Here's a Thanksgiving surprise for everyone. I just couldn't hold off on posting this chapter for another week, so I'm posting it now!
I can't believe there are people who actually want to read what I write. Talk about a confidence booster for my other writing! Thanks for reading and for all of the positive feedback, I love it!
My disclaimer for this chapter…I'm not a lawyer nor a legal expert. I did study Criminal Justice in college and worked in corrections for five years. That's the extent of my legal knowledge. So if anyone reads this chapter and thinks/knows the charges and/or the sentencing doesn't make sense…it probably doesn't lol!
Chapter 10
After lunch, Lexi had gone back to the living room to watch her movie leaving Ranger and Amy in the kitchen cleaning up. Ranger was putting the leftover food away in the fridge while Amy rinsed dishes and put them in the dishwasher. Amy wasn't talking, she wasn't in the mood to just chat but she also didn't want to get into what she knew would be a heavy discussion and have Lexi hear something she wasn't ready for her to hear. Thankfully Ranger was good at not talking.
"I can stay for the afternoon, I don't really have anything going on this afternoon." Ranger finally broke the silence.
"I'm okay, really. I mean yes I'm freaking out but my lawyer is good, I know he's going to do everything he can to keep Troy in prison and from getting any say over Lexi."
Ranger nodded. "I'm not doubting…" he stopped as he pulled his phone out of his pocket and answered immediately after seeing the name on the Caller ID. "Yo."
Amy watched as Ranger mainly listened to the other person, giving one syllable noises and answers now and then. She worried she was eavesdropping, but realized that if he hadn't wanted her to hear he would've left the room. Even so, she went back to cleaning up the kitchen and Ranger eventually walked over to the patio doors and stepped out to the deck. After she finished clearing up lunch she went back to the living room and attempted to read. She had read the exact same sentence about twenty times before she heard the patio door open.
"Amy," he got her attention and motioned for her to step outside with him. After closing the door behind her he held his phone out in front of him. "John I have you on speakerphone so Amy can join in on the conversation, but repeat everything you just told me."
"Okay. Well I was just telling Ranger that Troy has absolutely no say in anything that happens in your life or Lexi's life right now. One thing that you have on your side is you have a steady job and have been able to provide your daughter with a stable and loving home. She has friends, she participates in dance and other school and community events and activities. The court is going to side heavily with you, that removing her from her stable environment and having her visit some guy that she doesn't really even know in a prison in Florida hundreds of miles away from her home isn't really in her best interests. However, your lawyer is right on one thing, Lexi is getting older and better able to understand why her father is in prison. So establishing that taking her out of her current routine would be detrimental is key. I'm working with your lawyer on that. We're going to set up a meeting with a family counselor and a child psychologist to kind of set the ground work on that."
"That sounds great." Amy couldn't help but smile up at Ranger. He really would do anything for her and Lexi.
"Another thing that could help a lot, which I was discussing with Ranger and is why he brought you in on the conversation, one thing that could help your case even more is if we made it even harder for Troy to prove that Lexi needs him. Technically she doesn't have a father figure in her life right now. However, if you two were to get married and Ranger adopted Lexi, the court would have a harder time proving that Troy's presence in her life would be beneficial."
Amy was pretty sure that she'd lost the ability to speak. She looked at Ranger and found that he had schooled his expression to be neutral. She couldn't even begin to formulate a response to that. After nearly a minute of silence Ranger stepped in.
"I realize time is of the essence with this, but when should we try to get this done?"
"The sooner the better." They could hear John shuffling some paperwork around in the background. " It'll take a few months at least to get any kind of deposition or actual court hearing for an initial appearance. David is going to have the domestic assault charges done and filed by the end of the day. But it'll still take some time to get all of the necessary paperwork and evidence together, especially since the incident happened years ago. In the mean time you guys would be giving Lexi exactly what she needs, you would be providing her with a stable home with two loving parents. Troy's argument wouldn't carry much weight, with him still being in prison and then looking at even more time than he started out with."
