Heroes Never Die by Lois Sanders

filled a bucket of soap with water from the garden hose.  She carried the bucket over to Brian’s car.  Brian stood in the distance and shook the dirt from the car mats.  “Here’s the soap,” Stephanie said as she lowered the bucket onto the driveway.”
    “Thanks, hon.  I’ll wash, you rinse.”
    Brian sponged soap all over the top of his car.  Stephanie sprayed water over the hood until all of the suds rinsed away.  She felt a fine mist of water jet backward and spray her face.  It was a hot August day and the cold water felt good on her skin.  She followed Brian around the car, rinsing the suds as she went, accidentally on purpose spraying him whenever she thought she could get away with it.  As she watched him scrub the last tire, she couldn’t resist the temptation any longer.  She aimed the hose at Brian’s face and blasted him with cold water.  Then she screamed with laughter.
    Brian caught hold of her and lifted a bucket of water over her head.  “Truce, Brian, truce,” she cried as she braced herself for the gush of cold water.
    “Too late.”  Then he poured the icy water over her head.
    The blazing sun quickly vaporized the water on their skin.  They put away the cleaning supplies, and Stephanie led Brian upstairs so they could dry their hair.  She handed him a velvety soft bath towel from the linen closet and he playfully wrapped her up in it until she couldn’t move.  She screamed with laughter as he shimmied the towel back and forth in a buffing motion to dry her.  Then Stephanie took another towel from the closet and dried Brian.
    On their way downstairs, Brian noticed the étagère holding Stephanie’s dolls and stuffed animals.  “I see you still play with dolls,” he teased.
    “Don’t be silly,” she giggled.  “I’m saving them to give to my own little girl.”
    “Do you want a family?” he tested.
    “Someday,” she replied, shrugging her shoulders.  “But I’m in no big hurry.”
    “Well, I am,” he said as he playfully pulled her into his arms.  He began to tickle her sides, and Stephanie twisted and giggled.  Then all at once, the tickling stopped.  They were still for a moment and their eyes filled with intense longing.  Brian pressed her mouth with his.  She felt his kiss intensify.  “I want to make love to you,” he whispered.
    “Dad is due home any second,” she said as she embraced his face, hoping he would understand.
    “Then let’s go downstairs,” he said coolly, his brow twisted with tension.
    Stephanie heard his feet on the stairs.  He already had the power to crush her.  I don’t want to lose you, Brian, but I don’t want to break my dad’s heart, either.
    Brian was already in the family room when she caught up to him.  She could see the tension in his face, tension he had been unable to release.  “Are you angry with me, Brian?”
    “Let me ask you this – will you ever be able to leave your dad?”
    “You know how I feel about Dad.  He’s all I have.  The last thing I want is for him to come home and catch us in the act.  I love you, Brian, but if you don’t understand that, then you can leave.  And on your way out, I’d be more than happy to give you directions to the red-light district.”
    Brian’s head reared back with surprise.  “As usual, you jumped to the wrong conclusion.”
    “Oh, really?” she argued, offended at the accusation.  “Then tell me what I’m missing.”
    “I know you love your dad, Stephanie.  I asked if you could ever leave him because I want to marry you.”
    “What?”  Stephanie was stunned.  An eternity seemed to pass before she was able to comprehend what Brian was saying.  “You’re asking me to marry you?”
    Brian placed his hands on her face.  She saw his eyes soften.  “I love you, Stephanie, and I don’t want to be without you any longer.  Please marry me.  Please say yes.”
    Stephanie suddenly realized that her mouth was gaping.  “You’ve only known