Looks like it wasn't completed after all.
Hope you enjoy.
The Party Continues
We both stood paralyzed, still holding hands, and just looked at each other. His name was Rick, he told me so, but Lester introduced him as Carlos Mañoso, the Boss. And on Friday, Silvio called him Ranger. I'm quite confused. The only sure thing was that he's the father of my baby.
"I smell smoke, Babe. What's got you all confused?"
"You told me your name was Rick. Tank called you Rick. Lester introduced you as Carlos and Friday Silvio called you Ranger. Who are you?"
"My full name is Ricardo Carlos Mañoso. My friends call me Rick. I'm known as Ranger to my RangeMan staff and military colleagues."
"Is there a different personality to go with all those names?"
"Most probably, yes."
"So, what brought you here?"
"Today? Lester asked me to tag along to a birthday party of a friend. He didn't tell me the friend was only two years old."
"Lester's never seen Theo before, but we've kept in contact sporadically. We've known each other since college. I didn't know he was in Miami though."
"Is there anything between you and Lester?"
"Are you serious? Do you even know him?"
"I've known him my whole life, we're cousins."
"So, you know what he's like? A self-proclaimed ladies man."
"It's been proven by many a lady as well."
"And you think I'm one of his conquests?"
"You said you've known him since college. I can't deny thinking you've hooked up a time or two."
"Based on what?"
"Well, you slept with me the first night we met. Who's to say it's not a habit of yours?"
"Fuck off, you arrogant asshole."
"Well, if the shoe fits. And you have a kid."
"Yeah, I have a kid. Would you like to meet him?"
"Not particularly, I'm not all that in to kids. They're loud and messy and crave constant attention."
"Tough luck, 'cause you're about to meet him now."
"Mama, mama, look unca Jeste gived me a sujf boad."
"He gave you a what? A surfboard? Lester, are you out of your mind? He's two years old, not twelve."
"Relax, Beautiful, it's a kickboard and it came with all the safety equipment. The flippers, the swimfin, and the dolphin floaters. Silvio said he's been taking swimming lessons."
"Well, he has. Actually, he's been 'swimming' since he was three months old."
"Mama, go swim?"
"Not today honey. You have swimming on Tuesdays."
"How many sleeps?"
"Two more nights and it's Tuesday, then we're going swimming."
"Yay, me love swimming. Who you?"
"I'm Ranger, I'm a friend of your Uncle Lester."
"Hejjo Janjej, wewcom to my bifdi pajty. You have pjesent?"
"Theo! You don't ask guests for presents. Ranger here didn't know he was coming to a party, so he just brought his charming self."
"Tsamin selv? Me not need selv."
"Look Theo, there's Julie and Charlie they're headed for the bouncy house, why don't you go with them?"
"Juujii, Tsaalii, me and unca Jeste is coming too!"
"So, it's Ranger now?"
"You did say, only friends called you Rick. And friends don't say shit like you did, to friends."
"You can't deny we had sex almost the moment we met."
"I'm not denying anything. But for you to assume I'm sleeping with anyone, anywhere, and anytime is degrading and rude. Who's to say I've had sex with anyone but you?"
"Oh, come on Babe. You're a beautiful woman. I bet you've got men chasing you all the time."
"You'd be surprised. Even if they were chasing me doesn't mean they've caught me. If we turn the tables, it means you've been sowing your wild oats your whole adult life, right."
"I've been out of the country for almost six years straight. Mostly in Muslim locations, not much of a chance for wild and free sex."
"You're telling me, that a man, who looks like you haven't had sex in six years?"
"No, that's not what I'm saying. We had sex almost three years ago. Or did you forget?"
"No, believe me, I didn't forget. I've been reminded of it, every single day since."
"What do you mean, every single day since?"
"You ponder on that, and I'll go see to my guests. If I don't see you, thanks for coming, hope you had a nice time, bye."
"Babe."
Oh my god, the audacity of the man. To think that I've been sleeping around just because I've got a kid. He didn't even ask if I had a boyfriend or a husband, he just assumed I was a single mom. What an ass. He might be Theo's father, but if I ever see him again, it'll be too soon.
