Chapter 12
The Dream
Welcome to My Family
Ranger and I went to seven, I kicked off my shoes and Ranger took off his guns. Relaxing on the couch he wrapped me in his arms. I always felt so warm and safe in his arms nothing could hurt me.
"Babe, I am so sorry about this morning. Your Mother just took me by surprise. I couldn't stand there and let her belittle you. I can't understand how she could possibly insult you as she did. I just had to put her in her place. I can't tolerate anyone abusing you like that not even your mother. You are so loving, kind, generous, trusting, giving, smart and intuitive I can't think of enough adjectives to describe what you are to me"
"Ranger, don't worry I was mad at the time that you felt I couldn't fight my own battle. Now I'm glad you did. If I'd taken care of it there would have been a lot of tears, screaming and throwing things. When it was over nothing would have been settled. You took care of it and you took care of me. On a brighter note, I think the rest of the day went well."
"Yes Babe, now that I can hear again" We both laughed. How I love to hear Ranger laugh.
We just lay on the couch his face pressed to my neck, his hand rubbing slow gentle circles on my stomach under the hem of my shirt.
" I want to stay here like this forever." Worry was in his voice.
I turned my head to look at Ranger. I had never heard him sound worried.
"Ranger what's wrong? They can't call you away you aren't healed yet!"
"No Babe I'm not being called away. We have one more announcement today. We have to talk to my family. I'm afraid it may not go any better than with your family."
"Ranger, I don't want to come between you and your family"
"You don't have to worry about that we're not very close. I attend Family affairs when I'm not in the wind. I've stayed away from them to keep them safe, like I have you. They want me to marry into the Cuban community.
I only hope they realize this is what makes me happy and they really have no say. Trust me if they badmouth you, even if you don't understand them, we will leave. You are my love, my heart. You are mine and I am yours." I looked into the chocolate brown eyes and saw only love.
We left at five to be there by six, Ranger wanted to make the announcement at dinner thinking it would keep everyone calmer. That was not to be.
As we got out of the car, he wrapped his arm around my waist and kissed my forehead. "Ready for the Spanish Inquisitions?"
I nodded and grasp his hand like a lifeline. Ranger opened the door and walked inside, not 3 steps from the door, his mother appeared hands on her hips. She ushered us to the kitchen.
Ranger took her hands and kissed her cheek" Mama where is everyone?"
"Dinner will be ready to be served at seven tonight I wanted to have time to talk to you."
In Spanish she said, "Who is the white girl you have brought to my house. Why are you not with someone with our beliefs from our community"' Her voice was very sharp as she said this, I could only look on.
Ranger dipped his head slightly, "Mama this is Stephanie. She is the woman I love. I plan to spend the rest of life with her. I have asked her to marry me and she has accepted."
Mama Manoso paled slightly and turned calling Ricardo to come to the kitchen. A tall well built gentleman with Rangers coloring, eyes, and hair but shorter and a touch of grey at the temples appeared in the doorway,
"Carlos it has been too long since your last visit. Who is this curly haired woman you have brought?"
"Papa this is Stephanie. She is soon to be my wife. We came tonight to ask your blessings."
Before Ranger could continue his mother began shaking her head and said something else in Spanish. Ranger became very angry. I wondered what she had said or what she had called me.
Before he could respond an elderly woman walked into the kitchen. She went straight to Ranger and pulled his head down to her level. Cupping his face in both hands, she kissed his cheeks. Looking soulfully into his eyes, she smiled nodding her head. She then stepped in front of me and cupped my face in both hands and kissed me. Looking into my eyes she smiled.
Ranger started his introduction again this time in Spanish for his Grandmother. I was totally lost not speaking the language but when he finished his Grandmother stepped back to me and spoke for several minutes smiling. Ranger translated "Bless you Stephanie and welcome to our family. You are a beautiful child. I can see, in his eyes, he is very much in love. You make him happier than I have seen him in years. I hope your life together will be as long and happy as mine with his Grandfather. No one has a right to try to come between you and your happiness."
I was speechless with tears in my eyes, Ranger was smiling. I took her hands in mine and kissed them.
"Tell her, thank you. Tell her that she has no idea how much her kind words mean to me. She will always be cherished in our home. Tell her that I will do everything I can to make you happy."