"Thank You John, we're going to discuss this and I will get back to you as soon as I can. But I would go ahead and get as much of the paperwork done now that you can."
"Okay. It would be in your best interest to have a pre-nuptial agreement drawn up. Amy, I sincerely hope that doesn't offend you." John really did sound uncomfortable bringing that subject up knowing that she and Ranger hadn't even talked about marriage let alone a pre-nuptial contract.
"No, I'm definitely not offended." Amy could answer that at least. The whole marriage thing itself was a different subject altogether.
"I will talk to Amy and we'll figure out where we want to go from here. I agree that we'll need to draw up some sort of agreement," Ranger looked at her and he actually seemed like he felt a little bad about agreeing with his lawyer. "Amy and I will talk about all of that and I'll get back to you John."
"Sounds like a plan. I'll do what I can for now and you just let me know when to proceed with everything."
"I will." Ranger pushed the end button and carefully watched Amy's face to see just how far he was pushing her. He didn't want her to break down again, or to kick him out. Getting married after a week of dating wasn't exactly how he'd seen this going. But he knew Amy was the one, and he couldn't stand to see her upset. If getting married and adopting Lexi would help, he would do it.
"I never would have imagined that you and I would be talking marriage already, Ranger. I'm not taking back anything I said over the weekend. But we haven't even been dating a week. Is that going to seem like a stable relationship to a judge?" She linked her fingers on top of her head and walked to the edge of the deck. "This is just a lot to take in, all in one day. First Troy could get out on early parole, then he's seeking parental rights and visitation. Now you and your lawyer are saying we should get married so you can adopt Lexi. It's all just, too much. My brain has totally shut down."
Ranger slowly walked up behind her, stopping just a few inches from her. "I get it Amy. I know this is overwhelming. Despite what John said, this does not have to be done today. Your lawyer is taking care of filing the charges against Troy, so the most important part is done." Ranger put his hands on Amy's shoulder's, turning her so that she faced him. Once she had turned she dropped her arms, so Ranger took her hands in his. "I don't have any pressing meetings, I'm going to reschedule what I have for the rest of the afternoon. We're going to spend some time together. As you feel up to it we'll talk. How does that sound?"
Amy looked into Ranger's intense eyes and nodded as he squeezed her hands. "I think that would be nice."
They walked back into the house and joined Lexi watching her movie in the living room. Ranger sat down on the couch and pulled Amy down to sit next to him with his arm around her shoulders. He turned and kissed the side of her head before he settled in to watch the movie. It was over halfway over with but Ranger quickly caught on to the plot of the movie and loved that it was about The Day of the Dead.
"Hey Lexi," she turned to look at him, "Did you know that The Day of the Dead is a real Spanish holiday?"
"No, I didn't." she looked fascinated. "What do you do for it?"
"Well, I'm Cuban, so not technically Spanish, but we still celebrated. Honestly the Manoso's love any reason to gather all of the family and eat a lot of good food. But it's held on the first of November. In some countries they have parades. We never went that far here but we build an altar on our front yard to honor and celebrate all of our loved ones who had passed away. It's a day to remember our family members and ancestors who aren't with us anymore."
"Does your family still celebrate it?"
"We haven't missed a year that I know of."
"Cool! Can we come this year?!"
"Absolutely." Ranger smiled at her. "I would love for you and your mom to join us."
"Yay!" Lexi was practically bouncing in her seat.
Amy could tell that Lexi was going to start counting down the days and pestering her every single day if it was The Day of the Dead yet. "She's not going to forget that."
"I don't want her to."
Amy smiled, but her smile quickly faded. "Are you sure you want to take this step?"
Ranger knew she wasn't referring to The Day of the Dead celebration. "Yes. I told you I would do anything for the two of you. I meant it."
"There needs to be a pre-nuptial agreement. I don't want your company. I actually don't really want anything."
"If you want to talk details," Ranger glanced quickly at Lexi, who was absolutely captivated by the movie, then looked back to Amy, "Usually the way it's worded you would be entitled to fifty percent ownership for the duration of our marriage. If something were to happen to me you would be the sole owner. If we divorced, you would forfeit your fifty percent. Right now I'm the sole owner but my current will leaves the company to Tank. That would obviously change."
