Chapter 6
Eddie Gazarra called Stephanie and offered the sofa bed. "We don't have the space to use the bed portion," Eddie said when he delivered it with Big Dog and Carl Costanza's help.
"Thanks, Eddie. I appreciate your help. Say thank you to Robin for us. She got her brother to drop off a bed for Jay," Stephanie said. "Dillon let him enter the apartment while Jay and I were grocery shopping."
"My mom asked me to give you these," Eddie said, giving Stephanie a box of dishes, pots and pans.
"We pitched in for these," Carl added, giving Stephanie a box of utensils.
Tears ran down Stephanie's face, "Thanks, guys. You're the best friends." The guys fist-bumped Jay and hugged Stephanie before they left.
"You have cool friends. Mom, where will I go after school?" Jay asked.
Before Stephanie could reply, her cellphone rang. "Hello," she answered.
"Hi, Steph. It's Shirley. Jay and Mike attend the same school. Would you like me to bring him home with Mike?" Shirley offered.
"Shirley, you are a life saver. Jay just asked where he'd go after school. I don't get home from work until 6 pm," Stephanie replied.
"You can join us for dinner," Shirley added. Stephanie tried to protest, but Shirley wouldn't take no for an answer. Jay grinned when his mom caved.
Mary Lou arrived a few minutes later with pizza, drinks and napkins. She sat on the couch to give Stephanie and Jay their slices. They talked about the kids, and Stephanie complained about work. "I'm going to eat in my room to give you and aunt Mary Lou some privacy," Jay said.
"Your son doesn't resemble you too much," Mary Lou observed. Mary Lou noticed when she met Jayden but didn't say anything.
"Jay has my hair and eye colour. He looks like his dad," Stephanie admitted. "I know I've told you about Ricky before. Every day, Jay resembles his father more. I wonder where he is right now."
"Steph," Mary Lou said, holding Stephanie's hands. "Do you remember the poem about letting love go?"
"If you love someone, set them free; if they come back to you, it was meant to be," Stephanie replied.
"You said that you and Ricky had a connection. He came to the beach after you left. I didn't think to get his phone number. Ricky looked upset that you didn't say goodbye," Mary Lou reminded her.
"I know. Ricky gave me his phone number the day I got pregnant with Jay, but I forgot to grab it from my pants before throwing them in the wash. By the time I remembered, the paper got destroyed," Stephanie had confessed. "I never knew his last name. He never called"
"Did you tell him your last name?" Mary Lou asked. Stephanie shook her head. "I gave him your grandpa's phone number. Maybe he didn't call because the same thing happened to him?"
Stephanie had never considered the possibility. She wondered if her phone number got lost or disintegrated in the wash. It could be that he didn't feel the same way about her. Stephanie shook her head, dismissing the thought. She knew Ricky felt the same way.
On Monday, Stephanie called the bank to ensure Dickie couldn't access her accounts. "You never added him to your account," her cousin Francie said.
"Thanks, Francie. I appreciate you checking for me."
"No problem, Steph. Hug Jay for me," Francie said before hanging up.
Three months later, everything had changed. Jay got sick, and Stephanie received a call from the school to pick him up. Helen and Frank were unavailable. She called her grandma Mazur, but she didn't answer either. "Mickie, do you mind if I clock out early? Jay's school called, and I need to get him because he's sick. They can't get a hold of my family," Stephanie asked.
"Sure. I expect you to make up the hours," Mickie said.
"I understand. Thank you," Stephanie said before leaving.
Stephanie drove as fast as possible to get to Jay's school. She was fortunate the cops didn't pull her over for speeding. Jay had a high fever. Stephanie drove home to put Jay to bed. When she got him into the apartment, she realized they didn't have any Children's Tylenol. She knew grandma Mazur had some in her medicine cabinet.
Her mother, Helen, didn't want Stephanie at her home. But Stephanie didn't care because her father frequently visited her apartment. It wouldn't surprise Stephanie if her parents got divorced.
"Grandma Edna isn't home, mom," Jay said when they entered the empty house. Stephanie used the phone to call Valerie.
"Is grandpa okay?" Valerie asked.
"Val, it's Steph. What's wrong with grandpa?" Stephanie asked, her voice shaking from fear.
