Three days after Sophie had been to Jessie’s house, Sophie and Warren were surprised by a knock on their door. It was Jessie, looking much better.

"Hi, can I come in?"

"Of course," Sophie said. They went into the living room, where they chatted—Jessie playing with Betsy. "You look a lot better," Sophie said.

"Well, I ate some. I still feel horrible. I’m depressed and I feel guilty. But I’ve been in my room crying for three days. Enough. I need to get a damn life."

"I think that’s good, though you have reason to be upset," Sophie told her.

"A lot of reasons to be upset," she sighed.

"Maybe you should call Ryan," Sophie said.

"What would be the point? No, I’m just going to have to move on. But I’m not going to lie in bed feeling fucking sorry for myself. There are other fish in the sea, right?"

"That’s the spirit," Sophie laughed.

A few days after that, they had gone over to Sophie’s mother’s house for a visit. They walked in to yelling and screaming. They went into the kitchen to see Ellen with her head in her hands.

"Hey, Mom, what’s wrong?" Sophie asked.

"Oh, hi, kids."

"Gramma!" Betsy chirped.

"Oh, come here sweetie, you always make Gramma feel better," Ellen smiled. Betsy climbed into her lap. "It’s your brother," Ellen said to Sophie. "He’s driving me absolutely up the wall."

"Eric? He’s always been a good kid," Sophie said. Eric was 16, and was finishing up his sophomore year in high school.

"Not anymore," Ellen said. "He’s contrary, obstinate, disrespectful. He argues about everything. He’s sullen, his grades are dropping."

"Sounds like hormones to me," Warren laughed.

"Oh, no doubt," Ellen agreed with a grin. "But he’s not dating. He’s picky, I think. I never see any girls around here. I know Charlie’s talked with him about it, and Charlie told me that Eric said that the girls he likes aren’t interested, and the girls that are interested he doesn’t want anything to do with."

"He’s a good-looking kid," Warren said.

"Yeah, but that sullen act only goes so far," Ellen pointed out.

"With some girls, it goes a long way," Sophie snorted. "Believe me, I know."

"Yes, true, but I don’t think Eric is attracted to girls like that," Ellen said.

"Well, I don’t know if he’s really found one he’s attracted to, then," Warren pointed out. "If he was really attracted to someone, I think the sullen bit would go away."

"Hmmmm, that’s a good point," Ellen said. "Well, I hope he finds one soon because he’s driving me crazy!"

When Warren and Sophie got to practice a few days later, June pulled them aside. "Guys, I need to ask you a favor. And, knowing you two, it’s a huge favor, but I don’t know where else to turn."

"What’s up?" Sophie asked.

"Warren, would you be willing to skate with someone else for a week or two?"

"Why?" Warren asked.

"I have a young dancer here, Amy Lowell. She’s 16. Two years ago, she finished second at Junior Nationals. Right after, her partner up and quit. So, last summer, she came here for a tryout with Walt Genzinger. I paired them up."

"And Walt made her want to cry, repeatedly," Sophie guessed. They had known Walt when they were here the year Sophie had the baby—they hadn’t much liked him.

"Exactly," June sighed. "I’ve kicked Walt out of the rink, by the way. I thought Amy—who’s as sweet as pie, incidentally—would tame him. I was wrong. Anyhow, Amy’s without a partner again. She’s good, doesn’t want to quit, and doesn’t want to go traipsing around the country looking for another partner. Her parents pulled up stakes and moved here when she came to skate with Walt. I need to find her a partner.

"What I’ve been thinking, though, is that it would be easier to find her a partner if I could get her to pass the Senior test. She’s ready, and she’s passed the Moves In The Field part, but I need a senior partner so she can pass the Free Dance part. That’s what I need you for, Warren."

"Ah, you want me to skate her through her test?"

"Yes. I dug out the old Glenn Miller program and taught her most of it, since I was here for that one. It was either that or Riverdance, and I think Riverdance is too tough for her. Even the Glenn Miller, we’ll have to cut down some—but she can handle enough of it to pass the test."

"What do you think, Pookie?" Warren asked Sophie.

"I think we owe June a lot, and should help her."

"Ah, hell with that," June said.

"Well, she’s right, we do," Warren said, smiling. "Besides which, helping a talented young skater would be cool. OK, I’ll do it."

Amy was a cute, petite blonde. And she was plainly over the moon about the developments. "You mean I’m going to get to skate with Warren Kelleher????"