"Ranger I don't really know how to run your company. Leave Tank as the beneficiary to take over."
"I'll meet you in the middle. Tank will take over my fifty percent."
"Okay." Amy conceded. "But the house is yours. You just bought it and your putting all of this money into it. I'm putting nothing into it."
"Where would you go?"
"Hello, it's the twenty-first century, I do make my own money. I can get a house for myself."
"I might be building another three-car detached garage, being out on an acreage I'm thinking about getting some ATV's and dirt bikes and other fun stuff for me and the guys to do with our time off. And for training purposes as well. I can put a two-bedroom apartment above it. If, and that's a big if, we were to divorce I could live in the apartment and you and the kids can keep the house. I don't want to displace the kids, that would be stressful for everyone."
"You have kids on the brain, don't you?" Amy shot Ranger an accusing glare with a cheeky grin.
"I do, I won't lie. I'm no spring chicken." He just smiled.
"I'm beginning to think that Friday night was intentional." She teased.
"It definitely was not intentional. But I can hope."
"Okay, I suppose you living in an apartment on the property wouldn't be bad."
"You wouldn't have to quit your job. I would never force you out if we split."
"This just seems so wrong to talk about. I know that it's all hypothetical but it seems almost prophetic considering our short relationship thus far."
"Do I seem like an impulsive person?" He waited for her to respond, finally continuing a few seconds later after she had shook her head No. "I carefully think about everything. I know we haven't been dating long at all, but we've known each other for years. This is it, you and Lexi are what I want."
"When do you want all of this to happen?"
"That's totally up to you. We can do a quickie courthouse wedding or just get a justice of the peace to come to us."
"No." Amy interjected, "Your family should be there. I can try to get my dad and siblings here, although there's no promises there. How long do you think it'll take to get everything organized?"
"How many people are you thinking?"
"Well, however many people from your family, plus all of the Rangeman employees which is about forty. If my dad, stepmom, and siblings all come that's nine or ten depending on significant others. None of my grandparents are alive."
"Okay, with my family, my daughter Julie, we would probably only be looking at about a hundred people."
"I've never had to rent anywhere in Trenton to hold a party before, so I don't even know where to begin."
"I have a crazy idea. How fancy do you want this party to be? Do you want the ceremony in a church then a special sit-down meal at a different venue?"
"I hope you don't feel offended, but I've kind of already done all of that. I'll probably end up finding a nice formal dress off the rack somewhere. We can just do the ceremony and reception at the same place, don't you think?" Amy really didn't want to upset Ranger if he was hoping for a church wedding with her wearing white.
"I think that sounds nice. I was actually debating on having it at the new house. We won't have any furniture out there so we can set things up however we want. We can do the ceremony standing up in the formal living room. We can set up a buffet on the island in the kitchen and set up small tables for three or four people each around the dining room and the family room. We can bring in heaters for the patio."
"The contractors haven't even started on the house yet. So we're looking at late October or early November in New Jersey, you do realize there could be six inches of snow by then, right?" Amy was looking at him like he was crazy.
"We've had an unseasonably warm fall so far. If it does snow we won't set up the patio. But if it's warm enough it gives everyone more room."
"You'll have to talk to Bobby, the formal living room will have to be completely overhauled in less than a month, if he can't do that we can move the party back a couple weeks." Amy got up grabbed a notepad and pen off the end table by her chair. "I'm going to start making a list." She sat back down next to Ranger.
"Since we know our venue is available whenever and it's free, I guess I need to start planning. I'll call Bobby and see if he can speed up the plans for the house. Or at least just the main floor that we'll be using."
Amy started scribbling away on the notepad. "We'll need to contact a rental company to get tables and chairs." Amy was adding line after line of things to do and had quit talking.
Ranger looked over at the list to see she'd added dress shopping, pick colors or theme, dress for Lexi, caterer/food, invitations, cake, and need to finalize paint colors for entire house.
