Rather be Golfing…

by Marie and Meggie

Leaving the world of dreams and slumber behind, Meggie’s first thought was the absence of warmth, of protection near her. Opening her eyes slowly, she found herself staring at the bedroom door. Jeffrey. Bedroom. Together. Her mind played back the events from the night before. Her hand stretched across the mattress, seeking out Jeffrey’s body, but she felt nothing. Sitting up quickly, eyes now fully opened, she scanned the bedroom.

Jeffrey found himself in high spirits, despite the events which had transpired the night before. While his back ached and he felt like every bone in his body was bruised, sleeping in the arms of his love made it all worthwhile. Smiling, he thought of her arms wrapped around him, her head upon his chest. Her warm breath on his bare skin as she slept. And how wonderful it felt to cradle her small body against his, seeking his protection, needing his love. Yes, he admitted to himself, being attacked by the tree branch-from-hell had been worth it. Except for the fact that a rapist and murderer was still wandering around in the Glen. Flipping the bathroom light switch off, he reentered the bedroom to find Meggie awake.

“Good morning, Meggie, my love,” he softly said as he walked up to the bed and leaned down, placing a kiss on her head. “I think….”

“I thought…you…thought you were gone.” She reached up, gently touching his face. “Oh, Jeffrey! Your back…it’s….”

“Pretty banged up, yeah, I can feel every bone in my body, I’m afraid.” He turned around, then picked his jeans up from the floor and slid them on over his black boxers.

A warm feeling quickly spread across her face, and throughout her body, as she watched him dress. She remembered helping him get his New York Jets shirt off, but after that, nothing. Smiling with a crooked grin, she continued to watch Jeffrey as he struggled with his shirt.

“Jeffrey…I don’t remember helping you get your pants off.”

“Ouch, damn! What? Oh, no, no. I, um, took them off later. I was,” he continued to sputter, his face turning red, “rather hot. And besides, I made sure you weren’t peeking… to protect your reputation and honor.” He laughed and then winced as he slowly slipped his arm through one of the shirt’s sleeves. “But then, at my age, there’s nothing much to gaze upon, I’m afraid. Just a lot of extra weight, mental baggage, and gray, thinning hair.”

Meggie smiled despite the sudden pang of sadness which filled her heart. She quickly got out of bed, walked over to where Jeffrey stood, and took his face in her hands, caressing it softly. Standing on her toes, she placed a tender kiss on his lips. “They’re called ‘love handles.’ And I love running my fingers through your soft and silky hair, just to ruffle it up a bit. As for the mental baggage, everyone has something from their past that haunts them. Something they wish they hadn’t said or done, or maybe, they should have done differently. A regret or mistake that just keeps…oh, Jeffrey.” Meggie paused for a moment, letting her attention shift from him to the window behind them, “I…you need….”

Jeffrey reached out, cupping her cheek in his hand. He searched her face, noticing the sudden pain and, fear? No, not fear, hesitation.

“Darling, what is it? Tell me.”

Clearing her voice, Meggie tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear before returning her attention to Jeffrey. “You need to see a doctor. I’m worried about your back and every other inch of your body. Let me drive you to Coffs to be checked out.”

“No, I don’t need to see a doctor, really Meggie. But I do want to know what’s troubling you.” Gently, he pulled her close to his chest, his hand touching her face, then continuing down to the small of her back. His lips brushed her ear. “Sweetheart, talk to me. Please.”

“I’m just worried about you, that’s all. I’m going to take a quick shower and afterwards, Dr. Wigand, we’re going to see a doctor. No ifs, ands, or buts.” She pulled away from him, grabbed a pair of jeans and shirt from her drawer, and then headed into the bathroom. “Just give me fifteen minutes, okay?” Before he could respond, she had closed the door.

“Damn it,” he cursed under his breath. What didn’t he see or understand? What ghosts or regrets from her past still haunted and tormented her so? Was it really about last night? Maybe the gun? The gun! The branch had knocked it from his grasp and he had completely forgotten about it until now. He heard the shower running and realized he needed to find the gun quickly. Moving towards the bathroom door, he paused, not sure if she would hear him knock or yell. He sighed, then turned and headed quickly downstairs.

He found the gun a couple of feet away from where the branch had fallen on top him. As he bent down, bolts of pain shot down his lower back. Clenching his teeth, Jeffrey cursed before picking up the gun. Returning inside, Jeffrey stopped to put the gun back in his duffle bag. Had someone been outside Meggie’s house the night before? Maybe he’d call the police, let them know he thought an intruder was…what? Behaving like a demented Robin Hood, hiding up in the tree and waiting to send the branch down on him?

