Chapter 91: Chapter 91

The show resumed with Justin in his chair and both couches vacant.

“I would like to call all the athletes back to the stage, please. Please help me welcome them.” The audience clapped and everyone came back out. Justin introduced them one by one starting with the men and going on to the women. He congratulated all of them and discussed how they placed and their programs. Justin then gave the audience a question-and-answer period. They would put their hands up and Justin walked around with a microphone.

The show was approximately half an hour in when the athletes were thanked and left the stage. Yet another commercial aired between takes. Upon return, Justin introduced Nelly, Miles, Coach Tammy, and Scott. “Nelly, it looked for a short time like you had eyes for Scott. Would you say that’s correct?”

Nelly laughed. “Well, look at him! Any red-blooded female would have eyes for that man!” The audience clapped and whistled in response.

“When did you stop actively pursuing him?”

“Oh, Justin, must we go there? It was evident that Scott only had eyes for Isabella, but I guess I would say I stopped after the attack.”

“Did you get along with Isabella?”

“Sure we did. I offered for her to stay in my room and helped her get away from the press when she needed to.”

“Are you seeing anyone now?”

“As a matter-of-fact, I’ve just been asked out on a date!”

“May we ask who the lucky guy is?”

“Sure, it’s Miles!” Everyone clapped. He was a very private man, so he blushed as a result.

Justin laughed. “No pressure, Miles!”

“I must comment,” Justin added, “I wouldn’t be surprised if you win an Emmy for your choreography!”

Nelly grinned. “Thank you.”

Justin turned to Miles. “I guess I’ll congratulate you first on the date you’ve acquired!”

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Thanks, I guess.”

“Coach Tammy, would you say you are close to Scott and Isabella?” “Sure, I taught them when they were kids.”

“Is it true you were the first to find Isabella after the infamous attack?"

“Yes.”

“What did you do? How does one react to such violence?”

“I called 911 and helped the EMTs take her to the hospital.”

“How did she look?”

“Terrible, her face was swollen and bleeding. She couldn’t even open her one eye. It took three of us to get her into the ambulance. Understandably, she didn’t want to go to the hospital. She cowered in the corner of her room, afraid to move.”

“How did you get her to leave?”

“Sedation.”

“Have there been any more attacks?”

“Not of which I am aware.”

The cameras cut to another commercial. Justin spoke with Miles and Coach Tammy but their voices weren’t picked up. The next segue dealt with coaching strategies. Justin looked at Miles and then back at Matt. “You guys were rough out there with the skaters!”

Tammy took the lead. “It gets results.”

“Did you have to reduce them to tears?”

Miles defended Tammy. “The kids are under significant amounts of pressure so they break down quite easily, but the skaters are used to it from the coaches.”

“Was there anyone particular skater you were excited about more than the

rest?”

Miles responded again, “No, they were all talented in their ways. They all worked very hard, and we’re proud of them.”

Tammy added, “Usually if we aren’t yelling at the kids then the parents are. I think it's mostly that the arena is so large and you are trying to be heard over the music that’s playing in the background.”

Sandra jumped in. “Figure skating is an intense sport that requires a lot of hard work, discipline, and money. Parents in the skating world can’t be compared to the likes of parents in glamour competitions. That is a completely different ballgame.”

Justin argued, “If that were the case, why didn’t you allow the parents to stay at the Village with their kids?”

Sandra responded, “I had no say in the matter, but I would surmise the powers-that-be wanted significant control over the kids to ensure their success. They didn’t want any of our coaching undermined by the parents of the athletes, it intrudes on the coach-athlete relationship.”

Justin congratulated them on their fantastic tutelage that could be seen in the results of the competitors.

The show cut to another commercial, leaving an hour of taping. It was evident the next hour would be focused on the assault by the way the interviews were going. The box of Kleenex on the coffee table might as well have had my name on it because nobody else was going to need it. Justin introduced me to the next segment. He shook my hand and pointed to where he wanted me to sit, “Thanks, Isabella, for allowing me to interview you and letting me discuss what happened to you on such a public forum.”

I nodded hesitantly.

“What made you decide to go public after the attack?”

“I didn’t really. Scott forced it. He thought it would help me and other victims who’ve been brutalized.”

“Did it?”

“It was hard. I would have to say, to a degree, yes.”

“Were you physically assaulted or sexually too?”

“Both.”

“Who attacked you?”

“Michael Anderson,” people acted shocked although the news had already been broadcasted by the media.

“Let’s take a look at some clips I've collected.” The camera focused on me as I looked at images of Michael punching me in a darkened room, them in the boardroom after the attack when my face was swollen and bruised, and twice in the courtroom, once when I was talking to Michael and again when the jury was watching the videotaped evidence.

I started while it replayed, I grabbed a tissue to avoid having my mascara run down my face as I tried to pull myself together.

“It’s still hard?”

“Of course. It’s getting easier.”

“When you bumped into Mr. Anderson in court, what did he say to you?”

“He said he was sorry. He said he cared about me so much that he couldn’t control his anger when he found out I was back with Scott.”

“Have you forgiven him?”

“I’m trying.”

“Did it bother you he got off so easily?”

“Yes.”

“What was the reasoning for that?”

“The courts felt it was an isolated incident and that he would be of more use helping the community and contributing to charities rather than taxpayers supporting him in jail.”

