Here is the next chapter. Some of you asked when Ranger would be showing up again…well, here he is. Time for a talk between him and Steph regarding his position in Sophia's life. Enjoy. They don't belong to me; I just have fun with them.
"Justin," Steph said as she sat up in bed.
"What is it, Sweetheart?" he asked as he handed Sophia to her for nursing.
"What are your plans for today?"
Zip thought about it. "I have no set plans. What would you like to do?" He could see whatever she had to say was weighing on her as she was biting her lip. "Steph, just say it. I'm not going to be mad about whatever it is."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive," he told her as he pushed hair off her face.
"I hate to ask, but do you think you could leave the house for the day? I need to call Ranger. He and I need to talk about Soph and I think I'd be more comfortable doing it here instead of his place. I just need to see where he is and what he's willing to agree to. I think it would be better if you weren't here for the conversation. I'm sorry."
"There is nothing for you to be sorry for. I can do that. I'll stay away all day, just let me know when I can come back?"
"I will. I promise. Thank you."
After Sophia was done nursing, Zip took her to the nursery to get her changed for the day. He picked out an outfit that he'd not seen her wear yet. Steph could hear him talking through the baby monitor, "So, you are going to spend time with your father today. Be good to him, okay?"
Reaching for her phone, she dialed Ranger. "Yo."
"Hey, it's me. I was wondering if you had plans for the day?"
"I don't."
"If you want, you can come see Sophia and we can talk about things."
"I'd like that, but I need an address," Ranger said in a hopeful voice.
Stephanie gave him her address and they agreed he'd be there in two hours. After she hung up, she went to the shower to get ready for the day. While in the shower, her mind wandered all over the place. How would today go? Would Ranger really want to be part of Sophia's life? Would he be okay if Zip was part of Sophia's life?
After getting out of the shower and drying off, she wrapped a towel around her body and stepped into the hall. She stood in the doorway of the nursery and watched as Zip danced with Sophia against his chest. She loved watching him with her daughter. She could see the love in his eyes as he looked down at Sophia. It's how she wanted Sophia's father to feel about her, but only time would tell.
Zip looked up and smiled at Stephanie as she stood in the doorway watching. "She likes to dance in the morning before I leave for work; thought I'd see if she liked it later in the morning as well."
"I'd say she does. She looks content."
Leaning his head down to kiss Sophia's head, he asked, "When do I need to leave?"
"He'll be here in just under two hours. I hate asking you to leave, but…"
"Steph, stop. Don't worry about it. This is a discussion best between just you and him. This is a day for him to spend with his daughter. I don't need to be here for that. You can do this, I know it."
"Thank you. I'm going to get dressed if you have her for a few more minutes." Zip went back to dancing with Sophia and watched Stephanie leave the nursery.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Just as Zip was about to grab his jacket, there was a knock. He looked at Stephanie, "Want me to answer it or you?"
"I should," she said as she stepped up to the door. "Here goes nothing," she whispered. Opening the door, she saw Ranger standing there looking at Zip's truck in the driveway. "Ranger, come in." The snow was blowing around and the temps were below zero.
Ranger stepped in and shook out of his coat. He saw Zip standing near the coat rack reaching for his coat. "Zip."
"Ranger."
"Zip was just leaving," she told Ranger as Zip put on his hat and gloves. Looking at Zip, "I'll call you later. Drive safe wherever you are going, okay?"
"You know I will. I'll talk to you and the Princess later." Zip thought about kissing her on the forehead, but decided against as he didn't want to make things more awkward for her.
After he left, she locked the door and turned around to see Ranger taking his boots off. "Can I get you some coffee or water?"
"Actually, a coffee would be great, Babe." Ranger saw Stephanie flinch at the name and he knew he needed to remember to call her Steph. "Sorry, old habit."
"Sophia is napping right now, so we can talk first if you don't mind." She walked to the kitchen and Ranger followed her. "She will probably be down for another hour. Her morning nap is the longest."
Ranger took the offered coffee and sat at the kitchen table. "So, Zip?"
"What about him?"
"Are you two seeing each other?"
Taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out, "I don't see how my relationship status has anything to do you and our daughter. Whether he and I are seeing each other, that is our business. I don't ask about who you are seeing."
"Just asking, Steph. I know he hasn't been staying at his apartment in the building. I was wondering where he was every night. I guess I know now."
"Look, if you are going to do this, then you can just go. I invited you over so we could discuss our daughter and her relationship with you. Not discuss my personal life."
