Page 53 of Breakpoint
She leaned over to give her mother a hug, and it felt like coming home. Those arms that had always brought her comfort. Her mom simplywasthere, a solid, unwavering presence in the eye of Dani’s personal storm. She was her mother, first and foremost, and that was all she needed her to be.
Her mom pulled back and wiped the tears from her eyes. “You want your child to have everything they need to be completely independent and successful. But I realize it’s your mistake to make, and I hope I raised a good, kind, well-rounded human that does what makes her happy.”
Maybe, she thought, her mom had been right about some things. “I like to think I’m a good human being. And I can admitnow, looking back, I get why you and Dad made me wait. I don’t think I would have been ready for it at fifteen or sixteen, like you and Jaz. Hell, I’m not sure I was ready for all of this a few years ago at eighteen. Those few years of college were great, and I had so much fun compared to the adulting I have to do now as a professional. The finances, the media, and obligations weren’t things I ever had to worry about. But I’ve fallen in love with the grind.”
She could understand her mother even more, and her fierceness in protecting her childhood and life outside the public eye. But more importantly, it made her understand Jaz even more because she realized how much of a normal childhood and experiences that Jaz didn’t have by becoming a professional at such a young age. She could see firsthand the impact the always-on spotlight had on her. It made her turn inward and want to keep everything close.
“You are a wonderful person, Dani.” Her mom smiled at her. “This may sound a little saccharine, but out of all the things I’ve accomplished, you are my proudest achievement. And it’s not because you’re a successful tennis player. That’s just what you do. I’m proud of who you are.”
She blushed at her mom’s words. “Thanks, Mom, for taking care of me even when I didn’t know you were doing it. Jaz talks all the time about how challenging it was being a teenager and having all our successes and failures put on display every week in front of the world. The pressure is intense now, and at sixteen, I might have crumpled. That’s not even including the media stuff.”
Brittany looked a bit taken aback. “I never thought I would hear my daughter talking about Jaz Mason with hearts in her eyes. You must really care for her.”
“I love her, Mom,” Dani declared with conviction. It felt nice and freeing to say the words out loud. That she loved Jaz. Brittany’s eyes grew wide as saucers at her words. “I’m just as shocked as you, because I had no idea this would happen when we were paired together for the Olympics. But our relationship grew and changed over the months we spent together.”
Her mom stroked her hands through her hair, something that always calmed her and got her to open up. “Then tell me about her and your relationship. What makes her special?”
And Dani did just that. How on paper they were opposites, but in reality, Jaz had turned into someone that she wanted to spend all her time with. Their time training together in Florida, the Olympics, and their dates.
“Yes, she’s super confident and competitive. Some would call it cocky, but I’ve come to understand that she just has this inner belief that no one can beat her on the court until the last point is played. I respect that and she’s helped me channel that same confidence.”
Brittany nodded, her face shifting back into the competitor who won eighteen Grand Slams. “I understand that. You can’t go out there thinking you’re a loser because you’ll have no chance.”
“You’re probably one of the few people who get that. The level of confidence needed to be great. But beyond that, she is sensual, considerate,”—she couldn’t help smiling, thinking about Jaz—“sexy and funny, in a not funnyway.”
Brittany smirked. “It’s always the upright ones that are the most fun.”
She had to laugh at that. “But she’s also responsible, sympathetic, and goes hard for the people she cares about. She has been my biggest champion this year. I’ve learned so much from her about how to be a professional, but also how mental the game is.”
“She sounds genuinely lovely.” Brittany shook her head in wonder. “And so much better than that girl you dated in high school.”
“Hey!” Dani scoffed, taking offense. “Staci was—”
“Trashy,” Brittany interjected. Dani went to protest, but could only pout because Staci was pretty trashy. “But back to your current love. She seems completely different from every interaction I have ever had with her. She always appeared as if she didn't like people.”
Dani wanted to push back at that statement. “I think it’s more that she doesn’t trust people. Or doesn’t trust easily. I’m realizing a lot of that is from what you also experienced, becoming a professional and essentially a celebrity at a young age.”
“That makes sense. I guess we all have ways of dealing with the limelight when you’re a success.” She continued to stroke her hair, soothing Dani even more.
“I’ve also learned about the racism she has had to endure while on tour, which is something I think most of us are blind to. But it also shaped who she is. So I hope you can have more of an open mind about her in the future.”
“For you, sweetheart, anything.”
Dani smiled at her mother’s support of her relationship with Jaz, but she wanted to bring up the elephant in the room. “You don’thave any concerns about the age difference? That Jaz is much older than me.”
“I admit, no parent thinks about her kid dating someone closer to her age than her daughters.’ And hell, I played matches against her on the tour. But your dad is ten years older than me, and no one batted an eye when we got together in my early twenties.”
Dani never even thought about the age difference between her parents. Maybe it was because they were a heterosexual couple, and no one cared that a man in his early thirties was dating a woman in her early twenties.
“How did you and Dad make it work in the beginning? With traveling, but also the attention that your relationship brought. I’ve seen the old magazine articles and clips on YouTube about your relationship.”
Her mother’s face turned wistful, and she gave that radiant smile that used to be flashed all over televisions and sports magazines. “When your dad and I started dating, we were playing on different tours and were often in different cities besides the Grand Slam tournaments. It washardas hell. You’re in one place, they’re in another, and it feels like you’re always trying to make time for each other between tournaments and practices. But we made it work because we wanted it to. It took patience and a whole lot of late-night and international calls, and back then they were really expensive.”
“So just perseverance?” Dani looked at her, unconvinced. That couldn’t have been it. There must be some secret formula.
“Essentially yes. We wanted to make it work against all the obstacles. A dream is only realized if you work for it. And it might feelimpossible now, but if you’re both in it for the long haul, you’ll find a way.” Her mother got this look on her face whenever she talked about her dad. “He was the greatest shot I ever took.”
“I don’t know if I should be happy that my parents are so in love after twenty-five years or barf.” Dani deadpanned.
