Ranger called in a carry out pizza order to Shorty's, and we picked it up with a case of beer on the way back to the apartment on Haywood. By the time we parked in the underground garage, I was exhausted and shivering with adrenaline let-down. We took the elevator to the seventh floor, where Ranger dumped the pizza and beer on the small dinette.

"I'd like to change," I said. "Do you mind?"

"No, go ahead," he said, twisting the top off a beer.

I went to the bathroom to freshen up and changed into a pair of Nike shorts, a blue racerback tank, and one of Ranger's black sweatshirts. I shoved my feet into a pair of Ugg slippers, and I was ready for anything.

Ranger gave me a knowing smile when I joined him.

"Beer?" he asked.

"No thanks. Maybe later." I went to the kitchen and filled a glass with water at the faucet.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. My stomach doesn't feel that great, so I'm going to skip the beer for now."

Ranger nodded. "Pizza?" he asked, opening the box.

I selected two dinner plates and two forks from the kitchen and brought them to the table, adding two paper napkins for good measure.

"Absolutely."

Ranger scooped out a slice for each of us, and we dug in.

"Do you know what kind of ring you'd like?" Ranger asked.

I chewed thoughtfully. I hadn't given it much thought. Hell, before today, I hadn't given marriage much serious thought. And here I was, engaged. Betrothed. To be wed. A future Manoso.

"I don't know. Nothing outrageous. Something practical, probably. Maybe one of those silicone ones," I said, sharing my thoughts out loud.

"Babe, I can do better than a silicone ring."

I had to admit, he sounded slightly perturbed.

I shrugged. "I'm good with whatever. Honestly. I trust you."

Ranger seemed to be okay with that answer, and he dropped the topic.

"How are you planning to tell people?" he asked, selecting a second slice of pizza.

"I don't have a clue," I admitted. "Maybe we don't. Secret wedding!" I joked.

Ranger raised an eyebrow. Cleary, he wasn't amused.

"What do you think?"

Ranger cut the tip off his pizza slice with his fork.

"I thought we could drive to Newark tomorrow to visit my parents. Check on my mom," he said. "We don't have to tell them yet, but I know they'll be overjoyed when we do."

I pulled a pepperoni off my pizza and ate it.

"Sure, that'd be great. I don't have plans. We can share the news."

I scooped another slice of pizza on to my plate, thinking about my family. I knew Grandma would be excited for me, and my dad seemed to approve of my relationship with Ranger. Unfortunately, the status of my relationship with my mother was putting a damper on my desire to share the news with them.

"Would you be okay with waiting to tell my family?" I asked hesitantly.

Ranger studied me as he chewed. He swallowed, then nodded.

"Babe, I know it matters to you, but I don't care what your mother thinks. Your father already gave us his blessing."

"What?" I choked, dropping my fork.

Ranger's face grew serious.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I asked your father before dinner Thursday. I told him I wasn't sure if you were ready, and I'd be waiting until the time was right. But he gave his blessing."

Once again, domesticated Ranger had shocked the hell out of me. Bounty hunter Ranger kicked ass and took names. Businessman Ranger could be ruthless, taking whatever he wanted. I had a hard time envisioning Ranger asking my father for permission to do anything, much less marry me.

"Ranger…" I said, my voice trailing off.

He shrugged. "I know it's hard to believe, but I'm fairly traditional in the marriage department."

"What did my dad say?" I asked.

"He told me to take good care of you, or he'd kick my ass."

That made me smile.

"Sounds like my dad," I admitted.

"He's a good man," Ranger said.

I sighed. "We'll tell my parents soon, just not this weekend. I want to enjoy this moment a little longer before my mother tries to ruin it."

"Understood," Ranger said.

We finished our dinner, and I put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. I packed the leftovers up, placing them in the fridge. Ranger took a seat at the bar and called his dad to let him know we were planning to visit tomorrow. I could only hear one side of the conversation, but I had to assume that Ranger's dad had offered to make food for us, because Ranger said we'd be bringing lunch to share.

