Stolen Miracles by Mary Manners Page A

carefully. “How do you know?”
    “I used to watch you from the glass—up there.” He motioned to the observation deck. “That afternoon, when I saw you crying, it tore me up inside.”
    She gasped as a flash of heat coursed up her spine, chasing away the chill of the ice. “You were so kind to me that day.”
    “What made you cry, Bec?”
    “My grandmother who raised me after my parents died had just passed away. We were very close. She’s the reason I skated. She encouraged me. She never missed a competition or a performance.”
    “I remember.” Cole pointed toward the stands. “She carried a yellow and green patchwork lap blanket and always sat right there.”
    “That’s right.”
    Cole paused a moment, then took her hand once more. “I have a confession, Becca.”
    “I’m not sure I can stomach any more of those.” Her lips tickled at the corners as her voice teased.
    “I had the most colossal crush on you—for more than a year.”
    “But you never said…”
    “Because you started dating Steve, and then I met Leah.” He took her hand and led her across the ice. “I loved Leah, truly. I still—”
    “Don’t, Cole.”
    “This is coming out all wrong.” He spun once in a wide arc, the skate blades scratching along the ice, before pausing to face her again. “It just seemed like we were meant to be together. I thought…”
    “Let’s just skate.”
    “We will, but I have to get this out first.” He eased toward her. “After Leah died, I sometimes wondered what had happened to you…where you were, what you were doing.”
    “We’re not the same people, Cole. Too much time has passed.”
    “I don’t believe that, Becca, because when I saw you again, I felt…alive.”
    “What are you saying?”
    “My feelings are all jumbled. It’s been so much, so fast. It’s nearly impossible to digest.”
    “I know.” She dipped her head. “Because I feel something, too.”
    “What is it?” He slipped a finger beneath her chin, coaxed her gaze to meet his once again. “Tell me, Becca.”
    “I don’t…” She shook her head. “I don’t know, Cole. There were times that I watched you and I thought…I felt. But you never said anything, never let on that you wanted anything more than the friendship we shared. And then Steve came along.” It was Rebecca’s turn to skate away and spin a quick circle. The motion should have chased all thought from her head, but only served to intensify the memories. Breathless, she jammed her toe pick into the ice and stopped abruptly, facing him. “I’m so confused. Maybe—yes…I do feel something for you, but I’m not sure what it is, exactly.”
    “Will this help?” He pulled her in, kissed her forehead, her cheek, before claiming her lips.
    “Oh, Cole.” The arena was spinning, yet she stood perfectly still. Blood rushed through her ears as her pulse hammered. It was difficult to draw a breath. “I just need some time.”
    “I understand, Bec. Really I do.” He leaned in to stroke damp hair from her cheek. “Let’s spend some time together to know for sure…to find out.”
    “Are you sure, Cole, that this isn’t just because of Kimmy…and what’s happened?”
    “I’m not sure of anything, except that when I’m with you I feel…” He dropped her hand and skated ahead. “Come on, skate with me.”
     
     
     
     

9
     
    Cole slipped from bed and padded to the kitchen. Moonlight filtered through the window, casting shadows across the room. Outside, a starlit sky beckoned. He filled the coffeemaker and grabbed a mug from the cabinet. There would be no sleeping tonight.
    Down the hall, Kimmy snuggled like a burrito, wrapped in her blankets and breathing softly. He’d spent an hour reading to her tonight, stretched out in the bed beside her, until she’d finally drifted off. Her movements—the tilt of her jaw, the way she scratched an itch from her nose, reminded him of Becca. They looked so much alike, it was impossible not to see