Chapter 26 - Couples Costumes
SPOV
"Are you sure about this?" Carlos asked me.
"Yes we already live together, we have two dogs and two kids, we already have a family it doesn't make any sense to wait any longer." I replied. We were laying in bed after a making love before getting up to check if our kids were awake yet discussing our upcoming wedding.
"Okay then we will get married on Friday but I'm still taking you on a honeymoon without the kids."
"I can agree to that." I said before I swung my legs off the bed to go to the bathroom and get ready for the day. Carlos followed me after I relieved myself knowing I was still self conscious about doing that in front of him. We took a joint shower but didn't get too handsy since we now only had a week to make sure everything was prepared.
We got Julie and Jamie ready for school before Binkie and Vince picked them up to take them to school since they were their assigned bodyguards. We asked the kids who they wanted as their personal security so Julie choose Binkie since they spent so much time training the dogs together and Jamie chose Vince since he and him had formed a bond since we adopted Jamie.
They were in charge of ensuring the children's safety by taking them to school or their activities when myself or Carlos couldn't. They would also provide extra security at the school when needed along with Fish and Woody who were Tank's children's bodyguards. All four of them still did their normal Rangeman duties but now had these special duties accounted for in their schedules.
After arriving at the office I followed Carlos to his office so we could quickly plan what needed to be done before going about our day.
"Do we tell anyone?" He asked.
"Hector, Ella, and Luis but that's it."
"Outfits? It is a costume party"
"Exactly it gives us the perfect cover but for now let's tell everyone we are going as Batman and Wonder Woman. I'll work with Ella to get our actual outfits ready for the night. What about the license?"
"I'll file for it and get Hector's assistance. We may have to sign some papers so we can use Hector and Ella as our witnesses."
"Sounds good Batman. What about the ceremony?"
"Well we can do the traditional, find a priest to come to the party and marry us or we could get married at the courthouse in the morning and then just do our vows in front of everyone with Luis acting as our officiant or we could do the courthouse and just announce it at the party."
"Hmm I like the second option, the courthouse and doing our vows at the party. What about the other traditions?"
"What traditions are you thinking about Babe?"
"You know the first dance, cake cutting, bouquet and garter toss, dancing with our parents, Jumping the broom, any of those interest you?"
"What do you think of a dance to Stand by Me by Ben King?"
"It's perfect."
"Have Ella order a small cake whatever you like for the cake cutting we'll stick to the normal desserts for everyone else."
"Got it and the other traditions?"
"Not needed this is enough" I leaned over and kissed him before heading to my office to get ready for the core team meeting.
TPOV
"Report!" Ranger commanded the core team meeting to attention.
"Boston has brought in 35 residential, 12 commercial tier 1, and 8 commercial tier 2 clients. Miami has brought in 48 residential, 14 tier 1, and 22 tier 2. Trenton has brought in 56 residential accounts with Stephanie's assistance at finally breaking into the Chambersburg market, 11 tier 1, and 8 tier 2 accounts. I would like to discuss the possibility of expanding our commercial market further into Pennsylvania and Newark areas. Additionally I would like to propose that we begin to service more residential clients on the Atlantic coast portion of the state. We are reaching our limit with the current market and with the new remote monitoring options we can continue further takeover of the state." I explained the current status of our accounts.
Myself, Lester, and Stephanie have been working to restructure how we label clients. Residential is any account not associated with a business. Tier 1 is anyone with our premium packages or multiple commercial properties under our watch. Tier 2 is anyone with a basic package or a single commercial property. We plan on adding Tier 3 soon which will be remote monitoring. The customers have so far had positive feedback to the changes on how we run the business and we are expecting massive growth next year.
Stephanie and Lester reported next.
"We interviewed ten candidates in each location and have made temporary offers to 4 from each location. All have accepted and will be placed at one of the three current branches for training. We have secured office space for the remote monitoring centers for Chicago and Houston and We are waiting for the San Francisco realtor to confirm that they have accepted our bid for the property." Stephanie presented.
