It was mid-January when Edna's passport arrived. She could finally plan the bucket list trips with Stephanie. Edna logged onto the internet to check flight availabilities and destinations on her bucket list. She knew Mardi Gras was in February on shrove Tuesday. Helen would not like Edna leaving before Easter. But it was time to put the plan in motion.

"Yo," Stephanie answered her cell phone without checking the caller ID.

"Stephie, my passport arrived today," Edna announced.

"That's great. When do you want to start crossing off items?" Stephanie asked.

"As soon as possible." Edna didn't want to waste a single minute. Stephanie's fingers tapped away on the keyboard as she checked flights leaving within a few days. Stephanie checked the list to see who would escort them to New Orleans. Bobby Brown.

"The earliest we can leave is the end of January," Stephanie said. "It's the only time they have three seats available on the flight. We're bringing an escort."

Edna wondered which sexy Rangeman got recruited to accompany them on the journey. "Book the flights," Edna replied. She waited for the keyboard to stop clacking.

"Okay. You, Bobby and I are leaving on January 29th for New Orleans." Edna grinned. She liked Bobby Brown, the Rangeman medic. Edna ended the call to prepare for their trip. They only had ten days before catching their flight. She contacted Hector to collect her passport and other IDs. Edna didn't trust Helen to not hide them from her.

Helen watched her mother like a hawk. She knew Edna's passport should arrive soon. Every day, Helen would check the mail. Helen would set aside the bills and toss the junk mail. Each day the passport didn't arrive was another day Helen got to keep her mother home. Helen entered the kitchen to prepare lunch. She smiled as she considered hiding her mother's passport and other IDs. The doorbell ringing interrupted her thoughts. "Can you get that, mother?" Helen called from the kitchen.

Edna grabbed the envelope before answering the door. "Hola," she quietly said. "Take these. I don't trust Helen."

"Si," Hector replied. He put the envelope in his pocket. "I'll keep them safe." Hector kissed Edna's cheek. He was shocked that Edna didn't grab his ass or crotch. Maybe her diagnosis got her to stop. Hector shrugged, then returned to his car.

"Who was at the door?" Helen asked.

"Stephanie's friend, Hector," Edna replied. "He was picking up a few things for Stephanie."

"Okay. Lunch will be ready in fifteen minutes. You should get cleaned up." Helen watched her mother climb the stairs. When Helen was confident that she wouldn't get caught, she went through her mother's purse to grab her ID. Where is it? The social security, age of majority and Medicare cards were missing. Did she get her passport?

"What are you doing?" Frank asked, catching Helen searching several purses. Helen wasn't aware he was home.

"I'm trying to find mother's identification. None of it's here," Helen confessed. "We have to stop the ridiculous trip."

"No, Helen. We don't. Edna needs this vacation as much as Stephanie," he replied.

"I'd like to see her fly to the UK without her passport," Helen smugly said. "I'll snatch it the day it arrives."

"Edna got her passport," Frank replied. "I personally delivered it to her this morning." Helen gave Frank a Burg-worthy glare. He laughed and shrugged it off. "I'm not going to step aside and watch you steamroller your mother. She has a right to live her life as she sees fit. If travelling the world makes her final days enjoyable, we have no right to stop her. Helen, let your mother do this for herself. Stephanie will keep an eye on her."

