Alejandra
Mama watched as I grabbed my duffle containing my midwife supplies. "Do you need your father to help with your other equipment?" mama asked.
"I'm fine, mama. Everything is still in the back of my SUV. I have people to help at the other end," I replied. She squinted, attempting to read my expression and decipher what I was doing. I decided to toss her a clue. "I got a new patient today. I'll be back tomorrow."
"Where are you staying?" papa asked. He quirked an eyebrow, reminding me of Carlos.
"In Trenton. My patient is a friend of Jeanelle's," I replied. It wasn't exactly a lie, but not the complete truth either. Jeanelle would give me a room. However, I didn't want to interrupt her time with Luigi, her live-in boyfriend.
"Drive safe. Call when you arrive," papa said. I hugged my parents, then skipped to the car. They were probably wondering why I was in a happy mood. I had two reasons for my excellent mood. Jolene Travers got fired from the clinic for sexually harassing the patient's husband. Plus, Carlos and his wife, Stephanie, were having a baby.
I honked the horn before driving away. My SUV had connected to the Bluetooth on my phone. The sound of my favourite song, Doctor Feelgood by Aretha Franklin, played through the speakers. I hoped to see Bobby Brown. That man was F I N E. His tiny braids lining his head from forehead to the nape of his neck made me want to rub my cheeks against them. The beads attached at the ends clicked as he ran.
"Good God almighty, the man sure makes me feel real good!" I sang.
My phone rang, interrupting my song. "Hello," I answered.
"Hi, Alejandra. It's Steph. What did you want to talk about earlier?" she asked.
My face flushed, though she couldn't see it. "Could you arrange for Bobby to let me inside the parking garage?" I asked. "Carlos would say no if I asked him." Stephanie giggled.
"Does my sister-in-law have a crush on the company medic?" Stephanie teased. "Leyha, how long have you liked Bobby?" How did she know to call me Leyha? "I'm known for my ability to read people and certain situations. Sometimes a name or other information pops into my head. I know you prefer to be called Leyha. You liked Bobby since your brother brought him home for Christmas. It was after their basic training. I know you're three years younger than Carlos. He told me a bit about you, but not your nickname."
"Carlos told you about his family?" I asked, shocked. "He doesn't talk about us."
"I could have picked up on the details eventually, but I appreciated having him share," she replied. "Do you mind answering a few questions?"
"Not at all," I said, chuckling. Stephanie hit right at the heart of things. "You want to know if I feel anything around Bobby? Hmm. I feel the energy cracking between us. It's like the air got charged with static electricity."
"Tell me about the day you met Bobby," she prodded.
"I could feel his energy when he crossed the threshold. I was in the kitchen helping mama prepare the food. Mama had to call my name a few times because I started walking out of the room. I could feel myself getting pulled toward him," I explained.
"Sweet," Stephanie said. "Okay. I'll have Bobby meet you." She hung up without saying goodbye.
"What the heck?" I asked before my music continued to play. Did I answer correctly? Was that a test? Did I pass?
Traffic was a little backed up as I drove closer to Trenton. Thankfully, I had a full tank of gas. The last few miles were slow-moving. My music kept me company. The song Doctor Feelgood rolled around again as I arrived at Rangeman. "Perfect," I mumbled, then turned it off. As promised, Bobby was waiting to open the gate. He had leaned against the building for my arrival. I smiled when I noticed his hair got braided into the rows I loved. Bobby pressed something inside his pocket, then the gate opened. He walked behind my car and waited until I parked beside a gorgeous blue Porsche Cayenne. My brother drove black, which meant the vehicle belonged to Stephanie.
Bobby crowded me when I opened the door. "Leyha," he whispered. His fingers brushed along my jaw. "It's been too long." Bobby leaned in and lightly kissed me. My lips tingled from the touch.
I gulped, unsure of what was happening. "Could you help me with the machines?" I whispered. Bobby swiped a loose hair behind my ear, then followed me to the back. He lifted the heavy pack and swung it over his shoulder before grabbing the portable sonogram. "Do you need help?"
"I can handle it, honey," he replied.
