Again I don't Own them wish I did.
After Joe and I got dressed we ate breakfast, and then for next two hours that followed we packed the UHAUL. Mooch showed up with Carl to help with the packing and they were both taking the trip with Joe. Mooch was driving the UHAUL since Joe was driving his truck and Carl was following in his truck towing the Ducati and he and Mooch would come home in his truck.
After everything was packed Mooch and Carl left leaving Joe, Bob and I to say our goodbyes. Joe bent down to Bob giving a goodbye belly rub, telling him to be a good boy for me and that he would be back for him as soon as her could. When the two of them finished their male bonding, Joe turned to me. He walked over putting his arms around my waist embracing me in a hug. Hugging him back I closed my eyes trying to remember that moment. Finally I pulled back kissing his lips vey gently.
"Come on you have a long drive ahead of you."
"Your right Cupcake" we walk to his truck and he gets in and started the truck rolling down the window. "Call me any time day or night"
"I will Joe, drive carefully."
"Bye Cupcake; stay safe and I'll call you when I get to Boston." Giving me one last wave goodbye he pulls away to his new exciting future without me. Once his brake lights can no longer be seen, I look at Bob who is rolling on his back like he is doing some sort of break dance, oblivious to any sort of drastic change. Wiping a tear from my eye I say.
"Well Bob it looks like it's just you and me now, how about we go inside eat some lunch and take a walk in the park?" Bob jumped up wagging his tail running for the house, taking that for a yes I followed. We go inside and I make myself a peanut butter and olive sandwich, while Bob got a plain peanut butter sandwich. After lunch I packed a small cooler with water for Bob and some Pepsi for me, and with a last minute grab I took the last of a loaf of bread for the ducks. Getting Bobs leash we headed for the car. Once we were on our way I rolled the window down for Bob, he always loved car rides; he could put his head out the window and let his tongue and ears flap. I never understood what the attraction was, because it looked like it would hurt however, he loved every minute of it. I was about to turn into our usual Park but at the last minute decided against it, the "Burg" park was just that; the Burg park full of the normal Gossip mongers that frequented the park daily, I just couldn't do that not today not yet. I knew the gossip mill was in full swing and I just didn't want to add to it, so I just kept going straight; knowing "Newark Park" wasn't too far, but far enough from prying eyes.
Once we got there Bob was so excited that once we were out of the car he was dragging me everywhere; marking his territory on anything he could reach. The park was empty and for that I was grateful, there were just a handful of people walking around enjoying the wonderful weather. Some people were walking their dogs like me; others were families with children playing on the playground. Bob and I tooka few laps around the pond it was pretty big but the time alone was quite and it gave me opportunity to reflect on my life. I had nothing; not a house of my own (I know I lived in a nice house but it's not mine). I have a used car that's seen better days, but hey; I've had it for almost a year, that's some sort of record right? Wow is that the best I can come up with. My Grandma Mazur is sick with cancer and if I lost her; I would lose a part of myself. We are so alike in so many ways and she has always had my back, she's my own personal cheerleader she always supports me even when the issue was crazy. She is a fighter so I have every hope she will bet the cancer. As for my love life I was willing to settle down with Joe start a life, a family, but something better came along and he bailed. I know I could have gone with him; continued that path but I just couldn't leave, and I couldn't ask him to give up on his future either. I still have him for a friend and that's all that mattered. Even though I was willing to settle with Joe my heart will always belong to Ranger, even if he doesn't feel the same way. When I'm honest with myself he is who I see myself sharing everything with. Now I have to love him from afar staying his friend and watching him possibly fall for someone else. I was brought out of my thinking by Bob jumping up on my chest panting.
"Sorry boy lets go get your water." I said as we walked back to the car getting the cooler. We went back to the pond to sit on the bench overlooking at the water. I opened up a bottle for him pouring some in a dish I had fit in the cooler. Bob was so thirsty he finished it in seconds. He looked up at me with his puppy dog eyes making me laugh. So I filled it back up and watched him enjoy it. Once he was finished he scooted over to my feet laying on top them for his nap. I rubbed Bob's ear until he fell asleep and went back to my earlier thoughts. Once Bob left with Joe it would just be me and Rex, he is the only constant male in my life besides my father. I still had my Merry Men, but they were and always would be in the friend's category. My thoughts returned back to Ranger and wished he could only feel the same about me, I felt in the pit of my stomach that he was it; my other half, and how do you go on when you have found your soul mate but they don't want you? I'm brought back to reality when I hear a tentative voice with a slight accent.
