Life for One

I drove through the familiar streets of Trenton for the first time in six months. It seemed as if I had been away a lot longer. I pulled into the parking lot of the local market and made my way inside. I was heading to my parent's house for dinner and I wanted to pick up some flowers for my mama, maybe somehow they would soften her heart to the fact that I hadn't been to visit in over eight months. Who was I trying to fool, I was in deep shit.

Chapter 5

I started across the front of the store to the floral aisle. I choose a bouquet of fall colored flowers and headed for the check out counter. I looked down the aisle to my left and stopped when I saw Stephanie at the other end standing behind a shopping cart looking at a label on a food can she was holding. My heart skipped a beat in my chest as I took in her appearance. Pregnancy was agreeing with her. She looked beautiful. I slowly walked toward her and stopped when I saw Morelli come out of nowhere and place something in the shopping cart in front of her. She asked him something and he grinned, took the can out of her hand, and placed it back on the shelf. She playfully nudged him and he placed his hand on her rounded abdomen, leaned in, and kissed her. She pulled away, looked up, and saw me. I smiled at the blush that creeped up her neck and walked toward her.

I stopped in front of them.

"Hey Ranger Tank said you were coming in town for a meeting. How are you?"

"I'm good, you look well."

"I'm doing fine."

"Good to hear, I'll see you at Rangeman next week."

She nodded and I backed up and turned away as Morelli nodded in my direction and slipped his arm around her neck.

I sighed as I automatically placed the flowers on the counter and tossed a twenty at the check out girl. She handed me my change and held my hand in hers a little longer than necessary. I looked her in the eyes and realized she was probably nineteen or twenty. I shook my head and she gave me a pouty grin. What did it mean when you didn't view women coming on to you as a convenience anymore?

I slipped inside the Porsche and sat in the parking lot wondering why I was so surprised at the fact that I was unhappy being alone at this stage of the game. It had always been my plan from the beginning. Live life solo, fewer complications that way. So here, I sat looking at a building, which held inside the only woman that was worth the hassle, and she was lost to me. I fired up the engine and drove into the night.

I groaned inside as my sister Marcella pulled me into the living room and pushed me toward the couch. I watched as Celia, Pilar, Anna and Mama gathered on every available surface around me all sharing the look of a cop about to coerce a confession out of an arrested suspect.

Celia spoke up as she gave me a look that she usually reserves for my four-year-old nephew.

"Carlos we know Stephanie is pregnant. Antonio had a meeting at Rangeman with Tank and he saw Stephanie. He says she's pretty far along, when we're you planning on telling us we are going to be aunts?"

Antonio was our brother who owned a computer programming business and was contracted by Rangeman for programming issues. Antonio was going to have a lot of issues when I got a hold of him.

I looked at the five set of eyes boring into me like high beam radiation.

Fuck, why couldn't I have a normal family that minded their own business?

"Stephanie's baby does not belong to me."

My youngest sister Pilar stood up and place her hands on her hips.

"What the hell do you mean it doesn't belong to you? You love her don't you, don't tell us you fucked this up because of your lame ass one-man show issues. What the hell are you thinking?"

Mama hissed "Pilar that is enough watch your language."

Pilar rolled her eyes and fell back into the recliner.

Marcella my oldest sister looked over at me.

"I'm sorry things didn't work at for you Carlos. Stephanie seemed like a very caring person when I met her at the hospital after you were shot."

"Stephanie is a great woman the father of her baby is very suited to her, they will be happy."

I felt my mama's eyes boring into me and I turned and looked at her.

"Thank you for the wonderful dinner mama. I'll be over Saturday before I head back to Boston."

I stood to leave and saw the disappointed looks on the faces of all my very nosy but loving sisters.

I looked around the room.

"I appreciate all of you being concerned but things worked out for the best. I'll be fine and so will Stephanie."

I hugged and kissed all of them and met my mama at the door.

I pulled her into my chest and rested my chin on the top of her head.

"I'm okay mama I don't want you worrying about me."

She pulled away and looked into my eyes.

"Its funny I've worried about you as long as I can remember, but for some reason this time I am more worried than ever. The last time I saw you and we talked you walked out of here like a man on a mission and I hoped the next time I saw you it would be with Stephanie on your arm. What a twist of fate you have endured."

"Mama the way my life is I wouldn't have been good for her."

"You're talking to me Carlos, the woman who carried you in her womb for nine months and knew you before you learned to mask your every emotion. You are hurting far more than you are willing to admit. You have lost the love of your life."

Leave it to my mama to speak the truth.

I leaned in and brushed my lips across hers.

"I'll call you, I love you mama."

"And I love you too."

