Darkness in the Offing

By Dayoh

Chapter Six

It took Stephanie exactly twenty minutes to shower, blow dry her hair, and pull on a pair of designer jeans with a purple knit top. She swiped a layer of mascara on her lashes and covered her lips with a rose tinted gloss. Ranger had quickly pulled on a pair of running pants and a T-shirt and headed downstairs to greet his parents, giving Stephanie enough time to pull herself together. And by the time she made it downstairs, Ranger and his parents were settled in the kitchen, sipping coffee.

Stephanie strolled into the kitchen with a smile on her face, and the Manoso's stood simultaneously to greet her, grinning from ear to ear.

"There she is," Mr. Manoso said, opening his arms wide. "Come here and give me a hug."

Mr. Manoso was a taller, heavier version of Ranger; they shared the same dark eyes, smooth skin, and megawatt smile. His dark brown hair was cut short with a light dusting of gray, and he was very attractive. Stephanie thought the man could have easily been mistaken for an older brother of Jimmy Smits, and it was evident that he had once carried the same muscular build as his son. He was wearing a pair of faded jeans with a button down, blue shirt, and black loafers.

Stephanie walked into the man's outstretched arms and embraced him. "It's so nice to meet you, Mr. Manoso."

"Call me Ernesto," he said, giving Stephanie a tight squeeze. He turned to his wife, placing his hand on her shoulder. "This is Armena. She's the glue that holds our family together."

Armena Manoso wrapped her arms around Stephanie and gave her a warm hug. The calming scent of lavender and honey filled Stephanie's nostrils and she instantly relaxed into the woman's embrace.

"Stephanie," she said, pulling back and studying Stephanie's face. "I've heard so much about you. And my son was right, you are a beauty."

Coming from Ranger's mother, that was definitely a compliment. Mrs. Manoso was a petite woman, no more than 5-foot-three with an olive skin tone. She had long black hair, brushing against her back, with just a touch of gray around the hairline. Her hazel eyes searched Stephanie's face inquisitively, checking her out. The age lines around her eyes and mouth put her in the mid-fifties range. She was wearing a white blouse with a ruffled collar, brown slacks, and brown pumps on her dainty feet.

Stephanie smiled at Armena and said, "Thank you. Ranger failed to tell me how beautiful you were." Armena blushed and smiled at the compliment.

Ernesto nodded his head, rubbing his wife's shoulder. "She's still a fox," he said in a Cuban accent that was much thicker than Ranger's. "I scooped her up right after she graduated from high school. From the first moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she was going to be the mother of my children."

Armena blushed again and lightly smacked Ernesto's arm. "The kids don't want to hear all that."

Sitting down on a stool, Armena patted the one next to her. "Sit, Stephanie. Let's talk about you. It's been a long time since Carlos has had a steady girlfriend. You must be special." Then she looked at Ranger, obviously pleased that there was finally someone special in his life.

"What's it been, Carlos, five, six years?" Ernesto inquired.

Stephanie glanced at Ranger, eyebrows raised in question. He was leaning against the counter with a coffee cup in his hand, watching the scene unfold. He hadn't said a word since Stephanie walked into the room, but the look on his face held a hint of amusement. He held up five fingers, taking a sip of coffee.

"That's right," said Armena, agreeing with Ranger's silent answer. "Five years ago, Carlos introduced us to a nice young lady, not as pretty as you, Stephanie, but attractive nevertheless."

"I didn't think she was pretty at all," Ernesto admitted. He looked at Ranger knowingly. "There was something about that girl I didn't like."

Ranger raised his eyebrow at his father, sharing a silent reflection.

"Well, we didn't know her enough to like or dislike her," Armena continued. "Carlos only brought her by on a couple of occasions, and then he stopped talking about her."

Ranger's mother looked at him pointedly, waiting for his response, and then continued to explain, realizing he wasn't going to elaborate.

"According to Carlos, things just didn't work out."

Stephanie suddenly realized that the Manoso's were talking about the woman who'd cheated on Ranger and then left town. Obviously, he hadn't bothered to give Armena the lurid details of what had really happened, and she couldn't blame him. How could he tell his mother that he'd permanently disabled a man after catching him in bed with his girlfriend? There are just some things a mother doesn't need to know. But Stephanie had a sneaky suspicion that Ranger's father knew more about the story. He didn't seem as perplexed about the break-up as his wife. And he clearly felt some kind of disdain for the woman. The disgusted look on his face spoke volumes.

