A New Year Beginning!
Cross Roads
&
Building Blocks
Chapter 29
I tried to get back to normal after being at Ranger's bedside for two days and his quick daily telephone calls. He's called back each night to listen to Sophia's bedtime story, too. Last night he stayed awake until the end and whispered into the phone, "Dulces sueños, mi niña." 'Sweet dreams, my Little Girl' he translated for me. Ending the call with 'Nite, Babe." It has been hard coming back to our life that Sophia and I had here; my thoughts always seemed to drift back to Ranger. I won't allow myself to hope that his calls were anything more than that, telephone calls. I made my morning call to the nurse's station as I have done since being back checking on him. He was being discharged this morning. Hopefully, he would recover and rest in his 7th floor apartment, but I knew he would show up one day soon.
I was coming from through the large steel doors leading from the factory and loading docks checking on a mix-up with an order. I was waiting for the pharmacy to deliver my Peanut's medicine for her ear infection. We saw Dr. Harper early this morning, Sophia was slightly warm, a little cranky last night, seemed to have a stuffy nose. While she was feeding I noticed she tugged on her newly discovered ear. I was glad Grandma was here because I was scared, new mother. Sophia is a very happy baby. She had two teeth coming he advised me and it is not out of the ordinary for an ear infection to develop. It was probably just beginning. I was panicked last night when I called the after hours number and spoke with the on-call nurse. I found the little bumps on her sensitive gums she had me look for in her little mouth. The partially frozen washcloth she suggested I try helped. Grandma and I elevated her crib mattress with a folded blanket and I plugged in the elephant humidifier I received at my work baby shower. I slept in her nursery on the day bed afraid to leave her. We were scheduled for the morning to come into the office. Her pediatrician prescribed an antibiotic and infant pain reliever drops for the fever and pain. Phil from the pharmacy said he would mix the medicine and send it over. He was unpacking medicines since he had to replenish the pharmacy stock when we were there. Garner was right beside us coming from the factory. I removed Sophia's headphone's I always wore on her if she was around the loud industrial sewing machines and conveyor belts in the factory. The baby drops reduced her fever and she felt normal again to me.
I could here Amy's high pitched voice coming down the hallway from the receptionist desk. "Sir, you can't do that! He has a gun!"
Another voice responded, "He's always carrying."
I could hear clicking. The hair on the back of my neck was standing up and I felt that familiar tingle. Sophia made a noise. She must feel him, too. Clark and Mike, the new HR manager, were watching and listening in the hallway. I shook my head stopping them from calling security or the police.
There he was. Even on crutches, Ranger was bigger than life with Tank right behind him. He looked to the right, then left. His eyes immediately on me then lowered to Sophia peeking out of the baby sling. She squealed at him recognizing her Daddy.
Amy looked about ready to collapse into the wall at the sight of the Cuban man. Even seeing the tiredness in his face, Ranger was still the most handsome man I would ever see in my life. And, here were two big men walking in with guns holstered on their hips making their way to us. If she knew exactly how many weapons he probably had on his body, she would faint for sure.
"It's all right, Amy. I know them," trying to calm her down. "Lester's boss." Lester caused a stir with his normal work attire when he was came here checking on the building security.
"Thank, God," she replied fanning herself as she turned back in the direction of her desk.
"What are you doing here?" I asked after I found my shaky voice and took a few steps towards him.
"Babe."
Garner was growling stepping between Ranger and me. His intimidating look didn't work on my protector. She was standing her ground looking at her human form in Ranger. I could swear each was sizing up the other with a raised eyebrow. Rubbing those brown tipped ears that were at attention, she stepped back and sat down.
He took the final Ranger sized step even with crutches. "You're mine. And, you're mine," touching Sophia's cheek with a finger. "Forever."
His finger came up to trace my cheek.
"You're injured. You should be resting, " I told him trying to avoid seeing his eyes. Mine closed savoring the touch of his finger, the roughness of the tip tracing the path of wetness on my cheek, finally willing my chin to tip up to see him, "My bones will heal, but my heart won't, Babe, if you and Sophia don't come back to me."
I was standing in front of Ranger, I could see tiredness, uncertainty in his face, but he drew me to him like magic. "You didn't want any more children and I didn't want it to be a check in the mail every month. Sophia was conceived probably during or after that Surprise weekend in Point Pleasant. My birth control pills didn't get packed."
Warm fingers were cupping my face so I had to look straight into the handsome Cuban features, "She was conceived in love because I love her mother with every breath I take. Babe, I love you. I never loved Rachel."