"I know. I just…I'll drop it. So, how is Sophia? Does she need anything?"
"Does she need anything? She needs a father who will be around to see her learn and grow. A father who will be around to help her when she falls and cheer her up when she's sad. A father who will be there for school performances. The question is, are you that father?"
Ranger ran his hand down his face and stared at his cup of coffee. He wanted to say absolutely he was the father to do all that. But the fact was, he wasn't sure. He still had his government contract. He hadn't told Stephanie that he renewed his contract while he was gone. Renewed for another five years.
When he told Tank about it, Tank beat his ass on the mats and called him a coward. Said he had responsibilities that he needed to accept yet he found a way to get out of them. When Ranger said he didn't think the baby was his while he was gone, Tank reminded him of his other daughter and the promise Ranger had made to her. Ranger had forgotten that he'd promised Julie that she could come live with him for a few years and get to know him and his side of the family. Rachel and Ron had agreed to it and Julie was supposed to be moving to Trenton next summer.
"Where did you go, Ranger?"
"Sorry, what?"
"I've been talking to you for the last couple of minutes, but you haven't heard a word I said. Where were you?"
Taking a sip of his coffee, he thought about what to say. "I want to be there for Sophia and you. I know you said you don't need anything from me, but all you have to do is tell me what you need, and you'll have it.
"I'd like to set up a trust fund for Sophia and start paying child support. I know you said no, but I'm going to do it. I have a meeting with my lawyer set for Monday morning."
"So, once again, you aren't listening to what I said." She scooted her chair back, stood up and began pacing in the kitchen. "Go ahead, do what you want, just know that the money won't be touched."
"Steph, please. Let me do this. I know you need the money. Raising a child isn't cheap."
"Oh, and you know about raising a child?" Stephanie asked raising her voice. Needing to calm down, she took a deep breath and collected her thoughts. "I don't want an argument and I don't want raised voices. I'm sorry for saying that."
"No, you're right. What do I know about raising a child? I gave my first child up as soon as she was born. I have no experience. I want to do right by both of my daughters."
"Are you still on contract? Are you still going to be heading off at a moment's notice?" Ranger slammed is blank face down and knew Stephanie had her answer. "How much longer? Last I knew you only had six-months left."
"Steph, this doesn't have anything to do with being there for Sophia."
"The hell it doesn't! How do you not see that? What happens when you get called out after you promised her you'd do something? What happens when you get called out and don't come back? How much longer do you have?"
Before Ranger could answer, they heard cries coming from the nursery. Stephanie left the kitchen and walked down the hall. She expected Ranger to follow her, but he stayed in the kitchen. When she reached the crib, Sophia stopped crying and Stephanie smiled. "Good nap, Baby Girl?" Stephanie lifted the baby out and placed her on the changing table. After changing the diaper, Steph carried Sophia to the kitchen.
"Do you want to feed her?" she asked Ranger.
"I thought you were nursing?"
"I am, but I pump as well so when others visit, they can feed her if they want. And with me starting back to work next week, I'll be pumping more." Stephanie handed Sophia over to Ranger and began heating up a bottle of breast milk.
"You don't have to work, Steph. I can take care of you and her." Ranger looked at Sophia and was amazed at how much she looked like his daughter Julie and yet she was the perfect mix of him and Stephanie. She had his black hair and brown eyes, yet he noticed her chin, nose, and lips were that of Stephanie. "She's the perfect mix of us."
"That she is," she took the bottle from the warmer and handed it to Ranger. "She'll drink about half of it, then need burped before she'll finish the rest."
Ranger nodded, took the offered bottle and began feeding the baby. He watched her eyes dart everywhere like she was trying to take it all in. Just before she was half-way through the bottle, he noticed her eyes close. "I think she's falling asleep," he told Stephanie.
"Just pull the bottle out a little, she'll start sucking again." He did as she said and found she was right. After Sophia was done with the bottle, they all moved to the living room. Ranger held Sophia for a little longer as he and Steph talked. "So, are you going to answer my question?"
Looking at the baby in his arms, he wasn't sure how Steph would react to his answer, but he knew he had to be honest with her. "I have another five years." When she didn't say anything, he looked at Stephanie and saw the anger in her eyes.
"You were supposed to be done in six months. I know that because when you and I were dating, you told me when your contract ended. I thought that if I could just get her through the next six months, you'd be around more." Closing her eyes to control her anger, she leaned her head back against the couch and whispered, "Why did you re-up?"
TBC….don't kill me!