, futile, and thinks her father's money buys everything and everyone. John really changed after he met her, he doesn't respect his father anymore. It hurts me to see Steve's sadness. He doesn't say anything, but I know that he keeps thinking about it and that he is suffering. "

"You know, Catherine, I was very angry with my father because he sent me and Steve away. I only understood him after he died, and I can imagine how much he suffered for me and my brother. He suffered quietly and Steve does same."

"And that is not a good thing, Mary. I prefer that he speak, that he fight if necessary, but that he doesn't keep everything within himself."

"It's his way, Catherine. And you know that better than anyone."

"I thought about not bringing Emilly into this competition because I didn't want to leave him alone at home. But he didn't want Emilly to miss the opportunity and insisted that we come."

"He always thinks more about others than himself," Mary replied.

"It's true," Catherine replied.

Catherine felt someone kiss the back of her neck.

"Talking about me?" Steve asked Catherine and Mary.

Catherine turned to look behind "Steve?"

"Hi, Cath."

He also kissed Mary's head. "Hi, Mary."

"Hi, brother! Nice to see you."

Catherine saw Joshua too. "Joshua, you came! Emilly is going to be so happy." "

"Mr McGarrett brought me, and I don't even know how to thank you," Joshua replied.

"Mary, this is Joshua, Emilly's boyfriend."

"Nice to meet you, Joshua," Mary said to the boy.

"Nice to meet you too, Mary," Joshua replied.

"Mary is Steve's sister," Catherine told Joshua.

Steve approached Kim and Joan. "Hey, my princesses!"

Kim and Joan were distracted and Kim was surprised to hear his voice. "Daddy!"

Steve lifted her out of the chair and picked her up. "Hi, my love. I missed you so much."

Kim kissed his cheek and hugged him.

Steve put her in the chair again and took Joan in her lap as well. "Hi, honey! How you grew up."

"Hi Uncle."

Joshua saw Emilly's trainer and ran to the grids that separated the audience from the pool area. "Coach Martin!" Joshua called to him.

The coach came over and looked for who was calling him.

"Here! It's me," Joshua said to the coach.

"Hi, Joshua," the coach replied.

"Please tell Emilly that her father and I are here," Joshua asked.

"Okay, Joshua. I'll tell her."

"Thank you," Joshua replied.

Steve sat next to Catherine and hugged her. "It's so bad to be without you, my love. I couldn't stand being at home alone, I had to come and see you."

"And I'm really glad you came. I missed you too," she replied and kissed him.

Were you happy that I brought our almost son-in-law? "Steve asked.

"Yes, thanks for that, dear. Emilly is going to be very happy."

"What about you, Mary? Sit here beside me, let's talk," Steve said to his sister.

Mary got up and sat down beside him. "Don't even think about complaining about my dates, huh!"

The coach went to the locker room and brought Emilly over to Joshua. She couldn't get very close, but she could hear his voice.

"Hi, Em. I was dying to see you."

"Hi, Josh. I'm so glad you came. I love you."

"I love you too, Em."

At the time of the competition, Emilly was in fourth place, but she reacted surprisingly and came in first. She was thrilled when her trainer hugged her and told her that she was the champion.

Steve was thrilled when he saw Emilly arrive first. "Yes! This is our girl, Catherine. This is our champion."

Catherine was crying. "She deserves it, Steve. She heard colleagues belittle her all week, but I told her that she's been my champion since she was born."

Steve hugged her. "She is our champion."

"Congratulations, Catherine. I'm very happy that she won," Mary said.

"Thank you, Mary."

Joshua was also thrilled.

Steve put his arm around Joshua's shoulder. "Dude, I like you as a son, but you cry too much. Not even Kim, who's four, cries as much as you do."

Emilly was interviewed by a reporter who asked her to say a few words.

"I am very happy, I trained very hard to be here today and I just have to thanks. I want to first thank God, my coach, my family and my boyfriend who have always supported me and never doubted my ability. And a special thanks to my father Steve and my mother Catherine, without their help I wouldn't be here today. I love you guys, family. "

In another city, someone was watching Emilly on TV and recognized her by the surname Rollins and because she mentioned Catherine's name. "She will earn good money as a prize, and I, as a father, want a share of that."

In the evening, Steve took the whole family out to dinner. He looked at everyone there at the table and missed John, but he didn't let that take away his desire to celebrate.

"A toast to Emilly. I love you, daughter. I am proud to be your father."

"I love you, too, Dad. I couldn't have a better dad than you," Emilly replied.