Better than myself Part 6

(Sequel to As a Man)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, I'm not making any money, and all the wonderful characters belong to the lovely JE. I would steal them if I could, just to make Stephanie make a choice.

Tank's POV

After a few days of phone tag, I was able to get in touch with the lawyer regarding Ranger's mother's estate. At first she was reluctant to give me any details and had questions about what kind of son would not be available to hear their mother's last wishes. But after I faxed over the power of attorney documents and explained Ranger's military status, Miss Camille Baxter, was very willing to give me all of the details. We even remained on the phone for awhile after I had all the information I needed, she was very well travelled and we have been to many of the same places. We hung up with the promise to speak again and exchanged personal cell numbers. That was surprising; I am not looking to find something new, the wounds from my break up with Lula are too fresh. But it is always nice to have someone else to get to know.

Ranger is now $250,000 richer. Not like he needs the money, he spends that much on cars, without a second thought. She also left him a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the house, but the house is Jason's until he chooses to sell. Ranger has plans for that money; he was hoping that it was enough to get his new project off the ground. Ranger wants to open a safe place for children to go, a club or safe house of sorts, that has counseling available including addiction specialists, along with sports programs, home work help, and maybe some vocational training. He didn't have all the specifics, but he had a general plan. Just some place so kids can know that there is someone willing to help, because it is easy to think that no one cares or will help. This project would be Stephanie's to run, with myself and Ranger and partners. I think that she would be phenomenal at this, she can read people and has a way of getting people involved in whatever she is doing. With her personality and Ranger's business sense, this could be a fantastic opportunity for us to branch out into. I know Ranger isn't looking to make money off of this, just to break even, as long as he can find some additional sponsors, which will be no problem. And I know there are always investors looking to "diversify their portfolios." Also, getting into business with Carlos Manoso, is always a good idea.

She isn't ready to hear about this now, with how busy she has been, cleaning out her apartment with Ella's help. The Rangeman helped move her furniture out yesterday. Today they were going to clean and paint, as a part of the deal she made with Dillon, for breaking the lease. It was startling to see how little belongings she actually planned to move to seven. It was mostly clothes, shoes and bathroom products. She didn't want to bring any of her furniture, no kitchen items, except her cookie jar. I don't know how a woman in her 30s still lived as if she was still in a college dorm. It seems a little depressing. She did confide in me, that she was a little embarrassed with how little she is bringing to the relationship with Ranger, I did remind her that what she doesn't have in money or things, she makes up to him with her love and willingness to look beyond the face he shows to the world.

The move is going slower that it would have if she would have just let me handle it, but I don't think she wants to rush. Because once the gossip mill gets wind of her move, it will force her into confrontations with Morelli and her mother.

We both have been exhausted since the confrontation with Lula and Connie, so I am thinking she is using this time to emotionally recharge before going headlong into battle again.

Hell, I need time to emotionally recharge, Lula is relentless. Calling, crying, begging, yelling, it is all getting to be too much. Does she really think that any of those tactics will work? You can't bully someone into being with you. If you could, would you want to be with them?

I am glad that I have the running of Rangeman to keep me busy. I have been trying to figure out a way to stop picking up skips for Vinnie, without losing too much revenue. I have three different ideas running through my head- working with Les Sebring, starting up our own bail bonds office or just leaving Jersey altogether. We (Les, Bobby and I) only stayed because Ranger stayed, and he was just here because he was drawn to Steph. Before he met her, he was ready to just make the Trenton office another satellite office. It can be run without us here; we would just have to pick new leadership.

I want to be ready with a complete plan when Ranger gets back. There are a lot of decisions I can make without his signature, but I don't want to make any major changes until his return.

There is a knock at my office door, "Enter."

Stephanie comes in, looking a little happier than I have seen her lately, but covered in light blue paint.

"The apartment is done; you know I couldn't do anything without making a mess of myself. I gave the keys to Dillon, so I am now official a resident of Casa Rangeman."

I grin at her, and then I have to ask, "When are you planning on telling Morelli and your family?"

She looks thoughtful, "Give me a few days to bask in the happy feeling finally doing something for me, then I will be ready for Joe. My mother will be the worst, so we will talk to her last."

How will her mother be worse than Morelli? I know that Morelli is going to off like a Roman candle. He thinks that because he was Stephanie's first it means he has some permanent claim on her. He just sees her as property and all he is going to think is that he lost to Ranger. I am hoping he flips; I have wanted to hit him for awhile.

There must be something about Stephanie's mother I don't know about, I know she is a nag, but I don't know how that can be worse than Morelli going apeshit. Wait… she said we, I guess I am going to go with her to visit her mother when she is ready, great, maybe we can time it when her Grandma has a viewing, so I don't have to deal with her grabby Grandma.

A/N: I think I am going to write the Joe Morelli confrontation from his POV, I am working it out in my head. I want to write something a little dark and I think Joe would be the best candidate. Is there anyone you want to hear from, let me know, and I will see if the muse will let me.

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