Page 86 of Balancing Act
Jamie grinned, that warm rush flooding her senses in the way it always did around Beth. “Couldn’t miss this for Lily.” Her eyes glanced over to Sarah, who was still focused on her phone. “Or you.”
Beth’s mouth opened, but no words came. She looked at Jamie, then at her hand still resting on Jamie’s arm, and quickly pulled it back, cheeks coloring slightly. “You flew all the way out here?” she asked, disbelief attached to her question.
Jamie nodded, a little embarrassed but unable to stop smiling. “I booked the ticket right after I talked to you two the other night. It felt like the right thing to do.”
Before Beth could respond, another voice cut in.
“Jamie?” Sarah had looked up in surprise, and a quiet interest she could feel in the way Sarah’s eyes went from her to Beth and back. “What are you doing here?” Her tone wasn’t accusatory, simply curious.
Jamie offered a casual smile and shrugged lightly. “I came to see Lily’s big day. Wouldn’t miss it.”
Sarah looked at Beth, a silent question passing between them. “She surprised me, too. I had no idea she was coming,” Beth answered.
“Surprises all around.” Sarah’s tone—now amused, maybe even approving—made Jamie feel like she understood more than she was saying. “Here, I’ll scoot down.” Sarah stood and shifted over one seat, making room for Jamie.
Sarah gave Beth a brief, knowing smirk—one that Jamie didn’t miss. “Lily will be thrilled to see you. This will mean so much to her.”
Jamie sat beside Beth and felt Sarah’s eyes still on her, sharp and assessing. She tried to appear calm, keeping her attention on the athletes warming up, but Sarah’s gaze was like a subtle pressure searching for some confirmation of what she might already suspect. Jamie—no stranger to scrutiny—had spent most of her career under the critical eye of coaches and judges, but this felt different. This was personal.
Jamie’s hand inched closer to Beth’s on the armrest as the competitors began to warm up. She wanted to reach out, give her hand a reassuring squeeze and let Beth know she was there, but she forced herself to hold back, painfully aware of Sarah’s presence on Beth’s other side. For the time being, she would sit with the exquisite torture of feeling the warmth of Beth’s shoulder against hers. She could do this. She could totally do this.
They watched Lily’s warm-ups. From where Jamie sat, Lily looked good—like she was relaxed and centered. Amanda was whispering something to Lily about her dismount, and Jamie fought the urge to text Amanda what she would say if she were the one down on the floor with Lily today.
When Lily finally walked out onto the floor for her first routine, she felt Beth go completely still beside her, fingers gripping the edge of her seat. Jamie glanced at Beth, taking in the intensity of her expression—equal parts pride and fear. She reached out instinctively, her hand hovering for a moment before she stopped herself.
Lily mounted the beam, her face calm. As she began her routine, Jamie couldn’t help but notice how every time Lily executed a particularly challenging move, Beth’s eyes squeezed shut, her body tensing beside Jamie.
Unable to resist, Jamie leaned in, her voice low and soothing. “She’s got this. I wouldn’t have set her up with anything she couldn’t handle. I promise.”
Beth opened her eyes, meeting Jamie’s, and managed a faint, grateful smile. “I know,” she murmured. “It’s just—it’s hard to watch sometimes.”
Sarah let laughed fondly from the other side of Beth. “She’s always been like this,” she said, nudging Beth’s arm. “Lily could be doing a simple cartwheel and Beth would still be holding her breath. I swear, she’s never had the stomach for sports.”
“Hey, that’s our baby girl out there!” Beth protested. “And she’s throwing herself through the air, flipping and spinning all sorts of ways.” She waved her hands around.
Jamie felt a pang in her chest as she watched the way Beth and Sarah shared a brief, understanding look that came only from years of deeply knowing each other. Jamie admired it—envied it, even. She couldn’t help but wonder where she would fit into that unspoken dance choregraphed on shared history, but sitting here beside them, she felt oddly included, as if she were being allowed a glimpse into the life they’d built around Lily.
She glanced around the arena at the other parents leaning forward in their seats, holding their breaths, some clutching each other’s hands in shared anxiety. It hit her in that moment how much was at stake for everyone here—not only for the athletes, but for the families who had supported them. This was a new perspective for Jamie; she saw the competition not through an athlete’s eyes but through a family member’s, making everything feel different. Heavier. More real.
When Lily stuck her landing, the crowd erupted into applause. Jamie’s hands shot up, clapping enthusiastically alongside Beth and Sarah, both of whom were beaming. Beth’s eyes shone, pride radiating from her, and Jamie felt a lump in her throat as she watched her.
She wanted to reach out, wrap her arms around Beth and whisper how incredible her daughter was, but she held back, acutely aware of Sarah’s presence and the complexity of this moment. Instead, she turned back to the arena, clapping as hard as possible, hoping Beth could somehow feel her support without words.
Once Lily finished the rest of her events, scoring high across the board, the three of them made their way through the crowd toward the athletes’ area. They finally spotted Lily, who was practically bouncing with excitement, her face flushed and glowing. Her eyes went wide with surprise as soon as they landed on Jamie.
“Oh my God! You’re here! You came!” Lily rushed at her, throwing her arms around Jamie in a tight hug. Jamie laughed, wrapping her arms around Lily and squeezing her back, holding her close.
“Of course I did. I wasn’t going to miss this! You crushed it out there. You should be so proud of yourself.”
Lily’s smile was full of that post-routine glow. She turned to Beth, beaming. “Mama, did you know she was coming?”
Beth shook her head, still looking a little stunned. “Nope. Total surprise to us, too.”
Just then, Amanda joined them, her gaze flicking between Jamie and Lily. She gave Jamie a smug grin before turning to Lily. “Alright, the celebration’s over. I want you to rest for the evening, got it? Big day tomorrow.”
Lily rolled her eyes but grinned. “Yes, coach.”
“Don’t worry, Amanda,” Sarah jumped in. “Lily and I have the perfect evening plans. Room service, movies, and resting.”