Thanks for sticking with me – RL has been a little fraught and over busy so apologies for the delay in posting. Nearly there now guys so bear with me!
Thanks for your wonderful feedback it helps me gauge how to tweak the next chapter... (as well as making me smile!)
.
Steph grabbed the tray containing large fries, an egg McMuffin and a large cup of scalding coffee and sniffed the heady aroma that oozed round the inside of her car. Thanking her server, Dee, she pulled away from the window and out into the rain drenched traffic. As she drove the final mile to the study centre on autopilot, cramming food and drink in just as automatically, her mind mulled over the phone call Ranger had been on.
Could he really be cheating on her? She thought. After all, every part of the last three days had been absolute magic. Their bodies, minds and souls joined in a way that suggested they'd silently pledged their everything to each other. Could she really have read that so wrong?
The more she thought about it the more she thought that perhaps she'd jumped to the wrong conclusion.
She popped the last of the fries into her mouth as she recalled the phone call word for word and the more she dissected the one sided conversation, the more she realised it must have been Julie who was on the other end. What intrigued her though was exactly what was the present that she'd been promised? He'd not done any shopping that she knew of, but then again, he had arranged the box of Boston Cremes for her.
Her brain took a quantum leap forward – could she be the present or at least part of it? Nah, surely not... A little voice in the back of her head was nagging that she was on the right track.
And part of her warmed at the prospect.
That thought put a smile on her face as she pushed open the door to the still vacant classroom and headed to her empty desk.
o0o0o0o0o
Ranger stepped out of the shower and grabbed the nearest bath towel. Giving himself a quick rub down, he wrapped it behind his neck, hands draped from the ends, and wandered back into the bedroom hoping to make his Babe blush at his nakedness. He knew that her face would turn a lovely shade of pink when she looked him up and down - even though less than four hours earlier she'd been examining his body quite thoroughly as he recalled, without any sign of embarrassment. No sirree, not a hint of it.
Only you, Babe, he thought smugly, closing his eyes momentarily, lost as he revisited the sensations she'd created in him earlier. Except, when he came out of his lust-filled fug and looked about him, the room was empty.
Where was she? He immediately noticed that her bags were gone and she'd left him a note.
Crossing quickly to the bed and picking up the scrap of paper from the pillow he read:
"Ranger
See you in class. Just need to clear my head for the test.
Stephanie."
No 'love' or 'Dear Carlos'.
Hmmm.
He was glad she'd never gone down the 'cuddle umpkins' route her sister and Albert had adopted but even so, there was something odd about how brief the message was.
Something was not quite right.
He quickly shaved and dressed then headed down to the restaurant for breakfast. After picking through a few orange segments, a bowl of cardboard muesli and a cup of hot, strong black coffee he headed back upstairs, finished packing then headed out to the parking lot, hoping that the tone of Steph's brief note was down to nerves about the test.
o0o0o0o0o0o
Despite the guys looking after him, Tank still felt as if a large hole had been cut into his body and his heart had been ripped out. Today was a bad day, he decided as he forced himself out of his lonely king-sized bed in his over sized bedroom. Moments later he was standing in his enormous shower – designed to fit two larger than average people – the silence all around him deafening him. He sighed, just to break the silence, as he turned on the water which immediately began pelting his skin in hot piercing jets. After what seemed like a very long time, he shut off the limitless water supply and grabbed one of the brightly colored towels that Lula had picked out less than a month before, mechanically going through the motions of drying before moving across to one of the two basins to start shaving.
His mind wandered back to the noise and excitement he'd encountered the first time he's used the bathroom with Lula and a grin speard over his face before falling off the bottom, replaced by grief. After he'd finished crying, he splashed water over his face, noting that his eyebrows had started to fill out nicely again, and picked up his shaving gel.
He silently dressed for his day, walked across the huge landing and down towards the kitchen where he grabbed a bottle of fresh orange juice from the over-sized fridge. Just before he left the room he turned round and gazed at the light, airy space that screamed out for people and laughter, not the whispered silence that spoke of sadness and despair.
