I'm having great fun with this story and am pleased that you are too, although it would be nice if a few more of you reviewed... Anyway, I hope you enjoy this next chapter as much as I did writing it.
;o)
After a simple room service breakfast of coffee, bacon, cereal and fruit, Ranger and Steph vacated the room hand in hand, only letting go when they needed to board their individual methods of transport.
They'd decided that no one on the course needed to know about them as it was really none of their business. Ranger also pointed out that the others may feel Steph had an unfair advantage when it came to the assessment on the last day.
Steph agreed. She wanted her final score in Friday's test to be based on merit, not who she was dating.
After a brief but emotion filled kiss they finally let go of each other's hands and headed off towards their separate vehicles.
"Race ya" Steph yelled out happily as she quickly got in to her car giggling then turned over its complaining engine and headed out of the parking lot.
Ranger grinned "only you, Babe" he muttered to the gray cloud that followed Steph as she flew out of the lot, shaking his head slowly as he slid onto his Triumph. After putting on his helmet he opened the throttle and roared off down the road, quickly catching Steph up then leaving her and her so-called car standing as he gracefully sailed past, waving serenely as he did so.
He could have sworn she waved back, but that she seemed to be missing some fingers.
o0o0o0o0o
Lester leaned back in his chair and mentally stroked his ego. How he was enjoying playing match maker.
Looks like he was good at it too.
May be he should start his own business, pushing together lump heads that loved each other but were too stupid to realise. He could see it now, the advert would show two beautiful people – perhaps him and Michelle Trachtenberg - being pushed together by two brooms, the final image showing them in a passionate embrace. He licked his lips and squirmed slightly in his seat as the image hung in front of his closed eyes.
"I'll having whatever you're havin'" Bobby growled as he entered the room, breaking the spell.
Lester slowly opened his eyes and gave his colleague a death glare that would have made Steph proud. "Not possible, she's all mine." He said gruffly before leaning forward and resting his elbows on the desk.
"and the reason for you invading my fantasies was?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Bobby sat down and ran his hand across the file in his hand. "The Boomers."
"Ah, the Boomers." He replied knowingly. The Boomers were a wealthy farming family that specialised in being paranoid. As a result Rangeman were well paid. Unfortunately they earned every cent of it. "What do they want this time?" he asked, dreading Bobby's reply, all thoughts of his fledgling dating agency dissipating as his colleague opened the file in front of him.
He just hoped Ranger and Steph appreciated the sacrifices he was making in an attempt to get them together.
o0o0o0o0o
Tank decided he needed some fresh air and where better to get it than heading out to the Bonds Office to see if the perverted rat-man had anyone new that needed re-locating to an 8 by 8 cell.
Well that's what he told himself anyway.
Connie was just a friend he added. Hell, Lula wasn't even cold in her grave yet and he'd only just palmed off the last of the bereavement gifts. It was far too soon to be thinking about jumping back into a relationship!
No. He'd pop his head round the door, pick up anything that was needed and be back at Haywood before anyone missed him. He couldn't help it if being round a fellow sufferer made him feel better, that being with someone who knew what was on his mind was soothing his aching soul.
Connie may have only been a mutual friend, but she'd known Lula far longer than he had and she'd probably spent far more time with her too.
Yeah, that was the real reason for seeking Connie out he decided as he pulled up into the parking lot. Taking a deep breath he slid out of his Hummer.
The door opened with a loud chirpy ding as the newly installed over shop door bell alerted Connie to Tank's arrival.
So much for slinking in unannounced, he thought as Connie appeared from the bathroom, drying a coffee cup as she did so.
"Hi Tank. How's tricks?" she smiled out gently.
"OK" he replied awkwardly, his blank face nailed on hard.
"I've no new files for you, but I did find this." She said, tentatively handing him an envelope.
Nodding swiftly, Tank turned and fled.
"Fancy a coffee?" she asked his rapidly disappearing form. Sighing, she picked up the phone to warn Rangeman that he'd be off-line for a while - she knew the letter's contents and figured Tank'd need some time to himself.
She was totally unaware that the envelope was not the only reason for his swift exit.
o0o0o0o0o
Having spent a couple of minutes composing himself on the bed in the master bedroom of the house he'd chosen with Lula, Tank opened his eyes and stared at the scruffy piece of paper that fell out of the envelope. Whatever was on it had been discarded as it had obviously been screwed up at some point then flattened out again.