"Excuse me Miss?"
"Yes?" I turn around to find an older women; who is possibly in her 60's, she looks to be of Latin descent. She looks to be about a little over 5", and her hair is put into a tight bun, you can tell it once was pitch black but is mostly gray now with some black still peeking trough. Her eyes are a rich brown and very sweet looking. She was wearing a burgundy jacket with a pair of tweed trousers, and her smile was apologetic. Accompanying her was a sweet looking cocker spaniel with brown and white markings, there is more white than brown, and throughout the white is a few touches of brindle. Around its neck was a pink and diamond studded collar and leash.
"Sorry to interrupt you, I can see that you are trying to relax."
"Oh no; not at all" I reply quickly shaking my head and giving her a smile. "How may I help you?"
"Well…" she says sheepishly returning my smile with a very natural smile of her own. "I was wondering if you might happen to have some extra water. I left home so quickly I forgot to bring any for Sophie?" she pointed indication the dog that was held tightly by her leash.
"Oh of course, I have plenty of extra that I brought for Bob." I pointed to Bob who looked to be very happy to see a new friend come around. He had gotten up and started to walk over to them. I watched as the lady stepped back and pulled Sophie with her, so I got you pulling on Bob's leash looking over to her saying. "I'm sorry if he scared you he won't bite I promise." She laughed.
"Oh no dear it's not your doggie, its mine she loves dogs but not people, she is very protective." Sophie was looking around scoping out the area while still keeping an eye on me. Stepping away so Sophie would relax I went to the cooler to give her the bottle of water.
"Is one enough I brought plenty?"
"One is enough thanks you so much, I guess I got a little carried away with my walk, it was so nice out I lost track of time, you can tell spring is on its way." Getting one bottle out; I started to hand it to her. When she went to grab it at Sophie decided to pull on her leash, in the other direction. Everything happened so fast it was hard to react. Sophie was able to pull free of her owner and ran straight for the pond towards a very large group of geese barking and chasing them.
"SOPHIE NO STAY!" her owner screamed and started to chase after her. Bob still on his leash in my hands tries to pull me after them, hut I managed to keep him in place pulling him to the bench and tying him up so I can help out Sophie and her poor owner. The lady at this point is still trying to run after her dog but having a hard time since Sophie was all over the place. I grabbed the bread before I headed over to help. Seeing that the geese where now chasing Sophie making her run away with all her might yelping. I looked for Sophie's owner and watched as she tripped over her feet falling to the ground causing her to roll a little since the pond was on a slight slope. I made it to her first to make sure she is alright. Helping her sit up I hand her the water I still have in my hand.
"Are you alright?" she nods out of breath with tears in her eyes. "Stay here I'll get Sophie." I said and took off for the sea of geese and one little scared puppy.
"By the time I reach the group Sophie is surrounded on all sides by the geese. I ran faster to scare them and try to shoo them away. The closer I got to Sophie the more ferocious seemed to get. All I heard was yipping from Sophie, barking from Bob and hissing from all the mean geese. I try to shake the fact that these animals can sound so threatening and forge through the mass of geese. I keep telling myself over and over again that I have to get to Sophie. She was yelping louder and louder and I could see one goose was starting to attack her; pecking at her side continuously without pause. By now all the other geese have realized I'm a threat and I get pecked in the butt. "Hey stop that!" I yelled as swung my hand in a circle to scare them off. Finally making it to Sophie was on the ground unable to get up. "STOP!" I screeched again, I remember the bread in my hand; in all the commotion I almost forgot I had it. Taking out one piece at a time I started to throw it in different directions, making sure to not throw it in the direction of our exit.
"Here Ducky, Ducky, Ducky get the bread." They all swarmed in different directions, fighting each other to get to the bread first. Once all the geese go towards the bread I ran for Sophie; who still wasn't moving just lying there.
