Heroes Never Die (3 page)

“I’m glad to be back, General.”

“I’m taking Stephanie out to dinner, and I want you to join us.”

The invitation was certainly more appealing than the empty apartment waiting for him, but he didn’t want to intrude.

“C’mon, Brian,” Stephanie coaxed.  “Daddy loves to treat.”

“Besides,” her dad added, “I’m anxious to hear how the two of you met.  I’m sure it’s quite a story.”

“And loads of fun,” Brian agreed, accepting the invitation.

At Stephanie’s request, she and her dad met Brian at one of her favorite places in the District, a quaint German restaurant.  The bustling, lantern-lit restaurant had a cozy old-world atmosphere, and when the patrons were mellow with beer, they lifted their antique steins and sang along with the piano man.

The beer was served, and the trio took turns toasting the warm occasion.  The General offered a toast to their guest.  He commended Brian on being an outstanding surgeon and wished him a successful career.  Brian went next by lifting his stein toward the General.  He told the General that he was a leader he was proud to follow.  Stephanie followed by thanking her dad for putting her through college.

While the trio waited for their meal, they drank another round.  Brian told the General how he met Stephanie.  Then they began to tell stories about each other, and the mood became festive with silly hilarity.  Bursts of laughter filled the room.  When the meal came to a close, Stephanie excused herself from the table.  Brian stood when she rose from her chair.  When she returned, both men stood over her like honorable gentlemen dueling for her love.  She kissed her dad’s cheek.  “I’ve had a wonderful time.  Thank you, Daddy.”

“Yes,” Brian agreed.  “I’ve had a great time, too.”

Stephanie’s dad was obviously pleased.  “You’re both very welcome.  I’m looking forward to doing this again soon.”

“I’ll treat the next time,” Brian volunteered.

“Now’s our chance to go to that very expensive restaurant, Dad,” Stephanie teased.  She was glad that her dad had invited Brian.  Brian had gone out of his way to meet her, and there was nothing she liked more than old-fashioned chivalry.  Besides, he made her feel vivacious and full of life, and she was sorry the evening was nearing its end.

The trio took their time as they strolled toward their cars.  The fresh evening air was invigorating, and Stephanie didn’t want the night to slip away without tasting every exciting moment of it.  Even the sidewalks bustled with curious sightseers anxious to view the grand monuments at night.  The Capitol, richly robed in American history, commanded an awesome reverence from all who journeyed to look upon her.

The trio reached Brian’s car first.  Stephanie was hoping that Brian would find the courage to ask her out in front of her dad, but that would be much too awkward, even for him.  She considered dropping in on her dad at Walter Reed and then pretending to accidentally run into Brian, but he was much too smart for games.  He would just have to be the one to make the first move.

Brian reached out to shake the General’s hand.  “Thanks again for the wonderful evening.”  Then he turned to Stephanie and gently lifted her chin.  “May I call you tomorrow?” he asked with a deep, tender voice.

“Sure,” she softly replied, feeling the first sparks of love.  “I’ll be home.”

Brian kissed his finger and playfully tapped it to her nose.  He told her goodnight and climbed into his car.

Stephanie’s dad pulled her close and gave her a one-armed hug.  They watched Brian drive away.  “So, Daddy, what do you think of Brian?”

Her dad grinned.  “I think Cupid is on the warpath.”

“C’mon Dad,” she coaxed.  “Tell me what you really think.”

He tried to give her his honest opinion.  “I like Brian.  He has towering standards, he’s dependable, straightforward, and he’s one hell of a good surgeon.”

Stephanie beamed.  Brian had met her dad’s approval.  “I’m glad you like Brian.  I like him, too.”

“Oh, brother,” he groaned as he shook his head.

Stephanie wrinkled her nose.  “Is it that obvious?”

“I can hear your heart throbbing from here.  And to think I’ll have to go through this all over again when he calls you tomorrow.”

“You made your point.  I promise not to say another word about him until tomorrow.”  But her mind continued to swirl with thoughts of Brian.  The more she tried to bridle it, the worse it became.  “Daddy?”