"Yes, but don’t get used to it," Sophie teased her.

"Oh! I mean, I’d never!"

"Relax, Amy, I’m just teasing," Sophie said, grinning.

"Oh," Amy said, visibly relieved. "OK. Well, I hope I can keep up with you!" she said to Warren.

"Don’t worry about that," Sophie told her, "he’s the best partner in the world—he’ll lead you through it."

"Let’s not get carried away," Warren laughed. "I’m the best partner in the world skating with you, that’s an entirely different thing." He looked at Amy. "But you’ll be fine."

"Great, let’s run through it," June said.

After a week, things had gone amazingly well. Amy’s test was in another week, and all concerned thought she’d be well ready for it.

Warren was holding up well—a good thing, considering he and Sophie were still spending time together on the ice every day, working on new programs.

"How’s the knee, Snugglebear?" Sophie asked him that Friday at the end of the first week.

"Holding up fine. I get a minor twinge every so often, but I’m fine. So, how are you doing, watching me skate with another girl?"

"Believe it or not, I’m enjoying it," Sophie said. "Surprise, surprise. You’re fun to watch. And Amy really is a dear. She’s so sweet and appreciative, and she’s in complete hero-worship every time she skates with you, which is cute."

Warren laughed. "At least she’s not standing around mooning. She works hard."

"Yeah, and she’s a lot of fun. Bubbly, happy, all that good stuff. I like her," Sophie said.

"I do too," Warren agreed. "I hope June can find her a partner after she passes Seniors, she’s got talent."

"I was thinking about that. Maybe we should give Evan a call, let him know she’s available."

"There’s two problems with that," Warren said. "First is distance. She’s resistant to leaving the Boston area, after her parents moved heaven and earth to move here in the first place; and Evan won’t want to leave Detroit. The second problem is temperament. You and I both know that Evan is a pussycat underneath—but, on the ice, he’s all business and tends to be a taskmaster. Shawna dealt with it fine, because she’s no shrinking violet. However, if we teamed him up with Amy, I think Amy would be having flashbacks to the way Walt treated her. She’d be wrong, because Evan’s not Walt, not even close—but I think she needs a lighter touch. I’ve been handling her with kid gloves all week, and she responds to that. Evan might put her off."

"Hmm, you’ve got a point. Well, after she takes the Senior test, I’ll at least mention it to him—including all the reservations that you just said. If he knows that from the start—well, it can’t hurt to let him know she’s available."

"True."

That Saturday, Sophie left the house before Warren did, and dropped Betsy off with Ellen. Then, she did Ellen a favor.

"Hey," she said to her brother Eric. "Get your ass dressed. We’re going out for breakfast."

"Uh, why?" Eric grunted.

"Because you’re my little brother and I never see you! Now move it!"

"Okay, okay," Eric chuckled.

They went out to the pancake house. They settled in and ordered. While they were waiting for their food, Sophie talked to him. "Mom says you’ve been a bear lately."

Eric sighed. "Mom is a big huge pain in my ass."

"Well, of course she is, she’s your mother," Sophie giggled. "I’m not hear to take Mom’s side—I’m here to find out what’s wrong. She says you’re sullen and surly and miserable. That’s not like you."

"Well…"

"I guessed hormones," Sophie laughed. Eric looked at her, startled. "I think I was right."

"Yeah, what would you know about it? You’ve been getting it regularly since you were twelve!"

"There are times when it hasn’t been as regular as you think," Sophie laughed. "It’s kind of hard to have regular sex when you’re juggling school and skating and a baby—and your husband is in a knee brace. Trust me, I know all about hormones and frustration."

"OK, but at least you know it’s temporary."

"True."

"And at least you know, well, I mean, you have done it….."

"Ah," Sophie said. "You’re still a virgin."

"Yeah," Eric admitted, with difficulty.

"And not by choice."

"Not hardly." Eric took a breath. "But you know, Soph, it’s not just that. It’s not just sex. Do you know my social life has gone right to shit? You know my three best friends."

"Of course." Eric had been hanging out with the same three guys since grammar school.

"They all have girlfriends. They go out with them all the time. And, yeah, they invite me, but then I feel like a fifth wheel. And they’re all so damn happy. And I don’t have that."

"OK, why?" Sophie asked. "Eric, you’re a good looking kid. You’re smart, you’re a nice guy—what’s the problem?"

