Thanks for all your wonderful comments, I'm glad you're enjoying reading this as much as I'm enjoying writing it. Sorry it's taken me so long to update, but since getting back from our holiday it's been non-stop so I'm afraid any spare time has been taken up reading all the new stuff that's been posted since our return rather than fine tuning this chapter. I promise the next posting won't take so long.
Ranger finished everything on his plate, which surprised him. What also surprised him is how much he enjoyed it all. Stephanie would be horrified by now, he thought, grimly.
Stephanie...
Frank sat watching him for a couple of minutes before breaking into his thoughts.
"So, Connie's been keeping you up to date on Steph, I'm presume?" he asked, nonchalantly, knowing the answer before he'd even asked it.
Ranger nodded "Yeah. Steph's postcards didn't tell me much so Connie's been filling me in on her life in Italy with Alejandro" he added with a slight hint of bitterness.
"So how do you feel about Steph coming home on Tuesday? Frank asked. He knew Steph had sworn them all to secrecy about when she was coming home, but he knew she'd forgive him.
Eventually.
Anyway, it was time to yank the tiger's tail...
Ranger studied him carefully then dabbed his mouth on a napkin before placing it carefully beside his plate. "Does it really matter, Mr Plum..."
"Call me Frank, son."
"Does it matter, Frank?" Ranger replied again, bitterly. "She's obviously had a wonderful time with Alejandro. I'm sure she's hardly missed us here in sunny Trenton." Or me, he wanted to add, petulantly.
Frank leaned back in his chair and signalled for Kimberley to bring some more coffee and the bill. He turned back to Ranger. "You sound bitter, Son. Am I sensing a slight hint of jealousy?" Oh, he was so enjoying this...
At that moment Kimberley walked over and filled up their cups so the two men sat in uncomfortable silence. OK, so Ranger looked more angry and confused than uncomfortable. Frank was inwardly chuckling loudly to himself.
Ranger could have sworn Frank looked slightly smug.
"The bill will be ready in a few, it's our busy time now, Boys" the waitress said by way of an explanation before walking off to another table to take their order. Ranger looked round and noticed that the diner was practically full. When had that happened? Strange that he was so unaware of his surroundings. 'The Plum Chaos Factor', he thought in wonder.
"What exactly has Connie been telling you?" Frank asked.
Ranger thought he could see a slight glint in Frank's eye. "Sir?"
"Frank, son. Frank."
"Sorry." He stopped for a moment, he could definitely see a glint in the other man's eye. He was starting to get cross now. Something occurred to him – he was being set up. He still didn't know how or why. His blank face descended and he leaned back against the bench. What was the question?
"What has Connie been telling you?" He repeated gently knowing the answer before Ranger replied. After all, Frank'd agreed with Connie that everything she told Ranger was on a need to know basis. Everything he needed to know to make him realise he'd nearly lost her this time and that he needed to get his act together when she got back.
"How does it feel not to be in control of someone you care deeply for?" Frank asked him gently as he saw a flicker of understanding cross Ranger's face.
"You've been playing fast and loose with my daughter's heart for the best part of three years now. Even Morelli realised it at the end of their relationship."
Frank noticed that, to his credit, Ranger was looking a bit sheepish.
"Well, Mr Pl – Frank, I didn't mean to lead Steph on. She knows my stance on relationships..."
"Oh yeah – like your life doesn't lend..."
"...itself to relationships." Ranger finished. "She told you, didn't she?" he added, looking a little bit more sheepish.
"No son. Your other best friend did."
"Tank?" Ranger said looking stunned. My other best friend?
"Yeah, Tank. One of the many people who think you should cut the bullshit, get your head out of your ass and tell Steph how you really feel."
Ranger knew he'd been set up and he couldn't believe that his so-called other best friend could have been involved! Insubordination was not to be tolerated, despite their long association...
He was already mentally writing Tank's letter of dismissal when Frank broke into his thoughts.
"Don't, Ranger. You'll also have to fire most of the rest of your team and Connie too. Although you can't technically fire her as she gives you work, not the other way round." Frank leant back in his chair, mimicking Ranger. A smug look crossing his face before he continued. "You've been had, Mr always be aware of your surroundings. Admit it. You've shown your true colours to everyone these last five months. Hell, I'm surprised Tiffany agreed to attempt to hit on you this evening, she must know how you feel about my daughter – the rest of the Burg does."
Ranger looked horrified that Frank knew about what had happened at Banjos, but it would explain her comments as she'd walked away. But before he could say anything, Frank continued again.
"Admit it. You've been out manoeuvred, Ranger. Tonight was a test, shall we say. If you'd have failed we wouldn't be here having this conversation. As you passed, we are."
"Moot point though Frank, wouldn't you say?" Ranger said angrily as he stood up, "It's obvious she's been running around the countryside with her new boyfriend, Aleje fucking handro." He added as he opened his wallet and flung a pile of notes down onto the table.
"Are you so sure you are right about that?" Frank replied, amused by Ranger's reaction. "I'm sure my sister would have something to say about incest."
Ranger, who by this time had moved away from the table and towards the door, stopped dead in his tracks, his hands fisted, uncurled and then fisted again at his sides. He turned round and Frank motioned for him to sit back down.
o0o0o0o0o0o
Ranger walked onto 7, put his keys down gently in the dish by the door, toed off his shoes and padded his way into the kitchen where he reached into the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. He popped the cap and tossed it into the trash can before wandering into the lounge. He took a swig from the bottle as he glided over to the window where he stood and watched a droplet of rain weaving a pattern as it slid down the glass.
