CHAPTER 12

A nurse helped me change back into my cargo pants and t-shirt while Ranger talked quietly to Bobby. Straining my ears, I attempted to eavesdrop. Hearing the occasional word, I pieced together part of their conversation. Apparently there was an accident and someone died. I heard 'mom' 'motorcycle' 'no helmet' but I couldn't string enough words together to get the full story. We left the ER and entered the large waiting room where patients waited to be called into triage. Eddie cautiously approached me, checking out my arm. His eyes are red and puffy, like he had been crying. "I'm alright Eddie. I didn't mean to worry you."

Eddie looked confused. He looked towards Ranger and nodded his head. "Babe. We need to talk. There's a private waiting room available for us." He guided me to the waiting room to the right of the ER entrance. My spidey-sense was telling me something was terribly wrong.

I sat on the couch, waiting for everyone else to be seated before demanding, "What happened?"

Ranger looked towards Eddie. "Ranger, I need to tell her. Stephanie, this morning your mother was involved it a car accident. She ran a red light and was T-boned by an eighteen wheeler."

I sobbed uncontrollably while Ranger gathered me into his arms. Through my sobs I asked, "Is she alright?"

He shook his head no as he said, "She was killed instantly." Eddie waited for my crying to subside before adding, "Witnesses said she also hit a motorcyclist the block before. The bike was stopped at a red light. Your mother didn't stop the car and hit him, throwing him from his bike where his head impacted the pavement. He had removed his helmet to flirt with the girl waiting to cross the road. She called 911 once he was hit. He was rushed to the hospital and is now in a coma."

Sensing more to the story I asked, "Eddie, what aren't you telling me?" I suspected I knew the 'he' being referenced. Eddie had a difficult time saying his name. I nodded my head, realizing who it was and said, "It was Joe, wasn't it?"

The look on Eddie and Ranger's faces confirmed my suspicion. Even though I didn't want to be with Joe, I still didn't want anything to happen to him. Before I could ask Eddie more questions, he was paged by the ER nurse. "I need to go. Take care Steph, let me know if you need anything." Eddie left to complete official police business.

Once we arrived at Rangeman, I called my dad. He answered the phone with a barely audible grunt. "Hi dad. I know about mom. Do you need help with anything?"

"No Stephanie, we can handle things. You need to take care of yourself right now."

"Okay, bye daddy." My dad hung up without saying goodbye.

I called Valerie next. She answered through sobs, "Who is this? I don't have time for you."

"Val, it's me Steph."

She screamed, "I don't have time for you either. It's all your fault. If you only listened to mom, none of this would have happened. We don't need your help. We don't want you anywhere near us or the funeral. Just leave me and MY family alone. YOU ARE NOT MY SISTER!" She hung up on me. Dropping my phone, I buried my face in my hands and cried. I didn't just lose my mom today, I lost my entire family. Ranger pulled me into his arms and let me cry.

I woke up early the next morning. It was only 4 am, Ranger was still in bed beside me. I shifted so I could climb out of bed, but Ranger's warm arms pulled me back tight to his chest, resting his hand on my lower abdomen. "Ranger, I need to pee."

He chuckled, released me then said, "Come back when you're done." After I took care of my urgent needs, I washed my face, brushed my teeth then returned to bed.

Ranger pulled me close, my back to his chest and once again placed his hand on my lower abdomen. "Ranger, why do you keep putting your hand over my stomach?"

"I have wanted you to carry my baby for years," he whispered.

He rubbed soothing circles over the barely visible baby bump. "But I thought you didn't want any more children or responsibilities, Ranger."

"Babe. I didn't want them until the day I met you. With you, I want everything."

My heart pattered from his admission. "You make me happy Batman. I love you and our bat-babies."

He laughed and said, "As I love you and our babies."

"Ranger, I haven't told my family about the babies. My sister told me not to show up for the funeral. I need to have a chance to say goodbye."

