Chapter 23: Difficulties

Kimberly sighed as she watched her team practice before getting ready for the first competition. "Kimberly, Kimberly Hart?" A familiar voice asked. Kimberly turned around and gasped at who she saw. It was Louis Turner, the one person she couldn't stand.

"Louis, hi, how are you doing?" She asked.

"I'm doing very well," he replied.

Kimberly looked out over her team and crossed her arms over her chest. Unlike everybody else, he believed that she should've had an abortion. Ever since Kimberly broke up with Tommy, he was on her tail asking her out everyday, until Kimberly dropped out of gymnastics to have Kylie and raise Hannah. "So, whatever happened to that kid?" He asked. Kimberly looked at him and knew what he was implying.

"I raised that kid. It's a girl and her name is Kylie," Kimberly replied.

She went to walk away when Louis grabbed her hand. "Listen, Kim. I'm sorry," he apologized. She jerked her hand from his grasp and glared at him. "Here, let me make it up to you. Join me for dinner after the competition," he suggested.

"I'd love to, Louis, but you see...I'm engaged," she stated.

Louis's smile faded when the word left her mouth. He looked at her as if she were crazy. "Really? Where's the proof?" He asked. She held up her hand with a sigh.

"Here's your proof," she replied.

"Who's the guy?" He asked.

"He's a black belt in karate, a doctor in paleontology, and a high school science teacher."

"That still doesn't answer who he is."

"I would rather him to be anonymous. If the press asks, that's all I'm going to tell them too."

She got ready to watch her team perform and looked at Louis. "I think you should go back to your team, Mr. Turner," she stated. Louis nodded and walked away.

"On deck, Miss Hannah Hart from Reefside, California," the announcer announced.

Kimberly walked over to the girl and noticed that she was nervous. "Don't worry, Hannah, we've been practicing this for a long time now," she assured her.

"Mom, what if I mess up on the balance beam? What if I let you down?" Hannah asked.

Kimberly placed her hands on the girl's shoulders. "You could never let me down. As long as you do your best. That's what I tell Kylie when she goes out for competitions, you know that. I have been your coach since you were nine-years-old. You came this far and I know you can do it," she assured her. Hannah smiled and looked up as the announcer called her name. "Go do it, Hannah, no matter what happens you'll always make me proud," she assured her. Hannah then went out in front of everyone and started to perform her form.

(Reefside in Tommy's Lab)

Everyone was watching as Hannah jumped onto the balance beam. "It's Hannah," Kylie whispered. Tommy smiled and held his daughter to him. The team watched as Hannah did front flips, back flips, handstands, splits, and other amazing moves on the beam.

(Athens)

Kimberly clasped her hands and shrieked when Hannah did her amazing finish. Hannah stood at one end of the balance beam, went to the other side, did a front flip, and landed in a split. Everyone roared in approval when it was over. "And that was Miss Hannah Hart from Reefside, California," the announcer announced. Hannah ran over and embraced Kimberly. Kimberly swung the girl around with a laugh.

"You were wonderful," she commented.

She set her down and touched her face. "I told you to keep up your self-confidence from day one when you first came into my gym," she insisted. Hannah nodded and hugged Kimberly again. After the last few girls did their performances, the call for the winners started.

"In third place, Miss Shannon O' Riley from Dublin, Ireland. In second place, Yoshe Chang from Tokyo, Japan. And in first place, Hannah Hart from Reefside, California," the announcer announced.

Kimberly and the rest of the girls were jumping up and down with excitement for their teammate. After the medal ceremony, Hannah hurried over and embraced her coach and teammates. However, Louis came over and spun Kimberly around. Kimberly gasped when he pressed his lips against hers. She pulled out of the kiss and didn't care if everybody was watching, she slapped him across the face.

(Back at the Lab)

Tommy looked at the screen in disbelief, but then he saw Kimberly slap the guy across the face. He knew Kimberly could handle herself.

Later that afternoon, Hayley found Tommy giving Kylie her dinner. "Tommy, can I talk to you for a minute?" She asked.