"So, let me get this right" Ranger said slowly "Alejandro is your nephew whose long term girlfriend, Mia, 'miscarried' their child very late in the pregnancy. She'd then managed to persuade his superiors that he was so lost in his grief that she feared he was making serious errors with his cases. She'd also 'admitted' that she was becoming frightened by his erratic behaviour. He'd been fired and a restraining order had been issued to keep him away from her. Two months later there a hearing into his conduct he'd known nothing about . The presiding judge had deemed him in contempt for non-attendance and disbarred him from practicing law. The paperwork requesting his presence mysteriously reappeared a week after the hearing in his former secretary's in-tray." He paused for a moment. "It all sounds far too Machiavellian to be true. Surely he's not that stupid as to not contest the ruling."
"You would have thought so but apparently he didn't stand a chance."
"?"
"Mia's uncle is head of the law firm where they both worked and probably was the one to lose the paperwork in the first place." Frank placed air quotes round the word lose.
"Surely he has some recourse?"
"Nah. I understand from my sister that if your face doesn't fit then you might as not bother. The Italian system is nepotistic and downright mob-like in the way it operates. The moment Mia 'lost' the child, Alejandro was out."
"Why did she try to destroy him?" Ranger asked, more interested in knowing the answer that he cared to admit.
"Who's to say, but she's now engaged to some multimillionaire playboy who hates kids." Frank chuckled before becoming serious again. "Steph has helped him to realise that perhaps Mia was more of a coward than a bitch. To act as she did suggests that somehow she'd been persuaded to become someone she just wasn't and had realised it too late. Her actions were that of a desperate woman who'd rather abort an unborn child than admit to the man who she'd built a life with that the idea of a future with him and a new baby was killing her."
"Bit like Steph and Morelli could have been."
"Bingo." Frank replied softly, smiling. He was so pleased they'd had this little chat. He'd really enjoyed it and he could see why Tank had been so keen to get involved. Ranger took himself far too seriously he thought, Steph really needed to get him to take a chill pill or ten.
"But how can you be so certain that Steph still wants me in her life?" Ranger asked. "After all the lines I've fed her in the past, I doubt she even thinks me capable of being able to love someone."
"Ranger, Alejandro isn't the only one who's done a lot of talking and thinking. Steph has learned a lot about herself too and what she's capable of. For instance, did you know she now swims at least a mile each day?"
Ranger looked stunned.
"Yeah, she's even given up donuts."
Ranger nearly fell off his seat in surprise.
Frank grinned "Fruit and salad are main food groups now. But seriously, Son, she's taken a good look at every part of her life and has realised that Denial Land is not a healthy place to be when you're over 10. If she wants something then she has to make it happen for herself or at least be a part of the process. She can't just run away any more. The distance from home has helped her put things into perspective and I know for a fact that there are a couple of people she really wants to have a deep and meaningful conversation with when she gets back."
"Sounds ominous, Frank!" Ranger said, trying to sound unaffected at the possibilities the new Steph would bring. Could she let him back in her life? Would she consider him too much like hard work? Would they even remain friends if she told him that she wanted to start dating again? Thoughts were swirling round in his head. Too fast and furious to untangle.
Frank could see his comments had unsettled his dinner companion. He leaned forward and placed a fatherly hand on Ranger's forearm. "You're thinking too hard. Just let things progess as they should."
"But where do I stand in her life?" Ranger asked, carefully.
"You're a strong candidate for being her future - if you lower your guard." Frank replied, giving Manoso a knowing look.
"How can you be so sure? She's not contacted me in five long months."
"Oh, just trust me on this one, will you, please?"
Ranger nodded, too scared to speak. Steph still cared deeply for him? Even after 5 months with no contact or conversation between them?
"Flight lands at 12.05, Trenton-Mercer." Frank added as he stood up. "Now, son. Let's get you back to Haywood, shall we?"
Ranger realised he'd finished his beer as the thought's swirled through his head. Only three more days and Steph would be home. His cock twitched in anticipation. Would she be tanned? Would she be toned? Would the sun have brought out her freckles and copper highlights? Did she really still want him in her life? Would they still connect the way they'd always done?
God, he hoped so. He didn't want to waste another day denying his feelings for her. Would she let him show her how much she meant to him? He wandered into his bedroom and knelt down to open his safe. He rooted around for a few seconds, pushing a couple of his guns out of the way as he searched for what he was looking for and picked up a small leather box which he laid in the middle of his open palm. He pushed it round with the index finger of his other hand for a few seconds before bringing it to his lips and softly kissing it. "Someday, Babe, please let us have our someday." he whispered reverently before putting it back in its hiding place and locking the door.
o0o0o0o0o0o
Frank walked into the silent house. He locked the door then put his keys on the rack and walked into the kitchen for a glass of water, picking up the phone as he headed towards the sink.
"Yo" said a deep and contented voice.
"Yo yourself" he said. "Message delivered. Ranger's picking Steph up on Tuesday 12.05, Trenton-Mercer."
"Good job, Sir, I'll have our lovesick puppy ready and waiting."
"Let's hope he steps up to the plate, shall we?" Frank said.
Despite the silence both men could sense each others' grin...
Frank headed off to bed, stepping silently out of his clothes and leaving them neatly on the chair by his side of the bed.
Ellen rolled over. "Mission accomplished?" she asked, carefully.
"Yes, Love. Mission accomplished." He said as he climbed into bed and spooned up against his smiling wife. He squeezed her arm gently and they both relaxed into the best sleep they'd had in 5 long months.