Jane's Dilemma
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Previously on Jane's Dilemma: Stephanie said, "C'mon Jane, let's run to the ladies room before they serve dessert, okay? I wouldn't want to miss dessert..." I said, "Sure." And I followed the dark-haired woman, idly wondering how much her gown and armful of diamond bracelets cost.
Chapter Seven
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[Ranger]
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I watch the two women head for the ladies room, idly thinking how beautiful they both are. Jane is rummaging in her little beaded bag, pulls out a cell phone. It occurs to me that this new girl of Lester's is going to be trouble with a capital T. I glance over at Anthony but he is still busy demolishing the second entree he'd charmed out of one of the servers.
He chews, swallows, gulps champagne. Catches my eye and twitches a brow at me, What?
What about this girl, is she a potential problem?
Nah, she's kinda sweet. And cute.
He doesn't specifically articulate the rest of his thoughts—something along the lines of Nice ass, as the girls disappear into the lobby. I am gonna go with it being Jane's ass he admires, not Steph's, so I don't have to kill him.
I catch, What ? again and shrug. Out loud I say, "Like the food?"
"Gotta keep my strength up, Rangeman. And yeah, pretty tasty, what the fuck is this anyway? Like steak and lobster and—pie crust? With—uh, something yellow?"
I read off the menu card: "Chateaubriand with tarragon béarnaise sauce and lobster tails Newburg : Chef Jason's specialty ~ A gastronomical deconstruct in culinary modernism."
We both stare, our version of open-mouthed amazed gaping, then we laugh.
Anthony finishes his rare beef tenderloin, shakes his head. "Deconstructed, fer chrissakes. That's just so not right."
"Tasted okay, though."
"Mmmm. Yeah. Wonder if there's any more?"
... ... ...
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[Jane]
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As we left the noisy ballroom—music, chatter, laughter, rattle of plates and cutlery—and stepped into the relative peace of the lobby, I had my cell phone out, my thumb on Lester's number, already number one on my autodial.
No answer, just, Santos. Leave a message.
Stephanie looked back at me , waited til I caught up.
I said, "I really wanted to call Lester. I—hung up on him earlier. I guess I was pretty rude."
Stephanie said nothing.
"I wanted to—I don't know—just say Hi."
"Jane..." Stephanie shook her head a little, walked on.
I caught up to her in the white marble bathroom, as we washed our hands at the sinks. The sinks had golden fixtures shaped like swans. We were alone except for the attendant in her traditional black maid's outfit, frilly white apron, tip bowl.
Stephanie said, "I'm glad you came tonight even though Les had to go, um...had to work."
I said, "I am too! I was so excited!" I glanced at Stephanie wondering if the other woman thought I was a total dork. I mean, bad enough that her husband's cousin is dating a librarian. Now the librarian was being little Miss Awestruck idiot.
Stephanie smiled in the mirror and said, "I hope you're having fun? At least you have a great stand-in guy."
"Yes. Anthony seems really nice."
"And hot."
"Well—yeah." We both laughed a little.
Steph turned and leaned back against the vanity, said, "So—you and Les, though, huh? You like him?"
"Well..." I did not have to tell this woman everything! But maybe I could find out some answers of my own. I dug my little hairbrush out and went on casually, "Funny—I feel like I really don't know him—Lester, I mean. Or exactly what he does for a living, even though we've been dating for a few weeks. I mean, he had to work tonight? Tonight? It's a Saturday night right before Christmas, for pete's sake...what could he have to do that is so important?"
You can't begin to imagine what he does or where he has gone or what he has to do, thought Stephanie. My empathic sense caught the gist and I frowned.
Stephanie stared at me in the mirror, then focused on re-applying her rose red lip gloss. She capped the little black Chanel tube, put it in her little purse and finally said, "Maybe you don't want to know."
"No! I do. I, um, care about Les. He's special. Although Anthony is also, um—interesting?"
"Yeah. Exactly." She made a tiny shrugging motion, dismissing my concerns.
"I mean, what...?" I wanted to ask her what HER husband did really—he was quite young but obviously The Boss—of something. Steph shrugged again "Don't ask. Please." Then, "C'mon! We need more drinks, girl!" She snapped her little evening bag shut and headed for the door.
I said to her back, "Anthony is in love with you."
She stopped but didn't turn. "And?"
I said, "None of my business! Except—he's my date!"
Stephanie turned and stared at me with wide blue eyes. She had the airhead bimbo face down really well, totally without thought or opinion. I had the vague wisp of thought that she should be blonde...
And that somehow, some way, she loved Anthony too.
I asked, "What's that like, loving two men?"
"I have no idea," Steph lied. Then she grinned. "Confusing! It's confusing. But hey, I'm married to—" she hauled the door open and waved a hand. I looked at the man leaning against the wall waiting for her. "...him. My brains headed south the day we met, haven't been coherent since, Jane. So don't ask me for advice."
Ranger Manoso straightened up. "Babe?"
"Ranger."
"You were gone a long..."
"Oh please...," laughed Stephanie.