“Yes, Stephanie.”

“Is it tomorrow yet?”

Stephanie’s dad burst with robust laughter.  Hearing the voice she dearly loved made her feel warm and secure.  It felt good to be home.

Known informally as Robert, Stephanie’s dad helped her into the car and then climbed into the driver’s side and headed for home.  For the first time that evening, Stephanie was quiet.  She rested her head against the window and watched as the stately buildings floated by her view.  The Capitol impressed her as much now as it had when she was a child.

When her dad turned onto their street in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Stephanie perked up.  The giant maple trees that lined the quiet street waved hello to her, and the grand homes with manicured lawns seemed to be calling, “Welcome back, Stephanie.”  She looked down the block and spotted her home with excitement.  The harmonious southern colonial with slender white columns curtsied her arrival with a warm salute.  Her heart swelled with sentimental contentment.  She was anxious to go inside.

Stephanie’s dad pulled up to the door on the wrap-around driveway and parked the car.  He popped the trunk release, and they both carried Stephanie’s Italian leather luggage inside.  When she walked through the doorway, she dropped the luggage and stood still for a moment to consume the warmth of her home.  Then she threw her arms around her dad.  “I’m so glad to be home,” she said, gratefully.  “I really missed you.”

“I missed you too, sweetheart.  This old house hasn’t been the same without you.”

They carried her luggage up the stairs to her bedroom.  An antique-white étagère holding her favorite childhood dolls and stuffed animals greeted her as she stood in the doorway.  Her beautifully decorated room painted in soft shades of violet with white eyelet curtains and bedding summoned the weary traveler to enter and rest.  Giving in to the long day, she went over to her bed and dropped onto it.

“We have a lot to catch up on,” her dad said.  “Feel like talking?”

“To tell you the truth, Dad,” sensing he already knew about her broken engagement with Kyle, “I have something I need to tell you, but it’s too late to hash it out tonight.  Besides, you have to be up for work in the morning.  So why don’t I make a nice dinner tomorrow, and then we can spend the rest of the evening talking?”

“That sounds like a winner.  I’ll be extra quiet in the morning so you can sleep in.  I need to call the hospital to check on a patient, and then I’ll be back to tuck you in.”

“Okay,” she said with a kittenish laugh.  She dressed for bed and snuggled between the softness of her covers.  As her thoughts retraced the pleasurable events of the evening, a picture of Brian’s handsome face flooded her mind.  Now she had his phone call to look forward to.  Everything seemed to be going her way.  Without a struggle, she fell asleep.

Chapter Two:

Stephanie decided on a meal that would make a cardiologist cringe: a rolled roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, glazed carrots, peas, date muffins, and for dessert, chocolate iced double-fudge brownies.  She thought back to the time when her mom had made a similar meal and how the pleasing aroma filled the house.  When they were all together dinner seemed more like an occasion to be celebrated, and she wanted tonight’s meal to be just as special.

She finished setting the table with her mom’s china and checked her watch.  Not only was dinner ready, but she was anxious to know whether Brian had said anything about her.  She heard the front door open.  Dad was right on time.

Stephanie hurried to the door to greet him.  “Hi, Dad,” she said, kissing his cheek.  “How was your day?”  Robert exploded with laughter.  His daughter’s behavior was always so easy to predict.  “What’s so funny?” she asked, feeling slightly insulted.

“I was wondering who you would ask about first – me or Brian?”

“Well, since you mentioned him – how is Brian?  Did he say anything about me?”

“I knew that was coming.”

“Well, did he?”

Robert rubbed his chin and pretended to be perplexed.  Stephanie knew he was only teasing, but she couldn’t bear to wait another minute.  “Come on, Dad,” she whined.  “I’ve been waiting to hear all day.”

Robert lifted her chin and lowered his head so that he could look into her eyes.  “Brian’s crazy about you,” he said with a convincing smile.  “He even asked if I had any objections if he dated you.”  Stephanie beamed with delight.  It was exactly what she wanted to hear.  “But of course I told him that I had plenty of objections, and that if he ever hurts you, I’ll order him to Kosovo.”

