Stephanie fell into bed. She hadn't had the energy to stand in the shower so sat in the bathtub as the water poured down on her. Ranger had been gone a day and it felt like a year. She smiled at the memory of curling up next to him after some of her worst days with skips and of how he curled around her, so gentle and warm. Stephanie frowned realizing that tonight she would be alone. Mentally she willed Ranger back and realistically she knew there was a job to be done. She indulged in a mental hissy fit at whatever had come between herself and Ranger.
Standing, she dried her body gingerly and heard her mobile phone ring. Stephanie cursed sharply wishing she had taken the phone with her when she went into the bathroom and limped slowly toward the sound. She picked the phone up hoping to hear Ranger's voice.
"Hello?" she said.
"Stephanie, this is your mother." Helen Plum said, as she normally did.
"I know who you are, Mom." She limped over to the bed. Groaning audibly as she sat down.
"What's wrong with you?" her mother asked.
"I worked out a little hard today," Stephanie said.
"If this is about sex…." Her mom said, Stephanie cut her off.
"It's not. I'm trying to get into shape."
"Really?" Helen said doubtfully. "I made a ham, honey glazed, do you want to come over?"
"Not tonight," Stephanie said. She hadn't thought about how her mother would react to her life change and now she was worried.
"I can have Dad bring you some," she offered.
"No, thanks. I already ate," she groaned again a little too audibly.
"Are you okay? If you're sick you know the cure? Good home cooked food!" Helen pressed.
"No, really, Mom. I'm fine. I'll see you soon. Love you." Stephanie hung up the phone. The magnitude of what she had done hit her. She had, for the first time ever, turned down one of her mother's artery clogging, home cooked, feasts. Stephanie sat back a little stunned at herself. Was this a step? She had a sudden, crazy, urge to call Jeanne Ellen and toss it in her face. Take that, Exercise Barbie! Stephanie laughed and then gasped in pain. The phone rang again.
"Hello?" Stephanie said.
"Hey, Babe," Ranger said. His warm, deep, voice flowed over her like melted butter.
"Hi, Ranger," she answered.
"You have fun today?" he asked.
"Not a bit. How is your business trip going?" she asked.
"As well as can be expected," he answered. "You understand I can't discuss it over the phone."
"Or in bed," she teased.
"If we were in bed together right now, we wouldn't be talking," he said in something approaching a growl.
"Oh, yeah," she sighed.
"I miss you," he said, suddenly.
"I miss you too," she said.
"I wish you were here," he said.
"Tell me where you are and I'll be there."
"Nice try," Ranger said. Stephanie felt a warm rush at the familiar teasing.
"I heard about today," he said, changing the subject.
"Did you?"
"I'm so proud of you," he said. Stephanie smiled. She was pretty proud of herself as well.
"How much longer will you be away?" she asked, shifting to his side of the bed and curling her arm around his pillow. She inhaled the scent of his Bulgari left from that morning.
"Hopefully not long but this might go on for a while," he said, sadness in his voice.
"Whatever it is, you're the best person for the job so I know if anyone can wrap it up, you can." Stephanie said.
"How do you know that?" he asked.
"You're always the best person for the job," she said. He whispered something in Spanish and Stephanie melted again.