Everybody familiar belongs to Janet. The mistakes are mine alone.
"Is this something we should know about?" Junior asked me.
"No. Call it a new development."
"So?" Steph pressed. "Who is your FTA-helper? You can't leave me hanging."
"Later," I told her. "First things first. We have a principal awaiting our arrival."
"Fine, but I'm only agreeing because I have a healthy fear of principals. I know she can't punish parents, but I'm not about to let Olive take the brunt of an authority figure's issues."
"Layla doesn't have issues, Steph," Hal told her.
"You taking this long to get her to agree just to share a meal with you screams that she definitely has issues," Junior replied. "Lots of them. Though you're doing better than Zero. He still hasn't worked up the cajónes to ask Miss Farren out."
"Boys, behave," my wife ordered. "I'm not leaving Olive with you guys if you're going to fight like Eddie's boys."
"That's kicking us where it hurts," Junior told her.
"Good ... we understand each other. Olive, you take good care of your uncles. And none of you can get into any trouble while Mama and Daddy are talking," Steph instructed our daughter.
My baby's age is the only thing keeping me from worrying at how quickly she smiled and covered the grin to contain whatever 'trouble' she's anticipating trying.
My wife was onto her and shook her finger side-to-side in a 'no-no' gesture to amuse our daughter. "Uh-uh, I know what you're thinking ... and you definitely can't do that."
Olivia's eyebrows crinkled over her brown eyes as she considered whether her Mama could really read her mind.
Steph glanced over at me before looking back down at Olivia. "Right now, Daddy's mind is connecting with yours and he knows you're wondering if I really know what you're thinking. I do."
I grinned at my wife. "I thought you knew to use those two words for good, not evil, Babe."
She shrugged. "You knew what you were getting when you married me."
"More like I knew who I was getting," I corrected.
Junior elbowed Hal. "Take some notes. You'll need to say stuff like that to get anywhere with the lovely Ms. Rajos."
"Maybe you should have a girl before giving unwanted advice on how to sweet talk one," Hal shot back.
Steph sighed. "Dealing with you guys is harder than wrangling our kids, which isn't saying much since our kids are easy peasy."
"E peezy," Olivia repeated.
She wasn't sure what that meant, but she understood the feeling behind her Mama saying it.
"Be good uncles for Olive," Steph told the men. "We'll be right back."
Our daughter wanted a goodbye kiss from each of us even though we'll be returning momentarily. We obliged and then I gave Junior and Hal what my wife calls 'the look' before we headed back inside the school. My men would gut themselves with their own knives if they let anything happen to my kids, but a healthy dose of fear of what I would do to them keeps their focus honed.
I dug my cell phone out one-handed since Jace's body is smaller than the length of my arm and he's comfortably stretched out along it.
"Do you want me to take him?" Steph asked. "You keep saying I don't have to do everything myself, but neither do you. I can hold Jace while you call Lester or Tank and tell them something that'll take too long to share with me."
"Only because I reserve the in-depth explanations for you. Santos will only get a handful of words so Jace is fine where he is." Lester picked up on the first ring. "He's Killian's brother," I told him. "That's why Flint looked familiar."
"You're shittin' me! Are you sure?"
"Picture what Killian looked like before he was injured and compare that memory to Flint's face. It's slightly different but they have the same features."
An uncomfortable silence was louder than anything Santos could've said. "They were the same at one time," he said, replaying the explosion that changed all of our lives but especially Geo 'Sparky' Killian's.
"I think you were right," I heard my wife say through a haze of remembered smoke and a dozen years that have since passed. "This should've waited until later ... much, much later. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Babe. But not all my memories are pleasant ones."
"One of your men was hurt?"
"Severely. His vehicle was hit by mortar fire and he suffered third-degree burns to most of his body. He survived, but barely."
I hope to never again see a man entrusted to me, to direct and protect, disappear before my eyes. Geo's entire identity changed due to the extent of his injuries. And there's a part of me that knew he'd never forgive me for helping him survive them. Sometimes the act of living is the worst form of torture you can put somebody through.
"Did he live in Jersey before or after he was injured?"
"No."
"But his brother just happened to show up at the house of the skip you were after? Not only on the same day, but the exact same time?" She asked.
"Yes. The timing is suspicious."
Steph snorted loud enough for Jace to turn his head against my bicep towards the sound. "Suspicious is a mild way of putting that coincidence. I want to know everything as soon as we hear what Principal Rajos wants. After being 'surprised' with One-Shot, I don't trust anyone from your past suddenly reappearing."
"You worry too much."
"No, I worry appropriately."
"I agree with Steph," Santos said in my ear. "Shit keeps finding you guys."
"Tell Tank who Flint is and I'll meet up with you when I get back."
"What do you think he wants?"
"I don't know, but I intend to find out."
I disconnected the call.
