Simple Hearts
Chapter 16
Tank was having the time of his life. Ranger had to drive at hyper-speed from Wilmington to Trenton in his Mercedes on Wednesday morning to make his meeting. He got stopped twice by police and both had to be scratching their heads why they even stopped him. When they verified his the basic information of name, date of birth, address, driver's license, and insurance all would match but would return a 'GOVERNMENT CLASSIFIED' status. It was pretty much the same as pulling over the President of the United States for a speeding ticket. They had to let this 'Carlos Manoso' go with a warning if they dared. He parked, went straight to 7, showered, dressed himself in another Armani suit, stopped for a file in Tank's office, and jumped in his Porsche to meet with the governor of New Jersey on plans to up-grade in the Governor's mansion all without messing a single Cuban hair on the shorter style Stephanie had given him.
When he returned from that, he was overseeing a delivery personally at the Cape Cod in Villa Park. Tank went along on this one because he was curious what was so important to have Ranger's attention. Luis and Ella were already there when the two of them arrived. She was directing the movers to pack up the furniture in the house to be stored back at Rangeman. The small house was being cleaned top to bottom before Stephanie and her little boy moved in next week.
Luis was watching men carry off cedar boards and boxes of play equipment Tank read.
"How is this one, Ranger? I chose a cedar jungle gym so it will be strong and weather-resistant," Luis, the building manager, handed his boss a picture. "His grandfather liked it when I had Bobby show him the design." The medic stopped after Stephanie returned to Wilmington to check on her father so she didn't worry unnecessarily.
He studied the picture. There was a sliding board, two swings, a climbing wall up to a deck with a canopy over it. It had safety rails at the top and flaps that could be lowered so it was a tent if the little boy wanted. There was a sturdy rope to swing from and underneath the deck was a small clubhouse. It was an active little boy's dream. "It's perfect for Reilley. What about a safety covering for the ground?"
Luis dropped chunks in Ranger's hand. "Recycled rubber mulch from tires. An edging will be dug into the ground to keep it in the area. I chose the rust to with the mulch around the plants."
"Good job."
"After this is complete, the lawn service will be here to cut the grass and spruce up the flower beds," Luis rattled off to his boss. "Ella suggested maybe an outdoor bench under the other tree so Stephanie could relax watching her son."
Ranger liked that idea of a place where they could sit in the shade. "I'll have Ella pick one out. I like that."
"A jungle gym?" Tank asked. "You are making sure it goes in correctly?" Those all knowing brown, Cuban eyes and arched eyebrow were mocking the second in command he knew.
The Boss pointed to his black T-shirt with the Rangeman logo. "We are security experts. All 'KINDS' of security," he stressed.
Tank muttered, "Oh, brother." He had his answer. Next, Ranger would have him wearing a yellow vest and hard hat going around doing a security and safety check on all the local playgrounds so the little boy wasn't injured and file a report with the mayor of any problems. He would be the best crossing guard, too, if one was needed.
Ranger made sure his calendar was clear on Friday after the morning meeting; he worked late on paperwork in his office. Stephanie, Reilley, and the cat were coming to Trenton Friday morning. She wanted to furniture shop for beds and living room furniture. Ranger was shopping with them. Tank was in charge of the security check at the Cape Cod.
Everything was going as planned, the 'love struck' man was about to step on the elevator to leave when the plans came to a screeching halt as someone unexpected walked off the elevator. The bald man was busting his gut at the shell shocked expression on his best friend's face.
"Momma!"
"There you are, Ricardo," she spoke like she was seeking him out.
"Where else would I be?" he asked himself. "What are you doing here, Momma?"
"The last time you were home, you said we should do lunch soon, so I came to Trenton to visit with my youngest child," she elaborated. Ranger had car keys in his hand. "Are you going somewhere?"
"Stephanie and her son are moving back to Trenton next week. They drove here for the weekend. I'm taking them furniture shopping this morning."
