Chapter 11
Stephanie was standing in the middle of Ranger's bedroom in the apartment on Haywood. In less than thirty minutes she would be Mrs. Ricardo Carlos Manoso. The royal purple wedding gown looked great in the mirror, Stephanie turned and looked at it so she could see the back of the dress.
"I said hold still." Valerie commanded.
"No make-up. Steph promised." Jessie told Valerie yet again.
Stephanie looked over at Valerie who was trying to put foundation on Jessie's face. "Val, stop. Don't push it. She's wearing the dress, that's enough. I promised her no make-up and she doesn't have to do it."
Valerie moved away from Jessie and scowled at her. "I give up, I've never seen a teenager not wanting to wear make-up, not to mention not wanting to wear a dress." Valerie moved over to her sister. "I love that color on you."
"Thank you." Stephanie gave Valerie a hug. "I need some alone time with Jes. Go run interference with Mom and Grandma Mazur okay?"
"Only for you." Valerie turned and walked out of the bedroom and shut the door.
Stephanie walked over to Jessie who was looking in Ranger's closet. "Snooping already are you?"
Jessie snickered. She looked up at Stephanie. "So what are my rules while you and Ranger are gone?"
"You think I'm going to give you rules. I bet Ranger already gave you a list of them." Stephanie grinned.
"A mile long."
Stephanie laughed, "Just try to follow at least half of them okay?"
"Okay."
Stephanie picked up her hands and pulled her over to the bed. They sat down. "Do you know why Cap is here?"
"Not really, but I'm glad he is. He said he gets to stay for a whole week with me and Lester at the house."
Stephanie ran her fingers through Jessie's hair making it come up a little and fall down in the normal way that she was used to seeing instead of the way Valerie had put it. "Ranger and I want you to know, we aren't leaving and not coming back. We'll be back in two weeks. That's a promise you can take to the bank."
"How did you..." Stephanie put a finger on Jessie's lips.
"We could see it. At times your face is like an open book." Stephanie smiled at her. "I'm glad it is. I can't read Ranger's blank faces that he does, or you for that matter when you choose to do them. I want you to remember we're coming back and don't think any differently."
Stephanie moved her finger and pulled Jessie into a hug. There was a knock on the door. "Stephanie! We need to head down now." Ellen Plum called through the door.
Stephanie pulled away from Jessie and stood up and extended her hand. "Come on. Let's go make this official that way you have another Guardian, at least one that will let you snoop into things."
Jessie walked out of the bedroom with Stephanie. She had never been to a wedding before, much less been in one. Jessie watched as Ellen made a fuss over this or that, making sure even the smallest things were in place. Jessie had watched Grandma Mazur trying to slip things into Stephanie's hand.
"You know, for that nice package."
"Mother!"
Jessie had watched this little scene and couldn't figure out what they were talking about. Everyone went down in the elevator to the fifth floor in small groups as not to mess up the dresses. Jessie got on with Stephanie and the door closed leaving them alone. "What did Grandma Mazur mean by nice package?"
Stephanie turned and looked at Jessie, "God bless your innocence. We'll talk about that when I get back."
Jessie bit down on her bottom lip, opened her mouth then shut it. The elevator door opened and Jessie walked out with Stephanie coming behind her. Ellen was shooing everyone to their places. Jessie turned and looked back at Stephanie.
"Just like last night, only this time in a dress. Piece of cake." Stephanie told her.
Jessie turned back around and Mary Lou got behind her. Mary Lou bent down and whispered to Jessie. "If it helps just picture everyone naked, I do it all the time."
Jessie looked back at Mary Lou in horror. "What?"
"Maybe I shouldn't have said that."
"What did you tell her?" Stephanie asked.
Jessie watched as Mary Lou turned around and told Stephanie what she said. Stephanie playfully slapped Mary Lou, "You're going to owe me for telling her that."
Stephanie leaned around Mary Lou to look at Jessie. "Turn around, walk out there, and put that blank face on that you and Ranger can do so well."
