“You’ve embarrassed him, Gwen. Look at him blush! He sure did come through, didn’t he?” agreed Charlotte as she handed Steve’s clothes to Gwen. “Billy and I are going to go get something to eat, but we’ll talk tomorrow in school. I’m so proud to be friends with you and Steve and Billy. Mom called me and told me that she watched it all on TV. She said my friends are absolutely welcome in her home any time of the day or night. She was crying when she said it, and Mom isn’t that emotional. You were great, Gwen!”
Gwen made her way back to the E. R. and explained to Dr. Masters how Coach Watkins insisted on seeing her and why. Dr. Masters excused herself and headed for the waiting room and a discussion with Steve’s coach.
Once his x-rays were completed and read, Steve was wheeled back to the ER. Gwen pulled back the curtain and stepped alongside his bed.
“Gwen, I’m not sure how to say this. I owe you my life,” began Steve as Gwen stood near his bed and listened. “I’ll always be available for you. If you ever need anything I have, or anything I can do for you, just let me know. I’m serious as a heart attack. I feel a tremendous debt to you and I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to repay it.”
“That’s hardly necessary, Steve. I’m just glad that I was in the right place at the right time. I have no idea how you dared dive into that water and then go into that submerged car. Weren’t you afraid?” asked Gwen.
“I was terrified, Gwen. But I was more afraid of how I’d never be able to look in a mirror again if I didn’t do my best for Glen’s nephews. I’m an exceptional swimmer and I knew that the job fell on me. Besides, there are worse things than dying. Living in shame is one of them.”
“Okay, kids,” interrupted Dr. Masters. “Coach Watkins and I had quite a discussion. He’s a stubborn man. Long story short, I promised that I’d dress your injuries right before the game and be prepared to provide medical assistance during and after the game. I guess I’m like the team doctor now,” laughed Laura Masters. “I’ve gone to some of your games, but now I’ll have a better seat, near the bench. Is your coach single, by any chance?”
“Yeah! He’s single! He has a house on Parker Street. His sister and her two kids live with him. He dotes on the kids. Coach is a good guy,” assured Steve. “You could do worse!”
“Don’t tell him that I asked, okay? Now I have to bandage you up. The bleeding has stopped and I can see several places that require stitches. As I said earlier, you wouldn’t be allowed to play with new stitches in your chest and abdomen. They’d never last through a grueling game of football, especially if Windsor’s defense is as tough as their fans think. Let’s see how we can get you bound up so you can throw a football without bleeding all over the field. You’ll help me, won’t you, Gwen? We’ll step out so you can pull your jeans on, Steve, but it looks like you’ll have to go Commando the rest of the day,” grinned Dr. Masters. “The x-rays turned out fine. I see no need to keep Steve once we get him bandaged.”
It only took a minute for Steve to don his jeans. Soon Dr. Masters was showing Gwen how she wanted to treat Steve’s lacerations. “Gwen, most patients will be a bit easier to treat. This guy seems to have an awfully broad chest and shoulders. Plus these muscles really make it difficult for a female doctor! I’ll need your help before the game, and I’d like you to sit with me during it. I have a couple reasons to ask that.
“First, I may require your help working on Steve. Secondly, you want to raise money for a wing for the hospital. You really should enlist the help of the staff here at the hospital. When we first heard about your project, we were pretty skeptical, but you two are bringing people around. I graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and thought that I’d do my residency in this little jerkwater town and then go back to Philly. Like most of my plans, that one went south. I like it here. If it expands and supplies the area with better health care, I want to be part of it. I want in,” declared Dr. Masters. “I can use the publicity of being seen with you two, and you’ll gain some credibility by being with me. I think it’s a win-win situation.”
“We never even thought to ask the hospital staff to help with our project! That’s pretty embarrassing, really. I’d love to hang with a real doctor when I can. I can see where it could help the project. Let’s plan on riding to the game together Saturday morning, Dr. Masters,” suggested Gwen.
“Okay, but only if you both call me Laura,” replied the young doctor. “That, and find ways to get your coach to notice me. He seems pretty stubborn, but he’s genuinely interested in his players’ welfare. That’s a good trait in a man.”
