AN: Thanks for the reviews. I'm trying to get back into the swing of the story. I realize that it appears to be mostly relationship issues right now, but I will get back on track with the conflict and normal Steph stuff that makes the books by JE worthwhile!
Chapter 9
I imagined that an evening with Lester could be exciting, but just not this evening. He tried very hard to ignore me as he watched his movie. I realized that he was avoiding any conversation during which I could question him about what's been going on. I started to say something when his cell phone rang.
"Yo," he automatically responded. "No, I don't think that will be a problem. I am over at Ranger and Steph's house. You can meet me here. I am staying at the garage apartment."
Lester snapped the phone shut and moved to get up. At first I didn't think he would say to me about the call.
"That was Morelli. Anna's going crazy. He wanted to bring her over to visit with me. I told him it would be okay. We can go to the apartment so we don't bother you."
I considered that for a moment. Joe had never been to this house. I couldn't help but wonder what he would think of the Stephanie Plum who lived here.
"No, you all can stay here. It's no trouble."
Lester answered the door a half hour later. Joe and Anna walked in and stared at the room.
"Steph, this is magnificent," Anna gushed. "Look at all the room."
"Don't get any ideas. I can't afford a place like this," Joe cautioned.
"Welcome, you two," I smiled at them. "Sorry we didn't get around to inviting you over before now. Ranger is out right now. Lester is my babysitter."
"Good to see that Manoso finally wised up. Leaving you alone for too long is like leaving Bob in the house with no dog food. He'll find something to destroy." Joe winked at me.
Little Connor was in his car seat, sleeping like the proverbial baby. Anna moved him into the living room. Lester followed her. The two were already deep into discussion when I felt Morelli tug on my arm.
"How about you show me around this place?"
I pulled my arm from his grasp. "Sure."
He followed me through the living room and into the dining room. He noted the furnishings.
"Manoso has good taste in furniture," he offered.
"Actually, I picked most of the stuff out. I did a lot of on-line shopping. Ranger got final approval though."
Joe smiled. "Bet he got quite a shock when he got those bills."
I figured Joe was fishing for information. I noted the cop face and decided to call him on it.
"What's really on your mind, Joe?"
His smile disappeared. "Is it hard for you to see me with Anna and Connor?"
I swallowed hard. In truth it was, but I never intended to tell him that.
"Cause it is really hard to realize that you live here with Ranger. Jesus, Steph, I could never give you or Anna this type of lifestyle." He waved his arms around the room we were in, which happened to be the den.
I didn't want to have this conversation so I kept walking. We ended up in Ranger's library. Of all the rooms in the house, this one was the most like him. I didn't want to go any further so I settled down on the couch near the fire place. Joe followed suit.
"Are you happy now?" His face was serious.
"Are you?" He had everything he had always wanted, or so it seemed.
"Yeah. It wasn't exactly like I planned, but I love my son. Anna and I still have some things to work out, but I plan on making the marriage work."
I smiled at him. "That's good to hear."
He waited but when I didn't add anything else, he said, "You didn't answer my question."
"Joe, I am happy. Ric and I are engaged. We have a place we can call home. He doesn't care that I will never be the typical housewife. He's never going to be the typical husband. Somehow we fit each other in a way you and I never did. That doesn't mean I didn't care about you."
Joe smiled sadly, "You could just never say it to my face, could you?"
I wanted to respond that I had but in reality I knew what he meant. Maybe I told him that I loved him, but it wasn't the spontaneous, emotion filled action that he needed. I could never have understood that until I felt that way with Ric.
"You have that with Ranger now, don't you?" He knew the answer before asking the question.
"Yes," I whispered back.
The front door opened. I saw Ranger walk past the library door and then double back.
"Morelli," he stated by way of greeting. He then walked over to me and kissed me.
I would have thought he was laying claim to me, but I knew him better than that. He wasn't jealous of Joe any longer. He knew me better than that. He did, however, seem to realize that I needed some type of reassurance at this point.
"I was showing Joe the house," I explained.
"Good idea," he answered. "How about we get Anna and show them both what you've done to the place so far."
Anna and Joe were led through the house by Ranger, who seemed to enjoy pointing out all the little things that we had done to make the place a home. In the den, he motioned to the yard.
"We can put a swing out there for Connor," he offered.
Anna chimed in. "He can use it until you have a baby of your own to take it over."
I looked at Anna as she watched Ranger. There were still signs of the former crush she had on him. Not that I blamed her, Ranger was definitely eye candy. I pushed down the green monster and moved upstairs with the group. Surely Ranger would not show them the master bedroom. I thought it would be pretty awkward to show Joe where Ric and I slept.
"This is my favorite room. Stephanie really made it special."
"Ric," I called out. "I didn't make the bed."
Joe laughed. "You usually didn't. Don't worry about it." He looked at me and I saw the flash of something in his eyes.
I followed the small group into the room I shared with Ranger. It was our sanctuary and I really didn't feel like sharing. Lester had not seen the finished product.
"Damn, Steph, this is fantastic," he nearly gushed, taking in the rich walls and thick carpet before sitting down on the huge king bed.
"Get off, Santos," Ranger quipped.
Lester grinned. I knew he had a comeback, but for the sake of the other guests, he kept his mouth shut.
Anna wondered into the huge master bath. "Steph, this is wonderful. I bet you spend quite a bit of time in this room." Her grin told me she knew I wouldn't be alone if I did.
I had to smile at her. I liked her despite the situation that brought her into my life. "You better believe it," I responded.
Ranger put his arm around my waist. He pulled me close and kissed the top of my head. "It's a great room."
Joe took in the scene quietly. I glanced at him and knew what he was thinking. We both needed time to adjust to the new lives we had and it wouldn't always be easy. I didn't particularly enjoy thinking of him and Anna in his room back at his house. I had spent a lot of time there and the thought of another woman, any woman, was a bit unsettling.
Anna went to another door. I knew the door led to the room that would someday be a nursery. She opened the door and smiled.
"Guess I know what this room is for," she told Joe.
Joe was confused. "What?"
"This will be the nursery," Anna explained.
I saw the flicker of emotion on Joe's face. He reached over and took Connor from Anna. He turned around to leave the room. I pulled away from Ranger.
"Give us a minute, okay?" I asked him. Brushing a kiss against his lips. He simply nodded.
I caught up with Joe on the stairs. "Too much?" I asked him.
He looked up at me, his dark eyes bright. "Yeah, too much."