"We looked at two to three story apartment buildings with retail space at the bottom that could be rezoned to fit our needs. Each building will have four studio apartments on the top floors, control room, storage room, breakroom, conference room, and bathrooms on the first floor. The buildings all have parking available in either an underground or a detached garage." Lester finished.
"Budget?" Ranger asked.
"Within our estimates except San Francisco. If they don't accept our bid we may want to look elsewhere in the state." Lester replied.
"HUA. Bobby?" Ranger commanded.
"Bones has agreed to come on as the new medic for the Trenton Branch. I am working on three proposals for new business ventures in the medical field. I am also working on completing my requirements in becoming a fully licensed doctor. Finally I will be starting the annual physical examinations in Miami in December."
We all shifted our focus to Hal. "Renegotiations with Vincent Plum Bails Bonds and Les Seabrings Bonds Agency for the new year are in progress. We are currently earning 20 percent from the high bonds and 10 percent for the medium and low bonds. The renegotiation is to increase both percentages by three percent. If they choose not accept we will only be open to a 6 month contract. We may want to consider dissolving our bond enforcement relationships as it is becoming more of a hassle and the security side of the business is growing rapidly."
"Our contract with the FBI is being renegotiated with 250 additional hours of contract services provided to them and their cases. This will result in an additional 6.25 million dollars a year or a total of 15 million for us. Blaze and the Boston branch will see most of that work through. The CIA retainer is the same, Homeland is still interested in poaching Hector, and the Army is still looking for Ranger, Tank, and Lester to run training camp for this falls Ranger's cohort." Cal updated us after Hal finished.
"Tell them that we are only available for what is stated in our contracts and if they keep asking we will find a way to void those agreements." Ranger replied with myself and Lester nodding agreement there was no way we could leave our families or the business now.
Ram and Hector went next but neither one had major updates. Ram couldn't find any better deals on our weapons, office supplies, medical supplies, or security technology so he was just in the process of extending our current contracts for another year. Hector was assisting with restocking our security tech to keep up with the growing amount of installations. He was also training Fish to take over Manny's role since he was promoted.
Ranger was last. He had sent a memo out to us yesterday that he had a major proposal so it might be a longer meeting. "As you all now this year has been a time of major change for all of us from the expansion of the company to the expansion of our families. We are all now in need of more time in our lives to spend with those we love. So I have prepared a proposal on how we can manage that while still ensuring the success of Rangeman."
He took he used the powerpoint clicker to change the screen to show a picture of the empty lot behind our current building. "This is our future." We all looked around a little confused as to where he was going with this.
"Let me back track a little bit." He switched to the next slide which showed pictures of Manny and Vince. "I have talked to Manny and Vince about potential new positions. I would like Manny to take over as the Trenton branch manager with Vince as his SIC. They both felt that the roles should be switched since the Trenton community may not take well to a former Gang member being the head of their security service and Vince is Italian so I have agreed to that. With them taking over the branch I would like for us the core team to remove ourselves from the branch and finally become what I always intended us to achieve. The Board of Directors of Rangeman Securities. We would no longer be attached to a particular branch and would spend our days overseeing the overall operations of the company. Basically what we already do but without having to run a branch as well. However it should be noted this isn't a proposal for us to pull back completely; we still assist with training, takedowns, security details, and client services when appropriate." He flipped back to the photo of the empty lot except this time it had a mockup of a beautiful new state of the art building attached to the current building.
"I would like to use the empty lot to build us an official Rangeman headquarters. Questions or thoughts?"
"I like it! Will we all get official executive sounding positions?" Lester asked.
"You already have an official title." Ranger replied.
"Yeah but you have to admit security services manager isn't as cool Director of Security Services!" Lester exclaimed.
"He's right Ranger. If we're gonna be a board of directors we all need titles with director in it." Cal added to the conversation. The rest of the core team nodded in agreement.
"Fine we can all change our titles now does anyone have an issue with the new building or actual change in duties of their job?"
"Just one, what's the implementation time frame?" Stephanie asked.