A pretty girl with wildly curly hair and brown eyes held the elevator door open. She grinned when she saw me. "Hi, Tia Leyha," she said. Tia? What? "Oh. I'm sorry. I forgot you don't know me. I'm Stephanie's daughter, Isabelle. Carlos is my adoptive father."
"Oh? Do you know about Julie?" I asked. The girl rolled her eyes, then glared at me. "I was mistaken."
Isabelle giggled. "I talk to Julie whenever we have free time. She's funny. I can't wait to see her on the weekend," Isabelle gushed. "Oh. Sorry. I forgot to press the button." Isabelle giggled, then pressed the button for the seventh floor as she squeezed the fob. The elevator went straight to the top without stopping.
I waited for Isabelle to squeeze her fob to open the door. "My mom and dad are waiting inside. Are you coming in, Uncle Bobby?" Isabelle asked. Bobby raised an eyebrow and shrugged his shoulder. Isabelle giggled again. "Silly me. I'm sorry for acting a bit hyper. I can't wait to see my baby brother."
"Does Stephanie know she's having a boy?" I asked. "Never mind. It was a silly question." I liked the peppy girl. It was refreshing to meet a girl unafraid to be herself.
Carlos removed the duffle from my hand and carried it to the bedroom. The decor was distinctly masculine, with the odd feminine flair added. It resembled a room you would find in a fashion magazine. The apartment was stunning. I felt slightly jealous.
"Is she here?" a gorgeous brunette with blue eyes asked. She caught my eye and grinned. "Hi, Leyha. I'm Stephanie." I stared at the woman. It couldn't be her. Could it?
"Mom, I think Tia Leyha recognizes you from the cover of Allure," Isabelle loudly whispered.
"Seriously? You're Anie Lewis?" I asked. "You are more gorgeous in person."
Stephanie smiled politely. "I was Anie Lewis. I'm not modelling anymore," she replied. "My last project was for loungewear." Stephanie blushed, then looked at Carlos. What was that all about?
I asked Stephanie the questions she had likely answered at her other prenatal appointments. Her weight was ideal for the number of weeks pregnant. I noticed her muscles were lean yet defined. "Have you gained any weight?" I asked. Bobby referred to his file and provided the answer.
We went through the standard examination. "Bobby had me drink a litre of water. Are you taking a sonogram?" Stephanie asked. I nodded.
Isabelle arrived with a towel to cover Stephanie's pelvic area. It was unnecessary. "Yes, it is," Isabelle insisted. "At the clinic, they gave my mom one sheet of the select a size paper towel to wipe off the gel. It made the waist of her pants sticky."
"Wise girl," I said. I never thought about that part. Bobby helped me set up the machine. "Where did it go?"
"What?" Stephanie asked.
"The gel for the ultrasound," I replied. Isabelle grinned, then pulled on oven mitts to carry the metal bowl close enough for me to pluck the tube from the hot water.
"My mom said it was cold. Dad and I thought this would help. I didn't use boiling water, but the bowl got too hot for me to carry," Isabelle explained.
I shook my head as I opened the tube. Before squeezing the gel onto Stephanie's abdomen, I checked the temperature on the back of my hand. "Feel this, Isabelle," I said. She held out her hand for me to put some on her wrist. "It's the perfect temperature for a baby's bottle."
"Yes!" Isabelle said, pumping her fist. "I got it right."
Stephanie burst out laughing. "Leyha, Isabelle lived with my sister for many years. She helped her aunt bottle feed her younger sisters," Stephanie explained. I felt embarrassed. "Lester and Isa enjoy pranking each other."
"Great," I groaned. "I fell into your trap, didn't I?"
"Yup, now Uncle Lester owes me fifty bucks. He said you would see through it," Isabelle replied. She climbed onto the bed to sit beside her mother. I squirted the gel onto Stephanie's abdomen. "Is that better, mom?"
"Perfect, baby," Stephanie replied. "Thank you for taking care of me."
The image appeared on the monitor. "How far along are you?" I asked.
Stephanie thought a few minutes, then said, "Just over fifteen weeks."
"Your little man isn't afraid to show us his goods," I joked. I caught my brother's eye. He imperceptibly nodded, then looked into Stephanie's eyes.
