All familiar characters belong to Janet. Mistakes are solely mine.
"Hey, Boss …" Vince said in my ear, "I think the woman Santos is interested in is on the line. She wants to speak to you."
This should be interesting. "Put her through."
"Carlos Manoso?" She asked a beat later.
"Speaking. What can I do for you?"
"My name is Ayanna Tseko. I believe you know someone by the name of Lester Santos."
"I do."
"Last time he visited the restaurant where I currently work, he left me a literal list of references when he paid his bill. Your name was at the top of that list with a parenthetical aside that you would 'Tell me how it is'. End quote. Also, that you shouldn't let Stephanie add anything to our conversation."
"He's afraid my wife will be too free with information."
"She's one of the with childs, right? The curly-haired one? There were a lot of women and a lot of names being thrown around that day, but she seemed like she'd spent the entire mealtime policing the crowd."
"That would be her. She likes people to be polite and things to run smoothly."
"Congratulations."
"Thank you."
I know she's congratulating me on our impending baby, but I continue to celebrate the fact that I got Stephanie to love me and then got it finalized in the courts.
"So … tell me the truth. Do I need to be worried about this Lester guy?" Ayanna was asking. "Do I have to speak to my boss and get him banned from my workplace? He doesn't strike me as dangerous, but he keeps showing up even though I've already told him I'm not dating anyone right now, especially someone like him."
"He doesn't pose a threat," I assured her. "He's the man you'd want on hand if someone dangerous does come into your restaurant. He's been one of my closest friends for over a decade, and I don't trust many people."
"I heard you own a security firm too."
"I'd guess you heard that from Stephanie solely to put your mind at ease over Santos."
"So … you'd vouch for him?"
"I do more than just vouch for him on a daily basis. I trust him with my life, but more importantly … I trust him to keep my family safe."
I heard her release a breath. "That's good to hear. I'm not interested in dating right now, but I admit … he hasn't been awful to talk to."
"I respect your decision, and I'll make sure Santos does too, but don't let his looks be what keeps you from seeing what an honorable man he is."
"He's a player. He admitted that himself."
If Lester hadn't cornered me a few days ago and asked me to say whatever I need to if Ayanna did contact me, I wouldn't be telling her anything more. If I thought Santos is only going after something because it's off-limits, I also wouldn't be sharing more information about him. But there appears to be something about this woman that has him acting out of character, and if I can help him find what I have with Stephanie, I feel it's my duty to try.
"He would tell you exactly how he's lived so you won't be surprised by anything you may hear, but he never talks about why he chose the carefree lifestyle he has."
"Probably a traumatic childhood. That's how it always starts," she said, already preparing to blow him off all over again.
"Yes, but not in the way you're likely picturing. He had two parents who genuinely loved each other and who loved him just as much."
"But they got divorced and put him in the middle of it," she predicted.
"Not even close. His mother died from a brain aneurysm when he was six. None of them knew what hit them. His father was completely devastated and never fully recovered. Seeing how his dad lived only half a life from the day he lost the love of his - until he rejoined her when he died eight years later - Lester swore he'd never allow himself to be hurt like that or to that extent. He's a protective person, but that's nothing compared to how he's protected himself."
"So … he wants to date me just so he can dump me if I want us to eventually get serious?" She asked.
That being her takeaway from what I said is interesting. I'd bet she's far more susceptible to Lester's charms than she's willing to admit even to herself.
"Knowing him like I do, that wouldn't be how I see this. He doesn't 'chase' anyone. If someone's not into him, he keeps walking. It may have come across as cheesy or desperate that he showed up at the restaurant with Stephanie's grandmother, but he's trying. He's out of his element here."
She was quiet for a few beats before speaking again. "Okay. I'll file that information away, though it won't change anything."
"Maybe not, but I don't think it's fair to judge him without having some insight into who he is and where he's coming from."
"I appreciate that. Is Stephanie there?"
"She's in her office. I can bring her in if you'd like."
"Since Lester told me not to listen to what she might say if I did call, I'd really like to hear her take on things."
"Alright. Give me a minute to ask her to join the conversation."
I wouldn't normally disturb my wife for something like this, especially since we had a doctor's appointment this morning and started work later than usual, but when Stephanie gets a bead on someone, she'll only take a break if Olivia needs her.
I sent her a quick text saying I have someone who would like a word with her, and my baby came running into my office a few seconds later.
"Daddy knees me," she said, proud to come to my rescue.
"Sorry," Stephanie said a moment later. "I took a second to close my door and she decided to crash your … "
She was looking around, likely picturing our daughter crashing an important business meeting, but she didn't see anyone except the two of us.
"Ayanna is on the line," I informed her, nodding towards the desk phone as I sat our daughter on my chair with me. "Santos told her not to speak to you, so she asked for a minute of your time."
My wife smiled. "I really liked her before, but she's quickly becoming one of my new favorite people." She lifted the receiver. "Hey, Ayanna. How're you doing? Yeah, that was Olive coming to help her Daddy. I said he needed us for a minute, and she decided that meant she has to save his day."
She paused and leaned her hip on the front of my desk as she talked.
"What we do?" Olivia asked me.
"You can sign your name on these important papers," I suggested to my baby, sliding over a report I'd already read and my pen so she could add a few ink lines to 'her document'.
I know Stephanie cares about Lester and would like to see him happy, so I left only one ear on her conversation and focused the rest of my attention on my daughter.
"Deer go," she stated, pushing the paper back onto my desk.
"Good job. Thank you."
"I dude ood."