"Well I figure if we all vote yes we can announce our new positions on Friday and break ground on the new building in the spring. As for the transition of our responsibilities connected to the Trenton branch we can transition them over the next two months and by the new year we can officially step back." Ranger answered. He shared a sweet smile with Steph before he looked around at the rest of us gauging our thoughts without saying anything.
"All those in favor?" Ranger asked. Everyone approved of the proposal. "Seeing no nay's the proposal is approved. Come up with a new title for yourself by Thursday and email it to me. This meeting is adjourned." Ranger got up and grabbed Stephanie's hand and they ran off leaving the rest of us to gather our things and get back to work.
"I wonder what that was all about." Bobby asked.
"I don't know but something tells me it involves a trip to the seventh floor" Lester said wiggling his eyebrows.
"El Jefe is whipped" Hector added.
"That we can all agree with" Cal said. We all shared a laugh before we went our separate ways.
LPOV
"Oh come on, Beautiful tell me!"
"Sorry but I can't tell you. If you happen to remember Lester I have a three year old so please continue I can do this all day."
"You're no fun anymore" I teased.
"Or maybe when I say it's going to be a surprise I actually meant it." Steph said back.
"Fine, but can you at least give me a hint?"
"Couples Costumes" she said before leaving the breakroom.
I've been trying to figure out what Stephanie and Ranger's costumes were for the halloween party all week. Shortly after Stephanie's birthday she sent out invitations for a halloween party at their house. It was her favorite holiday so they were going all out. There was gonna be a haunted house in their pool house, bobbing for apples, pumpkin carving, halloween themed games, and a costume contest judged by Ella and Luis.
They invited all of Rangeman and their families, Their actual families, and several friends including some cops, Connie, Monner, Dougie, and Sally Sweet. It was going to be a major affair. I was surprised Carlos was gonna let this many people to his house but I also knew it was more secure than Rangeman with all the security upgrades Hector has been adding.
"Did she tell you?" Bobby asked when I entered the medical suite with sandwiches for both of us.
"No, she even compared me to her three year old son." Bobby spit out some of the water he was drinking as laughter took over him.
"She's not wrong on some accounts." He choked out between laughs.
"Hey! I resent that." I pouted until he calmed down.
We ate our lunch and discussed our own costumes. We finally decided on me as Hercule Poroit and Bobby as his sidekick Captain Hastings.
"So I got the paperwork for the adoption agency filed. They said it could take a month or so for approval and then they'll contact us for a home study if they like us." He said while finishing up his sandwich.
"I hope they approve us. Seeing Ranger and Tank with their kids has really made me come down with a case of baby fever."
"I agree." He said back. I smiled and gave him a kiss. I cleaned up my lunch and then headed back upstairs to finish the day.
RPOV
"Hamster!" Jamie said as I held up his costume for the night. I don't know where Stephanie found it but she managed to find a child's hamster costume for him for tonight. Jamie has been obsessed with hamsters since Stephanie bought him a series of Hammy goes to books. The set included books like Hammy goes to the zoo, Hammy goes to the park, and Hammy goes to the Store. I know she loves Rosie and Bob but I know she still misses Rex.
I finished getting Jamie dressed in his costume and then helped him off the bed so he could run back downstairs to his toys. Stephanie and I took the entire day off today to get ready for the party. This morning Hector, Luis, and Ella came over and we went to the courthouse to officially get married with them as our witnesses.
On our way back to the house we picked up the kids from school. We had called earlier and told the school they would only be there for half a day. Hector was helping Ella with errands for the party so that we could have lunch with our children and tell them the news. We stopped at Pino's to get some pizza, meatball subs, and a small salad then headed back to the house. Once we were settled in around the table we told them the news. Julie was ecstatic she was a little mad that she couldn't be there but changed her tune when we told her she could be Stephanie's maid of honor tonight. Jamie didn't really understand what was happening because we were already Mommy and Daddy so he was more excited about the meatball sub. We ate in a bubble of happiness. I even ate some pizza. What can I say, it's my wedding day. H
Hector and Ella arrived shortly after we finished eating so we all pitched in to decorate the entire house with halloween decorations, turn the pool house into a kid friendly haunted house, set up the pumpkin carving stations and various kid activities Steph and Ella found online, and helped Ella and Stephanie prepare the desserts in the kitchen. We decided to get the party catered because Steph refused to allow Ella to cook on a day like this.