It was time, he realised. This house was built for people with good, happy lives, not for a lonely widower. It was time for him to let it all go, along with the hopes and dreams for a future taken away from him.
He set the alarm then closed and locked the front door. Fiddling with his key ring, his fingers moving nervously, he removed the house keys then gave them a brief kiss before shoving them through the letterbox. He smiled when he heard a muffled thud as they hit the thick carpet on the other side.
He knew he'd not ever be back and for some reason the thought pleased him.
Perhaps today was not going to be quite so shitty after all.
He called Bobby from his car and told him what he had decided. He expected his friend to be surprised and to try and talk him out of such a hasty decision, but for some reason he didn't. In fact he seemed to understand and said he'd get a list of realtors together who he could talk to about selling it. Once the call was over he headed over to the Bonds Office, apparently there were a couple of files to be collected.
He smiled as he parked up.
Yep, the day was turning out to be a good one, after all he thought as the sun suddenly made a welcome escape from between the dark gray clouds, coating everything in its fierce brightness.
o0o0o0o0o
Julie bounced down the stairs, hardly containing her excitement. Her Dad was delaying coming home until tomorrow, but for all the right reasons.
And now, despite having spent half the night planning what she would wear to the wedding she'd designed, she was so not tired. After all she was going to have a step mom and she couldn't wait.
As she bounced into the kitchen she ran into Edna.
"How's it going Agent J?" Edna asked smirking, clearly lapping up the positive vibes Julie was giving off.
"Fine, Agent E. In fact better than fine, they're really brill. Ranger told me this morning that he and Stephanie are getting married and I'm going to be a bridesmaid, I know I am. Ok, so Dad didn't say specifically that they'd set a date or anything, but a girl can tell these things. Oh, it's going to be so cool!" she gushed, bouncing round the small room.
Edna and Ellen exchanged glances as they added a few last minute things to the breakfast table.
"Dish the dirt, AJ" Angie said as she had just wandered in, catching the last few comments. She plopped herself down on one of the chairs and grabbed a bagel, which she smothered in peanut butter and jelly.
Julie grinned and sat down beside her. "Well, you know how Ranger and Stephanie have been in love with each other since forever, well, this week they got it together. Ok, so they went out for a meal and some beers. But, he told me this morning that he's gotten me the best present and I know what it is." She said smugly, leaning back and putting her hands behind her head so that she could pause for effect.
"I know they're getting married. Mom told me that they only needed to be forced together and they'd work out that they loved each other. She said something about them needing to get their heads out of their..."
"Julie! Language!" Ellen said sternly interrupting her before she cussed.
Julie glared slightly "Well, anyway. I know he doesn't do shopping, Ella does everything for him, so I know the only other thing he could bring me back was Stephanie."
Ellen shook her head "Honey, just because they may have started to date doesn't mean that they're going to get married." She said gently as she slid into the chair next to her and taking her hand. "It doesn't always work like that."
"But it does, Grandma Plum. Especially as my Dad never changes his plans and he's asked Lester to pick me up today so that he can stay an extra night."
"Oh, did he really..." Edna said softly, her eye sparkling with amusement. Perhaps the man with the package was going to be family after all, she thought as she topped up Ellen's coffee.
Not long after, Frank and Mary Alice came in from the yard, giggling and joined them. The rest of the meal was spent with Julie defending her logic.
o0o0o0o0o
"Crap! That was awful" Angela whined out despondently as she put a plate of orange gloop on her tray.
"You can say that again." Steph replied glumly. Resisting the urge to go for the same food option as her partner, instead she picked up a limp-looking ham roll and a bag of chips.
Looked like the caterer felt the same way and had come out in sympathy. Nothing looked even vaguely appetising, she thought, but her stomach protested at the thought and who was she to deny it what it needed. She quickly added a donut to her tray and grabbed a can of coke.
