Cross Roads

&

Building Blocks

Chapter 36

"Oh, Sophia, when you can chew, you will love this!"

I couldn't help moaning. Ella had lobster for dinner with garlic butter for dipping, baked potatoes, and steamed vegetables. Our baby between us on the floor in her baby bouncer that resembled a pink space ship with its arches of beads around her and dangling rings. She was a happy camper!

"Ranger, I'm in heaven," dipping a piece of lobster in the butter. I used my napkin to wipe some of the sauce off his chin.

"It is good, Babe. Been a while since I had lobster."

His new I-Phone was ringing that was waiting for him when we got here. Now my photos of Sophia had to be added, but Daddy's been busy trying it out.

"Yo. Hello, Momma. Yes, I left a message for you. It was actually me."

I had to giggle at that.

"That's Sophia. She's playing in her jumper. I've been in Reading and we came to Trenton for Stephanie's father's birthday. Yes, Momma, I begged her to forgive me and I haven't said anything else stupid that I know of."

Poor Ranger his mother was grilling him. He even did an eye roll.

"Talk to Stephanie," he had enough and handed me the phone.

"Hello, Pilar! He's been taking it easy. Yes, Ranger is a doting Daddy. I think he called because I'm having Sophia baptized next weekend in Reading. I wanted to invite her grandparents."

I had to hold the phone away from my ear and even Ranger heard the excited "Yes!"

"Why don't you and Alejandro come on Saturday? Yes, I'll have your son call or e-mail directions. You also. Good Night."

I slid his phone back after I shut it off.

"They're coming?" He chuckled.

I nodded as my phone rang. "Hello. Yes, this is Stephanie. Is this Christine?"

On the street behind the my rental house, there was a Victorian B & B. I was hoping Mary Lou and her family, Tank and Lula, and more than likely Lester and Bobby could stay there if there were rooms available.

"I wanted to see if you had any rooms available to next weekend. Saturday to Sunday. Three preferably. My best friend, husband, and three boys, one couple, and one in which two men could share. No, they're not a couple. That would be perfect. I'm away this weekend, can I bring the payment on Monday when I get back. Reserve them in Stephanie," Ranger was watching me, "Plum. Thank you. I'll see you on Monday."

"Babe, my doctor's appointment is Tuesday. We'll be leaving after that."

I was shaking my head, "Ranger, I need to leave on Monday. With it being Memorial Day, we only have a four-day week to get all the orders out. I thought you knew that. Go to you doctor's appointment and I'll meet Tank at the Pennsylvania line on Tuesday."

"You'll be alone on Monday night. I do not want to be separated from you and Sophia even one night! I'll cancel the doctor's visit," reaching for his cell phone.

I grabbed it, "No, you won't cancel! You need to have the doctor check you."

"Babe!"

"Ranger!"

Garner was up standing beside me and staring at Ranger.

"You're not ganging up on me too!" He told the black dog.

"Woof."

Holding out his hand, "Can I check to see what time my appointment is on Tuesday?"

I know I was trying to bore my eyes in him with my determination, "Fine. No cancelling."

Dialing a number, "Tank, what time is my appointment with the doctor? OK. Have Bobby come up."

Sophia was saying 'Aaah Baa. Aaah Baa," directing it at Ranger.

"I'm going to the doctor's," he told her back. "Pushy women," smirking at me and his daughter.

There was a knock and Garner went to the door, "What's up?" Bobby poked his head in the door and stepped in when Garner backed up,

"Can you come back to Reading with Stephanie, Sophia, and me?"

"Woof."

"And, Garner," Ranger added, "on Monday and drive me to the doctor's office on Tuesday for 10. I'll have someone bring me back then," saying it to me.

"Sure, Boss."

"Is that OK, Babe?"

I felt terrible. He assumed we would all leave together and I assumed Ranger knew Sophia and I would be leaving on Monday. A little miscommunication here. I didn't want Ranger to keep making compromises. I picked up my phone and called, "Clark, its Stephanie. Do you think it would be OK if I came in after lunch on Tuesday? Carlos has a doctor's appointment so he can get a walking cast. I went over all the orders before I left on Friday for the later in the week. The packers were beginning to load Slick's truck for Tuesday. The boxes were lined up color coded for Sam's in the warehouse. OK. Have a good weekend."

I closed my phone, "Sophia and I will take you. Bobby and Lester can dog sit."

Bobby grinned, "Cool. Garner is more fun."

That got an eyebrow, "Does the dog sign your paycheck?"

"Can she?" Bobby asked laughing because Garner had placed a paw on Ranger's leg. "Could we get puppy designs on the paychecks?"

"Go," pointing to the door.

"Come on Garner, want to play?"

"Woof." and she flew to the door.

He was shaking his head, "The dog is too smart and I swear she understands us."

"Garner's been the best dog since I found her injured along the road. From the moment I brought Sophia home, she always around her, protecting her."

"Thank you," he placed his palm flat against mine, "I guess we should have checked our schedules better. I don't want us to be apart, not even for a night. The entire time I was gone I felt like I was missing a piece of me."

"We'll do better communicating with each other."

The door opened and Ella came in pushing her cart. My eyes almost popped out seeing what was on top. A chocolate cake with whipped cream and chocolate powered sprinkled on it.

"Stephanie Dear, I made this just for you. It's a flourless chocolate cake. I hope you will enjoy it," placing a delectable slice in front of me. The cake was fudgey and melted in my mouth with a hint of orange, "Oh, Ella, you are a Baking Goddess. I really need for you to adopt me! I may have to rethink the pineapple upside cake thing. I think I have two favorites now. "

I couldn't believe it when Ranger had a piece. I think the dessert heavens are going to open up and shine down upon him.

"Babe."

I amused him with that.

Once dinner was over and Sophia visited the milk bar, Baby Daddy couldn't wait to take her back down to the play yard.

Ranger stood there and watched. Lester was shimmying himself up the steps along the castle to get to the rope bridge with Garner right behind him. They bounced across it and hopped up on the top under the pink striped canvas. He grabbed the pole and slid down while Garner ran down the steps only to run back to do it again.

"Lester, are you having fun?" Ranger growled.

The biggest grin on his face, "Yeah! Next time you should get one a little bigger to get thru."

"Really?"

He was trying to be mad but it was so silly, I could see his chest moving and he was shaking his head.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Sophia was making her baby sounds as I pushed her pink baby swing with its pink checked cushion.

"Ranger, I've noticed a reoccurring pink theme springing up around Rangeman."

He was smiling watching our daughter's excitement. "Babe, she's a little girly girl. I'll start her on camo at her first birthday!"

That deserved a 'Burg' eye roll.

Sophia was asleep after her medicine, bath, and 'The Itsy Bitsy Spider'; I was snuggled into Ranger's left side content to lie there together.

Ranger whispered to me, "Babe, would you do something for me?"

"Yes, Ranger," leaning on an elbow so I could see his face. His eyes were watching the white crib in the corner where a sliver of moonlight was shining through the closed drapes. Those dark eyes moved to me. "Will you let my attorney handle getting Sophia's birth certificate corrected so it's my name and yours that are listed as her parents? She's my Little Babe."

"You don't have him on it already?"

"Just wanted to make sure, Babe."