These are JE's characters and she gets the money. This is how I would want them to be. This is short. Only one additional chapter on christmas Day. Lee Anne
A Perfect Christmas
The seventh floor apartment was dark only for the lights twinkling on the Christmas tree. Stephanie worked for days after Thanksgiving decorating the rooms, even the bathroom with Christmas towels awaiting Ranger's return. She moved things around until to her it was perfect. There was a satiny midnight blue comforter on the bed with snowflakes embroidered on the pillows. The tall tree with the perfect sweeping boughs sparkled with the white lights making the silver and iridescent ornaments shimmer in their glow. He promised to be home by Christmas Eve when he left over four months ago. It was here and he wasn't. The night before Christmas was waning and she was alone in Ranger's apartment.
Stephanie had dinner at her parent's house before Christmas Eve service. All through mass she kept wishing upon the gold star atop St. Joseph's tree by the altar hoping when she returned to Haywood the man in black would be waiting for her like he never left when the government called. The apartment was still as empty as everyday she walked in from the 5th floor or came back from shopping with Mary Lou or Lula. Only Rex greeted her on the night before Christmas.
The few presents under the branches were tied with silver ribbons to match the Christmas tree. The stockings hung on the fireplace were waiting to be emptied. It was an almost perfect Christmas scene right out of a magazine, but one Cuban Bad Ass was missing.
She tried not to worry but it grew with each passing tick of the mantle clock. "Ranger, if you can't make it home, please be safe for Christmas. I know you promised me, but I want you to be warm and safe somewhere if you can't be here with me for Christmas," Stephanie whispered sitting by the tree on the floor. She made no attempt to wipe away the lonely tears slipping down her cheeks. She just sat there wishing upon the silver star on their Christmas tree which Ranger may not see for the holiday. Closing her eyes, she saw his handsome face staring back at her. The air in the livingroom took on a faint hint of Bvlgari as her mind dreamed and seemed to crackle like the fireplace. The tickle ran across her neck just like it did when Ranger was near. She couldn't help herself, her head turned thinking there would be no one...
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Standing there at the edge of the entry, Ranger silently watched Stephanie sitting on the floor by the glittering Christmas tree. The apartment that was once his and now 'theirs' shimmered around his Babe. He read the names on the stockings above the orange and yellow flames resting his eyes on one, 'Aiden'. There was one with his name, her, and Rex, but the last one he didn't recognize. He heard her voice. "Ranger, if you can't make it home, please be safe for Christmas. I know you promised me, but I want you to be warm and safe somewhere if you can't be here with me for Christmas." Her curls shook as she spoke and he heard the tears in her voice. She was wrapped in a fluffy robe sitting there so perfect by the silver and white Christmas tree unaware at the moment he was watching her. As if the scene was in slow motion, Stephanie's head and curls turned slowly to see behind her. Ranger had moved out of the shadows watching Stephanie. Her blue eyes didn't see him at first, the recognition widened them.
"Ranger!"
Running to him, the robe billowed behind just as a cape with the motion. He observed the roundness her stomach had taken on while he was away showing through the long blue nightgown Stephanie wore.
Her fingertips touched his face. "You made it home for Christmas!" Stephanie cried burying her wet face in his neck holding on like she would never let go again.
"I promised I would. I never imagined the Christmas present waiting for me," he whispered back touching the baby growing inside his Babe. His lips touched down on Stephanie's wet ones stopping her cries.
Moments passed in their welcoming and both gazed into each other's eyes when they parted.
Eventually, realization dawned and his dark eyes went to the fireplace. They came back to Stephanie's beautiful face and looked down.
"It's a boy. I liked the name Aiden from the moment I read it in the baby book. We can choose another."
A mocha latte finger hushed her words. "Hello, Aiden Manoso. Your Daddy made it home for Christmas," he said directing his voice to the swell he was gently rubbing.
Stephanie watched the surprise and wonder fill the dark chocolate eyes as she felt movement from within as Ranger touched their child. He felt it too.
"He knows I'm home," he said proudly gazing in her beautiful face. "Babe, it's a Winter Wonderland in here," Ranger continued taking in all the hard work Stephanie did around the apartment. He noticed white snowflakes dangling over the breakfast bar and a lighted ivory wreath hanging in the dining room window.
"I wanted everything to be perfect for when you came home. Maybe I went a little overboard."
"No," he told her shaking his head, "it's our Winter Wonderland."
Concern came over Stephanie's features noticing the lines at the corners of those beautiful chocolate eyes. "You look worn out, Ranger. Let's go to bed. Everything will be here tomorrow."
He locked their fingers together walking into the bedroom agreeing with his Babe. Coming out of his quick shower, Ranger chuckled at the dancing snowman smiling on the towel hanging from the wall as he dried himself off with a plain white one. Tucking the covers around them after he slipped into bed next to a contented sleeping Stephanie, Ranger wrapped an arm around her pulling her and their unborn child under his protective hand closer. It was going to be a perfect Christmas he thought closing his weary eyes. When Stephanie awoke, a diamond would be on her left hand.