Walking up to the door and ringing the doorbell, Steph hears from inside Mary Lou's house, "Stop. Put that down. Now!"
After what sounds like a little bit of scuffling, there's a chorus of running little feet for the door and the door is finally wrenched open.
"Steph." Mary Lou screeches as she jumps and hugs me. "What are you doing here?" She pauses to look at me. "What's wrong?"
"Can we do this inside, please?"
"That bad. Huh? Sure."
Once inside with the door closed, "Ok. Here goes. Rangersortaaskedmetomarryhim." Steph says, getting it all out in a rush.
"That's great." Steph slowly shakes her head. "It's not great? Why not?"
"I don't know. He didn't give me any warning whatsoever. There were no hints at all that he might be thinking about marriage and now he's proposed and I don't know if he means it or not. He says he does, but how do I know that he won't turn out to be like Dickie and get bored after a couple of months?"
Without so much as a by your leave, Ranger walks through Mary Lou's door. "I could never be bored with you, Steph."
"How can you be sure?"
Recognizing a conversation that she shouldn't be a part of, Mary Lou withdraws closing the door in front of her and stepping close to listen carefully. "I've never felt this way about anyone else, Babe. I've been married before, too. I know what it feels like to be in a relationship that's not right for you and This isn't it. What do I need to do to help you conquer your fears, Steph? I'm always going to be there for you like I've always been in the past. You're not going to get rid of me that easily."
"Wow. You mean you can speak more than one word at a time?"
"Of course, but I only do it when it's something important. Otherwise, it's just a waste of time."
"Wow. You mean this is that important to you?"
"Yes, Babe. You're the most important thing in the world to me and I'll do whatever I have to to convince you of that, so will you have dinner with me tonight to celebrate our engagement and go over whatever details we feel the need to?"
"Ummm... Sure, but I haven't said yes, yet."
"You aren't actually planning on saying no. Are you?"
"I don't think so, but I haven't had a chance to really think about it, yet. How about we just go out tonight and discuss the details? Maybe, I'll even be able to give you an answer tonight."
"Ok. Steph, but one thing before I go. No matter what happens, I love you and I always will."
"Oh, Ranger. That's so sweet. I love you, too."
"Sweet, Babe? Tank's outside. If he hears that I'll never hear the end of it. I'm not sweet. Loving maybe, but not sweet, ok?"
"Whatever you say Ranger, but I still think it's sweet."
Ranger groans. "Babe, whatever am I going to do with you?"
"I don't know. That's probably one of the things we should discuss tonight. Now go. I need to discuss some things with Mary Lou before tonight."
"Ok. Babe. I'll go if you want me to, but I bet we could have a lot more fun if I stayed here." Ranger looks at Steph with his eyes gone the color of molten chocolate and his eyes bore into her as if there's nothing he'd rather do than stay there all day and worship her.
"Undoubtedly, but then I wouldn't be able to think and I really need to think. Please just go, Ranger."
"Ok, but we'll definitely continue this conversation, later, Babe."
Steph stares at the back of the door that Ranger went through completely oblivious to everything including the entrance of Mary Lou into the room again. "Steph. Steph. Come on, Steph. Snap out of it. You have plenty of time to think about that later. Right now. We need to get ready to go."
"Go? Go where?"
"Duh. Shopping. Remember you have dinner with Ranger tonight. You have to look you're best. That means we need to go to the Mall and probably we should bring Lula and Connie with us. They'll want a part in helping you look your best for when you tell Ranger that you'll marry him. You are going to marry him, right? You don't have any more doubts, do you?"
"No, no doubts." Steph says with a beatific smile. "Why don't you call Lula and Connie and tell them to meet us at the mall. I need to go talk with my partner outside for a minute before we leave, ok?"
"Sure. I'll call them and then meet you at the van."