"It's been a long day without you my friend. And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again"
The song was playing in the background as I headed to Point Pleasant making my thoughts even sadder. I was in need of some happy time. Another family dinner gone wrong. Another blame session where I was solely responsible for the Burg's issues according to mother. I just don't get it. What is so wrong with wanting to be free?. Free of expectations, rumours and cheating husbands who barely wait till the ink is dry on the marriage certificate before banging the town slut. The whole drive over all I can think about is what Ranger would say. Lately we've been getting closer. As if he understands that all this…pressure is starting to weigh me down. Romantic dinners on 7, flying me to New York so we could see a show, picnics at Point Pleasant and emergency tastykakes stashed in his glove compartment. He was opening up to me and I wanted it more than anything else in the world. But that had come to an end 2 weeks ago when he left to save the world. Like Batman he was there one minute and gone the next. The only clue he had been there was a wrapped photo Les had snapped of us and a note telling me to stay strong and to stay on 7. As the song finished I pulled into the parking space facing the pier and got out.
I must have been a mermaid in previous life. The sea just calms me. My problems feel insignificant when faced with its raw power crashing backwards and forwards onto the sand. My little sandcastle didn't stand a chance when faced with its waves. Knowing my luck instead of being a mermaid I'd have been a whale. My thoughts go back to Ranger and his offer of staying on 7. I wish I had now. No unexpected drop by Morelli, visits from my mother telling me I'm getting old and how I always cause her problems. But just lying in that bed smelling Ranger and being alone made me realise how much I loved him. I had been sitting with my feet curled into the sand for little more than an hour when I felt a shadow fall over me. Judging by how big it was I could only assume Tank had found me. "Thought I'd come see if you were ok. Your Grandma called" he said. I thought back.
Am I ok? …"No Tank. I miss Ranger and I don't think I can take any more of the forced marriage talk, comments, gossiping. Know any bunkers I can use to hide out in" I joked. He didn't have any bunkers but what came out of his mouth next gave me hope and made my heart race "No bunkers bomber but Ranger called soon after your Grandma. He's being de-briefed. I let him know you were struggling and he's coming to get you on the jet. You guys are leaving" . "What…How?" I could barely get the words out. Batman saves the day again. He must get sick of it. "He says to pack a bag and your emergency tastykakes. Hal has asked to babysit Rex and he promises not to run away with him while you are away" . Tank said this with such a smile on his face you'd think it was him I was running away with.
I thought about what people will say. The rumours that would start again…by this point I'd been pregnant with triplets for 5 years and Joe Morelli was the dad of one and Ranger the other. It's laughable how much crap they talk about and no one actually wants the facts. I made a promise to Grandma Mazur tonight that I'd try and fly again. Looks like Ranger is going to help me do that. My decision made "Let's go Tank"
As I was standing up my cell rang. I debated throwing it in to the sea thinking it was my mother but Tank reached over and answered it for me "Plum Kidnapping services". He followed this up with a big booming laugh and told the caller I was right here. Ignoring my raised eyebrow he hands over the cell wordlessly. I didn't even have to say anything but the tingle at the back of my neck when they spoke confirmed I had made the right decision …. "Babe. It's time for our someday". I thought back to the lyrics in the car. It had been a long day but now I was getting Ranger and our someday I could look forward and live my own life.
"It's been a long day without you my friend. And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again. We've come a long way from where we began. But I'll tell you all about it when I see you again "