Stephanie found herself studying the Manoso's mannerisms. Ranger had definitely acquired a calm and cool demeanor from his mother. She was soft spoken and seemed to be even-tempered, a peacemaker. Ernesto, on the other hand, spoke with a boisterous, straight-no-chaser approach. He seemed to be the kind of guy who wouldn't hesitate to put his foot in your ass if you pissed him off. Interestingly enough, Ranger carried innate traits from both his parents, and the complexity of his nature was now much easier for Stephanie to comprehend.

Ranger took another sip of coffee and said, "I've informed Stephanie of my rocky history with relationships. She's aware of the mishaps."

"And you're still around?" Ernesto asked Stephanie playfully. "You're a keeper."

Armena rolled her eyes at Ernesto. "Everyone has relationship problems. Carlos has grown into a mature young man and he knows how to treat a woman now. Don't you, Carlos?"

Ranger made eye contact with Stephanie and smiled. He definitely knew how to treat a woman when he put his mind to it. And if his parents hadn't knocked on his door, he'd be treating Stephanie very well right now. Stephanie pulled her eyes away from Ranger's gaze, trying to keep an innocent smile on her face.

"Ranger tells us you're a bounty hunter," Ernesto said, taking a loud slurp from his coffee cup. His eyes were bright with interest; an inquisitive look covered his face. "Why on earth would a pretty girl like you want to be a bounty hunter?"

Stephanie planted herself on a bar stool next to Armena and said, "I needed quick money at the time. I'd lost my job and rent was due. So my cousin offered me a gig doing bounty hunting work, and I took it."

Stephanie conveniently left out the part where she'd blackmailed her way into the job.

"And you enjoy being a bounty hunter?" Armena asked.

"No. I can't say I enjoy the job, but I'm used to it now. And there is a certain kind of freedom and adventure that comes with being a bounty hunter. I'm really not a 9-to-5 type of girl."

"I hear ya," said Ernesto. But Armena didn't look at all pleased with that answer.

"That freedom and adventure can bring danger as well," she said, looking at Ranger. "My son has the bullet holes to prove it."

"Mama," Ranger said quietly, still leaning against the counter. "Let it go for now."

Armena turned her attention back to Stephanie with a troubled look on her face.

"A mother shouldn't have to worry about laying her child to rest," she said in a dramatic whisper. "I couldn't survive that kind of experience. Your mother must be beside herself."

"Yes," Stephanie admitted sheepishly. "My mother hates my job. She worries all the time."

Stephanie wasn't sure why, but she wanted the Manoso's to know that she wasn't going to be a bounty hunter forever. It wasn't like she needed their approval, but she did want them to understand that she had envisioned a normal life for herself.

"Actually, I won't be a bounty hunter for much longer. I'm taking classes at Trenton Tech."

Mrs. Manoso looked relieved, as if Stephanie's fate had been lifted off her shoulders.

Her face creased into a smile as she looked at Ranger. "See, Carlos. Stephanie is a smart girl. She knows her boundaries. You have to know your boundaries, son."

Ranger crossed his arms over his chest, focusing on his mother. His expression was hard to read, but his voice was tender and sincere. "I know my boundaries, Mama. I don't really do much bounty hunting anymore. The job in Mexico was an unusual assignment, and it was my last hunting expedition. I'm going to focus on growing Rangeman now."

Ranger knew better than to go into detail about his last hunting expedition. He didn't want to see his mother passed out on the floor.

Ernesto blew out a long sigh. "Life's going to be pretty boring for you, son."

Armena shot Ernesto a death glare.

"What?" Ernesto said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Life for our son will finally be normal, not boring. It's time for Carlos to settle down and lead a normal life."

"Mi amore, Carlos has never led a normal life," Ernesto explained. "He's an adventurer, a wild child." Ernesto threw a smile Ranger's way, his chest puffed out in pride. Ranger silently agreed with his father's assessment with a slight nod of his head, his lips hinting at a smile. He didn't want to encourage his father's boastful observation.

Stephanie watched the father and son interaction with amused curiosity. She wondered if Ernesto had abstained from an audaciouslife only because he'd settled down at an early age. She could definitely see the man having a wild streak of his own. But the responsibility of feeding and clothing six children most likely stifled his untamed dreams. There was probably a part of Ernesto that secretly envied Ranger's life.

Armena turned back to Stephanie, ignoring the men in the room, taking no part in the bragging rights.

