Chapter 6
A knock on the door woke me up. Jake started barking. I looked through the peephole and saw Morelli. I opened the door and a big flash of red fluff jumped toward me and Jake growled and Bob yelped and almost flipped backwards trying to stop his momentum.
Joe and I both laughed. I sat down in the floor and tried to gently introduce the two dogs without a scuffle. After an awkward introduction and a little butt sniffing they decided it was playtime.
"I just came to check on you Cupcake. How are you?" Joe asked.
"I think I'm okay. What about you?"
"Well, Marriane and I are still dating and it's good. The job is still the same. I still have one because people won't stop killing each other."
"You want something to drink?" "Sure I'll just have a soda. I have to get back to work," Joe said.
"Come on in my bedroom, I was packing and got sidetracked. I can pack while we chat." He brought his soda and sat down in the chair in my room. He said, "I heard Ranger was out of town."
"He's on a mission."
"How was he treating you before he left?"
"Fine Joe. He was the perfect gentleman."
"So are you back together?"
"I don't know. It's hard to have a relationship when the other person is missing."
"I'm so sorry you have been hurt so bad Steph."
"It's okay Joe. It may have been a journey that I needed to take.
I can't say that I'm ecstatically happy right now but I feel emotionally stronger than I ever have and I have more confidence."
His eyes went to the dress on the bed. "That is a really pretty dress. I could see you wearing that."
"Nash bought it for me for our first date and these," and I showed him the jewelry boxes.
"He bought you diamonds."
"Oh I don't think those are real diamonds Joe. But, they are really special and I love them."
"They're real Steph."
I reached out and took the boxes. "What?" Tears began to fall again. "He bought me diamonds?" Joe nodded.
Joe looked sad. He stood up and said, "He was a smart man. He knew right away how lucky he was. I have to head back to work. I'll check in on you again soon." He kissed me on the cheek.
A couple hours later my Merry Men and I were headed to Virginia. We had gotten doggie kisses from Jake and left him at Rangeman. They were already trying to teach him tricks. At this point he would mostly do the opposite of what they were trying to teach him. It was funny watching some of Jake's antics. Right now sit meant flopping over on his back and moving his legs like he was running with his tongue lolling out. Stop meant I got your boot and it's mine now.
Hector had booked us a suite and rooms at the Ritz Carlton in Arlington about 5 miles from Springfield.
I said to Tank, "We don't need anything that nice."
"Bombshell, you and Ranger are the owners of a very successful business and when we travel we can write off some of that expense when our accountant does our taxes. It's all good. Ranger would not settle for any less, especially for you."
After the bellman showed us to our room and my suite, I closed the bedroom door and went into the bathroom and ran a bath. I just wanted to close my eyes and soak and relax.
My phone rang before I undressed. It was Justine.
"Hello, Justine."
"Hello dear. I can't wait to see you tonight. Have you arrived in Springfield?"
"Yes. We're close by staying at the Ritz Carlton in Arlington. We just got here."
"What a wonderful hotel and you're very close to the restaurant."
"We're going to meet at the Lyon Hall there in Arlington at 6:30 pm."
"Sounds really good."
"See you there Stephanie. Goodbye."
I soaked until I almost went to sleep and got out and toweled my pruney skin. I dialed Tank. "Justine called. We're having dinner here in Arlington at a place called Lyon Hall at 1800 Ranger time."
He chuckled, "Okay I'll tell the guys."
Tank knocked on the door in a few minutes holding a box. He said, "Ranger bought this for you for Christmas but I think he might like you to have it now."
I opened it and there was a beautiful grey colored shawl with small beading in it. I said, "I can't believe this Tank. This will look perfect with the dress I'm wearing tomorrow and he never saw."
We arrived at the restaurant and Bobby gave the hostess our name and she led us through the restaurant to a private room. She opened the door and there was Trigg, Bing, and Mrs. Nash and Travis and his son Justin and some other people I didn't know. Oh my gosh! Billy Gibbons was there with Frank and Dusty! There were hugs and kisses all around.
I stopped at Justin. "We can do a big squeezy hug or a fist bump or both. What would you like?"
He looked off to the side of me and held out his arms.
"Okay you ready?" I grabbed him and squeezed him as hard as I could and we ended with a little fist bump.
