A Golfer's Dream - Book Three The Real Education Begins Written by TheCaddy Disclaimer: This story is entirely fiction. It does not relate to any real person, living or dead. Any similarity to a real person, whether living or dead, is purely coincidental and completely unintended. While actual places are occasionally mentioned in this story, such mention is not to be a basis for conclusion that any part of this story is real, or ever happened. The following story is a work of fiction containing graphic descriptions of sexual acts between adults and minors. All of the sex depicted is consensual; the author does not intend to promote incest or sexual relations with underage children. The age of consent in Canada is currently fourteen. The story is written purely for entertainment purposes only. Those who are offended by such material are strongly encouraged not to read this. Those who are searching for material which they would proscribe for others should search elsewhere. If you are constrained by law or local authority from reading graphic descriptions of fictional sexual acts between adults and minors, you are required to not proceed further. Pursuant to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, this work is copyright with all rights reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated otherwise. This story is protected under U.S. and international copyright law and may not be reprinted, reposted, or otherwise reproduced without express written permission. This story may be posted to appropriate USENET newsgroups for non- commercial use only, as long as it remains entirely intact and unmodified, including all copyright messages and this disclaimer. Chapter Thirteen – New Year’s Surprise Dave awoke happily squeezed between the two twin sisters. He was facing Kyra’s smooth naked back as he held one of her delightful breasts in his right hand. Jana was spooned to his back and he could also feel her round firm breasts pressed against him. He could smell Kyra’s sweet coconut-scented hair as he began rhythmically squeezing her breast while he kissed her neck. She slowly woke up and rolled to face him. Normally, morning breath could be a problem but the passion in Kyra’s eyes instantly told Dave that she didn’t care. She purred, “I would love to feel your big cock – to feel you fill me once more before we go home.” Dave grinned as he thought, “How could any guy ever turn that invitation down?” He simply nodded as she began kissing her way down his body. As he rolled onto his back, Jana also awoke and groggily smiled at her sister who was on the attack, again. She kissed Dave tenderly and whispered, “Did you sleep well?” He tried to put an evil smile on his face, but failed as he replied, “Like a dream.” He suddenly felt Kyra suck his growing erection into her mouth in one smooth move; her skillful mouth and hands quickly had him as hard as steel. He caressed Jana’s breasts as they kissed passionately. He felt cool air on his member as Kyra puller her mouth away and, out of the corner of his eye, he watched her take a condom off the nightstand; he soon felt it slide over his hardness. He felt the bed move again as she mounted him and he was again surprised by how tight she felt. Once his entire length was encased in Kyra’s gripping snatch, Jana pulled away from him with a mischievous look on her face. He instantly had a feeling she was going to exact some delightful revenge on her twin for the previous night and he was correct as he watched her pick up the strap-on dildo. Kyra was moving up and down on his throbbing pole as Jana moved onto the bed behind her sister and gently pushed her forward. Kyra’s eyes lit up at the same time as Dave felt pressure on the bottom of his prick. Dave also noticed that Kyra’s snatch stopped gripping him as she quickly lost control from the double invasion. She still felt wonderfully tight; but Dave knew he would now have to do most of the work. He looked up at Kyra's euphoric expression and smiled to himself as he thought how she was getting what she had given the previous night. Her moaning quickly grew louder and louder and built to become a scream as her climax rocked her entire senses. She briefly fell completely on top of Dave as she smiled at him happily. He continued to stroke into her and so did Jana. Kyra lifted herself up on her hands again; her first orgasm hadn't completely faded when her second orgasm crashed over her and she continued to moan and groan until her almost lifeless body again collapsed on top of Dave. She had completely passed out and Dave looked over her shoulder at Jana who was sweating from her workout but smiling broadly, very satisfied with herself. She snickered as she said, "I've never seen her faint before. It's about time she got a taste of her own medicine. Will you make soft tender love to me now?" Dave nodded as she moved out from between his legs and he gently rolled Kyra onto the bed beside him. Jana removed the toy; Dave pulled her into his arms then laid her on her back as he moved between her legs. He started licking and kissing her thighs as he moved to the nether lips of her neatly trimmed snatch. Jana was moaning with delight as he tapped her g-spot. He was very excited from watching Kyra climax twice and he knew he wouldn't last long so he made sure Jana was close to her climax before he kissed his way up her gorgeous body and gently worked his latex covered hard-on deep inside her. She moaned as he filled her completely and he quickly started a steady rhythm. He increased his thrusting motion as his climax built and Jana's head was rocking from side to side as her orgasm shook her entire body. Her excitement sent Dave over his peak as well. His throbbing hardness erupted and spewed jets of seed into the latex protection. He leaned forward and passionately kissed Jana’s sweat-covered face. After catching his breath, he rolled off Jana and walked into the bathroom to dispose of his rubber. After he flushed the toilet and washed up a bit, he walked back into the room, crawled in bed with the twins, and went back to sleep. He woke later to the tender caressing of a hand drawing pictures on his chest. As his mind cleared the fog of waking up he heard the twins talking. He heard Kyra whisper, “You felt wonderful, Dave. I am so pleased we met you. Jana and I were just talking about how delightful both last night and this morning were – and she told me that you two already had the talk about not getting too serious. I am sure we will become very good friends and I definitely want to enjoy more nights like last night – but I’m not looking for a boyfriend, just a fuck-buddy. We can hang out and enjoy each other’s company and we can fuck like rabbits but with absolutely no commitment of any kind. “If I go home for Christmas and hook up with an old boyfriend, I will not hesitate to fuck his brains out, if I so choose. If you want, I will tell you about any sessions I have but if you say