I've resigned myself to the fact that every time something out of the ordinary happens in Ranger and Stephanie's life in this story, it creates extra chapters I wasn't expecting to write. The second part of this one is already written and I'll post it as soon as I finish editing it. Anything familiar belongs to Janet. The mistakes are mine.
Chapter 17
When Ranger and I did return home, the first person who stood out to me in the airport - for obvious reasons - was Tank standing by our gate. I let Ranger's hand go to give Tank an overenthusiastic hug, which he stoically endured. I took that to mean Tank had also missed me.
"You look like you had a good time," Tank told me when I let him go."Did you elope while you were down there?"
"No," Ranger answered.
"I wouldn't give my mother the satisfaction of doing that."
"Why do you say that?" Tank asked.
"My mom and I have an interesting relationship, and I'm just now getting a grip on it. The first battle line was drawn when I told her I was marrying Ranger and not Joe," I said to both of them."The second is when I informed her that this wedding is ours to plan ... not hers, and that my bridal shower was going to be at Shorty's and not in any of the usual Burg locations. The only way I can make sure my mother doesn't backslide now is to have her stand back and watch me do what I want with her being powerless to stop me."
"All this is because of a wedding?" Tank asked me.
"No. It's really about my whole life up to this point. And if I don't want history to repeat itself, I have to stay consistent."
"What you told Silvio is correct, Babe. You can leave the 'dunce desk' anytime you want. You've obviously learned a lot about strategy."
"Who knew your military history would be useful in dealing with Helen Plum?" I said to Ranger.
"I'd think your relationship with your mother is where a military campaign is needed most," Ranger said.
"You do have a point," I told him."And I changed my mind while we were in the air. If we ever end up eloping, instead of going to Vegas, I'd want to get married on that little beach you took me to. You remember that place, don't you?"
I saw Ranger's eyes dilate. Yep, he remembered all right.
We got our stuff together, and while we were walking out to a Rangeman SUV, Tank asked about my Miami capture.
"Silvio emailed Bobby, telling him you caught a guy for them just after you landed."
"Yep, I did. He was easy, though. I didn't even have to use my nail file on him."
Tank doesn't show a lot of emotion, but I could tell from the look he shot Ranger that he thought I'd gone in unarmed. I couldn't fault him for thinking that since I've done that many times in the past. I know better now. I've realized that aside from wanting to not be the laughing stock of the police station anymore, I also don't want to die. Who'd be able to make Ranger laugh, or even smile, if I was gone?
"She's kidding, Tank," Ranger told him."Steph is always armed now."
"And I know how to make a gun go bang, too," I said to Tank.
"And to think, some of the men are glad you're coming in today," Tank said,"smartass and all."
"Thanks," I told him,"my ass really likes hearing how smart it is."
Tank laughed. It wasn't loud, and it wasn't for long, but he let it out anyway. Nope, I couldn't die. It's clear that I still have a lot of work here to do.
"Now tell me how your ass caught the FTA."
"I think my boobs and legs had more to do with that capture than my ass."
"Don't sell yourself short, Babe. Your ass had a hand in it as well."
My ass had certainly appreciated being in Ranger's hands after that capture, I thought to myself. A lot.
Ranger put our things in the back of the vehicle and got behind the wheel. I let Tank ride shotgun this time while I relaxed in the backseat. As we got closer and closer to Ranger's building, my excitement grew. I really have missed this place. Okay, maybe not Trenton so much, but more the people who live here.
Ranger turned down Haywood, and when he came to a stop and parked in front of the elevator, I got out and joined the two of them at the trunk only to be waved away by both men. Fine, if they want to schlep all our crap upstairs, I wasn't about to argue. I have people to see.
"I'll be in the control room," I told Ranger, catching his arm before he reached in for another bag.
He circled my waist with his free arm, and pulled me flush to his body.
"I'll be down as soon as we get everything in the apartment," Ranger said, bending his head to kiss me.
"Jesus Fucking Christ," Tank said, when Ranger was just getting started."You just spent three days together with hardly any interruptions, you should be sick of each other by now."
I glanced up at Ranger's face and smiled.
"Nope," I said to Tank, not breaking eye contact with Ranger while I spoke."I'm not sick of Ranger at all. In fact, I may just try to get him to play hooky from work tomorrow."
"No f-ing way," Tank told me."If I have to deal with one more break in or control room bet, I'm gonna quit."
