Epilogue
Hector came back to the burg to put the final touches on his surveillance equipment. On every property he also placed a small square sign with the RangeMan logo on it, that announced that these homes were protected. He had installed small, but very noticeable cameras on every porch, and Ranger had agreed to form a neighborhood watch program for the residents in the two block radius around my parents home.
He called it a pilot program for future services that might be offered by RangeMan, so there was no cost involved for any of the residents. "No more porch pirates!" Grandma had shouted out when she heard the news. That had earned a smile from Ranger. And the truth was, Grandma was grateful, she and her friends were so relieved that they were no longer targets for porch thefts.
They were right, since that first apprehension in Newark, there had been reports of increased awareness that had resulted in more arrests in neighborhoods all over the city. For the most part, Trenton, and even Newark were free from any more visits from porch pirates.
It is still raining. It looks pretty from Ranger's seventh floor apartment window. The city below is sleeping peacefully. At least it looks peaceful from up here. Its Christmas eve, and the world is full of hopes and wishes.
Ranger's arms snake around my waist and he pulls me close to him. I don't have to say anything for him to know how happy I am. All of my dreams have come true. I laugh to myself, our brand of communication may not be usual, but it sure works for us.
It's okay, we did have talks, with actual words, and finding out that we have been thinking the same things for so long made us realize that we have wasted too much time. It kept us apart and unhappy. We won't let that happen again.
I have to say that the holidays sure have been crazy this year, more than usual, and I will never forget them. I turn around in Ranger's arms. His eyes look into mine as my lips find his. We don't need the mistletoe that Ella hung over the door to remind us to steal kisses from each other, and I my eyes drift shut as I enjoy the incredible things that his kisses do to me.
Funny how things work out, I mused. While Grandma had us busy catching porch pirates, I was lucky enough to finally caught a thief of my own, the one who stole my heart the first time I met him years ago. Its about time, I tell myself. And I have no intention of ever letting him go.
I feel Ranger pulling away and I open my eyes to see him smiling at me.
"Babe," he says. And that said it all.
.oOo.