After the call, Ranger excused himself to go work on some things in his office. I settled onto the couch and turned on an episode of Cupcake Wars.

I woke up in bed, disoriented about how I'd got there. The first hints of morning light were peeking from behind the curtains, and the shower was running. Ranger was awake and ready to tackle the day. I, on the other hand, was content to stay in bed for a few more hours.

My teeth felt fuzzy in their unbrushed state, and it tasted like something had died in my mouth. Plus, mother nature was calling. I begrudgingly climbed out of bed and knocked lightly on the bathroom door.

"Do you mind?" I asked, cracking the door.

"No," Ranger said, turning the water off in the shower. "And I'm almost done."

I used the toilet while Ranger toweled off, then I washed my hands and brushed my teeth. I studied my reflection in the mirror and had to grimace. My hair, which had been perfectly curled yesterday, was now a rat's nest with bed head. I hadn't washed my face the night before, and my makeup had smudged everywhere. I quickly removed all traces of makeup and washed my face, and I ran a comb through my hair. It wasn't perfect by any means, but I felt considerably better.

I climbed back into the bed and watched as Ranger dressed in the closet. He looked fresh and well-rested, his body looking fit and strong. A memory of Ranger laying on a backboard in an ambulance in Atlanta came to mind, and I shuddered at the thought. I would be forever grateful he was okay. This time I had with him was truly a gift.

Ranger busied himself in his study, and I drifted back to sleep, finally waking after eight o'clock. I showered, did the makeup and hair thing, and dressed in jean shorts, a black v-neck t-shirt, and tennis shoes. When I emerged from the bedroom, Ranger was gone, and a carafe of coffee was waiting for me in the kitchen. I poured a mug and sipped at it, waiting for my neurons to start firing with a bit more vigor. I gave Rex a few Lucky Charms, and I ate a bowl myself.

"So did you hear?" I asked Rex. "You're gonna have a dad. He's a good one, too."

Rex wiggled his whiskers at me and placed his two front feet on the side of his glass aquarium. I scratched him between the eyes, and he nudged my hand.

"Do you like living here?" I asked. "This is a huge upgrade from our apartment. I do kind of miss it, though."

Rex scurried into his soup can, and I gave up a light laugh.

"Yeah, you're right. I don't miss our old bathroom. This one is far superior."

I texted Ranger to ask when we'd be leaving for Newark, and he responded eleven. Since I had a couple of hours, I thought I'd run by the bakery and check in at my parents' house.

I drove the Toyota into the Burg and parked in front of my parents' house. The brown and yellow paint of their side stood in sharp contrast to the ugly green paint on the Markowitz side. I knew neither party had been a fan of their established paint color, but it would cost too much for either to change it. Therefore, the colors persisted. I noticed a "For Sale" sign had been erected on Mabel's side of the lot.

I climbed out of the Toyota and walked up the sidewalk. As I approached the house, the door to the other half of the duplex opened, and Evelyn walked out carrying a large box.

"Good morning," I said, waving politely.

"Hi," she responded with a small smile.

"How are you holding up?" I asked. "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to talk with you on Friday."

"We're doing okay," she admitted sadly. "We knew this would eventually happen, but it doesn't make it any less sad. She was lucky, though. She had a long, happy life, God rest her soul. If only everyone could be that lucky."

I nodded understanding. She was right. Mabel had enjoyed a rich life surrounded by family.

"I'm surprised to see the house on the market," I admitted. "I figured you an Annie might move in."

"I wish we could, but unfortunately it's too far from my job in Princeton. As a single mom, I have to be able to make after-school pick-up and ballet lessons. It's just too much."

"I'm sorry."

Evelyn shrugged. "Eh, such is life. Once this place sells, hopefully we'll be able to buy a place of our own instead of living in a rental. That would be a relief."

Grandma stuck her head out the door. She was wearing ballet flats, purple polyester pants, and a white blouse. Her hair had been set in tight curls. She had been to mass this morning. "Stephanie! We didn't expect to see you this morning. What a surprise!"

