Binkie sat beside Stephanie or Julie on several rides at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Stephanie got bummed when Ranger refused to go on another spin-type ride. Binkie didn't think twice about joining Stephanie on the rides. Spending the week at the parks took his mind off Brad and Yvette, until they returned to the hotel each night.
Stephanie missed Lester, Ranger and Julie from the second they left. However, she got to spend some alone time with Ranger to satiate her sexual urges the night before he returned Julie to Miami. Julie kept asking when Ranger would pop the question. Marriage no longer scared Stephanie. She would only marry for love, not convenience. Stephanie would marry Ranger if he asked. But she knew it would never happen.
Edna was too tired to travel for the following week. Stephanie wanted to wallow in self-pity but decided to run searches for Rangeman. She kept busy until Edna chomped at the bit to leave the hotel room. "I'm going crazy. Can we get out of here?" Edna asked.
Stephanie smiled at her grandma, then replied, "Let me finish writing my report, then we can get Binkie." Edna nodded and went to get changed. Stephanie tried not to laugh when Edna returned wearing a one-piece romper. A belt was tied around her waist. She would have to practically undress to use the washroom.
"Hey, Binkie, are you ready?" Edna asked after knocking on his door. "I've got a diaper on." Stephanie shivered. Ew. It was too much information.
Binkie exited his hotel room. Stephanie noticed he had the blanket in his hand. Her heart ached for the sad Merry Man. She hoped her story would help, but it didn't seem to have the effect she expected. Getting Binkie to move past his grief would prove harder to accomplish. Maybe it would help after they celebrated Cinco de Mayo.
"You can't bring the blanket," Edna said.
"Why not? I never leave without it," Binkie asked.
Stephanie had a sudden moment of inspiration. The men always carried a handkerchief as part of their uniform. What if she cut a piece off the blanket to make a handkerchief for Binkie to carry, instead of taking the entire blanket? She could get her grandma to embroider his son's name and birthdate on the fabric. "Binkie, I have an idea," Stephanie said, then explained in detail what they should do.
Edna grinned. "We can visit the hotel shop. They have blue lace, thread and needles inside a travel case. Why don't we make one for Brad and Yvette? We'll add the lace to Yvette's?" Edna asked.
Binkie fingered the blanket. He thought about Stephanie's idea, then passed Edna the fabric. "I love the idea. Please, make the handkerchiefs for me. But I want to keep some of the blanket intact," Binkie said.
"Stephie and I will do as you wish. But might I suggest something for the remaining fabric?" Edna asked. Binkie shrugged. He wanted to hear what Edna recommended before kiboshing the idea. Binkie thought Edna's suggestion for the remaining fabric was the perfect way to honour his wife and son. Progress.
They left the hotel to visit a local consignment shop. Stephanie purchased baby and toddler clothes for a boy. Binkie helped her select items similar to what Brad wore. She laughed when she found a onesie that said, "Papa's mini-me." Edna found another one that said, "My momma is an angel." Binkie wiped a tear from his eye. "Those are perfect," he whispered.
After selecting enough fabric, Stephanie called Ranger to send them quilt batting and embroidery rings. "Babe?" Ranger asked.
"Get Ella to pick up quilt batting, embroidery rings, thread, sewing needles and thimbles. Make sure she gets one big enough for Binkie's thumb, too," Stephanie repeated. Ranger shook his head as he wrote the shopping list for Ella.
"Do you need a sewing machine?" Ranger joked.
"No. We're doing this by hand. I know it will take a few weeks, but we still have another three weeks before Cinco de Mayo. Hopefully, we can finish it in time," Stephanie replied.
Ranger was amused. He couldn't believe Stephanie was willing to stitch a quilt by hand for Binkie. "Send me a picture when it's done," he said.
"Will do, boss," Stephanie sassed, then hung up. Ranger looked at his phone in shock. Stephanie never ended a call without saying goodbye.
Binkie couldn't believe sewing fabric squares together was therapeutic. He expected to get bored within the first few days. Concentrating on sewing even stitches kept his mind off Yvette and Bradley. As they sewed, Stephanie and Edna kept up the conversation. He learned more about Stephanie as a child. Binkie realized talking about his wife and son helped.
A thought entered his mind, and he needed to understand Stephanie's actions. "I know you were dating Joe Morelli off and over over the past few years. I want to know why you continued the pattern for so long?" Binkie asked.
"Because I didn't deserve better," Stephanie confessed. "I married Dickie when my mom practically forced me. With Joe, he was someone I had known since we were children. Our lives got entwined since that fated choo-choo incident when I was six. Despite my resistance, my mom wanted me to marry a man from the Burg. Joe and I agreed to share the blame for what happened in the Tasty Pastry. He would never forgive me if he learned about Savannah or Frankie. I never forgave myself for losing my son." Stephanie lifted her left hand to wipe the tears off her face. "Sorry. I still get emotional when I think about Frankie."
"Does it ever go away?" Binkie sadly asked.