"Oh, that's wonderful!" She leaned into her tall son whispering, "Ricardo, you can admit to your Momma that she is your girlfriend."
"Yes, she is, Momma."
Lucia was about ready to dance right there in Rangeman she was so happy. "I knew this was the right day to drive here. You are such fun to shop with, Ricardo. Way better than your father and even your sisters. Your father finds a place to sit and keeps the bags. You should show him how to shop. I'll come shopping with you because I know you want me too!"
Ranger's eyebrow was up. "I do?"
Tank was laughing in his office door. "I can't go shopping with you, Ranger. I'm on my way over to check on the security system at the house. We'll do it another day!"
"You can be unemployed!" Ranger yelled out the elevator door.
His mother had a happy expression on her face in the passenger seat driving to the Plum's. "This will be fun, Ricardo."
Of all days for his mother to show up unannounced. He was going over the conversation he had with his parents the last time he was in Newark. He did not recall inviting his mother for lunch, he said "It was a nice visit and he would try to get there more", but his mother translated that as "Let's do lunch!"
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Escorting Lucia Manoso up the Plum's sidewalk and front steps, Ranger's heart quickened its beat seeing Stephanie's blue SUV at the curb. She, her son, and cat were here safely and would be for a few days. He left her early Wednesday morning to drive back to Trenton. He talked with her Wednesday afternoon, Wednesday night, and three times yesterday. Her row house was just about packed and only the things they were using this next week had to be packed before the moving truck was there.
"Hi there," Stephanie greeted opening the storm door. "Good Morning, Lucia."
"Oh, Stephanie, what a perfect morning to come visit my son! It will be such a fun morning of shopping. Ricardo and I have such a good time shopping."
Ranger did an eye roll behind his mother. She made it seemed like they did it all the time. He did have a business to attend to when he wasn't with Stephanie and her son. "Babe." He kissed her chuckling. "Momma is coming with us."
"Power Ranger!" Reilley came running with the sheriff under his arm and his Rangeman ball cap on his head.
"Blue Power Ranger!"
"Frank, if the doctor says it is all right, then you can drive home," Mrs. Plum came from the kitchen following her husband. It was his check-up with the surgeon this morning.
"Good Morning, Lucia," Frank Plum shook her hand. "Ellen, I'm fine and 'No' I don't need one of your black vehicles driving us." He directed that comment at Ranger. "Good Morning, Ranger."
"Good Morning, Frank."
Lucia tugged on her son's arm. "Was Stephanie's father sick?"
"Gallbladder," Frank answered. "Pumpkin, don't worry. I'm fine. Go get what you need so you and my grandson get moved in. We're down to seven days."
There was rustling walking down the steps. Grandma Mazur was in a candy striper outfit from Halloween with a flouncy skirt. "What the HELL are you?" Frank boomed. "I'm recuperating! I don't want any set backs."
"Louie is in the hospital," Grandma told everyone. "He had a clogged artery. I'm going down to get his blood pumping. I got my candy cane thong on for my visit."
"Mother!"
Frank bellowed at his mother-in-law, "Hasn't the mental ward figured out yet you escaped?"
Edna Mazur made a hand gesture and picked up her purse. "I'm riding along to the hospital. I'll be in the car." Grandma nudged Ranger, "I bet just the image of my thong got you going."
"Yeah, he'll run the opposite way, You Loon!" Mr. Plum ranted.
Ranger tried to be polite. It was Stephanie's grandmother. "Edna, I'm a one-woman man and it wouldn't be fair to Stephanie."
"Gotcha. I'll let Louie cop a feel for you."
Ranger was chuckling. "Thank you."
"I'll lock the front door, Mom," Stephanie said waiting for everyone to leave the house.
"Babe, your family," Ranger kissed her walking out on the porch shaking his short hair.
Lucia Manoso was telling her son walking to his Cayenne, "It's never this lively in Newark, Ricardo."
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Ranger pulled out on Roosevelt Street, his fingers were entwined with Stephanie's already.