"Well, I better get going," Evelyn said, hoisting her box up to get a better hold. "Time is getting away, and I've got to work this afternoon. Take care, Stephanie."

"Let me know if I can do anything to help," I said.

"Thanks," she said, putting the box in the trunk.

"Hey Grandma," I greeted, ascending the steps to the porch.

"What brings you by?"

"Ranger and I are visiting his parents this afternoon, so I thought I'd pick up some sweet treats at the bakery to take along. I figured I'd swing by and check in while I was in the neighborhood."

"Well, your dad is out in the cab, but your mother is in the kitchen ironing."

"Ironing?" I asked.

"Yep. She saw a realtor poking that for sale sign into the lawn next door, and she went straight for the iron. She even skipped church. I had to call Myra for a ride."

I dropped my bag inside the front door and wandered into the kitchen, where my mother was, indeed, ironing. She had one of my father's plaid shirts slung over the ironing board, a bottle of spray starch close at hand.

"Good morning, mom," I greeted as I poured myself a mug of coffee from the pot.

"Stephanie," she said, pressing the iron into the shirt to release a cloud of steam.

"I see Mabel's side of the duplex is for sale," I said, selecting a maple glazed donut from the box on the table.

"Isn't it awful?" my mother huffed, ironing the shirt collar. "Who knows who we'll get as neighbors."

"People move all the time," I said, biting into my donut. "It's not the end of the world. You might end up with great neighbors."

My mother hissed air from between her teeth.

"We will have to share a wall with them!" she announced angrily. "Mabel was quiet. Her lawn was always cut short. Her snow was always scooped. Her half of the sidewalk was always sprinkled with deicer. Who knows what ruffians will move in over there."

"Take a breath mom," I soothed. "The house hasn't been listed a day. I doubt anybody has even walked through it yet. I think you're getting ahead of yourself."

"Stephanie is right," Grandma said, selecting a chocolate frosted donut. "Maybe we'll get neighbors that are even better than Mabel. Maybe it'll be a hot single guy."

My mother pursed her lips and pressed the iron into the shirt again, a cloud of steam rising around her.

"Maybe you should buy it," I said to Grandma. "You could still be close to mom, but you'd have your own space. You could decorate how you like."

My mom raised her eyebrow at this suggestion. I couldn't tell if the idea intrigued her or if she thought I'd lost my mind.

Grandma sucked at her dentures.

"Well, I hadn't considered that," she said. "With my social security, I might be able to pay the mortgage if I lay off the manicures and the hair appointments, but I'm not sure about a down payment."

I felt bad for bringing it up. I knew funds were tight for grandma. I mentally tried to come up with ways to make the move feasible for grandma, but I wasn't coming up with much.

"What if I helped you with the down payment?" I suggested. "Now that I have a steady income and don't owe rent, I'm in a position to help you out."

"Oh, I couldn't take money from you," Grandma scolded. "Do something nice for yourself with that money. Get yourself a house. Invest it. It's not your job to take care of me."

"I know, but I'd like to do something nice for you," I said.

My mother was feigning disinterest in the conversation, but I could see her interested was piqued.

"Mom, I hope you know you're always welcome here," my mother said.

"I know," my grandma said, sighing. "But I'm sure Frank would like to watch television in his underwear again."

That thought made my mother smile.

"I don't mind it when he's dressed," my mother chortled, and we all laughed together quietly.

My mother was right. I'd seen my father in his tighty whities, and it wasn't a pretty sight.

"Stephanie, maybe you should look into living next door," my mother said. "If you've got the money for a down payment, it might be a good investment. It's definitely a fixer upper, but your father is pretty handy. He could lend a hand with projects."

I loved my family, but the thought of living next door to them made me want to run for the nearest airport and hop the next flight to California.

"I'll think about it," I lied to my mom, intentionally changing the subject. "What are your plans for the day?"

My mother turned off the iron and took a seat at the table, selecting a jelly-filled donut.

"I need to run to the store to pick up a few household items. I need to vacuum and weed the beds out front. No big plans, though," she admitted.