"Stop being such a pussy, Tank," Ranger said."You've held down the fort for months on end when I've had to leave town without notice. A few days of extra work won't cause you to hand in a resignation."
"Yeah, Tank," I said, releasing Ranger,"why don't you just admit that you really missed us, and want us both back to work first thing tomorrow morning."
"You're right about the work part," Tank told me.
"It's okay, Tank," I said, walking to the elevator,"I can be man enough for both of us and say that I missed you all."
"You couldn't have left her in Miami?" Tank asked Ranger.
I knew from Tank's completely blank expression that he was joking, so I didn't go back and kick him in the knee. I probably could have gone for a nut shot, but I would've had to stretch first to get my leg up that high.
"No," Ranger said."If Stephanie had stayed in Miami, I would have also stayed, and your ass would've been stuck cleaning up all the shit here."
"You're an asshole," Tank told Ranger.
"Yes, I am," Ranger said to him."You should keep that in mind."
I figure this is Tank and Ranger's way of saying 'welcome home' and 'thanks', so I left them alone before they decided that they really missed each other's company and came to blows. And they say women are hard to understand.
Two seconds after the elevator doors opened on the fifth floor, I was immediately grabbed by Bobby in a welcoming hug.
"We're happy that you're back," Bobby told me.
"Me, too," I said to him.
"Sure you are. Ranger probably had to drug you to get you on a plane out of Florida."
"No drugging was necessary," Ranger told him, sneaking up on us."Stephanie was fine with leaving Miami."
"Only because I know we're going back soon. Hey, I thought you were helping Tank?"
"Tank was helping me," Ranger said,"but I decided to let him handle the bags on his own."
"You couldn't have just hugged it out, could you?" I asked him.
"No."
Okay, then.
"Guess what?" I said, turning back to Bobby."We now have a house in Miami."
Bobby - along with Hal, Woody, and Ram who'd heard us talking and came out of the kitchen - all went completely still.
"What?" I asked them."What's going on?"
"This doesn't mean that you're moving down there, does it?" Bobby asked.
"Jeez, first Tank asks if we eloped, and now you guys think we're closing up shop here and hitting the beach?"
"Why else would you need a house all the way down there?" Hal asked us.
"Julie for one," I said to them."There's only a few more years before she's off to college and out on her own, and it'll be good for her to have Ranger there to help her get through them. And Ranger pointed out to me that if we had a house, the seventh floor of the Miami building would no longer be off limits, so whoever has to go down there for business can just stay in his old apartment."
"That makes sense," Bobby said.
"Glad you approve, Brown," Ranger said to him.
"Ranger, play nice."
"I always play nice, Babe."
Ram grunted under his breath."Yeah, with Steph maybe."
"Did you say something, Ram?" Ranger asked, pinning him with a stare.
"Nope, I didn't say a thing."
"That's what I thought." Ranger said, then shifted his eyes to me."What would you like to do tonight after you make your rounds here? Go see your parents? Mary Lou? Have dinner out?"
"No to all three," I told him."I just want to spent a quiet night with my guys."
"Guys?" Ranger asked, his eyebrow raised.
"Yeah, you and Rex."
"We can do that, Babe. But before we do, Tank told me that Santos is coming in a little early just to see you before his shift."
"Thanks for the warning," I said."I'll be sure to hide behind Hal."
"You might have better luck hiding behind Tank," Bobby said.
"Do you think he'd go for it?" I asked Ranger.
"No."
I sighed."I didn't think so."
"Where is she?" I heard Lester say, as he came into the control room with Tank right behind him.
"See," I told Tank,"at least someone doesn't mind showing that they're glad to see me."
"I said we were happy to have you back," Bobby said.
"I know you did," I said to Bobby,"but I'm determined to break Tank."
"Tank broke a long time ago, Babe. He just doesn't want you to know it."
"Good, since all that shit's settled, can I get my hug now?" Lester asked me.
"No," Ranger told him.
I cut my eyes to Ranger."You've been saying no an awful lot since we got back. I seem to remember you saying yes a lot more in Miami."
"Maybe it was the ocean air," Hal said to everyone.
"Or a bikini maybe," Lester said.
Yep, the bikini did help.
"I can't believe I was actually a little homesick for this place and you people," I told Lester.
"Of course you were homesick and missing us, Steph. Your life isn't complete without us," he said, giving me a bear hug like only Lester could.
"Now that you've all seen Stephanie, you can get back to work," Ranger told everyone.
"He's only been here for ten minutes and he's already back to boss mode," Bobby said to me.