"You do a lot of things well," I agreed.
"I talk?" She asked, looking at her Mama.
"Mama's talking to someone you don't know. But I have a feeling she'll be showing up soon and you'll be able to meet and talk to her then."
"I see peoples."
"You have met many people over the years."
"We fends."
"Yes. You have a lot of friends too," I agreed.
"Dis manies," she said, holding up her hands with a combined finger count that totaled seven.
"You'll need more hands if you want to count all your Aunts and Uncles as your friends."
She lifted her foot and pointed. "I got count toes."
"Why don't we save that for bath time, and you can tape this for me instead."
I put an envelope and tape dispenser in front of her and tuned back into Stephanie's conversation just in time to hear something alarming.
"Let me handle that," my wife was saying.
"Babe."
She glanced over at me. "What?"
"No plotting Santos' demise."
"I wasn't. I was just telling Ayanna to let me handle Lester's questions on what I may or may not have shared."
I lifted one eyebrow and kept up eye contact.
"I promise," she said after only a beat of silence, "that's all it is. I know what to say to him to get the result he needs; Ayanna is new to Lester-speak."
I don't know why, but that reassured me.
She wrapped up the call after a few minutes of small talk and additional plans to get together. And then she was back with us.
"Do I have to warn the man?" I asked.
"No. I'm going to play nice. And despite what she's been saying, I think Ayanna's more into Lester than either of them realizes. He just has to convince her that he's not in this for the challenge, the chase, or potential bed time ..."
"No seepies," Olivia stated.
"No, no time in bed for anyone right now," her Mama told her. "But Uncle Lester may need our help at some point to make a really good friend."
Clearly, I'm not the only one who can keep track of multiple conversations.
"I got fends."
"Yep. You do because you are a super cool little kid," Steph told her. "And everybody loves you."
Olivia leaned back against me with a huge smile on her face. I love Stephanie for many reasons, but how she continues to have our kids feeling understood, appreciated, and loved may top what she does to and for me.
My wife turned her body fully towards us. "Since we're already on a work break, what do you think of seeing if my Dad's back and paying him a special visit if he is?"
"Can you pass me the phone, Olive?" I asked just so she'll feel included.
She tipped her entire body forward and grabbed the receiver Stephanie had just put back. She handed it to me and looked at her Mama expectantly.
Steph held up her hand for a high-five. "Great job," she told our baby.
I hit a button and got the information I wanted.
"Mr. Plum came back to the building twenty-two minutes ago," Vince told me. "Camera has him still on four."
"Thank you," I told him and hung up. "Frank's in his apartment."
"Oh good," Steph said. "Olive, are you up to helping us tell Grandpa Plum about our morning?"
"I teld Gampy."
Her Mama stood and held out her hand. "Well ... let's head out then, but we need to make a quick pit stop at our office first."
Steph darted in to grab what she wanted off her desk, and we were in the elevator less than a minute later. Olivia did the honors of slapping her grandfather's door until he opened it.
"Well looky who's here," he told Olivia. "It's my fish sitter. Are you here to keep them company again?"
"We can stick around for a few minutes if you're not busy," Steph said to him, "but we're here for a reason. Do you want to play show and tell with Grandpa Plum, Olive?"
She passed the photo to our daughter and waited for Olivia to do her thing.
She ran over and pressed the picture into his hands. "It my bebe," she told him.
I slid my arm around my wife as she watched Frank look over the latest ultrasound photo of our son.
"You said you wanted to be part of this," she said nervously into the silence.
He looked up and at her. I wouldn't point it out for fear of embarrassing him, but his eyes are visibly shinier than they were when we first walked in.
"I did and I do," he told Steph. "I just wasn't sure I deserved it."
That was said as he looked back down at the almost identifiable shape of our baby.
"I don't expect or require people to be perfect, Dad," Steph said in a quiet tone like she was afraid to spook him. "I just need to feel like they care. And it seems like you do … a lot. My doctor says everything looks good. Our baby is growing just as he should be."
Frank was back to not saying anything, and I can tell Stephanie is starting to get stressed, which is something I'll do anything to avoid.
"Frank, you've shown that you want to be part of our family," I reminded him. "And this is us taking you at your word and wanting to share more of our lives with you."
That snapped him out of whatever he was thinking. "I thank you for that. I can already tell this little guy is going to be more than a match for Olivia."
"What do you think, Olive?" Steph said. "Do you think your baby brother will be able to keep up with you?"
"I getz a brubba play."
"I hope so," Steph replied. "I want you, Julie, and your little brother to always have lots of fun together."
"Can I keep this?" Frank asked, holding up the photo.
"Sure. We get multiple copies. Ranger's parents politely demand one. Ella, too. And someone in the control room always posts new pics to the company email so all buildings stay updated."
"I'm surprised you haven't shut that down yet," I teased.
She shrugged. "It's kinda nice to know that people are pulling for us and are that invested in our family."
"You're a really good mother, Stephanie," Frank told his daughter, surprising all of us. "I don't say that enough. I handled almost everything wrong, but you and Valerie have become what your mother and I couldn't be."
"You're doing okay now, Dad. You make Olive happy and that's all I want."
His expression softened when his eyes moved to his aquarium wall where my daughter is currently standing with her nose flattened against the glass.
"She's not hard to love," he said almost under his breath. "She gets that from her mother."
Frank's emotions have to almost be dragged out of him, but when he does give into them … he shores up his daughter while making himself stronger. Our son will have no shortage of positive male role models but knowing that her father will be among them has no doubt changed my wife for the better.