And alarms suddenly blared, we heard screams. The scent of smoke rapidly filled my nostrils and a queasy panic crawled up my spine. I so wished I'd had another martini or three. I looked at Ranger for a directive? answers? But he was looking calm and blank, though alert. And he had a gun in his hand.
Ranger looked down at Stephanie and said, "I never pictured you burning down The Plaza, babe."
Bomb! someone screamed.
Stephanie said, "It wasn't my fault."
"Uh huh...Where's your gun?"
"In your pocket. My purse is too little."
Ranger patted the breast pocket of his tuxedo. "Babe, it's an Armani Coutura suit. Hand tailored."
"So what, my dress is Versace."
"I know. I saw the AmEx bill."
"Bite me."
"Later." He grabbed my hand and steered both me and Stephanie towards the action. Stephanie trotted firmly at his side, gun ready, high heels clicking. NOT an airhead, trophy wife bimbo after all, I thought.
Anthony materialized at my side. "Jane! Are you okay?"
"I think so, but..."
His attention went to Ranger, not dismissing me, but—busy. "Lotta smoke, unknown source. No bomb, no explosion. The Secret Service is evacuating the President and the missus. Rangeman is coordinating guest safety, along with Plaza security. Some HLS dude is here, calling in his troops."
"Why?"
"Guess he doesn't realize you're on the job, bro."
"Let's find him." We made our way the smoky chaos of the ballroom. I could swear Ranger mumbled, My mother is gonna kill me. Anthony leaned past me and said, "Your mom is gonna kill you, man."
"I know."
Stephanie giggled and the edge of hysteria in her laugh made both men turn to look at her.
Near the bandstand, Ranger said to the three of us, "Stay here, evacuate if you have to."
Anthony nodded and did the annoying arm clasp thing again. I wondered crazily if he moonlighted as a bouncer once, attracting a swift, strange glance from both him and Ranger. Then Ranger disappeared into the throng.
... ... ...
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[Ranger]
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I quickly make my way to the VIP table where the President and First Lady have been surrounded by their Secret Service detail and are being hustled off to a safe room in the bowels of the old hotel. I see that my mother is accompanying them while Anthony's mom, Olivia Stewart, is efficiently calming the guests in the ballroom.
I move down the hidden corridor, following the president, but at the door of the safe room, a middle-aged bureaucrat type halts me rudely with a hand smacked into my chest. He barks, "Stop right there!"
I say, "Who the fuck are you?"
The man turns an unattractive shade of red and says, "I'll have you know..."
My mom intervenes, "This is Hawkins Bateman Shoemaker, he is the assistant deputy director of Homeland Security. Hawk, this is my son..."
I interrupt too, "He doesn't need to know, mom," and push by. The man catches my arm, lucky for him not my gun hand, and screams in my face, some shit about jurisdiction. I speed dial my iPhone and shove it into his hand. The President's tuxedo jacket rings and he answers, then looks over everyone's heads and finds me. I grab my phone back and walk over to him, leaving the confused Homeland Security man behind. To the president I say politely, "Are you okay, sir?"
"Yes. But what happened?"
"I not sure yet, sir, but this room is 100% bomb and fire proof, it was redone after 9/11. It was built back in the days of Teddy Roosevelt originally, I believe. You and the First Lady are safe here. And if need be, we can evacuate you in your armored limo or via the private, secure subway tunnel " The president nods and squeezes his wife's hand.
One of the Secret Service guys shoulders into the circle and says, ''Manoso, the head of Plaza security wants to talk to you. Names Harper?''
Oh yeah. The guy I met when I reconned this place a few weeks ago.
Jerrold Harper, the Plaza man, ex-Army, mid-50s, going to seed but still sharp, whispers frantically in my ear.
"Are you sure?"
Then some more...His face is pale, stress and deep concern shadow his features, despite his professionalism.
I nod and say, "Okay, people, sir, ma'am. Listen up! We have good news and bad news. The good news is—there is definitely no bomb, no explosion, no fire and no danger, just an overheated pommes frites deep fryer in the room service kitchen. It made some smoke but all is well. The ballroom has big fans and the air is clear, the band is playing..."
My mother looked relieved.
"The Plaza extends its deepest apologies," added Harper.
The president said, "And the bad news?"
tbc
a/n: Thank you for reading our story! Please review, it means So Much! What a thrill and all that! And thanks to everyone who has reviewd so far!
love, sunny and Tuck
a/n 2:
for those of you with questions I am repeating this note from Ch 18:
Jane's Dilemma while frothy, festive, and fun, also examines the themes of sexual attraction and even love of/ for more than one person. It builds on the original premise of the JE triangle and Stephanie loving both Joe and Ranger. She has moved forward, and Joe is not an issue...but just as Jane is attracted to Lester and Anthony, and both Ranger and Anthony love Steph, Anthony can also find Jane appealing-and possible. And Jane has her own dilemma: Love the one you're with? Or...?
In my world, Ranger and Stephanie are truly partners: work, love, life, family -and totally committed. Soul mates, even. And Anthony loves both Ranger and Steph...
