Step Up

"That's it, Ranger! I'm done." I screamed at Ranger. I was through. I couldn't stand it anymore. To make matters worse, Ranger just looks up and stares at me like I've gone mental.

"Stephanie, what's wrong?" He asked me; calmly enough to only send me more further into rhino mode.

"What's wrong? What's wrong? Ugh! How could you even ask that, Ranger?" I asked him and he shrugged. My eyes narrowed even further in anger. "When was the last time you even saw Ava?" I questioned.

Ranger opened his mouth then closed it. He once again shrugged his broad shoulders. "Babe, I've been busy." Was all he could muster.

I shook my head. "Busy? You haven't seen Ava in almost six months, Ranger. Your daughter who lives in the same apartment you do. How could you not manage to see her somehow?"

"Babe, what do you want me to do?"

"Have dinner with us this evening like you use to."

He let out a sigh. "Babe, I have a lot of work to do."

"Ranger, you always have work to do. Ava keeps asking where her daddy is. She thinks you don't love her anymore." I watched as his jaw tighten almost painfully it seemed.

"She said that?" He asked me; his voice laced with hurt. I nodded. "She said that, Ranger. She wanted to know why you haven't tucked her into bed or why you haven't come eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner with us. I told her you were busy working. That's when she asked me if you still loved her."

Ranger's shoulders slumped forward and I thought maybe he would tell me what was going through his head. "Babe, of course I love our daughter, but I have a lot going on right now that I can't discuss."

His statement sent me back into full rhino mode. "Who the hell said I wanted to discuss anything that had to do with work? I'm here to discuss our daughter who believes that her father no longer loves her. And you know what?" He cocked an eyebrow and my eyes narrowed even further. "I'm starting to think the same thing." When he started to talk I held up my hand to hold him off. "I'm serious, Ranger. You don't even know anything about her. Lately it seems as though every time she wants to tell you something you push her away."

"Steph, I love Ava and I know everything about her." He declared.

I nodded. "What is her favorite meal of Ella's?" I asked him.

He drew his head back. "I-I-What?" I can't believe Batman stuttered.

"Her favorite meal that Ella makes is grilled chicken breast. How about her favorite snack?"

"Butterscotch krimpet."

I shook my head. "That's my favorite, Ranger. Her favorite is pears. She loves pears. How about her favorite stuffed animal? Favorite toy? Her best friend? Her favorite uncle? Her favorite book? Do you know any of this?" By the last part I was almost yelling.

"Her favorite stuffed animal is a pink bear. Her favorite toy isn't that the same thing? Her best friend should be one of us, her favorite uncle is Lester and her favorite book is Good Night Moon. See I do know something about my daughter."

I rolled my eyes. "Well I guess one out of five ain't horrible."

"Explain."

I grind my teeth so hard I'm afraid I'm going to damage a tooth. "She is growing up, Ranger. Her favorite stuffed animal is the bear dressed in RangeMan black that Ella personally embroidered for her that looks just like her daddy. Her favorite toy is her Leap frog that reads to her so she can follow along. Her best friend is Cal and yes her favorite uncle is Lester followed closely by Tank. Her favorite book is Daddy Kisses. I have to read it every night before she'll even think about going to bed. See how much you are missing."

Ranger shook his head. "Babe, right now I can't help it. We are extremely busy here at RangeMan."

"Ranger, I have never asked that you put me before your company. But this one time I am asking, no I am begging you to put Ava before the company. She needs you. She needs her father."

"If I can get away, I'll spend time with her but I am not making any promises."

I couldn't believe he was going to make me do this. I shook my head. I didn't want to, but you'll do anything to protect your child. I squared my shoulders. "I'm giving you two weeks, Ranger."

His head snapped back so fast I was afraid he was going to get whiplash. "Two weeks for what, Stephanie?" He asked; his voice hard.

I swallowed. "Two weeks to spend some time with your daughter. I don't care if it's breakfast, lunch, dinner, or bedtime that you come up and talk to her or put her to bed, but you need to step up and spend at least two or three days with her. She's only four years old, Ranger. She doesn't understand the concept of work and you being too busy to kiss her good night or talk with her over breakfast. Or let her tell you about her day over dinner." I swallowed back tears that were threatening to spill. I needed to do this for Ava.

"And if I don't?" I couldn't honestly think that he wouldn't.

I took a deep breath. "Or I'm leaving and I'm taking Ava with me." I took a step back as Ranger came up out of his chair. He looked mad enough to hurt someone.

"She's my daughter, Stephanie. You can't take her from me."

"I'd never keep your daughter from you, but if you can't show some improvement that you really do love her then I am leaving and I am going to take Ava with me. And childish or not, I will go where you can't find us. You are breaking your child's heart. I don't know why. You wanted us to move in with you and you are great father. But you have changed the last couple of months and I can't do this to Ava anymore."

"Babe, you don't understand."

"Then help me understand, Ranger." I waited for him to elaborate but he just stood there. I shook my head.

"You have two weeks. Two weeks, Ranger. Then I'm leaving." I held my head high and stomped out of his office.