However, Ella refused to allow anyone but her to make the desserts. She had prepared cupcakes, cookies, pies, a make your own sundae bar, and a three tier cake: one marble layer, one chocolate layer, and one vanilla layer with different fillings and colors of buttercream frosting. It was Steph's dream wedding cake but it was disguised as a halloween cake with ghosts, pumpkins, spiders. At the very top though she made a zombie bride and groom for the topper which she would put on later. She also made a small pineapple upside down cake for us after the party.
I checked my watch. I only had 5 minutes before people were scheduled to arrive. Stephanie had set out both of my costumes in the guest suite. She and Julie were getting ready in the main bedroom upstairs while the boys got ready downstairs. My first costume was a Batman costume. I would wear this until just before the costume contest.
I quickly got in it and laughed because Stephanie had removed the fake muscle padding knowing I wouldn't need it and she had Ella even expand it so it fit me more comfortably. Tank and Lula were the first to arrive; their entire family was dressed as the family from the Incredibles. Lester and Bobby were not far behind as Poirot and Hastings. It was no doubt that Bobby chose the costumes he was obsessed with Agatha Christie. Hector and Manny came as two very realistic mummies. The best costumes had to be Cal who showed up as the Madhatter, Vince who came as Beetlejuice, and Jace who was dressed as the lead singer from Kiss. The rest of the men also put on a show coming as various characters and puns. I'm not sure where my men found the time to put these costumes together but I guess the two week vacation and 5 thousand dollar bonus was on the line if one of them won the costume contest so why not go all out.
Stephanie looked absolutely stunning dressed as Wonder Woman. Julie was tinkerbell and was bouncing off the walls. She was most likely hopped up on sugar but it could also be excitement for the surprise. Both of our families were here tonight as well putting equal effort into their costumes since if they won they would get a one week vacation paid for by me and Stephanie anywhere they'd like to go.
About 2 hours into the party after everyone had eaten dinner and done some of the many activities Luis took the microphone from Fish who was djing the dance floor in a large pooh bear costume with Jamie by his side.
"Okay Ladies and Gentleman, Girls and Boys the costume contest is about to begin and we even have a few surprises in store so gather around on the dance floor behind the judges table we will start with the kids who can line up on the left by the pumpkin table." Everyone scurried off to get where they were supposed to go. Me and Stephanie took our cue and slipped back upstairs to change into our new costumes.
I opened the second garment bag on the bed to reveal a perfectly tailored armani tuxedo ripped and cut up to match the zombie groom topper. Only Stephanie would choose a zombie halloween wedding but it's what I loved about her. Nothing was ever normal in this household. I got dressed and then made my way to the bottom of the third floor stairwell to wait for my zombie bride and escort her back to the party.
Five minutes later Stephanie came down positively glowing. She was wearing a full length satin wedding dress that was fitted down to her waist where it became flowy. The dress had thin straps, a square neck, and a low back. The skirt was distressed, similar to my outfit. She also wore a veil that was ripped diagonally. Yet she never looked more beautiful in my eyes because there she stood as my wife, the mother of my children, and the love of my life.
"Babe you look stunning"
"Your looking pretty good there yourself Batman."
"Oh Really?"
"Uh Huh, Absolutely scrumptious I could just eat you up."
"Let's go Babe" I offered her my arm but ended up swooping her into a dip kissing her deeply before straightening us up and then leading us back to the party.
"Everyone, let's thank all our participants in tonight's costume contest. I believe that was all our competitors." Luis was announcing.
"Wait! We have one more entry" Steph yelled.
I led us from the house over to the area in the backyard where everyone was gathered. There were several gasps and whispers through the crowd as we made our way forward.