It looked to be a first draft, with plenty of crossings out and additions in Lula's distinctive handwriting, of the speech she'd been threatening to give at their wedding. It was obviously not meant for anyone else's eyes but her own as there were love hearts with "TD 4 TL" and arrows through them scrawled across the margins, plus it looked like Lula had been practicing her new signature as "T Leroy" was written in very flowery writing a number of times. She'd clearly decided she was not going to be L Leroy as she'd dismissed that with strike throughs on the two occasions she'd written it.
"Yo you all (hit slide of glass with knife to get everyone's attention) " the note said. He swallowed hard then continued to read.
"Just thought I'd make a speech too. Seeing as I'm gonna be wielding the power in this here marriage (pause for effect)."
Could have been right about that Baby, he mused.
"I know I'm marrying the best ass in Trenton – Sorry Steph (don't forget to pretend to look at Ranger's butt) but there's more to my man than just his good looks. (Pause to allow people to check out your man and for you to give him a full on smile).
"I never thought any one could love me yet here we are, celebratin' just that. As some of you know, I didn't have the best start but thanks to meeting Steph I set out on a new course. I met Tank, got him drunk, slid a ring on my finger and told everyone who'd listen that I was marrying my man. (look at T and look embarrassed then wink). Any how that didn't work out an' we separated.
So that's what really happened, Tank thought then snorted with laughter and dropping the note onto his lap. Only Lula! He looked at the piece of paper again.
"I tried datin' other guys but none came up to Tank's standards. Too short, too slim, too noisy, too stupid, not black enough, too… well you get ma meanin'." (Pause and waggle eyebrows.)
"Well anyways, Tank saved ma life again. Came to my rescue when I picked up a nasty skip. OK, Stephanie was there too, rolling in garbage, but I knew he was there for me. Then it hit me. He was there – for me."
"Long story short, we got it together again. He's taught me that I am good enough to be loved and cherished. He taught me that I have the right to be happy. He taught me a few good tricks in the sack too, but this here's a family show an all. (giggle and grab and kiss his hand seductively).
"Our lives together may be long or short, who's to know. But one thing I do know, this man is mine an' I plan to love his ass off for as long as I can. Marriage? Gonna be great!"
"But first we got some celebrating…"
At that point the note ended and a tear slid down Tank's face. It was full of hope and said so much but filled his heart with tears for all the things that could never be.
But there was something else as well. He'd always thought he was the one taking from the relationship. Now he knew they'd been equals. Beneath their very different exteriors they were the same.
Just as insecure.
Both needing to be accepted.
Both needing to be wanted and loved.
Both needing to demostrate that the other was worthy of such emotions.
And they'd both grown because of it.
"One day, Lula. I promise, I'll love again." He said as he shut his eyes to listen to the silence around him.
o0o0o0o0o0o
"Hey?" said Angela, quizzically, as Steph gently lowered herself gingerly into her chair. "Everything OK? You look a little uncomfortable there" she continued as she gave her the once over. "Heavy night?" she added finally, having reached her own conclusion about Steph's discomfort.
"You could say that." Steph replied, hoping her partner would drop the subject, but no such luck.
"So, you and your ex, eh?" she looked smug "You dark horse!" she giggled out softly as she saw the confirmation in Steph's face. Then she looked over to see if Ranger looked any different. At that moment he glanced up and Angela gave him a knowing look and winked. A blank mask was his reply.
"Boy, he's gooooood." She stage whispered, sliding down in her chair "Customised motherfucker for a bike and buns to die for. You struck lucky girl."
Steph blushed and picked up her bag, pretending to be getting her stuff ready for the day's lessons.
o0o0o0o0o
Tank could hear a telephone and opened his eyes to locate it. He was no longer in his bedroom, he was on a beach. On a beach? Ok. Go with it, he thought.
He stood up and realized he'd been sitting on a beach towel – multi colored – so not him, more Lula's style. He smiled as he strode over to the old fashioned American Diner phone which was hanging off a palm tree and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?" he asked
"Tankie? Is that you? Oh Baby, I've missed you…"
"Me too, Honey."
"Tankie, I ain't got long and this is the last time I allowed to contact you. From now on, Big Boy, you's on your own. Get my meanin?"
Tank nodded his head, sure she could see.