"I know Babe." We stayed in bed cuddling until Ranger's alarm sounded at 5 am. He got up and changed into workout clothes. "I'm going for a run," he said before leaning over and kissing me. Once Ranger left the apartment, I crawled out of bed, carefully wrapped my arm in plastic and took a shower. So far I haven't experienced morning sickness, but I do get dizzy spells. I made a mental note to ask Bobby how to reduce dizziness.

Ranger opened the apartment door as Ella arrived with breakfast. He slipped into the shower as I ate breakfast. Between mouth fulls of food I said, "Thank you Ella."

"My pleasure Steph. How are you doing today? I heard about your mother. I'm so sorry for your loss."

My eyes teared as I replied, "Thank you. It hasn't fully sunk in yet. I know my mom died, but I still need to see it for myself. My sister doesn't want me to attend the funeral. I called my dad, but he's still in shock and my grandma doesn't answer her phone."

Ella pulled me into a hug. "Let me know if you need anything."

"I will, thanks again, Ella." She left the apartment minutes before Ranger left the bedroom.

"Do you have any morning sickness Babe?"

"No. So far I seem to be fine."

Ranger's phone pinged. He read the message and said, "I have to follow up on this."

"Okay." He kissed me then left for work.

At 9 am, I made my way to my cubicle to run searches for Rodriguez. My inbox had two requests for security background checks and another three for potential clients. I started on the background checks first. Bobby arrived at my cubicle and asked, "Bomber, why are you working? You have six bereavement days and another five recovery days for your broken arm."

Glancing up at him I said, "I was getting bored and since I'm right handed, it's going to take me longer to do my work. Typing with my left hand is slow and challenging."

He laughed and said, "Ranger sent me to check on you. Do you have a few minutes to talk?"

I cheekily replied, "I guess I can spare a minute or two." I waited for him to start talking but he pointed to the elevator. Ah... in his office then. He wants to keep our conversation private.

We took the elevator to the third floor and followed the hallway to his office. "I have some documents for you to sign. Jeanne Ellen has agreed to teach your kickboxing and self defence courses permanently. You need to sign this document to authorize the instructor change. For insurance purposes," he quickly added before I had the chance to ask.

I said, "We could have done that in my cubicle." Glancing at me, he passed me the next sheet of paper to sign. I read over the document. "What is this for Bobby?"

He patiently said, "Since you're pregnant, you are no longer permitted to do fieldwork. Also, it outlines the recommended changes to your exercise schedule and PT for your arm. Finally, your medical benefits has been modified to include the twins and all additional prenatal expenses."

I carefully read the medical benefits page. "I can have an on-site private obstetrician? Bobby, that's way too much."

He laughed. "Only you would think that's too much. If you read that part carefully, there's a time qualifier. The on-site OB/GYN can be requested once you've reached your twenty-eighth week of pregnancy, since you're having twins. Thirty weeks if it's a single pregnancy. He or she will stay in one of the fourth floor apartments, readily available should you need them. Once you request the obstetrician/gynaecologist, you'll need weekly examinations until your babies are born. A facility will be available on-site for delivery, if required."

I laughed and said, "With my luck, I'd give birth here." After I finished reading the documents, I signed them where indicated. Bobby looked surprised. Looking at him I asked, "What?"

"I was actually expecting more resistance from you. I've taken the liberty and contacted a few OB/GYNs. Here's a list of potential doctors. They will follow your entire pregnancy and have the availability to be on-site. I'll leave the list with you to research and find the right one for you."

Quickly reading the list, I noticed Bobby's sister at the top. "Okay. When do I need to decide?"

"I'll need your top and backup choices by next week. You need to immediately start your prenatal care. For now, here's some recommended pre-natal vitamins to take." I hugged Bobby and returned to my cubicle.

After I ate lunch, my cell phone rang. Checking the display, I saw my Grandma's name. "Hi Grandma."