"Heart attack. They took him to the hospital," Valerie replied. "Isn't anyone home?"
"No. I just got here. I'll go to the hospital to check on grandpa," Stephanie said.
"Call me, okay?" Valerie asked. Stephanie agreed and ended the call.
She gave Jay the medicine and got him ready to go with her. "I'm taking you to the hospital for a doctor to check your ears and throat. We can check on Grandpa Harry while we're there," Stephanie explained.
Stephanie parked in the lot and walked Jay through the emergency room door. She described Jay's symptoms to the nurse. "Do you have any news on Harry Mazur?" Stephanie asked.
"Are you family?" the nurse robotically asked.
"Seriously, Carol?" Stephanie asked with her hand on her hip.
"Sorry, Stephanie. I wasn't paying attention. Give me a few seconds to check," Carol said as she checked the system for the information. "He's gone into surgery. Your family should be in the waiting room on the third floor."
"Thanks. I'm here with my son, Jay. He's got a high fever," Stephanie explained. "I gave him Tylenol around five minutes ago."
"I'll get the doctor to see him right away." Stephanie appreciated Carol getting Jay through the queue of patients waiting in triage.
Jay played on the tablet until the doctor entered the pod. "What seems to be the problem?" he asked.
"I picked him up from school. The teacher said he had a 103F fever. I gave him Tylenol twenty minutes ago," Stephanie explained.
"Jayden, is your throat sore or do your ears hurt?" he asked.
"Call me Jay. It hurts to swallow, and my ears feel plugged," Jay answered.
"How old are you, son?"
"Seven. Can you check my ears and throat soon? My great-grandpa had a heart attack. Mom and I want to get to the family," Jay requested.
"Sure. Open wide. Hmm. It's red. There's pressure in your ears," the doctor stated. "Do you have any allergies?"
"Penicillin," Stephanie replied.
"Jay has strep throat. We have a new medication called Zithromax. Can you swallow tablets, Jay?"
"Yes. I don't like the liquid antibiotics," Jay answered.
The doctor wrote a prescription and explained. "Take two tablets today, then one every day until the pills are gone," he instructed. "You can get the prescription filled in the hospital pharmacy. Ask Carol to assist."
"Thank you, Dr. Fish," Jay said, reading the name on the prescription.
"Should Jay react to the medication, stop it immediately and bring him back," Dr. Fish advised. Stephanie nodded, but she already knew the routine.
Carol snatched the prescription to get it filled. She promised to bring it to the waiting room. Stephanie held Jay's hand as they took the elevator to the third floor. Jay saw the family before Stephanie. He pulled his mom towards the group. "How's grandpa," Stephanie asked.
"In surgery," Helen said. "Why isn't Jay in school?"
"He got a strep infection," Stephanie replied.
"Take him home. He shouldn't be here," Helen snapped.
"Mom, he's only contagious if you share a drink," Stephanie politely stated. She sat in the chair, pulling Jay onto her lap. Jay still wore his school uniform.
"Stephanie Michelle Plum, you take your son and go home right now," Helen shouted.
"No," Stephanie stated. Carol entered the waiting room with Jay's prescription.
"Stephie, listen to your mother," Grandma Mazur said.
Stephanie was shocked. She hoped Grandma Mazur would let them stay for an update. Before Stephanie could say anything, Luanne Molnar arrived. "I heard about Harry. How is he?" Luanne asked.
"He's in surgery," Helen replied. She looked at Stephanie and said, "Go home before your bastard child infects everyone here."
"What's this I'm hearing?" Frank asked as he approached the group.
"Your daughter needs to get her sick child out of here. She embarrassed me enough when she didn't marry Dickie," Helen snidely replied. "Probably prostituting herself to pay for her bastard son."
Luanne made it worse by adding, "Everyone wondered why Stephanie left Dickie. He said that Stephanie was sleeping with his friends, so he called off the wedding. I had to call the neighbours to explain what happened."
Stephanie couldn't believe the lies Dickie told. She had heard from Mary Lou and Shirley that Dickie was screwing around with Joyce and a few other women. After Stephanie called off the wedding, they heard that Dickie did this before their wedding day. Both women were happy that Stephanie didn't marry the asshole.