"Anyway, I see Ranger n Steph are gonna make it, though there are stormy times in there too. How 'bout you? I'm worried 'bout you my big hunk of love. Don't feel guilty 'bout movin' on and before you say it, my bones are cold now so it's OK for you to 'hop into another relationship' if you get what I'm sayin'. Don't judge yourself on how quickly you move on, Baby. No-one else will."
"but…" but before Tank could say anything else he heard the dial tone. Guess his time was up.
He closed his eyes and sighed. Yeah the next few years were gonna be tough, but it was as if Lula had read his mind, hell, she'd even quoted bits of his own reasoning back at him.
She'd told him it was OK to have someone in his life to help him through it all. Perhaps other people would understand. After years of being an emotional desert, he really didn't think he wanted to be alone again. He opened his eyes and put the phone back on its cradle before returning to the towel. He knelt down and grinned. Sitting in the middle of it was a key. Looked suspiciously like a key to a certain Bonds Office.
o0o0o0o0o
Despite Angela's quick and accurate comments on the Tuesday morning, no more was said by either her or Steph regarding Ranger for the rest of the week and to the untrained eye, you would have thought that the lovers were nothing more than teacher and pupil.
Evenings and nights were different though as they found new and inventive ways to show each other how deeply they loved each other. Neither voiced their emotions after their first night together, they just let their bodies do the talking instead.
Friday morning dawned far too quickly in their little love bubble. All week, despite the rigors of the course, they'd had no other pressure and had given everything to their relationship. They were in a good place, Steph thought as she stretched and got out from under her own Cuban hot water bottle. Having nipped to the bathroom to take care of nature she padded over to the coffee machine which she loaded then turned it on.
"I'm going for a shower, don't follow me" She warned as two rich chocolate eyes followed her round the room. "I mean it! I need a clear head for today and plenty of time to get prepared." She added glaring. He'd taken little heed of her request for the last three days and each time she'd left the bathroom in a jelly-like state. He was soooo good in the shower… But not today. Today was test day.
"Babe." Ranger replied, grinning at her and pretending to get up. The sheet slipped down and settled in a puddle in his lap, doing little to hide the delights that waved at her from between his legs.
She glared again and he collapsed back on the bed, laughing "Go. Babe. I only have so much control." He snorted.
Steph had never seen him this relaxed and it warmed her heart to see what their relationship had turned into.
Giving him one final look she turned and fled into the smallest room.
Ten minutes later she climbed out of the shower, clean and sparkly with joy in her heart and a spring in her step and pulled her robe round her before opening the door. Seeing Ranger with her back to her on the phone she wandered back into the bathroom and started to pull the tangles from her curls. Snippets of his phone call wafted over, he was talking softly and to begin with she wasn't really listening then he said something that made her ears prick up.
"Yes, of course I miss you. I love you too!" he insisted in a whisper.
Had she heard him right? She leaned a little closer to the door, shutting it slightly so that he couldn't see it was open from his peripheral vision.
"Yes, the best present ever. I'll give it to you on Saturday."
"…"
"No, I can't wait to see you either, Mi Amor. Better go. There's someone at the door."
"…"
"Yes, I know. One more day and I'll be back. Be good for me and tell me all about it when I get home."
Steph's heart was breaking. Who was the woman on the other end of the phone? What on earth was he doing phoning her anyway, whoever she was? Home? Where was that?
Was Steph just a distraction, someone to warm his bed while his lover waited for him?
What had she gotten herself into?
She held back a sob and finished pulling her comb through her hair. She looked at her reflection. Gone was the afterglow that had been there moments before. Instead she looked like a startled rabbit. She had no idea what was going on other than the man who she'd just given her heart to AGAIN was a total rat bastard.
And a fucking good actor.
Quickly she pulled herself together and pretended to stumble, giving Ranger a clue that she had finished. He hung up abruptly and turned round to check she was alright, spotting that she hadn't broken anything he gave her a 200 watt smile and headed into the bathroom, patting her on the ass as he passed her as if nothing had happened.
But it had, her world had just shattered.
Once Steph heard the shower she quickly began pulling her clothes on. Not now! She thought angrily as she started to tear up. Leaving him a quick note telling him she needed time on her own before the test she gathered up her bags which she'd packed the previous night and jumped ship.
Right now she needed to get her head straight and she couldn't do it with the smell of Bulgari creeping out from under the bathroom door and threatening to break her resolve to run away and never come back.
Sorry, couldn't resist another cliffie – things were going far too well….