At Ranger's insistence, I phoned my mother and grandmother to invite them to lunch the following day. As my mother answered, I could hear my grandmother in the background. "Your grandmother", said my mother, "is driving me crazy. She has gone to the library and has taken out books on how to write a resume. She wants to apply to work as a cashier at the porn shop. She says that, not only is she experienced in porn, she also is good with money. She's been watching porn on the computer again. Last night I could hear it from my bedroom and, when I asked her to shut it down, she said it was research."

I laughed. "Let me talk to her."

My mother got my grandmother, and my grandmother said, "hey, Steph. I'm planning on applying at the porn shop tomorrow. I could be a good salesperson. Will you be a reference?"

"I would, but you're not supposed to have family members as references."

"Oh."

"You know that, to be a saleswoman or even a cashier, you need to stand on your feet for several hours a day, don't you? I know you have trouble standing for long periods of time when you are at the funeral home, so I'm a little worried about it."

"That's true."

"Besides, if you are going to the porn shop you won't be able to do what I was going to suggest that you do tomorrow."

"What's that?"

"It's a secret that I'm telling just you and Mom about, but I don't want you to talk about it or let it be known that you are doing this."

I could tell that my grandmother was immediately interested. "You can tell me", she said. "I can keep a secret."

"I know. Can you put it on speakerphone, and I'll talk to Mom at the same time?"

Mom came on the line, and I could almost feel my grandmother vibrating in excitement. "I was wondering whether you'd like to come to Ranger's for lunch tomorrow", I said. "It's a secret because besides me, Ranger and his housekeeper, no one has seen the inside of Ranger's apartment before. Even his family hasn't seen the inside of it. Ranger has made a lot of enemies over the years and one of the ways he handles the danger is to keep his private life private. He may take it to the extreme, but that caution is what keeps me safe. Now that I am in his life, he is going to be even more cautious but Ranger and I knew that we could count on you to keep it secret and not tell anyone about his place. However, if you are planning on applying at the porn shop tomorrow, Grandma, Mom can always come for lunch without you."

There was a silence for a second, then Grandma said, "you know, that needing to stand all day would make things hard for me. I don't think I would like to stand all day. My bones couldn't take that. I don't think I will apply to the porn shop after all."

I could hear the relief in my mother's voice as she said, "thank you, Steph. What time would you like us?"

"How about eleven-thirty? That way we can have a bit of a visit before lunch."

I hung up the phone after giving directions a few minutes later, then called Ella and told her about the guests that I was having the next day. She told me that she was making soup for dinner in the break room, and she'd save some for our lunch. She also said that she would make a vegetable tray and a selection of sandwiches for our lunch, and she'd make some banana cake with cream cheese frosting for our dessert. While all of Ella's food was excellent, having the added dessert made it even better.

Following asking my mother and grandmother to lunch, I called the bonds office. Connie answered, and I asked her to put me on speakerphone. When she had, I asked both Connie and Lula whether she'd like to come for lunch and I could hear Lula squeal in the background. "I won't be able to take you into the office area", I said. "There's too much top secret stuff going on there and Ranger doesn't want any people other than staff in the offices or the control room. It's a matter of security."

"Like national security?" said Lula. I could imagine her sitting forward, her eyes bright with excitement. I don't know who would be more excited by their invitation – Lula or my grandmother.

"Amongst other things", I said. "Also, Ranger is counting on you keeping the location, layout and everything about his apartment a secret. You will have seen it, but you won't be allowed to talk about it. Ranger has made many enemies over the years, and to keep me safe he counts on his apartment being safe. It is our sanctuary. If you don't think that you can keep this a secret, then you aren't welcome." I had to be definite for Lula's sake. She had a history of blabbing secrets to anybody that would listen.

"I understand", said Lula. "You can count on me. My lips are sealed. I have locked them up and am throwing away the key."

"And one final thing", I said. "There will be no looking in Ranger's underwear drawer to find out what kind of underwear he wears."

There was a groan from Lula. "You know, I can keep this a secret, but not being able to peek into his underwear drawer will be hard."

I laughed. "Those are my conditions."

"We'll take them", said Connie. "I'd love to see Ranger's apartment."

"What made Ranger change his mind about letting people into his apartment?" said Lula. "He's been pretty hard and fast about not inviting people in before."

"He said that, now that I live here, it is my apartment too, and that my friends would want to see where we live. I am inviting my mom and grandmother for lunch tomorrow."

"You'll have to tell us how it went", said Connie.

"I will", I said. "I also have a story for you about the newest person that Ranger is protecting."

"Is the person he's protecting living with you?" said Lula.

I laughed. "No. This person will never see the inside of either the office or any of the apartments. I'll tell you more about it on Wednesday."

"You have me curious", said Lula. "I don't think I can wait until Wednesday."

I smiled. "Remember, keep it secret."

I got off the phone chuckling about Lula and her need to keep it a secret – and knowing how hard she would find that – and called Ella to tell her about the additional guests on Wednesday. Ella promised to make something good. "I always knew that you'd be good for Ranger", she said. "He was too private, too alone. With you he's found love, but he is also letting people into his life now, and that's a good thing for him."

