STRATEGIES (Chapter 95)

Their phones stared ringing off the hook almost immediately. They were never shy about communicating to the press, especially with the well known figure skating writers--people like Jared Hurstell of the NY Times, Fred Rausch of the Chicago Tribune, Tina Bowman of USA Today, and Jim Pitman of their hometown Boston Globe. All these people, and others, had Warren and Sophia's phone numbers. And, those who didn't were calling Stephanie Langson, the USFSA's director of media relations--and she was calling Warren and Sophia.

"Listen, Steph, this is what we should do," Warren told her. "Set up a press conference for Friday, the day after we arrive in Switzerland. Tell all the writers we'll answer anything they want to ask, but not now. We've got to get ready to go, and that, for us, includes straightening out our classes."

"Gotcha," said Stephanie. "If you commit to a press conference, I can hold them off until then. You guys need a PR person, or an agent, or something!"

"No thanks!" Warren laughed.

"Anyhow, Warren, I have to ask you--how much of the Enquirer story is true?"

"Some of it. We'll explain more at the press conference. We need to decide, between the two of us, what to talk about and what to evade. At least they don't know about Sophia's pregnancy yet, that we get to spring on them ourselves."

The phone went silent for a minute. "What? Sophia's pregnant?" Stephanie finally asked.

"Yeah. They didn't tell you? We told Curtis, and the medical staff." Curtis Ingalls was the president of the USFSA.

"Nobody told me!" Stephanie explained. "Jesus, Warren, if the media want to portray her as a slut, she just gave them more ammunition. Does she have any idea who the father is?"

"Goddammit, Steph, you should know better than that! I am the father, of course!"

"Are you sure?"

"Stephanie, except for the two months we were broken up last year, Sophia has not slept with another man besides me for five years," Warren said, and it was almost true--and Warren didn't worry about the whole Jessie/Crash thing getting out.

"OK. Well, I'll set up the press conference, and you guys decide what you're going to say."

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"We've got the press conference scheduled," Warren said to Sophia as she entered his room.

"Good. I've talked to Jessie. That whole thing never happened, and if the few people that know about it bring it up, Jess and Crash will deny it. Outside of that, we're going to more or less tell the truth."

"Well, sort of. We're going to leave Alexa and Liz out of this, because nobody but the two of us, Alexa, and Liz know."

"Right," Sophia agreed. "Warren, do you think Liz had anything to do with the Enquirer finding out I had a lesbian affair on tour?"

"I'd be surprised."

"So would I, but who else knew?"

"Evan and Shawna."

"But I had the affair with Shawna? Why would she tell?"

"Notice no names were mentioned, Sophia? They only said you had a lesbian affair, not who with."

"True."

"Plus, Liz has no motive, not even potentially."

"And Shawna does?"

"Sure. Jealousy that she couldn't steal you away permanently, or trying to throw us off stride competitively."

"Aaah."

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As it turned out, when Sophia and Warren changed planes in NYC for the flight to Switzerland, Liz ended up sitting right behind them.

"Guys, I'm glad I ran into you," Liz said. "I want you to know I had nothing to do with that article."

"I hope not," Sophia said.

"Really," Liz said. "I like you guys too much for that. Both of you. Whoever did this sucks."

"That it does, but we've been through worse," Warren smiled at her.

"That is true, isn't it, Snugglebear?"

"It is true," Liz agreed. "And you've survived, every time."

"Now we get to see if we can survive a rabid press corps, and trying to skate in the Olympics with morning sickness," Sophia said to her with a wink.

"Morning sickness?" Liz asked. "You're pregnant?"

"Yup. We wanted to wait until we saw you in person to tell you," Sophia said, beaming.

"We've only known for a couple weeks," Warren said.

"Congratulations!" Liz said, then looked at them. "Um….should I be saying that?"

"Yes, you should," Sophia told her. "After much agonizing, we've decided we're happy about it."

"Great!"

Evan Pogdar walked up the aisle just then, and plopped down next to Liz. "Hi guys. Glad this seat is free. Warren, Sophia, I need to talk to you. About that article."

"Sure, Ev, what's on your mind?" Warren said.

"Can I talk in front of Liz, here?"

"Yeah, she's the only other person that knows, as far as we know."

"Good. Look, Shawna's the one that told the Enquirer about Sophia. I know that for a fact. I overheard her telling someone, and then I confronted her with it."

"Why would she do such a thing?" Sophia asked.

"Partially to throw you guys off stride, like that's going to work, and I told her that. But, mainly, even though you told her you were just experimenting and loved Warren, she still thought she could get you permanently. She's jealous."

"Uh huh," said Warren.

"Very nice," said Sophia. "Everything I do, I get bit in the ass. Damn."

"This wasn't your fault, Sophia," Evan told her. "I do not know what is wrong with that girl, but she's been flaky for months now. And this was long after the tour ended, so it wasn't like she was holding a torch for you from the get-go. She just recently discovered it, or something."

"Hmm," Sophia said. "Evan, why are you telling me what she did?"

"Because it drives me nuts."

"You must know that I'm ruthless enough to use this against her if I'm pissed--and I am." Sophia told him.

"I know. She deserves what she gets."

"She's your partner!"

"Yeah, but it's not like she's my lover, or anything. We're friends, but even I can't defend this. She seduced you, you made it plain it was only going to be a temporary thing, and then she turns on you and uses the press to do it. You do with the information what you need to do, Sophia." With that, Evan got out of the seat and walked back to his own.

"Very interesting," said Liz after Evan had gone.

"You don't know how relieved I am to know for sure it wasn't you, Liz," Warren smiled at her. "Of course, I knew anyway."

"Of course you did," Liz grinned.

"Damn, damn, damn. I should know better," Sophia said, half to herself.

"Don't strangle yourself over this, Pookie," Warren told her.

"I won't. It's not worth it. But, let's face it, except for you, I am an abysmal judge of character."

"Not true," Warren told her. "Jess has character. Caitlin has character. Liz, here, has character. Alexa has character. Alexa is a character." Sophia laughed at that, which was the objective.

"I suppose you're right," said Sophia. "But, damn, I misjudged Shawna."

"So did I," Warren conceded. "I'm surprised at this, I really am."

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They landed in Switzerland and were taken to the Olympic village in Sion, the Swiss town that was hosting the games. To their consternation, there were no provisions in the Village for couples--all suites were single-sex, with three bedrooms attached to a common area. Very luxurious, but Warren and Sophia were not pleased to be separated. Luckily, they were in good roommate situations--Warren was in with Jack Garrison and Steve Coleman; Sophia was with Liz and Andrea Wallach.

"At least we each have our own bedroom," Liz told Sophia. "You and Warren have a place to be alone, if you don't scream too much," Liz joked. And then she blushed, "and Rich is coming here too, you know."

"He is?" Sophia said. "Great! You didn't stay in the village last time, did you?"

"No, which is why I wanted to, this time. Staying in a hotel four years ago didn't help, so, this time, I'm determined to enjoy myself. Of course, it's easier if you're a pairs skater."

"How so?" Andrea, who had been listening, asked.

"You go first!" Liz laughed. "Four days into the Olympics, and you're done, and you get to enjoy the rest."

"True," Andrea agreed.

"And, as an added bonus, you don't have to call a press conference to discuss magazine stories about your sex life," Sophia muttered.

"Well, at least you get that out of the way early," Andrea told her.

"True. Tomorrow. Oh, I can't wait…."