Hang in there...Steph gets some happy soon. She will have some ups and downs before things start going in the right direction for her. There is a long road for her, she will learn a lot about life's up and downs, to appreciate what she has and find out what she really wants in life. She will have good times and she will have tragedy, but it is an eye opener for her. Once again this will be a lengthy story if I can get everything that is in my head down in writing...don't expect a quick fix for her problems.

I am also finding my own faults in writing. Sure is a lot easer to think of a story than to get it into words. I appreciate the feedback from everyone...even when you point out my errors, it just helps me to pay attention more. You would think once you proof read a chapter so many times you would get it right, but that's not happening. I have another story in the works that is all fun and more fun, on the opposite side of the spectrum from this one. When I get enough chapters ahead I will start posting it.

Thanks again for all the encouraging words.

CHAPTER 6

The Phone Call

I was asleep, cocooned in the warmth of my blankets when my phone started ringing. I feel like I barely slept. It can't be morning already! One of my arms snaked out from under the warmth into the cold air smacking around the table next to my bed until I found my phone. I quickly pulled it under the covers.

"Hmmm?" I answered the phone still in sleep mode.

"Steph?" Oh crap! I forgot to call Lester.

"Les, I'm sorry I forgot to call you. I...I...forget it, I don't even have an excuse. My head just isn't in the right place right now." Which was the truth. The last thing I needed right now was for Lester to be angry with me. "Please don't be angry at me."

I could hear the exhaustion in his voice. "I'm not angry, just concerned."

"I didn't mean to worry you. I'm home, in bed. Didn't run off anywhere. You sound tired, are you ok?"

"I'm good now. Tired, but good. So far I still have this weekend off after my shift ends tomorrow."

"I'll be around." Well, depending on my call with Ranger. Either way he is still in Miami and I am here.

"Sleep tight."

"Don't let the bedbugs bite."

"Goodnight Beautiful." I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Goodnight Les."

When I got off the phone I looked at the screen and saw it was only eleven thirty. I did a mental happy dance because it wasn't even close to morning.

I woke up in the morning freezing my ass off. The real winter finally decided to show up this morning. I ran from the bed cranked up the heater and jumped back under the covers until I felt the heat kick in. Rex and I shared a breakfast of strawberry pop tarts and coffee. Well, Rex didn't have any coffee, I gave him some fresh water instead.

A glance out the window showed the ground and trees covered in ice. I guess it rained last night before it froze, it was actually very pretty and sparkly with the sun reflecting off the hanging icicles.

Until I remembered...my jeep.

"Shit!" I grabbed my jacket and purse and ran downstairs. "Fuck!" I swore again when I opened the back door of the jeep to find the floor and the seat covered in a half inch of ice. "Damn it, why me?" I got in the front slamming the door shut trying to get rid of some of my frustration. I banged my fists on the cold steering wheel a couple times. OK, now I feel a little better.

Now what?

Al's.

Hopefully Al would be able to help me figure out how to clean up this mess and get my window closed since it was froze in place.

My dad and I usually meet for lunch on Friday's, but I called him early today to pick me up at Al's and have breakfast instead. I gave him an abridged version of what's been going on and why I am back working at Vinnie's again. He told me he was sorry about Ranger leaving, and tried to reassure me that I was a strong person and needed to take some time for myself and really figure out what I wanted to do for myself.

My dad isn't usually the one to give advice to me, he was always the quiet supporter in the background. He told me I am always more concerned with every one else's feelings and happiness, while I put my own to the side. I don't know if I really believed that but it gave me some things to think about as we ate. Dad dropped me back at home after breakfast, I couldn't really go after my skips with no vehicle.

I curled up on the couch with a mug of steaming hot chocolate and popped in my favorite movie, Ghostbusters. Nothing like curling up under a warm blanket and watching a move on a cold winter day. I didn'g get very far because 3 hours later I woke up to my cell phone ringing. The first thought running through my head was it could be Ranger calling, so I flipped it open without even looking at the screen.

"Hello" I said excitedly.

"Cupcake" Definitely not batman.

"Oh, hey Joe"

"You don't sound excited to hear from me."

"I am happy to hear from you. It is just that I was expecting a call from... uh... um... from someone else."

"Ranger?" I didn't respond. He waited for a few seconds before continuing. "Listen, I am in town for the afternoon to handle some paperwork at TPD and pick up some more of my things from my house. I have a little time, do you want to meet up for some lunch?"

No, not really, but I didn't want to turn him down either. Even though he said we would remain friends before he left I didn't know if we actually would. Him calling me was a good sign that he meant it. "Lunch sounds good. Could you pick me up, my car is in the shop." I knew he was about to ask me why. "And don't ask why."

He let out a small chuckle. "Alright, see you in an hour." We said our 'bye's and I hung up to go get ready.