Shaking his head, Jeffrey approached the phone on the nearby table. He remembered talking to a detective at the Glen’s last social event. White…Bud White. And Marie, his lovely wife. They had invited him and Meggie to their house for dinner and for some dancing lessons. Wanting to know if the police had found the murderer, he reached for the phone book and skimmed down the pages until he found the number he needed. Then he dialed and waited.

“Could I speak to Detective Bud White, please?”

“One moment please.” The call was put on hold for a minute.

“White, Bud White. How can I help you?” Bud wasn’t given a name.

“Uh, yes, hello Detective White. My name is Jeffrey Wigand. I don’t know if you remember me, but we met and talked briefly at the last Glen celebration.” Get to the point, Wigand, Jeffrey thought to himself. “What I’m calling about…it’s about the man who attacked and killed Marce. Are there any leads yet? I’m staying with someone…Meggie Ward right now. Didn’t want her to be alone in this big house.” Plus, I think there’s this demented, phantom Robin Hood who hides in trees and sends branches crashing down. Yeah, explain THAT one, Wigand. Jeffrey glanced upstairs as he heard the shower turn off.

“Sure, I remember you, Dr. Wigand. And Miss Ward too.” Bud had a good memory for people. Maybe it was part of his job. He addressed Wigand formally since this was in an official capacity. The word would be out shortly. He hesitated only a moment. This guy had the right to feel safe again for him and his girl.

“Rest easy, Dr. Wigand. The problem is taken care of. There is no more danger.” He lowered his voice so no one else could hear him in the station.

“The shitbird who killed Marce is dead, Jeffrey.” Bud figured he wasn’t giving any details about what happened with the Sheriff and it would be in the paper the next day anyway.

Jeffrey breathed a sigh of relief. While this monster’s death wouldn’t bring Marce back, at least he couldn’t hurt and terrorize anyone else. “Bud, um, Detective White…thank you. And the whole department for their efforts. I hope Marce’s family can begin to heal and move forward now.”

“Jeffrey? Jeffrey? All right, Dr. Wigand…where did you go this time?”

At the mention of his name, Jeffrey’s head jerked up. Meggie must have finished showering and had come out expecting to see him. He closed his eyes, a sudden sense of relief filling his soul and mind. Now he could tell Meggie.

Remembering he still had Bud on the phone, Jeffrey quickly apologized. “Detective, thank you again. Sometime, when it’s convenient, Meggie and I would very much love to have you and Mrs. White come over for dinner and some dancing. I know Meggie would really enjoy that. Ah, I should be letting you get back to work and all. Please give my best regards to your wife and her cousins. They’re in very good hands having you in their lives.”

“Sure and thanks for the invite, Dr. Wigand.” Bud thought Wigand was an okay guy and he knew Marie liked him and Meggie too. “I know Marie would like to come over for dinner and dancing. My girl loves to dance.” That reminded him he needed to call Marie. She was home today and was making him lunch. He had to see what time she wanted him home to eat.

“Goodbye and reassure Miss Ward that everything is safe now.” Bud was no fool. Nothing was ever completely safe, but things were a helluva lot better without that asshole running around the Glen.

After saying goodbye, Jeffrey felt a sudden rush, a need to wrap Meggie in his arms and admit, for the first time, he believed in second chances. That fate had brought them together back in the States. I wasted so much time, he thought. But I plan on making it up to you, my Meggie. And I need to know what’s really hurting you.

“Jeffrey! What happened? I thought…” Meggie’s voice broke his concentration.

He looked up, smiling when he saw her standing on the stairway, wearing jeans and a soft yellow shirt. She was running her hand through her long brown hair. “Meggie,” he began, “I just got off the phone. Talked to Detective Bud White.”

“I remember Detective White. And his wife, Marie. Such a sweet couple. Plus they love dancing and wanted to get together with us sometime. But, is something wrong? Did something happen?” She approached him slowly, noticing the opened black duffle bag.

He reached out, quickly taking her into his arms. Placing a soft kiss on top of her head, Jeffrey continued to hold her tightly before he answered.

“Meggie, it’s going to be all right now. Bud said they caught the bastard who attacked and killed Marce. He’s dead and can’t hurt anyone ever again.” He released his grip and searched her face for a response.

Meggie closed her eyes, a small sigh escaping from her lips. While she felt a sense of relief wash over her, part of her realized there would still be much grieving for Marce’s family. “Thank God. Now, hopefully, Marce’s family can try to move forward.” Wrapping her arms around herself, her attention returned to the duffle bag. “Gun.” Short and to the point. “Can’t believe we forgot about it. Well, I guess I can. You needed help and getting you inside was my immediate concern.”

