Steve shuddered a little as he followed Gwen and his Uncle down the bleachers. He knew how his uncle loved to tell stories. Gwen would charm him until he told her everything he knew and he’d even make up a few things to improve the tale.
The following morning at school was a memorable one for Gwen, Steve and Billy. The local volunteer fire company had requested a brief assembly first thing in the morning to honor the trio for their daring rescue of the Tucker twins. Steve, Billy, and Gwen were awarded medals and made honorary members of the company. When the fire company finished, the principal gave a brief speech about how the school had benefited from good publicity in the past few weeks. The school and its students were making state and national news for positive accomplishments. That was every school’s goal and Sparta was doing it far better than any other school in the state.
When Steve and Gwen walked past the school trophy case, they had to stop and stare in surprise. The game ball with Gwen’s name printed on it perched on a small pedestal. Hanging on the back wall of the case was Steve’s football jersey with the number 12 barely discernible because of the blood that had soaked through it. Next to the jersey was a placard that simply stated “Spartan Blood”.
•****
Steve arrived at the Andersons’ home shortly after noon on Thanksgiving Day. As he guided his uncle up the driveway, he counted the cars in the drive. “There’s going to be quite a few people here today, Uncle Joe. Don’t let it bother you. They’re all friends and some of the best people I’ve ever met. Mrs. Anderson is a fantastic cook. You’ll have a great time.”
“I hope you’re right,” replied Steve’s uncle. “I don’t like crowds very much. You know that. If that sweet talking girl of yours hadn’t made such a big deal of it, I’d have stay home. I go out once to see my nephew after he wins the state football title and the next thing you know, I’m a regular globe trotter.”
“We’re only a few miles from home. Gwen and her family would’ve been really disappointed if we didn’t come. Try to have a good time. I know you’ll love the food,” promised Steve.
When Steve rang the doorbell, the door was opened by an attractive woman in her sixties. “You must be Mrs. Anderson’s sister. I’m Steve and this is my Uncle Joe Hammer. We’re invited, Ma’am,” added Steve as the woman stood in the doorway without indicating they should enter.
“Mrs. Anderson’s sister? The girls told me you had were a smooth one, but you’re better than I expected. I know Gwen told you her grandmother would be here. You know that’s who I am. What you may not know is that I’m not as shy as my daughter. Give me a hug!”
Steve hugged the woman and picked her off her feet and swung her around. “Ma’am, you’ve got the best looking family I’ve ever seen. Your daughter’s a beauty and your granddaughters are incredible; and it looks like they all get their looks from you!”
“No wonder Gwen’s so wrapped up with you! I’ve never seen a stronger, better looking, more discerning young man in my entire life. Call me Caroline. Now come right in and meet everyone, including my husband. He’s the man green with jealousy, over by the TV.”
Steve made the rounds introducing his uncle to everyone he knew and being introduced to those he didn’t know. Lisa greeted him with a solid kiss on the lips. Kate jumped into his arms and showered kisses all over his face. Paula smiled as she hugged him and then kissed him on the cheek.
“Gwen, your sisters seem to be awfully pleased to see your sweetheart here. Are you going to greet him properly or are you willing to let one of them steal him away?” chided Caroline.
Gwen stepped up to Steve and kissed him quickly on the lips. “Now girl, Lisa and Kate did way better than that. I saw you kiss him better on the national news. You were just telling me that he’s your first boyfriend and how you worry about some other girl stealing him away. That little kiss isn’t going to get the job done, is it Kate?”
“No, Grandma, it sure isn’t. I think Gwen’s a little shy in front of you. I’ve seen her do a lot better. Maybe she should watch Lisa and me again for pointers,” suggested Kate as Steve marveled to himself at how much Kate was like her Grandmother, physically as well as in their attitudes.
“Okay, Grandma!” muttered Gwen as she pulled Steve down for a long, slow kiss.
“Mom! Look what you talked Gwen into,” complained Paula. “That’s no way to greet any man in a public place. Gwen, go to the kitchen and mash the potatoes or something. Mom, you go help her! Kate, stay away from Steve. Dad, can’t you do something about your wife?”
