Miguel took Stephanie to the hospital for the amniocentesis. His concern regarding Stephanie miscarrying her son during the routine outpatient procedure nearly had him turning the car around to return home. It would devastate Stephanie and him if things went wrong. Dr. Davies couldn't put off the procedure any longer. The baby's growth and movements would only increase the risk the longer she waited. Stephanie wanted to get it over with and concentrate on growing her child.
Dr. Davies asked a nurse to collect Miguel's blood sample for testing. "I'm not the father," Miguel argued. He checked his watch and added, "The courier service should deliver the required sample within the hour."
"Oh. I thought you were the father but denied it for personal reasons," Dr. Davies replied, having suspected Miguel was married and didn't want his wife to know. It was the typical scenario she faced.
"You thought I lied about Miguel being the father because he was married," Stephanie sighed. "I'm not telling you the father's name until you need it for the birth certificate." Stephanie would use her real name when Alex was born. She knew her grandfather would bury the information to protect her and Alex from Ranger's enemies. Stephanie planned to get Hector to lock down the records to prevent anyone from discovering her secret.
Miguel held Stephanie's hand during the procedure. Stephanie had to remain in the hospital for a few hours to ensure the baby was safe before the doctor released her. "How long until we get the results?" Miguel asked.
"It can take up to four weeks," Dr. Davies replied. "I'll send you a copy of the results, and we'll discuss them at your next appointment. It would be best if you rested for a few days. If you experience any cramps or spotting, come to the hospital immediately."
"Okay," Stephanie whispered. She was afraid something would happen to her or Alex.
Stephanie's appointment with Dr. Davies had come and gone without receiving the amniocentesis results. She worried something was wrong, and they were reluctant to give her the news. Stephanie reflexively rubbed her expanding baby bump, smiling when Alex kicked.
"Did he move?" Miguel asked. He gently rubbed Stephanie's stomach, hoping to feel the boy's kick.
"Yes, but it's too soon for you to feel him. I can't believe that butterflies in my stomach sensation were Alex kicking," Stephanie sighed. "We still have another fifteen weeks before he's born."
"I'm looking forward to seeing your little boy," Miguel said.
"Me too," Stephanie confessed. She prayed the boy resembled her. Having her son look like Ranger would be too hard for her to handle. The constant reminder of that night would be rubbed into her face, feeling painful as though someone had rubbed salt into her wounds.
"I saw his face on the sonogram," Miguel announced, breaking Stephanie from her imagination.
"Oh? Is he handsome?" Stephanie teased.
"Alex is handsome, and he resembles you," Miguel replied.
"You can't tell that from a two-dimensional grainy image," Stephanie laughed.
"Not really, but it's what I see," Miguel said. He gently lifted Stephanie's face with a finger. Miguel kissed Stephanie. The kiss was sweet and affectionate without making Stephanie feel Miguel wanted sex. Their relationship was growing slowly. Miguel never pressured Stephanie to have sex when she was unprepared to give herself to him. Stephanie was worried having sex would ruin what they hoped to build for their relationship.
Miguel wanted Stephanie in the worst way. He vowed to move at her pace, knowing she wasn't ready for a physical relationship with him. It was undoubtedly testing his resolve and required many cold showers or masturbation to relieve the pressure in his balls.
He knew Stephanie was visiting her therapist once every two weeks and was making progress. She was working on undoing the damage caused by her mother's hurtful words throughout her life. It was essential for Stephanie to turn off those parent tapes playing inside her mind before taking the next step with Miguel. She loved that he was patient and respected her boundaries.
Stephanie also didn't want to admit that waiting was hard for her. She opened her mouth to apologize when there was a knock on the door. Miguel stood and pulled Stephanie to her feet. She went on her toes to kiss him before seeing who had interrupted their quiet evening.
"Are you Stephanie?" the courier asked when Stephanie opened the door.
"I am," she replied. The courier passed Stephanie a tablet to sign her name before giving her the envelope. She feared Ranger changing his mind about her child and looked for the return address in the upper left-hand corner. Stephanie sighed in relief when she saw the letter was from the lab. "Thank you," she told the courier before stepping back and closing the door.
Stephanie tore the envelope open. The paternity proved the baby belonged to Ranger. She scoffed upon noticing he used their court case docket number instead of his name. "Well, what does it say?" Miguel nervously asked.
