(rivals to lovers, small town, sports) [WATTYS 2024 SHORTLIST] (Season 3 coming soon) After a devastating Olympic loss puts her career in a downward spiral, an aging skier returns to her laid-back mountain hometown to rediscover her love of her spor...
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Holly paused at the window on their way back from the washroom. Under golden afternoon light, Eddie supervised a chaotic scene in the unplowed street. Since Holly had put her in touch with the local sled dog place, she'd been exploring whether Billie Jean liked pulling. This was the first time Holly had seen it for themself. Apparently, it was going well enough that Eddie had felt comfortable hooking Billie's harness to a toboggan to pull kids around today.
The dog sled rides were a huge hit. All the kids had spent the afternoon jostling for a turn and shrieking with laughter as they flew down the street. The children were having almost as much fun as Billie, who quivered with anticipation every time she had to stop moving.
As Holly watched, Eddie eased Billie against her leg and held her still to help the toddler wobble off the sled into the snow. They couldn't hear what she said, but Holly went soft at the love in her expression.
"We all missed her," said a quiet voice, startling them. They hadn't noticed Eddie's mom come up beside them. Lorraine stared out the window, too.
"It feels like we haven't seen her in years. The minute she retired- Poof." Lorraine spread her hands like a bursting cloud. "That woman took her away from us. Even when she lived with us last summer- it never felt like she came back. She won't tell me what happened. She barely tells me anything at all anymore."
Holly squirmed, uneasy, but they didn't know enough about Eddie's relationship with her parents to comment.
Outside, one of Eddie's brothers - Harrison - strode out from his observation post in the driveway to chat with her. He threw his head back with laughter that they could hear through the glass and clapped her on the shoulder.
Lorraine pressed her lips into a flat line. "I think she believes I disapproved because Dani was a woman. And I admit it was a shock when she told us. I said the wrong things. I still don't know that I understand what pansexual means." She worried at the silver stud in her ear. "I want her to be happy. But I couldn't pretend I supported that relationship when I knew that woman was never going to treat her right."
That must have pulled some trigger that Holly didn't even know they had. Memories of their mum, maybe, and her fucking birthday texts to a daughter who didn't exist. Their hands tightened into fists.
"It doesn't matter why you disapproved," they said shortly. "It doesn't even matter if you were right about Danica. You're her mother. Your only job was to support her. To be there for her. Maybe if you had, she would've felt safe enough to tell you what happened."
They braced for defensiveness, or maybe anger in return. But Lorraine just looked resigned. "I knew how to support her in her career. I don't know how to support her with this."
"It's not hard. Just try. If you don't understand, Google is right there."
She studied Holly with such intensity that they had to look away. In the yard, Eddie unhooked Billie from the sled and Harrison herded the mob of children towards the house.