Her head was bent over the key board and she was biting her bottom lip in concentration, but I could tell the minute she was aware of my presence. I sighed at the thought of the unexplainable connection we shared. She turned and looked at me and I smiled.

"Babe you too busy to share some lunch?"

"No I would love some."

She stood and I was amazed at the difference in her appearance. She looked so much more healthy pregnant. She had a warm glow to her skin.

I led her over to the elevator and we got on for the ride to seven. I turned and looked at her.

"How are you feeling?"

"I am good, I get really tired easily but the doctor says that's normal."

"Are you working too many hours, maybe you should try only working a couple days a week?"

"No I want the time to move quickly, I can't sit at home just waiting for this baby to come."

We stepped inside my apartment and I noticed a tray of food sitting on the table and plates already on the bar. I motioned for her to sit down. We dished out our food and sat at the bar in silence.

She looked over at me.

"So tell me about Boston, you like it there?"

"It's okay; it's a little different than running Rangeman here. A lot more corporate security. A little more headaches."

"It must be difficult working with a new group of employees after being used to the team you have here."

If she only knew.

"It hasn't been a problem."

"Has anything ever been a problem for you?"

I looked at her and thought of all the times I watched her get out of my car and walk back into Morelli's house.

"I've had more than my share of problems."

"So are you and Morelli together?"

"He wants to be, actually he's smothering me. I really don't know how much more I can take."

I could envision Morelli forcing her into something she wasn't ready for so that came as no surprise.

"What do you want from him Steph?"

"It's his child and I expect him to be a part of his life."

"His?"

She looked up at me and smiled.

"Yes, the baby is a boy."

I couldn't help but smile.

"I guess Morelli is happy about that?"

"He's pumped about it being a boy."

"What do you think?"

She looked at me and I could see the uncertainty in her eyes.

"I have never been more scared in my life."

"Babe you are one of the bravest women I've have ever known. You have faced down some of the worst criminals in New Jersey. You can raise this child."

"I know nothing more about it than what I have read in a book. I have no first hand knowledge of taking care of a baby. I've watched Valerie take care of the girls but rarely have I ever helped her."

I reached over and cupped her chin in my hand.

"Tell me what you knew about being a bounty hunter before you started?"

"Nothing but we're talking about being responsible for a tiny life here, this is so different."

"No it's not. What you didn't know about bounty hunting you asked about, what you didn't ask about you improvised. You can do this."

"You're the only person in my life that has ever told me I can do something and then I think I can. Thank you."

"No thanks needed. I have always believed in you Babe."

"And I will always believe in you." She said.

I wanted to kiss her, but I held back. I wanted her to make it work with Morelli and she didn't deserve any more mixed messages from me.

I dropped my hand from her chin and continued to eat.

"Will you be honest with me if I ask you a personal question?"

I looked at her.

"What do you want to know?"

"Are you involved with Mia?"

I looked over at her.

"Mia is employed by Rangeman that's as far as we are involved."

"Everyone here thinks you are helping her like you did me when I started."

"Mia doesn't need my help. She has been working as a bounty hunter for the past two years. The only reason I brought her to Trenton was so I could show her how to work the system. Nothing more."

"She certainly can hold her own from what I have heard. She sparred with Bobby and knocked him on his ass. Lester and the guys haven't let him live it down."

I grinned.

"Thanks for the information; I'll have to ask Brown what his candy ass has been up to since I've been gone."

"They miss you, and so do I."

The feeling was mutual.

"I'm not that far away, and I'll be in and out of town at least every other month now that I have gotten used to the routine in Boston."

"You left because of me."

I wanted to deny that statement to my grave, but I had denied enough.

"You are carrying another mans child, and you need to concentrate on making that work."

"And you think I couldn't make it work with you here?"

"I think you can make anything work that you set your mind to, I had to move on and let you try."

"I could have done it just as well with you here."

"Yes I'm sure you could, but maybe I can't."

The disbelief registered in her eyes.

"I fucked up Ranger."

I brushed my fingers down the side of her face.

"No you lived your life Babe, and I let you go."

I kissed her on the forehead and walked out the door.

I was sitting in my old office shuffling through some paperwork when I heard a knock at the door.

"Come in."

Mia walked in with a strange look on her face.

"Sorry I thought Tank was still here."

I motioned for her to take a seat but she stood inside the doorway.

"Tank had plans for this evening so I stayed late and finished some paperwork."

"So how's Boston?"

"It's Boston."

She smiled. "Boston is the best; don't tell me you don't like it. Compared to this town its heaven."

"To each his own. How's the bounty hunter business."

"Excellent even busier than I anticipated."

"Vinnie giving you any shit?"

"No he's a pussy cat compared to the bondsmen I had to deal with in Boston. So he's a little twisted."

