Introducing Big Blue
Previously:
Knowing exactly what her friend was thinking, Mary Lou softly rubbed best friend's shoulder. "I know it's been hard, Steph, but you've made a family of everyone here. You have the biggest heart of anyone I know and the depths of love all these men have for your will never change. And of course, you have me and Lenny and all our crazy boys who adore each other. But you're right; your Grandparents need this move just as much as you do. Though, you know it's going to be even crazier around here with everyone under the same roof!"
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"Where are we going, Daddy? You gonna finally show me what's under that cover? Is that it? Grandpa, it's you and me and Daddy time, right?" Alex asked the most important men in his life. But looking around he said with a pout, " Where are my 'Tios? They havta see this! Tio Hector and Manny promised me they'd come with us for my first ride!"
Just like his Mother pouting over no donuts, Ranger thought. Alex definitely took after his mother, especially that bottom lip which started to quiver in disappointment.
The door leading to the stairway opened and just like magic, Hector and Manny appeared silently.
"Mijo, calm down," Manny said, squatting down beside his Godson. Just like Hector, Manny felt the family love that permeated the building. Each man had no 'real' family before joining Rangeman and after being welcomed with open arms by Stephanie, the bond the men had with Alex was cemented. Manny was number four on Ranger's phone for the same reason Hector was number three. It was all about family, and the Manoso family had enough love for the men helping to raise their child right alongside the immediate family.
Alex had numerous questions and he fired them one after the other, not even waiting for an answer to any. All the adults with him had indulgent smiles on their faces listening to the little boy. Alex was practically vibrating with excitement over this car he'd heard so much about.
"Will the car be okay driving in the snow? I don't want to have it land in the snow banks on the way to where Mom is. Grandpa, will my seat fit in the back? I have to ride there you know, cause I'm the littlest."
"Slow down son, one thing at a time. Today's about the men in this family showing you for the first time ever the almighty 'Big Blue.'
Whipping off the cover, Manny and Hector unveiled the famed Buick.
"See, Little Man," Harry told his Grandson, "If your Mother would have had this car in college, she never would have met your Daddy. So, it's really for the best that it's here just waiting for this ride. How about we go to my house and see what all needs to be packed up while Lenny and his men are working upstairs? I'm sure your Mom has enough clothes for everyone since it will take about a week or so to get it move-in ready."
Harry gave Alex the key to the trunk and with his 'helping hand' they both unlocked the trunk of Big Blue to see duffel bags for everyone. Somehow, Alex's two backpacks were included, the all-in-black with Rangeman courtesy of Ella and her almighty machine. The other one was the newest addition from his two Tio's, a large Batman silhouette of him standing on top of a building, towering over his Gotham City.
"Steph called and placed an order at the deli and market for us to pick up on our way over, so what do you say we get the food and set up camp at Grandma's?" Ranger asked his son, picking him up and holding him securely in his arms.
"To the Batmobile Daddy!"
Sighing, Ranger looked at Alex and his twinkling eyes and reminded him, " You and your Tios need to quit watching so many old TV shows, son. There is no Batmobile. But for you, I think Grandpa Harry wouldn't mind if we called Big Blue the Batmobile for today. Only for today."
The men all laughed hearing Ranger sigh. He never did, until he met Stephanie.
"Boss, didn't Al call you? Harry said he could paint Big Blue a glossy Black to fit the image of Rangeman," Manny said with a teasing voice which was followed by his trademark hearty laugh.
Harry and Ranger stared at each other. There was nothing that was denied Alex unless the couple decided ahead of time.
With a nod of his head acknowledging the love he had for his Grandson, Ranger accepted the gift of the soon-to-happen Batmobile, surrounded by his other sleek black cars.
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"Grandma, the pot roast smells so good; I hope everyone gets here quick. I'm starving!" Steph exclaimed.
"It should smell good sweetie; it's the recipe I handed down to you and your mother. I've got it memorized by heart and your Grandpa would have a fit if it wasn't ready when they got here," Edna replied.
"Remember when Ranger dropped off the coffee cake I made for you and Grandpa last week? I used Mom's recipe books I keep on the kitchen shelf where I can find them easier. As a matter of fact, the one I used was the one you wrote your name into for her as a wedding present," Steph said, softly speaking to the only mother she ever remembered.
"We've made good progress so far, and I was sure to leave out Alex's albums he asked for. That boy prefers real life history to regular story books, just like you did growing up here with your Grandpa and me." Wiping a tear from her eye, Edna sniffed into her linen handkerchief.
"I know it's hard to move Grandma, but I really want you and Grandpa closer to me. Besides wanting you closer, I need you closer and so do the men. The will love having you in the building. I only hope Ranger and I are half as good as you were parenting me. I know Mary Lou, Shirley and I gave you some long slumber party nights," Steph continued on with a wavering smile on her face. "Alex has learned so much just by the picture albums, asking questions about everything he runs across. Ranger wants you there, I think, so he can get some of your good food, plus try and beat Grandpa at checkers. Now that he's started to teach Alex the game slowly, instead of driving over here to play, Alex can just knock on your door to see if anyone's home for a game with him."
Giving her petite Grandma a hug, it was hard to tell who was more emotional about moving from the Mazur home.
Stephanie remembered having slumber parties with Mary Lou and Shirley.
While Edna remembered Harry getting out the yard stick twice a year to see how tall Steph was in the spring and again in the fall. Marks were still etched in the wall of years gone by. Until the fall, when she turned 18 and was off to college, one last mark was gone over and over with a blue ball point pen, marking another occasion for the Mazur family.
Junior came from the spare room that belonged to the men just as the key was entered into the front door, admitting the rest of the Mazur-Manoso family.
"Grandma! Mom! I got my first ride In Big Blue! I can hardly wait till we go again and again, only this time, we'll all go!" Alex exclaimed after taking off his boots by the front door.
Rules were just the same here as they were in his bedroom, nothing on the floor. And that included shoes and boots. A special shoe rack was waiting for everyone entering the house.
A thank-you present from Manny Ramos, made by hand, just for Harry and Edna accepting him into their lives as easy as they did Hector and Junior.
"Come tell us all about it, sweetie. Your Mom and I have lunch ready to go for everyone. Go get washed up and let's hear about your first adventure in Big Blue," Edna told the little boy. The apple of her eye, just like Stephanie. Alex was everything to Edna and Harry.
There was nothing that would tear this family apart.
Nothing.
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Thanks to Janet for creating such wonderful characters.
Except for Alex naturally.
Thanks for reading and I'm so glad my beta is back from her idyllic vacation, I sure missed her red pen.