"Carlos was a breech baby," she told Stephanie, as if that explained everything. "And he was always the quietest child in the house. He was good student all through grade school; we didn't have any problems until he hit junior high. That's when Carlos decided he wanted to fit in with a specific group of kids, but they were bad news. By the time his fourteenth birthday rolled around, Carlos was skipping school, stealing cars, and getting into fights. You know, Carlos was a small child, beautiful hair always in his face. And the bigger kids picked on him all the time."

Ranger uncrossed his arms and blew out a sigh. "Stephanie knows the story. I doubt she wants to hear it again." He looked d at his father, eyebrows raised, silently asking for a subject change.

"So, Stephanie," Ernesto cut in. What are you studying in school?"

Armena cut her eyes at Ernesto, then at Ranger. She had just been pre-empted, and she wasn't happy about it.

Stephanie smiled politely and said, "I'm taking classes in legal office technology."

"That's great!" Armena said, all excited, as if Stephanie had just claimed she'd found the cure for cancer. She glanced at Ranger who seemed increasingly amused at his mother's antics.

"What do your parents do, dear?" Armena asked.

"My father retired from the post office a few years ago. He drives a cab to fill his free time. And my mother's a housewife."

"I was a housewife for years," Armena said. "But as the kids grew older, I had to go to work. It was too hard to provide for six school-age kids on one salary. Ernesto was working two jobs just to keep food on the table, so I went into teaching."

"Are you both still working now?" Stephanie asked the Manoso's. Ranger hadn't told her much about his parents, but he'd obviously told them some things about her.

Ernesto said, "I've owned and operated my own construction company for fifteen years. I'm ready to retire now, hand over the reigns to someone else. Armena's retired from the school system, but she gives private tutoring lessons occasionally. Not for the money, just for something to do, like your father."

"So, Ranger gets his entrepreneurial roots from you." Stephanie said to Ernesto.

Ernesto nodded at his son, face full of pride. "I taught each of my kids from an early age to be the captain of their own ship. My oldest son, Lupe, will probably take over my company when I retire. I've trained him on everything there is to know about the construction industry. And you know Carlos has excellent leadership skills. For a long time he was a follower and not a leader, but the Army changed all that. He's really made some strides with his security firm."

Armena was beaming with pride. "He's going to build a small empire with that business, I just know it."

Ranger laughed softly at his parents' remarks. Pulling out a chair and sitting at the kitchen table, he said. "You two sound like your reading from a personal advertisement. You don't have to sell my strong points to Stephanie."

Ranger looked at Stephanie, giving her an apologetic smile. "I guess you've noticed my parents are interviewing you for the position of Mrs. Carlos Manoso."

"Oh, we are doing no such thing," Armena proclaimed.

"We're just getting to know your girlfriend," Ernesto added.

But the mischievous grins on their faces told a different story.

Stephanie chuckled softly. "It's okay. I don't mind the interview or the selling points. My parents would probably do the same thing. My mother is constantly reminding me that my child bearing years are slipping away."

The Manoso's looked at Stephanie in silent anticipation, waiting to hear the real status of their son's relationship with her. And Stephanie looked at Ranger for his input. He held her gaze for a beat and then smiled, relaxing into his chair, giving her the spotlight.

Turning her attention back to the Manoso's, Stephanie explained, "Ranger and I have only been in a serious relationship for three weeks, and the first two weeks we were separated. And then this past week…Well, you know how that turned out…"

Ranger grabbed the reigns from Stephanie, getting straight to the point. "Stephanie's right, we haven't had much time to work on our relationship. We got off to a rough start, and we're trying to get back on track. This is the woman I'm going to marry, and I need some time to prove to her that I'm ready to maintain a committed relationship."

Stephanie let Ranger's proclamation sink in, and tears welled in her eyes. She blinked rapidly, trying to keep the water at bay. She didn't want to go all weepy in front of Ranger's parents.

Armena cradled Stephanie's hand, gently rubbing her skin, giving her a minute to compose herself.

Ernesto said, "We're just glad you found someone who makes you happy, Carlos. And you definitely don't want to rush into marriage. Take your time and get to know one another."

Armena nodded her head in agreement. "Marriage is a huge step, and it's hard work. But when you find the right person, you don't mind working hard. She patted Stephanie's hand and let out a sigh. "Just don't get too comfortable shacking up. A man will delay making a commitment when he's getting the milk for free."

Stephanie's eyes grew wide and she looked at Armena, trying to explain. "Oh, no, I'm not living with Ranger. I have my own place. I'm just hanging around until he's well.

