Chapter 4

Emily Kmetko was leaning against her car, staring at the structure before her. The Rock brought back many memories, some painful and some uplifting.

She watched for a while as other girls walked in together, chatting about things she used to worry about on a regular basis: training, difficulty levels, and boys. That last one had always been her weakness.

Finally, after basking in nostalgia, she joined the entering crowds.

"Emily!" Payson saw her old friend almost immediately. She ran up to her and gave her a hug.

"Payson Keeler…oh my gosh!" Emily returned the hug and stepped back. "Look at you! You look great!"

"You too." Payson said beaming. "What brings you to the Rock today?"

"Checking up on Nina." She said. "Plus...I thought I would visit you too now that you're here. I swear when I heard you were coaching I didn't believe it."

Payson turned pink. "Yeah, the last time I spoke to you I believe I said…what was it?"

"Something along the lines of 'Gymnastics and everyone involved in it can go to hell, I'm done." Emily laughed. "You know, I didn't believe you then and my doubts are now justified."

Out of all the girls from the Rock, Payson had kept in touch the most with Emily. During their time training for the Olympics, the two girls got very close. Lauren and Kaylie –sworn enemies or best friends depending on the moment – had lives wrapped in drama and neither Emily nor Payson wanted any part of. In fact, without Emily Payson wasn't sure she could've gotten through her pregnancy. Emily had been the first panicked phone call after the pregnancy test – before her mother and even before Ally's father.

"How's Ally?" Emily asked in a softer voice.

Payson beamed. "Perfect, but no surprises there."

"I'm surprised she's not here training. Isn't she old enough?"

"Well, she's with her grandmother for the day. You have no idea how excited my mom is to have Ally so close."

Emily laughed. "My mom keeps bugging Damon and I about grandchildren, so I can imagine…"

"Emily!" a voice cried out from across the gym. A small, energetic blur came out of nowhere and latched on to Emily.

"Nina!" Emily said in surprise, patting the short girl's head. "It's good to see you!"

"I have so much to tell you – and show you! You should see this new routine Payson taught me…" Nina's voice was sounding off at the speed of lightening. She pulled Emily toward the bars excited.

There was little Emily could do but follow her lead. "Payson, I'll catch up with you later!"

"Sure." Payson said, pleased with the spirit her elite gymnast was showing.

She surveyed the floor of the gym. Everything seemed in order. Nina was showcasing her changes to Emily on bars while the other athletes were being focused and busy too. Out of the corner of her eye something did catch her attention. Jessica Rudolph was practicing vaults on her own. An aura of frustration seemed to surround her. Payson headed over to investigate. She arrived just when Jessica performed yet another safe, but flawless vault.

"Are you going to tell me to do it again?" she asked, seeing Payson approach out of the corner of her eye.

"No..." Payon said. "I want you to try something different."

"Why?"

"I want to see what you can really do."

The girl furrowed her brow. "…but I can land this perfectly."

"I know." Payson said, unimpressed.

Jessica stared at her assistant coach, trying to make out her angle in this.

"Shouldn't you be with your pet, Nina?"

Payson raised her eyebrows. "I'm here for you too, Jessica. All you have to do it let me coach you."

Jessica put her hands on her hips. "What was wrong with my vault? Tell me and I'll fix it."

"Nothing." Payson answered simply.

Jessica rolled her eyes. "Then why are you here?"

"JESSICA!" Sasha Belov roared as he approached. Clearly he had just over heard his gymnast's snide remark. "If I hear to speaking that way to Payson or any other adult then you will be truly sorry, do you understand me?"

Jessica looked like there was a frog in her throat. "Yes." she managed to get out.

"If you had half the heart Payson did at your age – if you were as fearless, then you wouldn't be wasting your time in your comfort zone. I know what you're capable of and you know too. This sport isn't just about being better than other people, it's about being better than yourself. The sooner your realize that, the better."

When Sasha finished his rant, Jessica stormed away. People stared as she ran towards the locker room. Payson started to follow her, but a familiar grip encircled her arm.

"Let her go." Sasha said. "She needs to be alone. That's how Jessica operates."

Payson sure hoped that Sasha was right. "Look," she said. "I've heard how her old gym in Georgia works. They are all about consistency – it's been drilled into her head since she started the sport. She's not a risky gymnast by nature. You can't just flip a switch in her, Sasha."

"Of course not." He agreed. "I seem to remember another gymnast who had to change her approach. I had to practically arm wrestle her everyday to pull her towards a more graceful, artistic style…"

"Hmmm…" Payson said, secretly hating that Sasha was making her smile. "I wonder who that was."

"It wasn't easy, I have to say." Sasha said in mock frustration. "I had to take her to ballets, make her dress up for fashion shows…"

"Was I that bad?" Payson sighed.