"Ranger lives in boss mode," I told him."Miami was no different."
"You didn't seem to have any complaints while we were there, Babe."
"I didn't. Not a one," I said, kissing his jaw."In fact, I still don't."
"And ... they're back," Lester said."I swear I just got three cavities while standing here."
"And now we're leaving," I told him."I have some unpacking to do. You guys can expect a little something on your desks tomorrow morning."
"They're not grenades, are they?" Bobby asked.
I thought about the grenade-shaped paperweight I'd gotten for Tank.
"Not all of them," I said, and then held out my hand to Ranger."You're coming up with me, right?"
"I'm right behind you, Babe," Ranger told me, lacing his fingers through mine."I'll even help you with your clothes."
"Yeah, with taking them off," I heard Woody say to Bobby.
I looked over at Woody."Jealous?"
He grinned at me."Definitely."
I smiled back and tugged Ranger to the elevator before he decided to threaten Woody with a few hours of gym/beating time.
"Hey, Steph!" Bobby called just as the doors were closing."When are you resuming your training with us?"
I stuck my arm out to keep the doors open while I answered him.
"Tomorrow, I guess. My arm's healing quickly, so I'm not concerned about the stitches as much."
"We'll go easy on you just the same. I'll see you in the morning."
I stepped back inside and Ranger pushed the button.
"Proud of you, Babe," Ranger told me.
I pressed a quick kiss to his mouth. Truth is, I'm proud of me, too. I feel like it took me over thirty years to get to this place in my life, and now that I'm here, I wasn't leaving.
As expected, the week after we got back was a hectic one. Ranger had back-to-back meetings, endless reports to fill out, and clients to talk to. Tank was laughing his ass off, but I was getting a little cranky. I've been totally spoiled by having Ranger all to myself, and I didn't appreciate having him taken away from me for most of the day. I didn't have time to mourn the loss for long, though. Once Connie started calling, I was back to chasing down my own skips. The upside to our daily separation has been that I now fully appreciate just how great it is to come back to Ranger's at the end of a busy day and catch up on each other's lives over dinner. It is definitely a far cry from the raised eyebrow I used to get from him a long time ago when I'd ask Ranger anything about work.
What also helped to get me through the long week is knowing that we'd be having my - or maybe I should say everyone's - bridal shower at the end of it. I decided to wear a simple, red, sleeveless mini dress for a couple reasons. That my mother would hate it being the first thing that came to mind. The fact that I'd stand out amidst the sea of black was another. And I bet Ranger will also stand out, since my red-clad body will probably be plastered to his all night long.
I found out the night of the shower that I'd been right. Not only had Ranger stayed in his work clothes, I saw when we arrived at the restaurant that almost all of the guys were still in their uniforms. The idea of dressing up to go to Shorty's is as foreign to them as my mother. My mom's still fresh in my mind after this morning's conversation with Bobby and Lester. They pulled me aside to mention that they wanted to be sitting at a table with my mother tonight.
"Why on earth would you want to do that?" I'd asked them.
I would never willingly sit with my mother at any party we went to. Not only would she repeatedly complain about who was or wasn't invited, but every Burg motor mouth would have to stop by her table to trade the little bits of gossip they'd heard since their arrival. Of course, no one from the Burg would be at Shorty's except for Mary Lou and my family, so the gossip would be kept to a minimum.
"We know that your relationship with your mother isn't an easy one," Lester told me,"so we thought we'd help you out a little."
Uh-oh.
"You don't have to take one for the team here, guys," I said to them."I'll be fine. My mother's opinion doesn't matter to me anymore."
"But it matters to us, Steph," Bobby said."And we want to do something about it."
I shrugged. They are free to do whatever they want. They're big boys after all. I made a decision right then and there to not give my mother a heads up, or even try to stop them from carrying out what they're obviously hell bent on doing. Maybe my mother will switch to praying for herself instead of me tonight.
"What are you thinking about, Babe?" Ranger asked, pulling my mind back to my present company.
"What the guys are up to," I told him.
"Are you worried?"
I thought about it for a second."No, I'm not. I trust your men. And, truthfully, it feels good to know that they want to help me."
"No one likes how your mother treats you, Stephanie."
"Yeah, I see that now," I told Ranger."That's why I'm determined to be who I want to be and have stopped trying to mold myself into who she's hoping I'll be."
"You're perfect the way you are, Steph," Ranger said, pulling me close to press a kiss to the top of my head.
