Chapter 19
Many things had changed in Rangeman since the day Stephanie returned. The company expanded its operations. They provided more bodyguard services and security at clubs. Stephanie had worked hard to build relationships with the clients. More men and women started working in the Trenton office. They had to purchase another building for the additional staff.
Stephanie got huge from her pregnancy. She didn't gain much weight, but her body expanded at an alarming rate. "I'm huge," Stephanie complained for the hundredth time.
"You're beautiful, Babe," Ranger said. He hugged Stephanie and kissed her like she was the air he breathed.
"Thanks, Carlos. I can't wait until this little man arrives," she whispered.
"Neither can I. Our son is going to be a handsome boy," Ranger stated. He lifted Stephanie's chin with his thumbs. Ranger gently stroked her face. "You're radiant." He kissed her eyelids. "You're beautiful." Ranger kissed her cheeks. "You're sexy." He kissed her forehead, nose, then her chin. "You're mine," he said before gently kissing her lips. "My family and the love of my life."
Ranger wiped the tears from Stephanie's face. "You're mushy today," Stephanie cried. "I never wanted children until I saw the positive result on the test. You've been a doting husband. I never thought it could be like this."
"You make it easy to love you." Ranger rested his forehead against hers. "I never realized what I had under my nose until it got taken away from me. When Julie and I found you on the beach, I felt the air return to my lungs. My love returned to me. I didn't want another day to pass without you as my wife."
"You told me that when we got married, Carlos. I'm glad we're together now, ready to become a family with our child and Julie. I'm scared I'll fail as a mother," Stephanie said.
"Babe, you won't fail. We're in this together."
"Are you sparring with Val today?" Stephanie asked, changing the subject.
"No. You asked me to get Lester to spar with her," Ranger replied.
"True. You could have sparred with Val anyway," Stephanie said.
Valerie lost most of the weight she gained from her pregnancies. She was still curvy, much to Cal's pleasure. "Did you pass?" Cal asked after Valerie finished her physical assessment.
"Yup. April and Robin trained me well," Valerie replied. "I didn't have to spar with Ranger. They got me to fight Lester instead."
"Ranger didn't want to fight his sister-in-law?" Cal wondered.
"More like I didn't want to fight him," she answered honestly. "He's too intimidating."
"Val, honey. That's the whole point. Sparring with Ranger is more than a physical battle. It's also a psychological one," Cal explained.
"Stephanie probably got him to trade with Lester. I found a parcel on my desk this morning," Valerie stated.
"You did?" Cal asked.
"Mmhmm. Albert got a job at his father-in-law's law firm. He got our child support agreement changed," Valerie said.
"Really? What did he change?"
"Albert's paying support for Lisa and Bert. Retroactive to the date of our separation. He got an educational savings plan for them to attend college. Naturally, he didn't include Angie or Mary Alice, but he isn't financially responsible for them," Valerie replied.
"Wow. Does that mean I can't adopt your children?" Cal asked.
"You want to adopt my children?" Valerie was surprised. Their relationship was progressing positively, but they weren't living together, and they weren't discussing marriage either.
"Yes, but only if that's something you want," Cal replied. "I'll follow your lead, Val."
Cal wanted to marry Val. He wisely kept the thoughts to himself. She had to move past the feelings of rejection from Steve and Albert before she could fully commit to him. Cal patiently waited for Valerie to get to the place she needed to be.
~~~
Joseph Morelli drove to Pittsburg to visit with his son, Joey. "Hi, Joe," Carol greeted as she opened the door. "Come in." Carol stepped back to let Joe enter the house.
"Thanks for letting me visit, Carol. You look good," Joe said.
"He's your son, Joe. Let me know when you plan to visit again. Joey's in the playpen," Carol announced. "I'll give you two the chance to bond."
Joe thought about taking Joey home with him, but it wouldn't be fair to the boy. Joey deserved a better life than he could offer. "Hi, Joey," Joe said as he picked up his son. "You grew." Joe felt silly talking to his son.
"Dada," Joey said.
"Yes, son. I'm your daddy," Joe said. Joe smiled when Joey gave him a wet kiss. "I don't deserve you." He spent the next hour telling his son about life. Joey should treat women with respect. Get married only from love. "Most importantly, Joey. Do not cheat on your wife. She deserves better."
Carol listened to Joe talk to their son. A tear dripped from her eye. It's a shame Joe never learned those lessons. She still loved him, but she would never take him back. He burned that bridge when he told a room full of people that he didn't love her.
Joe held his son until the boy fell asleep. He carefully laid Joey in the playpen, then covered him with the blanket. "Thank you for letting me see my son, Carol." Sherry, Carol's mom, listened to their conversation from the kitchen.
"I'll never keep you away from your child. Let me know when you have another weekend off. I can swap a shift if needed so you could visit with Joey again," Carol said, leading Joe to the door.
"I'd like that. Carol, I'm sorry for everything. They tell you not to make snap decisions while grieving. I understand that getting married falls into the category." Joe gave Carol a document and said, "Our divorce is final. I didn't contest your lawyer representing you in your absence for the hearing."