"I told you that Isabelle was right and I saw the goods earlier," she whispered.
"Babe, I needed to see for myself," he replied. "I'm proud of you." Their exchange was sweet and loving. That was what I wanted. A love like theirs.
Stephanie was still looking at Carlos when she said, "Carlos and I got electronically married when we met. Yes, it's legal. We didn't get married because I got pregnant."
"I didn't think you did," I said defensively.
"The thought did cross your mind," Isabelle replied. "It's okay. We know dad married Rachel when she got pregnant. My parents are in love." Isabelle didn't have to tell me. I could see it for myself.
Bobby fed the paper into the machine for me to print a few images of the baby. "I suggest you photocopy or take pictures of these. The image wears away over time. Oh. Don't laminate it. The paper activates by heat, and it would make the image turn black," I warned. Isabelle grabbed the papers, then took off.
"She has a camera," Stephanie explained. "Don't be surprised if Hector has it on that large monitor he got installed on the command floor."
"Babe?" Ranger asked.
"Technically, it's in the break room," Isabelle said, returning. "You would be correct, mom. He's already appointed himself as the godfather." I looked at Bobby and smiled. Bobby moved close enough to caress my back. I felt his lips briefly touch my neck before he helped me pack away the machines. Carlos was watching our interaction. I hoped he didn't ruin it for us. I wasn't seventeen anymore.
Ranger
I noticed Bobby kiss my sister's neck. Her face blushed when she caught my eye. "Soulmates," Stephanie hissed. She grabbed my hand to keep my attention and prevent me from betting overly protective of my baby sister. Stephanie and I exchanged a silent conversation before I imperceptibly nodded at Bobby. I wouldn't kill him for dating my sister.
The company medic grinned, which got Alejandra fanning herself. It was funny. I couldn't wait to tease her. Lester stood outside the bedroom, grinning. He helped Bobby return Alejandra's equipment to her car. I knew my cousin would tease his best friend.
"Follow me, Tia Leyha. I heard Tia Ella baked a chocolate cake." Isabelle lowered her voice to add, "It has fudge icing." My sister moaned. She loved anything with chocolate.
"Save some for me," Stephanie yelled.
I helped Stephanie off the bed, then pulled her into the bathroom to shower. We didn't need to clean, but Stephanie wanted to wash away the events of the day. It didn't take me long to strip her, then press into her warmth. "Babe."
"Carlos," she whispered. I felt her muscles clench before they pulled me over. "Thank you for loving me." I stroked my thumbs across her damp cheeks.
"Thank you for letting me," I replied. I tenderly kissed my wife, leading to a second round. We washed each other's bodies before climbing out of the shower.
After we got dressed, Stephanie and I returned to the living room, where the others waited. I raised an eyebrow when Isabelle turned down the music. "You two were loud," she explained. Stephanie's face flushed red. "Mom, you don't need to be embarrassed. It's not the first time I overheard you and dad having sex in the shower. Your bedroom is soundproof as long as the door is closed. The bathroom? Not so much."
I pointed to the dining room table, changing the topic. "Tia Ella dropped off salads and loaves of bread. She put three casseroles in your oven to reheat," Lester said.
Stephanie sat on the ottoman, then patted the chair behind her. I smiled and took my place. Isabelle ran to the bathroom to grab the comb and elastics. Stephanie contently sighed as I combed the locks, then braided her hair into two French braids.
"You're still braiding hair?" Alejandra teased.
"He makes them tighter than I could," Stephanie explained. "Plus, I don't have to worry about my arms getting tired."
I wasn't surprised when Jeanelle arrived with Vince and Luigi. "We're joining you for dinner," Jeanne Ellen announced. She smiled at me as I finished the second braid.
"The more, the merrier," Stephanie replied. "Thanks, Carlos."
"Anytime, Babe."
"When did you get your hair braided?" Luigi asked Bobby.
"Lester and I did them a few hours ago," Isabelle announced. I raised an eyebrow. Isabelle pointed to my sister, then hugged herself. Ah. Alejandra loved Bobby's hair braided into rows.
Luigi and Vince introduced themselves to my sister. "Vince and Luigi are my cousins," Stephanie added.
