I'd like to say a big thank you to all of you who have left reviews, I really appreciate that what I write can be shared with others and that you enjoy following my stories. Reading is a pleasure that needs to be cherished so I am now taking a small vacation and have downloaded some of the stories from other writers to enjoy. If I haven't responded to each of you I apologise for that but know that your reviews are important to me. I'll be back soon enough, another book is in the making but I won't publish until it is complete. Take care.
Chapter 52
I felt so strange when we got home, like I was waiting for something to happen, I suppose I'd spent so long trying to solve the mystery of Carrigan that I didn't know what to do. And as usual Carlos noticed by the way I was behaving.
"Babe we need to go somewhere and relax"
"I just feel, I don't know, half the time I'm waiting for something to happen and the other half I don't know what to do"
"It happens after stressful situations"
"How's that?"
"After a mission I had to find a way to decompress"
"Yeah but you'd just got back from a war zone or worse"
"Babe, you've been drugged, kidnapped, blown up, attacked and have just been where a house blew up"
"But"
"No buts, we're going away"
"When?"
"Day after tomorrow, tomorrow we need to wrap this case up and archive it"
"Where to?"
"It's a surprise"
"I don't know if I like surprises"
"You'll like this one"
"Okay, okay, but you make sure Bobby gives you the all clear"
"Oh he will"
"Well I'll need to know what to pack"
"All sorted, Ella has a bag already packed ready to go"
"So I can't sneak a look and make a guess?"
"No"
I snuggled up to him on the bed, I loved it when he held me, made me feel so loved and wanted. Then I had the strangest thought and began to laugh"
"Babe?"
"I was just thinking of what Morelli will think when he knows his house blew up"
"I don't think that will be a top priority for him where he's at"
"The FBI charged him?"
"Yes, but they are letting him serve time in a minimum security prison"
"I don't know whether to feel good about that or not"
"So don't think about it at all"
"Okay"
I yawned loudly, hell it had been a long day and I never did get a nap after lunch. I know I must have fallen asleep quickly because I couldn't remember any more conversation and for once I actually slept through till morning. It was all systems go when I got up, I had my peppermint tea and crackers, which Carlos brought through for me and then once showered and dressed we went down to the conference room to sort out and file all the information we'd collected.
"What happens to all of this?"
"Some will go to the FBI, the parts that involved Morelli and Terry. Anything on Clarissa and his sister will go to Mason and Lansky, the rest we archive here at Rangeman"
"So what about the men Carrigan had working for him?"
"Rita is dealing with that, some have disappeared back to where they came from others have sworn allegiance to her and her new role"
"Do you know how the bosses have taken to her?"
"They like her and how she works, maybe Grizoli is the least convinced, but then he'll remember her from years ago. She'll manage him and Ramos, well let's just say he's besotted with her"
"I'm glad it all worked out so well, even if Carrigan nearly blew me up again"
"So am I, how you end up in the wrong place at the wrong time I will never understand"
It took longer than I thought to sort everything into boxes and when I came to go get something for lunch I was surprised at how quiet it was, maybe with everyone working so hard Tank had given them some time off, but come to think of it even Tank was missing.
"What's wrong Steph?"
"Oh hi Jay, it just feels so quiet around here"
"I think Tank has teams out doing installations, the usual teams are on surveillance and I'm sure some men were due some time off"
"Yeah I suppose I forgot how quiet it could be around here"
"You okay after yesterday?"
"Yeah, it was quite nostalgic watching somewhere blow up"
"Why would you say that?"
"You haven't heard of all my explosions?"
"No, I don't listen to gossip"
"Oh well, maybe one evening I'll fill you in"
"Jay, and yes she did blow up my Porsche Boxster"
I turned to see Carlos stood watching us, maybe I'd need more than an evening to fill Jay in but for now I was going to head upstairs and sleep, I would need all of my energy for where ever we were going tomorrow.