Ranger gave me his biggest wolf grin as he turned to his Grandmother to translate. He has such a wonderful one track- mind.
Ranger's father then came to me kissing the back of my hand. "Please forgive my family. Your first meeting with us should've been more pleasant. You have my blessing in your marriage. I'm happy for you and Ric.
Please forgive my wife. Ric dropped this bomb on her and she was not prepared to hear that he planned to marry again. To say the least she was shocked. She has been pushing Ric to marry for years and as you know he does not push well. Don't worry she'll come around and one day maybe be your greatest supporter."
After thanking him and smiling I stepped away and took Rangers hand.
Pulling him to the door I ask what his Mother said, I knew it wasn't good.
"Can I tell you later I'd really like not to upset you now? Maybe part of the night can be salvaged."
"No Ranger I really want to know. You have an advantage being multilingual, you knew exactly what my mother was saying, I feel I have the same right."
Ranger sighed, "Come with me."
He walked me out to the back yard. Sitting on the picnic table, he pulled me between his legs to his chest. He gave me a mind blowing kiss. When my knees were like Jell-O I pulled back,
"Don't try to distract me."
"Is it working?" he lifted an eyebrow.
"No."
"OK, she wanted to know who the white girl was I brought into her house was. Why I wasn't with a girl with our beliefs from the Cuban community. Then after my Father came in, she asks if you were pregnant. That's when I got mad. I was about to take you home when grandma came and joined us.
She loves you already, by the way. So it is up to you Babe, do you want to stay and finish the Inquisition or do you want to go. I still have four sisters and a brother for you to meet and of course the nieces and nephews?"
"Ranger we're here. I want to finish what we started. If it gets too bad, we can leave but I would like to have this first meeting behind me so I know where I stand."
"Proud of you Babe, you never disappoint"
My Cuban Sex God gave me one more bone melting kiss to sustain me and we went inside.
The rest of the evening went better. Ranger introduced me to his sisters and their husbands and children; I couldn't remember all their names, he'll have to help me.
Carman the oldest want to know how long we had known each other and when we started dating. Ranger jumped in and said we had known each other for three years and had been seeing each other on and off since then. He looked at me with a tilt of the head.
His brother wanted to know how much I knew about Ranger's business and money. Again Ranger jumped in and said I knew everything about both and was wealthy in my own right, he winked at me.
After that everyone oowed and aawed over my ring and asked questions about our wedding plans he told them the same as everyone else today.
Dinner conversation was lively with such a big family. When we were ready to leave, they all hugged Ranger and shook my hand; his Dad and Grandma hugged me and kissed my cheek. His mother hugged Ranger. He didn't even bother to kiss her. She just said goodbye to me.
Ranger drove silently a short ways from his parents. We came to a church parking lot. He pulled into the lot. Putting the car in park, he reached across and unbuckled me. He pulled me across the console and into his lap.
"I love you my beautiful bride –to- be. Four down and none to go."He chuckled.
After kissing me senseless and letting his hands wander all over my body, he lifted me back to my seat and buckled me in.
Driving home I had to talk even if Ranger was in his zone.
" Your Mother hates me; your sister thinks you picked me up off the street and you brother thinks I am a gold digger. Are you sure you still want to marry me?"
"The truth is we have been seeing each other for years, and as of yesterday you are independently wealthy, I 'm the one that should be asking that question.
As I said, those who care for us are family those who don't accept us are not, end of story. If my mother comes around fine if not it is her choice, just like your mother."
When we got to the garage, Ranger stopped the car and hurried to my side. He lifted me out of the car and carried me to the elevator. I giggled that I could walk but he opened the elevator and immediately scrambled the camera.
"I know but I have waited all night for this." He grabbed my ass and pulled me tight against his front and taking me with a hungry kiss. I was putty in his hands; Ranger had to support me as he lifted my leg and wrapped it around his waist. He plunged his tongue into my mouth. "How could I ever say no to this man?"
The kiss was hot. When he finally pulled away, he looked at me and said, "And besides you told my Grandmother you would do everything to make me happy!" He raised an eyebrow and gave me a wolf grin.
Word count 1925
