How Many Children Do We Have?

Chapter 24

Stephanie looked in Ranger's office, it was empty and not that she needed him. Julie started back to school next Wednesday, and she knew once it started it would be difficult to get away with Ranger. So, she went looking for Tank. She tapped lightly on the door and he looked up. "What's up, Bombshell?"

"Is there anything going on that you would need my husband for on Friday? And the entire weekend?"

He quickly looked at his schedule, "No. He's all yours. Does he know?"

"I haven't got that far yet?"

"You're not going anywhere away from me," Ranger said walking into Tank's office and putting his arms around Stephanie and resting his chin on her hair.

"Well, Boss, then I guess you're not going to be here from Friday until Monday."

"Where are we going, Babe?"

"I'm not telling you," a smirk on her face.

"How do you know I want to go?"

"Well, the way I see it. You can trust me and come with no questions or you stay home and take care of three children by yourself."

That got an extra high eyebrow raise, "I'm reminded at least once a day by this midget with an off the charts I.Q., I gave Cassidy a popsicle for lunch. I'm staying home alone with him, I don't think so. Caden could watch the kids."

Tank was laughing, "The mighty Manoso done in by a four year old."

"I take it you're coming then, Ranger."

"Try and stop me."

There were voices coming from the elevator.

"Yours is little. Mine was bigger."

"Mine's big. Right, Grandpa."

"Caden, Julie's fish was bigger."

He came running down the hall, brown curls bouncing, "Mommy, I got a fish!"

Stephanie scooped him up, "You did. Did you like fishing?"

"Yeah. Look," pointing to a bucket Frank Plum was carrying and Cassidy.

Chuckling at his grandson, "Caden insisted we show you."

In a metal bucket, was a small fish about 4 inches long swimming around. Stephanie put him down smiling proudly at his first catch. Ranger, Tank, and Stephanie all looking down in the bucket.

"You should have seen him reeling in the fish. You thought is was a 30 pound bass on the end of the line. He was reeling and tugging. Pumpkin, all the time I've waited for a grandson, it was worth it. After, Caden got his fish, then Julie caught one. Cassidy fell in the water, she's been changed twice."

"Frank," Ranger laughed at the Stephanie's father, "sounds like you've had a full day already and it's not noon yet."

"Yeah, we've had fun, right, Julie?"

"The best, Grandpa. I didn't even mind the worms."

Stephanie looking liked she was going to be sick at the mention of worms. Crawly, icky things. Ranger put his arm around her, "Breathe, Babe."

Stephanie poked Cassidy, "Did you have fun, too?"

She giggled and was watching the fish also.

"Mommy, can I keep my fish, Fred, in the bathtub? We got two."

Tank was rolling with laughter, "Where's he come up with this stuff."

Ranger was shaking his head and put a hand on Tank's shoulder, "Try living with him. When he grows up he want's to be king of the Universe."

"I don't doubt it."

Stephanie was kneeling, looking at her son, "Caden you can't keep the fish." His shoulders slumped at that. "Listen to me, if you take him back so he's with all his other fish friends, you're little fish will be happy. And, he tell all his other friends how kind you were to him and maybe you can catch him again."

Caden took in what Stephanie told him, "Ok, but do fish talk?"

"His lips are moving," Ranger said.

"Caden take me home. Take me home," could softly be heard in a voice that sounded a bit like Lester.

"Mommy, did you hear him? He wants to go back to the park."

"I did."

"Ok, Grandpa, we better take Fred back."

Lester came strolling down the hall, "What's in the bucket?"

Caden looked up at him, "Fred my fish. He's going back to his friends."

"You went fishing and didn't take me?"

"Yes. If you're very good," Caden was shaking his little finger at Lester, "and you promise to listen to Grandpa, then I'll ask Ranger if you can come with us."

Ranger picked him up, trying to look serious, "What if he's not good?"

Caden let out a sigh, "Then I guess he'll be in time-out just like you were."

Tank choked trying to stifle his laughter, "The boss in time-out. I wish I would have been there."

"Stephanie put Caden and I were in time-out for arguing and Dad was causing trouble, so she put him in it too. He almost got ten minutes because he kept talking back to her," Julie explained.

"We miss all the good stuff!", Lester exclaimed.

"Next time I'll call you," Caden was looking at Ranger, who was shaking his head.

"Like you guys don't try and get enough on me."

"Next time we need information, we'll see him," Tank glanced at Caden, who had a wicked grin on his face. "Rethinking the family thing, Boss."

Ranger gave Caden a raised eyebrow and put his other arm around Julie. "Not a chance." A broad smile on his face.