Chapter 8

It was after eleven when the Andersons pulled into their driveway. Laura had been dropped off at her car in the hospital parking lot, and Steve had agreed to spend another night in Gwen's bed, without the pleasure of Gwen's presence. Steve had just nicely crawled into bed when he felt someone sit on the mattress near his head.

"Gwen? Is something wrong? Your dad wouldn't like you being in here. What is it?" asked Steve with concern.

"You're my boyfriend and I don't know anything about you. I just learned that you were in Afghanistan, and in a shootout with Taliban. I never dreamed you could've been in anything like that. I need you to tell me everything about your life. Will you be totally honest with me from now on?" asked Gwen quietly.

"Yes, I will. I realize that I've kept things to myself. It's a habit I've gotten into the past year or so. I've been alone a lot. I didn't know how you'd feel about that war story and kept putting off telling you, replied Steve. "I don't think this is a good time, or place to go into my life story. Your dad has some strong feelings about my behavior toward you. Having you alone in a bedroom with me, in the dark, at midnight sure doesn't fit with what he expects."

"You're not really afraid of my dad! You're way bigger and stronger than he is. That night he socked you, it looked like you hardly felt it. Why do you pretend to worry so about my father?"

"I don't pretend to worry. I do worry. He's your father. That means he deserves my respect. I would never go against him physically, no matter how many times he struck me. I like him, his way of caring for his family, and his love for his wife and kids. Your dad is the head of the family, even if you girls run all over him. That's because he allows it. If something serious came up, your father would take full control of the situation. You have a wonderful family, Gwen. Your mom and sisters are the best, but never sell your dad short. He's a man that takes his responsibilities seriously. I fear his anger, as well as respect his authority."

"Wow! I wouldn't have ever guessed that you thought my dad was such a good guy," admitted Gwen. "He sure put you through the wringer that first time you came to pick me up. Mom said later that if a boy is serious, he'll put up with almost anything the girl's father throws at him. I guess you must be very serious. I'll just give my boyfriend a goodnight kiss and leave. It's hard to believe that I'm really your girlfriend."

"It's hard for me to get my head around it, too. You're amazing. Give me that kiss and go dream about me; like I will about you."

Gwen leaned down and held her lips to Steve's for a few tantalizing seconds. "Time for bed, Young Lady," came Paula's voice from the dark doorway. "And that means Lisa's bed tonight. Good night, Steve."

Gwen drove Steve to the hospital the next morning and assisted Laura in preparing Steve for the needed stitches. Then she watched as Laura carefully sewed Steve's cuts closed. "You both understand that this really should have been done a couple days ago? However, having the state title in Sparta required that we postpone it. That was a great game. People are still all excited about it.

"Notice how close together I'm making the sutures. We don't want Steve to walk around like Frankenstein or something out of the 'Walking Dead', do we?" asked Laura rhetorically. "He should be totally healed in a few weeks with very little scarring, if any. Compared to the bullet holes here in his arm and hip, they'll look great.

"You kids have done a wonderful job promoting the hospital fund. We're getting calls about it now. We're setting up an account for the donations, and we'll acknowledge that they are a result of the senior class' efforts. You'll be able to add them to your class total. I'm becoming a minor celebrity just from being near you two. Do you think Coach Watkins would go to the Governor's Ball with me?" blurted Laura.

"You need to ask him, but I'd think he'd be delighted to attend an important even with a beautiful, single doctor on his arm," replied Gwen. "You're an M.D. Don't tell me that you're shy?"

"I'm not shy, but I've had some less than successful relationships. I want to do better than I did and I worry that asking the guy out will make me look desperate. It's not good for a woman to look too needy. Can you help me, Steve?"

"Sure, I'll see him today and plant the seed. He'll think it was his idea and be delighted when you accept his request for a date. I'll get him to ask you out on a date and let it take its natural course from there to a romantic night in the state capitol after the Inaugural Ball," grinned Steve.