you don’t want to know – that is fine too. This rule goes double for you. I know you travel with the golf team and if you meet someone and decide to have fling – that’s your choice. I only ask that you take the necessary precautions. Jana agrees completely and we just wanted to lay the ground rules for this arrangement. Are you okay with that?” Dave, surprised by Kyra’s candor, looked at Jana for a clue. Jana simply nodded. Dave responded, “I agree completely. There are not and will not be any restricting ties among us. We all have plans for the near future and a marriage-type relationship is not part of that plan. Are we all in agreement?” Kyra nodded and Dave thought some more about what they had both said. He wondered how he would feel the first time he knew that one of the girls were sleeping with someone else, so, even as he nodded agreement, he explained, “I agree – but I will have to tell you I don’t honestly know how I will feel if I find out one of you is sleeping with someone else. I am definitely the jealous type and I may not be able to cope with that type of relationship, but I promise, if it becomes a problem I will talk to you about it. I confess that I suspect the first time it happens our relationship will probably end. I just don’t know if I could be in an open-type relationship – but I will try. I do ask that you not tell me of any sessions you might have unless you know I will find out anyway. Then I think it would be better if you tell me first. I guess I’m just too old fashioned and a bit of a hypocrite because I have definitely slept with numerous women. I know I’m rambling, but this has caught me off guard. I will do the best I can and will always keep the communication lines open.” Both girls listened to him intently and they kissed him on the cheek before they suggested a group shower. Dave agreed and he enjoyed having four hands eagerly clean his large body. He then teamed up with each girl as they worked together to clean the other twin. The aroma of Jana’s apple shampoo was very sweet as Dave worked up a nice lather in her hair. She purred appreciation and Dave made sure to clean her thoroughly. They all climbed out of the shower clean and refreshed. Dave wondered if they might end up back in bed but it was close to checkout time so they packed their bags and toys and checked out of the hotel. Dave had called Alec who had agreed to pick them up. Dave spent most of Sunday studying but he did slip over to the driving range for two hours to hit balls. The week passed quickly and the highlight was when Leanne came dancing into the lounge for breakfast on Thursday. She rushed directly to Dave and hugged him as she explained that she had won her first two matches before she lost her third. She played really well and her coach told her she showed excellent improvement. After she got her food and sat down beside a proud and smiling Darcy, she went on to describe every shot from every round. Dave smiled to himself as he remembered his own excitement after strong results at tournaments. He congratulated Leanne again before he went to class. The two weeks before Thanksgiving passed quickly and Dave worked hard at his studies but he found time to practice when the weather was good. He also spent more time swimming in the university pool. He enjoyed the blood-pumping workout that swimming provided. He and his friends went to several Wake Forest basketball games where Dave was surprised how noisy the games were. Screaming fans went wild as the Demon Deacons won. He and the twins had enjoyed several sessions together but none were as exciting as the first night of three-way love in the hotel. The dorm rooms were just not as comfortable as the large bed at the hotel. Dave had considered going home for Thanksgiving, but when Alec invited him to stay at his house for the long weekend, Dave happily accepted that invitation. Just before Thanksgiving Dave met with his academic advisor and they had a little disagreement with his plan to take six courses, but, after the advisor checked his good grades in the courses he was already taking, she agreed to sign off on his selection. He registered for an American literature course with the twins and Kyra had suggested a music course as well. Dave had been slightly reluctant because music was foreign territory to him, but Kyra had dropped to her knees and persuaded him with the most incredible blowjob he had ever received. When he eventually recovered, he was putty in her hands and Jana teased him about his lack of willpower. He simply nodded agreement. Thanksgiving was a very relaxing weekend and Dave and Alec played two rounds of golf. Alec talked about Shauna and told Dave that they were getting very close. Dave was happy for his friend. During the weekend, Dave also became very close to Patsy, Alec’s mother and he soon felt as if he almost had two mothers. She was very sweet and they had several heart-to-heart discussions about his family and his life on QAI. She even spoke to his parents when Dave called home and she promised to visit QAI some time soon. She treated Dave like a second son and he knew the bond between her and Alec was very tight. After Thanksgiving, Dave only had one week of classes before final exams. His good study habits paid dividends; he was confident as he prepared for finals. The exam schedule was reasonably spread out and he only had two exams on the same day once. His first two exams in calculus and English literature on Monday and Tuesday went well. He had Wednesday off before writing two exams in computer science and business on Thursday with his final exam in accounting on Friday afternoon. Colby finished exams Friday morning and wished Dave a Merry Christmas before he moved home for the holidays. Dave felt good about his accounting final and, as he walked back to his room, he looked forward to his last night with the twins before flying home the next day. The twins had finished exams at the same time as Colby and they were waiting in Dave’s room when he returned from his last exam. They talked briefly about his accounting final before they went for supper. After supper they returned to Dave’s room and made soft tender love all night. No toys were used but all three fell asleep cuddled in the small bunk bed – totally exhausted. Early the next day, Alec helped Dave load his valuables and a suitcase into his car. Dave kissed the twins goodbye and wished them a Merry Christmas before he and Alec drove to Alec’s house and dropped off Dave’s belongings except the suitcase he had packed for the trip home. Dave hugged Patsy goodbye then drove to the airport with Alec. He told Alec to have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. Alec waited until his friend cleared security before he went home. The day passed quickly as Dave eagerly waited to get home. His parents and sisters were waiting in the airport when the last of his three flights finally landed. He hugged and kissed them