"I have lunch plans with Ranger's parents in Newark, so I should probably be going," I said, finishing off my coffee.

The line of my mother's mouth went tight. Apparently, this wasn't welcome news.

"You seem to be spending a lot of time with Carlos," she said, studying her donut. "Things must be getting serious."

"We've been serious, mom. That hasn't changed. I mean, we live together."

My mother scoffed. "You were with Joseph a few months ago. How can you get serious with someone so fast?"

"Ranger and I have been close for a long time," I admitted. "It's probably why things didn't work out with Joe."

My mother's eyes widened, and I realized I'd said too much.

"You cheated on Joe with Carlos?"

"That's not what I meant," I said, hoping she'd drop it.

"Well, whatever do you mean, Stephanie?" my mother yelled.

"I couldn't love Joe because I loved Ranger," I admitted. "Ranger's the one. I'm just sorry for what I had to put Joe through to figure it out."

Grandma did a little happy dance in her seat. Grandma approved of my relationship with Ranger. She liked the thought of having eye-candy at the Thanksgiving table each year.

"I wish you'd call him by his name," my mother ridiculed. "Calling your live-in boyfriend 'Ranger' just seems wrong. He has a name."

Grandma rolled her eyes and addressed my mom. "Quit being a horse's ass, Helen. Be happy that your daughter is happy."

"I'm happy! I'm happy!" my mother said, her tone sounding anything but happy.

"Well, I'd best get out of here. It was good to see you," I said, standing. "We'll catch you later this week."

I arrived back at Rangeman shortly before eleven with a bakery box containing a lemon chiffon cake. Ranger wasn't in the apartment, so I left the cake on the counter and went to find him, visiting his fifth floor office.

"Howdy," I said, pushing the door open slightly. "Am I interrupting anything?"

Ranger glanced up at me and gestured me in.

"Break-in at a client's business this morning. Tank and I stopped by earlier. I'm just finishing up the paperwork now."

He slid a piece of paper across the desk to me.

"Here's your body receipt for Boots. You can give it to Connie tomorrow."

"Thanks," I said, placing it in my messenger bag.

"I'll be up in a few minutes to change clothes if you want to wait in the apartment," Ranger said, turning his attention to the laptop.

I wandered back upstairs and found that Ella had been in the apartment while I'd been downstairs. She had left an insulated picnic basket on the bar near my cake. I peered inside and found three bean salad, sliced fruit in orange gelatin, coleslaw, fresh croissants, and a dish of chicken salad with cranberries and pecans. Ella knew how to put together a picnic. I wandered into the living room and flopped into the chair, checking e-mails on my phone.

Ranger came in a few minutes later. He changed into casual clothes, sporting shorts, tennis shoes, and a t-shirt, all in his typical black. He surveyed the packed lunch and gave a nod of approval.

"You ready, babe?" he asked, grabbing the basket and the keys to his Cayenne.

"Yeah, just let me grab a sweatshirt," I said.

I grabbed a grey hooded sweatshirt advertising Joe's Crab Shack out of the closet and met up with him in the foyer, cake in hand. Ranger lifted the lid of the box and peered in. He gave me a knowing grin.

"Babe."

"It wouldn't be a meal without cake," I said.

"My mother will love it," he said. "She has a sweet tooth."

We packed up the Cayenne and hit the road to Newark. The Sunday traffic was slow, and we made good time. We arrived in under an hour, and Ranger parked the Cayenne on the street in front of his parents' house behind Ximena's Range Rover. We knocked on the door, and his father, Roberto, answered it wearing khakis and a navy polo shirt.

"Carlos!" he exclaimed, extending his hand for a handshake.

Ranger took his father's hand, and his father tugged him in for a hug. Roberto smiled, his face alight with parental joy. It made me smile, too. They parted from the hug, and Roberto turned his attention to me.

"Stephanie, it is so wonderful to see you," he said, taking my hand into his and kissing the back.

"How is mamí?" Ranger asked his father.

"Her spirits are high, and she seems to be feeling well," Roberto said, ushering us into the house.