"Ah yes and what do we have here?" Luis asked Steph.
"Well I am a zombie bride and he is a zombie groom and" Steph whistled and Hector peeled his mummy costume off. "Hector is a zombie pastor and this is now a Halloween wedding!"
The murmurs turned to shouts of surprise and lots of shocked gasps. Our parents immediately came up to us wanting to know what was happening but we held up our hands to pause their inquiries.
"This is the wedding we want and if you have any complaints about it you may leave now but just know that if you walk out that door you will not be allowed back not today not ever. This is the way we are choosing to start our married lives so either go stand over there and watch us say our vows or leave." I said to the group. No one said anything as they looked around each other before the questions turned to congratulations, hugs, and overall excitement.
Julie brought a bouquet of flowers over to Stephanie and Jamie ran up to join me on my side. Hector took his place in front of us and did a quick welcome to the guests before asking us to read our vows which we had written. We hadn't used them for the courthouse ceremony keeping that one formal but we thought this way our families would still be happy. I went first.
"Stephanie Michelle Plum, Your love gives me hope. Your smile gives me joy. You make me a better man. I have always been a leader known to many around the world. Today, I promise to be your sidekick in all of life's adventures. I promise to be your best friend and your husband. I promise you myself completely. My life is forever entangled with yours from this day on. My dreams are your dreams, and I'll build it all around you and our kids. I love you. Always and forever."
Stephanie had tears forming in the corner of her eyes so I used my finger to wipe them away before she started her vows.
"Carlos, Ranger, Batman you have many names but to me you are my mentor, my best friend, the father to my children, and most importantly you are the love of my life. You love me in love and complete me in ways I never knew possible. From this day forth, I promise to listen to you and learn from you, to support you and accept your support. I will love you, my husband, and rejoice in your love for me for all of the years of our lives. Together, I know we can do anything. I can't wait to work hand in hand to build a beautiful life together with our kids by our side just like they are today. I love you. Always and forever."
We were wrapped up in eachothers eyes so Hector had to clear his throat to bring us back to the ceremony. He nodded his head and Rosa and Bob ran up to us. We took the ring bags off their colors and exchanged the wedding rings for a second time that day. This time we would be keeping them on.
"You may kiss your wife!" Hector exclaimed. Cheers erupted as I poured my love to Stephanie into the kiss. When we broke apart far too soon for my liking I picked up Jamie and we group hugged with Julie before moving into the masses of family and friends who wanted to congratulate us.
"Congratulations Bossman and Beautiful! But who won the costume contest?" Lester joked.
Stephanie busted laughing in the adorable way she does.
"Good question Santos why don't you go ask Luis" He congratulated and hugged us both before running off to see if Luis got the results from the judges, my mom, Steph's dad, and Ella.
"You think he's excited?" Stephanie asked. I smiled and wrapped my arm around her and kissed her forehead as I led her back over by the dance floor.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! I'd like to announce the winners of the costume contest! In the children's category the winner is Mary Alice and Angie Kloughn who's realistic horse costume impressed the judges! Come up and collect your prize basket!" The girls ran up to claim the giant basket Ella had stuffed with toys, candy, books, movies, and gift cards to kid stores.
"Now for the older guests in attendance the winner is Isabella Manoso and Woody!" Isabella was jumping up and down excited that her homemade queen of hearts costume had won. She ran over to tell me that I was sending her and my other sisters on a weekend spa trip in Maine. No kids, no problems as she put it. Woody was dressed as a very realistic frankenstein complete with the stiff arms and mumbled speech. The kids were trying to climb him as he tried to make his way forward to collect his prize package.
Once he collected his money Ella rolled out the dessert table and Stephanie brought out the ice cream tubs. We cut the cake and then shared our first dance before then sharing a dance with our kids. The night passed quickly with most of the kids falling asleep from the sugar overload and my men leaving to go to the local clubs. Eventually it was just me and my little family roasting marshmallows and eating smores. It wasn't a traditional wedding night but it was still absolutely perfect.