"But, you didn't want more."
The rest of my words never came out. Warm lips stopped them and I never wanted them to ever part from mine again. It was too long not to feel Ranger's full lips. Too long not to feel his hard body against mine which molded automatically to the less defined muscled ridges and indents he possessed now on his thinner form. The gentleness, the possessiveness, all in one kiss.
Finally, breaking apart. We were both breathing quite hard and him leaning on the crutches.
"Your ribs and leg."
"Babe, that's the least of my worries."
I noticed a bulge in the sweat shorts he was wearing because of the cast on his leg. Some things never change. I just rolled my eyes.
Motioning towards my small office, "Get off your leg."
"Stephanie," Amy called with a white pharmacy bag in her hand.
"How much on the front?"
"$3.00"
Running into my office I grabbed money out of my purse giving it to my four legged companion and she came running back in with the bag in her mouth. Tank and Ranger just watched the exchange entering my office.
I indicated for him to sit in my leather chair. Once he was situated, Sophia squirmed in my baby sling peeking out again at her father. Watching his face was like he was seeing her for the first time, full of wander, so open with awe, no blankness. When I slipped her out, the half frozen wash cloth she was biting smacked Ranger on the tip of his nose. He never acknowledged it just returned the wide grin my daughter was giving him and gently took her from my arms easing her on his lap.
"Bomber, is there any coffee around here?" Tank asked wanting I knew to give us some privacy. "I sort of got rushed out of the hospital this morning and couldn't finish mine."
He just got a raised eyebrow.
"Pain in my ass," Ranger's second in command muttered back to him.
"Sure," dialing an extension. "Mary, its Stephanie. A friend of mine is coming to the cafeteria with my ID. Let him get anything. Thanks. He's a big guy. You can't miss him and don't let the outfit worry you, we're not being invaded or under siege."
Handing Tank my badge, "Go down the hall", pointing behind me, "make a right and in the double glass doors. Get whatever you want, Big Guy. I have money on my account. A catering company supplies our cafeteria," I explained.
Tank took it. "Thanks," and went out the door leaving Ranger and I alone for the first time. I didn't know what to say so I concentrated on the directions on her medicine bottle.
"She's so beautiful, Babe," taking in her big blue eyes, little tufts of dark wavy hair, touching each little finger.
"Sophia was with me in the hospital."
Ranger shook his head with his long loose hair, "I was told you were there, but I don't remember Sophia or you. I only have these," pulling something out of his pocket. In his hand, the two missing wood blocks from her set. A little hand reaching for one as she squealed to claim it.
"How about some of this, Peanut?" I measured the pink medicine into a plastic dropper and into her open mouth. I had a bottle of breast milk to wash it down since she didn't drink much this morning. Ranger holding it up as she drank.
"What's wrong?"
"A slight ear infection from her cutting teeth. She's been a little cranky, runny nose, and warm, but Dr. Harper says it's normal."
A Cuban hand was feeling her cheeks and forehead. "He's sure?"
"Yes, Sophie's fine. The medicine will clear up the ear infection." I figured I should get it over with and ask my million dollar question. "Since you know she exists, will you want to see her again?"
Before Ranger could utter a syllable, I started with me ringing my hands from nerves and tears I couldn't stop slid down my cheeks, "If you want to visit her, it will be OK. Send me an e-mail or call me in advance, but under no circumstances will I accept a signed monthly check. That can't be all there was of us. A signed piece of paper every 28 or 30 days. I'll tear it up! I can support us. I want nothing in the way of an obligation. I'm not Rachel and she's not Julie."
Ranger just looked at me after I finished. Not saying anything. He turned his attention to the little pink bundle whose head was snuggled on his shoulder like every Daddy's girl. That picture they made together was priceless.
"Everyday."
Ranger and his one word answers. I could be so eloquent when I wanted, "Huh?"
Cuban fingers got hold on my company Polo shirt and tugged me into his force field so we were looking in each other's eyes, "Every morning, every day, and every night. That's what families do. I'm sorry I ever uttered those words. I hurt the one person I never wanted to and those words caused me to miss out on moments I can't ever get back with you, Babe, and my Little Babe. I will regret that always. It was a mix of apprehension as I was expecting a call and jealousy I think. Albert as inept as he is makes a good father despite the craziness of your nieces. I wanted to be that I admit. I want my family. Everything else will work itself out. All I care about is you, me, and our most precious daughter we created," Ranger lifted up the wooden blocks, "we build on us." He sealed his words with a gentle kiss on the top of Sophia's dark waves then claimed my lips again with his.
