Cal sat in his Rangeman apartment nursing a beer. He knew Lester and his entourage would appear at his door any minute. Like Zip, he took a preemptive strike. Cal ordered food to arrive with his friends. He checked his watch, then opened the door as Lester prepared to knock.
Woody, Bobby, Lester, Tank and Binkie entered Cal's apartment, carrying the food and beer Cal ordered. "We covered the tab," Binkie announced. Cal nodded. He made a mental note to pay it forward. They would get offended if he attempted to reimburse them.
"Tank, when did you and Santos get back?" Cal asked. "Don't you have cats to feed?"
"An hour ago," he replied. "Ella fed my cats." Cal knew what they were doing at his apartment, but he wanted them to go away.
"We're here for a wellness check," Lester added.
"I thought you'd still be gone," Cal confessed. Lester laughed and assured Cal he wouldn't get off that easy. "One could only hope."
"Our debrief didn't take long. Thanks to Stephanie, we had all the evidence we needed before the sting operation. I can't believe she put everything together and traced it back to Tank's FUBAR mission from six years ago," Lester replied.
Cal looked at Tank for confirmation. "Little Girl researched the sneaky FBI agent. I'm not sure how she did it, but she managed to find a link between him and that disastrous mission. He was wise to fly under the radar as he did."
"Stephanie suggested how to trap him. He thought he could get away with murder, but he was no match for our Bombshell," Lester added. "We need her at Rangeman full-time."
"She signed the contract," Binkie said. Lester was on the core team though he was unaware Stephanie agreed to work at Rangeman. He glanced at Tank, who nodded.
"Once Stephanie completes her mission with Edna, she'll be at Rangeman every day," Woody said.
"So, why did Ranger recommend I go on the cruise with Edna and Stephanie?" Cal asked.
"You are a Navy SEAL," Woody replied. Cal raised an eyebrow. There had to be more to the story.
"I want to know how Edna managed to select the specific bucket list items to help us heal," Binkie wondered. "Is Edna psychic?"
"Ranger watched our body language when we read the bucket list," Tank replied. "He made a note of when each of us flinched." Cal didn't fall for Tank's explanation.
"But Ranger pulled us into the room without knowing beforehand how we would react," Cal argued. Everyone admitted Cal had a point. How did Ranger know to select those men? Cal promised the others to determine if Ranger and Edna were in cahoots before the journey commenced. "Did any of you ask Edna?" Cal challenged.
Binkie, Woody, Tank and Bobby shook their heads. They never considered asking Edna how she knew. "We were too caught up with the fear of facing our demons. I'm curious to know," Binkie replied. Cal leaned back on the couch. He stared at the ceiling for a few seconds. Without uttering a word, he agreed to ask Edna.
"Are you going to share your story with Stephanie and Edna?" Binkie asked.
"Not if I can help it," Cal replied honestly.
"We think you should," Woody said. "You just might learn something about yourself." Bobby, Tank and Binkie agreed. Binkie's phone chimed a second before Bobby received a message.
Tiffany Eldridge and Binkie started dating a few weeks after he returned to Trenton. Their relationship was going strong. Binkie still missed his wife and son, but he had a promising future with Tiffany.
"Is she back yet?" Tiffany asked.
"No. Stephanie should be home when her birthday rolls around," Binkie replied. "Is something wrong?"
She wiped a tear off her face. "I need her advice. Stephanie and I have been maintaining contact. She's the nicest woman I know."
Binkie reassured Tiffany that she could call Stephanie. "Here, use my phone. She'll answer the call."
"I know she would, but I don't want to interfere with Stephanie spending time with her grandmother," Tiffany explained. After a few minutes, Binkie convinced Tiffany to call Stephanie.
"Yo," Stephanie answered, smiling. She wondered if Tiffany would tell her some important news.
"Binks, do you mind giving me a few minutes of privacy?" Tiffany asked. Stephanie grinned. She could hardly wait until Tiffany shared the news.
"Whatever you have to say, just spit it out," Stephanie said.
Tiffany whispered, "I'm pregnant." She held the phone away from her ear as Stephanie shrieked.
"You have to tell Binkie," Stephanie said. "He deserves to know. Or is he not the father? Because if that's true, I'm going to kick your pregnant ass."
"He's the father, so store your twitching fists," Tiffany said, laughing. "I'm worried he'll become overly protective."
"Ah. You're not Yvette. Not all women die during childbirth," Stephanie reminded her. "Maybe you should schedule a c-section?"
"Not likely," Tiffany replied. "Do you mind staying on the line while I tell him the news?" Stephanie agreed. She heard Tiffany timidly tell Binkie about the pregnancy.
"You have given me a second chance," Binkie said. He grabbed her phone. "Steph? Did you hear? I'm going to be a dad."
