Stephan by Hazel Gower Page A

first time.
They’d thought to give me time to recover a little before they
introduced themselves. I was grateful. Supposedly I had met
Stephan’s father, but I didn’t remember. The last thing I
remembered from the other night was running from my grandpa.
    Tomorrow, if all was still going well, they
were releasing me. I wanted to get up and shower, the nurse had put
a bag over my cast and I had waterproof dressings over the stitches
on my legs. I’d been given a walking frame to help me get to the
bathroom and to stay standing. My body was still battered and
bruised. It hurt like a mother to walk and I’d only done it when
Stephan wasn’t around to carry me.
    Now I wanted to have my first shower, so I
wouldn’t smell when I met his parents. I’d gotten a sponge bath
from the nurses and they’d made Stephan leave, but he was refusing
to leave now.
    “No way, I’m not going. You need me in case
you fall in the shower.”
    “There is a nurse call button if that
happens, and I won’t fall cos I have the walker.”
    “I said no.” He crossed his arms over his
chest.
    I eased off the bed and grabbed the walker.
He took it from me and lifted me into his arms. “Put me down now,
Stephan. I can walk to the shower.”
    “No. You can’t walk to the shower or stand
for that long. You either walk to the shower and I stand watching
you in the shower, making sure you don’t fall, or you let me carry
you and I wait with the curtain closed.”
    “Argh, I hate you.”
    “No you don’t.”
    He was right, but I’d never admit it to him.
I looked over at the nurse’s button, wondering how long they would
take to come if I pressed it. They’d help me get him out.
    “Don’t even think about it. I’m taking you to
the shower. I’ve already put clean underwear, a nighty, and other
girly stuff Mum thought you’d need.”
    “Ah, what a sweet thing to do.”
    Stephan shook his head. “She’s sweet? And me
who’s been looking after you isn’t?”
    “Your mum isn’t pissing me off now by taking
over and being bossy. I bet she’d listen if I told her I could walk
to the bathroom and shower on my own.”
    “I bet she would, but I’m not my mother. So
tough luck for you.” He walked with me in his arms to the bathroom,
sitting me on a seat he’d placed in there. I rolled my eyes
heavenward praying for patience. He turned on the shower taps
fiddling with them. “Okay. It should be perfect temperature
now.”
    I raised my eyebrow, because really, I could
get my own water to the temperature I wanted. Stephan stared at me
and I glared back. I crossed my arms over my chest, which was hard
to do with a cast, and gave my best death stare. I wasn’t taking my
gown off until he left. No way was he seeing me naked…er again.
    “Do you need me to help you undress?”
    “No. Get out.” He didn’t move so I stood,
hobbling toward him. “Out now, Stephan, or so help me God I will
kill you.”
    The wanker smiled. “Okay, little bit, I’ll be
out the door. Call me when you get in the shower.”
    Ha, I wasn’t going to call him. He left and
shut the door and locked it, grinning at my win.
    Stripping out of my hospital gown and
underwear was a workout. I slowly made my way back to the running
water and eased under it, wincing when it hit my still tender
flesh. I was glad Stephan wasn’t in the bathroom. He would have
freaked when I’d winced and taken me out. He’d become more
overbearing than ever. I told myself over and over he was looking
after me, but today it wasn’t helping.
    At the side I noticed a pink overnight bag.
Opening it I saw everything I could ever need. The bag was stuffed
full of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face scrub, bunch of
creams, a new toothbrush, and toothpaste. She’d even added a small
sewing kit, and a miniature manicure set. I stayed in the shower
for as long as I could and used most of my new things.
    I sighed and got out when I heard, “I’m
coming in now if you don’t answer me.