Jeffrey sat down to zip the duffle bag shut and then placed it on the floor, away from the couch. He motioned for her to come sit next to him. She did so and smiled when she felt his large hands wrap around her fingers. Looking into his eyes, she couldn’t help but notice he looked happier than she had ever seen him before.

“Sweetheart, I’ve been thinking about how much time we’ve, or rather, I’ve wasted. Time we could have been together instead of having this huge ocean between us. I…” he paused, a sudden jolt of pain shooting down his back. “I…ah, damnit!” He released his grip of her hands and began rubbing his backside.

“That’s it. You’re going to see a doctor. Today, Dr. Wigand. I don’t care what you say, you can argue all you want. But you’re going to see a doctor.” She touched his cheek, rubbing her thumb cross his lower lip tenderly. “Okay? You need more medical attention than what I can give you. Now give me your car keys. You can’t climb up into it my Jeep and the bumpy ride would only aggravate your injuries. So, we’re taking your car.”

Jeffrey nodded, and slowly reached into his pocket for the keys. “Here. Just be gentle with her…my golf clubs are in the trunk.”

“You do know, I’d smack you if you weren’t already hurt, Jeffrey.” She tried to keep from smiling. “Now let’s get going.”

*************

A little over an hour later, Jeffrey found himself sitting next to Meggie in a doctor’s office located in Coffs Harbour. He set the magazine down he had been flipping through for the last half hour. “Meggie, see if they have anymore golf magazines.” Jeffrey motioned at the table directly across from them covered by several layers of glossy covers.

She selected another one and handed it to him. “Don’t get too involved in this one. I’m sure the nurse will be calling your name next.”

Just at that moment the door opened to the office and a young woman in scrubs emerged.

“Dr. Wigand? This way please.” She smiled at him as she escorted him to the examination room.

“My name is Melora. I’ll be your nurse today.” She showed Dr. Wigand to a chair and took his blood pressure, pulse, respiration and temperature. Then she took a brief history and handed him a patient gown.

“Go ahead and put this on Dr. Wigand. Dr. Salvatore will be in to see you in just a few minutes.” The nurse excused herself and shut the door behind her to give him privacy.

Jeffrey started to remove his shirt before another ripple of pain hit him, causing him to clench his jaw. Moments later, he managed to open his eyes and let out a deep breath.

“Jeffrey, wait.” Meggie, who had been patiently standing next to the closed door while the nurse examined him, now quickly crossed the room to be near him. “Here,” she said, her voice filled with worry and urgency, “let me help you with this shirt again.” Undoing the buttons, she carefully and slowly removed the green top. She then stopped, a light shade of red touching her cheeks. “Pants, next.” Meggie reached for his belt, her hands hesitating for only a moment before she continued.

Her slight hesitation did not go unnoticed. “I got it, Meggie.” Jeffrey touched her hands, holding them for a moment. He nodded his head. “Can you make sure that door is closed completely? I don’t want to ‘moon’ the entire medical staff here.” He smiled, hoping to put her at ease and distract her momentarily.

She nodded her head, then turned around and headed to the door. Jeffrey meanwhile slipped his jeans and boxers off, discarding them into a pile on the floor. He then pulled the gown together in the back, tying the strings.

“Door closed,” Meggie finally answered. She laughed nervously, trying to make light of the situation. “Your behind, Dr. Wigand, is safe from public viewing.” Looking over her shoulder, their eyes met and held that precious moment tenderly between them for what seemed like an eternity.

A few seconds later, there was a knock on the door.

“Dr. Wigand. Hello, I’m Dr. Salvatore. I hear you’ve had a bit of an accident.” The handsome dark haired physician entered the exam room.

Meggie coughed, excusing herself before taking a seat across from the examining table.

“On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the most intense pain you can imagine, what is your pain level today and show me where it is the most intense? Also does the pain radiate to anywhere else?”

“An eight. Uh, right here,” Jeffrey answered, touching his neck and shoulders, “and continuing down my back and sides. It comes and goes, like a spasm.” He offered a lopsided grin, more so for Meggie than the doctor.

“Dr. Salvatore, is it serious? Did he break or pull anything?” Meggie asked directly.

“From my examination I don’t think he’s broken anything, but I’m going to get an x-ray to be certain, Dr. Wigand.” He gently pressed the tight knot of muscles aside of his spine attempting to not cause him more pain.