Stephanie giggled. "Yes, Binkie, I heard. She's afraid you'll relapse."
"I'll talk to my therapist. He'll help me with those issues," Binkie said. "You're on speaker."
"Congratulations, Tiffany and Binkie. I can't wait to see your baby," Stephanie said. They exchanged a few more words before hanging up.
Binkie wrapped his arms around Tiffany, pulling her back against his chest. He placed his hand protectively on her abdomen. Tiffany leaned into his embrace. "Are you happy?" she quietly asked.
"Ecstatic." Binkie turned her around to look into her eyes. "I want to marry you. Not because of the baby, but because I love you."
"I love you too, Binks," she reciprocated. "We can get married whenever you want."
"Next week," he replied, causing Tiffany to laugh.
"It's a date."
~~~~~~~~~~
Bobby met Stacy at her house. He used his key to unlock the door. "Hey, baby," Bobby called.
"Hey, sexy," Stacy replied. "Did Cal appreciate the wellness check?" Stacy hugged her man, then lightly kissed him.
"Nope," he answered, making Stacy giggle. "None of the guys like it, but they certainly anticipate the visit. Cal ordered Thai food."
"I assume Lester is still leading the charge?" Stacy joked. "How will he react when it's his turn?"
"Who knows?" Bobby replied. "I'm wondering how he knows about the guys' pasts. We never discuss the events causing our nightmares."
"Was he a psychology major in college?" Stacy asked. Bobby shook his head. "Hmm. I wonder if his demon is the root of his concern for the guys."
Bobby never considered that option before. He knew Santos experienced his hell before joining the Army. Santos never discussed it with his comrades. Bobby wondered what kept Santos awake at night.
"Stop overanalyzing everything, Bobby. You'll learn everything once Lester is willing to share. Anyway, I want to tell you something important," Stacy said. She pushed him onto the couch, then went into her bathroom. When she returned a few minutes later, she handed Bobby a wrapped box. "I know it's Christmas wrapping paper, but it's all I had on hand."
His hands shook as he tugged the ribbon holding the wrapping paper in place. Bobby's chin dropped to his chest as he removed the item from the box. "Does this mean?" he asked, unable to finish his question.
"Yes, Bobby. We're having a baby. I'm three months late," she replied. He suspected Stacy was pregnant but brushed the thought aside when she never said anything. "The doctor confirmed it earlier today. I have something else for you." Stacy grabbed her purse to remove the paper with the sonogram image. "I want you to come with me to my appointment next month. The doctor should be able to determine the gender."
Tears rolled down Bobby's face as he looked at his baby. "I never thought this day would come," he confessed. Bobby felt Stacy wipe the tears off his cheeks using her thumbs.
"I never expected my birth control to fail." Stacy had worried herself sick for a few months, wondering how Bobby would react to the news. Her doctor got her to pee on the pregnancy test before declining to administer the next dosage of the birth control shot. "The doctor reassured me the injection would not affect the fetus."
"It could affect its birth weight and increase the likelihood of preterm birth," Bobby knowingly said.
"That's what she told me too. I'm glad it didn't cause an ectopic pregnancy," Stacy added. "Are you okay with this?" Stacy rubbed her abdomen.
Bobby lifted her shirt and pulled her lounge pants down a few inches. He saw the small protrusion between Stacy's hips. "I'm more than okay," he replied, then kissed her stomach. "It means I'm benched from field duty unless I act as a medic."
"I'm sorry for not telling you before, but I wasn't sure if my symptoms were from pregnancy or reacting to the injection," Stacy said.
"None of that matters, my love. We're having a baby, and I couldn't be happier." Bobby thought for a few minutes, then added, "Well, actually, that's not entirely true. I would be happier if you agreed to marry me."
"No. I'm not marrying you because of the baby," Stacy said, moving away from him.
Bobby pulled something from his pocket. He held it in front of Stacy's face. "I was planning to do this tomorrow after taking you to dinner. Now seems to be the perfect time."
"You were going to propose tomorrow?"
"Yes," Bobby replied. Stacy shook her head, not believing his words. He removed the phone from his pocket and dialled a number after putting the call on speaker.
"Yo. Is something going on in Trenton?" Stephanie asked. Bobby was the third person to call her within the past fifteen minutes.
"Not that I'm aware of. Steph, can you tell Stacy about our conversation earlier today?" Bobby asked.
"Sure. Stacy, Bobby called to ask where he should take you to dinner tomorrow night. I recommended Portobello Italiano since you love their food. He wanted to propose during dinner, but I said you would prefer a more intimate setting. I told him to give Ella a key to your house so she could decorate it with flowers and prepare dinner while you're at work. Bobby was going to hang the ring on his stethoscope, which would be around his neck. I did not need to know you had a fetish for medical men. Bobby, I'm telling you again that it was too much information," Stephanie replied. "Did I cover all the bases, Bobby?"