Stephanie’s mouth dropped.  Surely he wasn’t serious.  “Oh, Dad! You didn’t?”

“Well, if he doesn’t call tonight, you’ll know I scared him off.”

Then the corners of his blue eyes began to wrinkle with orneriness.  Stephanie shook her head at him.  “Sometimes you can be so exasperating.”

“That’s what dads are for,” he heckled as he kissed her forehead to smooth over his offense.  “I’m going to wash for dinner.  Something in here smells good.”

“Nice save, Daddy.”  She watched him walk toward the guest bathroom.  “But he had better call me tonight.”

Robert stopped and looked behind his shoulder at her.  “He’ll call you, sweetheart.  I’m sure of it.”

His soothing voice reassured her.  “I like Brian a lot,” she called after her dad, raising her voice above the running water.  “I can’t stop thinking about him.  It’s scary feeling this way – waiting – wondering – hoping.  But I don’t suppose you would understand that.”

“And just why not,” he scolded as he walked back into the room.  “I can still remember falling in love a time or two myself, you know.”

“Really?  When was that – back when men carried clubs so they could beat their women into submission?”

“I never leave home without my club,” he boasted.

Stephanie laughed out loud.  She wasn’t fooled for a minute.  Her dad was one of the most sought-after widowers in the District.  “You don’t need a club to attract women.  You’re the most handsome man in the world.”  She poked his chest to reprimand him.  “And you know it, too.”

“I guess I do all right for an old man.”

“And you’re not old, either,” she scolded.

“I’ll try to remember that the next time I’m at the gym.  Now can we eat?  I’m starving.”  Robert took his usual place at the head of the dining room table and began to carve the roast.  “You outdid yourself, Stephanie.  Everything looks wonderful.”

Stephanie took her seat next to her dad’s right side, and for a moment she just admired him as he placed a slice of meat on her plate.  Was there anything he couldn’t do?  Was there any problem he couldn’t solve? she wondered.  “Thanks, Dad.  Will you pass the potatoes, please?”

The meal turned out to be as pleasant as Stephanie had wanted it to be.  Robert helped her clear the table.  When the phone rang, Stephanie’s heart jumped with eagerness.  “That’s probably Brian.  I’m going to take it in my room.”  She darted up the stairs.

“Don’t worry about me,” Robert called after her.  “I’ll just read the paper.  Or maybe I’ll talk to myself.”

“I won’t be long,” Stephanie promised as she hurried to her bedroom.  She dove into the bed and answered the phone.  “Hello.”

“Hi, Stephanie.  This is Brian.”

“Hi, Brian.  I’m glad you called.”

“I’ve been thinking a lot about you today.”

“You’ve been on my mind, too.”  They talked for over an hour and when Stephanie hung up, she was floating.  She fell back onto her pillow, let out a dreamy sigh, and said, “I think I’m in love.”

She bounced down the stairs and into the family room to see her dad.  “That was Brian.  And guess what?  He asked me out to dinner on Saturday.”

Robert folded his newspaper and tossed it onto the cherry coffee table.  “I’m glad for you, sweetheart.  I hope the two of you have a nice time.  Come have a seat,” he said as he patted the cushion next to him.  “It’s time we had a serious conversation about Kyle.”

Stephanie’s countenance instantly faded.  She felt the heaviness in her heart return, and she wondered whether the pain of seeing Kyle with another woman would ever go away.  She sat down next to her dad, clenching her teeth to hide her pain.

“Let me start by saying that Kyle came to see me and he told me you broke your engagement.  He said you sent him a Dear John letter, a nasty Dear John letter.  He’s waited a long time to marry you, and that was a cruel and immature way to end your relationship.”

“Wait a minute,” she protested, angry that he only knew half of the story.

“I’m not finished, Stephanie,” he reprimanded.  “I didn’t raise you to be an unfeeling human being, and now you have some owning up to do.  I want you to go to Kyle and apologize, and if you want to break your engagement, that’s more than fine with me, but do it face-to-face like a mature, responsible adult…why on earth would you send him a Dear John letter anyway?”