I had learned that autistic kids have disconnections in their little brains and chemistry and that light contact was uncomfortable for them as well as intense light and sound. However, intense contact like a big hug and weight helped to center their gravity and calm them somehow. Travis said Justin always liked to wear heavy boots like rain boots because they gave him comfort and he still even slept with a weighted blanket. These are the little things that make a big difference that the foundation provides along with the help of specialists, therapists, and dieticians.
Justin was a beautiful boy and incredibly smart and I had tears in my eyes thinking about the love that Nash had felt for this sweet kid. I thought about my unborn baby and shivered a little. What if it wasn't okay? I pushed the thought out of my head. Ugh, damn hormones. With that thought my stomach pitched and I was off running in search of the restroom.
When I finished throwing up, I opened the stall door and Justine was there. She looked at me and smiled.
"Come here, dear," and she helped me to clean up.
"Do you know when you're due?"
I thought how do women know this? Do they have built in pregnancy radar? I'm not going near my mother when I get back.
"I don't know for sure yet Justine."
She laughed. "It's hard to keep this sort of thing a secret for very long Stephanie."
I looked at her. "Justine, I can't lie to you. I don't know if this is Ranger's baby or Nash's. I was with Ranger before I went to work and stay with Nash. He hurt me and that's why I left him. Falling in love with Nash was not something I expected. I'm so ashamed."
"Life is not easy dear and sometimes lessons learned are not by chance, they are pre-ordained if you will. Destiny."
"Does Carlos know?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
"Nothing. He was leaving on a mission and I blurted it out because I was angry with him. He's punishing himself."
"I think Carlos is a good man and he loves you and I would trust him with my grandchild. I have a sense about such things. Some men are open and easy like my John was. But, some are hard and complicated like Ranger and John's father. My late husband was a great man as I am sure your Ranger is. I would be so happy if it was my son's child. What I want for sure is you and that baby happy and healthy. I would love to be a Grandmother to yours and Carlos's baby, too, if I'm allowed."
I started to cry and she hugged me to her. I love this woman and damn these friggin' hormones.
Justine introduced me to the new man in her life when we got back to the dining room. His name was Lucas Duncan. He was a warm, soft spoken man and handsome for his age. I hugged him and told him that I was very happy to meet him. I was so happy for Justine. I can't imagine how she has suffered losing her husband and then her only child. I was surprised to realize that I would be devastated if I lost my baby and it wasn't even born yet.
We had a wonderful dinner and I think the Merry Men were star struck when it came to Billy and the band. Before the night was over they were discussing bounty hunting and security. I really enjoyed being with Bing and Trigg again. They caught me up on how the business was going and told me that they had hired a "cute" secretary. I asked them if they hired her for her brains or her boobs. They answered sheepishly that she had a lot of both. I giggled.
Lester had been entertaining Bing and Trigg and I could tell that the three of them were going to become good friends. They can't believe how goofy he is. I told them he's arrogant, absurd, comical, a super horndog and priceless. It's all natural and God given and he is the best friend a man or woman could have. He's loyal like a puppy dog and fierce about protecting his friends. "Guys, Lester is the best."
Lester put his arm around me, "Gorgeous I knew you were in love with me," and gave me a sloppy kiss on the cheek. I wiped my cheek, "And guys he slobbers too." Trigg and Bing chuckled.
The next day was both emotional and wonderful. Justine told me how beautiful I looked. I told her that Nash had bought me the dress and the jewelry and I had wanted to wear them in his honor. I told her that Ranger had given me the shawl.
More than 300 people attended the dedication ceremony. It wasn't a surprise that Nash had been so respected and loved in his community. I remembered all those plaques on the wall of his office for service he had done for others.
At the end of the ceremony it was announced that donations just for that day had totaled more than a half million dollars and that Billy and the band would be adding another half million to the total. The foundation would reach many more children.
Travis and I held hands with tears rolling down our faces. Little Justin was clapping his hands. I hugged people and shook hands for an hour. It was overwhelming. Tank was having a serious conversation with Bing and Trigg. I went over to see what they were discussing.
Tank grinned, "We are discussing a merger."
"What?"
"How do you feel about presenting a proposal to buy Nash's business and merge it with Rangeman? Bing and Trigg will head this office."
Bing and Trigg beamed. "Omigod, that would be great!"
Bing said, "Billy and the boys need some security work and I think we can take off with a bang, toots."
We ended the day with very tearful goodbyes and Justine said she would call me in a few days.
TBC-
Nash's legacy is still at work. He is still teaching lessons. What a guy!