The Best I Could Give
Chapter 10
Stephanie's blue eyes were focused on the small baby boy in the middle of the large 7th floor bed, he was happy kicking his feet in his little blue sneakers she had just tied. He didn't know it in his happy baby world this would be the last trip with his mother Krystal. It was probably his only one.
Ranger stood back watching through the doorway, every nerve in his body from where he was standing could feel the emotions emanating off Stephanie. "Babe."
She didn't turn around; he didn't need to see her tears again. "We're just about ready, Ranger."
She didn't hear him, but felt the tingle grow stronger with the three quick steps it took to be behind her shaking form and turning her around slowly to face him. "I don't care about the time, Babe. I care about you."
"This is so hard," Stephanie whispered. "Krystal doesn't have the time like we do and to spend with her son to see him grow."
"I know. Austyn has you, Babe. He has us," Ranger told her. The 'us' came out naturally. "A whole bunch of ex-scary now mushy Army men and a grandfather he won over with one look of those big eyes."
Her blue eyes widened slightly from surprise at the word 'us' and Ranger reiterated it. "Us, Babe."
Her eyes closed as she inhaled letting out a deep breath. "Ready."
Leaning down, Ranger kissed her wet lips from the tears. "OK. I'm with you."
Stephanie picked up a fussing Austyn. "Ready for a big car ride, Bubby?"
He settled down immediately in her arms cooing his baby answer. Ranger dropped a kiss on Stephanie's forehead and amazing himself, one on the baby's. "Everything should be packed."
Ranger had the baby carrier in his hand after Stephanie strapped Austyn in going down in the elevator. She had the diaper bag with bottles and extra things for the baby and her purse on her shoulder. Stepping off, parked near the elevator was a large black passenger van with a ramp. "If Krystal is too weak, then a wheelchair would be easy to get in and out. Bobby thought of it," the Cuban in charge dressed casually explained. The company medic and his partner were waiting beside it.
"Hey, Bombshell, all the luggage and baby thing with wheels are in the back," Lester said shutting the back door.
Coming out of the van was Tank. "Nice and I'll hold down the fort," he relayed. "We'll be thinking of you, Stephanie." He tickled a chubby baby cheek.
"Thanks, Big Guy," she told him back with a hug.
Tank and Ranger shook hands. "We'll see you in a few days."
Stephanie was out of ear shot attaching the carrier to the base inside of the van, but Tank spoke quietly. "She's going to need you. Don't let the sloth beat you."
Ranger gave him an eyebrow at the veiled reminder. "The sloth is up in the tree and guarding the place."
"Good."
He walked up the ramp and Lester in the driver's seat raised it. Bobby took the other bucket seat up front. Ranger buckled himself in the black velour seat next to the baby; Stephanie was on the other side of Austyn next to the window.
There were two bench seats behind Bobby which he indicated could be folded up if needed. There was a wide space between them so hopefully making it easy for Krystal to get in and out.
"The nursing agency I contacted in Point Pleasant is sending a hospice nurse over to the house. Her name in Roma and would have everything ready at the house," Bobby explained as Lester drove out of the Rangeman garage. "The agency said she didn't mind getting the keys from the real estate company."
Ranger gave an approving nod and without looking raised Stephanie's hand to his lips. "No price, Babe," knowing exactly what she was thinking. The money didn't matter.
Having only to wait a minute or two, the van was parked in the front of St. Francis Hospital's glass doors.
"That's Carol Harris," Stephanie said to Ranger standing outside the van, "Krystal's social worker." She was walking beside Krystal in a wheelchair being pushed by a nurse they could see through the doors. The sick woman had a puzzled expression unaware of her next destination.
"Hi, Krystal," the new foster mother greeted cheerfully with Austyn in her arms.
"Hi, Stephanie," her voice wasn't as hoarse as it had been when she visited her the day before. She was pale, but alert in a simple blue button down dress and flats. "Hi, Bubby." Her eyes went to the man she recognized and then the van.
"Krystal, this is Ranger. I know you've seen him, but have never been introduced. These are his employees, Bobby, the company medic, and Lester.
Carol didn't say anything to you because I wanted to surprise you. We're going for a little ride to Point Pleasant."
"The beach?" She said with tears forming instantly in her eyes. Stephanie had told her all about her favorite beach spot.