before they went back to the house and talked about his first semester experiences. He was happy to be back in his own bed but, as he lay there, his thoughts turned briefly to Rebecca. He eventually put her out of his mind; she had found a new boyfriend and he had found his fuck- buddy twins. He slept soundly and didn’t get up until well after ten o’clock. When he woke he called John who told him he would come pick him up. Dave and John went for a drive and caught up on each other’s lives. John explained that he never got to try-out with Anaheim because of the NHL lockout – but he was optimistic that he would be ready the next year. Dave told John all about his bad experience when he returned to Wake Forest. John had been told some details from Dave’s sisters but, when he heard everything Keith had said, he suggested, “Why don’t I drive you back to Wake Forest so I can have a short hockey talk with this asshole.” Dave laughed at his friend and said that he was happy just to stay clear of him. He was letting his golf do his talking and Keith had been forced to hide in the shadows. John told Dave that Coach Vigneault asked when he was returning from Wake Forest and that he wanted Dave to continue practicing with the team. Dave asked when the next practice was and John explained they had a pre-game practice that afternoon and Dave should join them on the ice. Dave nodded excitedly – he really enjoyed the workouts. He briefly thought about Rebecca’s brothers and how much they enjoyed watching him play with the Missiles. He pushed those thoughts out of his head as John pulled into his driveway after promising to return and pick him up for practice. Dave ate dinner with his family before he got out his skates and waited for John. John eventually pulled into the driveway and Dave said goodbye to his parents before going with his friend. Practice went well and he found that his swimming program over the past month had helped his conditioning. Dave left the rink tired but feeling good. He returned home and sent several e-mails to his friends at Wake Forest – he said a very special hello to the twins. He then sent messages to Sarah and Jennifer. After supper he went to the rink early and enjoyed just hanging out with the team. When the game eventually started, Dave stood near the team dressing room and watched his friends on the ice. The team had fallen in the standings after their strong start. When they fell to tenth place a lot of critics began predicting that they wouldn’t make the playoffs. The first period ended with the Missiles behind by three goals. Dave was watching the second period when he heard two familiar young voices and was immediately tackled by Riley and Robbie. He wrestled with them briefly before he asked, “Where is your father?” The boys pointed to their father, Paul, sitting in the stands and Dave waved to him before he suggested, “How would you two like to see inside the team dressing room?” The boys bounced excitedly so Dave added, “Riley, go ask your Dad if it’s okay for me to give you a tour.” Riley sprinted to his father then ran quickly back. Dave could tell by the smile on his face that his father had said ‘yes’, so Dave glanced at Paul who waved. Dave took the boys into the dressing room and showed them his old spot although it was now used by one of the new players. He showed them the trainer’s room, the changing room, and the room with the washer and dryer. He then took them out the back door of the dressing room to the team’s workout room. The boys played with the workout equipment and rode the exercise bikes for a few minutes before Dave escorted them back out to watch the game. Just before the boys left, Dave told them to come down to the dressing room after the game and he might be able to get them autographed sticks. The boys excitedly returned to sit with their father. Dave saw a lot of friends and other familiar faces at the game. His friends and even people he didn’t know very well stopped and asked how he was getting along at college. He explained that everything was going really well, now that he was settled in and that he was looking forward to the second half of the year. He didn’t get to watch much of the game because of the curious fans but he didn’t mind; he was home. Half way through the third period he heard another very familiar hello and turned to look into the smiling eyes of Katherine. They hugged and Katherine asked him how he was doing. After talking for a few moments she asked if he was still seeing Rebecca. He told her he wasn’t and she immediately asked him to a party after the game. He knew John had curfew because of the game the next evening so he agreed to go. He explained that he had to see someone after the game but if she would wait for him he would go with her to the party. She agreed and kissed him on the cheek before she went back to her seat. The Missiles lost the game five to three after battling back to within one goal. John and the whole team were disappointed as they went into the dressing room. Robbie and Riley ran up to Dave and he asked them who they wanted to autograph the sticks. They both said him but he asked who else. Robbie wanted John’s autograph while Riley wanted Pierre Andre’s. Dave smiled and walked into the dressing room. He waited until after coach Vigneault finished talking to the players before he approached John and Pierre Andre. The team had sticks specially set aside for giveaways and John and Pierre Andre each signed a stick then walked outside the room and handed them to the two very excited boys. The brothers asked Dave to sign the sticks as well before they left happily with their father. Paul thanked Dave for taking such good care of his boys. Dave told John about going with Katherine and John simply said he would call him the next day. Dave had an enjoyable night at the party. Most of the attendees were UQAI students and Dave knew a lot of them. He and Katherine traded notes about their college experiences and Katherine told Dave her team had made the playoffs and lost in the Atlantic Conference final. She also said she received a second team all-star award and her coach was very pleased with her season. Dave congratulated her before they talked about his two victories in the last two golf events. She asked if he was seeing anyone and he explained about the twins and how they were dating but it wasn’t serious. She told Dave she was not seeing anyone and wondered if he would like to go to a movie the next week. Dave said he would, so they made plans. Katherine drove Dave home well after one o’clock and they kissed softly before he went into his house. They had both agreed not to get too serious during his one-month visit home. Dave slept in on Sunday then spent the day working around the house. He went to the game on Sunday evening and watched as the Missiles lost another close one. During the drive home, John told Dave he wished they had Dave on the team as they seemed to be missing