"Never, but I didn't exactly face it either. I ran away like always. The memories got pushed deep inside my mind, threatening to bust through the barriers of the vault where I stored them. Maybe helping you would help me," Stephanie replied. "No more hiding. No more suppressing the loss. No more bottling our emotions inside. It's time we reclaimed our lives."
"Truer words have never been spoken," Edna added. "How could you expect a happy future if you can't forgive yourself for the sins of your past." Edna felt it applied to Stephanie as much as Binkie. She passed Binkie the swatch of fabric. Binkie felt his eyes fill with tears when he read his late wife's name, birthdate and death date embroidered on the angel. The script was tiny, but Binkie had no problems reading them.
"Thank you, Edna," Binkie whispered. Edna hugged Binkie, then continued to embroider names and dates on the fabric squares.
"Keep your heart open for love," Edna replied.
Binkie and Stephanie had organized the fabric on the table before meticulously stitching them together. He worked on one side of the quilt as she stitched the other. Edna occasionally checked the stitches, correcting their work when needed.
"It doesn't have to be perfect, Edna. I plan to hang it on my apartment wall," Binkie said. Edna grinned, then cut pieces of lace to create loops to sew into the quilt trim.
For three weeks, Stephanie, Binkie and Edna worked on the blanket. They took a few days to explore the city and the local beaches. Slowly, Binkie's heart started to heal. He didn't wake up during the night in search of his son. The blanket he used as a crutch wasn't hidden beneath his pillow. Binkie carried the handmade handkerchiefs in his pocket.
With the last piece of Brad's baby blanket, Binkie carefully stitched a pillow for Stephanie. It was only a six-inch square with the back covered in pink. He embroidered Frankie's initials on one side and Savannah's on the other. It was his way of thanking Stephanie for helping ease the pain in his heart. Binkie would never stop loving his wife and son, but he could make it through the days without the crippling pain caused by grief.
"I have a gift for you," Binkie said on May 5th. Stephanie attempted to raise one eyebrow but raised both. Binkie smiled, then gave her the gift bag.
She removed the tissue-wrapped item and slowly opened the gift. Tears streamed down her face as her fingers moved across the raised letters. "You made this for me?" Stephanie asked.
"Yes. I did everything myself," Binkie replied. Stephanie threw her arms around Binkie and held on tight. She knew her pillow contained the fabric from Brad's blanket. The symbolism wasn't lost on her. Binkie was letting go.
"I'm proud of you, Scott Bradley Banner," Stephanie whispered.
"Me too," he replied. Binkie kissed Stephanie's cheek. "I thought Ranger was off his rocker when he assigned me to accompany you to LA. Now, I can see the mastery in his thoughts. You are the salve to heal my broken heart."
"No, Binkie, I'm not. You talked about your son and wife over the past few weeks. It was your bravery to face your grief and find a way to love them without feeling the pain. After I gave Savannah to my cousin, my grandma Edna told me that even though there are days you wish to change what happened in the past, there's a reason the rear view mirror is so small and the windshield is so big. Where you're headed is much more important than what you've left behind," Stephanie said.
"Profound words," Binkie replied.
"They are. Come on, I can hear grandma getting impatient." Binkie pulled Stephanie to her feet, then hugged her again.
The trio arrived at the Cinco de Mayo celebration after the parade. Binkie rented a wheelchair for Edna in case she got tired of standing. They drank and danced in the streets. Binkie had a fun time with Stephanie and Edna. For the first time in years, Binkie felt at peace.
"Scotty?" a woman shouted. Binkie looked around, trying to find the woman calling his name. Stephanie grabbed Binkie's face to point him in the right direction.
A beautiful blonde woman waved, attempting to grab his attention. "Tiffany?" Binkie asked, surprised. His best friend throughout grade school pushed through the crowd to get to his side.
"Hey, Scotty. How are you?" Tiffany timidly asked. She was afraid he would yell at her again. Her blue eyes displayed slight fear. Binkie wanted to ease his friend's worries.
"Much better. Hey, I'm sorry for how I reacted at Yvette's funeral. I didn't mean it," he apologized.
"No harm done, Scott. You lost your wife. Getting angry is expected," she said. Tiffany looked into his eyes. She saw the pain in its depths. Tiffany gently touched his arm. "I heard about your son. I'm sorry," she quietly said.
"Thanks, Tiff. I miss him," he confessed.
"I'm surprised you returned here. Are you here alone?" Tiffany loved Scott Banner for as long as she could remember. When he met Yvette, Tiffany thought she had lost him forever. Her ex-boyfriend, Jim Ambler, was Binkie's best friend. They went to Cinco de Mayo to blow off steam after writing gruelling college exams. Tiffany only dated Jim because Scott didn't seem interested in dating her.
"I had to come here. My friend, Stephanie and her grandmother, Edna, are with me today," he pointed to the curly brunette and the exhausted-looking woman sitting in the wheelchair.
Tiffany leaned close enough to whisper, "Is she your girlfriend?"