"You have to say that," I told him, but smiling at his words anyway.
"Don't you know by now, Babe, I don't have to do anything?"
"Yep," I said."You and God."
"Steph, get your ass over here," Lester called out."Shorty saved you guys the best table."
"Why does everyone feel the need to boss me around?" I asked Ranger, as we walked from the entrance to where Bobby and Lester were sitting.
"They like the attitude you give them when they do," Ranger said to me.
I kept moving and chose not to respond to that statement.
"I guess you weren't kidding," I told Bobby, nodding to the empty chairs on either side of him and Lester."I'm assuming those are for my parents?"
"Yep," Lester said.
"Do I need to know anything before they get here?" I asked them.
"Nope, just leave everything to us."
No problem there. I wanted no part of their evening plans.
"Stephanie ... Ranger, when did you guys get here?" I heard from behind us.
"Just now, Shorty," I told him, looking over my shoulder at the man I used to be terrified of.
"I've seen a lot of strange shit in my day," Shorty said to me,"but never once did I think I'd see a bridal shower taking place in my joint."
"I like to be different," I told him.
"You'd have to 'be different' to get Ranger to give you a ring."
"Do you really think I could get this man to do anything he wasn't already set on doing?" I asked Shorty, gesturing to Ranger.
"Yes," everyone around us said.
"Very funny," I told them.
"Everything's on the house tonight," Shorty said to us,"so I expect you to make good use of it."
I was already shaking my head before he even finished speaking.
"Uh-uh. No way, Shorty. You know how much we all eat, you'll be broke before ten."
"It's already done," he said."Catering this party is my wedding present to both of you."
I looked at Ranger."I love a man who gives pizza and beer as a gift."
"I learned that a long time ago, Babe."
"If you need anything," Shorty said,"I'll be in the back."
"If you're not too busy, Shorty," I told him,"we'd love to have you join us. Right, Ranger?"
"It's his restaurant," Ranger said to us.
I rolled my eyes at him.
"Let me translate," I told Shorty."In Ranger-speak, that means we hope you'll join the party."
"Maybe I will."
"Good," I said."Now who do I see about getting a beer?"
"Coming right up," Shorty told me with a small smile.
Ranger pulled out a chair for me and I sat down at one of the bigger tables Shorty had dragged out from somewhere for tonight. A year ago, I never would have believed I'd feel this comfortable here or inside this part of Ranger's life. Tonight is more than just a celebration of our upcoming wedding. I think it's more of a party celebrating the two very different lives we've managed to combine.
I was halfway through my beer, and was nibbling on a few fries, when my parents arrived. I noted my mother's strained face even as I took in my father's amused one.
I left Ranger to go see what was going on.
"What's with the faces?" I asked my family."Did something happen?"
"I'll say," Grandma Mazur said."Go ahead and tell her, Helen."
"Honestly, Mother, you can be impossible at times."
"Go ahead and be an old stick in the mud then, I don't mind telling Stephanie," Grandma said, with a big denture revealing smile on her face."It's a hoot."
"What's a hoot?"
"Some young gangbanger-looking kid just asked your mother for a BJ," Grandma told me.
My eyes flew open while my dad tried unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh. I didn't find this nearly as funny. I don't want those two letters and my mother anywhere near each other in a sentence.
"That's not the best part," Grandma Mazur said to me."Your mother hadn't a clue what he was talking about. I had to explain to her exactly what he was askin' her for."
It was obvious that Grandma had enjoyed educating my mother on this particular subject.
"How was I to know that I'd be accosted by some street person asking for a sexual favor on my way into a restaurant? That never would have happened outside of Marsilio's. And the things you find amusing, Mother, make me really question your sanity."
"You could be in a much better mood if you'd watch a few of them cable shows and learn a thing or two about what the young people are doing with each other nowadays." She winked at my dad."Could help your marriage, too."
Oh, God.
I could see that my mother was avoiding the conversation by looking around Shorty's at the lack of actual decor in the place. I knew she wouldn't be able to appreciate the unique charm of the building. Only a certain type of person can see the beauty in scratched-up tables caused by numerous knife blades, and the occasional bullet hole from when Shorty had to personally get involved in a dispute.
"Mom, Dad," I said to them,"Bobby and Lester saved you some seats. Grandma, you can sit with Ranger and I if you want."
"That reminds me ... I hope you don't mind, but I invited Emma Gertz to be my 'date' tonight."
"Grandma ..."
"She was just so interested when I told her about this place that it seemed rude not to ask her to come along."
