Healing Us: Sports Romance, A Comeback Uncovers Love (9 page)

Monte was at the diner first and went for a walk with Lizzie
who was enamored with her other uncle. With Lizzie’s Mother in prison her young
life could have been spent in foster care but she turned out lucky with two
outstanding uncles. Beth and Ben sat at a booth waiting for Elijah who was
right on time.

“Hey guys. It’s good to see friendly faces after the morning
I spent with Heather. She wanted me to set up a system at the Olympics to have
her blood cleansed daily. She was asking me to break laws and I hinted that I
no longer wanted to be involved. Heather went ballistic and I want to distance
myself from her in the worst way,” Elijah said. His hands were shaking because
Heather seemed to be coming unhinged.

“Are you sure that Heather drugged me and she didn’t tamper
with my samples.”

“I’m sure because she tried to get access to the lab but it
was impossible. The men and women who work there are trained to look out for
people like Heather. Did you take any of the “vitamins” that she eats like
candy?”

“No, never.”

Ben was letting them talk as he was thinking of how Heather
drugged Beth.

“She only had to give you trace amounts so you probably
didn’t feel the effects. I guess we need to have an independent lab test
everything that you may have ingested in the past month.”

“That won’t work because if I consumed it then it’s gone.”

Ben burst forth with the answer. “The tea.” Ben stood up.
“The goddamn chamomile tea. You brought pounds of it with you from Oregon so
there’s still some left. We can have that tested; with the recording and
Elijah’s testimony we can have you cleared.”

“Will I be in trouble?” A still worried Elijah asked.

“That’s where Monte comes in. We will deliver them Heather
and whoever else is caught up in this scheme in exchange for your immunity.”

Beth jumped in Ben’s arms and cried tears of joy. Elijah
looked on and because he knew how hard Beth worked to come back, he was happy
for them. Lizzie walked in with Monte and insisted on knowing why Beth was
crying.

“Beth’s crying because we’re all going to the Olympic games
to see Beth run as fast as she can. If those stars work their magic, then we’ll
end up with gold.”

****

Monte and Seth worked tirelessly to get the sanctions
against Beth lifted. With two weeks before the games, Beth was given the green
light to run the 5000 and because Heather was off the team, her spots were
open. Beth ran in the 4x4 relay and Dorsey was an addition to the 400.

Lizzie, Monte and Ben were in the stands to cheer Beth to
the gold in the 5000 and Dorsey the silver in the 400. The 4x4 team took home
the bronze and Seth’s Olympics were looked upon as a huge success. Celebrations
on the final night of the games were fierce but Beth chose to savor her win
over gooey pizza and ice cream sundaes with the ones she loved.

“I’d like to propose a toast to the most deserving athlete
and amazing woman on the track today. Not many could come back as you did Beth.
Because of you, Lizzie and the rest of my friends and family, I’m the luckiest
man on earth.” Ben raised his glass and kissed Beth.

“To you Ben Knight. You were willing to give me a second
chance and that’s the chance I’m most grateful for. I wouldn’t be here if it
weren’t for you. This medal around my neck is for both of us.”

“What about me?” Lizzie cried out.

“For you too of course Lizzie!”

****

When things calmed down and Beth completed the interview
circuit, she settled in Colorado with Ben and Lizzie. She considered training for
the next Olympic games but decided to try domestic life. She happily accepted a
high school coaching job in Boulder Colorado where Ben opened his own physical
therapy practice. Together they lived golden lives.

THE END

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