Hi guys
Sorry for the late update but we've been having problems with one of our neighbours and the constant to-ing and fro-ing between ours and their surveyors is doing my head in! Last year they knocked down the existing bungalow on their plot and replaced it with a large imposing 5 bed house. We rolled over regarding the mess, chaos, lack of access due to rubble that seeped onto our drive etc, etc and just let them get on with it. Now the roles are reversed, they're being ultra difficult. Sigh. As a result my muse disappeared and took my tweaking skills with her. Grrr.
Anyway, she slunk back in this morning so I thought I'd better get this chapter posted before she goes AWOL again!
You know the drill, read, enjoy and send me the love xox
o0o0o0o0o
"Would you like to talk about it?" Delfia asked once Steph's tears started to subside. "I mean, that is if you want to. I'm a good listener." She added gently as she patted her hand reassuringly.
Steph nodded before leading Delfia gently into the snug just off the kitchen, and pulling her down beside her onto the couch. Her spidey senses were telling her to trust this almost stranger and something was urging her to open up.
Taking a deep breath, she began to tell her story, all the while looking directly into Delfia's warm and comforting eyes.
"About eight years ago I was made redundant from my job." She started. "I didn't know how to tell my parents so ignored my mounting debts and it wasn't until my car was repossessed while I was having dinner at their house that I had to own up to what was going on. My parents live in a very close knit community in Trenton, New Jersey where everyone knows everyone and my Dad mentioned that he'd heard that my cousin was looking for a filing clerk so the next day I went to see him. He owns a Bail Bonds company but when I got there the position was filled. Long and the short of it, I blackmailed him into giving me a job for which I was totally unqualified."
Delfia raised her eyebrows and nodded her head slightly, urging her to continue.
"He allowed me to sign up as one of his bounty hunters, bit like Dog? The Bounty Hunter? They go after people who are out on bail but don't show up for their court case."
Looking startled, Delfia blinked as she thought about what Steph was telling her and the ramifications of pretending that she didn't know about her marriage to Carlos. She knew she needed to keep building up Stephanie's trust in her and Lucas. But what to do? On one hand, if she found out later that they'd known practically all along that she was Mrs Manoso she'd never forgive them for lying by omission. On the other hand, would she trust them not to say anything to Carlos?
Oblivious to the inner turmoil that Delfia was going through Steph continued.
"I was so out of my depth that the office manager pulled in a favour and got one of her existing contacts to give me some training. He's the best of the best, former Army Ranger and Black Ops operative and heads up his own security firm, Rangeman. Some years later, after a lot of false starts and a complicated love triangle we got married."
Before her brain engaged, Delfia's mouth opened "Oh my God! You're the colleague who saved Julie, aren't you?!"
Steph looked stunned, "you…you know about the Scrog incident?!"
Delfia nodded and taking a deep breath, with a 'I can't fuck this up any more than I already have so I've nothing to lose' attitude, she nodded. "The Manoso's are a part of the Garcia family. My niece, Maria Garcia married Enrique Manoso. Carlos is their third born."
Steph stood up abruptly. "This changes things, I.. I... I can't stay here, I have to leave!" she stumbled out even as tears started to well up. "I never should have…"
Delfia could see that she was about to bolt so immediately stood up and grabbed one of her flailing arms to stop her from leaving the room.
"Stephanie…Stephanie!" she commanded with her best Mom voice. The one that says 'look at me when I'm talking to you'.
Steph slowed down long enough for Delfia to grab her other hand and gently but firmly pull her round so that they were looking at each other. "He doesn't know you're here! I promise!" she explained fervently. "He won't hear that we've found you from me and he won't hear it from Lucas either. Understand?"
Steph nodded woodenly, even as her eyes flitted from side to side in panic.
"Come. Sit" Delfia commanded gently as she pulled Steph back down onto the sofa. "I promise, pinky promise, that unless you tell me otherwise, I will not let Carlos know you're here." She stuck out her little finger and hooked it round one of Steph's. "I promise." She stated with a determined look. Steph nodded back mutely and they dipped their hands a couple of times in a sort of handshake.
"Now." Delfia began with a mischievous glint in her eye. "I don't know about you but if we're going to continue with this conversation I need ice cream and booze. What do you say?"
Realising that Delfia meant every word of her promise, Steph nodded tentatively. "Do you have any phish food?" she asked hopefully.
