Disclaimer: I'm only having fun with the Plum world and I was hoping to put it back whereI found it but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. Sorry Evanovich!
A/N: First thing you should notice, the rating has changed.
I'm currently in Canada and having a grand ol' time eating and sleeping. Niagara Falls, not so awesome really.
Now... So sorry this has taken so long. I really wasn't sure of this ending. Soo...Read on... then yell and scream if you please.
Ch. 12: Cookie Jar
I looked around the apartment, gathered all my CDs and put them in a box that the boys had brought by earlier. I grabbed the box and tucked the cookie jar under my other arm and left the apartment.
I got in the car and went by Morelli's. I was still early enough that he hadn't left for work. I knocked on his door.
He came to the door in a minute holding back Bob, the bouncing dog.
"Stephanie!" He said in surprise.
"Joe… can I talk to you?"
"Yeah." He stepped a side and I stepped in. I walked to the living room and took a seat on his couch. "What is it Steph?"
"I made a decision." I announced.
"You're moving in with him?" he asked sitting next to me.
I nodded, surprised by his calm attitude.
"We still on for Wednesday night pizza and movie?"
I nodded again.
"Okay." He said. "Good luck."
I nodded again.
"Cupcake, I got to get to work." I nodded and got up.
Joe walked me to the door and I turned and faced him. I looked him in the eyes. He seemed disappointed but okay. He put his hand on my shoulder. "Everything is going to be fine." He said. I gave him a hug and left.
-
I drove to the park to think more.
I sat on a bench with an old man feeding ducks, hoping the ducks didn't go crazy on me.
I have to tell Ranger my decision I guess… then my parents. Oh god. Don't think about it Steph!
The old man offered me some bread from his brown paper bag and I took it with a smile and tossed it out to the ducks. This was kind of relaxing. I see why old people do it.
I sat with the man for maybe an hour and a half thinking about whyI chose Ranger over Morelli, allI came upwith was it felt right.I thought about how Dad was going to react but that was kind of scary so I tried not to think about that.
I thought about getting back but I didn't feel like it yet. I gave a sigh and got up anyway. I said thank you to the old man and walked back to my car. I drove to the Haywood office and parked. I got the box of CD's and my cookie jar from the back and took the elevator to the seventh floor.
Inside I put the cookie jar on the kitchen counter, it looked odd there. I frowned. Ranger's not going to be happy with it but he's going to have to deal.
I took the box of CDs to the coffee table and sat on the floor determined to look through them, got to think about anything but Ranger's reaction.
As I was taking them out. I noticed the Tori Amos CD 'little Earthquake' I got from my cousin a while back. I got up, took the CD, popped it into the system and forwarded it to eleven.
Her voice filled the room. A minute into the song and I was still on the floor shuffling through the CDs when the door opened. Ranger came around the corner of the couch to stare at me. He stared at the pile of CDs and then he seemed to listen.
"Where have you been?" Ranger almost growled.
"Apartment, Morelli's, Park."
"Shit Steph. Tank got there and you were gone. We've been looking for you. Why didn't you answer your cell?"
Shit. I had forgotten it in this morning's uh….
Ranger gave a sigh and sat on the couch. "Why were you at Morelli's?" he asked, his voice stiff.
"To tell him my decision."
Ranger's eye flicked to me. "Where?"
"Here." I said pointing behind him to the kitchen. He looked and frowned. Uh oh… maybe he doesn't want me here.
"Babe." I closed my eyes not wanting to hear what came next. "The cookie jar can't stay."
I opened my eyes and Ranger had on a full 200-watt smile.
"Of course it's staying. Where else am I going to keep my gun?" He continued to smile.
I crawled up next to him and wrapped my arm around him. He pulled me closer and then pulled back. His eyes connected with mine. "You're sure about this?" he asked. I nodded. "You're going to have to tell your parents." I gulped and nodded. He threw his head back and gave a laugh. I guess he saw the fear in my eyes.
His face got serious again. "Your father's fine with you living with me."
"Is that what you and my dad talked about?"
"Yeah, he said as long as you were okay, he's okay with your decision and he'll handle your mom."
"Really?" I asked with a smile. The prospective of not having to deal with my mother made me very happy.
"Yeah, but you still have to tell her." I frowned. I was imaging my mom having a fit when I felt Ranger's hand at the base of my neck and then the brush of his lips on mine. God I missed that.
A/N: What did you think? it was a Babe story after all, butI never actually meant for it to be a Babe... that's the choice Stephanie made.
Okay... some things about this story should bother you, so stay tuned for the next episode.