the one little spark that would light a fire under the team and turn the close loses into close victories. Dave nodded agreement but he knew he was happy to be at Wake Forest. He wondered what might have happened had Rebecca actually agreed to marry him. He spent the next few minutes trying to push those still-painful thoughts out of his head. She had broken his heart so many times that he wondered why he didn’t hate her. But deep inside he still had warm feelings for her. After he arrived home, he checked his e-mail. Sarah had sent a long message about her first semester at Oxford and she told Dave all about her classes. She explained that she really missed Roxanne who had gone back to work for Scotland Yard after Sarah went to Oxford; even so, they did keep in touch. Sarah explained that Roxanne said hello and hoped she would see Dave again if he ever visited England. Dave then replied with a long e-mail to Sarah and explained that though he had had a good first semester after the foolishness with Keith had finally ended, that he was anxious to get his marks back to confirm his performance. Coach Vigneault had again invited him to practice with the team while he was home and Dave was very pleased to have something to fill his days. As he lay in bed he thought about the women in his life. Sarah was a special distant princess and always would be, but their lifestyles would never allow a permanent relationship. Katherine was very sweet and he enjoyed being with her – but he also knew that they would not likely have a long-term relationship. The twins were exciting and he was already looking forward to seeing them again, but they were really just fuck-friends and that suited all three of them. Rebecca and he had so much in common and she was so exciting to be with; but she was still in high school and was now seeing someone else – their relationship was over. Jennifer was still Dave’s best friend and true love. She, however, was with Mark and Dave was jealous but happy for her. He wondered if somewhere in all this he had let his true soul-mate slip out of his life. He fell asleep dreaming of the night he and Jennifer had slept together nude in his dorm room – he slept very well. The two weeks before Christmas passed quickly and Dave practiced regularly with the Missiles. He got his marks the week before Christmas he was very proud of his three As and two A +s. This gave him a very impressive 4.1 GPA and both his parents were very proud. Dave was enjoying his Christmas break and he and Katherine went out on several dates. His mother had asked him several times if he had called Rebecca and he simply shook his head no and wouldn’t talk about it. On Christmas Eve, Dave told his mother he was going to Katherine’s for a brief visit and his mother had a very strange look on her face. He was curious why she seemed to be opposed to Katherine; she had liked her when they were dating the previous year. Dave finally asked, “Why don’t you like Katherine?” She led him into the living room and they sat down before she explained, “I don’t have anything against Katherine. She is a very sweet girl – and I like her. But, you and Rebecca seemed like a better match and I’m surprised that you haven’t even called her since you got home.” Dave realized that in all the discussions he had had with his parents that he had not told them about Rebecca telling him she was seeing someone else and that he had never talked to her again after that day. He explained, “Rebecca told me she was seeing someone else – she broke my heart, again. So why should I speak to her?” Dave’s mother looked shocked as she replied, “Didn’t you know that she lied to you – she didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t seeing anyone else – she just didn’t want you to leave Wake Forest just for her. She called us right after you two talked and she was crying hysterically over you and she warned us that you were very upset.” Dave suddenly remembered Jennifer mentioning that Rebecca had called his parents and his stomach felt sick as he realized that he had never given Rebecca a second chance to explain. He was thinking about her when he suddenly thought how awful her lie was and if she had really wanted to make him feel better, she would have told him the truth. He became angry as he thought more about her lie and he said to his mother, “Well, a real friend would have been there for me – the way Jennifer was. Rebecca is in my past – it’s time to move forward.” His mother was shocked by his words and she also got angry, “Jennifer talked to Julie, your father and I for over two hours before she flew down to see you. It took us that long just to understand all the details of your problem. You caught Rebecca completely off guard – she had no time to think about her reply. I think you are judging her unfairly.” Dave thought about that and his attitude softened slightly. He was surprised how angry his mother had become – he was not used to her getting angry with him. He whispered, “Maybe you’re right. I’ll think about calling her after Christmas.” His mother was still upset but she softly said, “Please think about how she felt – and what people do in surprise situations. I know she cares deeply for you.” Dave thought about what his mother said; he promised to be home before the family went to his uncle’s for their annual Christmas Eve get together. During the drive to Katherine’s, he thought about Rebecca a lot and he decided to call her on Sunday, the day after Christmas. Dave spent an hour with Katherine and they exchanged token presents before he went home. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were a loving and enjoyable time in the MacDonald household and Dave was happy to be with his family. He enjoyed college but he also missed his parents and sisters. On Sunday evening he called Rebecca’s house. Paul answered the phone and talked briefly with Dave before he called his daughter to the phone. Rebecca was very serious when she said, “Hello, Dave.” He replied softly, “Hi, Rebecca. Did you have a good Christmas?” She answered without emotion, “Yes, it was fine.” She had noticed that he called her Rebecca not his usual ‘Becca. Dave struggled to keep the conversation going. He didn’t know what to say so he asked, “How is school?” Her response was, “Fine.” He got angry but without raising his voice, he replied, “I just wanted to call and see how you are doing but you seem to be ‘fine’ – so I’ll see you around.” He was about to hang up when he heard her ask, “Why didn’t you call me sooner?” He was getting steadily angrier as he retorted, “Because the last time I talked to you, you told me you had a new boyfriend and that you had moved on and so should I.” Dave paused briefly then gave the knife he had just stuck in Rebecca’s stomach a little turn by adding, “I guess I have moved on.” Her voice was now filled with emotion as she replied, “But I wasn’t ready for you to ask me that – it wasn’t fair. You