"That's a heck of a list already sweetheart." Ranger took the pen and notepad from her and added one to-do of his own. "You can't cross this one off."
Amy took the pen and notepad back and saw that he'd added a spa day for her and Lexi. "I definitely will not be crossing that off."
They were sitting there chatting quietly about wedding plans, and didn't even notice that Lexi's movie was over and she was standing not three feet from them. "Why are you making a list, mom?"
Amy's head quickly shot up and she looked a little panicked at answering Lexi's question. "Well baby, we're planning a party."
"For your birthday?!" Lexi clapped her hands together. "I want to help!"
"No, it's not for my birthday."
"Is that coming up soon?" Ranger gave her a curious look.
"Uh hu," Lexi nodded. "Mom's birthday is October eighth."
Ranger did his signature head tilt and gave Amy's knee a little squeeze, "When were you going to tell me it was your birthday in less than two weeks?"
"Oh come on, I've worked for you for years and I know you've practically memorized my employee file. You had to have remembered it was my birthday coming up next month."
"I didn't memorize your file," at Amy's knowing stare he added, "Okay, I didn't memorize ALL of your file. I'll admit that your birthday slipped by me."
"If the party isn't for your birthday, what is it for?"
Amy shook her head just once at Ranger, letting him know not to say anything yet. "It's just a party for work baby."
"But I promise we will plan an awesome party for your moms birthday." Ranger smiled at Lexi, whose face lit up.
Amy could see that Lexi really did need a male figure in her life. Other than the few times they had visited Amy's family, she'd never seen Lexi around men. She was different with Ranger than she was with her grandpa and uncles. Ranger intently listened while Lexi told him what we usually did for my birthday, and he chimed in occasionally with a small change of his own here or there. Of course Lexi agreed with him every time.
"Should I leave the two of you alone to plan the party without me?" Amy teased.
"Mom!" Lexi laughed.
Ranger just grinned, "No," he winked at Lexi before looking at Amy, "I've got a couple of tricks up my sleeve. But I think we should probably have dinner with my parents this week. What night would work best for you?"
"I have dance class Thursday night, and mom and I do our girls night on Wednesday's." Lexi quickly chimed in.
"I'll call my mom and find out what they have going on for the week. We may have to do Friday night." Ranger took Amy's hand in his, something that didn't go unnoticed by Lexi.
"Lex, we can change our girls night plans to another night or to the weekend." Amy was quick to reassure Lexi that they would still have their girls night, even if it wasn't on the night they usually did it.
"Yeah, I guess." She didn't seem upset or overly emotional about that change. With girls you just never knew for sure what would cause a meltdown. Although Amy was pretty sure that Ranger's presence was the cause of her current state of calmness.
Ranger stood, pulling Amy up with him. "I'm going to need another pad of paper and a pen. I need to borrow your computer too. I've got to get started on some of these things today."
"Yeah, my office is through the French doors in the dining room." Amy started walking with Ranger to her office. "I probably need to start working on my list too."
Once they were in her office with Ranger sitting at the desk and Amy sitting in one of her comfy leather reading chairs, Amy finally got a chance to just sit and think.
"Everything okay over there?" Ranger had his phone out, the computer on with his email pulled up, and was writing down some quick notes on the paper in front of him.
Amy smiled, "Yeah. I'm just overwhelmed." Noticing Ranger's slight look of concern Amy quickly continued, "Not by you. Well, you do overwhelm me and the two of us getting married and moving to your huge mansion in Princeton is overwhelming, but not in an altogether bad way. All of the other crap, the legal stuff, just has me feeling slightly like I'm drowning."
Ranger stood up and walked to her. He sat on the ottoman in front of her chair and grabbed her hands firmly in his. "You don't need to feel overwhelmed by that. The best part about having a husband, even if we're not technically married yet, is that you have someone to share your burdens. My lawyers are all over it. I know your worried and that nothing I say will make you stop worrying. Can you at least try to worry a little less knowing that I'm worried about everything too?"