Dinner was served on a huge table that expanded to seat around twenty. Paula’s sister, Diane, and her family had been invited, along with a couple aunts and uncles. Steve kept a close eye on his uncle for the first half hour or so. It wasn’t too long before Joe and Gwen’s great uncle Howard struck up a conversation about the old days that seemed to last the rest of the afternoon.
“Mrs. Anderson, Mr. Anderson, I just want to tell you both how much Uncle Joe and I appreciate your hospitality. You’ve been very good to me since the first time I picked up Gwen for that dance. You know that Joe is all the family I have and it’s a great feeling to have Thanksgiving with a close family like yours, where everyone respects and loves each other. Thanks,” concluded Steve.
“You must have forgotten how Dad made you promise to preserve Gwen’s honor that first night, and how he had to pop you on the chin another night,” laughed Kate. “Mom told us that if you kept coming back after all of that, you had to be serious about Gwen. And you’ve kept coming back.”
That caused questions to fly and soon Kate was telling the story of Steve’s first date with Gwen, how Ted had cautioned him against everything fun, how she had opened the door on Steve and Gwen as they were preparing to kiss, and how Steve brought Gwen home one night in such a state that Ted flew off the handle and popped Steve on the chin. The stories prompted more questions and a great deal of laughter from everyone, young and old. Steve was a bit embarrassed by it all, but at the same time, felt a sense of belonging and family that had eluded him for some time.
“You want to know what’s really weird about all of this?” asked Gwen during a break in the conversation. “The other night, Steve told me how much he feared, and respected Dad. He said Dad’s a great father and he’s raised a wonderful family. He has every right to expect Steve to follow his rules! What kind of boyfriend sticks up for a girl’s father?”
“A boyfriend that’s in it for the long haul,” responded Gwen’s grandmother. “That’s one sign of a young man with proper upbringing. He respects your father’s authority. That tells us a lot about your young man.”
“Steve and I are going to take a walk after we clean up and the men start watching football. I haven’t had much alone time with him and I want to have him to myself for a little while. I can’t be fighting off my sisters, cousins, aunts, mother, and grandmother all the time just to talk with him.”
“Don’t be gone too long,” cautioned Paula. “We’re going to be watching videos of you two at half time of one of the games. I want you both here to watch them with us.”
A short time later, Steve and Gwen strolled down the sidewalk away from her house. “Steve, I haven’t been alone with you very much in the last week or so. It was just a week ago that you dove into Emerson River to save those two kids.”
“And you pulled me out in the nick of time. I’ll always be in your debt. If you ever need something, or help with something, just let me know. I’ll do just about anything for you, Gwen.”
“I’ll take you up on that. You’ll have me around a lot, so save my life sometime and we’ll be square. Saving lives seems to be a habit of yours anyway.”
“Hello, Kids!” called Mrs. Henderson from her doorstep as the couple passed in front of her home. “I hope you’re not going for another swim, Gwen! Is this handsome boy the one you saved last week? I’m Cynthia Henderson, and you’ve got to be Steve Hammer. Would you please come in for a minute and say hello to my family? They’ve heard all about my neighbor’s daughter being the ‘Heroine of the Emerson River Rescue”. I kind of bragged that I knew you pretty well, Gwen. Please come in and meet my family.”
Gwen looked at Steve and he shrugged as if to tell her it was her decision. “Okay, but only for a couple minutes. My family is expecting us back pretty soon.”
As soon as they entered the home, they were besieged with well wishers. Steve answered questions about the football game, while Gwen covered the river rescue as quickly as she could.
“You’re ‘The Lady in Red’!” gasped a middle aged lady sitting in a recliner. “I love that video. You two look so vibrant, and in love. I’ve watched it a few dozen times. I didn’t realize that you kids were the same ones from the river and the football team. I heard that you danced at the fire company’s casino night. I wish I had known that you would perform. I’d have been there for sure. When do you think you’ll be dancing again? I’d love to be able to see it.”