Steve is tight-lipped

In the next few days, Tara kept querying about the preparations. She knew that it's not about her Sectionals -- those were already planned. It's also not about her meeting some big shots. "It's not the time." Steve insisted. "They have long memories, but not long impressions. We must strike at the precise moment, using precise approaches. They are different, Tara. Each can be bought with different things, different tactics. We cannot buy everyone of them but luckily we don't need to." He carressed her neck while speaking. "Right now, what is important to you is your practice. Isn't you exam just four weeks after Sectionals?"

So ten days before Sectionals were passed between her skating lessons, her ballets, her books (with some help from David and George), and her part-time at Fastfood chain (which serves only food she cannot eat). "I have a tournament coming." She replied to her supervisor when she offered a free meal after the day. "One more pound and I might not fit in my dress."

Though she had been there many times, Tara was still excited. This was the first time she entered as top contenders. This was the first time she entered Regionals after her father's death. This is also the first time she had fully prepared for the tournament. Her family's finances, though enough to support her skating, could not support private lessons even before her father's death.

"Don't worry, Catherine. Everything will be just fine," Steve smiled to Tara's mother. "This is just a formality for her to enter Nationals." Steve encouraged her with firm hand on her shoulder. "Your daughter is a great athletes."

Tara felt her heart was about to explode when her name was called. Her start was so tense that it brought worries to Steve. But as seconds passed, she grew confident and glided like skates were part of her legs. Though a few skaters managed to beat her in the short program, they were no match to her in free skating.

"You did give me a heart arrest when you started." Steve told her as he embraced and kissed her, ignoring eyes around the stadium. "Don't do something like the first minute in your SP again."

"Now, we have almost two months before Nationals," Steve spoke as he hugged her in changing room. "We can now focus on our preparations."

"What are those preparations?"

"About how to follow the plan. But it's not now. Today, you enjoy your time with your mother. We will skip skating this weekend so you can prepare for your exam, but you still have to attend ballet, OK?"