The Easy Part of Impossible - Sarah Tomp Page 0,93
It was a way to show off, but also a way to share the trip down. Ria flipped into a handstand at the edge of the board. Maggie moved in, grabbing Ria’s muddy ankles. Maggie oscillated gently, then more surely. Ria let her do the work of it.
“One, two . . .” Maggie counted.
On three, they lifted off the board, bodies pressed tight together. Ria’s face mushed against Maggie’s shins as they moved into a layout flip. Bodies straight, aligned, and holding on tight, spinning as one, feeling as if there couldn’t possibly be time or space to rotate . . . until they did.
She remembered now, there was a joy in falling.
Forty-Three
When Ria finally got home, there were hours of talking to her parents. Even though the Talleys had called and done the heaviest explaining, Mom and Dad had questions on top of questions. She’d had a few answers, and then she’d had questions, too.
Her parents sat with her while she told them everything. She almost stopped talking when Mom started to cry, but she was stronger than that. She wasn’t a quitter. And so, she went on, giving examples and details. The police weren’t sure what charges could be filed, but they wanted her to make a formal report.
The International Diving Association assured her they’d complete their own investigation. Benny’s coaching privileges were on hold, frozen until they could gather more information.
Her parents were going to call the NDT and all the other elite teams too. They’d help her figure out her options. They’d take her to meet the new coaches. And to talk to the other divers. It was up to her to figure out what she wanted.
Without Benny.
Finally, nestled between them in bed, she collapsed into a dark, dreamless sleep.
The next morning, they still treated her as if she was fragile. Ready to splinter. Once they finally, thankfully, left for work, she was hit with a wave of exhaustion and went back to her own bed.
When she woke again, she felt disoriented. She still wasn’t used to the new arrangement of her bedroom. She reached for the wall, expecting it to be an arm’s length away, forgetting it was now on the other side of the bed. She heard a noise from outside. She knew it, and yet couldn’t think what it was. It felt misplaced.
She wandered downstairs to investigate.
Through the glass patio door, she spied Cotton on her trampoline. Standing—or no—that stiff-legged motion was what he called jumping.
She slid the door open. “Bend your legs.”
He turned to look at her. “Will you teach me to flip?”
She hesitated, then stepped outside. He was still doing his almost-kinda-sorta jumping as she lifted herself up to join him.
“Why are you here, Cotton?”
“I wanted to see you.” He tilted his head, looking at her intently, as if to prove his point. “I’m sorry I hurt you. When I grabbed you in the cave.”
“Thank you. But I’m sorry I ran away. I left you alone when you were upset.”
“I wasn’t alone. I was with Leo and Flutie. I’ve been worried about you.”
“No, Cotton. I was worried about you.”
“We can worry about each other.”
She liked the balance in that. “What did the police say about the cave?”
“They will investigate. My parents say the best thing to hope for is we never hear anything more.”
“It’s hard to hope for nothing.”
“Yes.” He slowed his pseudo-jumping. “But I don’t want to expect the worst, either.”
Sometimes the worst sneaks up on you anyway. Other times you cling to it, keep it close.
She slid across the springy surface until he was within reach. “Are you ready to flip?”
“Yes.”
She moved to the center of the trampoline and said, “Start with your legs bent.” She showed him, patting the spot beside her.
Cotton scrunched his long legs beneath him. “Like this?” he asked, toppling to the side.
“Except hold it.” She waited for him to get it, then said, “Look at the edge of the trampoline. Good. Now push off with your feet and throw yourself backward.”
“Backward is too scary.”
“It’s easier to go that direction.” Seeing the look on his face, she laughed. “All right. Then throw yourself forward.”
The blank look on his face told her he wasn’t going anywhere, yet.
“Let’s try a somersault first. Squat with me. Now, tuck your head. Try to land on the spot below your neck.” She ran her hand from the place where his hair ended down between his shoulder blades. When she felt him shiver beneath her hand, she pressed more firmly, so