know I’m too young to get married and you totally shocked me. I didn’t want you to throw your dreams away because of me. I never actually had a boyfriend – I thought you knew. I’m sorry I lied but I didn’t know what else to say.” Dave calmed down as he thought about her explanation – he didn’t like talking on the phone so he asked, “Can I come pick you up so we can talk about this in person?” Rebecca’s mood seemed to quickly change from sadness to anger, “No, I don’t think that is a good idea. You are right – you have moved on. You are back with Katherine so I don’t see any reason for us to talk.” Dave calmly replied, “I’m not back with Katherine, we simply went out a couple of times. I’d like to talk about us.” Her voice was very cold, “There is no us. You said yourself that you have moved on. Goodbye, Dave.” Dave heard the phone go click. He shook his head in disbelief before he went to his room to think. He didn’t know what was going on with Rebecca. She went from uncaring to sad to angry in just over a minute. He didn’t have a clue what to do. She obviously didn’t want to talk to him and he wasn’t going to chase a girl that had already broken his heart, several times. He finally agreed with her, “There is no us.” His mother came up to talk about her and Dave explained what happened. She tried to convince him to give her a few days and try again but Dave explained, “She broke up with me last summer and I was devastated. We got back together, sort of, and then when I needed her most she broke my heart again. I’ve made the first move often enough. If she wants to talk again, she can call me.” His mother tried to convince him to change his mind but he wouldn’t budge from his position, so she finally told him it was his decision and left him alone. Dave went to bed early and slept fitfully; he could not stop thinking about Rebecca and all of her good points. At some time during the night, he finally convinced himself that he liked his decision best and she would have to call him if she wanted any kind of a relationship. Dave hung out with John during the week after Christmas and they practiced almost everyday. They made plans to go to a New Years Eve party on Friday. On Wednesday Dave had a long discussion with his parents about taking his car back to Wake Forest. They agreed that he was ready to take it but they felt wasting the cost of his return ticket was not an economical decision, so they told him to only book a one-way flight next time he came home and to plan on driving back to North Carolina then. He agreed. Dave went to another movie with Katherine on Thursday and after the movie they went back to Katherine’s house. Katherine’s parents were out for the evening so she and Dave made out in their television room. Things got progressively more intimate. Dave had lifted her skirt and was tenderly licking her wet pussy when they heard the front door open. They quickly made themselves presentable and narrowly avoided being caught by her mother. Even so, she seemed to be smiling knowingly as she kissed Katherine goodnight and went to bed. Dave stayed for another half hour before he went home to relieve his raging hard-on. Just before he left, they made plans to go out again on Saturday. Dave and John went to the party Friday night; John was very drunk but Dave only drank moderately. Most of the Missiles’ players were at the party and Dave enjoyed talking with his former teammates. He took a taxi home shortly after two o’clock. Dave was still sleeping soundly when he his father walked into his room at eleven o’clock in the morning and woke him. His dad softly explained there was an important phone call for him from North Carolina. He went groggily to the phone and said, “Hello?” He was surprised to hear Patsy, Alec’s mom, with a panicked voice, “Dave, Alec has been in a very bad auto accident. He was hit by a drunk driver last night and he is in critical condition. He was out with friends and had agreed to be the designated driver. He had just dropped off his last friend around two o’clock when a man drove through a red light and hit Alec’s car on the driver’s side door. He is hurt really bad and I know you would want to know.” Dave was suddenly wide awake, “What are the doctors saying?” Patsy’s voice began to crack as she replied, “They say he is stable – but he is still unconscious.” Dave’s mind was a racing as he asked, “Is there anything I can do?” She replied, “No, you are the best friend he has had since high school and I just wanted you to know.” Dave wasn’t sure what to say but after a brief pause he asked, “Please call if I can do anything, anything at all.” Patsy said goodbye and a stunned Dave hung up the phone. He immediately went to the computer and checked for availability of flights to North Carolina. There was nothing available, due to the Christmas rush. He thought for a moment then went to his father, “Dad, Alec has been in a bad accident in North Carolina. I have to be with him and I can’t get a flight. Is it okay if I take the car back to Wake Forest? We can figure out how to use the return air ticket later. I will leave as soon as I have eaten.” Dave’s father thought for a moment then called Carol into the living room. They talked briefly before Dave’s father agreed that Dave could leave in the car after he ate a good meal, as long as he promised not to drive too late that evening. Dave agreed as he went to the computer and printed some maps for his unexpected trip back to college. His mom was cooking dinner, so he called Katherine to explain what happened and regretfully cancel their date for that night. He then called John and explained what happened and asked John to thank Coach Vigneault. He told John he would call him soon. Dave got on the road shortly after lunchtime. He was pleased that before Christmas he had bought a new cell phone and had it programmed to his old number. He had been on the road for three hours when the phone rang. He answered it and talked briefly with his father. He explained that he was on the new highway towards Fredericton, New Dominion and was getting along well. Roger told him that Rebecca had called and that he had explained to her what happened. Roger said she sounded disappointed that she missed talking to Dave. Dave thanked him then asked if he had told her about his replaced cell phone? Roger said he hadn’t so Dave asked him to relay that to her if she ever called again. As Dave drove along, he spent a lot of time thinking. He thought about his current girlfriends and former girlfriends. He debated whether he should call Rebecca but decided that she still had to actually make the first move. He then thought about Alec and he prayed that Alec would be all right. He thought about Patsy being alone. She had told him that Alec was her life – her parents had passed away many years earlier and she didn’t have any other siblings. Dave was tempted to speed up to try to get there faster but realized he still had almost