"Can we stop at the house for a moment? I want to look at the rooms again," Stephanie asked. She had a copy of the room measurements from the realtor's listing he had given her.
"Anything, Babe."
There were black SUV's parked in the carport and behind it when Ranger parked along the alley that ran along the property. Stephanie just looked at him.
"Tank's checking the security system," Ranger gave a short explanation.
Helping his mother out of the backseat, Lucia commented, "This is adorable."
Before they reached the back porch, the little boy and Woody took off running in the backyard. "Mommy, look at my sliding board and swing!" He was scrambling up the climbing wall to the canopied platform and sliding down.
Stephanie turned to Ranger, tears were in her eyes watching her happy son go down the wavy sliding board again and climbing in the small clubhouse waving at her out the window. She was so choked up, she mouthed 'Thank you'.
"I want both of you to be happy here." If her son was happy, then Stephanie would be truly happy Ranger knew.
"Reilley, I'm going in the house for a moment. Don't go anywhere," she told her son, but the mother knew he wouldn't wander off. The jungle gym would keep him occupied for many days. Also, Tank was going around the house with a hand held monitor of some sort.
The inside appeared bigger with all of the Rangeman furniture removed when Stephanie stepped into the house.
Mrs. Manoso was walking through it. "Oh, I really like this," she told her son and his girlfriend. "It's small and cozy."
"It is and I think Reilley and I will like it here," Stephanie said heading into the hallway to her 'new' bedroom to determine how big of a bed she wanted. She was thinking king size because there might be a frequent guest.
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Stephanie directed Ranger to 'Trenton Modern' furniture store outside of downtown going south. Before getting out of the Cayenne, Stephanie stopped Ranger. "Please no black credit card. I'm buying the furniture for my son and me." Her blue eyes were very determined.
Ranger's brow knitted together for a moment, it went against his Cuban Macho grain. He was smart enough to recognize how important this was to her. It was their new start. It was all a new relationship for them. "Can I at least buy lunch?" he asked.
"I'll let you do that."
"Smart ass."
He held the front glass door for Lucia, Stephanie, and Reilley. "Mommy, look at all this stuff."
"I know. Let's find you a bed first," Stephanie told her son holding his hand bypassing the living room and dining room sections. She would come back to this area later.
She knew Reilley would go directly for the bunk beds but because of the slope of the roof the only tall walls were the ones with the windows and that was a safety issue. She watched him begin to climb up.
"Rye, you can't have a bed like that."
His small shoulders slumped and his excitement was deflated. "I'm too little."
"No, Sweetheart. It's because how the walls are sloped upstairs." She showed him with her fingers forming a triangle. "The bunk beds are too tall. The only wall where it is high enough is by the windows. If they were open I wouldn't want you to fall out if you were sleeping."
His head was down and she saw tears forming. Reilley was so disappointed. "Grandpa won't be able to camp with me."
Lucia stopped her son from intervening. "You can't raise the roof, Ricardo."
His lips were tight and his eyebrow up silently questioning how his mother knew what Ranger was thinking. "Momma." Only he did that or so he thought.
Stephanie was wiping his tears. "Can we see if there is another bed you might like? If you really want bunk beds, Rye, then Mommy could make your bedroom in the small room."
He was mulling the idea over. His nose wrinkled with his decision and his teary eyes were looking at his mother. "I like the big bedroom. Come on, Mommy, let's look again."
Lucia and her son watched the young mother and her little boy hand-in-hand walk around the other beds and displays. "Stephanie is a wonderful mother, Ricardo. She wants the best for him in everything she does."
"I know, Momma." It was one of the reasons he fell in love.
Ranger lost sight of Stephanie and Reilley in all the different bedrooms and styles, but he heard them. It was the laughter of the little boy he heard. Woody and his boy companion were rolling on a raised Captain's bed with drawers and step-up ledge. It was oak and the foot board had rope across it to store books in pockets.