"A nightmare. A bloody nightmare." He teased, walking away again.

There comes a time in every mother's life where she breaks down completely and realizes the sad truth: little children do not stay little forever. That moment hit Payson Keeler like a truck.

On the morning of Ally's first day of kindergarten, Payson's hands were shaking so badly that she punctured the juice box she was packing for her daughter. It was times like these – and they came rarely – that Payson felt a hole in her life. It was strange to think that other women in her position had partners to rely on during these life moments. Someone would be there to clean up the spilled juice or entertain their daughter while she collected herself in the bathroom. Maybe someone would be there to hold her hand. She really didn't know. Payson could only wonder.

"Mommy, are you OK?" Ally asked curiously, completely oblivious to the raging emotions brewing inside her mother. Ally looked like a little angel. Payson had gotten up early that day to iron her denim jumper and French braid her hair. Ally was delighted and spent the rest of the morning twirling around the living room.

"Of course." Payson lied. "Let's get going, uh?"

The two stepped out of the apartment. Ally skipped while Payson shuffled her feet woefully. They met Sasha on the stairs of the apartment building.

"Where are you two lovely ladies off to?" he asked.

"School! School! School!" sang Ally clumping down the stairs in her usual way. "I'm going to kindergarten."

"Wow!" Sasha said, winking. "You're turning into quite the big girl, uh?"

Ally nodded in agreement seriously. She sped past the adults and toward the car, waiting impatiently at the door.

Sasha laughed. "Boy, she's a riot."

"Uh uh."

Sasha paused and took a good look at Payson. Her keys were making noise in her shaking hand and her face was turning pale.

"Uh…" he asked, grabbing her hand and steadying it. "Are you OK, Payson?"

She nodded unconvincingly." Yes. Why wouldn't I be? It's just school…her first day of school." Her voice sounded about an octave higher than usual. Sasha wasn't stupid.

"I have an idea," he said once he and Payson had caught up with Ally. "Why don't I tag along with you? I'm sure the Rock can wait."

Ally jumped up excitedly. "Yes! Oh yes please!"

"Don't' be silly." Payson said.

"Aw come on mom! Let him!" Ally begged.

"Yeah, mom let him!" Sasha echoed, trying to bat his eyelashes like Ally.

Payson laughed, feeling herself cave. "OK, fine."

A few minutes later the three arrived at the local elementary school. They escorted the bouncing, enthusiastic new student to her new classroom. Laugher and clanging could be clearly heard from within. Sasha stepped back and let Payson have a minute with her daughter.

Payson knelt down and met Ally at eye level. "You ready, honey?"

"Yup!"

"Ok…" Payson cleared her throat, trying not to get emotional. "Well, you know my cell phone number and so does the teacher so you call me if you need me. Remember to be polite and share with other kids, OK?"

"OK." Ally smiled. She leaned forward and kissed her mother, then wrapped her small arms around her neck. Payson looked like she was about to melt.

Ally's teacher escorted her inside. The little girl waved at her mom and Sasha until they couldn't see her anymore. Payson took a deep breath and tried to collect herself. As they drove to the gym she could feel her nerves starting to lower again.

"Thanks for coming, Sasha." She said. "That was really sweet and I think Ally really appreciated it."

"Honestly, I didn't do it as much for Ally as I did for you. I don't think I've ever seen you as unhinged."

"What?" Payson asked, pretending not to know what he was talking about.

"You're a horrible liar, which is probably why you don't do it much." He said. "I thought you were going to burst into tears right there. I thought I might have to carry you out kicking and screaming."

"Har har." Payson said sarcastically. "Fine you got me. It just happened so fast. She was a baby just yesterday and now…"

"She's not getting married or moving away, Payson." He pointed out.

"I know, but it's the end of an era." She argued.

Sasha looked out the window and sighed. "Well," he said. "you can always have another one."

Payson laughed.

"What?" Sasha asked curiously. "You don't want another child?"

"No," she said. "It's not that. I'd love one…it's just that word around the street is that a key prerequisite to having another baby would be finding a man."

"You're not dating?" Sasha asked, sitting up slightly straighter.

"When would I have time?" she asked. "I'm at the Rock, I'm looking after Ally…there isn't much in between. To tell you the truth I haven't really dated anyone seriously since…"

She cut herself off quickly and blushed.

"What?" Sasha pressed. "Since Ally's father? The mysterious man himself. I swear, your silence on this subject it perhaps the PR miracle of the sports industry. You know that, right?"

Payson sighed and gripped the wheel tightly. "It's no one else's business. It's private."

"So private you can't even tell me?" Sasha challenged.

