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new partner are underway!” she offered brightly, handing him a straw.
    Sergei opened his mouth to say something, didn’t, then closed it and shook his head in disbelief. How had his life become so crazy?
    Without a word, he took his drink and left the building.
    All that was left to do now was wait to hear from Whittaker.
    “I take it the search for your partner started off badly,” Aleksei’s deep voice stated softly, walking quietly to his son’s side and sitting down beside Sergei on the park bench. Gazing across the expanse of water that reflected the clear blue sky, the gentle ripples and soft breeze soothed Sergei’s soul and brought comfort and calmness back within his son’s reach.
    “Don’t ask,” was Sergei’s soft reply.
    Aleksei crossed his arms, his muscles clenching, then relaxing as he reminded himself he couldn’t take care of every problem his children faced anymore. Jordan had reminded him, more than once, that sooner or later the kids were going to have to learn to stand on their own, even if for only short periods of time. It was a still a concept Aleksei didn’t like, but he understood it and tried to do as his wife asked. Watching his son second guess his decision to skate pairs was tough to do, but he knew it was Sergei’s decision to make. For Aleksei, himself, the decision had been made for him, and for a long time, he’s battled against the decision. Thankfully, he’d come to his senses, and the pairing of Jamison and Rocmanov had become legendary. Now, their son was facing the history his parents had made and actually considering stepping up to challenge it. Something Aleksei wasn’t even sure he’d be brave enough to try. Challenging a path of gold was always treacherous. If nothing else, Sergei had courage.
    “Exactly how bad was it?” Aleksei asked softly.
    Sergei shook his head in disgust, trying to forget the scene of screaming girls. “I’ve never seen anything like it, Dad, dozens of girls of all ages and sizes, literally screaming to be noticed by me. I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life, not for myself but for the girls. I felt as if I was expected to hold up a point value sign for each one.”
    “Not exactly a smooth start to finding you a partner,” Aleksei agreed, “What did Whittaker say about the whole mess.”
    “He told me he’d take care of things and to get my butt out of there,” Sergei growled, running his long fingers through his thick, dark hair, the same color as his father’s, minus the touches of gray at the temples. “I never expected anything like this to happen. I’m beginning to think this whole suggestion that I take up pairs is liable to be the biggest mistake of my life.”
    Aleksei looked out over the calm water of the pond, remembering another pond, this one frozen, he and Jordan had discovered, smiling at the memory of how they’d made love in the snow beside that pond and then skated afterwards. How they’d laughed and teased and fallen a little deeper in love on that pond. Now, their son found solace in this peaceful glen gazing out over another pond. Some things were simply made to be. Apparently bodies of water brought comfort and peace to the Rocmanov’s.
    “Do you want to go back to singles?” Aleksei asked quietly.
    Sergei frowned. “How can I go back to singles, when I haven’t even officially tried pairs yet? I’m not going to quit just because the situation’s not what I’d like it to be. I’m not a quitter!” Sergei growled, surprised by his father’s question.
    “I never said you were. I’d just hate to see you so disillusioned by this episode that you decide it’s not worth skating at all.”
    “That’s not even a possibility. Skating is as big a part of my life as it is yours. Would you have ever considered giving it up?”
    “More times than you’d think, especially after Whittaker signed me up to skate with your Mother. We didn’t exactly mesh immediately, you know.”
    “But you worked