They headed off to a table at the back of the canteen where some of the other students were sitting, looking shell shocked. Silence hung around them like a cold damp towel.
"I'm never gonna have passed." One of the students, Aiden groaned out in frustration. "And that Manoso, he's a real bastard!" he added, angrily snapping the lid off his water bottle.
Several mutterings of agreement echoed his statement, then silence desended as they ate their food, everyone lost in their own thoughts.
At that moment, Ranger walked into the room and stopped while he scanned the room, obviously looking for someone or something. Spying the table they were all at, he moved calmly and effortlessly in their direction, which caused the group to all sit a little straighter in their chairs, even if they hated him they still held him in high regard.
As he reached the small crowd he stood and nodded at them as they returned his impassive stare.
"I'd just like to say well done to you all. The test this morning was really difficult and you've all passed with great results. When we get back after the lunch break I need to just go over a couple of things that I've obviously not explained very well as no-one managed to answer them correctly, but you all have the right to be pleased with your efforts today." With that he nodded again then started to turn away.
"Sir? Would you like to join us?" Angela said, stopping him in his tracks. "Steph, move over and give the guy some room."
"I'll just grab something and be back." He replied, an almost smile coming to his lips.
Conversation started round the table and everyone relaxed after that and even when Ranger came back with a plate of drab chicken and limp avocado salad, the odd joke broke out.
Ranger sat down and his thighs brushed against Steph's. Ranger who was looking downwards at the time smiled and whispered Babe as he pushed his leg further into hers. Steph held her breath and put her hand on his upper leg, gave it a squeeze, returned the subtle smile then carried on attempting to eat her unappetising lunch.
Angela saw the tiny movements and grinned to herself. Even if they had been so subtle as to have been missed by everyone else at the table, the electricity they generated lit up the room. In the short time that she'd known Steph, she'd come to realise how much she needed Ranger in her life. She nudged her partner and winked, a blank and innocent face was her reply. "Gee, you two make a great pair" she stage whispered into Steph's ear which caused a slight snort from the man in black.
Just as they finished eating, Ranger's phone beeped so he grabbed it off his belt and looked at the screen.
"Sorry, guys. I need to take this call, see you back in the class room in 5." he said then stood up and moved away, letting his fingers brush across the back of Steph's shoulders and making her breath hitch.
So small a gesture that said so many things.
Angela smiled again, she was going to miss watching their relationship develop, but unfortunately, she had a job to find and doubted she'd get anything this far away from home. She'd needed a change of direction which had led to this course, but her motives were not as drastic as Steph's so she was happy to go home. Boston just seemed so far away right now.
"She did what?" they all heard Ranger growl as he exited the room in search of privacy.
oO0o0o0o0o
Lester arrived to pick up Julie from the Plum's house. She'd had a really great time and everyone had benefitted from her stay.
Mary Alice had learned how to groom and ride a horse.
Edna had learned a lot more about guns.
Frank learned about why his daughter loved Ranger so much.
Angie gained a new best friend.
But most of all, Ellen realised that Stephanie deserved her own brand of happy and that perhaps Ranger really was the man to give it to her. It didn't matter if they didn't get married, in fact she worked out that her youngest daughter didn't have a 'Burg related bone in her body and to hell with the 'Burg anyway.
Ranger encouraged his own daughter to think outside the box, be her own person and fly. Looks like he could do the same for Stephanie.
o0o0o0o0o
"OK, class, settle down please." Ranger said as he stood at the front with a stack of paper in his hands, which he proceeded to return to each of the students.
"Looks like you were all listening as you've passed with good grades. 69% was the lowest and as the pass mark was 65%, I'd say you've all reason to be proud."
"Chris got the top mark with 87% so it shows how close you all were. Next was Stephanie with 84½, joint with Angela. You weren't comparing notes were you?" He asked, good naturedly, a wolf grin on his face as he looked at them both as he handed them the last two papers.