Payson looked forward with a deaf ear, refusing to fan the flames of his curiosity.

"Fine, I see how it is." He said, leaning back. "I have to say, it's hard for me to imagine this guy – whoever he is. Who wouldn't want to be apart of Ally's life? She's great. You're great! What kind of loser wouldn't make room in his life for you two and be grateful about it?

A smile crept on to Payson's face, but she tried to hide it from Sasha.

"What about you?" she asked to shift the subject. "Are you seeing anyone?"

"Not lately." He said. "I date here and there but I haven't had a committed relationship since Summer."

Payson tried to hide her surprise. That was years ago. "What happened there?"

He shrugged. "Ultimately we wanted to change one other. It would never have lasted."

Payson nodded, wondering if she had crossed the line by asking. She pulled into the Rock and parked her car. It made a violent banging noise as she shut the engine down.

"You should really get rid of this thing." Sasha said, patting the dashboard.

As if attending kindergarten wasn't enough, Payson soon tripped over Ally's sixth birthday. Though sad that her little girl was aging, she fully embraced the holiday and admittedly went overboard with decorations, food, and presents. Ally Keeler, through no fault of her own, was born into harsher circumstances than other children and her mother was more than ready to pull out all the stops for her first celebration that had money to back it up.

"You really outdid yourself," Emily said. She, Sasha, and Payson's parents had been the few adults in attendance. At present both women were leaning against the counter watching the other children from Ally's class swarm the birthday girl. Under Sasha's supervision they were turning her round and round, preparing her for the traditional birthday piñata.

"She deserves it." Payson said with a content sigh.

Emily's glance shifted nervously and lowered her voice. "Did he call today? Send a note to her – anything?"

Payson's expression suddenly fell. "He forgot."

Emily rolled her eyes. "Geeze."

"Mommy!" cried Ally, unaware of her mother's mood. Still blindfolded, the girl took frantic swings into the air with no success. Her aim was off, but her arm was powerful.

Suddenly Sasha picked her up by the waist and held her flailing arms up to the taller piñata. With a sharp SMACK, Ally hit its body and candy flew everywhere. She threw off her blindfold excitedly and Sasha tossed her in the air.

Emily smirked. "That child of your is very aerodynamic."

Payson pretended on to understand the hint in her friend's comment.

After cake and gifts, the children's parents started to pick them up. The crowd thinned out leaving the happy birthday girl alone with her adult companions. The presents, however, were not over.

"Ally." Sasha said catching her attention. She skipped over to him excitedly. "I have something for you, but you need to close your eyes."

She grinned and obeyed, giving Sasha time to hurry to the closet and bring a small trampoline with a huge pink bow on it.

"Open." He said.

Practically the second that she did so, Ally leapt into his arms and kissed his cheek heartily.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Sasha!"

"Aw, Sasha." Mrs. Keeler said, surveying the gift. "How thoughtful of you. Isn't that thoughtful of him Payson?"

Payson didn't like this gift very much and she was sure that Sasha knew it. He knew it before he bought the thing, she was sure. Still, it was hard not to be happy when Ally's smile was spread from ear to ear. She would just have to suck it up and hope that the small gift didn't turn into a huge hobby…or a career.

"Thanks" she mouthed kindly to Sasha who was still holding her daughter. Ally was tired though and actually started to fall asleep on his shoulder. Her grandmother took her from Sasha's arms and carried her to her bedroom.

"I'm on to you, Sasha." Payson said, seeing her ex-coach out. "Why do I have a bad feeling that you're trying to recruit my daughter for the 2028 Olympics?"

Sasha Belov smiled widely. "You know, Payson I'm not always thinking about gymnastics."

"Oh really? I find that hard to believe."

"Fine." He admitted. "You caught me – I was obviously trying to recruit your six-year-old for our big Boston Invitational in a few weeks…"

Payson furrowed her brow. "Wait – what invitational?"

Sasha opened his arms in triumph, obviously expecting praise from his assistant. "That's right! I got the call from Austin Tucker this afternoon inviting our Rock girls to compete against his team on his dime. He obviously heard about the splash Nina made at the last Nationals practice and was intrigued by our potential. You're welcome." He flaunted the last two words slowly and arrogantly.

"Boston – he called you and invited us all to Boston?" Payson's mouth was gaping open in sock, but Sasha foolishly took that as a good sign. He patted her on the back.

"I've been dying to tell you about it this whole time, but I wanted to save it until after the party." He said. "So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow at National practice? I can't wait to tell Nina and Jen."

Sasha Belov walked away with a swing in his step, leaving his co-worker frozen in her own doorframe. If her parents hadn't passed her and kissed her goodbye, she might've forgotten to move.