"No, but I've got half baked."
Steph giggled wryly and shook her head. "Thank you." She added with a wobbly chin as the tears threatened to fall again.
"What for?" asked a confused Delfia as she stood up, holding her hand out for Steph to catch. As far as she was concerned, it was written in tablets of stone that these were the go to foods and when combined with a listening girlfriend would help enormously.
This situation was serious enough that this was the only solution - just like when her husband died.
o0o0o0o0o
Ranger pulled up at his sister's house early the next morning. He'd figured it would be the ultimate distraction and take his mind off his frustration at the negative news Hector had given him yesterday. He decided it would be better to lose himself in mindless tasks and do something worthwhile rather than stew at the Batcave on his own.
Parking a few houses down from his sister's he angled out of his rental car and headed up the front path to the imposing arched double front doors complete with elegant black wrought iron vines and obscure glass which provided additional elegance to an already imposing and beautiful 6 bed Tudor style home.
The Porsche was in the garage having upgrades done and he knew his mother would notice any of the fleet cars so he'd chosen a Mini Cooper in British Racing Green. Mama Manoso would never expect him to drive something so small and he had to admit it had been enormous fun as it had been like driving a souped up roller skate.
Dropping the heavy brass striker of the lafayette style door knocker he listened to the sound of approaching feet but was surprised that when it opened it was his Tio Lucas who standing on the other side. "Carlos! Wasn't sure if you were going to make it." The older man said happily as he waved him in.
"Tio, good to see you. How are the plans for tonight going? Thought I'd come and add some muscle to the proceedings." Ranger replied as he pulled him in for a back slapping man hug.
"Celia was taking bets on you cancelling." He added with a chuckle and a friendly slap on his back as he led him into the kitchen then bi-passed him and wandered over to the breakfast bar where he sat back down next to Angela, his wife.
Ranger rolled his eyes at his uncle's comment before adding his own. "Yeah well, thought I'd surprise her as well as Mama. Tia." Ranger added with a nod and a smile as he headed over to the coffee machine, opened the cupboard above to grab a large cup then helped himself to a generous mug full from the jug that was sitting on its warming plate. "How's things?" he asked as he settled onto a bar stool and took a large swig.
"Oh, can't complain." Lucas replied.
"Same old, same old." Added Angela happily, between bites from her plate.
"Celia tells me you got married." Lucas said innocently, curious to see the reaction.
"Yeah well, didn't work out." Ranger replied nonchalantly even as a flicker of pain crossed his face.
"Oh? Shame. Sorry to hear it."
"So, what needs doing today?" Ranger asked, effectively changing the subject.
o0o0o0o0o
Steph woke with a start when a little body launched itself at her. Letting out an exaggerated "oomph" she caught her daughter then rolled her over and began to tickle her mercilessly, ignoring the slightly unsettled stomach and pounding head that last night's drinking had kindly left her with. She should have known better than to have a hangover with a two year old, she thought even as she grasped a tiny, perfectly formed foot and began to tickle it.
From the kitchen, Delfia grinned as she drank down two Advil tablets to calm the jackhammers in her head and she listened to the squeals and giggles that only a child can make. It warmed her heart that Charlie was so carefree. A true testament to the wonderful start her mother had somehow managed to give the child, despite the awful situation they'd landed in.
Nursing her temples she dropped the empty Ben & Jerry cartons and wine bottles into their respective recycling bins under the sink then sank onto one of the kitchen chairs with a cup of coffee and some buttered toast with honey.
The squeals of laughter were abating so she figured she probably only had a couple of minutes before Hurricane Charlie blasted into the room and while she waited she thought over some of the rest of the conversation her and Stephanie had had the night before.
Flashback:
"So. Let me get this right. This Burrows woman was stirring a huge pile of trouble, trying to turn the core team against you and at the same time she was also trying to steal Carlos?"
"Essentially, yes."
"But how? I don't know much about Carlos' life but I do know he was always a good and honourable man. How could he not see what was happening?"
"Therein lies the 64 million dollar question. For some reason she had gotten her claws into him and he couldn't see it."
"Didn't the core team take him up on it? You say Chico worked with you all. Didn't he say something?"
"Apparently he tried, they all did actually – none of them trusted that woman and could see through her totally. All Ranger kept saying was that the project the pair of them were involved in was highly classified and would secure Rangeman's future for many years to come.