What the fuck just happened. I finally meet the woman I've been dreaming about for the last three years, and she brushes me off? Ok, maybe I was a bit harsh on her. Fuck, I was a complete asshole. But we did have sex the first time, actually the only time, we met. Sure, we'd had some drinks, maybe a few more than just some and she was as beautiful then as she is now. Of course, I'm going to try and have sex with her if she's in on it. And she was. God, that was the best sex I've ever had, and I've had a lot. Even with her, there was a lot. Surely, she's been with someone else after, she's got a kid.
"What's up Primo? You enjoying the party? Have you seen Marco and Silvio? Guess who made the food?"
"I don't know, who made the food?"
"Tia Ella."
"Tia Ella?"
"Yeah, she said she takes care of Theo when Stephanie's at work."
"She doesn't have a boyfriend or husband?"
"No, she's single."
"What about Theo's father?"
"Don't know man. She never talks about him."
"How come she's in Miami and not Trenton?"
"I think it was about a month after Tank and Lula's wedding, she quit Vinnie's and just left. Never been back, not that I know about anyway."
"You know her pretty well?"
"Yeah, we were friends in college, but when she got married, we lost touch. About four years ago she came back to Trenton. Divorced, broke, and broken."
"What do you mean broke and broken?"
"The word is, she got cleaned out in the divorce. The douchebag put all the loans in her name. He was a lawyer, so he knew all the tricks. She was left with literally the clothes on her back and nothing else."
"That's tough, what about the broken part? Did he hit her?"
"No, he cheated on her, it broke her heart. She's a fiercely loyal person. If she loves you, she'll do anything for you. She thought he loved her too. Turns out he only wanted the status of being married."
"Where had she been if she returned to Trenton?"
"Newark."
"Really? So, where's the douchebag now?"
"Doing 10-15 in Hudson County for extensive fraud and embezzlement."
"Karma's a bitch."
"Tell me about it. She was actually the one to provide the final evidence for his conviction."
"How come?"
"He had planted the evidence in her house and after an anonymous tip, the feds came looking for it. He tried to set her up to take the fall, but she had proof it couldn't have been her. You got to love the cameras at the mall."
"You said she worked for Vinnie? As in Vincent Plum Bail Bonds?"
"Yeah, they're related, second cousins or something. At first, she did his filing and general office work. When his regular BEA broke his arm, she blackmailed him to let her take a skip in. Said it was personal."
"Who was it? Anyone you know?"
"Oh, yeah. Joe Morelli, a Trenton homicide detective. They used to hang out as kids and obviously, he'd done something nasty to her, 'cause she was still holding a grudge."
"That's quite a big collar even for a seasoned BEA."
"The payout was good, and it was a fairly easy capture, so she continued bounty hunting. We met at the station once, both bringing in skips. She'd been chasing this guy inside a bakery and was covered in flour, jam, chocolate, you name it, she wore it. We got to talking and after realizing we were in the same field she asked for some help. So, as payment for lessons in bounty hunting 101, she did some of our paperwork and research."
"You guys ever hit on her?"
"Most of them tried, only to be shut down. She's not that kind of a girl. Never was, never will be."
"Shit."
"What? You say something to her?"
"Yeah, I was kind of an ass. Accused her of sleeping around, having a kid an'all."
"You are an ass with a capital A. You just met her today and you go and say something like that. Man, I thought your mama raised you better, in fact, I know she did. What's wrong with you?"
"Fuck if I know. We actually met at Tank and Lula's wedding."
"Oh yeah. After I dropped off your tux I saw you there for about a minute and then you disappeared. Where did you go? Hook up with one of the bride's maids?"
"If she was one, then yeah."
"What? You fucked Stephanie at Tank's wedding?"
"Keep your voice down Santos, there are kids here."
"Seriously, did you?"
"Yeah, we spent the night together."
"And the next morning you left for Kandahar."
"It was Kabul, but yeah."
"And a month later Stephanie quit Vinnie's and left for Miami. Makes you wonder."
"Wonder what?"
"Why'd she leave? She was getting better at her job. Her and Lula made some positive changes, took in some good bonds. The guys liked her."
"Does she do bond enforcement here?"
"She's got a kid, what do you think? She's a PI and does occasionally get contracted by RangeMan. She's on one of our cases now, that's how I knew there'd be a party today."
"How come you're here and not in Trenton, by the way?"