We took off our shoes in the small vestibule, then Roberto took us into the living room where Mariposa was setting in a red wingback chair. Her legs were covered with a small brightly colored quilt, and she had a paperback novel in her lap.

"Carlito!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up.

"Mamí," Ranger said, crossing to her and squatting on one knee. He took her hands in his. "You're freezing," he scolded, rubbing her hands between his. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel good," she said. "I'd be better if I could get Ximena to stop fussing over me."

"She's trying to help, mamí," Ranger admonished with a laugh.

"¡Díos mió! Call her off," his mother said, feigning damsel in distress. We all laughed, and she rose to her feet, rubbing her hand over her bald head.

"Estephania," she said warmly. "It's so good to have you. Please, sit. Make yourself at home. I know our home is modest, but you're like part of the family. If you need anything, just ask."

She closed the distance between us and wrapped me in a bear hug, and I returned the hug.

"Actually, mamí, you're right," Ranger said. "Stephanie is like part of the family. In fact, she soon will be part of our family."

Roberto's face transformed into a wide smile that reminded me of Ranger's.

"You're engaged?" she gasped, her expression shocked. She grabbed my left hand and stared at my bare finger.

"We are," Ranger said, taking his place at my side and wrapping an arm around my waist.

"Well, you did a piss poor job proposing," his mother said, gesturing to my naked finger. She said a few words in Spanish and popped Ranger lightly in the side of the head. I laughed, and Ranger gave a nearly imperceptible eye roll.

"It was a spur of the moment thing, mom. I'll make it right," Ranger said, taking my naked hand into his.

"Damn right you will," his mother said, shuffling away from us and down the hall.

"Mamí, where are you going?" Ranger asked after her.

"You'll find out soon enough," she called from somewhere within the house.

"She must be feeling better," Ranger said to his father, and his father nodded his agreement.

"She's feisty again," he laughed. "I've missed this side of her."

"Me too," admitted Ranger.

Ranger and I took a seat on the sofa at Roberto's urging.

"May I get you a drink? We've got ice tea, lemonade, water…. I can make coffee…" he said, his voice trailing off.

"Babe?" Ranger asked.

"I'd take a lemonade, please. Thank you," I said, crossing my legs.

"I'm fine for now, thanks," Ranger told his dad.

Roberto left the room, and Mariposa soon joined us. She had a twinkle in her eye and a hop to her step.

"This may not meet your approval, but I know your Abuela Rosa would have been be overjoyed," she said, sitting directly in front of us on the coffee table.

She pulled a small green velvet box out of her jeans pocket and placed it in Ranger's palm.

"If you'd rather have some new-fangled high dollar thing, I understand," she said, shrugging. "I know this is not your style, Carlos. Your Abuela had hoped one of her grandchildren may wear this one day, but none of your hermanos would have it despite her urging. She never did have a wedding band, only this engagement ring."

"Mom, I can't take this," Ranger said, trying to hand the small box back to his mother.

"What use do I have with it?" she argued, refusing the box. "I'm an old woman. I have a ring of my own. This sits in my bedroom safe with no one to wear it. What good is that?"

Ranger ran his thumb over the top of the box, feeling the velvet.

"You're putting a lot of pressure on Stephanie, mom," Ranger said, his eyes meeting his mother's.

I realized I had been holding my breath, and I did some deep breathing to calm my nerves.

"Oh, nonsense," his mother said. "She's not going to hurt my feelings if she'd rather have her own ring. I'm simply doing your abuela's bidding in her absence from this earth." She crossed herself and looked to the ceiling.

Ranger glanced my way, apparently seeking some kind of guidance from me. I had nothing to contribute—this had caught me entirely flat-footed.

I shrugged my indifference, and Ranger sighed in response. He turned the box over in his hands, studying it before opening the old, worn box. Inside sat a delicate engagement ring. The band was yellow gold. The center diamond was set in a white gold miracle setting, making the stone appear larger than it was. Two small accent diamonds were set on either side of the center diamond with filigree accents. The ring reminded me of the ring my grandmother had worn when my grandfather was living. It was vintage and classic yet understated.