"I'm just reading it now," Stephanie laughed. He guided Stephanie back to the living room to sit comfortably on the couch. Miguel sat with his back on the armrest and pulled Stephanie to sit between his legs. She sighed and leaned against him. He rested his hands on her baby bump, drawing small, comforting circles as they read the test results.
Miguel kissed the spot behind Stephanie's ear, making her moan. "Alex is healthy," he whispered.
"And Ranger is his biological father, not that I doubted paternity," Stephanie confirmed. She continued reading the results, sighing when she didn't carry the worst inherited deficiencies. Stephanie was relieved to know she didn't pass poor genetics onto her son.
"How do you expect Ranger to respond to the results?" Miguel asked.
"I doubt he'd read them," Stephanie confessed. "Wilson said Ranger wanted the results delivered to Javier and filed without reviewing them."
"But Javier needs to update the court records," Miguel argued.
"So Javier has to read it and notify the courts," Stephanie shrugged. She couldn't care less about Ranger's reaction, provided he didn't sue her for custody.
In his office, Javier opened a copy of Ranger's paternity test and genomes for his son. Javier shook his head when it proved Ranger was the boy's father. He checked his watch and decided to go home. Filing the paperwork had to wait until the morning when the courthouse opened.
As a professional courtesy, Javier contacted Wilson, alerting him that the court docket would be updated in the morning. Wilson agreed to meet Javier at the courthouse when it opened. Providing a united front would save the bailiff the trouble of notifying one of them.
Javier exited his office building and walked to his car. He smiled when he found Hector leaning against the rear bumper. Hector raised a brow. Javier nodded, hoping he answered the correct silent question. "I'll call her," Hector said, pushing off the car. He disappeared like smoke. Javier shook his head, wondering how Hector knew the results arrived.
Hector called Stephanie when he got home. He wanted her to confirm the baby was healthy. The paternity was insignificant since Stephanie said the baby belonged to Ranger. Hector knew Stephanie wouldn't lie about something that important.
Stephanie smiled when her phone rang, expecting it to be Hector. She wasn't disappointed. "Is your son healthy?" Hector asked.
"He is. Ranger and I never passed any life-threatening congenital deficiencies to him," Stephanie confirmed, putting the call on speaker for Miguel to hear the conversation.
"Good. My godson is healthy," Hector sighed, making Stephanie giggle.
"Aren't you going to ask if Ranger's the biological father?" Stephanie asked.
"I know he is. Having the result would only serve as proof for him," Hector replied.
"You're right, Hector. Ranger is the father," Stephanie answered. "When he decides to read the papers, he'll know it too." Stephanie wanted to shove the results in Ranger's face to prove she wasn't lying. Alas, it was time for Stephanie to leave Ranger in her past, where he belonged. She had to think about her son and his future.
Stephanie planned to change her will immediately. She has irrefutable proof that Ranger was Alex's father and his petition to absolve himself of financial responsibility. "I'll take him if anything happens to you," Hector offered when Stephanie explained her plan.
"Are you sure? I was planning to have my grandparents raise him if I died," Stephanie replied. They had a few more minutes to resolve the situation before Stephanie's grandparents came home from their evening out.
"What about me?" Miguel asked.
Hector chuckled, "We can share custody."
"That sounds like a plan," Stephanie agreed. "But you'd have to move here, Hector."
"I can do that," he promised.
Stephanie, Hector and Miguel talked for a few minutes to outline the details of the guardianship should Stephanie die during childbirth or before Alex turned eighteen. She felt relieved to have her two best friends as her son's guardians. After receiving an emergency call to patrol the warehouse district, Hector ended the call.
"Have you met Hector?" Stephanie asked Miguel.
"Once. Hector visited Rangeman Atlanta to update the computers. I always suspected he understood English despite Ranger telling us he didn't," Miguel explained.
Miguel lifted Stephanie to shift their positions. He swung his legs off the edge of the couch. Miguel chuckled when Stephanie straddled his lap. Her baby bump prevented her from getting too close.
He stroked her face along her hairline before trailing down her chin. Stephanie closed her eyes and enjoyed the tingling sensation left by Miguel's fingers. She gasped and opened her eyes to look into his. Miguel pressed his lips against Stephanie's and kissed her softly.
Stephanie deepened the kiss, showing him how she felt about him. Miguel moaned and stroked her tongue. Their hormones took over as they tugged at each other's shirts to dislodge them. Miguel's hand moved beneath Stephanie's shirt. His fingers brushed her nipples, drawing a deep, needing moan from Stephanie. She felt her panties dampen and rocked against him to feel his erection at her core.