“How have you been handling difficult situations since the attack?”

“Not well,” I looked down. “I’m still in counseling.”

“Has it helped?”

“To a certain degree, it’s hard to overcome.”

“Are you currently in a relationship?”

“I don’t know how to answer that. I’ve been trying to sort through my feelings, but I’ve been messed up.”

“Is it true both men are actively pursuing you?”

“Yes.”

“I see that you’re pregnant!”

“Yes,” I answered. The audience collectively gasped and then clapped. They cut to another commercial and when they returned, Justin introduced Scott and gestured for him to sit next to me. “Thanks for coming, Scott.”

“It’s great to be here.”

“Let's look at some clips with you and Isabella.”

The camera focused on Scott as he watched tapes of us. All the clips were of us happy and together. I couldn’t stop laughing.

Justin picked up on it, “What’s so funny, Isabella?” “It’s not too obvious who you guys like me with!”

“Isabella, you can’t blame me for trying to influence your future decisions. I’ve worked with the two of you, I know what you have” Justin looked over at Scott. “Honestly, are you still in love with her?”

“Most definitely.”

“Is that why you followed her to Jamaica?”

“No, my original reason was that I found out Michael followed her. I wanted to protect her.”

“Is it true you punched Michael on more than one occasion?”

“Wouldn’t you?” he countered.

“Is the baby yours?”

“In my heart, I want it to be but I don’t know, we haven’t gotten the test results back.”

Justin stood up and said, “Michael, come on out!” The audience booed at the sight of him. Justin gestured for him to take a seat on the empty couch after shaking his hand.

“Thanks for being here.” Michael nodded.

“Go ahead, Michael, the floor is yours.”

“I was in what I thought was an exclusive relationship with Isabella, and when I found out she still had feelings for Scott, her ex-husband, it unleashed a jealousy I didn’t even know I was capable of.”

“Do you still feel this jealousy?”

“Yes. I hate him.”

“The feeling’s mutual, asshole!” Scott hissed. The audience gasped.

“Are you still in love with Isabella?”

Michael looked into my eyes. “Yes, I am. I want to marry her and be a father to her baby.”

“Does Scott know how you feel?”

“No, he doesn’t.”

“How did Isabella respond to that?” “She didn’t.”

Justin turned to me, “Do you still have feelings for Michael?”

“Yes, I do, but they aren’t good ones. I understand he was angry and couldn’t control his rage. He’s repeatedly told me how sorry he is for doing what he did and said he would spend the rest of his life making it up to me if I let him, but I’m terrified of his capabilities, since the attack.”

“Scott?”

“Scott is an amazing man. He held my hand and led me out of some of the darkest moments in my life. As you know, we have a history. I love him, he’s supportive, handsome, and truly amazing.”

“Did you and Michael plan to go to Jamaica together?” “No, he followed me there, attempting to win me back.” “Was he successful?”

“Somewhat, he did win a small level of trust back. I know deep down, that he won’t attack me again. By the end of the trip, I knew I could never go back.”

“So can you tell us what happened in Jamaica?” “Scott found me.”

“How so?”

“My mother told him where I was and he came.”

“What happened then?”

“The men argued and fought, then Scott and I renewed our love.”

Justin announced another cut to a commercial. We remained seated until the taping restarted. Justin stood to introduce a courier on the stage. He had my paternity test results in a sealed envelope. He gave them to Justin, who, in turn, handed them to me. “Here are the results of your paternity test taken in Lagos.”

“In all honesty, who do you want to be the father?” Justin asked.

“Scott,” Isabella answered.

“Is everyone curious to find out who the father is?”

The audience went crazy, screaming “yeah” and clapping. I handed Scott the envelope and stared into his eyes. I couldn’t be the one to open it. He looked back at me and asked, “Are you sure you want me to open it here right now?”

“Here and now.”

Everyone faded into the background; the cameras were gone, so he kissed me. We were the only two on the planet. He spoke to me as though I was the only one listening, “You know I don’t care who the father is. I love you no matter what. I will provide for you and be a loving father, because that baby, no matter who it belongs to, is a part of you. When Michael broke your spirit, I loved your pieces until you became whole again. I truly felt everything come together when I saw the life in your eyes at the Olympics.”

“You captivated my heart when I first met you, and I would go through everything, including the pain I felt when you were attacked or the jealousy I felt hearing you were back with him if it meant spending every minute of the rest of my life with you.”

Scott got down on one knee and pulled a box from his back pocket. He opened it and he asked without hesitation, “Isabella, will you be my wife... again?”

“Yes,” I cried. “Yes!” I fell to my knees and was met with the warmest embrace of my life. I could feel my dad’s approval and spirit through Scott’s warm hug. I was crying openly now. I said, “I’m still in love with you, sweetheart.

Nobody can ever take that from us.”

We composed ourselves, taking our places on the couch again, finally remembering where we were. I handed the envelope back to Justin, “You read it.” Justin stared at me as he ran his finger along the edge of the envelope, opening it. The crowd was silent with anticipation, “The paternity test results taken for Isabella Moyes on February 14th, 2013 were inconclusive, Michael Anderson IS NOT THE FATHER.”

The audience went crazy whooping with excitement. We couldn’t hear ourselves think. Scott’s lips were smothering me. The studio went dark, and then the credits started rolling. A preview of next year's season came on immediately after.

The end.