"We're thinking of having his family up soon, and perhaps inviting Julie to stay for a few days."

"I'm sure his family will be happy to see where he lives. They are so far only reassured that he is living in a nice place because they know that I look after it and I have assured them that the place where he lives is indicative of his more sophisticated side. I think they worried that he was living in a hovel with a dirt floor and that he was eating bugs for dinner before I told him that."

"He seems like such a hard and tough guy that I had thought that as well before I saw where he lived. Now that I have gotten to know him and know of his more gentlemanly attitudes and sophisticated tastes, where he lives makes sense. Even so, I can definitely see your touch in making the place as upscale as it is, from his signature scent to the fresh cut flowers on the front hall table. Ranger told me once that you had a huge input on the design and decorating of his place, and I think you did a good job. I love his apartment."

"I tried to make it something that he would like. I knew he liked to cook and would appreciate a nice kitchen, so I made it a high-end working space and large in case he had his family over and they were all cooking together. The dining room, although not large, is functional. In keeping with Ranger's laidback personality, I made it open concept. His living room is quite a bit larger even though I didn't suspect that Ranger would use it much. After all, the television isn't in there. However, I did put a pullout couch in the space so that Ranger could have guests. I worked with the architect to make the living room large so that it could be subdivided at a later date, if needed, to add additional bedrooms."

My mouth dropped open as I ignored the hint about additional bedrooms. "The sofa is a pullout?" I said. I thought about all the times that Ranger had let me use his apartment as a safe house and had told me that his bed was more comfortable than the narrow sofa. It was his justification for having me sleep with him in his room.

"Both the sofas are", said Ella. "The sheets and blankets for them are in the hall closet at the front door on the shelf."

"Does Ranger know that?"

"He should. I have told him enough. I keep trying to get him to invite his family over, and so far he has refused."

"I look forward to his family seeing his place. I think they would be even more proud of him and what he's accomplished if they could see where he lives."

Ella smiled. "That's what I've always thought. Like Ranger, his parents and siblings are good people. I have known them for years. When my son died, I wanted to die as well. My husband entered a decline out of grief, and we were barely holding ourselves together. My husband ended up losing his job, and things went from bad to worse. Ranger kept in touch with us, and kept tabs on us. He visited regularly to talk to us about our son, and when he started construction on this building he offered us the jobs as housekeeper and caretaker, starting with overseeing the design and selection of finishings for the apartments. He designed the office space, but Luis and I did all the efficiency apartments, Ranger's apartment and our apartment. We had been on the verge of declaring bankruptcy when Ranger offered us the job. It saved us. The government doesn't treat their veterans well, but they also don't treat the veterans' families well either. Yes, what is happening to veterans is horrible. They are returning home after seeing unmentionable horrors, sometimes injured, sometimes mentally ill. However, the families who love the veterans also have a hard road to follow. They are left supporting the injured and ill, often with little or no resources. They are left supporting someone that has likely seen and experienced things that they aren't comfortable in admitting or aren't allowed to admit. In some cases, their loved one doesn't come back from their tour, and the family is left dealing with that. It's criminal that few resources are available for returning vets, but it is equally as revolting that few resources are available for their families. In our case, our son's death devastated us emotionally, physically, financially and professionally. Ranger saved us."

"I can see that. Ranger always comes across as someone who is hard and tough, and he is. But he also has a soft heart."

"That's true", said Ella. "He cares about people an awful lot, and works to protect them as much as he can."

"Inviting his family is the next thing that we will do."

"I'm glad to hear it. I know that Ranger's mom will thank you for encouraging him to let them in. Ranger is such a private person, but he doesn't have to stand so alone."

"I know. And I am the complete opposite. I'm an open book."

"Then you will be good for each other."

I smiled. "Thanks, Ella."

"Can I tell you again how happy I am that you have moved in? Ranger seems so much settled and so much happier now that he's with you."

"So am I", I said.

"I need to go. The sauce I'm cooking for your dinner has just come to a simmer."

"What are we having?"

"Homemade macaroni and cheese and a tossed salad and crème brulee for dessert."

"Yum. Did I tell you", I said, "that I think I love you? Macaroni and cheese is one of my favorites."

"I thought my spaghetti and meatballs were one of your favorites?"

"So are your hamburgers and roasts and stuffed chicken and… pretty well anything you cook is one of my favorites. I had always thought my mother was a good cook until I met you. Now I know that she's a good cook, but you are better. I always love what you make."

Ella laughed. "Thank you", she said.

"Go, before your sauce burns." I laughed and hung up the phone just as Ranger walked into my office.

"How is your research going today?" he asked.

"I'm running some files as we speak, and I got through a lot of the Sales requests today. There are no Operations' ones that are outstanding. I only have two more Sales' requests to handle, and they both look like small requests that won't take much time to complete. Why?"

"I was wondering whether you had time to go to the range and for a training session in the gym."

"Sure do."