twenty more hours of driving to do and speeding up would almost assure that he would get a speeding ticket. He left the car on cruise at fifteen kilometers over the speed limit; he doubted that excess would get him stopped. Dave followed the same road his parents had taken in August and pulled into Bangor, Maine around suppertime. He stretched before he went into the Denny’s and ate a good supper. After eating he reviewed the maps. He still had about five hours to Boston and then two more to Hartford. He decided to see how he felt when he arrived in Boston. He was just about to start the car when his phone rang; it was Patsy. She told him that he didn’t need to come back to North Carolina right away but Dave explained that he definitely did and that he was already over a quarter of the way there. He asked how Alec was and she explained that he had regained consciousness but was now listed as critical but stable. One of his lungs had collapsed and he had significant internal damage. His left arm was broken in several places and his left hand had been severely crushed. Patsy started to cry when she said the doctors were afraid of a spinal cord injury because Alec had no feeling in his legs. Dave consoled her then explained he would be there late the following afternoon. He let her cry for a while before she collected her emotions and thanked him for coming to be with her. Dave promised to be there as soon as possible. As soon as he hung up, he was back on the road toward Boston. He arrived in Boston just before midnight. He had stopped for gas and to review his maps just before Boston; he found the highway for Hartford and headed west. He drove through Hartford at two o’clock and was beginning to feel very tired so he found a motel near the highway and stopped. He slept well; he was totally exhausted. He woke at nine o’clock and after a quick, but large breakfast, he was back on the road. He was very happy how well his sporty little Honda Prelude worked on the highway and he was cruising along again. He was relieved that it was Sunday and traffic was generally light. He made good time and slipped through New York with no major problems. He was getting steadily more tired as he drove past Washington but he knew he was getting close and he pushed on towards North Carolina. He arrived in Winston-Salem early in the evening and drove directly to the hospital. Patsy had given him directions but he still had to stop twice for help. When he found the floor Alec was on, Patsy ran to him and hugged him as she began crying on his shoulder. Dave held her close and let her cry herself out. The strong smell of the hospital reminded him of his time in Vancouver. He remembered the fear of not knowing whether he would fully recover and he knew Alec would be facing the same fears very soon. As they separated, Patsy introduced him to her best friend, Kim. She was a very plain looking woman who looked very tired. She obviously had spent a lot of time with Patsy and Dave thanked her for that. Patsy then updated Dave on Alec’s condition and was pleased that his status was improved from critical to serious but Patsy had not actually seen Alec yet. Patsy’s friend left shortly after Dave arrived. Eventually, Alec’s doctor came out to speak to Patsy and, when she explained who Dave was, he gave both of them an update. He explained that Alec’s condition was steadily improving but there was so much internal damage that they couldn’t immediately determine how much, if any, paralysis there would be. Alec was slowly regaining some feeling in his legs and the doctor was now optimistic that the spinal injury was not as serious as originally feared. Patsy hugged Dave when she heard the positive news and was very pleased when the doctor said she and Dave could go in and see Alec. As Dave walked into the room, he realized how hard it must have been for his family and Jennifer when he had been in the coma two years earlier in Vancouver. Alec had tubes coming out of everywhere and he looked terrible. Dave forced a fake happy smile as Alec looked at him with fear chiseled into his face. Patsy took Alec’s right hand and held it gently as she told him she loved him. She then kissed him and Dave could see she was fighting back tears. Dave put his arm around her for support and continued to smile at his friend. Alec asked his mom if she had called his girlfriend, Shauna, and she explained that she had only called Dave. Dave immediately told Alec he would call her and, if necessary, go get her. Dave knew she didn’t have her own car and that her parents were very strict and probably wouldn’t allow her to drive the family car the two hours from Smithfield, North Carolina. Alec was very groggy and it was obvious that he didn’t completely understand what had happened to him. Dave remembered from his own trauma what it was like being heavily drugged and having no control of the situation. Dave and Patsy sat with Alec for a half hour before the doctor returned and told them Alec needed to get some sleep. He further suggested that they both go and get some rest of their own; the sleeping Alec would be in good hands. Patsy at first refused to leave but Dave convinced her that she needed to get some sleep and that he would stay with Alec; then the two of them could take shifts. After Patsy finally agreed, she and Dave went to the cafeteria and ate a late supper before she drove home. Dave returned to the waiting room on the floor where Alec’s room was. He was sitting quietly when a plain, heavy-set nurse sat down beside him and asked, “Are you Alec’s friend Dave?” After he nodded she continued, “Alec just woke up and he is very upset and asking for you. It is well past visiting hours but I am more concerned about Alec right now. Will you talk to him?” Dave stood as he replied, “Absolutely!” Dave followed the nurse up the hallway as she led him into Alec’s room. Even before the door opened Dave could hear Alec’s panicked voice asking why he couldn’t feel his arm. Dave quickly moved to Alec’s bedside and asked, “What can I do for you, Alec?” Alec stared into Dave’s eyes and Dave knew he would never ever forget the look of terror in Alec’s face. Tears were running down his cheeks as he cried, “I can’t feel my arm! I can’t feel my arm!” Dave looked at his friend calmly and replied, “Alec, your arm was broken, and you have a lot of internal damage. Try to relax. The cast on your arm and hand have it immobilized - once your body heals you will be able to feel your arm.” Dave knew that he might be lying but he had to calm his friend down. Alec looked at his friend, “Dave, I’ve dreamed of being a competitive golfer and with your help that has finally happened. I don’t want to lose that now.” Dave took Alec’s other hand, “Right now you need to think about getting better. You can’t swing a club with that cast on your arm, so let’s deal with that first. Just relax and let the nurses do their jobs.” Dave smiled at the nurse who had been