"I intend to find out too," Steph said. "As soon as we're home and I can crack open a few of your super snoopy programs."
"Stand down, Steph. We're not in any danger."
"Says you. This guy seems to be stalking you for some reason, and I'm not going to be able to relax until I know what that reason is."
"I can take care of myself. You don't need to be concerned."
"I love you, so I'm always going to worry about someone or something taking you away from me. Letting me gather every bit of information I can on the guy will go a long way towards making me feel better. There are a lot of things I can live without; you are NOT one of them. If it'll make you feel better, my interest is a purely selfish one. If something happens to you, I'll have to raise our kids all by myself. And no one is comfortable with that thought."
Her attempt at humor to get me to lay off her need to protect me is adorable. I hooked my free arm around her neck and drew her close. "Nice try. You would be able to raise our kids without me, but I'm never giving you the opportunity to prove it."
"I'm holding you to that, which is why you're also not going to give me a hard time for ensuring that on my end."
"I'll try, but you have enough to do as it is. You don't need to add being my bodyguard to your resume."
She tickled Jace under his chin until he flashed his gums at her and then smiled up at me. "Like you always say, I married you. Guarding your body was part of the vows we made to each other. Are you sorry you pushed for a legal union now?"
"No. I pride myself on getting exactly what I wanted ... again."
I had a feeling that would end the conversation. Stephanie still debates whether she decided we needed to be married or if I somehow maneuvered her into becoming my wife.
I opened the main door of the preschool for her, and we turned right to head to the principal's office instead of left to Olivia's classroom. Ms. Rajos' door was open, and she stood up when she saw us, her hand already extended towards us to shake.
"I'm sure you're both busy, so thank you for giving me a few minutes of your time."
"Does this have anything to do with Olive?" Steph asked, going on the offensive.
"No. I'm sorry to say this is about me. I felt I owed both of you an apology."
"For what?"
"You've done nothing to warrant an apology as far as we know," I added.
"I pride myself on always acting professionally, and I'm afraid I haven't lived up to my own standards when it comes to your family."
"You're talking about your interest in Hal, right?" My wife asked.
The question was about Principal Rajos' perception of her actions, not her interest in Hal on a personal level.
"I don't want to combine my professional life with my personal life ..."
"But Hal wore you down," Steph offered up. "I didn't say that to embarrass you, more to let you know that I understand what you're going through. Ranger, aka Carlos, aka Olive and Jace's Daddy owns the company I started working for when we were just friends." Steph turned to give me and Jace a private smile before finishing her comment. "Since you've met our two kids, you can see that we didn't stay employer/employee. If you think Hal could be your 'one', you should trust that and give the two of you a chance."
"That's part of the problem, I've trusted my instincts, or what I thought were instincts, before and paid an emotional and financial price for that mistake. I don't want to be put in that position ever again. I'm sorry, this isn't what I was planning to say. You don't need to hear my life story."
Steph leaned forward. "I'll listen to whatever you need to say. I come from a place where gossip is consumed in larger quantities than coffee, but I want you to know that I do understand everything you just said. I've had tons of trust issues, but right now Olive is with Hal and Junior and I have zero worries about how she's being cared for. Not only did both men pass obscenely invasive background and mental checks, I've gotten to know both of them really well over the years. If you're not interested in being in a relationship right now, that's fine. But if you are, Hal is the second most loyal, most caring, most attentive guy I know. I married the man in the number one spot, so he's off-limits."
"Steph ..." I warned, trying to get her to stop.
Hearing that she feels that way about me is always welcomed, but no one else needs to know what's between us.
"Sorry. I blame residual pregnancy hormones for wanting everyone to be as happy as I am. Anyway, what I could've quickly said is Hal is the least risky guy to be coupled with. That being said, he isn't going to stay with someone who doesn't love him for who he is. If you don't want something serious, I'd look elsewhere."
For the first time since we entered her office, Ms. Rajos relaxed. "That sounded like a warning ... and I appreciate that. If Hal inspires that kind of friendship ..." she paused as if coming up with another relationship blockade. "If this would cause any kind of issue between ..."
I held a hand up to stop her. "There isn't any issue as long as what you do on your own time doesn't affect Olivia's hours here."
"I would never put a child in the middle of a relationship."
"Good. That's what Hal would say as well," Steph added. "He deserves to be happy so don't let us stand in his or your way. That you wanted to talk to us before you made a solid decision puts you in a position to make that possible as far as I'm concerned."
"Thank you for saying that," Principal Rajos said.
"We're rooting for you, but we will take Olive out of this school in a heartbeat if we think she's being punished for something that has nothing to do with her."
"I understand, but it'll never come to that. Olivia has been a joy to have here."
"She's awesome everywhere. And for future reference, Hal would do anything for a good burger ... whether it's a bet or a date. I'm not saying the way to his heart is through his stomach, but it is a shortcut to it."