"Keeping it in the family, Jeanelle?" Leyha teased, making Isabelle and Stephanie giggle.
"Are we, Leyha?" Jeanelle retorted. Leyha snorted, then excused herself to use the washroom.
Luigi and Vince exchanged military stories while the rest of us listened. With Stephanie's permission, Bobby told my sister about how we met Stephanie. Leyha looked at Bobby when he described having to cut her neck. "Is that why you stopped modelling?" Alejandra asked.
"No. It ruined opportunities, but I was already at the top of the age range. Retiring from modelling was inevitable. It ended around six months early," Stephanie replied. "I'm not sad. I wouldn't trade this life for anything." Stephanie rubbed her hand down the baby bump.
Bobby continued with the story until he ended with Stephanie's appointment at the clinic. "Do you know her name?" Alejandra asked.
"Jolene Travers," Stephanie replied. "Her behaviour was embarrassing and unprofessional."
"She got fired from my clinic two weeks ago. The office manager informed us today. Which clinic?" I raised my eyebrow, wondering what my sister was plotting.
"Goldwyn Health Teams," Stephanie replied. My sister grinned, then grabbed her phone. She quickly typed something, then passed it to Stephanie.
I read over her shoulder. Anonymous Google review for Goldwyn Health Teams: Can you give negative five stars? I was at my appointment with my husband a few days ago. The receptionist, named Jolene, was unprofessional. She flirted with my husband, then gave him her phone number when we booked a second appointment. I returned today for my glucose test while my husband waited outside in the car. The receptionist flirted with the husband of another pregnant woman. One might think the doctor would apologize, but she didn't. I do not recommend Goldwyn Health Teams until they fire the receptionist.
"Isn't that harsh?" Stephanie asked.
"No," Alejandra replied. "Jolene Travers must be stopped. Her boss won't do it."
"The boss is her sister," I said. Alejandra thought the sister was a fool. I couldn't agree more.
Meanwhile, inside the Goldwyn Health Teams Clinic, Dr. Kim Tatum's google alert sounded. Someone had left a review about her clinic. She finished examining Mrs. Eva Cross. "Your daughter looks great. Keep following your diet. You dropped your sugar levels into a healthier range," Dr. Tatum announced.
Eva thanked the doctor before leaving. Her husband was waiting in the car, not wanting to enter the building because of the new receptionist. Jolene was disappointed Alan Cross didn't join his wife. He was a handsome man. Not as attractive or appealing as Carlos Manoso, but a close second.
"Jolene, can you come here?" Kim called from her office. Jolene stepped away from her desk without signing off the system. Anybody could walk in off the street to view the records. "Did you lock the door?"
"Mmhmm," Jolene lied. Kim's last patient had left. They weren't expecting anyone to enter the clinic.
"You can't flirt with the patient's husband," Kim snapped. "We got a negative review on google."
"As if anyone reads those," Jolene scoffed.
Paulo Grizoli entered the unlocked clinic. In a moment of weakness, he had accepted Jolene's proposal to service his needs. After three years of in vitro and hormone injections, his wife, Marisa, miscarried their son and daughter. Marisa died on the operating table.
He lost everything because of one lousy fuck with a desperate woman. Paulo heard Kim and Jolene talking in the office from behind the closed door. Kim admonished Jolene for sleeping with married men. Jolene's actions would shut the office down.
"We already lost the Manosos," Kim said. "The Rangeman medic collected the files and said Stephanie no longer required my services."
"Whatever," Jolene replied. Paulo quietly turned the knob. He didn't want to kill anyone, but felt he had no other choice. Just like he had to kill Terry for putting a target on his uncle's head by going after Ranger's wife.
The doctor's private office didn't have windows. Paulo couldn't set up on the building to use his sniper rifle. Kim saw the door slowly opening. She grabbed the gun from her drawer. Paulo fired at the women.
Jolene slumped when the bullet tore through her head. Kim managed to fire one shot, hitting Paulo's neck, before her head hit the desk. Blood poured from her forehead.
Paulo felt the blood spraying from his neck with each heartbeat. Kim had nicked an artery. He fell to the floor as he bled out. Nobody would rescue him.