I raised an eyebrow. A little twisted didn't come close to describing Vinnie in my book.

"So everyone here treating you okay?"

She smiled and ran a hand through her close-cropped hair leaving it spiked on top of her head in every direction.

"The guys are great. The exercise facilities are awesome and my apartment on four is perfect. I guess you would say other than missing my family and friends from Boston I'm doing very well."

"Glad to hear it."

She looked out the window as if she was contemplating a question. I waited her out by sorting the papers on the desk that needed signing.

"I was about to go out a get some dinner, have you eaten?"

I looked across the desk at her.

"I appreciate the offer but I'm staying in for dinner tonight. I have some more work to do before I get ready to go back to Boston in the morning."

She walked over and placed her hands on the desk on front of me.

"You really are good at the badass you can't touch me demeanor. It's a damn shame you don't let it go once in a while, you might find yourself actually having some fun."

I smiled.

"Mia you are an employee and I would prefer our relationship to remain just that."

"From what I understand, that's not always the way it's been around here with you."

"What has gone on in the past is my business, not yours."

The smile on her face quickly disappeared.

"Understood, have a good evening Mr. Manoso."

I watched as she turned and walked out of the office.

I was getting ready to pick up my duffle and head to the garage when I heard a knock at the door. I pulled the door open and Tank stood on the other side.

"What time does you r flight leave?"

"In two hours, but I was going to stop by my parents house on the way."

"Is mama Manoso busting your chops for not visiting more often?"

"Actually she was pretty understanding this time around."

"Damn that's a switch."

"You need something man?"

Tank looked at me.

"You spoken with Stephanie since you've been in?"

"Yes why?"

"Did she ask you about Mia?"

"She asked if we were involved and I told her no."

Tank rubbed a hand across his face.

"Talk." I said.

"I guess Lula and Mia had words at the Bonds office. Stephanie walked in during the confrontation. Apparently, Stephanie feels threatened by Mia. She's kind of taken over Steph's life at the bonds office and Rangeman."

"How so?"

"She's been very successful catching skips. Lula says Vinnie is always talking her up in front of Steph. The guys here at Rangeman think Mia is the bomb. She's kick ass and she takes no shit from no one. They have a new sweetheart and I think Steph is feeling like an outsider all the way around. I hate it for her, but don't know how to fix it."

"So what are you trying to say?"

"I think you fucked up by bringing Mia here."

"Is she not doing her job?"

"Yes she's a damn fine bounty hunter and we have already made a significant profit from her apprehensions."

"Well then I don't understand the problem."

"You're an asshole man."

"If you are concerned about Stephanie she will be fine. She's just hormonal from her pregnancy she will see Mia in a different light after the baby comes, and besides Stephanie may not even work at Rangeman after her pregnancy."

"Do you happen to know what Mia's intentions are toward you?"

"She has none that I am aware of."

"Well I don't think that is the impression she gave Steph."

"I guess your going to tell me since obviously you've become the next biggest burg gossip next to Connie."

He shot me a dirty look.

"Steph said you were not a man that did relationships, and Mia said that was exactly the kind of man she was looking for. Now you can disregard what I told you or call me an idiot, but I thought you needed to know."

I picked up my duffle and started toward the door.

"You're a great friend Tank but this is the kind of shit I would expect to get in detention written on a paper airplane."

I heard the cell phone on my hip chirp and I grabbed it and flipped it open. I could hear Stephanie's voice and it was laced with panic.

"Ranger I know you are leaving for Boston. But I think I'm in labor and I can't get in touch with anyone. I've tried honestly I have…"

"Babe are you at home?"

"Yes."

"Has your water broken?"

"No but I'm having contractions about very five minutes."

"I'll be right there."

"Ranger hurry, it's too early, it's not time for the baby, I'm so scared."

"Babe I promise everything will be fine, I'm on my way."

I walked into her apartment and she met me in the foyer. She was clutching her abdomen and sweat was beaded on her forehead. I'd come to her rescue more times than I could count but this time having a gun in my waistband didn't help a damn thing, and that was a little unnerving.

"You have anything you need to take with you?"

She pointed toward the living room and I saw a duffle bag sitting on the couch. I grabbed it and slug the long strap over my shoulder. I turned and scooped her up in my arms, and she buried her face in my neck. She took a deep breath, and I had to smile as I locked up her apartment. Why she found such comfort in a smell elicited by a bottle of shower gel was out of my realm of understanding. I carried her out to the car and placed her in the front seat. I saw Tank and Lula pull in the parking lot. Tank rolled down the window.

"We'll meet you at the hospital."

I nodded and slipped in the car.

The ride to the hospital was quiet; she sat in the passenger seat rubbing her hands up and down in a circular pattern over her abdomen. I was counting her contractions and they were about seven minutes apart.