"You most certainly have," Bobby replied.
"So he was going to ask me to marry him anyway? It's not because of our baby?" Stacy asked.
"Bobby, you need to have someone check the water in Trenton," Stephanie joked. "Stacy, Bobby is head over heels in love with you. If he hasn't told you that before, smack the back of his head for me. Now, quit stalling and tell Bobby that you'll marry him." Stephanie hung up without waiting for an answer. It was a private moment for Bobby and Stacy. She didn't need to be the third wheel.
"Who else is pregnant?" Stacy asked. Bobby shrugged. He wanted to know Stacy's answer to his proposal. Stacy rolled her eyes and gently pulled the ring from between Bobby's thumb and index finger. She pushed it onto the ring finger of her left hand. "Yes, Bobby. I will marry you. Name the date and time, and I'll be there."
"Do you want a fancy wedding?" She shook her head. "Justice of the peace it is," Bobby replied. "The earliest we can get married is next week."
"As I said, name the date and time. We'll apply for our marriage license on Monday morning." Bobby could hardly wait. He carried Stacy to bed and made love to his fiancée.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Why are you grinning?" Edna asked her granddaughter. Edna sat beside Stephanie on the couch.
"Binkie and Bobby are having babies," Stephanie whispered. "I hope Binkie can handle it."
"He'll be fine, Stephanie. Tiffany isn't Yvette, and the baby isn't Bradley. I know Binkie talks to a therapist. He'll help Binkie move past the fear," Edna wisely replied. "Has Zip come back?"
"Nope," Stephanie replied. "He's been gone for an hour. I wonder if he's searching Hanna's room for threats."
Edna pushed the dentures around her mouth, causing them to make a clicking sound as the top met the bottom. "He's searching. It's just not the hotel room." Stephanie laughed with her grandmother.
Zip entered the room when the women stopped laughing. When Stephanie saw Zip looked relaxed, she burst into laughter again. "What's so funny, chuckles?" Zip asked.
"Did you find the snake in the grass?" Edna asked. Zip blushed bright red.
Stephanie snorted. "He didn't find the snake, grandma. Zip was the snake."
"Yuk it up, Stephanie. I'll remind you the next time you're sporting the post-coital glow caused by Ranger," Zip replied. Zip hoped Ranger would pull his head from his ass. Everyone could see the man was in love with Stephanie. They could also see Stephanie was in love with the boss.
"I'm heading to bed," Stephanie announced. "Don't hurt Hanna or Hal would be the least of your problems."
"Are you threatening me?" Zip asked incredulously.
"You bet I am. We both know I'm capable of kicking your ass," Stephanie said. She left the room with Edna, laughing.
Zip was amazed by Stephanie's transformation. Every day they spent together, he noticed her becoming more confident. Stephanie was growing mentally. He refused to admit that Stephanie could kick his ass. The men aren't going to recognize the woman when she returned to Rangeman. Zip couldn't be more proud of his friend.
~~~~~~~~~~
Stephanie called Ranger after her grandmother fell asleep. "Proud of you, Babe," Ranger said instead of his usual greeting.
"I'm not sure what I did since we talked earlier, but thanks?"
Ranger laughed. Stephanie loved hearing that sound. It filled her heart with more love for the secretive man. "Only you, Babe," he replied. They talked for a few minutes before Stephanie had to call it a night.
After disconnecting the call, Stephanie whispered, "I love you, Carlos." Stephanie knew they couldn't have more than what Ranger was willing to give. It broke her heart.
Ranger stared at his phone after Stephanie hung up. "Dios, mujer. Mi amante. Siempre te querré. Teines mi corazón." (God woman. My lover. I will always love you. You have my heart.)
Stephanie was the only woman able to disarm Ranger. He loved her from the moment they met in the diner. She both scared and excited him. Stephanie was everything he didn't know he wanted in a life partner. Once he had a taste of her passion, he got hooked.
Ranger kept a bead on his enemies. He would rather die than have someone use Stephanie to get to him. The more he learned about Stephanie, the harder it became to maintain his distance. Ranger shook his head. "I have to keep you at a safe distance, Stephanie. Please, forgive me."
He refused to accept the argument that Stephanie had her own enemies. His enemies, however, were more dangerous. It would kill him if anything happened to Stephanie. Ranger didn't give her cars and protection for nothing. He claimed there was no price. It didn't cost Stephanie anything. But losing her would cost his life or sanity.
Ranger didn't know that Stephanie covered her face with her pillow and cried. "Please, Carlos, don't push me away. My heart is too invested in you to turn back now."