"That's good. I could use a workout, and I haven't been in the range for a while myself." He waited until I turned off my computer and locked the door behind me, and he walked with me down to the equipment room to select our bullets.

On the way down to the firing range, Ranger held my hand tightly. "What's wrong?" I said.

Ranger sighed. "Dickie has already tried to leave the apartment twice. Every time Hector goes to the washroom Dickie tries to escape. The first time he tried to leave out the front door. The second time he tried to leave out of the fire escape. He's as determined as you. He's just not as intelligent about it. I don't know what he's hoping to accomplish. After all, he came to us to ask for our help. It isn't like we are forcing our protection on him."

"Did you already cash his check?"

"Yes. It was being done when you were introducing us to your neighbors."

"Good. It wouldn't be the first time that he bounced a check. Did you talk to him?"

"I'm just back from talking to him. He's so self-centered. He said some things against you and I asked him whether he was angry because you divorced him or whether it was because the Burg had all picked sides, and most of the people supported you rather than him. He grew angry at that one, and I again told him that you were letting him stay in your apartment out of the kindness of your heart. He said that I must offer great benefits to inspire such loyalty and that it was his experience that you were anything other than kind. He said that you made a mountain out of a molehill when you were married and that he was just having an affair, that it wasn't anything serious, and that you weren't nearly as much fun when you were married as he thought you would be. He said some things about your performance in bed. I told him that it was true that you weren't a prostitute and you didn't have sex with animals, unlike Joyce Barnhardt, but I wasn't sure what he was expecting since you were every man's dream. Then I asked him if that had been the problem in your relationship, that you were the wrong gender. He blustered for a few minutes, and I left him so that I didn't hit him. I don't know what you saw in him."

"He was a lawyer and can be charming if he wants to be. My parents were pushing me to marry him and have babies, and I thought going the traditional route was the way to go. I never questioned whether that was something I wanted. After we broke up, he told me that he would have said anything to get me into bed with him but that if I had gone to bed with him prior to getting married, he would have known how useless I was in the sack and would never have married me."

"Then he doesn't know what good sex is and he has now won the award for the biggest idiot that I have ever met. That is saying something considering the sector of people that I traditionally work with. And I thought Morelli was an idiot for not respecting you better and for not supporting you better. Morelli would have been a dream to you after being married to Dickie."

I smiled suddenly, and said, "he was, but you're a dream after Morelli. My partners have just improved over time."

He huffed out a laugh and opened the door to the shooting range for me. When I had entered, he handed me safety equipment and grabbed a few targets. He cued one up for me and one up for himself, gave me a kiss, and then took out his gun. I took mine out at the same time. While Ranger shot quickly and they all went through the very center of the bulls-eye, I was a little slower about my shooting and my shots were a little more scattered. However, it was probably my most successful target practice ever. About half of my shots made it into the center of the black circle. Although they didn't tear up the paper and leave a large hole in the target like Ranger's did, there was some definite accuracy with my shooting. Of the remaining fifty percent, all were somewhere on the rings. I was pleased. I had shot several clips in and on the last clip Ranger watched me with a smile on his face.

When I finished shooting, Ranger looked at the target with me. "Congratulations", he said. "I think that target is a keeper." Ranger had encouraged me to periodically keep targets so that I could see the progression of my marksmanship. I hadn't wanted to – I didn't want the reminder of me shooting guns – but I had done what he had suggested and I had to say that I was glad that I had done that. It was reassuring to me to see the improvement, especially when I was having a bad day and didn't feel like I would ever get better. My bad day now is the same as my good day a few months before.

We took off the protective gear and left the range. Ranger put his arm over my shoulder as we walked to the elevators, and I was glad to feel that the tension in his body had dissipated. "I talked to my mother and grandmother", I said. "They are coming for lunch tomorrow, and when I called Connie and Lula, I arranged for them to come for lunch the following day. I have already told Lula that she cannot, under any circumstance, look in your underwear drawer."

Ranger grimaced. "But did you tell your grandmother the same thing?"

I paused. "Damn. No, I didn't. But since my grandmother has already seen your package, seeing your underwear might be anticlimactic." At least, I hope it would be. A couple of years ago Ranger had been targeted by a terrorist and, when Ranger and I were at the shore to capture the criminal, Ranger had taken a shower. Unbeknownst to him, my grandmother had arrived in the room while he was in the bathroom and, when he walked out of the shower naked, and Grandma got an eyeful. "Seeing you naked was her singular most favorite moment in her whole life. It was after that experience that she had decided that she was a cougar and tried to pinch the butts of any cute man walking by. For a few weeks she became a terror at church and my mother could no longer take her to Giovichinni's. She spent her Social Security check at Victoria Secret. Luckily, my grandmother's interests don't last long, and she stopped haunting Victoria Secret a month later. As she said, her tits were the pits – her words, not mine – and no matter how they were dressed up they were still wrinkly and limp. I told her that it was better for her breasts to be wrinkly and limp than for the man to have the same problem."

"That's not a good image, babe."

I laughed. "That's what my dad said."