"I know you're right, but I'm having a hard time letting go," Helen confessed. She wiped a tear from her face, then returned to the kitchen to finish making roast beef sandwiches. Frank understood why Helen would stop her mother from travelling. There wasn't a day that passed when Frank wished for one more day with his parents. He never got the chance to say goodbye. They died in a plane crash while he was deployed. It may have happened twenty years earlier, but his heart still ached.

~~~~~~~~~~

Stephanie printed the receipt for the flights. She maxed out her credit card from the purchase. "Babe," Ranger said as she collected the paper from the printer.

"Ranger," she replied. He quirked an eyebrow as his lip twitched in amusement. "Bobby, grandma and I leave at the end of the month." She passed the receipt to Ranger.

"I'll have accounting pay off your credit card," he said. Ranger held up his hand when Stephanie made to protest. "No price, Babe." Stephanie knew it was pointless to argue.

"Rangeman shouldn't be financing our trips," she grumbled. Ranger pulled Stephanie against him and kissed her senseless. They only separated when they ran out of air. Stephanie's breaths were shallow. She attempted to draw more oxygen through her mouth to ease the dizziness caused by the kiss.

Ranger rested his forehead against hers. "Babe, I'm going to miss you," he whispered.

"I'll miss you too, but we still have ten days," she breathily replied. Ranger ran his finger down Stephanie's cheek before tucking a curl behind her ear. "What are we doing?"

"I don't know, but I'm unable to stop. I don't want to stop." Stephanie agreed. "But I also can't paint a target on your back by getting involved with you." She didn't want to stop whatever was happening between them. Stephanie wanted to scream that she was already a target. Edward Scrog was her proof.

Ranger lightly kissed Stephanie's lips before taking a step back. He took a few cleansing breaths before saying, "Stephanie, every Rangeman employee heard what you're doing for your grandmother. Each branch took a collection to add to the trip finances. Neither you nor your grandma would be required to pay a cent out of your bank accounts."

"Why?" Stephanie asked. Her voice was thick with emotions. Stephanie barely knew the men at the other branches. Why would they contribute to the trip?

"Because you're doing something special for your grandmother regardless of your financial situation. You're willing to lose everything to make her last few years memorable. The men want you and your grandma to enjoy the time together without worrying about how or who would pay for the next leg of the journey. I don't have to pay the men to accompany you either," he explained.

What? The men volunteered their time to escort them? Are they crazy? They deserve at least hazard pay if her grandmother pinched their ass or grabbed their crotch. How will they pay the bills? Stephanie had many questions running through her mind. "Huh?" she asked when Ranger tipped her chin to look into her eyes.

"Babe, the men are doing this for you. None of them want you to worry about anything other than enjoying yourselves." Ranger cupped Stephanie's face between his hands. She felt the electricity buzzing through her body. His thumbs brushed the tears off her face. Ranger kissed each eye before pressing his lips her hers for a gentle kiss. "Please," he begged.

Stephanie looked deep into his eyes before saying, "Okay." She excused herself to return to work. Ranger watched Stephanie's hips sway as she returned to her desk.

Tank stood beside Ranger as they watched Stephanie walk away. "Her pants are too tight," Tank jokingly said.

"I'd ask her to wear boy shorts, but I'm afraid the men would take that as an open invitation to touch the forbidden fruit," Ranger replied. "She leaves in ten days."

"What are we going to do without her in the office?" Tank wondered.

"The men would have to run their own searches," Ranger answered. Tank grinned at his friend. He and Ranger were guilty of sending their research requests to Stephanie. "She's taking a Rangeman laptop."

"Security?"

"Hard drive would erase itself if anyone attempts to hack into the device."

Tank nodded, pleased by Ranger's reply, then returned to his desk. He thought about his pending trip to see Burning Man. Curiosity got him googling the event to see when it occurred during the year. He released a breath. Tank had until the end of August before he was required to join the women. The earliest he'd join the women would be August 1st. He wondered where they would be when he got to meet up with them.

~~~~~~~~~~

The days leading up to the flight departure were busy and emotionally draining for Stephanie. She had Ranger rent a hotel room close to the airport for her and Edna. Stephanie barely slept because her grandmother's snores kept her awake. She climbed from bed to shower.

As the hot water cascaded down her body, Stephanie cried. Her mother, Helen, tried to have Stephanie arrested for kidnapping. Helen claimed Stephanie was taking Edna against her will. She pressed her panic button to get Ranger and Rangeman's lawyer to prevent the arrest.

How could her mother do that to her? Helen had even called Joe Morelli to assist. Stephanie thought her mother couldn't stoop any lower, but she had. Joe cuffed Stephanie, then tossed her over his shoulder. Ranger and Lester arrived in time to rescue Stephanie from Joe.

Stephanie let the hot water spray over her face. She rinsed the conditioner from her hair, then turned off the water. Stephanie left the shower and wrapped a towel around her body. She used a second towel to dry her hair. There wasn't enough time to use the hairdryer.

"Are you done in there, Stephie? I have to empty my bladder," Edna asked. Stephanie opened the door to exit the washroom.

"Sorry for taking so long, grandma. I lost track of time," Stephanie confessed.

"We have to leave soon. You should get dressed. Our ride should be here soon," Edna reminded her. Stephanie checked the time on the alarm clock. She only had fifteen minutes before Bobby and Lester arrived.

Stephanie pulled on jeans and a shirt over her black bra and panties. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail before pulling on her shoes. Stephanie and Edna decided to travel light. They had basic outfits with them and planned to purchase clothing as required. It was one of Ranger's brilliant ideas. She had Ranger's black Amex card for shopping.

Edna bounded from the bathroom. She rushed past Stephanie to pull on her shoes. There were a few inches of snow on the ground, but neither Stephanie nor Edna wanted to wear the clunky boots. "I'm excited," Edna squealed. Stephanie smiled at her grandmother. After packing her clothes, Stephanie zipped the suitcase, then moved it to the door. She grabbed her grandmother's suitcase and placed it beside hers.

When they put on their jackets, someone knocked on the door. Stephanie cautiously opened the door. "Beautiful," Lester said when he saw her. Stephanie let Lester pull her into his arms. He kissed her forehead. "Are you ladies ready to go?"

"I sure am," Edna announced. She was excited to see the world. Lester grinned as he offered Edna his arm. Stephanie grabbed the bags while Lester held onto Edna. "Ain't this a pip?"

"Yup, grandma. It sure is," Stephanie replied.

