All JE characters belong to her. What is mine iis mine. What is hers is hers, but I'll gladly take Ranger off her hands.
This is just something different than the happy of 'A Christmas Wish', 'A Dream Come True', or all my other HEA Stephanie Plum stories. I'm working on 'A Dream Come True' but this was rambling around in my brain. Thanks for all the support I've received for each and every review. OK, there were a few that ruffled my feathers, but thanks for all of them. Lee Anne
The Best I Could Give
"Cupcake, I really like this. It's the best," Joe told Stephanie opening the box she slid across the booth ar Pino's. "I'll be able to wear this when I have to wear a shirt and tie to the station. Thanks," he gave her a quick kiss setting the round gold and onyx tie pin aside and went back to his birthday pizza and beer. He never noticed the date Stephanie had engraved on the back for his birthday, March 1, 2009.
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More than 1 year later near Vinnie's:
I've seen her kissing that all in black man in the alley. The way his hands gently twirls her curls, it would be so nice to have someone touch me even in a small way as he touches her, but who wants to touch someone like me specially now.
Her heart is so good. Others have passed me by as I walk the streets without a word. If she sees me, I get a smile and a "Hello". It was cold one day and she gave me the scarf from around her neck. I still have it with the few things I have that are mine. Another time she handed me a white bag coming out of the pastry shop. I would look in the window sometimes just imagining what the cookies, cakes, and donuts tasted like, but I always fell short until the day she gave me that white bag. Inside were three fresh glazed donuts, still slightly warm. I can't even remember the last time I had something so sweet, an actual treat. That was a really, really good day. Most days I was lucky to have one hot meal, but to have something special like that I forgot what it was like. That was a life time ago when I had a home, when I had a family, when I had friends, when I had a life, but what I have in waning.
I've seen her help more people she takes to court buying lunch or ice cream or listening to their problems and trying to help making it better even in a little way. Look how she has helped that woman Lula. I don't know how much time I have left, the doctors don't tell me, but I know this is the right choice. You were my gift and now I'm giving you the best gift I could ever give you. I've been waiting for the right time and I'm ready to let you go.
Her car is unlocked as it usually is. It's a beautiful day and the sun feels so wonderful on my weakened body. You'll be safe here and I know she will take care of you. Good-bye and I love you. I want to give you the best I can and I know I am. I hope you'll forgive me one day.
I shut the door and walked slowly down the sidewalk not looking back, to be seen but not noticed as I cried.