"You're free, Joe. I hope you find someone," Carol said.
"Me too. I mean that I hope you find someone too." Joe hugged Carol, kissed her forehead then left the house. He looked over his shoulder as he walked to his car. With a wave, he got into his car to drive back home.
Carol's mom entered the room. "I heard the advice Joe gave to Joey. It sounded like he was saying goodbye," she stated.
"I thought that too. I'll send him regular emails and photos. I want him to know Joey," Carol said.
"You can't force him to love your son or be his father. In a way, I think Joe loves his son so much that he chose to let him go."
"He came here for closure," Carol observed.
"And to let you know that you're free to move on," Sherry reminded her.
"I'm not ready."
"Give yourself some time to grieve the end of your marriage. Love will find a way," Sherry said, hoping her daughter could move past the pain.
Joe thought about all of the mistakes he made during the past few years. He never wanted to turn into his father. Despite his drive to be different, Joe fell into the some of the same patterns. Joe never physically abused Carol, but what he had done was just as damaging. He needed to get professional help.
~~~
April bit her lip as she sat on the stool in Bobby's office. She knew what her symptoms meant, having seen Stephanie go through the same several months earlier. "Is something bothering you?" Bobby asked.
"Um. Not bothering me, but it's still concerning," April replied.
"Hmm. I bought something for you," Bobby stated, handing the item to April.
"How did you know?" she whispered.
Bobby laughed before he sat on the stool beside her. "April, Stephanie's pregnant. It's still early enough in the day," Bobby said, pointing to the washroom with his chin.
She slipped off the stool to pee on the stick. Bobby handed her a sample collection cup. "Thanks, Bobby," she responded, taking the offered container.
A few minutes later, she returned with the pregnancy test. "Well?" Bobby asked.
April shakily passed him the stick. "You're supposed to wait five minutes, but it's already showing the results.
Bobby looked at the stick. "Pregnant 6-8 weeks" was displayed in the window. "Congratulations, April," Bobby said before hugging his friend. He returned the pregnancy test for her to show Hal.
"Thanks. Hal and I never discussed having children," April confessed.
"April, just because a man doesn't talk about kids, doesn't me he wouldn't want any. I happen to know that Hal would be excited with the news," Bobby stated.
"Hey, Bobby," Hal said as he entered the office.
"Just in time," Bobby joked. "You and April are banned from the field."
"Why?" Hal wondered. He looked at his wife. Her face turned red as she clutched the item in her hand. "Are you holding what I think you are holding?"
"What do you think I'm holding?" April countered.
Hal kneeled in front of April. "Are we having a baby?" Hal asked.
"Yes," April whispered. Hal lifted her from the stool and swung her around in his arms. "You're happy?"
"I'm ecstatic. I can't wait to see our child," Hal replied.
"I'll need to tell Ranger that I can't do the distraction tonight." Hal set April back on her feet. He smacked her ass and turned her towards the door. "I guess I'll tell him now," April said, giggling.
April got into the elevator and pressed the button for the fifth floor. She was startled when the elevator skipped the fifth floor. The doors opened on the seventh floor. April pressed the button for the fifth, but the elevator doors remained open. "Are you just going to stand there?" Stephanie shouted from her apartment door.
"Oh," April replied, having jumped from Stephanie's unexpected question. "Were you anticipating my arrival?" April asked, her right eyebrow slightly raised.
"Maybe. Are you going to share the news?" Stephanie pried. April's eyes narrowed as she attempted to stare down Stephanie. "It's not going to work. You don't intimidate me, April."
"Fine! I'll share the news. Hal and I are expecting," April snapped.
"I'm happy for you," Stephanie said. Ranger exited the bedroom as he attached his watch to his wrist.
"Sandra can run the distraction tonight," Ranger stated. "Congratulations, April."
Stephanie rolled her eyes. She didn't like Sandra because the woman kept coming onto Ranger. Sandra was the type of woman who saw married men as a challenge, not off-limits. She had her sight set on Ranger.
"Babe?" Ranger asked.
"I'm going to visit mama. We'll talk later, Steph?" April asked, wanting to leave her friends to discuss Sandra.
"Sure. I'll send you down with the elevator," Stephanie replied. She followed April into the hall. When the elevator door opened, Stephanie pressed the button on her fob, allowing the elevator to leave the floor.
Ranger crowded Stephanie when she entered the apartment. "It has always been you, Babe," Ranger whispered.
A tear dropped from Stephanie's eye. She wiped it on his shoulder. "I'm fat," Stephanie cried.
"Darling, you're beautiful. No other woman could capture my eye," Ranger said. He held Stephanie until her tears subsided.
"Sorry, Carlos. My hormones are all over the place," Stephanie confessed.
"Babe, if Sandra crosses the line, she will get terminated. I will not permit any Rangeman employee to upset my wife," Ranger said. "How you feel is important to me."
Several hours later, it was time to prepare for the distraction. Sandra wore a tight, black leather skirt and a see-through red top. Placing a mic would prove to be challenging.
"I can't get it into the proper position," Sandra whined to Ranger.