I couldn't believe that Carlos was waking me so early, I still felt tired and maybe a little grouchy but couldn't help but smile at the way he'd woken me. Light kisses all over my face and my morning tea and crackers. He just about pushed me into the shower and had clothes out for me when I went into the bedroom, soft linen trousers in deep burgundy and a white T-shirt, certainly not enough to tell me where we were going. As I came into the kitchen I was surprised to see him dressed in light blue jeans and a cream T-shirt. Wow he looked good and I know I licked my lips just watching him as he reached for a plate.
"Babe, get your head out of the gutter. You have five minutes before we leave"
Another trip to the bathroom, my handbag on my shoulder and we were on our way. I couldn't even figure out where we were going at the airport because we didn't go commercial, in fact Jay was piloting a small jet and even he wouldn't say where we were going, I still didn't like to fly but Jay let me sit with him up front and as I watched the ground disappear below us I felt a sense of awe come over me, I liked it being able to see where we were going, the clouds and the landscape. I knew we were headed south and I knew it was a long way but for once was totally confused as we landed on the mainland of some country I didn't know. Carlos was being real quiet, yeah even for him, and he simply took my hand and led me to a parked car. With our luggage in the trunk we headed out, but not into the city, we seemed to be travelling up the coast and as we turned into a drive it wasn't to a hotel, it was the most beautiful house I'd ever seen, it looked like it belonged in an historical novel. It felt hot when I got out of the car and as Carlos walked me up the steps the door opened for us, I must be dreaming, because stood there smiling at me was my mother, surely Carlos didn't think I would relax with my mother did he?
"Stephanie, you look lovely, come on we have lots to do and not much time"
What the hell was she talking about? I didn't get a chance to ask or even look around before I was dragged upstairs and into a large suite of rooms.
"Mum, what"
"Steph you need to shower honey and then Eula can do your hair"
"Lou, what, why are you here?"
"For you honey, now go on, go shower"
I did as I was told, my head trying to work out what the hell Lou was doing here and Eula, since when did she do some ones hair? I came out wrapped in a towel and stared around the room, how had that happened, I mean I was still trying to tell myself I was dreaming or hallucinating, but now?
"Baby Girl you got your man, I always said he was the one for you"
As I looked around the room I met the eyes of Connie, Val, Ella, Lou, Eula and finally my mother and I suddenly had this crazy idea. He hadn't had he, no he couldn't have, surely there wasn't enough time, was there?
As I stood in front of the full length mirror I marveled how well Ella knew me, even though my mother muttered at the choice, I didn't care what she thought, looking back at me was like seeing someone I didn't recognize. The dress was simple and clung to my waist and hips before falling to the floor, The neckline dipped low at the front and was edged in lace with thin straps going over my shoulder and crossing over my back to join the skirt at the waist. Thank heavens it had a built in bra. Eula had done magic with my hair, she'd been able to bring back my curls, okay so she put a very mild perm through it, just enough to curl and promised me it wouldn't go frizzy, so now with one side held back with flowers to match the cream of my dress the rest was falling to my shoulders. Lou had been in charge of make up and she'd insisted on a natural look which seeing it now I loved. My Grandma had provided the nail polish for my fingers and toes while Connie had applied it. I saw my mother behind me, smiling at my reflection.
"You look beautiful Stephanie and so happy"
"I am Mum"
"Good, he sure has provided an amazing place for this to happen and to get us all here must have taken hours to organize"
"You're not on the cruise ship?"
"Yes, it's here till later tonight so we'll rejoin it later"
"Thanks Mum"
"For what?"
"Putting up with me"
"I know we had our ups and downs but I love you very much and only ever want the best for you"
I picked up the bouquet of flowers and turned to go out of the door.
"Let me go first, your father's here to take you down"
As we stepped from the room my eyes fell on my Dad, all dressed up in a suit and for the first time in forever he looked happy, his face was toned from the sun and I'm sure there was a twinkle in his eye. He held his elbow out for me to loop my arm through
"You look beautiful Pumpkin"
"Thanks Dad, you enjoying the vacation?"
