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a few minutes than argue with him, she acquiesced.  He stood, and she sat in the chair, all the while aware of his tall bulk behind her.  His after-shave was subtle, woodsy.  As he bent toward her and pressed a button, her heart raced and her stomach lurched.  Reminding herself he would be around only a few weeks, she took in a breath, attempting to steady her pulse.
    Noah pulled a few papers closer to the keyboard and showed her how to enter basic information.  She followed his directions, but the attempt to steady her pulse was useless with him so close.
    Relieved when she heard the familiar sound of skaters rolling on the floor, Francie glanced at the clock on the wall.  "I have to get out there.  Thanks for the lesson.  It will come in handy."
    Noah had perched on the corner of the desk to watch and instruct.  He made no move to stand.   "Francie, I really think this can help you."
    She sighed.  "I have a lot on my mind right now.  New computer programs are the last thing I need to think about."
    "I think it's more than that.  You're afraid to try something new." 
    His probing green eyes penetrated all too deeply.  She lifted her head, trying to keep her distance, trying to tell herself she didn't enjoy standing so close to him.  "That's your opinion."
    "Am I wrong?"
    Francie had never been able to lie to anyone.  Noah was no exception.  She shrugged.  "Maybe not."
    "Why are you afraid?"
    Maybe it was the gentleness of his voice that got to her.  She looked down at his hand on her arm and he released his hold.  "It's hard to explain.  When most kids were out exploring, discovering, I was sticking to a regimen and a tight schedule.  Anything new I tried, a new jump, different choreography, had to do with skating, not life in general.  It was a safe world.  A protected world."
    He looked perplexed.  "But you asked to manage the rink with no experience.  That certainly was trying something new."
    "No, that was desperation.  I needed something to fill up my life, to absorb my energy, to help me...forget."  She'd said at lot more than she'd intended to say.  Upset that he could pull confidences from her so easily, she headed for the door.
    "Francie?"
    She stopped and turned.
    "You'll get used to the new programs."
    He wasn't challenging her now, he was offering her an opportunity to learn.  She nodded and went to get her skates.
    ****
    Francie stared at the grey-screened monitor, totally dismayed.  She didn't know where Noah had gone, but she hated to tell him she'd lost everything they'd accomplished.  What had she done?  She thought she'd pushed the right button!
    She sighed, leaned back in her chair, and laid her head against the back.  She'd never had much time for anything but skating.  Not only had she gotten up most mornings at 3:30 A.M. to drive to the rink for practice, but she'd had ballet class after school, too.  Finding time to study had never been easy.  Truthfully, academics had never been her forte.  She'd had to work hard for the grades she'd achieved.  But maybe that was because her attention had always been divided.
     Gina was the scholar.  And Francie had never resented her sister's ease in schoolwork.  That was just the way it was.  But that's why Francie had thrown herself into skating, something that seemed to come naturally, something she could practice and master almost effortlessly.  Until winning had become more important than skating itself, until Brent had become more and more volatile, until she'd wondered if life off the ice existed.
    She sat forward again, peering at the monitor, hoping it would tell her something soon.  Hadn't Noah mentioned a HELP key?  Now which one...?  She pressed one, nothing happened.  She pressed another.  The machine beeped.
    "Damn!"
    Noah entered the office, grinning.  "That wasn't you I heard, was it?"
    A red flush crept up her face.  "The kids have all left.  At least for two more hours.  You're not going to