Eric sighed. "It’s a lot of things. I’m picky, for one—I’ll admit that. And it seems the girls I’m attracted to aren’t attracted to me—and the ones that are attracted to me I have no interest in. I don’t just want a girlfriend for the sake of having a girlfriend, you know?"

"Well, that’s a good thing, you know," Sophie told him.

"Yeah, yeah."

"What do you like?"

"It’s weird—I guess I like girls that are really outgoing. You know, bubbly. Which I don’t get coming to me, ‘cause I’m not like that."

"I told Mom, that sullen act only goes so far," she teased.

"I know, I know," he sighed. "I get tongue-tied around girls, you know."

"Yeah. That can be tough."

"Well, I guess I just have to keep looking."

"Good, but try to cut Mom a little slack, would you?"

"Yeah, yeah," Eric laughed. "I suppose."

After they ate, they got in the car. They didn’t head to Ellen’s house. "Where we going?" Eric asked.

"To the rink. Got to check up on Warren."

"What’s he doing there without you?"

Sophie explained the situation. "So, he’s working with Amy right now."

"That’s cool," Eric said. "I hope your coach is able to find her a partner."

That’s when a light went off in Sophia’s head. Amy was cute, outgoing, bubbly—and the same age as Eric. In fact, she’d be attending Oceanview High as a junior, in Eric’s class, the next year—she’d been homeschooled this year but didn’t want to do that anymore, even if her skating career picked up. Maybe Amy’d be interested in a partner for something other than skating. Sophie grinned at that.

"What’s the grin for, Sis?" Eric asked.

"Oh, nothing. Here we are."

They walked in, and Sophie pulled her skates on in the lobby. Then they walked into the rink.

Eric looked out on the ice and saw his brother-in-law skating with a cute blonde girl, who was laughing at something-or-other.

"That’s Amy?" Eric asked.

"Yup," Sophie told him.

"Wow. She’s beautiful."

"That she is."

"How old is she?"

"Sixteen. She’s going to be in your class at Oceanview this year."

"What’s she like?"

"Sweet, outgoing, bubbly, happy. She’s a ball of energy. She’s great."

Eric slowly turned to look at his sister with a smirk on his face. "Are you setting me up?"

"Actually, I didn’t think of it until we were driving over here. When you asked me what Warren was up to, and I told you about Amy, a little light went on in my head."

"Oh, jeez," Eric moaned.

"Eric. You’re a good kid. Remember, I’m your sister and I love you, and I’m here, OK?"

"Yeah, whatever you say." He looked back out on the ice. "Damn, she really is cute, isn’t she?"

Little did Eric know, that Amy had spotted him. She had waved to Sophie, then turned to Warren. "Who’s that hunk over with Sophia?"

"Oh, that’s her brother Eric," Warren laughed. "Good kid. He’s your age, 16."

"I don’t suppose he skates," she laughed.

"Nope, sorry."

"Ah, well. Then again, skating’s not my whole life. And, boy, is he gorgeous!"

"Amy’s got an itch," Warren laughed.

"And how. You know how hard it is to get dates when you’re a skater? We’re not considered ‘normal’ teenagers."

"Well, Eric’s grown up with it, so he’d be more understanding than your average guy."

"What’s he like?"

"Smart. Nice. He’s a bit quiet at times."

"Damn," Amy said. "Quiet guys tend to have a problem with me."

"I don’t think Eric would—look who his big sister is. And his younger sister, Tara, makes you look absolutely sedate." Amy laughed at that. "Come on, we’re done anyway."

They skated over. Sophie had taken the ice, but was standing next to the boards where Eric was. "Hey, sexy," she purred at Warren. "How’d it go?"

"It’s going really well. She’s going to pass, no problem, we think."

"I hope so," Amy said, stealing glances at Eric.

Sophie picked up on it immediately, and stifled a grin. "Hey, Amy, I want you to meet my brother Eric. Eric, this is Amy."

"Nice to meet you," Eric said. "You skate really well."

"Thanks," she said. "Nice to meet you, too."

"Hey, Snugglebear, I thought up something—a transition in our free skate. I need to show you."

"Cool," Warren said.

"Eric, can you hang for fifteen or twenty?" Sophie asked him, shooting him a meaningful look and gesturing with her eyes to Amy.

"Sure," Eric said. "Uh, Amy, you want to go to the snack bar and get something to drink?"

"Love to! I’m parched! Thanks, Warren, see you tomorrow." She skated over to the gate and stepped off the ice. "Just let me get my skates off, OK?"