Guess the Burg is going to get a double earful tomorrow.
"It's fine. But only Mrs. Gertz, right?" I asked her, thinking of Shorty's generosity.
I didn't want to cost him a month's worth of money in only a couple of hours.
"Stop thinking about it, Babe," Ranger said, coming up behind me and sliding his arms around my waist."Shorty may not look it, but he's not exactly hurting for money. And he'll take it as a personal insult if you try to give his gift back to him."
"Okay. You win," I said to Ranger, turning in his arms."I'll let the guilt go."
"Good. Is everything okay?" He asked.
"Yeah. No, Grandma," I said to Grandma Mazur when she opened her mouth to tell Ranger about my mother's admirer."I don't want to hear it again."
Ranger lifted his eyebrow at me.
"Trust me," I told him,"you don't want to hear it either."
"Edna!"A miniscule woman called from the doorway.
Emma Gertz looked similar to Grandma Mazur except slightly rounder and had hair dyed black instead of peachy-pink like Grandma's is right now.
Grandma moved back to the door."You're gonna have a good time tonight, Emma," she said to her."This place is a pip."
"It is," Mrs. Gertz said, excitedly."I just met the nicest young man outside who offered to take me back to my car."
"Hi, Mrs. Gertz. I'm glad you could come," I said politely before looking at Ranger."Umm, Ranger, maybe you could have Tank take a walk outside before Mary Lou and Valerie get here."
"Is there something that needs removing?" He asked, studying my face.
"Yes. Just not permanently if you know what I mean."
Ranger grinned down at me."I know what you mean. And I'll take care of it."
He turned his head and immediately got Tank's attention. Ranger gave him a single nod and that's all it took to get Tank moving in our direction.
"We have someone to see outside," Ranger said to Tank, and they left to hopefully only hurry the seemingly desperate kid on his way.
I played hostess and showed my family to their tables while Ranger was busy out front. My mom and dad weren't given much of a choice, so they sat with Bobby and Lester. Grandma was happily sharing the table next to them with Hector, Vince, and her partner in crime Emma Gertz. Cal was sitting at a table across from my mom, and I could see her trying not to look at the tattoo on his forehead as it was staring right at her. Well, it would be staring at her if there were actual eyes inside the skull's head instead of just two empty sockets, but the tattoo made her uncomfortable all the same. Or maybe it was the restaurant, neighborhood, and company that was making my mom fidgety.
My phone rang five minutes after we all sat down.
"Mary Lou? Where are you?" I asked.
"In the parking lot. I'm scared to get out of my car."
"And here I was thinking that after having kids, you weren't scared of anything anymore."
"I'm not," Mary Lou said,"except for maybe this parking lot at night."
"There's nothing to worry about. Now anyway. Ranger and Tank are already out there," I told her."Just look for one of them and they'll make sure you get inside all in one piece."
Mary Lou came in with Ranger and Tank three minutes later, followed by Ella and Louis. Shorty had thoughtfully given us the biggest table in the place so Mary Lou, Tank, Ella, and Louis joined Ranger and I. They're just as much my family as the one I share blood with so I was extremely happy with the seating arrangements for the night. I could keep an eye on my mother, but not have to listen too closely to her.
"Looks like you're still pregnant," I said to Mary Lou.
"Yeah. I think this kid can hear what's going on inside our house and is in no hurry to come out."
"That's good," I said,"because you really don't want the baby to come early."
She sighed."No, I don't."
"Are you and Lenny still waiting to find out if you're having a boy or a girl?"
"Yup. Since I have all boys, if we're going to be having another one, I'd rather not know until I absolutely have to."
"You're so full of it, Mary Lou. You'd love another boy ... or a girl if you're carrying one."
"I would, but that doesn't change the fact that my kids are a nightmare to live with at least three days out of the week. Now enough about me," Mary Lou said, sitting down in between Ella and I,"you still have all your vacation pictures, right?"
"Yeah," I said, digging my phone out of my bag."Ella, scoot over, you have to see the kitchen in our new house."
"Oh, good," Ella told me, sliding her chair closer to Mary Lou's."I was hoping to get a good look at the place. Ever since you showed me the outside of the house before you got called away, I was looking forward to seeing more. It's clear from the expression on your face when you talk about the house that it's special."
"I still can't believe I have a friend with a house on an actual island," Mary Lou said to me.
"You wouldn't now if it wasn't for Ranger," I told her.