"Mommy, sleep with me."
She lay down next to her son and he cuddled into her. "Do you like this one, Reilley?"
"Yeah, Mommy."
"Next comes the really fun part. You need to pick a mattress that feels the best." She was tickling him and he was laughing more.
The little boy and Woody were having the times of their lives, one of them was a doll, bouncing and rolling on the mattresses until they found one that both liked.
Ranger remained close to Stephanie when she began her own search for a bed; his mother was off on her own treasure hunt. There were bedroom suits which Stephanie preferred but had not seen anything that 'Wowed' her. She went through a big archway to the 'just arrived' contemporary section.
Ranger's arm was clutched by her hand. "That's it!" Stephanie stopped near a display of beech and cherry platform bed with drawers underneath. The edges were rounded with the beech wood accenting the front of the pieces trimmed in cherry. No other beds were like it they had seen in the store. It was modern like Stephanie with classic lines. The drawers under the bed and in the nightstands were opened and all moved smoothly.
She began touching the display mattresses searching for one which felt just right.
As her son had done, she sat on the mattress giving it a bounce. After the fourth one, Ranger stood at the bottom observing her. She bounced and did it again. Her hands were pushing on the mattress top. Next, she stretched herself out on it wiggling her toes at him. "Give me your opinion," Stephanie asked patting the mattress next to her.
He complied with Stephanie's request lying down beside her. He shifted his broad shoulders and put his head back on a pillow. The top had a layer of memory foam, there were the sensations of it molding to his muscled body with every movement. "It feels good."
The bed dipped slightly, Reilley and Woody took spots next to the little boy's mother. There was movement on Ranger's side; his mother was next to her son.
"Ricardo, you are so much fun to shop with."
Groaning, he hoped there were no skips lurking about in the furniture store. "You, too, Momma."
Ranger did get the opportunity to use his black credit card before lunch, his mother found a slipper chair for the master bedroom in Newark and he was having it delivered to his parents' house.
Her furniture shopping was a success. Stephanie not only purchased bedroom furniture for her and Reilley, but a sofa and chair for the living room. It would be two weeks for the furniture to come from the manufacturer, so Stephanie figured they would stay with her parents. Ranger would develop an alternate plan.
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"Yes, Max," Lucia Manoso said over her cell phone, "I had a wonderful day shopping with Ricardo. Wait until you see the chair. I'll be home tomorrow. I'm staying with our son tonight to visit some more. Ricardo asked me."
Ranger got that sharp neck pain he gets when he is around his mother. He planned after spaghetti and meatballs at the Plums, he would have one of his employees drive his mother in her car and another follow to drive him back to Trenton while he was spending time alone with Stephanie. There was also a trip to a bookstore to purchase a 'Son to Mother' dictionary because he spoke the exact words "Yes, Momma, I enjoyed our visit" and those words entered her ears traveling to her brain and came out as "I'm staying with our son tonight to visit some more." Hopefully this book would also explain how his vision of soft music, candlelight, chocolate covered strawberries, and Ranger slowly dancing Stephanie into his bedroom to make love became the reality of dinner at the Plums, playing 'Monopoly' and 'Yahtzee' on the dining room table, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. And, his mother was spending the night in his apartment and he got the leather sofa. If it was a consolation for his plans going a rye, Ranger was the race car in 'Monopoly'. It really didn't help.
"Oh, Ricardo," Lucia Manoso said heading into his bedroom, "I had such a wonderful evening. When you bring Stephanie and Reilley to visit in Newark, I'll have to get out 'Monopoly' so we can have fun there like in Trenton."
Ranger nodded. He only said "Goodnight, Momma" thinking what time did the bookstore close and wasn't there an ordinance passed in his hometown banning
'Monopoly'? He was also racking his brain attempting to figure out the words that came from his mouth meaning to his mother he would visit with Stephanie and Reilley. He needed that book of translation or he could never say another word to his mother. Wait, would that be so bad?