"Sure," he replied.

He placed the food on the table before following Hayley out of the kitchen. "Do you know who that guy is?" She asked.

"I have no idea," he replied.

Just then, the phone rang and Tommy answered it. "Dr. Oliver," he answered.

"Tommy, it's me," Kimberly informed.

Tommy waved Hayley away and sat down. "Hey, congratulations on the gold medal, you must be very proud of that girl," he congratulated.

"Thanks and I am. That's not why I called. I suppose you saw that little incident on the television," she stated.

"Yeah, I did and I also saw that you handled yourself with him too."

"Tommy, I am so sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"I feel like I betrayed you."

"It wasn't your fault. I trust you, Kim."

"How did Kylie take it?"

"She asked a few questions, but now she's eating dinner."

"I've only been here for a couple of weeks and somebody is already hitting on me."

"You stopped the guy. That that proves that you are totally devoted to me."

"Are you saying you didn't believe that I'm loyal to you?"

"No, but somebody else was."

"Oh."

Tommy could tell that Kimberly was feeling uncomfortable on the subject. "Kimberly, I love you more than words can describe. I still planning on dedicating the rest of my life to you," he explained. He heard her sigh and knew that she was settling down.

(Back at the hotel in Athens)

Kimberly sighed as she heard Tommy's confession. "I love you Tommy. I love you so much. I want to continue on planning our futures," she assured him.

"I wish I could be there to hold you and prove to you that everything's going to be okay," he murmured.

"I know everything is going to be okay. I'm just glad you're not mad about what happened."

"It wasn't your fault."

Kimberly looked up when there was a knock on the door. "Listen, Handsome, I have to go. Somebody's at the door," she informed.

"I'll talk to you soon," he stated.

"Give Kylie my love."

"Will do."

"Hey, I love you."

"I love you too, Beautiful."

Then she hung up. She walked over to the door and opened it to reveal Louis. "What was that about in the gym?" She demanded.

"I could tell it was what you wanted," he replied.

"I already told you, Louis, I'm engaged."

"Why do I get this feeling that this 'black belt, a doctor in paleontology, and high school science teacher' is bogus?"

"Because you're an idiot."

She went to shut the door when he grabbed her arm. "Kimberly, wait," he insisted. She sighed and opened the door again. "Instead of the ring, you have to have photo proof that he exists," he stated.

"If you really have to know, it's Dr. Tommy Oliver," she sighed.

"Tommy Oliver ,as in the father of your kid?"

"Yes, that Tommy Oliver."

"When did this happen?"

"None of your business. Goodnight, Louis."

She closed the door and locked it. She walked over to the window and sat by it watching people walk by. She looked at her hand to see her engagement ring. She was going to spend the rest of her life with Tommy. Whether Louis liked it or not.

When Kimberly opened her laptop, she saw she got an e-mail from Kira.

Miss Hart,

Congratulations on the winning gold your team won. It must feel great. I'm impressed on how you pushed that creep away. However, I'm writing because I have a little problem with a relationship.

In the beginning as you know, I had feelings for Trent. However, now, I'm having a little problem with that. I feel something more with Connor. The day that Connor comforted me when Trent was evil, I felt something then. I just thought it was friendship. But not it's getting stronger each time I see him. There's a problem though, he likes a whole other girl. I turned to you, because I know I can feel comfortable talking to you about things like this.

Could you help me out about what I should do? Because I have no clue. I want to tell him, but if he doesn't feel the same way, I don't want to affect our friendship. Should I just take the plunge or wait?

I have to go. Congratulations on your winning and I'll talk to you later.

Sincerely,

Kira

Kimberly smiled at the e-mail and knew what to do. She then decided to write Kira back.

Kira,

I know this is going to be hard for you to take in. But take my advice, follow your heart, it should take you down the right path. If you're afraid to lose your friendship over it, you shouldn't have to worry about it. Remember, I'm always here if you need to talk to me.

Sincerely,

Kimberly

She sent the message and then she got ready for bed.