After leaving the room and making a quick call to her mother, Gwen returned to tell Steve, “Mom said to bring you home for some of her good home cooking. It feels like we’ve been in this hospital for days, but it’s only five o’clock in the afternoon. I don’t know about you, but swimming in icy water and making a spectacle of myself on live TV has given me quite an appetite.”
“You don’t have to feed me. I can stop somewhere and get something quick. Besides, your dad may not be too happy to have me stop in. Maybe you’ve forgotten that he popped me on the chin last time he saw me,” recalled Steve. “I really don’t want to have a problem with your dad. He was right, and I was wrong. I had it coming.”
“You let Mom and me worry about Dad,” replied Gwen with a grin. “He feels pretty bad about that incident. He jumped to conclusions and he regrets it, but let it be a warning to you, Mister. Do not harm Ted Anderson’s daughters in any way, or he’ll flog you within an inch of your life.”
Ted Anderson was standing in the living room when Gwen brought Steve inside. The two men looked at each other tentatively and then Steve extended his hand and Ted accepted it. “Sir, I owe you an apology. My behavior the last time we met was inappropriate. I respect you too much to make you uncomfortable in your own home. If you prefer, I’ll leave right now, and I’ll understand the reason.”
“Leave now? That’s the absolute worst thing you could do to me!” laughed Ted as he shook Steve’s hand. “My wife and daughters would have my hide. I wouldn’t have a moment’s peace. We were both a little worked up that night, but this is a new day. Let’s forget it and eat. You two can tell me about your day. Anything unusual or interesting happen?”
As they dined, Gwen filled in Paula, Ted, and Kate on the things they didn’t already know about the water rescue of the two toddlers. Steve remained silent for the most part; content to allow Gwen the opportunity to describe events to her family while he enjoyed one of the best meals he ever had.
“The phone has been ringing off the hook. In fact, I took it off the hook so we could have a peaceful meal. You two have really created quite a stir. The cable news channels picked up the video from Channel 5 and have played it about a thousand times today. I have to admit, it’s a very remarkable story,” added Paula. “You two can plan on a lot of people asking a lot of questions about this afternoon. I wouldn’t be surprised if the local newspaper and TV stations ask for interviews. Everyone that’s called has been extremely complimentary about both of you. Ted, Kate, and I are awfully proud of you two. So is Lisa, now that I think about it. She said everyone at her university is talking about it. She’s a mini-celebrity because she’s your sister.”
“Thanks, Mom. I guess we need to discuss what we’ll tell people when they ask about it, wont we, Steve? We need to be on the same page, especially with the media. I don’t know how you feel, but I think we can use this to help the hospital fund,” reasoned Gwen. “Let’s go into the living room and kick it around awhile.”
Paula watched Gwen and Steve sit down on the couch. She noticed that they didn’t sit real close together, but they seemed quite comfortable with each other. She marveled at Gwen’s will power. For her part, Paula had never seen a better looking, more virile male. Not many females could keep him at arm’s length like Gwen seemed to be doing. And even fewer would want to keep Steve at arm’s length!
A few minutes later, Kate motioned for Paula to take another look at the two kids on the couch. Steve had fallen asleep and had slid down so his head was resting on Gwen’s chest. Gwen was turned so that she faced Steve and was gently stroking his neck as he made low snoring sounds. Paula went into a bedroom and found an Afghan blanket and brought it out for the two exhausted heroes. Gwen had also fallen asleep by the time Paula reached them. Paula smiled at Kate as she gently covered them with the blanket.
Murmurs gradually seeped into Gwen’s consciousness. She opened her eyes to see Charlotte, Billy, Kate and her mom sitting around the living room, speaking in hushed voices. She started to sit up, but felt the weight on her chest. Looking down, she saw Steve opening his eyes. Slowly, he looked at the part of Gwen’s chest that his head wasn’t covering. Then he turned his eyes to Gwen’s. She tried to look upset, but was unable to hide her smile. Steve appeared relieved as he slowly extricated himself from Gwen’s firm, but so very comfortable breast.
“That makes twice today that you woke up in Gwen’s arms,” laughed Kate. “In fact, you were in more than just her arms. You sure looked comfortable. Sis makes a pretty good pillow, doesn’t she?”
“I can’t speak for all of her, but the parts I’ve had my head on today are really soothing, I must admit,” grinned Steve as he ducked the pillow that Gwen flung at him.