Frank was furious. "Helen, you should be ashamed of yourself. How dare you say disgusting things about your daughter. You and Luanne had spread enough lies about Stephanie to your Burg friends. I will not tolerate you tarnishing my daughter's reputation through your vile words. I'm warning you, Helen. Shape up or ship out," Frank sternly said.
"But the neighbours have a right to know," Luanne said.
"Luanne, I never said anything before out of respect for my friend Martin, but I'm telling you now, keep your nose out of my daughter's business." He lowered his voice to add, "How would you feel if I told Helen that Mary Lou and Lenny enjoy kinky sex like bondage?"
"No. Please, I'm begging you not to say anything," Luanne said. "What would the neighbours think?"
"I asked you to keep Stephanie's secret, yet you spread it to Helen and around the Burg. Neither of you thought about what the neighbours would think," Frank said, shaking his head. Luanne quickly left the room, tears streaking down her face. Frank leaned into Helen to whisper, "What would Angie think if she learned you slept with her husband?"
Helen's face paled. She shook her head, hoping he'd stop talking. Helen was surprised that Frank knew. It was before she started dating Frank. "How?" she asked.
"Anthony Sr," Frank whispered.
"Come on, Jay," Stephanie said, taking her son's hand to leave the waiting room with her dad. "We're not wanted here."
~~~
Manoso guided his team through the jungles in Colombia. The curly-haired, blue-eyed girl from his past haunted his dreams. Bobby, Tank and Lester knew about the girl and wondered why he never called. He was ashamed to admit that he had lost her phone number on the way home. She never called him, so he assumed she didn't feel the same way.
As they approached their base, Manoso motioned his team to stay close. After their mission completes, their CO promised to recommend them for the Rangers program. They passed the written, physical and psychiatric exams. The mission was about proving their worth. Ric knew it wasn't a requirement, but Major Pollock insisted on seeing the men in action.
Ranger training was physically and emotionally demanding. Very few men have what it took to get through the program. Manoso and his friends wanted to prove worthy. If they got enough capital saved, they would open a security business for ex-military of all disciplines.
Major Pollock checked his watch to see how long the men had to arrive. He sent out four teams of four men. None of the deployed teams had arrived at the camp. Twenty minutes remained to get to the base. Manoso checked the time and smiled. Their goal was only a few hundred meters away, so Manoso got his team to pick up the pace. Pollock smiled when Manoso's team entered the base first.
The following two teams arrived within the time constraint, but the fourth team was nearly an hour late. If their lives depended on their timely arrival, they'd be dead. Major Pollock shook his head before organizing the groups to storm the compound. He placed the last group of men to guard the camp.
Manoso's team got recommended for Ranger training. They wrote the tests, passed the physical and psychological requirements before attending the program. "I'm exhausted," Lester complained.
"It's safe to assume we all are," Bobby stated. "Except for Ric. He looks like he can run another ten miles."
"Do you ever sweat?" Tank asked.
"Fuck off," Ric replied, laughing. The men always busted each others' balls. "I told you to call me Carlos."
"You have two hours to sleep before you report for duty!" General Andrew Huxley ordered. The men wisely remained quiet. They found a place to sleep.
What felt like ten minutes later, they woke from their slumber. Carlos woke up a few minutes before time was up. He nudged each of his friend's butts to wake up. The men made it past the first set of gruelling tasks.
Carlos felt he had lost at least thirty pounds. Living off MREs and minimal water was rough. Half the men in their training camp either dropped out or got kicked out because they couldn't handle the restrictions.
General Huxley ran the men through drills before permitting them to eat, drink or defecate. They were sleep-deprived, hungry and dehydrated. Only the men of strong minds and spirit could make it through the training. The soldiers had to be the best of the best to get through.
Tank thought he would fade to nothing when he had reached forty-eight hours without food. His stomach felt queasy as he ate the MRE that General Huxley permitted the men to eat. He forced himself to suppress nausea. Tank was the tallest man out of all the recruits. At six foot six, he required more food to sustain his body.
Carlos was the shortest at five foot ten. He was more muscular than Bobby and Lester, but his weight loss was more pronounced on his stalky frame. The lack of nutrients and sleep gave Carlos nightmares. He dreamed about Stephanie, the girl he met several years earlier. In his dreams, Stephanie was in trouble. He needed to save his Babe.