"It's time for the yearly physical evaluation next week. I thought I'd put in some family time with Abuela Rosa first. You in shape for your physical?"
"I think I'll pass. I've got some titanium rods in my left leg. And at some point, I'll need to have knee surgery."
"Bummer. Does it mean you're out?"
"Yeah, I'm out. Besides, I'm getting too old for this shit."
"Where are you staying? I've got all my stuff in the penthouse, but if you want to, I can move to one of the apartments on four."
"It's okay. You stay there. Just drop me off in the garage. I thought I'd drive out to the house."
"I called Rachel to clean the place up and to stock your fridge just in case."
"Thanks, man. Do you mind if we left? I'm kind of beat."
"Sure, let me just go say goodbye to the birthday boy first."
"You just want to go back and jump in the bouncy house, admit it."
"For an ass, you're a really funny guy. Have you seen Tia Ella?"
"She's headed this way, and by the looks of it, she ain't happy."
"Carlito, you come here and don't even bother to say 'Hello' to your Tia Ella? I know your mother raised you better than that."
"What is it with everyone harping on me today?"
"What do you mean? Who else have you been rude to today?"
"Apparently, Stephanie."
"You don't even know Estefania, how can you be rude to her? At her son's birthday party."
"We've met once before, in Trenton."
"But your mama said you'd been gone for six years."
"I was on leave for Tank and Lula's wedding almost three years ago. That's where we met."
"How are Pierre and Tallulah?"
"Don't know. I just got back today. I haven't checked in with anyone."
"Not even your mama?"
"No Tia, not even mama."
"Gabby, Gabby come fishin'."
"Mi pecueño, you want to go fishing?"
"Yes, go fish in seabjanket. Unca Jeste come too."
"Ok, what are we fishing for? Catfish, shark, or whales?"
"Cat no fish. You silly."
"You think I'm silly? I'll show you silly."
"No, no tikles. No, no. Mama, mama hejp. Haahaa ha hah aaa. Mama"
"You seem to be in a pickle my little man."
"Me is no pikle, unca Jeste tikles, he silly."
"Why is Lester silly?"
"He say we fish cat."
"You're fishing for cats. I think you're right, Lester is silly. We only have gift bags in our ocean. Do you wanna go fish?"
"Yay, fish."
"Ok, first we go fish, then it's time for you to go night night."
"Noo, noo nite nite. Pajty."
"I think, we're all partied out for this year."
"Beautiful, we're headed out. Thanks for letting us crash your party. Do you have time for lunch or dinner next week?"
"I'll check my planner and I'll be at RangeMan some time at the end of the week. Does that work for you?"
"Sure. I'll be doing the evals between 0800 and 1800 every day."
"That's from eight to six in normal people talk."
"Yeah. Bobby will be here Tuesday, so you'll get to meet him too."
"Did you know Bobby does the PT for my dad?"
"I know he's got some old veterans he visits, but I didn't know one was your dad. You know doctor-patient confidentiality."
"Gjampa sick and he comes wif us."
"Yes, but Grandpa is getting better. Then he'll move down here with us."
"You're having your dad move out here?"
"Yeah, there's nothing for him left in Trenton, so why not spend his last years in the company of his only grandson. The always sunny weather doesn't hurt either."
"You're right about that. I'd move here too, but with the boss being back, I think I'm stuck in Trenton."
"There are fates worse than that. You might actually get stuck at the same place with the guy."
"There's something fishy going on with you two, I'm sure of it. Nobody acts like that if something hasn't happened."
"Speaking of fishy, let's go, Theo, Neptune awaits."
"Who Nepjune?"
"He's the really big fish that'll give you a goodie bag if you're lucky."
"Me not jucky, me Theo. I bog boy, this many."
"Let's go then, big boy. Bye Lester, Ranger."
"Bye Beautiful, bye birthday boy."
"Carlito, Quiero que la visites su casa la semana que viene. Sin argumentos en contrario, por favor."
Carlos, I want you to visit her at home next week. No arguments, please.
"Si, Tia. Ciertamente. Thank you, Stephanie and I'm sorry for offending you. Would it be possible to come and visit you, maybe next week?"
"I guess so. We'll be home after six every day. Thanks for coming."
"Bye Babe."
TBC