with Alec while the heavy-set nurse went to get him. She nodded at Dave before she moved away from Alec and out of the room. She was a very pretty young nurse and, after she left, Dave whispered, “Maybe if you’re a very good patient, that pretty young nurse might give you a blow job.” Alec looked at Dave suspiciously then began to laugh but as soon as he did, pain filled his face, and he admonished, “Stop, Dave! It’s hurts to laugh.” Dave smiled at his friend, “I’ve personally experienced sponge baths; they can be simply incredible.” Alec again smiled before he asked Dave how was his holidays. Dave told him about practicing with the Missiles and about spending some time with Katherine. He also told him about Rebecca and about her not having a boyfriend. He told Alec that he drove his car back and he would not have to borrow Alec’s car anymore. Alec looked at him sadly and said if his car was half as bad as he felt, it was probably totally destroyed. Dave felt stupid as he had forgotten about that until the words slipped out of his mouth. Alec asked, “Did you get your phone replaced at home like you planned?” After Dave nodded he continued, “Can I use it to call Shauna?” Dave handed his friend the phone and then left the room to talk to the nurses. He found both of them at the nurses’ station and they thanked him for helping calm Alec. He asked if he could sit in the chair in Alec’s room and both nurses looked at each other then nodded yes. Dave smiled as he returned to Alec’s room. Alec was still talking to Shauna and Dave was about to leave again when Alec asked, “Do you mind going to pick Shauna up tomorrow? Her parents won’t give her their car.” Dave said he would be happy to and asked what time. Alec passed him the phone and he talked briefly with Shauna and arranged a time then passed the phone back to Alec. Alec pointed Dave to the chair beside his bed, so Dave sat down while Alec finished his conversation. When he closed the phone he smiled at Dave, “It was nice to talk to her. I’m glad my mom didn’t call her because she would have been very worried. Thanks for going to get her tomorrow. I know she is twenty years old but her parents still treat her like a child. I went down to see her just before Christmas and I couldn’t believe how they treat her. I think I’m in love with her, Dave. She is truly special.” Dave agreed, “Yes, Alec, she is special. I’m really happy you found her as well.” Alec stared at the ceiling and explained, “I’m not sure what I will do if I lose my scholarship. I tried living at home last year but the commute was impossible. I know Dad won’t give me any more money and I don’t want him too. You heard my mom say she called him – he said he would try to get down here to see me later this week.” A tear ran down Alec’s cheek as he added, “We were never close but I always thought he loved me. I guess his idea of love is different than mine. If my best friend can drive for over twenty hours, he should have been willing to drive a fraction of that.” Dave held his friend’s hand and he again thought about his entire family flying across the country to be with him when he had gotten shot. He told himself to tell his parents again how much he loved them. Dave didn’t say much, he just listened to his friend and consoled him. Eventually Alec fell asleep, so Dave walked out of the room to the vacant waiting room. He opened his phone and called home. He knew it was after midnight at home but they had asked him to call when he arrived and he had forgotten. His father answered and Dave told him he had arrived earlier but had been busy with Alec and his mom. He explained Alec’s condition then told his father about Alec’s dad. Dave told his father that he loved him and that he knew he would always be there for him. Roger thanked Dave before he handed the phone to his wife. Dave noticed that his father seemed to be very emotional and Dave felt tears running down his own cheeks as he repeated his words of love to his mother. She told Dave she loved him too. They talked about his drive to North Carolina and just before they said their goodbyes Carol told Dave that she called Rebecca and told her he had his old cell number if she wanted to call him. Dave thanked his mother and said goodbye. Dave went back into Alec’s room and curled up in the chair. Surprisingly, he fell right to sleep. He woke several times as the nurses came and went – they checked Alec’s vital signs very routinely. When the nurses checked on Alec at five in the morning, the pretty nurse suggested that Dave better move to the waiting room because the doctor would be making rounds before too long and he would not be happy if he knew Dave had spent the night in Alec’s room. Dave thanked her and went to the waiting room where he quickly fell back to sleep. He slept on and off until he felt a hand take his hand and he opened his eyes to the much rested looking face of Patsy. She asked how he was doing and he explained that he had slept in Alec’s room most of the night and surprisingly felt very good. She suggested he go back to the house and get a good rest but he explained that he had to leave around nine to go get Shauna. She suggested they go eat breakfast after she had a short visit with Alec. He stretched and walked around trying to wake up. His mouth tasted awful so he went out to his car and got out his toothpaste and toothbrush. After a quick stop in the washroom he walked into Alec’s room. Alec was awake and seemed to be getting slowly better and more aware of things. After talking with Alec for an hour, Dave and Patsy went to cafeteria for breakfast. Dave ate a good meal before he left to get Shauna. He followed interstate 40 to Smithfield then called Shauna for directions. When he pulled into her driveway she was waiting on her doorsteps. She ran to his car and quickly got in – she was very anxious to see Alec. They were nearing Greensboro when Dave’s phone rang. He didn’t like talking while he drove so he handed the phone to Shauna and asked her to answer it. Dave heard, “Hello? … This is Shauna, Dave’s driving. Who is this? … Rebecca?” Dave looked at Shauna with a surprised look on his face. He said, “I’m going to pull over. Do you want to drive for a while?” She nodded then spoke into the phone, “He’s just going to pull over so he can talk to you.” Dave pulled off to the side of the highway then switched seats with Shauna. Before he got out his door, he took the cell and as he walked around the car he spoke into the phone, “Hi, Rebecca, how are you?” Rebecca immediately asked, “Who was that who answered the phone?” Dave noticed the angry tone in her voice and he almost told her it was his girlfriend but he pushed that spiteful thought out of his head and explained, “That was Shauna, Alec’s girlfriend; I’m taking her to the hospital to see him.” Rebecca’s voice softened immediately, “Oh, I called to say I am sorry that I wouldn’t see you last week. I was really hurt and angry that you