Jessie turned back around and took a step forward, Mel was already walking down the aisle; Valerie started walking next. Jessie was at the door, she started going through the guns she knew in her head. She started down the aisle and then remembered from last night to not march down it but do that light stroll. Jessie let out her breath slowly and didn't look at anyone for fear of what Mary Lou had said would actually happen in her mind.
Jessie noticed Mel had gone to sit down next to her mother and step father, Valerie was already standing in her place to the left. Jessie looked up and saw Ranger; he was standing in a black tux with a royal purple cummerbund that matched Stephanie's dress. He gave her a wink and Jessie relaxed as she started taking the few steps up to go stand next to Valerie. She turned and saw Mary Lou who was walking up the aisle now. Jessie's eyes slid back to the men as she looked from Ranger, to Tank, to Lester, and then Bobby. Each of their cummerbunds matched the dresses of the person they were opposite of. Jessie's was in lavender, and Jessie noticed the colors went into lighter shades from Stephanie's royal purple.
The room was an average party size room that Ranger had set up with his men for dinners. Jessie took in the different shades of purple that adorned the alter, as well as the lattice that was standing behind it with ivy weaved in and out, as the Wisteria cascaded in clusters. Mary Lou walked up the stairs and took her place at Jessie's right. Jessie looked at the silks that were draped on the walls, and then she turned to see Andrew running down the aisle to Tank. Andrew stopped and then started taking slower steps. Jessie couldn't help but smile at him. He walked up the steps giving Tank a wide grin on his face. Tank reached down and untied the rings on the pillow he had carried in. Jessie watched as he jumped down the stairs and went to Emma.
The music changed and Jessie watched as Stephanie started walking down the aisle with her father Frank. She watched as he gave her to Ranger and they came up and took their place. Jessie turned to look at Judge Xavier, he looked different than he had last night at the dress rehearsal. The sharp black suit and tie today, Jessie smiled remembering him standing there in the batman suit he had on last night. She remembered how he pulled down the mask and both Ranger and Stephanie started laughing at him. Then instead of doing vows, he told them a story of how he'd met Ranger and then meeting Stephanie and the colorful story of batman Stephanie had told him about.
Jessie came back to the present when she saw Ranger kiss Stephanie and then Judge Xavier announced them. She watched as Ranger and Stephanie walked down the aisle together. Tank stepped over and Mary Lou took his arm and they started down the steps next. Lester stepped over and offered Jessie his right arm she took it and his left hand came over hers. They started down the steps and the aisle. Lester whispered to her out of the side of his mouth. "So did you hear anything Judge Xavier said or was batman standing up there?"
"It was batman all the way." Jessie whispered back to him.
Lester chuckled as he led Jessie out of the room and to the conference room to the right where they would wait and then have everyone leave so the rest of the pictures could be taken. Jessie walked inside and Lester released her. As soon as Valerie and Bobby entered the door was shut. They waited the length of time and went back in for pictures. Jessie felt her face was going to be permanently printed with a smile on it. Lester escorted her down to the reception on the second floor. She stayed by Lester's side as they moved over to the table that had been reserved for the wedding party.
Jessie sat down and Lester sat beside her Bobby took his seat on the other side of her. She looked between the two of them and shook her head. She was stuck with them now. Valerie leaned over the table and looked at her. "I'm going to kill Mary Lou, she told me to picture everyone naked. First person I saw was Grandma Mazur and that wasn't a pretty picture. Did she tell you that too?"
Jessie covered her eyes and Lester and Bobby started laughing.
"I'll take that as a yes." Valerie said.
"It was supposed to lighten the mood." Mary Lou said as she came up to the table and sat down.
Jessie knew her face was red, she could feel the heat burning her cheeks as Tank sat down. She felt Lester's arm come around her and he kissed her temple. "Don't worry about it. You did a good job just getting down the aisle after that."
