An ad campaign photo shoot, Garrett explained, for an athleisure brand. Bella would be there too. The company was on the smaller side, popular mostly in Asian markets, but they were always looking for spokesmodels who could move well in front of the camera.
“It doesn’t pay that much,” he said. “The designer’s an old acquaintance of my mother, though, and if he likes you, he might book you again in the future.”
“I appreciate the offer.” I hesitated, chewing on my lip.
“But?” Garrett prompted.
“I mean, I’m not exactly…a model.”
“What are you talking about?” He smiled. “You’re gorgeous.”
He’s just trying to be nice.That’s what I’d said to Heath at the Fourth of July party, and as I stood in that locker room with Garrett Lin gazing into my eyes, I told myself the same thing.
Heath wouldn’t like this. But Heath didn’t have to know—about the modeling job, the missing inheritance money, any of it. I’d take care of everything myself, and we would keep going, on to the next gold medal.
“Thank you,” I told Garrett. “I’ll be there.”
Garrett Lin:I won’t pretend my sister and I didn’t grow up with certain advantages. We also had a lot to live up to.
Kirk Lockwood:The Lins had a stellar season. Shaw and Rocha did well too, but their Skate America gold was definitely the high point.
At the 2002 U.S. National Championships in Los Angeles, Bella and Garrett Lin receive silver medals for the third year in a row. Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha are on the podium as well, in the fourth-place pewter medal spot.
Garrett Lin:We were basically still kids, but because we wereSheila Lin’skids, it wasn’t enough to compete. We were expected to win.
Jane Currer:Some people thought we made a mistake, making the Lins alternates for Salt Lake instead of putting them on the Olympic team.
Garrett Lin:I was fine with being an alternate. It wasn’t our time yet. My sister, on the other hand…
Kirk Lockwood:Right after the Games is the perfect time for a new generation of skaters to step it up and stake their claim for the next Olympic cycle.
Jane Currer:The World Championships take place a few weeks after the Olympics, so many skaters who competed at the Games sit out Worlds. Or they announce plans to retire.
At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, previous top American ice dance team Elizabeth Parry and Brian Alcona give a disappointing, error-riddled performance. At a post-Olympics press conference, they confirm their immediate retirement.
Kirk Lockwood:In an Olympic year, the World Championships are a golden opportunity.
Jane Currer:With Parry and Alcona retired, and Reed and Branwell opting to skip Worlds, some of the lower-ranked teams were given the chance to compete.
Garrett Lin:The 2002 World team was me and Bella, Kat and Heath, and Josie and Ellis.
Ellis Dean:No one thought Josie and I were medal threats. Well, maybe Josie’s dad, but he thought Ronald Reagan was our greatest president, so.
Split-screen images: Katarina and Heath on top of the podium at Skate America, Bella and Garrett collecting their own Grand Prix golds at the 2001 Cup of Russia.
Ellis Dean:No, it was all about Lin and Lin versus Shaw and Rocha. And that competition did turn into quite a showdown. Just not in the way any of us anticipated.
Chapter 21
When I woke up the morning of the 2002 World Championships final, I was sure it would be the best day of my life.
The free dance wasn’t until the evening, so Bella suggested we spend the day pampering ourselves. She’d invited her brother and Heath too. Garrett declined in favor of touring some local Shinto shrines with a group of other skaters. Heath simply declined.
“How much does this spa cost anyway?” he’d asked me as I dressed in the gray morning light. He was sprawled across the thin futon bed on the floor; to wrangle a room to ourselves at the official event hotel, we’d had to settle for the Japanese-style accommodations none of the other Westerners wanted.
“I don’t know. Bella’s paying for it.” I was already late to meet her, and my phone kept buzzing with her texts.
“Of course she is.” He leaned back against the buckwheat pillows and picked up his Walkman. Nine Inch Nails bled through the headphones. “Better get going. Wouldn’t want to keep Her Royal Highness waiting.”
