These are JE's and things have been rattling in my head. Merry Christmas, Lee Anne
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Listen," Dr. Peterman said, "that's your baby's heartbeat." He was waving a wand over Stephanie's stomach.
Stephanie was looking into soft dark eyes looking into her blue eyes. Both listening intently to the "Blub, blub, blub."
"It's strong?" the Cuban Bad Ass questioned. He would be a father again, but the hearing his child's heartbeat was a first for him.
"Perfect," the obstetrician pointed to the number on the monitor.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Listen, I know this is not type of house we looked at, but you have to see this."
He was upset his pregnant wife was touring a house without him and actually followed her when she had disappeared without telling him crossing over into Pennsylvania. The real estate agent was hiding outside when the man with weapons around his hips came rushing through the backdoor.
Having quickly walked through the kitchen and the downstairs, Ranger wasn't overly excited by the small stucco house. Quaint was how he would describe it, but he wasn't a 'warm and fuzzy' kind of guy.
The gentle hand of Stephanie's in his did calm him walking up the staircase. She pulled him through a doorway into a cozy sitting area opening into the large master bedroom with skylights Looking out the French doors which led to the balcony, Ranger could see the blue of the Delaware River through trees.
His wife was waiting through another doorway. He blinked stepping into the master bath. There between two pedestal sinks was a stained glass window that practically went ceiling to floor.
"Babe."
Ranger never went back to Rangeman, he and Stephanie spent the remainder of the day lazily roaming the small shops, galleries, and eateries all within walking distance of their new house n New Hope. The Cayenne was filled with purchases for their new home.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Listen to that," Frank Plum cheered cocking an ear towards the door from his post in the maternity ward in the Lambertville hospital. "My grandson is here."
Elated voices in black were going around the hallway because Luca Francis Manoso made his long awaited entrance.
The door opened finally with a happy and relieved Ranger in blue scrubs stepping out with a bundle safe in his strong arms. "Meet your grandson, Luca."
Tear of joys were sliding down his cheeks. "Welcome to the Plum family, Luca" he whispered kissing the small blue head. "It took those Cuban genes to get me a grandson."
Beaming, the new father showed off his newly born son to his friends. Before going back into the maternity suite, Ranger had to chuckle watching his father-in-law jump up and down announcing, "I got a grandson."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
"Listen, my wife wants lights. This is our first Christmas in our house and I'm giving her lights."
Bobby, Lester, and Tank just stared with gaping mouths around the conference table as the Cuban slid a rough sketch towards Hector. It had swirling trees lining the driveway Tank recognized and taller trees under the huge Maple in the side yard. On the diagram, the tree was wrapped in lights and a manger scene was under it.
"Ranger, you have a small house," the second in command reminded him.
He was referring to the three bedroom bungalow Stephanie, Ranger, and Luca, their baby boy, moved into after they discovered she was pregnant.
"The lights are for outside. We have a big yard," he clarified walking out of the room and seconds later came back carrying a large box. "These go in the front. Stephanie saw these and fell in love with the polar bears. Frank is building the manger and figures. The lights need to be synchronized to Christmas music and order those lights, Hector, that you can program. I want the blue color to match Stephanie's eyes." He picked up a file to go to a meeting with no further explanation in true Ranger fashion.
The former gang member nodded to the form exiting, "Si." He was studying the hand drawn sketch from his boss.
Bobby and Lester were out of their chairs peaking out the door. "Who was that man?" his cousin questioned.
"Listen, that is a happy Ranger."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
"Listen, when I mentioned Christmas lights, Ranger, I thought icicle lights along the roof and balcony. This is a smaller version of the 'Great Light Fight."
An inflatable polar bear family had taken up residence in the front of their house and a light show of trees set to singing voices was going off in their side yard. The first small tree lit up then each one followed lighting up in a running fashion of colors, then all were flashing in blue to the music There were midget spiral trees lining the driveway twinkling. A large, wooden, white Nativity was nestled under a glowing star hung from a branch in the blue Maple that was lights from the trunk to the top branch.
"Babe, I gave you lights." He was standing there smiling with blanket-wrapped Luca in his arms watching the show.
"That's more than a few lights."
Shrugging, the Bad Ass watched Frank Plum's Buick and Tank's Hummer coming up the driveway gawking at the synchronized show going on in their yard he designed her his wife. "The blue matches your eyes."
"You're crazy."
Leaning into Stephanie, Ranger kissed her. "Listen to the music and enjoy the show. Next year we'll go bigger."
The End. Merry Christmas.