"Do you think yelling at him to get his head out of his ass will make a difference," questioned Laura. "I was a bit harsh."

"Are you kidding? He's a football coach. You were speaking his language. If anything, it'll help your cause!" laughed Steve.

Sparta decided to hold a victory rally Sunday in the relatively safe confines of the school gym. When all the bleachers were extended and folding chairs set up on the floor, there was seating for several thousand. By noon Sunday, the gym was packed. Upon their arrival, Steve and Gwen were ushered to a small stage set up at center court. Most of the football team was already there and those they weren't, soon filed in. The festivities began shortly after noon with the principal leading the Pledge of Allegiance. He then turned the microphone over to Coach Watkins.

"Thank you everyone for coming out to show your support for the State Champions! The first order of business; however is to give the microphone to Edward and Barbara Tucker. They have something they'd like to tell us," stated Coach Watkins as Ed and Barbara Tucker worked their way to the stage.

"Everyone here knows what happened the other day," began an emotional Ed Tucker. "Our two kids were in a car submerged in the icy waters of Emerson River. They could have died. They would have died if not for the heroic efforts of Steve Hammer and Gwen Anderson. What they did was incredible! We have no wish to embarrass them with all kinds of praise and promises, but we, my wife and I, are indebted to them. We will never forget that. If our kids grow up to be like them, we'll be the happiest couple on the planet. Thanks, guys!"

The couple then walked over to Steve and Gwen and embraced them as the crowd cheered and whistled. Gwen and both Tuckers frequently wiped tears from their cheeks as they waved to the crowd. Steve somehow managed to keep his composure.

"Thank you, Ed and Barbara Tucker! That was an afternoon that none of us in attendance will ever forget. Now I want to introduce to you the person that was awarded the game ball for the Sparta State Championship game. This is awarded to the person the team feels did the most to help the team win the game. This vote was unanimous. The game ball goes to Gwen Anderson!" announced Coach Watkins as he held the ball in the air and waved Gwen to the microphone as the assembled fans hollered their approval.

"Thank you!" shouted Gwen to the wildly cheering crowd. She repeated it several times until the crowd began to quiet. "I've been given this tremendous honor because I helped the real hero of the game out of a tough situation last Thursday. He's the guy that led the team on 'The Drive', and threw 'The Pass' in the last seconds of the game. I'm just a girl that wasn't willing to give up her first boyfriend without a struggle."

The crowd roared with laughter at Gwen's remark. "Thanks so much for this honor. I realize how much it means to the team. Believe me when I tell you it means a great deal to me as well. What's most important is that those kids are okay, and that Steve is doing fine. Winning the state title is icing on the cake. Way to go, Sparta!!"

It took a few minutes for the coach to quiet the crowd down. He called each team member's name and asked if they wanted to speak. Several players advanced to the microphone to say a few words. Many were intimidated by the size of the crowd and said very little. Tyler Smith was a different story. When asked if he wanted to speak to the crowd, he strode forward to the front of the stage. Then he slowly raised his shirt so all could see his stomach. Just above his navel was a round purple looking bruise about as big around as a baseball. It took a few seconds for the crowd to realize what they were looking at before cheers and whistles erupted anew.

"Don't try to tell me that was an easy play!" hollered Tyler to the crowd. "If anyone here ever wants to try catching a Steve Hammer bullet pass, I'll help set it up for you!"

Finally, Coach Watkins asked Steve to come to the front and say a few words. Steve grinned and waved as the fans once again sounded their approval. He gathered his thoughts for a few seconds and then began.