"Chico came up with a crazy harebrained scheme to get her to show her true colours." Steph added before taking a steadying breath and a sip of wine "that was the night she killed him and somehow it was my fault. Ranger wouldn't believe she'd been at the scene of the crime and he blamed me and my poor gun skills for shooting him in the shoulder and killing Chico. I fired one shot – at her - but just missed her and she was the one who fired the rest."
"Oh dear!" Delfia exclaimed before taking a large swig of the chenin blanc she'd poured out earlier. "But surely the evidence was in front of him. There were two guns, yes? And Burrows' prints were on one, surely?" She added as she reached for her spoon and dug into her ice cream.
"No, somehow only one gun was recovered – the one I picked up which only had my finger prints on so I guess she must have been wearing gloves. I had cordite on my hand and clothes and as there was no-one else there when Ranger came to and no-one saw her leave there was nothing to link her to the scene of the crime. Trouble was I was too concerned about Chico and Ranger's injuries so part of the whole fiasco is a complete blur. Basically I was caught apparently red handed and accused of something that I absolutely didn't do. That was the beginning of the end for the pair of us. The look that woman gave me when Ranger threw me out was one I'll never forget. She was so smug…"
"… and I bet neither Carlos nor the rest of the team saw her expression?"
"No, she was pulling into the garage just as I high tailed it out of there."
"Oh. Oh dear…"
"Yeah. My thoughts exactly."
End flashback
At that moment a unicorn clad, onesie wearing blur raced into the kitchen and dumped itself in Delfia's lap.
"Oh my goodness!" Delfia said with a huge grin on her face and mock surprise in her voice. "I didn't know we had any unicorns in the house!"
Charlie giggled then grabbed her cheeks between her small hands and rained kisses over her face. "Mommy tolded me you an her ated somefink nasty last night. Mommy's got a poorly tummy. Have you too, Abuela?"
Delfia took a large gulp of air. Had Charlie just called her Grandmother?!
"You ok? Abuela?" Charlie asked, looking at the shock written all over Delfia's face.
"Oh precious child!" she said with a barely audible sob. "I'm not your Grandmother, but I would so like to be." She added as she smoothed Charlie's hair down and cupped her face. "I'd be honoured if you would call me Abuela."
Charlie looked pleased with the way their conversation had gone and turned to more practical things as only a small person can do. "Can I have pancates pease?!"
"Of course! Blueberry or chocolate chip?"
"Blubry pease. I love fruit." She added happily as she gave Delfia a big squeeze.
As the hug was finishing, she opened her eyes to see Stephanie with her arms wrapped round her torso, leaning against the door jam with tears of joy in her eyes. Motioning her over, Delfia pulled Steph into a group hug and the two women drank in each other's strength.
o0o0o0o0o
"I'm off then, Stephanie." Delfia yelled down the light and spacious hallway a couple of hours later as she picked up her carry on case from where she'd left in earlier near the front door.
Just as she started to head towards the door Steph arrived "Here, let me take that." she insisted as she gently pulled the small rolling bag out of Delfia's hands, Charlie hot on her heels.
"Be good Abuela." Charlie added solemnly "Don't pass on your poorly tummy." She added as she hugged Delfia's cropped pant covered legs.
"I'll try not to." She replied, giving Steph a knowing grin which she returned with a small giggle.
Just at that moment a taxi tooted outside and they all headed out onto the front drive.
"Be good for Mommy, Cherub." Delfia added as she reached down and patted the halo of curls that had wrapped itself round her leg again.
Giving Steph a 'Mom' look she added "Don't worry about anything while I'm away. Treat the place like your own. Please."
Steph nodded in thanks and headed to the trunk which was now open and waiting for the case to be placed inside.
"See you in a couple of days, girls." Delfia added as she stepped inside the Toyota Camry with a wide smile. As she gave a large wave of her hand the vehicle drove away.
The pair watched, waving until the car had turned the corner then headed back inside the house.
"What we gonna do now, Mommy?" Charlie asked.
"Something I should have done a long time ago." Steph said, sadly. "I'm going to show you some pictures of your Daddy."
o0o0o0o0o
So there we have it. Ranger is still in the dark, but Steph is warming up to the idea that at some point they are going to meet...
Gulp...