"Sophie" I called and she looked at me, the around seeing that the geese are gone she gets up and ran to me jumping into my arms, licking my face. "Its Ok girl there gone" I hug her to my chest protecting her. Then she growls; I look over my shoulder and see that all the bread was gone and the geese were coming back for more. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my key chain and hit the safety horn; making the geese squawk and fly off leaving the park. Sophie still whimpered in my arms cuddling closer then collapsed in exhaustion. Her owner ran over to us.
"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you" she said taking Sophie from my arms. "Sophie, are you hurt?" she questions her dog while checking her over.
"I think they just scared her more than anything else." I said
"Oh thank you so much, how could I ever repay you?"
"That's not necessary I'm happy to help. Are you ok it looked like you took a nasty fall?"
"Oh I'm fine dear, just bruised my knee a little, I'll be just fine, thanks to you." She said.
"It was nothing, and I'm glad you're ok. I better go make sure Bob's all right now. Would you like to join me, I'm sure Sophie could use some water and down time after her encounter with those deranged geese."
"Oh that would be lovely." She said and followed me to the bench.
Once there Bob was so excited to see me that he jumped up on his hind legs licking my face and making me laugh. "I'm fine you silly boy get down and meet our new friends." I said to him patting his back. He got down and went over to Sophie and her owner. Bob gives her a big kiss, and they both went over to the tree to lie down. I walked over to the cooler filling the bowl again and put it in front of the two lovebirds. After I refilled it I went over to the bench sitting down and offered the seat next to me to my new guest.
"I want to thank you again for what you did for us, you were very brave, and I am very grateful."
"Your very welcome ma'am" I told her.
"Oh please call me Maria, dear" she said putting her hand out to shake.
"Stephanie" I said extending my hand to hers.
"Well Stephanie it's very nice to meet you."
"Likewise Maria"
"Do you live around here?" she asked
"Not too far actually; I live in Trenton how about you?"
"Yes dear not too far from the park. If you don't mind me asking why did you come all the way to Newark Park instead of Trenton."
"Oh um…" I started, but she cut me off when she saw my hesitation.
"I'm sorry dear you don't have to tell me. I just can't seem to keep out of everyone' business." She laughed. "I guess that's the hazards of having six children. My Ricky always tells me to stop meddling all the time."
"Who's Ricky" I asked.
"Oh he's the love of my life" she gets a wistful look on her face.
"How long have you been married?"
"Almost forty five years"
"Wow that's amazing" and so not in my future making me cry inside.
"Are you married?" she asked.
Never going to happen I thought to myself, "No ma'am, I was once, but it was a disaster."
"What happened?"
"I found him cheating on me a week after our wedding on our dining room table with my arch enemy."
"Dios!, that's awful. I'm so sorry, but he seems like a fool to me to give-up such a wonderful person like you."
"It's ok, I never really loved him. I guess that's why I'm here today." I decide to go with my gut here something was telling me I could trust this women. I went into my whole story about Joe just leaving, about our whole relationship every up and every down. After I finished she asked.
"Do you love him?"
"As a friend yes very much but; I don't think I really ever loved Joe more than that."
"Was that because of your first marriage?"
"Yes and No; I didn't want to be hurt again, but mostly I have already given my heart to someone else" I said thinking of Ranger. "However; he couldn't give the same in return, but even with that knowledge I still couldn't give all I had to Joe, how you can give all of yourself without giving your heart." This really wasn't a question more of a fact, and she didn't answer.
"Does he have a name?" she asked. I knew how Ranger liked his privacy so I gave her the next best thing.
"I call him Batman"
"Bateman?" she laughs.
"I know it's silly, but he is my personal savior, he has helped me out so many times never asking for anything in return."
"Well this Batman of your el es un imbecile (is an idiot), to not return your feelings Estefanía. You're a wonderful person. He will come around you will see."
"Thank you Maria, but I just don't think that will be the case." Wish it was, but not going to happen.
"Men are just so slow they never know what's good for them. Like my boys both still are not married, they need to find a woman to settle them down. Sometimes I want to hit them with a frying pan." We both laughed at that.