"Sure."

They disappeared into the snack bar, and Warren grinned at Sophie. "So, what was that about?"

"Eric needs a girlfriend. He’s lonely and horny. He told me what type of girls he’s attracted to. I realized driving over here that he was describing Amy, to a T. So, what the heck—let them talk and see what happens. And I do want to show you a move I thought of."

"Fine. By the way, you should know that when you guys showed up, Amy asked me who the hunk standing next to you was."

"Good!"

Eric and Amy had settled at a table in the snack bar with drinks. "So, how long have you been skating?" Eric managed to ask her.

"Since I was 8. I’ve been dancing since 10, that’s when I hooked up with Joel, my first partner. We skated together for four years. When I was 14, two years ago, we finished second at Junior Nationals, and 10^th at Junior Worlds. I thought we were on our way." She sighed. "Then Joel up and quit. I came here because there was a guy looking for a partner, but he turned out to be a complete jerk."

"Sophie told me you’re going to be in school with me next year."

"Yeah. I’ve been homeschooled for three years, and I’m tired of it. With my skating career going down the drain, I have no life. Even if skating picks back up, I want to go to school. I have no friends, no guys, no nothing."

"Well, you have friends in skating, don’t you?"

"That’s hard. A lot of skaters are cutthroat, especially the girls." She grinned. "Your sister’s unusual. Most female ice dancers are more like Courtney Rogers." Eric laughed—he’d heard all about Courtney from Sophie. "As for guys, there’s three types of guys in skating—gay, taken, or complete gigolos. I’m sure there’s a few exceptions, but most of them are one of the three. Joel, my first partner, was so gay he didn’t even like touching me. And we were friends! I swear, if they made guy-guy ice dancing an event, he’d come out of retirement." Eric cracked up at that. "Anyhow, that’s why I need a non-skating social life. And I want to go back to school. If I’ve learned anything the past two years, it’s that I can’t count on skating."

Boy, could this girl talk! Eric thought to himself. He loved it. And that was making it easier for him not to get all tongue-tied. "I think that’s smart," he told her. "I mean, look at Warren and Sophie. With all the success they’ve had, they never quit school—and now they have college degrees."

"I know," she said, "and, believe me, that made me think. They’ve done it the right way. I put too many of my eggs in the skating basket. Even if I find the world’s greatest partner and we go to the Olympics, I’m never doing that again. I’m smart, I can go to college—why not?" She shook her head. "They amaze me. I’ve talked a lot to Warren while we’ve been working. College and skating and a baby? It’s amazing."

"Yeah, it is—but a lot of it is that they have each other. I saw it, when they were in high school, and especially two years ago when they were home after Betsy was born. They really do pick each other up through all the rough spots. It’s really cool."

Amy grinned at him. "You’re a romantic," she teased. He couldn’t help grinning back—but also couldn’t help blushing! "So, what do you do for fun?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Ah, not much. I like to read. I like to watch sports. I play soccer. I was on the JV team this year, though I’m not very good," he laughed. "I just do it for fun."

"Hey, I started skating for fun. That’s why I dumped the asshole I was partnered with this year—because it wasn’t fun. I’ll never take a partner just to have a partner again, believe me."

They chatted easily for a while, until Sophie emerged. "Hey, little brother. Ready to go?"

"Sure."

"Warren’ll be out in a bit to drive you home, Amy."

"Good enough. Thanks for the Coke, Eric—it was fun."

"Yeah, it was. I’ll see you later, OK?"

"Good."

Driving home, Sophie easily brought it up. "So, what do you think of Amy?"

"She’s nice," Eric said. "Seems like she’s a lot of fun. Good to talk to, real easy."

"Good." Sophie didn’t say anything else, but had a little smile on her face that she hid from Eric.

The next day, Sophie dropped Betsy off with Ellen again. She walked in, and saw Eric there, fully dressed. "Hey, Soph, are you going to the rink?"

"Yeah. Warren and I need to work on some things after he’s done with Amy."

"Do you mind if I tag along?"

"Not at all," she said, smiling to herself.

They got there, and Warren shouted a hello from the ice. "Hey, Sophie. Hi, Eric!" Amy yelled, plainly delighted that Eric had come along again.

"Hi, Amy," Eric said, blushing a bit.

Sophie and Eric watched the two work out for a while, and then they finished up. Sophie put on her skates and skated out to Warren. Amy came off the ice and plopped down next to Eric. "Whew! That brother-in-law of yours wears me out. He’s so good, I have to strain all my muscles just to keep up."