"I'm a vegetarian but I do know people. Thank you again for taking time out of your morning to speak with me."
"Our guys are like our kids in a way," my wife told her. "We want them to do their best and experience the best in return."
"Do you regret asking for a word with us now?" I asked.
"No. Your mother had me seeing Hal in a new light and your wife has shown just how important he is to those in his life. Not many people have such a tight-knit support system."
"I should warn you now," Steph told her, "if you and Hal do make it ... you'll not only have the guys watching out for you, the group of their wives and girlfriends will smother you with support."
"I don't see that as a bad thing," I added.
Steph shrugged. "It's not, but it can be overwhelming for those of us who hadn't had that kind of backup before."
As if sensing a shift in his Mama's mood, Jace started to fuss. Nothing loud, but it could head in that direction if we didn't figure out what he needed quickly.
"I'll take him," Steph said, reaching out for him. She kissed his cheek and then rested his body against her shoulder, sliding her hand up and down his back in-between tapping it until he quieted down.
Ms. Rajos had a small smile on her face as she took in the scene. "Olivia really has been excited about having a baby brother."
"She's been great so far, and I think that's because she gets to come here every day and has her own interests away from home," Steph shared, before standing up with Jace.
I stood and Ms. Rajos did the same. "If you have any other questions or concerns," I told Olivia's principal, "you're welcome at Rangeman any time."
"But Friday's are the best time," Steph added. "We have periodic pizza nights."
"I'll keep that in mind," she said before we left her office and walked back to the parking lot.
We heard "Mama!" and "Daddy!" as soon as we located our daughter and her security detail on the playground behind the building.
"I'm pretty sure monkey bars are supposed to help a kid's motor skills only if they're using them without help," Steph told Hal, who was holding Olivia up so she only had to touch the bars to get across the six-foot length of them.
"Why should Olive have to struggle when we're here to help her?"
Why indeed?
Steph sat with Jace on a swing and gently rocked them both until Olivia became hungry and was ready to leave.
"What did Layla want to talk to you about?" Hal asked right before we stepped into the elevator.
I applaud his restraint in waiting until he couldn't anymore.
"We're going to let her tell you," Steph said, "but it wouldn't hurt to mention how amazing Shorty's pizza is. Thanks again for watching Olive for us."
"No problem," Junior replied. "We're already looking forward to tomorrow."
"That makes all of us," my wife said as the elevator started to close.
Since I had Jace's car seat, she fobbed our apartment open for us. We walked between Gunny and Mo only to stop when we saw a mass of gray fur sprawled across the floor mat Jace has been using to 'work out' on.
Olivia started giggling in her distinct, un-quiet way. "Mato seeps on JJ mat."
"Our cat definitely has no boundaries," I told her, already making a note that we'll have to remove the curly fur from it before Jace uses it again.
"You were right again," Stephanie said to me. "I'm actually going to have to pick up everything our kids sit or lay on before Mado sheds on it. I suppose that's better than her licking it to claim it, but it's still extra cleaning on our part since Ella didn't originally sign up for two babies, two dogs, and a super furry cat."
"I no baby," Olivia corrected. "JJ the baby."
Steph tugged gently on the end of our daughter's ponytail. "Preschool is really paying off. Look what a smart girl you are. You are definitely not a baby anymore."
"I count to seben. Ready?"
"Ready," I told her. "And ... go."
"One, twos, tre, foor, five ... sick ... seben!"
Steph clapped as I freed Jace from his car seat. "Wow. That was so good," she told Olivia, "I know what big girl is going to be counting out apple slices for her lunch ... or would you rather have grapes?"
"Seben candy!"
"No, no seven pieces of candy," I was quick to tell both her and Stephanie. "You need to eat good-for-you food first and then maybe you can have a piece of the candy I know Uncle Junior gave you. Is it in your backpack or your dress pocket?"
Her hand immediately went to one of the pockets on the oversized denim shirt Steph made into a dress for Olive by pairing it with leggings and blue high-top sneakers. "No here."
"Uh-huh," Steph said, not buying it either. "Lunch first and then we can check your pocket and see if Uncle Junior gave you something good. Last time it was chocolate-covered raisins, which are NOT a treat despite what he says."
That set our daughter off into a fit of giggles that alarmed Gunny and Mo. They literally stuck their noses into her neck or against her stomach to check for whatever would tell them she's alright.
"No tickle!" Olivia told her dogs, but neither listened.
I felt my wife's eyes on me as she stole a Jace 'cuddle'. "Olive's only been away from us for a couple hours, but I missed her ... this ... like crazy. If it's possible, can you call Lester, Tank, and I'm guessing Bobby up here? I don't want to waste any time with our daughter now that she's home, but I want to start brainstorming on why this Flint-guy is in Trenton and why he didn't just say who he is and what he wants."