“These muscles are tight and sore. They’re guarding your spine from the injury. That’s a good thing, but now that your spine isn’t in danger of further injury we need to relax those muscles some to stop the spasms. After we’re certain there is no fracture I’ll prescribe you some muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory pain medication. You shouldn’t drive while taking the muscle relaxants.” The doctor shot a smile to Meggie to indicate she would need to drive him home.

“For the first 48 hours since the injury you should use ice to the area and then switch to heat. You need to get plenty of rest during that time. Let your body clue you into when it’s ready to start increasing your activity. I’ll send you for that x-ray now. Did you have any questions right now? Dr. Salvatore ran a hand through his wavy unruly brown hair to put it back in place.

“I guess this means no golfing?” Jeffrey asked in a deadpan tone.

Meggie rolled her eyes. “Medical, Jeffrey. Medical ones.” She stood up and then extended her hand to the handsome doctor. “Thank you, Dr. Salvatore. Will Jeffrey need to schedule any follow-up visits? And how long do you think before,” she paused and nodded with her head, “Arnold Palmer here can resume normal activities?” Meggie reached out and took hold of Jeffrey’s hand, giving him a light squeeze.

“Let me see the results of your x-ray and then I can give you a better prognosis, Dr. Wigand.”

Dr. Salvatore had his technician complete a lumbar series on Dr. Wigand and he reviewed the films before returning to speak to Dr. Wigand and his lady friend.

“There is good news, Dr. Wigand. No fractures of your vertebrae. It is a sprain or strain. Rest will be the best thing you can do for the next few days. No golf for at least a week and only then if you are able to swing a club without pain.”

Dr. Salvatore handed him the prescriptions for the muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory.

“Take these as I prescribed and don’t forget the ice to your back and rest. You only need to see me again if you’re not improving in a few days. Don’t hesitate to come back and see me if you need to.” Dr. Salvatore shook Dr. Wigand’s hand.

“Did either of you have any more questions about the course of treatment for your back, Dr. Wigand?”

Meggie looked over at Jeffrey, who shook his head. “No, don’t think so. Hey, thanks Dr. Salvatore.”

“Thank you, Doctor. I’ll make sure Jeffrey stays away from anything golf-related” she added, laughing. “Okay, you…let’s get you dressed and back home. And I’ll get these filled on the way out.”

She leaned over, handing him his clothes and then taking the prescriptions from him. The sound of the door shutting behind them jolted her attention from his bruised backside. “Jeffrey, I need to ask the doctor one last thing. Only be a second, okay?”

“Meggie sweetheart, what’s…” he asked, searching her face for some hint of what she was thinking.

“Just have a question about your medicine, that’s all. Be right back.” She wrapped her right arm around his neck, planting a quick kiss on his lips before leaving the room. Outside, she saw the tall doctor focused on the medical charts and notes.

“Excuse me, Dr. Salvatore, there’s something I wanted to ask.” She paused, glancing over her shoulder, before moving towards him. “I know the x-ray showed no fractures, but…there’s a small lump on his backside, near his spine. A hard one, I felt it. I know Jeffrey would just dismiss it if I said something, but…is this something to worry about?”

“I felt that on the examination. It’s what’s known as a hematoma which is a collection of blood from bruising. The ice will help that and his body will reabsorb the old blood and heal. It seemed stable and will be fine as long as it doesn’t grow in size which would show continued bleeding into the skin. If for any reason you feel Dr. Wigand’s condition is worsening instead of improving, don’t hesitate to bring him back to see me, Miss Ward.” He smiled and offered his hand to her.

“Oh, I will, I will. Even if that means interrupting his golf game, I’ll make sure he comes back to see you.” Feeling relieved, Meggie smiled as she accepted Dr. Salvatore’s hand.

She returned to find Jeffrey dressed except for the buttons on his shirt. A sly grin spread across her face as she approached him. Jeffrey turned around and smiled back.

“I was beginning to wonder if you’d dumped me for that handsome, young doctor,” he said jokingly, taking enjoyment as he watched Meggie button his shirt.

“He does have the most remarkable blue eyes…and such a smile. And he did his very best to woo me, but alas, I had to let him down easy and tell him my heart already belonged to someone else. Another handsome, blue-eyed doctor.”

“Well, just remember this model is very old and quite used....”

She cut him off by standing on her tip-toes, her lips taking his in a long, tender kiss. “Not old, just mature. Now, Dr. Wigand. Let’s get you home where you can relax and let me take care of that back.”

He reached for her hand, holding it tightly in his own. “That’s a deal. But…I’d much rather be golfing than lying around.”

“Uh-huh. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”