I knew Ranger wasn't a highly sentimental person, but I was. His mother's gesture warmed my heart and brought tears to my eyes.

"I appreciate the gesture, mamí, but this wasn't what I had in mind," Ranger said, snapping the small case closed.

His mother looked to me and smiled.

"Maybe you should ask Stephanie," she said.

Ranger's chocolate eyes connected with mine, and my heart raced. His brow furrowed, and his attention returned to the small box in his hand. He opened it and removed the ring, placing it in my palm.

"Do you like it?" he asked curiously, unsure how to read my flustered expression.

I sniffled, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. Truth be told, I did like it. For me, the price tag didn't matter. I knew Ranger could afford any ring he wanted, but this ring was perfect. That said, I really didn't want to hurt Ranger's feelings. If he wanted something different, who was I to intervene?

"Babe, you're crying," Ranger said, swiping a tear away. "Talk to me. Are these happy tears or sad tears?"

I tried to speak, but I was at a loss for words.

"Did she have a brain aneurysm?" Ranger's mom asked, her tone showing genuine concern.

"Can we have a moment?" Ranger asked his mom, getting to his feet. He took his mother's hands and helped her up, then escorted her out of the room. He returned to me and got on his knees on the floor in front of me.

"Stephanie?" he asked.

I nodded and swallowed.

"Do you want this?" he asked, touching the delicate ring in my palm.

I nodded again.

"It's nice enough for you?"

I nodded.

"Are you sure I can't select something nicer for you?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowed with discontent.

I shook my head no.

He smirked at me. As usual, I amused him.

"I'm going to have a hard time explaining this," Ranger said, taking the ring between his thumb and first finger. "Tank is never going to let me hear the end of it."

I laughed as tears spilled from my eyes and down my cheeks. I sniffled and wiped my nose on my shirt sleeve, taking a steadying breath.

"Stephanie Michelle Plum," Ranger said, his eyes holding mine. "You're everything to me, and I can't imagine spending my life with anyone but you. You've seen me at my worst, but you bring out my best."

He paused, taking my left hand in his.

"In fact, you bring out the best in everyone around you. That's one thing I love about you. You're an extraordinary person, and I'm so lucky to share my life with you. I love you. Would you do me the exceptional honor of being my wife?"

I exhaled the breath I'd been holding, whispering "yes" on the rush of air.

Ranger slid the delicate ring on my finger, and to my surprise, it fit. He kissed the back of my hand, then took my face in his hands, softly kissing my lips. He broke from the kiss, resting his forehead against mine.

"I love you," I choked out, and we both broke into light laughter. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and Ranger wrapped his arms around my waist, lifting me off the couch and spinning me around. I giggled in response, feeling light as a feather and filled with joy.

We were interrupted by cheers, and I saw his mother standing in the doorway recording us on her iPhone. Ranger's dad poked his head around the corner holding a bottle of sparkling wine in his hand.

"This calls for a celebratory drink," his father announced, uncorking the bottle. He pulled several flutes from a small glass-front cabinet and poured some for Ranger and I.

"We're drinking?" Ximena asked, popping her head into the room. "What's the occasion?"

Ranger beamed at Ximena, holding my left hand out to her.

"Stephanie has agreed to be my wife," Ranger announced.

"Jeez, it's about time," she said, taking a flute from Roberto. Everyone laughed.

"A toast," announced Roberto, holding his glass aloft. "To my handsome son and his beautiful fiancé. May life bless you with all the joy it has to offer. ¡Salud!"

We all held up our glasses then drank. Mariposa took several photos of us standing together, posing us like only a mother could.

"Oh, I must send these to the family!" Mariposa said, frantically scurrying away with her cell phone in hand.

"Mom…" Ranger called after her, but making no real effort to intervene. He knew she was a force of nature.

"Let's have lunch," I suggested, taking Ranger's hand in mine.

He nodded agreement, and we went to fetch the lunch basket from the vestibule.