We arrived at the emergency room and the nurse placed her in a wheel chair and took her away while I parked the car. I entered the ER with Tank and Lula a few minutes later. I checked in at the desk. The lady looked at me.

"Are you her husband?"

I flashed her a smile. "Will it get me back there with her if I say I am?"

She melted before my eyes.

"I'll see if you can go back with her now."

A few minutes later, she came back.

'They are transporting Miss Plum to the maternity floor, I'll show you the way if you follow me."

Tank, Lula and I followed as she escorted us to an elevator off the lobby.

"Take this elevator to the third floor and make a right. There will be a nurse's desk on your left."

"Thank you."

She smiled. "You're very welcome, and who ever you are congratulations on the new baby."

She walked away and my eyes met Lula's I could see the pain clearly so I turned and looked away.

We were instructed what room Stephanie was in by a nurse sitting at the nurse's station, but we were asked to wait in the waiting area while she was examined.

Twenty minutes later a doctor appeared in the waiting area.

"Mr. Manoso?"

I stood and walked over to him and he shook my hand.

"I'm Dr. Mason, Stephanie is experiencing premature labor. We are administering medication through an IV to stop her labor. She is 32 weeks pregnant if she were to deliver this early, it would be dangerous for the baby. The lungs do not develop fully until 34 weeks or longer. I'm going to keep her on bed rest and monitor her over night before sending her home. She will be on bed rest the remainder of her pregnancy and hopefully with medication we can hold off the inevitable until the baby is mature enough to be born. The most important thing is for her to be in a stress free environment and rest. Do you have any questions?"

"No I appreciate the information."

"Your welcome I'll check back in with her this afternoon."

I sat by the bed watching her sleep as I had so many times before. Usually watching her sleep and being near her centered me, but this time I felt at a total loss. In the past, I always thought I could fix anything that happened to her, this was out of my reach. It didn't matter that the baby wasn't mine, what mattered is that it was a part of her.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she saw me sitting beside the bed.

"Hey."

"How are you Babe?"

"I'm okay how is the baby?"

"He's fine, they were able to stop your contractions, you just need to stay calm and rest."

"Has any of my family been here?"

"Your parents are in the waiting room you want me to go tell them you're awake?"

"You can on your way out, you didn't have to stay I told you to leave."

"I wanted to make sure they could stop your labor before I left."

"Has anyone heard from Joe?"

"Tank said he called and is on his way."

"He's working undercover on a big case I hate to bother him."

I understood the undercover work, what I didn't understand was taking four hours to return an urgent phone call.

"He needs to be here with you."

I picked up her hand and squeezed it in mine. She squeezed back and smiled.

"Thank you for today."

"Anytime." I said.

I heard footsteps and Joe's voice. I looked up and saw the sneer on his face.

"Well I see as usual Manoso was the first person you called."

He had lines etched around his eyes from lack of sleep and was working on a full beard so I tried to give him some slack, but I was done with his bullshit.

Stephanie raised up in the bed.

"Joe I couldn't get a hold of anyone. My parents were unavailable and Valerie is out of town. What did you expect me to do?"

"Call an ambulance?"

I stood up and walked over to him.

"She was scared and didn't need to be alone. She was in premature labor and the doctor said she is not to be stressed so I suggest you adjust your attitude if you want her and your son to stay healthy. "

"Well I'm here now so you can go."

"I'll leave when Stephanie tells me to."

I turned and walked over to her I leaned in and brushed my lips across hers just because I wanted to be an ass. I pulled away and looked into her eyes.

"I'll be in the waiting room if you need me, I'm staying in Trenton another night, I want to make sure your okay."

She nodded in agreement. I turned and walked out of the room.

I heard her trying to reason with Morelli as soon as I walked out of the room. I hadn't desired a cigarette in over ten years; if I had a pack, I would have smoked them all to the filters.

I walked into the waiting room and Stephanie's parents walked over to me.

"Is she awake?" Helen asked.

"Yes, Joe's with her."

Frank Plum stuck out his hand and I shook it.

"Thanks for taking care of her today."

"My pleasure sir."

They headed toward her room and I walked over to a window that over looked the parking area outside. I heard Tank approach me and I turned and looked at him.

"You heading back to Boston on a later flight?"

"No I'm staying until tomorrow."

"You don't have to do this you know."

I looked at him.

"As long as she needs me I will be here."

"I thought you said Morelli is here now?"

"And how long do you think that will last. He's working an undercover case, he'll be here twenty minutes tops and then he's out the door."

"So you want to tell me why you're really here?"

I looked at him and sighed.

"Because I'm not walking away until she tells me to this time."