He refrained from rolling his eyes as he accepted the device from Sandra. Ranger reached beneath her top to place the mic beneath her right breast. Sandra moaned as she moved closer to Ranger. She pressed her breast into his hand, capturing it with her right. Before he could stop her, Sandra pressed her lips against his mouth.
Stephanie walked into Ranger's office to see her husband kissing Sandra. Her heart felt like it was breaking. She silently left his office to retreat. "They should be ready soon," Stephanie cheerfully stated.
"Beautiful, are you okay?" Lester asked.
"I'm fine. Feeling a little nauseous. If you'll excuse me, I need to use the washroom," Stephanie replied.
Ranger pushed Sandra away from him. "What do you think you're doing?" Ranger asked.
"Kissing you. I know you want me," Sandra huskily growled.
"I'm happily married."
"If that were true, you never would have kissed me back," Sandra stated. Ranger was furious. He did not like the games Sandra played.
"Let's get this job over with," Ranger snarled. He dragged Sandra from his office. Their skip, Bucky Blunder, would be at the club in thirty minutes. Ranger needed his men to get into position. There was no time to look for Stephanie.
On the way to the club, Ranger sent Stephanie a text. She replied, "Don't get shot."
He pinched the space between his eyes. Sandra was going to work the distraction tonight and get laid off. Ranger didn't appreciate Sandra taking advantage of the situation. He had heard the office door open then softly close while Sandra kissed him.
Ranger sent a text to Hector, asking him to keep an eye on Stephanie. Something niggled in his mind. He sent another message to Stephanie. She insisted that she was fine.
Stephanie waited until the men got into position at the club before making her escape. Julie was spending the night at her friend's house, so Stephanie didn't have to worry. She deactivated the GPS on her phone before slipping through the staircase to the parking area. Stephanie made sure she had scrambled the cameras as she maneuvered her way to the car. She opened Ranger's Porsche 911 to dump all trackers and devices that could trace her location.
Laying on her side, Stephanie removed the three trackers from her car then added them to the pile. "I'm not running," she mumbled. She started her car and went through the gate. Stephanie tossed her fob out the window.
Halfway to Point Pleasant, Stephanie felt a sharp pain rip through her abdomen. She continued driving until she reached the hotel just outside the area. Stephanie walked into the lobby and asked the concierge to call an ambulance.
The woman hesitated before running into action. She called the ambulance when Stephanie doubled over in pain. "Would you like me to call your husband?" the woman asked.
Stephanie shook her head. "Call Hector Martinez at Rangeman," Stephanie groaned. She gave the woman Rangeman's number, followed by the extension. "My name is Stephanie."
"Hi, I'm June calling from the Point Pleasant Hilton. I think your friend, Stephanie, is in labour. I've called an ambulance," June said. Hector hung up the phone before she could tell him where to go. "I'm sorry, honey. Your friend hung up on me."
"It's fine," Stephanie groaned. The pain in her abdomen got stronger. "He can find me."
It was too early for Stephanie to be in labour. She still had another eight weeks left in the pregnancy. Stephanie felt wet between her legs. When she felt her pants, her hand got sticky from the blood. Another pain ripped through her body before she passed out.
Hector arrived at the hospital as the boy got wheeled to the neonatal department. "Are you Hector Martinez from Rangeman?" the nurse asked.
"Yes, is Stephanie okay?" Hector asked, not bothering to keep up the speaking only in Spanish only ruse.
"Her son got delivered by c-section. She's lucky to get here when she did," the nurse replied. "The surgeon will be out in a few minutes to give you an update."
Meanwhile, at St Frances hospital in Trenton, Ranger was beyond angry. "I'm sorry," Sandra said, attempting to hug Ranger.
"Tank! Get her out of my sight," Ranger snarled. "Sandra, you're fired."
"But, but. What about us?" Sandra stupidly asked.
Ranger got into her face. "There is no us, and there never will be. You crossed too many lines tonight. I love my wife.
Stephanie is the only woman I want or need. Your actions in the club caused one of my best men to get shot," Ranger coldly replied.
"Your precious wife got your men injured before, yet you're still with her," Sandra snapped.
"My wife never put someone's life in jeopardy. Stephanie is everything you could never be," Ranger took a step back from the stupid woman. "Tank!"
Tank took Sandra to the Rangeman SUV. He removed the mic and earphone. "Keys," he demanded. She grabbed her purse on the seat and gave the keys to Tank. He detached the fob from her keychain. "If you attempt to communicate with Rangeman employees or family, I will personally charge you with trespassing."
Hector called Ranger. Speaking rapidly in Spanish, he said, "County hospital on the route to Point Pleasant. It's Stephanie."
Ranger hung up and ran from the hospital. He called Bobby, asking him to keep an eye on Manny. Ranger sped to the hospital to check on his wife, not caring if an officer tagged him for speeding.
"Report," Ranger barked when he found Hector.
The doctor arrived as Hector started to talk. "I'm Dr. Manchester. Are either of you men, Stephanie Manoso's husband?"
"Carlos Manoso," Ranger replied. "Stephanie's my wife."
"I'm sorry. There was too much blood," Dr. Manchester stated.