We had been sitting for a while just talking when Sophie got up and jumped in my lap giving me kisses.
"Oh my" Maria gasped looking shocked. Thinking something was wrong I looked around for any intruders, not finding any I started looking at Sophie for any wounds she might have gotten from the goose that attacked her. Not finding anything I turned to Maria, to find her smiling.
"What's wrong?" I asked
"Oh nothing dear, it's just…well Sophie is not shall we say a people person. In fact she hates just about everyone, but she seems to be really taken with you."
"Oh "Very eloquent Steph.
"This is just amazing" Maria said almost to herself. We continued with everyday talk, like the weather, likes, dislikes, ect.. nothing personal , I could tell she was giving me space and I really appreciated that. I realized it had started to get dark.
"Wow time fly's, I guess I should get going, Joe should be calling soon to let me know he made it to Boston. It was really good to meet you and I had a great time with you and Sophie." I stood to collect Bob.
"I had a wonderful time too; I don't recall the last time I had such a great experience meeting someone new. Thank you again for what you did for Sophie." She walked over and gave me a sweet motherly hug and I clung on to that felling of love and support. Once she pulled back she kissed both of my cheeks. "I hope we can do this again Estefanía, I really hope to see you seen."
"I hope so too Maria."
We both walked away in different direction of the Park on our way home. It really was nice to meet Maria, she was so kind to listen to me and did not criticize my every move (wish I could say the same about my own mother). It was a breath of fresh air and just what I needed.
**Maria's POV**
Today turned out to be a wonderful day. When my Sophie ran from me, I was so scared. I just knew she was going straight for the pond. Getting older is no fun; I knew I wasn't going to catch her; she was too fast. Then when that sweet angel Estefanía helped me without a second thought, I was so grateful. When she asked me to join her I was shocked; children anymore have no respect for anyone other than themselves, yet she went out of her way to help me. When I first approached her before the geese incident she had tears in her eyes, she looked so sad. I decided I could give her the emotional support she needed (not to mention I was also curious what could make such a blue eyed beauty cry.) I sat down joining her, figuring I could at least repay her for what she did for me.
While talking to her she told me of her relationship with Joe; I could tell by her stories and the lack of spark in her eye's that she was not in love with him however; I could tell she cared for him. Her eyes are like looking into her soul, so when she spoke of this "Batman" I could tell he was the one. Her eyes almost took on a crystal hue that brightened her already beautiful blue eyes. When she started to talk about him my suspicions were confirmed, she was hopelessly in love with him, and he did not return her feelings, what an idiot.
Hmm I wonder if Estefanía, might be interested in meeting my son. I know I have two but they are Polar opposites. Diego my oldest is unfortunately a very greedy man. He is an accountant, very intelligent, but he does not know how to treat a woman, considering he has been married twice and has three children. He thinks he is a "ladies man" but as his mother I know the truth and I would not set him up with such a sweet girl. Then there is my Carlito my second to youngest, he is a very sweet, and very good looking. He is definitely a ladies' man, but only because he treats them with the respect a lady deserves. In the past 3 years I actually haven't seen him bring anyone around; he says that he is just too busy to be in a relationship. Carlitohas been married once, and however brief it may have been a beautiful daughter was born. Owning his own business he has employed most of his very close Army friends and some family that he is close with. If you are someone who he cares for he will cross over fire to protector help you. You wouldn't know that from the outside he has a rough exterior; he even has a street name "Ranger" so macho. Estefanía would be perfect for him; she would help crack that hard shell. Unfortunately he is on a "mission" for the government and I'm not sure when he will get back, but I have that feeling that goes to the back of my neck that those two would hit it off, and my feeling has never been wrong. If my Ricky finds out I'm trying to stick my nose in Carlito's business he will kill me, so for now I will keep it a secret just between Sophie and me. Another reason I think I'm right is that Sophie hates everyone in my family except Me Ricky and my Carlito, but now she is absolutely taken with Estefanía I know it's a sign.
So if you haven't guessed it yes this is a Steph/Ranger story. SO did you think it was going to be his mom she met in the park? Hope you like it
