Someday Let Go

Chapter 9

She just finished zipping the garment bag with the dresses she wore and didn't wear Ella had picked for their masquerade. The shoes and accessories were in the suitcases. Her own things were shoved in her travel bag which was small in comparison.

"Babe, breakfast is here," Ranger called from the living room.

B.A. was propped against her overnight bag; he was her souvenir from the New York weekend.

The table was set with china, silverware, and fresh fruit in crystal compote bowls on each plate. Picking up the lid of a chafing dish, there were slices of thick French toast and bacon in another. Both foods bringing a smile to her face.

"Are you having this too?" Stephanie asked not seeing anything else she would consider healthy by Ranger's standards.

"Yes, our weekend may almost be over, but I'm celebrating this assignment is just about closed," Ranger spoke smiling at his Babe holding her chair.

There was a tingle running along her bare arm where his mocha latte fingers touched. "I'm glad for you, Ranger. You have put so much into discovering the leak and stopping it," Stephanie said between bites of her fresh strawberries and pineapple. "Oh, this pineapple is so juicy."

"Babe," Stephanie made eating an experience for him with her food sounds.

As she enjoyed her French toast with the sweetest syrup she ever tasted, Stephanie looked all around her taking in the details of their 'honeymoon' suite to store away.

"This is a beautiful room," she spoke out loud. "It's any girl's vision of a honeymoon suite."

"But not yours, Babe?" Ranger questioned seeing a far away look in her blue eyes across the table.

She didn't answer but shook her curls lost in her surroundings, in the opulence of room. There was a shining blue sky out the window against the Manhattan backdrop she was viewing from her chair.

"What's yours, Stephanie?" He knew it would involve the beach, probably, Point Pleasant to be exact.

Not even thinking, the words slipped out, "The beach at my door." Her brain and heart caught up to each other and his question registered. She shook herself out of her fantasy. "I had mine. It was a really nice billboard," she gave Ranger a fake smile. "We better finish up here so you can get on that plane," she said taking the last few bites of her bacon.

Ranger wanted to know what changed in her but before he could ask his cell phone buzzed. "Yo. About an hour." He shut his phone to ask but she was going through the bedroom doors and he heard the bathroom door close.

The porter came eventually with a rack for their luggage. Stephanie was wearing a simple denim dress with a leather belt around her trim waist, sunglasses in her hand, and B.A. wrapped in her other. She took one quick look before Ranger shut the door.

"Ready to go home, Babe?"

"Yeah, I miss Rex and I have my signing class coming up with Mary Lou. We'll be certified in sign language at the completion," Stephanie explained.

"I'm really proud of you, Babe," giving her a kiss on her cheek before the elevator doors opened to the lobby.

All Ranger had to do was turn in the computer keys; the room was paid for by the government.

They could see people were hanging around the lobby glued to a television set.

"Let me bring you up to date on our breaking news," Wolf Blitzer said very excited. "Yes, you are seeing right if you are just tuning in to the news. I got out of bed for this. It's crazy! Khalil Taloquan, a world humanitarian, who was celebrated last night at a gala event in New York, was taken into custody, along with his brother and their Middle Eastern entourage, accused of soliciting to buy information regarding the locations of our troops! But that's not all! His day hasn't gotten any better! His elaborate and heavily guarded home compound was leveled when it was bombed by his own country. Maybe it was a miscue or maybe it was a blatant show of power, the man is not having a good day! Then our troops captured bands of terrorist troops attacking their own terrorist guys who thought they were attacking us, the good guys! We discovered though our sources and a translator the coordinates of these locations came through Mr. Taloquan's network! His government wants a word or two with him. Whose side is he on? It's crazy over there!" The news man was spastic throwing papers in the air.

Stephanie couldn't believe Tank's changes worked and really fast. Ranger was busting a gut holding in his chuckling. She did hear him groan.

" Yoo Hoo! There's my glamour star!" Arms were waving in the air and white spikes were bobbing between people. "Details. I need details!"

Ranger had the feeling that Stephanie's hairdresser would fit right in with the girlie gossip back in Trenton.

"Lawrence Michael, it was a party and I did have a little too much champagne."

"Don't we all when we're not paying for it. Was it the yummiest? I saw the bottles going by and it was some of the really good stuff. Did you dance?"

"Yes," Stephanie had her head together with his, "Ricardo and I danced a lot."

His green eyes with eyeliner around them were taking in the casually dressed Ranger with the painted on T-shirt, "Did you have one for me? I wish I could be his type for just one erotic salsa. My year would be complete. I've been just a tad lonely since I broke up with Jonathan."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Lawrence Michael!" Stephanie was consoling him by patting his back. "The right one will come along for you."

"Well, if I could find one even a smidgen like yours, I would be a very happy beauty maker. Does he have a brother or anything I might like?" Lawrence Michael whispered but smiling shyly at the Cuban man.

Ranger was fighting the urge to throw Stephanie over his shoulder and run out of the Waldorf to the safety of his waiting Porsche.

"Babe."

"Lawrence Michael, Ricardo has to catch a plane so we have to leave."

"Oh," he sighed loud enough for the entire lobby to hear, "well if you must, but the next time you're here, Stephanie, you got to give Lawrence Michael details. We'll do lunch or brunch."

"It's a date," Stephanie kissed his baby soft cheek that smelled like baby powder. Even if she never stayed at the Waldorf again, she would stop in to see her new favorite hairdresser next to Mr. Alexander.

Going out of the hotel, the Porsche was waiting. Loaded with the luggage, it was there to take her back to Trenton.

It was a short drive out of New York and into New Jersey. Ranger drove them to a small private runway attached to the back of the Newark airport. There a military plane was waiting.

"I'll be back in a few days, Babe."

"OK, be safe, Ranger," she told him from the passenger seat.

He leaned into Stephanie brushing her lips with his. "Bye, Babe." He grabbed his duffel from behind the seat and ran for the plane.

A normal looking Bobby slipped behind the wheel. They pulled out behind Tank's black Hummer as the small plane was taxing to the runway.

The drive back to Trenton seemed to take no time as she and Bobby discussed New York, the weather, sports, and even their favorite ice cream flavors. The guys unloaded the suitcases and garment bags while Stephanie and B.A. took the elevator up to 7. She had the jeweler's box with all of Stephanie Martinez's jewelry from her husband. Knowing the value she was holding, she wanted to make sure it was returned. Ella could place it in Ranger's safe.

She let herself into his quiet apartment walking through to his sedate bedroom. Ella was coming out of the bathroom.

"Stephanie, you're back. Did everything fit?" The Rangeman housekeeper asked.

"Perfect as usual, Ella. I wanted to make sure these were put away," she told her handing the housekeeper the jeweler's box. "That's a lot of Ranger's money in there."

"Oh my," Ella held up the sparkling diamond bracelet and earrings. "I think Carlos bought these for you."

"No," Stephanie shook her head, "those belong to Ricardo Martinez's wife. That's not me," her voice cracking as she spoke. "Thanks, Ella."

She turned around going back out as she came just wanting to leave. She met Tank carrying in the garment bags with the dresses and Ranger's evening clothes in them.

Stephanie hoped her voice was even, "Would it be OK with you, Tank, if I took a few days off to unwind?"

"Sure, Bombshell."

"Thanks," she opened the apartment door and ran for the elevator before she began to cry.

"Ella, what's wrong?" Tank wasn't sure if he should go after Stephanie.

Still holding the jewelry in her hand, "I hope Carlos tells her what she's needed to hear for so long because Stephanie gave up on them. If he doesn't, their someday will be lost."

He turned looking at the apartment door she closed thinking it may already be too late.