Ranger and Stephanie entered the room and the place rattled with applause and catcalls. Jessie had watched them come over to the table and take their seats. The meal had been served and Jessie finished eating before everyone at the table who was talking about other weddings and things. Jessie excused herself from the table and Lester walked out with her to the hall.
"I think I can find the latrine on my own." Jessie looked up at him.
"Sorry Jes but you have me as an escort. I'll let you go in by yourself though." Lester told her.
"Note to self, the latrine is Lester free." Jessie started walking away from him groaning as he laughed behind her. She escaped into the bathroom. Jessie came out and found Lester talking with two men she hadn't met before. Lester looked at her and gave her a smile, "stay right around here, I'll be done in just a few."
"Okay." Jessie told him.
She walked past him a ways and was looking at one of the pictures on the wall. Jessie looked back and Lester was talking to the guys animatedly about something. She looked down the hall the other way and saw one of Ranger's men in his work uniform coming towards her. He was a new face to her and he had an envelope. He bent down to her, "Letter just came for you. I signed for it out front."
Jessie took the envelope. "Thank you."
"No problem." She watched as he walked away.
Jessie looked at the envelope. It was from Frederick Washington, her father's attorney. Jessie turned it over and opened it up. She pulled out the paper inside and opened it. Her heart gave a jolt as she recognized the handwriting as David's. She looked back and saw Lester still talking. Jessie turned back to the letter and read it.
Jes,
Baby, I'm sorry if I upset you that day. It pained me to see you grieving that way. I hope you are dealing with things better now. I miss him too. It's not right with you being with other people and not with me. I love you so much Jes.
I told you I would get in touch with you. I always keep my word. I've been looking over some things. I got in touch with Captain Campbell, found out something that is bothering me. The person who murdered Daniel, took my pictures out of your album baby. Check and see if I'm not right. They are setting me up and I don't know where to turn. Jes I'm frightened for you.
Two days after I talked to you someone found the room I was staying in and it was searched. I know, you know that trick I taught you. I had to ditch what I had and start over. I know I promised to tell you who all was involved. I have one name, Benton Davis, he was my partner in the CIA. I found out he has a meeting set in three weeks with Ricardo Manoso. Benton is bad news. I know he's talked to Daniel, I knew he talked to Milton. Jessie he can't be trusted. Major Milton Bradshaw is dead as well. They are making moves Jes. Benton is on it. He's a defective agent Jes, Ricardo Manoso may not live past that meeting, anyone Benton comes in contact with dies.
I'll get in contact with you again when I know more. Love, Uncle David.
Jessie folded the letter and looked back over her shoulder, Lester was still talking. She looked at the letter and the envelope. It had no stamp on it. She put the letter back inside and folded the envelope, then put it in the sash of her dress. She had just covered it with the sash so it wasn't going to fall out or show when she felt hands on her shoulders. Jessie looked up. Lester had a smile on his face then turned her around toward him. He bent down and looked at her.
"I saw Dustin come over. He's new here; did he say something that upset you?" Lester asked.
"I was thinking about not having breakfast with Ranger in the mornings for awhile." Jessie told him and looked down. She wanted to find out who Benton Davis was, and giving up the letter wouldn't help, she had to try the diversion on Lester.
She felt Lester's hand come under her chin and lift her face back up. "Hey, you'll have me and Cap to keep you company in the mornings. We had a pretty good time this morning didn't we?"
Jessie put her smile on her face, the one that had started coming easier since all the practice earlier from the cameras. "Yeah we did."
Lester smiled at her, "Let's go see if they've cut the cake. Then Ranger gets to dance with Steph, and Steph gets to dance with her Dad. And Ranger is going to dance with you and Mel before they leave."
"Okay." Jessie started walking back to the reception as Lester walked beside her. The last time she had danced, Daniel had held her up in his arms, so it really hadn't been dancing. Jessie had her hands in front of her, her fingers playing with the sash making sure the letter wasn't going anywhere.