"When I came to Sparta last summer, my goal was simply to get to play football on a regular team. I never had that chance before. I've played a lot with friends of my father's, and other service kids, but never in a real game with uniforms and equipment," admitted Steve as he considered his past. "Eventually, I came to realize that I was really hoping to find here was something entirely different. I wanted a hometown, a place I can tell people that I'm from. I wanted to be able to know kids, teachers, and parents. I wanted to be a normal kid with a normal life. I especially wanted to make some friends, some people with families that would accept me and make me part of their families. I didn't want to be alone anymore. This town, this school, these guys on the team, these teachers, and these students have been great to me. I feel like I've finally come home! Thank you Sparta! Thank you Billy and Gwen for pulling me out of that river Thursday. Thanks to everyone that's allowed me into their lives, and into their families. It means more to me than I can ever say."

Steve quickly wiped his cheeks with the back of his hands and moved to go back and stand beside Gwen. Gwen rushed into his arms and hugged him as the crowd once again cheered loudly. More than a few players on the stage found their eyes watering. Most of the ladies in the crowd and more than a few of the men had to blow their noses and dab at their eyes.

"That pretty well concludes our festivities here today," announce Coach Watkins once the din had lessened. "I'm proud of these kids and this school. No one thought we had a chance to even win the league, but we went all the way! Thanks everyone for all of the support throughout the season, and especially in the championship game. You're the reason we were able to do it! Thanks, and as you leave, check out the trophy case in the lobby!"

As the crowd began to leave and the players climbed down from the small stage, Steve approached his coach. "I have it from some pretty reliable sources that the single, and very attractive, Dr. Laura Masters would love for you to repay her efforts for the team with an expensive dinner at a nice romantic restaurant. If you want her to help next year, you'd better treat her right, Coach. Here's her phone number," added Steve as he handed a small slip of paper to his coach. "Call her soon, or she'll be all over my case."

"Thanks, Steve!" was all a stunned Coach Watkins was able to manage as Steve hurried away. Steve had seen his Uncle Joe in the last row of bleachers! He had never been able to get him to leave his apartment for more than a few minutes and was shocked to see him sitting in the gym.

"Uncle Joe!" called Steve as he hurried up to join his uncle. "I didn't think you'd come, but I'm so glad you did. What did you think? Did you see my girl? She's a beauty, isn't she?"

"Yeah, she sure is, Steve, and she's standing right behind you," chuckled Steve's uncle. "I kept seeing all this hullabaloo on TV. She's saved your ass a time or two and I wanted to meet her, so here I am. If you aren't too ashamed of me, would you introduce us?"

Before Uncle Joe could complete his sentence, Gwen had flung herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. Joe was taken by surprise, but soon found himself smiling as he patted Gwen's back.

"Girl, you sure make an old man feel good. I'm Steve's uncle and I've been watching you on TV. I had to meet you to thank you for saving Steve the other day. For a boy with the Navy in his blood, he didn't swim as well as he might have. I don't know what I would have done if something happened to that boy. I've grown pretty fond of him over the past few months."

"Uncle Joe, I'm so glad to meet you. Steve told me that he had an uncle, but that you didn't go out much, so I never thought to insist we go meet you at your place. I'm so sorry! You deserve to be treated a lot better than what we've done. Will you come to my parent's house for Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday? You can bring your nephew, too."

"Ah, Miss, you don't want some old man ruining your dinner. Steve can go and I'll stay home and watch football on TV," replied Joe.

"Then we'll get some pizza or something and have dinner with you! We're not going to let you be alone on Thanksgiving, are we, Steve?" demanded Gwen.

"You see how she is, Uncle Joe. I can't argue with her and you won't have any more luck than I do. She's stubborn, headstrong, and thinks she's always right. Ever know a girl like that?"

"Your mother comes to mind," revealed Joe. "This lass reminds me of her. Not so much her looks, though your mom was a beauty, too. The way she carries herself and her personality is so much like Jen's. I can see why you picked her out at that mall that day, Steve. This girl's a 'stayer'. She doesn't have any quit in her; just like your mom."

Gwen wrapped her arm around Joe's and began to lead him from the bleachers. "Uncle Joe, maybe you can tell me a little about Steve's parents and his childhood. He isn't one to talk much about himself."

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.