Amy leaned forward pressing her lips to Ranger's. She'd meant for it to just be a light-hearted kiss, to tell him thank you for being so amazing and supportive. But as was usually the case, things got hot and heavy pretty fast. In less than sixty seconds Ranger had her straddling him with his arms crushing her to him and she was clutching fistfuls of his shirt.
"Mom, are we going…" Lexi's voice from the doorway caught them off guard and Amy quickly retreated back to her chair. Lexi's expression told Amy that she wasn't impressed at finding her mom making out with her new boyfriend.
"Hey baby." Amy smiled at Lexi, thankful that at least she and Ranger hadn't taken any clothes off.
Lexi's face still looked like Amy had told her she was only getting brussel sprouts for dinner. "Weren't we going to go grocery shopping?" Lexi stayed in the doorway.
Ranger moved back to the desk. "We could all go."
Amy shook her head. "We could. But you really should probably get in touch with your lawyer and the contractor and whatever else you've added to your list. We need a time frame and the paperwork needs to be started ASAP."
"True, true. Do you want me to go back to my place? Or can I stay here?"
"Just stay here." Amy stood up. "Lex, why don't you go change out of your pajamas and we'll leave in about ten minutes."
"Okay!" Lexi ran off to go upstairs to her bedroom.
"Any special requests for supper?" Amy pulled up her notes on her phone to check her grocery list and add what she'd need for dinner.
"I get to stay for supper too?" He playfully teased her. "Any chance I can stay for the night?"
"That's a negative boss, I don't want those questions from Lexi in the morning."
"We'll have to explain things to her eventually."
"Yes we will. But I think we all need some time, and I want to give her time to adjust to us. She's kind of going to get hit with everything all at once. So I'd like to space it out a little."
"Fair enough." Ranger tilted his head slightly. "What were you planning to make for dinner?"
"I make really good eggplant roll ups, it's not necessarily super healthy because the eggplant is pan-fried in olive oil but it's good. And Lex loves veggies so I was going to roast some fresh vegetables."
"Sounds good to me."
"Well your easy. I figured you'd insist on some twigs and berries or something." Amy teased.
"Eggplant is really good for you. And of course roasted veggies are too. But now that you mention it, a salad wouldn't be bad."
"I'll add fresh lettuce to my list. Any preference on dressing? I tend to make all our dressings, they taste better. I have a creamy balsamic, Italian, and ranch-all homemade-in the fridge right now."
"I'll try one of those."
"Okay." Amy looked up as they heard Lexi practically running down the stairs. "Well, there's my cue to leave. It'll probably take us a little over an hour or so to get our groceries and drive there and back."
"Sounds good. I should still be here. I'm going to call Bobby first, I'm probably going to have to give him a little cash incentive to get the house plans done sooner and see how long it will take to get the formal living room done. Then I'll call John back to have him get to work on the prenup and start the adoption paperwork."
"We can't really set a date until we know when Bobby can get the first floor of the house done, or at least the formal living room."
"I'd like for all of the first floor to be done, since most everyone will be visiting the house for the first time."
"Well I hate to say it, but you might want to offer him a pretty large cash incentive."
"I'm planning on it."
"Mom, are you ready to go yet?" Lexi walked back in the office.
"Yes. Go get your shoes on, I'll be right behind you."
"You girls go, I'll be here."
"Sounds good. We'll be back." Amy smiled and lifted her hand, giving Ranger an obnoxiously cutesy finger wave with a wink.
"Why don't you come closer and do that?" His voice somehow managed to get rougher and even lower than normal.
"Because I've already been caught making out with my boyfriend…"
"Fiancé."
"Nuance." Amy started walking backwards towards the door. "Anyways, I really don't want Lexi walking in on us getting busy on my desk."
"That puts ideas in my head that are going to make it really hard to work on my to-do list."
"You'll manage."
"Bye Sweetheart."
"Bye." Amy saw Ranger's wink just before she left the room. That man was impossibly sexy without even trying.