Miguel immediately broke the kiss and held Stephanie's face between his hands. "Sweetheart, your grandparents are home. I heard the garage door open," Miguel warned. Stephanie moved from Miguel's lap after kissing him briefly. She wanted to make love to Miguel.
"Are you leaving?" Stephanie asked.
"I should before we do something you'll regret in the morning," Miguel replied. Stephanie appeared sad. He gently lifted her chin to look into her eyes. Miguel cupped Stephanie's cheek. "Sweetheart, you know how much I want you. We don't know if sex will harm your baby."
"Miguel, have your tests indicated you have a sexually transmitted disease?" Stephanie asked.
"No. I'm clean."
Stephanie cupped his face between her hands and kissed him. "Then you won't hurt the baby," she whispered.
"Sweetheart, we have plenty of time to get there. Why don't you ask the doctor to be sure it's safe before we consider trying?" Miguel suggested. Stephanie only had time to nod before her grandparents entered the house through the kitchen.
Miguel greeted Gia and Francis before he left the house. Gia stood beside Stephanie as she looked out the window, wrapping her arm around Stephanie's waist. "Don't worry, Steph. Miguel is a good man," Gia said.
"I know, Grandma. He thinks about my needs and what's best for the baby above his wants and needs. I know he already loves Alex despite him belonging to Carlos."
Gia rubbed comforting circles on Stephanie's back as they watched Miguel pull away from the curb. Stephanie waited until Miguel's car disappeared from view before hugging her grandmother and going to bed.
"Is she okay?" Francis asked, watching Stephanie climb the stairs.
"I think our early return prevented them from connecting sexually. On one hand, I'm glad we prevented it from happening," Gia replied.
"And the other?" Francis queried.
"It's time for Stephanie to open herself to the love and passion she feels for Miguel. He's a good man. I couldn't have chosen a better partner for our granddaughter," Gia sighed.
"Miguel wants to marry Stephanie," Francis said, surprising Gia with the news. She raised her brow and waited for more details. "He promised to refrain from acting on his hormones and wait until Stephanie makes the first move. However, he wants to be married to Stephanie before they make love for the first time."
"Does Stephanie know that?" Gia asked.
"Probably not."
Gia rolled her eyes and went to speak to Stephanie. She prayed that Stephanie didn't think Miguel rejected her by going home. Gia knocked on Stephanie's bedroom door. "Come in, Grandma," she replied.
When Gia opened the door, she had expected to find Stephanie crying. Instead, she found Stephanie holding the sonogram image and smiling. Gia sat beside her on the bed. "Are you upset about Miguel leaving?" Gia asked.
"Not at all. I was thinking about moving out. Miguel is helping me find an apartment. Without a full-time job, nobody wants to rent to me. I won't ask you and Grandpa to co-sign the lease," Stephanie explained.
"Doesn't Miguel have an extra room for you and the baby in his house?" Gia asked.
Stephanie giggled. "Grandma, it's too early for Miguel and I to live together. I want to be married before I live with another man."
"Miguel wants to marry you. Did you know?"
Smiling, Stephanie replied, "Yes, Grandma. I know. I'm in love with Miguel but will not marry him while pregnant with another man's child. It's the same for taking our relationship further. I know we shouldn't be having this conversation, but you obviously know I've had sex, or I wouldn't be pregnant. Miguel is unlike any man I have met before. His affection grows daily, and I love him more. He doesn't pressure me into doing anything I don't want. Miguel wants me to take the lead in where our relationship goes."
Stephanie paused for a few moments. She wiped a tear from her eye. "Grandma, I hoped to fix myself before getting involved with another man. I'm almost there. I got over the anger of what Dickie and Morelli did to me. It took more therapy to get over Ranger's words. I know Ranger loves me in his way but can't offer me the life he thought I wanted."
"You have time to decide what you want," Gia said.
"I know," Stephanie replied. "Miguel is giving me the time I need."
"Don't keep him waiting too long."
Stephanie smiled as her grandmother left the room. She tucked the sonogram into the scrapbook to protect it. After she turned off the light, Stephanie used her phone to call Miguel.
"Hello, Sweetheart," Miguel answered.
"Hi. Is the offer for me to move into your house after Alex's birth still on the table?" Stephanie quietly asked.