Her last conversation with Brent the night before she left New York played loud and clear in her mind. Brent had challenged her. "What else do you know, Francie? Skating has been your life. Get back on the ice with me for intensive training and I have no doubt we'll be going to the next Olympics." She'd picked up on his word of choice. "And what if you do have doubts again? What if we flub a competition? What if practices go sour? You bailed out last time, Brent. How do I know you won't do it again?" He'd looked uncomfortable but replied, "You'll have to take my word for it. Just as you'll have to trust me to lift you and throw you and catch you." Last night, Francie had awakened in the middle of a dream where she was standing before an applauding crowd. If she trained with Brent again, if they went to the next Olympics, if they won a medal and even if they didn't, was the next step to turn professional? Did she want a life of traveling and touring? Or was it time to put down roots?
