Les's POV

I'd had a surprisingly enjoyable day with Steph, helping her unpack and organize her new house. She was easy to talk to and shared my sense of humor. It was easy to see why Cal is crazy about her, and I was happy to watch out for her until he came back home. I had a feeling that this mission would accelerate their relationship; there's nothing like a deployment to make you realize how important someone is to you. Of course, it was easy for an outsider like me to see from a mile away. Those two were in deep, not that either of them really tried to hide it.

Steph had been in a panic as she got ready for dinner at her parents' house and kept mumbling about her grandma pinching my ass and being a disappointment to her mother. I'd finally heard enough and loaded her into the car – she'd made it perfectly clear that we couldn't be late or the ruined pot roast would be her fault. Two women were standing on the front porch as we got out. One was looking around the neighborhood like she was paranoid that the neighbors were watching and the other was clacking her teeth around in her mouth. The latter was wearing a bright pink halter top and a denim mini-skirt, and I'd never seen anything more disturbing in my life

"Mom, Grandma, this is my friend Les. Les, my mom Helen and my Grandma Edna," she introduced

"Come in the house before the neighbors all want to know what's going on out here!" her mom hissed. Maybe Steph's earlier craziness was justified.

We followed the two women into the house and Steph pulled me into the living room. "Daddy, I'd like you to meet someone," she said, and he looked up from the television.

"This isn't Cal," he said sternly.

"No sir, I'm Cal's best friend. Maybe we could all sit down and talk?" I asked. I figured it would be easiest to get this all out of the way up front. The ladies joined us in the living room and Steph began to speak.

"Dad, this is Les Santos. He's Cal's closest friend, and he came over today to make sure I was okay."

"Why wouldn't you be okay?" Steph's mother practically screeched.

"Let me start from the beginning. I met someone a couple of months ago and we started dating. His name is Cal, and he's a security specialist in Trenton. He also is still under contract with the military and he just got called out this morning. This will be his last time to go," Steph explained.

"Cal and I have always looked out for each other's loved ones when one of us was deployed, so I went over to Steph's this morning to make sure she was okay and spent the day helping her get settled in," I went on to add.

"So you're seeing someone?" Helen asked, and Steph rolled her eyes.

"Yes, Mom. I told you on the phone that I was seeing someone," she answered.

"Is it serious?" Helen asked. "We haven't even met this man!"

"Actually, I met him at lunch a few weeks ago," Frank interjected. "He's a fine young man, and I think he's good for my Pumpkin. He's to be welcomed to the family."

Cal had told me how much he liked Frank Plum after they met, and now I could see why.

"Will you bring him home for dinner when he returns?" Helen finally asked.

"Yes, of course," Steph agreed. "I don't know when exactly that will be, but I promise that I will."

"It shouldn't be more than a month I would think," I answered.

"So, tell us about this young man," Helen said, and Frank nodded toward the garage. I followed him out and he lit a cigar for himself and then handed me one after he'd shut the door.

"There's no need for us to sit through their girl talk," he mused. "Now, what can you tell me about Cal's mission?"

I knew from my conversation with Cal that Frank Plum had been a very well-decorated Army Ranger with high military clearance.

"It should be a fairly quick one. He and his partner will spend a couple of weeks doing some recon and verifying the intelligence. Then he'll take out the target and return stateside. Cal is one of the best and I have every confidence that he'll come home safely," I assured him.

"And you would be informed if anything didn't go according to plan?" he asked.

"Yes, sir."

"Very well. If that should happen, please let me go with you to tell Steph?" he asked.

"You have my word."

"Good. We should go inside before the pot roast dries out and it's all our fault," he said, and I chuckled. This family was something else.

Steph mercifully sat next to me at dinner, keeping me far enough from Edna to be safe from her bony fingers. Her mother had just started in on applications for the button factory and the personal products plant when Steph interrupted her.

"Actually, Dad and I talked about it, and I want to go to work for Vinnie," Steph explained.

"Please tell me you mean as a file clerk or office manager," Helen said with a worried look on her face.

Steph scrunched up her nose and shivered. "Why in the world would I want to do that? That would mean actually being around the weasel too much for my liking. No, he's hiring a Bond Enforcement Agent."

You would have thought Steph had said she was joining the circus by looking at her mother's face.

"That is not a woman's job!" Helen huffed out. "None of my friends' daughters haul in criminals for a living. Why me?!"

"I guess you just have the privilege of having an amazing daughter, Mrs. Plum," I cut in. I could see Steph's hurt feelings over her mom's reaction.

But…what if she gets hurt?" Helen asked.

"You know good and well that she's been trained and can handle herself," Frank reminded his wife.

"And we'll make sure she's safe," I assured her.

"Well, I suppose if you guys will all look after her," Helen acquiesced.

"Will you call Vinnie, Dad?" Steph asked.

"First thing in the morning."