got back together with Katherine. I called you on Saturday to see if we could have a talk but you were already gone. Is Alec okay?” Dave was a little upset that she merely felt hurt when he had felt devastated. He considered saying something ignorant but he knew that wasn’t appropriate, so he simply replied, “He’s doing much better but he was hurt pretty bad.” Rebecca asked, “Can we talk for a few minutes?” Dave answered, “Yes, Shauna is driving now.” Rebecca continued, “I’ve being thinking about you every minute since you called last week. I thought you had known I wasn’t seeing anyone and that you were mad at me for not marrying you. I love you, Dave – and I’m so sorry I hurt you. I was stupid and selfish and I want to make it up to you. What can I do to make it right?” Dave was happy to hear her apologize but he didn’t know what to say. His feelings for Rebecca had changed a lot since the day he had called her and, while he still cared for her, he didn’t know if he still loved her. The last three weeks had almost confirmed that he didn’t. He answered, “Rebecca, that was the worst week of my life. I really needed you but you turned your back on me. I now realize that I caught you off guard and I can understand why you said what you said – but you never once called me to explain what you did or why you did it. I had hit an unbelievable low that week and if Jennifer hadn’t come to my rescue … well, I’m just happy she did. Rebecca, I loved you. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you but you hurt me, a lot. I have also thought about you many times since we talked last week and Mom talked to me about it as well. I accept your apology and I would like us to be friends.” Rebecca was crying and Dave felt tears pooling in his own eyes. She pleaded, “Dave, I don’t want to be just friends. Will you please ask me that question, again? I promise my answer will be different this time.” Dave was surprised by her words but he softly said, “No, Rebecca. I won’t ask you to marry me again. I’m not ready to get married, now.” Rebecca was crying even louder, “I’m sorry, Dave. I will always love you. Goodbye.” Dave said goodbye then he closed his phone and stared down at his hands as his tears splashed onto his hands. He had forgotten about Shauna and she asked softly, “Are you okay?” He wiped his eyes and replied, “Yes, that was very hard. I loved her with all my heart. I thought she was the one I was going to marry. I actually did ask her to marry me – but the timing was all wrong.” Shauna looked at Dave questioningly so he continued, “Rebecca is still in high school, but we have so much in common that I used to feel like she was part of me when we were together. She broke up with me last summer before I came to Wake Forest and that really hurt me – but she wanted me to have a chance to live my golf dream. When everything went wrong with the team, I phoned a scout with the Detroit Red Wings.” Shauna looked even more puzzled so he elaborated, “I played hockey last winter and I was drafted by a professional hockey team called the Detroit Red Wings. I had the scout come meet me here at Wake Forest and we agreed on multi-million dollar contract. I had decided to leave Wake Forest and sign that contract. The only missing piece of the puzzle was Rebecca – I wanted to marry her then go play with the Wings. After I finished the meeting with the scout, I called Rebecca and asked her. I caught her totally by surprise and she lied and told me she had a new boyfriend and that she had moved on and so should I. I was devastated. Luckily my best friend Jennifer flew down from Canada and got me straightened out. Rebecca never called me to tell me the truth and when I returned home at Christmas, I spent some time with another old girlfriend. My mother told me about Rebecca’s lie on Christmas Eve but it may be too late. I think my feelings for her have changed.” Shauna sympathized, “I’m sorry, Dave. So Rebecca has changed her mind? Did she ask you to marry her?” Dave shook his head, “No, well kinda … she asked me to ask her again and promised a different answer. I will really miss her but I’m not ready to marry her … or anyone, right now.” Shauna nodded but remained silent. Dave had never really had a chance to talk to Shauna alone before so he asked, “What drew you to Alec.” Shauna blushed, “I’ve liked Alec for over a year now, but I was too shy to talk to him. He was in one of my business classes last year and I could tell he was a nice guy, but he never seemed to notice me. I think it was because of the way I dressed. He has probably told you that my parents are really strict. That is part of the reason I went to Wake Forest – so I could get out on my own. But the first two years were really hard and I isolated myself even more – I just wasn’t used to socializing. “This past summer I worked full time and saved enough money to buy a whole new wardrobe – I felt more confident. I hoped Alec would notice me but he didn’t. I used to stand in the woods and watch him practicing his golf. After he did so well in the tournament in Florida, I wanted to congratulate him like some of the other students were doing but I chickened out. I was mad at myself for a week – I should have just walked up to him. So when he did so well in the second tournament, I had another chance. I was shaking like a leaf but I walked up to him and we spoke for the first time. I have never been so happy – he is so sweet and I love him deeply.” She seemed to be deep in thought before she asked, “Do you think it is possible for two people to fall in love in just a couple of months?” Dave smiled warmly, “I most definitely do. Alec is an absolute wonderful guy and I know he loves you as well.” Shauna suddenly looked very upset, “When he called last night, I was really frightened. I realized how I could have lost him and I cried myself to sleep. I love him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. If he asked me to marry him I would definitely say yes – on the spot.” Dave realized they were just reaching Winston-Salem so he directed Shauna to the hospital. He led her into the hospital. As soon as she walked into his room she started crying and ran to his side. She kissed him lovingly and told him she loved him. Alec got very upset but as well and began crying too. Dave and Patsy slipped out of the room to give them some private time. Patsy told Dave to go back to their house and have a good sleep. Dave took the key for their house and left. As he lay in the bed in their spare room he thought about Shauna’s love for Alec and he thought again about the women in his life. He finally decided that he was definitely not ready for marriage but he remembered the wonderful time he spent being so close with Rebecca in the fall and during the previous spring. She was very special. He eventually pushed those thoughts out of his head and he went to sleep thinking about the well-tanned twins and what their reunion would provide.