"Hi baby granddaughter. I'm sorry I didn't call, but I had a lot of funeral arrangements to make for your mother. Your dad is still in shock and your sister is too emotional to be of any use. Unfortunately, it has to be a closed casket."

"I know how much you hate closed caskets."

"Steph, in this case it's necessary. Your mother was in very rough shape. I identified the body."

"Oh Grandma, I'm so sorry. That must have been difficult for you."

I could hear my Grandma snuffle. "Yes it was. But your mother was an idiot... drinking and driving! The police are interviewing family. They're trying to piece together the timeline leading up to the accident."

I gasped. "Oh no...," the tears started again. "I killed my mom."

"Don't be silly. You didn't force her to drink and drive. She made that decision on her own. I knew she was tippling too much, but didn't try to stop her." We made plans for her to visit at 7 pm tonight. Grandma needed to talk to dad first. She's coming to Rangeman to visit. There was so much I needed to tell her.

I walked towards Ranger's office to tell him that Grandma Mazur will be visiting. He looked up just as I was entering the doorway. "How did you know I was there? Did you hear me?"

"Babe, I sensed you were close." Huh... he IS as aware of me as I am of him. But I still needed to be sure.

"How did you sense me? I know when you're close, I feel a tingling sensation in the back of my neck."

He smiled. "I know. I too get a tingling sensation in the back of my neck." That was totally swoon worthy. I walked over to him so I could sit in his lap. He reached out, grabbed my hips, leaned over and kissed my lower abdomen before carefully settling me on his lap. "Are you bored already?"

"No. I came in to tell you my Grandma's coming over at 7 tonight. Can I bring her up to the apartment?"

"Babe. It's your home too, you don't need to ask permission." I know he doesn't like surprises, so asking his permission was appropriate.

"Bobby had me sign a bunch of documents. I'm officially grounded to work in the control room or in the duncicle." I dubbed the cubicle for searches as the duncicle... it's like the corner stool in the classroom where the dunce sits.

If you get into trouble while on a job, you have to work at the cubicle for searches. "It's for the best. You're not a dunce. I like having you do the searches because you have this sixth-sense about the people you're researching. Whenever I require a female's perspective for a home security system, you can accompany me." He hugged me close and kissed the spot just below my ear. Whispering, he said "Querida, te amo. Cásate conmigo?" I could understand the first few words, but I didn't know the last two. However, the last two words made my heart beat faster.

"I know you said 'darling, I love you' but what were the last two words?"

He shifted me on his lap to look in my eyes. "Cásate conmigo?"

"Yes... what does that mean? When you say those words, it makes my heart race and I feel like..."

"Babe... continue. How do those words make you feel?"

"It makes me feel like..." I looked deep into his eyes before continuing. I know he was asking me to marry him, but I wanted to the one to ask him. I've been planning to ask him for weeks but couldn't pluck up the courage. Reaching into my pocket, I grabbed the black ring I always kept with me. "Carlos. I love you more each day. You are my life, my heart, my better half. Not too long ago, you asked me if 'this was a proposal'. At that time it wasn't, but now... Ricardo Carlos Manoso, will you Marry me?"

His smile was absolutely radiant. "Babe." He kissed me. I kissed him back, pouring all my love into the kiss.

I briefly ended the kiss and said, "I still need to hear your answer."

"I will marry you mi amor. For the record, I asked you first." Reaching into one of his cargo pants pockets, he pulled out a gorgeous diamond ring.

The ring has an emerald cut diamond surrounded by sapphires the exact same colour as my eyes. "Carlos, it's beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you." He held my left hand and slid the ring onto my finger as I placed the black ring onto his left hand ring finger. I started crying. "Babe. What's wrong?"

Taking a few breaths to calm myself I said, "So much has happened this week. I broke my arm, my mom disowned me then died, my sister also disowned me, I discovered I'm pregnant with twins and now we're engaged. I don't know if I should be angry, sad, depressed or deliriously happy."

He laughed. I love hearing him laugh. "Babe."