Ranger was smiling so wide that Stephanie expected a bark of laughter to come rolling out of his mouth. Then she thought about their morning interruption and nearly laughed out loud herself. Ranger was well enough to initiate sex, and it wasn't like she was nursing him back to health. His parents could clearly see that he didn't need a live-in nurse attending to his every need.

"Now there you go making assumptions, Armena," Ernesto said. Mrs. Manoso put her hand to her chest, an innocent look spreading across her face.

"Babe," Ranger said, looking at Stephanie. "You're getting sucked in. Mama's being nosy." Then he looked at his mother and said, "Cut it out."

Armena broke into cheerful laughter and stood to her feet. "I used to be young and sassy, too. I know how you kids operate. Dating one minute, and shacking up the next. It's a wonder you have anything left to give on your wedding night."

"You seemed to do pretty well on our wedding night," Ernesto said to Armena with a smile on his face. "We weren't virgins when we got married."

"Papa, are you kidding me?" Ranger said in disgust. "I don't want to hear the details of your wedding night."

"There's nothing to hear," Armena said, walking over to Ranger. "I was four months pregnant on our wedding night, and sick as a dog."

"Oh, I must have been thinking about my first wife," Ernesto said, belting out a boisterous laugh, tickled at his own joke.

Ranger and his mother rolled their eyes at Ernesto's lame attempt at humor. But Stephanie chuckled at the joke. She liked Mr. Manoso.

"I really didn't come to harass your beautiful girlfriend," Armena said to Ranger, hoisting his T-shirt over his belly. "I rushed over to see for myself that you're okay. Now let me see the damage."

Staring at Ranger's chest, Mrs. Manoso sucked in a gasp and put her hand over her mouth. Ranger tried to avoid the shocked look on his mother's face, choosing to look at Stephanie instead. Stephanie held his gaze and gave him a supportive smile, understanding that any caring mother would have had the same reaction.

Mr. Manoso glanced at his son's chest and his eyes quickly fell to the top of the island he was sitting at. He studied the counter top attentively, wiping away imaginary crumbs. And just like that, the energy in the room changed, an awkward silence settling in every crevice of the kitchen like a thick fog. A few minutes passed without a word from anyone in the room.

Then with a gentle tug, Ranger pulled his shirt back down over his chest, looking at his mother standing over him in a daze. "I'm not taking pain medication anymore, just antibiotics for a while longer." Ranger's words came out in a guilty rush, as if he were a child trying to avoid punishment.

"That's good, Hijo," Ernesto said, his voice hitching in his throat. He was trying to be strong. He looked at his wife and said, "See Armena, he'll be as good as new in no time. Don't get yourself all worked up again. He's fine."

"Can I get you more coffee?" Stephanie asked Armena. She didn't know what else to say.

Mrs. Manoso slowly shook her head and looked down at Ranger. "Please, Hijo, promise me you'll stop risking your life for money. I can't see you like this again."

Ranger stood from the chair and leaned down, kissing his mother on the top of her head. "I promise, Mama, I'm done."

Ranger had made the same promise to Stephanie a couple of days ago, and she knew he wouldn't go back on his word.

Armena nodded her head, smoothing out Ranger's T-shirt. She walked to the refrigerator and opened the door, her eyes scanning the shelves. "Well, since I'm here, I fix you all some breakfast," she said, pulling a carton of eggs off the middle shelf. She glanced at the expiration date and turned to her husband. "Or maybe we'll just go out for brunch. How does that sound?"

"That's a good idea, Armena," Ernesto said, hopping off the bar stool. Carlos, you feel like getting out for a while?"

"I'm fine, Papa. But I have to tell you, Stephanie loves to eat. You'll have to guard your plate when she's around."

Armena slapped Ranger on his arm and rolled her eyes. "You stop that." Then she looked at Stephanie, shaking her head. "Just wait until you're married."

"There's nothing wrong with a woman who likes to eat," Ernesto chuckled, helping Armena into her jacket. And while his parents were distracted with their coats, Stephanie narrowed her eyes at Ranger, giving him a middle finger salute.

Ranger smiled wide and silently mouthed, "Later."

Stephanie licked her tongue out at Ranger and smiled. Even with his parents in the same room, he only had one thing on his mind.

Ernesto caught the two of them eyeing each other and pushed Armena towards the door. "Let's go get breakfast and get these kids back home. Carlos has some resting up to do." Then he winked at Ranger with a knowing smirk on his face.

TBC…