Sorry for the delay. I've been decorating with Ranger.
Mr. Fix-It
Chapter 38
Stephanie and Ranger were looking at the addition and garage plans for the house and the renovations for the Bhatt Mann building. Reggie had finished them and came to Trenton to show them.
"I included everything you wanted in the bedroom showing the fireplace and master bathroom," Reggie told them.
Stephanie was reviewing them, "I like them, but I have a small problem."
"What, Babe?"
"Now that I actually see it, I don't like the idea of us sleeping down here and the girls sleeping upstairs by themselves. Ranger, they're only four. I'm not comfortable with that. I'm sorry."
"That's why we work all that now, and not after we start building."
"Reggie, I'm so sorry. You put all the work into these."
"It's Ok. It's a computer generated plan. I made an alternate one. We never discussed it, but I wanted to give you options," unrolling a second set of plans.
It was a two story addition with a master suite above Ranger's office.
"This looks like it's storage," studying the new plans, Stephanie was pointing to large closet next to Ranger's office."
"Yes," Reggie nodded.
"What are you thinking, Babe?" Ranger could see wheels turning in Stephanie's head.
"If we eliminated the closet and took a little off Carlos' office. Could we maybe have a small family room? We could have a pool table and it would give the girls someplace to play besides the living room."
"I don't need this big of a home office. We can split the space. I like that idea."
"Would it be extremely expensive, Reggie, if between the two spaces we had pocket doors. It would be crazy for Carlos to be in his office, have to walk-out, and into that room to play pool."
"And, it would make you feel better that I could hear Mia and Kayla if you were out."
"Yes, but I don't want to take away the privacy of your office."
"Babe, there is nothing more important than you and our family. It's not like I need to be behind locked doors in my office. I do see a disadvantage to the second plan. We will be out of a bedroom for awhile, and we are not sleeping in bunk beds."
Stephanie was giggling at the idea of her and Ranger sleeping in the bunks. That wouldn't last 30 seconds. "We could flip to see who gets the top bunk."
He just growled at her. "We'll figure it out. So, I guess it's the second set for the house. When can we start on the building remodeling? I have clients waiting in the wings."
"By the week-end if you approve the plans."
"Sounds great."
"Come on Barney, let's go get Mia and Kayla. Are we still going to pick out a Christmas treer?"
"Pino's and a tree. That's the plan."
"The girl are so excited. I'll be back in a few minutes,"
"Bye, Babe," kissing her before she walked to the elevator.
Stephanie has smiling watching the red curls bouncing as Mia and Kayla went from Christmas tree to Christmas tree. They kept going back to a Blue Spruce tree that was about 5 feet high and just about as wide.
"That's a puny tree. It's for a midget!"
"But we like it," Mia said.
He had three smiling faces looking at him and nodding. It was a dumb tree. It was short and fat.
"Fine," pointing to the tree for a lot worker to bundle the tree.
After loading the tree in the bad-ass pick-up, Ranger got in and shaking his head, "I hope no one sees that tree."
"It's cute. Just wait until we decorate it."
When they walked into Pino's, Stephanie saw Eddie, Carl, and Kevin eating pizza. Kevin had short blond hair, dark brown eyes, and muscular build. Jason told her he played baseball on the high school team.
"Hi, Eddie. How are things?"
"Good. We are treating Kevin tonight."
Together Mia and Kayla chirped, "Hi, Kevin."
"Hi, Curly Tops," he said back to them.
"We just got our Christmas tree," the girls bouncing.
"You did," Eddie chuckled. "Do you still have the dog?"
Stephanie nodded, "Barney's at home with Bobby and Lester. They're dog sitting."
"I can't believe Ranger let you keep him?"
"What can't you believe, Eddie?" Ranger said walking over to the cops' table.
"You let Stephanie keep the dog. I never pictured you as a dog person."
"Well," Ranger smirked, "by the time I got home, Barney had already ingratiated himself in our home. He is a good dog and loves the beach."
"Steph, when are you moving?"
"I'm not sure. I guess after the New Year depending on when the new office is operational."
"We'll be moving soon. It won't take too long for the office renovations, so I need to start searching for office furniture."
"It's going to be lonely without you."
"You can come and visit, Eddie. Point Pleasant is only 90 minutes away. All of you can visit. I'll talk to you before we actually move."
"Babe, ready to eat. I think we have two girls here who want to go home and decorate the tree."
"Ok. Night Guys."
Later, Ranger carried Mr. Stubby, his nickname for the tree, into the apartment. They moved some furniture around in the living room to give the tree room. While, the girls were getting a bath, Stephanie and Ranger put the lights on the tree.
Every time he touched the tree, Ranger laughed, "Babe, we have 9 foot ceilings in here and barely a 5 foot tree. I see a discrepancy here."
"Ranger, Mr. Stubby is cute."
The apartment door opened, Barney running straight to the tree. Lester and Bobby stood looking at the short tree.
"Where's the rest of the tree?" Lester was laughing.
Stephanie gave him her mean face, "What's wrong with Mr. Stubby?"
"Bombshell, you shouldn't talk about Ranger like that in front of people. I was talking about the tree."
"Santos, do you want to be wearing that crazy hat of yours up your ass?"
"Ouch."
Mia and Kayla came out into the living room. Mia had on a blue Cinderella nightgown and Kayla had a yellow Tinker Bell on.
"Don't you two look like princesses," Ranger bent down to be on their level.
"Stephanie bought these for us. I like fairies and Mia likes Cinderella," Kayla informed him as they twirled around in front of him.
'Well, you look adorable."
"Thanks," both girls giving big smiles.
"Can we help decorate the tree?" Bobby asked.
"Sure. You can help decorate Mr. Stubby."
"There you go talking about Ranger again," Lester was standing there holding up a glass ball to his ear like an earring.
