Cross Roads

&

Building Blocks

Chapter 7

The week actually flew by. I had a couple of times of queasiness, but nothing major. It passed after I ate the saltines Grandma bought me. I thought I caught Tank watching me a couple of times hoping he didn't suspect anything or make any problems. Maybe it was my nerves, but he never said anything. I couldn't believe my luck, though; Mary Lou and Lenny were taking the boys to the beach in North Carolina. My phone and tracking pen would be taking another drive. Mary Lou would give them back to Daddy when they returned. I told Tank I was going to South Carolina but they're close. Hopefully, this would buy me the time I needed to make my exit before the guys realized I was actually gone. And not coming back.

Friday morning, I woke up and almost called this whole plan off. I was scared, stress getting the better of me. I said it was pregnancy hormones. Lying in Ranger's bed for the last time, it brought out the tears. If I stayed, what would it be like? The idea of him finding me pregnant with a child he didn't want and more than likely cutting us out of his life was something I couldn't handle. He would send a monthly check like he did to Rachel out of duty, out of responsibility. I loved him. I was in love with him. I couldn't live here in Trenton, raise his child, and maybe pass each other occasionally like there was nothing between us. I couldn't live like that or raise my child that way. Those words 'I'm glad it's just us, Babe. I couldn't handle the bedlam of kids if I had to deal with that everyday' in the back of my thoughts always and pushing me down this path I was following.

I worked all the searches in my bin and finally finished shortly before I normally quit.

Lester had been teasing me all morning about stowing away so he could rub the sun tan lotion on me.

I got him back, "If you do it to me, Lester, then Grandma's going to want the same treatment." That shut him up and Tank's 'Watch it! That's Ranger's woman!"

I locked the suitcase after I wrapped my favorite photograph of Ranger and me from my nightstand in one of his t-shirts I wore. It was taken at Point Pleasant on my surprise weekend of us on the beach by a stranger. We're looking at each other with the sunset sky behind us. We were happy and that's how I want to remember us. I rolled the suitcase out to the door, grabbed my purse, and picked up Rex.

"Come on, Rex. Mommy has a new spot for you." I was blinking back my tears as I looked around one last time. I patted my stomach, "Well, Peanut, let's go start our life."

I wiped away any tears before opening the door. Surprised, Tank was just about to knock.

"Bombshell, you leaving now?"

"I'm taking my suitcase to my parents and my nieces are going to watch Rex. Grandma and I may leave early in the morning. Daddy, Mom, Grandma, and I are going to Pino's for dinner."

"I'll carry that," picking up my suitcase. "You driving your Rangeman SUV?"

"Probably, I want to check on Grandma's arthritis first, before I decide."

"Ok. I have a date with Lula. If you take one of Ranger's vehicles, let the control room know."

"I will. Thanks," I hugged him as my father was waiting by the curb in his Buick. "Enjoy your date and don't do anything I wouldn't."

That got a chuckle out of the big guy.

Daddy put the suitcase in the trunk and I put Rex's cage on the floor in the back. I gave Tank a finger wave as we pulled out. I closed my eyes saying a silent good-bye to Ranger. Even before my father was at the next corner, I was dialing Lula to see if she actually had a date.

"Hey, Skinny White Girl."

"Hey, Lula. What are you doing?"

"Tank is taking me to the new rib place down on Stevens, then the new chick flick I've been waiting to see if he wants some special Lula lovin' tonight. I bought some of Pleasure Treasures new 'Passion Potion' oil to try on him."

"OK. Maybe we can get together after I get back with Grandma."

"I don't want to see no tan lines, White Girl."

"Bye, Lula."

I closed my cell phone and knew Daddy was curious. "Tank said he had a date with Lula and I wanted to make sure. I don't want any surprises."

"OK, Pumpkin."

We pulled into the alley. Grandma was talking with Mrs. Gamble in her backyard. Daddy put my suitcase in the backseat and Rex went on the floor.

"Call me," he hugged me and I handed him my Rangeman phone and tracking pen. The plan was he would leave them on the front porch for Mare to pick-up. They were leaving sometime after Midnight. The panic button Ranger had given me has been in the nightstand drawer since I took it off my key ring when I started to put this plan in action. I had to push it to activate the thing it was explained to me, but I didn't want to take a chance it could be tracked. I got behind the wheel of my Impreza as Stephanie Plum with Grandma in the passenger seat. I backed out as Stephanie Mazur taking my cross road.