Chapter Three
Ranger was on the couch when I woke up and walked into the living room. He looked as though he aged a hundred years since I had last seen him.
"What are you doing here? You and Tank are supposed to be in Florida getting ready for your operation."
"Les called me. He was worried." Ranger stood and took my hands in his. "What's going on? Is something wrong with you or your baby?" He gently kissed my forehead. "Hal went by Morelli's house last night to tell him you were here and safe and found him passed out drunk, and Les told me I needed to come back ASAP because something was very wrong." For the first time since I met him, Ranger's eyes became glassy with unshed tears. "And Ella told me you didn't eat at all last night. Are you dying? Do you have a tumor inside instead of a baby- I read about molar pregnancies on the flight back…" Ranger's breathing was unsteady.
"You knew I was pregnant?"
"It seemed like the logical reason for the rapid wedding plans, moving out of your apartment and putting you job with Vinnie on hold." Ranger stated. "And your friend is an OB."
"We should sit down."
"Babe."
I sat and faced Ranger and just started talking without looking up at him or drawing breath, "Joe proposed to me when the home test was positive and gave me his mother's engagement ring. Apparently, he wanted to propose to me in Sicily and has had the ring for a while but then I didn't go to Sicily. I arranged for a check-up in New York because you know, Sue Mason's a friend of mine from college- if I did the visit in Trenton, everyone would find out and we wanted it to be just us for a while, ya know." I wiped my running nose and continued. "So, my appointment was yesterday morning at New York Presbyterian- it is a really good baby hospital. And the tech did the ultrasound so we could hear the heartbeat and showed us the baby- its little hands and feet." I couldn't say the rest. I was unable to draw in my breath.
"Isn't that all good news?" Ranger asked.
"We thought I was eight weeks pregnant, Ranger. Joe and I broke up when I wouldn't go to Sicily and then we got back together two months ago and we thought we were eight weeks pregnant… but I… I…I am closer to sixteen weeks pregnant.. and… and that means … Joe and I were broken up and Joe was in Sicily sixteen weeks ago… and sixteen weeks ago, I was in Argentina… with you and… and…"
"The baby is ours, not Morelli's?" Ranger's eyes were fully dilated as he whispered the words like a prayer.
I couldn't speak. I just nodded my head slightly to confirm his statement.
Ranger enveloped me in his strong arms as his whole body shook. And to my utter shock, Ranger gasped before he choked out "Gracias a Dios!"
Thank God? What? "You aren't angry?"
"Of course not- how could I be angry?" Ranger paused and took my hands. "But I am surprised. How did you not realize you were pregnant sooner… women have monthly cycles and yours has always been regular."
The heat rushed into my cheeks- yes, I am a grown woman and I blush when discussing my cycle with my sometimes lover.
"I was still on the pill when we were in Argentina. And it is supposed to be such an effective form of birth control, it just never occurred to me. Joe was in Sicily for the whole summer and you were away, and then Rex died," My voice caught a little. "And then I had to go out to California to handle everything after Dickie, you know... I wasn't paying attention because I wasn't concerned." I stopped. "I didn't keep it from you on purpose."
"Babe, of course you didn't." Ranger kissed me on my forehead, "I spent two hours on the plane running all the worst things through my mind." He smiled his full Ranger smile, "Instead, we are having a baby- I am overjoyed. I thought I lost you to Morelli forever and if I am honest, I was not handling it well."
"You weren't?" I looked at him.
"I was concerned having a child might not be what you wanted. You were never eager to have children before…" He hesitated before continuing. "Is this what you want, Stephanie? Me and my child? You were happy when it was Morelli, but now that everything is different, is it still what you want?"
"What are you trying to ask me, Ranger?"
"You know what happened when Rachel got pregnant with Julie. You know my role in her life is… limited."
"Ranger, that is not the type of arrangement I want for our child."
He slid to his knees before me. "Agree to be my wife, Stephanie. It doesn't have to happen this minute; it can be when you are ready."
"You always said you wouldn't marry again."
"I have been in hell since you set the wedding date. I love you, Stephanie Plum. My life has no joy without you. You have to say you will at least consider marrying me."
"I agree to consider it."
And then he kissed me and pulled me to my feet. "Now you have to eat something."
Ranger and I met with Sue Mason the next day and everything checked out, my due date was adjusted (Feb 19- go us!) and as we settled in her office, I asked her how it could be that I got pregnant on the pill.
"I took it religiously at the same time every day."
"Stephanie, did you have an illness prior to or early on during your stay in Argentina?"
"You had that GI bug, right after we arrived." Ranger offered.
"Yeah, but a course of antibiotics took care of it." I looked at Sue. "It only lasted for a few days and I was fine afterwards."
"That is likely what happened. Antibiotics can make birth control pills less effective."
Well, that was news to me! You learn something new every day.
"Is it safe for Stephanie to travel?" Ranger asked. "By plane? I need to get back to a project I am working on in Miami and would love to take her there with me. But only if she is allowed to fly."
"Stephanie is healthy and it is only her second trimester, so there are no restrictions- it is in the third trimester that we get concerned about flying."
"Babe, you are still not dressed."
"I don't wanna go…"
"Babe, we have to be at your folks' house for six. They are expecting us."
How can I be having a baby with a man who believes arriving on time actually means arriving 15 minutes early?
"I don't want to say anything about the baby yet."
"Babe, we have no way of knowing what Morelli has said to anyone. I want your family to hear this from us."
"My mom is going to rant… She is going to go over the long list of reasons for her disappointment with me. And my Dad… what is he feels the same way. What if he is ashamed of me?"
"Your Grandma, your sister and her whole family will be at dinner and I can't image your father being ashamed of you. He loves you."
"And my mother?"
"Yeah, she will have something to say about the cancelled wedding for sure…" Ranger shook his head. "But it won't be so different from every other time you have gone to family dinner- she always complains about something you've done or didn't do. Besides, I will be right there with you."
Ughh!
"Babe, we are inviting them to South Miami Beach for an extended vacation, all expenses paid. Your family will meet mine and they can get to know each other, everything will be fine. We are staying at Manoso's boutique hotel; it is right on the beach and even your mom will have a wonderful time."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
It was going to be a long night.