"Yes, I feel like a new man, your mother and I have grown closer"
I didn't want to know any more, sheesh; this was my parents we were talking about.
Once again I was so intent on where we were going I didn't look around and once outside all I could see was the face of the man I loved, was I crying as I walked toward him, probably, but I felt so happy and allowed him to wipe them away with his thumbs before we turned to face the man in front of us.
The service was simple but just how I wanted it to be, I had my friends around me, those who truly loved me, no wonder Rangeman was so quiet, most of them were here. After an amazing meal I said goodbye to my parents who left to rejoin their cruise ship and then watched as everyone else formed two lines down the beach to the waters edge. There tied up was a sleek black speed boat.
"Carlos where exactly are we?"
"Belize"
"The boat?"
"I had some work done out at the island"
"We're going to the island?"
"Yes, I thought you'd enjoy a honeymoon there"
Now that I could cope with, I'd loved the atmosphere there and it was a beautiful place for us to spend our time together alone, and all I could think of was that beach and how it was now a very special place for us.
Epilogue
"No, no one else"
"Just one last visitor Babe and then you can rest"
"Who's left to come, I mean it's been a steady stream since yesterday"
"I know, but how was I supposed to stop people from wanting to see you both"
I knew he was right, and I couldn't really complain because through out the time if I'd needed to sleep they'd let me and I couldn't get over the presents they'd brought. As I looked over the side of the bed the door opened and of course Carlos was there immediately, in full protection mode. As the door opened further I was so pleased to see who was there. Rita, I hadn't seen her since the day Morelli's house had exploded.
"Stephanie you look well, but you know I'm not here to see you. May I?"
I nodded my head and watched as she bent over and lifted my precious bundle from his crib.
"I said you two would have a beautiful child, he's adorable, have you decided on a name yet?"
I looked over at Carlos who smiled back, yeah we'd had that discussion so many times but in my own mind I knew what the answer was.
"Elija Carlos Manoso"
"Perfect, I can see both of you in him and he seems so content"
"Yeah well he can certainly makes himself heard when he needs a feed"
"And you Stephanie, how are you feeling?"
"Tired but so relived he's eventually here"
Carlos came and sat next to me on the bed, taking my hand in his.
"I think he may get his love of food from Steph"
"How are you Rita, you look amazing"
"I'm well, I was pleased with the last treatment and I don't wear a mask any more"
"They did a wonderful job Rita, I'm just sorry you had to wait so long for it to happen"
"That doesn't matter, I still remember the day you first came to see me and in a way I realized I was hiding behind the scars, now though I have a new lease of life"
"Casper?"
"We found him eventually, that poor boy, my lawyer sorted out the charges and he's looking at his life, what he could do, what he wants to do. We talk regularly but we both know that the bond we should have still has to be developed. His father did a lot of damage to his confidence so day by day he is becoming the man I am proud of"
"I'm glad that it's working out for you both"
"I must go, I have a business meeting tonight. Thank you for believing in me and giving me a chance to live my life, if you ever need anything just call"
I was so pleased that Rita had been to see us and that she'd found her niche, even if it were as the matriarch of the Trenton bosses. I turned to Carlos who was now cradling our son watching as he played with his small hand.
"So Elija?"
"So, I liked the name you chose"
I felt so happy, I had everything my heart could desire, a son and husband that I loved so much, a house that was safe enough for Carlos to let down his guard. I had work to do when Elija was older, yeah, we now had a bonds office at Rangeman which I managed, though having Connie was the icing on the cake. I knew I could tolerate being home on my own, maybe cooking was still out of my reach but I was learning, who would have thought that Eula would be so much like Ella and she could make the simplest meal taste so good. I'm sure Ella was a tad jealous but we sometimes stayed at Rangeman to make up for it. It had been a tumultuous time to get here but as I held Elija with Carlos holding me I knew everything would be magical.