"How’s it going?" Eric asked.

"Great. I should be all ready."

"When’s the test?"

"Saturday. Six more days. It’s at noon, in Boston. I think I’ll be fine."

"Good. Uh, Sophie said they might be a bit. Do you want me to see if I can borrow Sophie’s car and drive you home?"

"Actually, would you like to just hang? I’m in no hurry to get home."

Eric liked that idea much better. "Sure. You want to get something to drink?"

"In a bit. I like watching them, actually. Hey, do you skate?"

"Very little," Eric grimaced.

"Let’s skate! We can stay out of their way—you can go rent some skates!"

"Ah, Amy, I don’t know—I’m really not very good."

"Ah, come on—I promise it’ll be fun."

Eric quickly realized he couldn’t resist this girl to save his life. "Well, OK." He went and rented some skates, and found Amy waiting for him on the ice. He gingerly stepped on. And almost fell over.

"You’re too stiff," she told him. "You need to be looser, especially in the knees."

"Easy for you to say," he muttered. She giggled. "Here goes nothin’," he said, and took a wobbly stroke. He managed to stay up—barely—until he careened to a stop by slamming into the opposite boards.

"You don’t know how to stop, do you? It’s easy. Just point your toes in, a little bit," Amy told him. He pushed off the boards, took a couple of strokes, and tried to stop. However, as with a lot of beginners, he pointed his toes way too much—and went right over. It took one hell of an effort for Amy to stifle her giggle.

Warren and Sophie were watching this with interest from the other end of the rink. "Somebody ought to tell Amy that embarrassing him might not be the way to go," Warren whispered to Sophie.

"Are you kidding me?" Sophie whispered back. "Look at him. He’s basking in the attention."

Amy, still stifling her giggles, was helping Eric up. "Here," she said, holding his hand. "Now. Keep your knees loose, and push." They took a couple of strokes, holding hands. "Now, just gently push your toes toward one another." Eric tried—but went down again. This time, since Amy was holding his hand, he took her with him.

And this time, Amy couldn’t hold in the giggles. She sat on the ice, looking at him, giggling up a storm. "I’m sorry," she hiccuped—and then started giggling again.

Eric tried to look stern, but failed miserably. "Fine. You keep laughing. I’ll get you back."

"How you gonna do that?"

"I’ll get you out on the field and kick soccer balls at your head."

"Oops," Amy said. "I guess I’d better take it easy on you, then," but she couldn’t stop giggling. She got herself up, then helped him. "Here." She still couldn’t stop giggling. "Well, I guess I’m going to have to keep looking for a partner, because you’re not it."

"As if there were any doubt," Eric said wryly. "Well, as long as you’re talking about skating partner."

"What other kind of partner would I be talking about?" Amy laughed.

Eric took a breath, and just said it. "Well, a partner for a date. Saturday night, after your test? Dinner and a movie?"

Just like that, Amy stopped giggling—and her eyes got wide. "Really? Wow! I mean—yes! Great!"

Eric stifled the sigh of relief. "Good!"

Amy passed her test with flying colors. Sophie was there to watch them—as was Eric. Eric also got to meet her parents—who were thrilled she had a date.

They went out, and Eric told Sophie the next day that "It was awesome."

"Are you taking her out again?"

"Yup. Next weekend. She’s really great. And she seems to like me!"

"You think this could be something?" Sophie asked.

"Yeah. We’ll see, but yeah."

"Eric, if she finds a partner and starts competing again, that could get rough. She’ll have less time."

"I know, but that’s fine. I hope she does find a partner. She’s too good not to. And, if we keep dating, we’ll work it out. You and Warren did."

"That’s the spirit."

Sophie and Warren went to the rink the next day, to work on their programs. Warren laughed when Sophie told him about Eric and Amy. "That’s just perfect. My sister’s dating a skater, and now your brother. What would our siblings do for dates if we weren’t skaters?"

They got to the rink and started working. After about a half hour, they heard the door to the rink slam open. "Warren! Sophie! Thank goodness you’re here!"

They turned—and were amazed to see Ryan Killen standing there. "Ryan?" Sophie asked. "What on earth are you doing here?"

"I just got off a plane. Rented a car, headed here, asked for directions to the rink. I was hoping you’d be here." He took a deep breath. "I need to see Jessie. Please."