Stephanie whispered to him as she passed out hot chocolate, "Lester, he's not a Cuban Sex God for being stubby."
While they were hanging the colored balls and white snowflakes the girls picked, Ranger asked Stephanie where she was earlier in the day before Reggie came to the office, "Where you shopping, Babe?"
"Yes. I was shopping," Stephanie told him.
She didn't elaborate that she was at a car dealership test driving a blue XL7. She had every intention of going to the mall, but she passed a dealership and this pretty blue SUV was calling to her. Since Ranger insisted on paying for everything, she banked her paychecks. How he was going to react to a blue vehicle in a sea of black in the garage, she would find out tomorrow when she drove it back to Rangeman.
Once the Christmas tree was decorated and the large twinkling snowflake went on top of the tree, Mr. Stubby looked cute with his white blinking lights, colored ornaments and white snowflakes. There was a gap between the top of the snowflake and ceiling, but it didn't seem as noticeable. Ranger shut off the apartment lights so they could watch their tree.
"It is a cute tree in a Charlie Brown sort of way," Bobby stood back observing it.
"Well, Babe, for all the craziness around here, I guess a short and stubby tree fits in."
Mia said softly mesmerized by the tree, "Mr. Stubby is just right."
The next afternoon, Tank called Stephanie into the control room. The guys were laughing watching a monitor. Ranger had a couple off-site meetings and was back. After he left, Lester drove Stephanie to the dealership to pick up her new SUV.
When Lester saw it, "Ranger's going to flip. It's not the Rangeman norm."
"We're moving. I wanted something other than black to drive around Point Pleasant."
So there was Ranger standing in the Rangeman garage looking at the shiny new blue XL7 amongst his fleet of black vehicles. Gee, which one didn't belong.
Stephanie hit the button to go down on the elevator so she could face the music.
"Ranger, what's wrong?" stepping off the elevator.
He had his hands on hips just looking at the SUV parked in her usual parking spot
"Is someone visiting? It stands out." He looked in it and saw the window sticker on the backseat. "It's new."
"I'd say so."
"It's not black."
"I'm glad to see you're not color blind, Ranger."
"Smartass."
"It looks out of place."
"But, it rides real smooth," Stephanie was holding up the keys.
"It's yours?" giving her a surprised look with his eyebrow. "Babe, why didn't you say you wanted a new vehicle."
"Because, I didn't want black. I bought this with my own money I saved. Everyday I dress in black, drive a black Rangeman SUV, or one of your cars that are all black. The only color is my Victoria's Secret bra and panties and I can't see them," Stephanie said noticing his darkened eyes at the mere mention of what was under her black Rangeman clothes. "With us moving to Point Pleasant, this just seemed to fit more."
Ranger continued to walk around it. Stephanie beeped it open and he slipped into the driver's seat adjusting it. She kept looking at him waiting for the Macho Cuban to come out.
"Why didn't you tell me you wanted something different. You're my woman, I take care of you."
"You take care of everything. Ranger, I love you. You treat me like a princess. I have everything I could possible want and more. You bought us the house I spent summers in at Point Pleasant. I just wanted something that was mine. I bought this with the money I earn at Rangeman. Why you even pay me, I don't know," giving him her own version of his eyebrow thing.
"I pay you because you are good at searches, Babe. You still should have told me. Can we go for a ride?"
"I take it, you want to drive?" handing Ranger the keys.
She could see his interest, even though he was trying to keep a blank face. The corners of his mouth up and his eyes were laughing at her. Boys with toys.
"Wait, Barney's coming," he came running out of the elevator with the Merry Men. Stephanie had stopped at an auto parts store and bought seat covers for the beige leather. She got out of the passenger side and opened the back door, Barney hopping in. He immediately licked Ranger's ear.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?"
"If someone sees you driving this, they'll think you had a nervous breakdown or have amnesia from hitting your head going after a skip."
"Tinted windows, Babe. No one will ever know."
Before Ranger could back out of the parking spot, Tank, Bobby, and Lester got in.
"You're not going without us," Tank chuckled.
"Good thing I got the 7-passenger one," Stephanie commented at the vehicle full of black clad ex-Army men. Tank and Barney were in the backseat. Bobby and Lester in the third row.
"Can I go now?"
Lester quipped, "Sure, but how come Stephanie gets a blue vehicle?" He knew the answer without asking, Stephanie got everything her heart desired. The boss wouldn't make much of a fuss.
"It was my money."
Stephanie was smiling to herself because Ranger was enjoying driving the XL7. He was a boy with a new toy. He opened and closed the sun roof, turned the lights off and on, played with radio and CD player. Stopping at a traffic light, he open the glove compartment.
"What's the movie?" Tank was checking out the on-board DVD player.
"Next, you'll want snacks and drinks. You babies," Ranger murmured.
"It comes with wireless headphones, so the driver can listen to a CD while the girls listen to a movie."
Ranger glanced over at Stephanie understanding her comment. He rarely listened to the radio or a CD so he wasn't going to be te driver.
They pulled into the daycare center to pick-up Mia and Kayla.
Ranger motioned with his thumb over his shoulder, "You three out."
"You're making us walk," Lester had a pout on his face.
"Ranger, they don't have coats on. It's cold out. Take them back and come pick-us up," Stephanie slipped out of the passenger door watching her new SUV drive out of the parking lot.
Five minutes later, Ranger pulled up with Barney hanging out the window.
"You got a new car! It matches the beach house," Mia told her as Stephanie opened the back door. While Ranger was gone, he loaded in their booster seats and grabbed Stephanie her coat.
"Babe, let's go for a ride."
"I thought that's what we were doing," laughing at Ranger behind the wheel. Stephanie had a feeling she lost her SUV already.