When the trio exited the hotel, Bobby hopped out of the SUV to grab the luggage from Stephanie. He placed it in the back with his black duffle. Bobby opened the back door for Stephanie to climb in before Edna. Once the two women buckled into their seats, Lester drove toward Newark airport.

"How is Albert doing on the job?" Stephanie asked.

"Remarkably well," Lester replied. "He's a shark."

"Al stood up to Woody for making fun of his last name," Bobby replied.

"Wow. Did Woody wipe the floor with him?" Stephanie asked.

"Surprisingly, no. Woody said, "All you had to say was stop. You didn't have to swipe my feet from beneath me." I was shocked Al could bring Woody to the ground. They're sparring partners now," Bobby proudly replied. "Lester's been teaching him self-defence." Stephanie wanted to laugh at Albert's bravado, but she couldn't. She was proud of her brother-in-law.

"Good for him," Edna said. "It's about time he learned to stand up for himself." Stephanie couldn't agree more. "Does Valerie and Helen know where Kloughn works?" Edna asked. Stephanie was curious to know the answer too.

"Valerie does, but not Helen," Lester replied. "Al wants to pass his qualifiers before dropping that bomb."

"Wait. I thought the lawyers didn't need to follow the same restrictions as the others," Stephanie said, narrowing her eyes at Lester.

"That was all Al, man. He wanted to get into shape to protect his girls. How could I not support that? I'm proud of the dude," Lester said. Stephanie watched Lester's eyes in the rearview mirror.

There was a reason Lester took Al under his wing. Stephanie wanted to know more about the story. What was Lester hiding? Who is Lester really helping? Al or himself? Stephanie hoped to learn the answers to those questions. She was embarking on a journey to learn more about the men she worked with and herself. At the moment, she was clueless.

Bobby, Stephanie and Edna cleared security. They walked to the terminal to catch their flight. "Don't we have to pick up the boarding passes?" Stephanie asked.

"No. I picked the tickets up earlier," Bobby replied. Stephanie was relieved since the line at the ticket counter was long. Bobby guided the women to the first class section before Stephanie sat in the area designated for coach and economy class. "Ranger upgraded the tickets to first class."

"Hot damn," Edna shouted. "I always wanted to travel in those posh seats." Stephanie giggled while Bobby shook his head.

"It's too much money," Stephanie whispered to Bobby when he sat beside her. He shook his head and assured Stephanie it wasn't a hardship. They had more than enough money to travel in style.

Three hours and fifteen minutes after takeoff, the plane landed at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Bobby guided Edna from the terminal while Stephanie followed close behind. Stephanie had noticed Bobby getting anxious as they got closer to New Orleans. She wondered what bothered him about the destination.

Edna and Stephanie patiently waited for their luggage as Bobby grabbed the keys to the rental car. He arrived in time for Stephanie to pull the suitcases off the carousel. Bobby slung the strap for his duffle over his shoulder and pulled the luggage behind him. Stephanie shook her head at Bobby. He wouldn't let her help.

Bobby drove to the Sheraton Hotel located in the French Quarter. He stopped out front long enough for Stephanie and Edna to exit the car. Edna held Stephanie's arm as they entered the hotel lobby. "Holy shit," Stephanie said. She looked around the open space. Floor to ceiling windows let the natural light illuminate the room.

A gazebo like structure sat in the centre of the lobby. "What's that?" Edna asked, pointing to the domed fixture.

"It's a bar, grandma. Can you see the countertop and bar stools surrounding it?" Stephanie said.

"I see it now," Edna replied. They waited for Bobby to arrive with the luggage. He had the hotel voucher and reservations. Stephanie and Edna walked toward the fountain. A set of steps on the left and right led to an area to sit and enjoy the view. Several comfortable looking chairs and a couch separated by a coffee table were on the left, while a table with high bar chairs was in front of the window. They had a small garden to the right. "Breathtaking," Edna said.

"The square tables with candles make it feel more intimate," Stephanie said, pointing to the row of tables beside the bar. Edna nodded in agreement. Before the women could continue exploring the lobby, Bobby arrived.

"I've got the keys to our suite," he announced. Stephanie and Edna followed Bobby to the elevator. He pressed the button for the top floor. When researching New Orleans, Stephanie discovered the top-floor suites were expensive. Bobby unlocked the door, then placed the suitcases inside the room with two double beds. "We were lucky to get this suite. The hotel had a last-minute cancellation."

"Wow," Stephanie said as she looked around the room. There was a dining room table beside the windows where you could eat and enjoy the view. A large screen TV was on the wall between the two doors for the bedrooms. There was a sectional sofa and two armchairs arranged to view the television. The coffee table was oval with a glass top. Stephanie had never seen a more beautiful hotel suite.

"I'm going to lie down for a few hours," Edna said. She left Bobby and Stephanie in the main room of the hotel suite, while she selected the bed farthest from the door.