"No. Stephanie is in love with my boss but refuses to admit it," he replied, unaware that Stephanie had heard him. Stephanie smacked the back of Binkie's head, making him and Tiffany laugh.
"Hi. I'm Stephanie," she interjected, extending her hand toward Tiffany. Stephanie noticed the tension rolling off Binkie and Tiffany. After wiping her sweaty palm on her pants, she shook Stephanie's hand.
"I'm Tiffany. I've known Scotty since kindergarten," Tiffany replied.
"Oh. I bet you have some stories to share," Stephanie said as her eyes sparkled. She linked her arm with Tiffany, then pulled her away to get the scoop on Scotty. "What are your intentions?" Stephanie asked when they got far enough for Binkie not to overhear.
"Listen, Stephanie. I've been in love with Scott for my entire life. He never gave me the time of day. We were best friends until he met his wife, Yvette. After he yelled at me during her funeral, I lost touch," Tiffany explained.
"I can tell Binkie, I mean, Scott, likes you. He's just facing his loss. Scott needs time to move past the grief. I can see he's finally letting go, but he is not ready to jump into a new relationship," Stephanie said in an effort to protect her friend.
"You're acting like a protective older sister," Tiffany said, smiling. "I'm happy he has you as a friend. I don't want anything from Scott. Just to rekindle our friendship. That's all. I don't even know where he lives or have his phone number."
"Give me your number. I'll pass it along to Scott," Stephanie said. Tiffany opened her wallet to grab a business card. Stephanie grinned when she read where Tiffany worked. "Wow. This can be fun. Did you know Scott works for Rangeman in Trenton?"
"Are you serious? My company uses Rangeman for security," Tiffany replied. She was shocked Scott lived fairly close to her.
"Yup. He started working there around two years ago. Seriously, Tiff. Give Scott time to heal. When I return to Trenton, we could hang out a few times. I'll be sure to invite Binkie. I mean Scott," Stephanie said.
Tiffany looked at Stephanie with scrutiny. She wondered why Stephanie kept calling Scott, Binkie. Tiffany was shocked when Stephanie told her about the baby blanket and the army. Stephanie, however, never shared the rest of the story. It was for Binkie to share when he was ready. Tiffany felt sad for her longtime friend. "What can I do?" Tiffany finally asked.
"Be his friend," Stephanie replied, then returned to Binkie and Edna. Tiffany stared after the attractive brunette, wondering if Stephanie knew more than she let on.
Binkie watched Stephanie talk to Tiffany. He wondered what Stephanie was saying. "She won't betray your trust, Binkie," Edna said from her wheelchair.
"I know. Did you know Tiffany was the first girl I loved?"
"Why didn't you date her?" Edna asked, correctly assuming that Binkie didn't date the girl.
"We were best friends since kindergarten. I didn't want to ruin our friendship if our relationship didn't work out," Binkie confessed. "Then I met Yvette. I never gave Tiffany a second thought."
"It's never too late to make right a wrong. You were destined to meet Yvette and hold your precious son as he joined his mother in heaven. Everything happens for a reason. You had to wade through the trenches to safety on the other side. Open your heart to love. One day, you'll find your soulmate," Edna wisely said.
"Yvette was my soulmate," Binkie argued.
"I disagree," Edna replied without explaining. It was something Binkie would have to think about later.
Ranger filtered through the photographs from Edna Mazur. He smiled when he saw Stephanie's head tilted back in laughter. Dios, he missed her. Binkie looked as though a huge burden got lifted off his shoulders. "I'm proud of you, Babe," he whispered as his fingers traced her image in the picture.
The following morning, Ranger made his way to the bonds office to pick up the files from Vinnie. After Joyce messed up collecting her FTAs, Vinnie gave the identical files to Ranger. He would haul the scofflaws back to the TPD when Joyce's attempts failed. It made minimal money for Rangeman, but he wanted to keep the opportunity open for Stephanie to return as a BEA. Ranger secretly hoped she would work full-time at Rangeman.
"Hey, sexy," Joyce said when Ranger entered the building.
"I thought I smelled sulphur," Ranger said, using Stephanie's line.
Joyce rolled her eyes in the typical Burg style. "I can change that, you know. Give me a few hours to show you how much I can satisfy you," Joyce purred.
"Pass," Ranger said. He grabbed the files from Connie, then left. Ranger shook off Joyce before climbing into his Porsche 911 turbo.
"But I could help you with distractions," Joyce whined.
"No. Not even if you were the last woman on earth," Ranger said, then drove away, leaving Joyce Barnhardt standing on the sidewalk with her mouth agape.
Lula and Connie were staring outside at Joyce. "Huh. She could make a killing on Stark St with that mouth," Lula said. "Men pay a premium for women with detachable jaws."
Connie gasped before she started laughing. Lula snorted before falling onto the couch. They laughed until Lula announced that she had to use the washroom.
Outside, Joyce was staring down the road as Ranger's car disappeared in the traffic. Joyce was at a loss for what to do. How was she supposed to tell Helen that she had failed again? She stomped her foot before getting into her car.