"We've been through this Stephanie," Ranger said, joining the conversation.
"Holy shit," Lester said, grabbing the phone once Mary Lou and Ella were done looking at it."When do we get to visit?"
"Probably not until we get some furniture for it," I told him, already picturing the fun we'd all have there.
"What the hell are you guys doing here if this place is waiting for you in Miami?" Bobby asked us.
"We've got the best of both worlds. Ranger and I will get to spend time here and there," I said."Plus you all are in New Jersey. Unless everyone plans on migrating, I'll always want to come back here."
"Shit, Steph," Lester added,"if this place comes with a guest house, I'll sure as hell move."
"Us, too," was heard from everyone at Grandma's table.
"You would definitely need Louis and I," Ella said, smiling at us.
"Jeez, guys, the place isn't that big," I told them. I looked over at Ranger."Are there any apartments free in the Rangeman building down there?"
"No," Ranger said, causing disappointed groans to circulate among the group.
"Guess we'll have to stay here for now," I said to everyone.
My mom was the only one not happy about the house and the turn in conversation. Big surprise there.
"Stephanie," my mom said, coming over to me after my phone had reached her,"isn't this house a little above your means."
"Helen," my dad said, pausing with a chicken wing halfway to his mouth,"stop meddling. It's no one's business how much money a person has to spend."
It was a nice attempt, but I knew my mother wouldn't let up until I made her, despite what my dad says.
"No, Mom. The house is perfect for me," I told her,"and we're going to live happily ever after."
"Babe, a woman usually says that about the man she's about to marry."
I gave Ranger the mother of all eyerolls."Ranger, we already know that we'll be happy, it's the house she's questioning."
"My mistake," he said, his lips tilting.
"Why would you want to spend this much money on a house when you could buy three houses here in town for the same amount? Don't you think that's a little irresponsible?"
"No," I told her.
No way was I going to let it slip that I'd had the same thoughts when Ranger took me to see the house.
"While I appreciate your concern for our finances, Mrs. Plum," Ranger said, his voice cool,"this house, and anything else we choose to buy, are well within our means."
"Shut it, Helen," Grandma said to my mom."I want to see this place, and no way are you browbeating Stephanie into getting rid of it before I do."
"There's no chance of that, Grandma," I told her, before turning my attention back to my mother."We plan on keeping, enjoying, and also living part time, in this house. And it'll be ours until we decide otherwise."
I got approving nods from both Bobby and Lester, and I could almost feel Ranger's support rolling off him in waves. I was feeling pretty good myself until my endorphin high quickly turned to nervous energy when Ella stood up from her seat.
"Helen, dear," Ella said sweetly, looping her arm through my mom's,"why don't we go get ourselves a few refreshments."
I heard warning bells going off all over the place. Some might say that Robo-Skank Jeanne Ellen is a female version of Ranger, but I know better. Ella is a lot closer to Ranger's equal. She may not have Ranger's muscles, or impressive/scary background, but Ella can bend anyone to her will without them even seeing it coming, and also have them thank her for it afterwards.
"Shit," I said to Ranger,"what should I do?"
"Steph, Ella isn't going to hurt your mother."
"Of course she wouldn't hurt her, but I don't want my mother saying anything that might offend Ella."
"There is no offending Ella, Steph," Ranger told me."She believes in herself and what she stands for completely. If anyone is brave, or stupid, enough to confront Ella, she'll immediately turn the conversation back on them. Your mother is the one who should be worrying right now, not you."
"It's true, Stephanie," Louis said."I still remember the day I told Ella that I wasn't ready to settle down with anyone yet. An hour later, I found myself shopping for a ring, and then proposing to her that same night."
"Oh ... she's good," I told him."I bet Ella knew you were going to do it, too."
"Yes," Louis said."Even had me believing it was my idea all along."
"And you thank God every day that she took the initiative," Ranger told Louis.
"Damn right," Louis said to Ranger, and I watched as Louis' eyes followed Ella while she moved my mother towards the bar.
"You guys are lucky," I said to Louis.
"We're not the only ones," Louis said, taking his eyes off Ella long enough to look at us.
"No, you're not," I told him, knowing that Ranger and I also have something very special, and pretty rare, between us.
I sighed and got my butt up off my chair. I snagged a good luck kiss from Ranger before I had to cross enemy lines and enter what is no doubt going to turn into a combat zone.
"You're not going to let Ella do this on her own are you, Babe?" Ranger asked me.
"Nope. This is my fight, too. I'll be right back."