Joe didn't have a lot of time so we grabbed some sandwiches from the deli next door to the bonds office. The deli was crowded and noisy with the lunch crowd, so we took the order to go and sat on the tailgate of Joe's truck outside and ate with bob. Bob is Joe's dog, he was mine for a short time but liked Joe's house better than my apartment. Worked for me.

We ate and talked. I told him about what happened with Ranger after Pino's the other day and that I was back working at Vinnie's again.

"You know, my offer still stands." He said with a wink. "You can always run off to DC with me." I knew he was joking and just trying to cheer me up.

"Thanks, but that won't help anything."

"Oh well, your loss" He shrugged. "At least I don't have to call and cancel my date then."

I feigned hurt by placing my hand on my chest. "Joe! I'm crushed!" Smiling at him. "You didn't waste any time getting over me, did you?"

He just waggled his eyebrows at me and smiled.

It was great to sit here talking and joking with Joe. This was one of the things we were able to do at the beginning of our relationship but happened less and less over time. I missed times like this with him.

While we were sitting there a couple of the Rangeman guys came to pick up their files from Vinnie. I waved to them and yelled hello. They barely managed to wave back. I wondered to myself, what was up with that? But the thought passed just as quickly.

"So, about this date you have. Tell me about her."

"Not too much to tell right now. Her name is Emily and she works at the daycare down the street from the station."

"And how did you two meet?"

Joe threw his head back and laughed loudly. "Now you sound like my mother."

"That is so not funny, Joe." I punched him playfully and laughed along with him. It felt good to laugh.

"I met her when I went with my partner to drop off his daughter before our shift started."

"Is she pretty?"

This got me a look with raised eyebrows. "Yes."

"Well, I hope it works out for you." And I sincerely did, I want to see Joe happy.

As we were finishing up our lunch Al called to tell me the Jeep was ready. It was about time for Joe to leave, so he offered to drop me off at Al's.

"Thanks for the ride Joe and for lunch." I reached across Bob to give him a hug and couldn't help the tears that formed in my eyes.

Once again he was wiping my tears. I hated to cry in front of people, for others to see my weakness. And here I was crying in front of Joe for the second time this week. "Everything will work out cupcake. He loves you, he will come back." I gave him a weak smile and got in my Jeep.

I wasn't in the mood to chase any skips today, but I didn't want to go home yet either. There was one person that knew everything about me. All the good, bad and ugly. She didn't always agree with everything I did, but never judged me. She always, always supported me. I have a lot of close friends that I consider my besties, like Lula, Lester and Eddie. joe is now on that list. Of course Ranger, however, don't really know where that relationship stands in that regard now. But above and beyond all others Mary Lou is my best friend in the whole world. We have been best friends so long that I can't remember a time when we weren't best friends. There is nothing that we haven't shared. No secrets between us. And the funny thing is that we have very little in common with each other. But it worked for us.

Unlike me, Mary Lou was completely happy living the 'burg' life. She is married her high school sweetheart, Lenny. While Lenny seems to be a little dopey to me sometimes, I envy their relationship. He loves Mary Lou and would do anything for her, as she would for him. They have a cute little house a few blocks away from my parents in the 'burg'. And happily live there with their three children.

I walked up to Mary Lou's house and she opened the door with the littlest one resting on her hip. She took one look at me and told me to sit on the couch while she got the baby settled. Next thing I know she was walking back in with two pints of Ben & Jerry's and two spoons. How she always knew just what I needed was beyond me. I polished off the entire pint of ice cream while filling her in on the last few days of my life.

Just as I finished filling her in the door burst open with her older two boys returning from school.

"Mom! Mom! Mom!" They started.

"Okay, Mare that's my cue to leave." I said with a smile on my face.

Don't get me wrong I love her kids, they just had way to much energy for me right now. I gave her and the boys a hug before leaving. Mary Lou tried to assure me that everything would work out. I just wish I believed it.

Now I am sitting at home looking at my phone nervously. I want to call Ranger so bad but I am scared to at the same time. It's now or never I told myself an picked up the phone dialing Rangers number.

The phone started to ring on the other end. Suddenly the ringing was cut short. "Sorry the number you have reached is no longer in service. Please hang up and try again." I pulled to phone away and stared into the receiver in shock. He changed his number. I stared at it until the beeping noise from inside it brought me out of my trance.

I'm not giving up quite yet. I dialed information and asked for the number for Rangeman Miami. With my fingers crossed I dialed the phone again.

"Rangeman" A voice answered the phone.

"Could you connect me with Mr. Manoso please?" I wasn't quite sure what name I should ask for him by.

"One moment"

I heard the click of the transfer and then the line started ringing again.

"Manoso" The sound of his voice sent chills throughout me. I was temporarily at a loss for words. "Speak".

"Ranger" I said softly.

"Damn it!" I heard him yell. "Didn't I tell you guys to screen my calls." The phone was slammed down in my ear.