"Yes, we have a beach house rented so you can have a beach birthday with Austyn. Do you feel up to it?"
"More than anything to share that with my son, our son," she choked.
Carol handed Bobby papers and a bag. "These are a copy of medicine instructions and her doctor's orders. Her office number is listed." Lester took the small overnight bag to place with the rest of their things in the back.
"We have a nurse waiting at the house to assist us," Bobby explained.
Carol gave the dying woman's frail frame a light hug. "Enjoy yourself."
The nurse pushed the wheelchair up the ramp followed by Bobby. Lester was behind the steering wheel again.
"I've never met anyone like you, Stephanie," Carol Harris said with all honestly. "You didn't ask for this, but you accepted this adorable little baby and his mother into your life. I know this had to turn it upside down and I admire you for the way you have handled it." She directed her next words at Ranger. "And, Mr. Manoso, this whole thing must have your head spinning, yet you're here. That's a testament of your deep feelings for Stephanie. That's something very rare and special these days."
'My Babe is amazing and I will always be there," Ranger spoke from his heart to this woman he just met. He talked with her on the telephone, but not face-to-face. "To be honest, this was something I could never have planned for in three lifetimes and it threw me for a loop, but nothing could change my love for Stephanie. Austyn will have a very good life with us."
She was stunned hearing the words Ranger said. He admitted openly he loved her and dispelled the doubts she had about the role Ranger would have in her and Austyn's life. She murmured "I'll call you if there are any problems," after the case worker hugged her and Ranger ushered her back on the van.
"Are you comfortable, Krystal?"
"Very," she replied buckled in the seat.
Out of the diaper bag she pulled the shawl she picked out for Austyn's mother. "I got you this in case you were cold." Stephanie gently placed it around she shoulders for the 45 minute drive to Point Pleasant. Ranger was moving the car seat to next to Krystal like his Babe indicated. "I want you to share the ride with Austyn," she explained buckling the baby back in his seat.
Stephanie took her seat and Ranger was beside her when Lester pulled away from the hospital. Carol Harris was waving at the departing van praying to herself Krystal would have a birthday to remember.
Stephanie watched Trenton go by. Krystal was talking softly to Austyn across from her, but her mind was swirling. She couldn't help but look at the man next to her.
"I meant every word, Babe." Ranger whispered into her ear knowing Stephanie so well. "I may not put my feelings into words most of the time, but I do love you. We'll figure this baby stuff out as we go along and we'll give Austyn the life his mother would want him to have together."
The blue eyes focused on Ranger's face were glistening with tears. "I love you too! I just needed to hear the words."
"I can talk. Sloths can't."
She couldn't help but giggle at the reference.
The ride to the ocean seemed rather quick. Her head rested on Ranger's shoulder most of the drive. She and Bobby each questioned Krystal if she was all right assuring them she was.
"Oh, look how beautiful," Krystal remarked as the van parked in a driveway facing the ocean. The blue water spread out before them with the sand. A sprawling raised ranch was next to the black van with a deck facing the water across the length above them. A young African-American woman about Stephanie's age she guessed was approaching with a wheel chair down the handicapped ramp. She was wearing a brightly flowered scrub top over white pants and Crocs.
"You must be Roma. I'm Bobby, the Rangeman medic," he introduced himself getting out of the passenger door.
The ramp on the van was coming down. Stephanie and Austyn were coming off followed by Ranger. The introductions could wait so the nurse and Bobby could help Krystal out of her seat and off the van. Lester and Ranger were taking the luggage up the steps.
"See the ocean," Stephanie was telling Austyn watching the blue waves.
"It's so much more beautiful than I remembered," Krystal murmured mesmerized in the wheelchair next to them by the water, sand, and few beach goers in it.
Today, Stephanie was seeing the ocean and beach she was at so many times with different eyes. The breeze coming off the water was extra warm. The cries of the seagulls seemed more welcoming. The water was so blue and sparkled in the sun. The few clouds in the sky were fluffy meandering by over the waves.
She thought back to the very first time she remembered as a little girl seeing the ocean, how big it seemed. It was magical. Next to her was a young woman who all her life held on to the memories of her time at the beach with her family and those carried her through her life, the life that was ending. A new chapter in Stephanie's life was beginning with Ranger resting his chin in her hair and Austyn in her arms. Above all, she hoped the enchantment of the blue waves would give the dying woman the best birthday it could give.