He quickly went through a couple of points the whole class had gotten wrong on the test then leaned back against the desk at the front and crossed his arms over his moulded on black t-shirt.
"Ok guys, you've all deserved an afternoon of fun, so I've arranged for a little something for you all outside. Pack your stuff up and meet me in Reception in ten minutes. You can leave everything with Cade at the porter's office." As he turned to leave he looked over his shoulder "Stephanie, can I have a word, please?" he asked as he held the door open for her, letting her walk past him.
"Sure" she replied nonchalantly as she stood up to follow him shrugging her shoulders in confusion.
As the door shut behind them someone muttered 'lucky cow' and a couple of people sniggered gently as they set about packing up their things. Neither Steph nor Ranger heard them.
"Spill it, Ranger." Steph said as she turned to face him as soon as they'd arrived in the corridor.
"Sorry I didn't get a chance to wish you luck this morning. I'm proud of you Babe."
She smiled back at him as he tucked a curl behind her ear.
"You're not mad at me are you?" he added carefully as he entwined her fingers in his own, pulling her closer to him.
"No? Why should I be mad?"
"Nothing really, it's just your note when I got out of the shower surprised me. I wasn't sure if you wanted me to mention 'us' to Julie this morning or not so I kept it deliberately vague when I was talking to her. I figured you knew who it was." He let go of one of her hands and ran his fingers through his hair then chuckled.
Steph gave him a quizzical look "No, I was just worried about the test, that's all. Ok, so I might have thought you had a significant other you were whispering sweet nothings to on the other end of the phone. And perhaps I overreacted a tiny bit until I figured it was Julie. But hey, you know me..."
She didn't get a chance to continue her ramblings before Ranger tilted her head up with one finger and gently kissed her.
"Babe" he said, kissing her softly again, this time deepening the kiss.
"Querida. Does everything that's happened this week not tell you all you need to know about how I feel?" he asked softly.
"Well, er. I did kinda figure that you were either sincere about us or a great actor..."
"Babe!" Ranger chuckled out then pulled her into him for a quick hug.
"What's so funny?" she asked, pulling away and looking confused.
"Seems like my daughter has put two and two together and gotten 8 and a half. Lester wants to know the date." He replied, obviously enjoying a joke he had yet to share with her.
"?"
"Apparently, according to Julie, we're getting married." He explained with a wolf grin spreading over his beautiful face.
"After all, I never change my plans and was supposed to pick her up today but because I've asked Santos to do the honours instead of me, she's decided it's because I was going to ask you to marry me. I know I wanted to stay with you in our little bubble for one more night but boy, that kid has one hell of an imagination." He grinned again.
Steph turned away slightly which made Ranger's smile fall off his face. "Hey, Babe? I smell smoke, you ok?"
"Would it be that silly an idea?"
"?"
"Marriage? To me?"
"Hey" he said softly, turning her back to face him. "That's not what I meant. Let's get used to an 'us' before we go getting all formal. I love you Stephanie Michelle Plum and I know you love me, but we've got plenty of time. Let's enjoy every day as it comes, not rush into anything. OK? I'm not saying I don't want to marry you, but it should be for us, not because of my daughter's desire to wear a big frilly dress and heels." He was looking straight into her eyes and Steph could see what Ranger said was not a brush off, rather a need to savour every moment.
"Big frilly dress, you say?" Steph said with a small, wry grin on her face.
Ranger nodded.
"High heels too, huh?"
"Mmm Hmm"
"Bet she wants a big song and dance production with ponies, mile high cake and a huge white meringue of a wedding dress."
"Yep."
Steph pulled him in and kissed his nose "Not sure white's your color, Carlos." She giggled out.
"Babe." Ranger replied as he returned her smile.
Breaking the spell, he pulled her back to him for a kiss then turned her round and pushed her back towards the classroom.
"Go. Pack." He added, patting her ass.