Stephanie's POV
I disappeared into my room upon arriving home. Diesel was cooking our dinner. He only came home fifteen minutes before I had, and he needed to preheat the oven before baking the two family-sized Stouffer's macaroni and cheese. It would give me forty minutes to listen to my voicemail from my old phone. I dialled the number to access the mailbox and selected the option to play the first message.
"Stephanie, this is your mother," the first message played. I deleted it. The next ten were also from Mom and started the same way. I had no desire to listen to whatever decision I made that pissed her off. Mom could take her sanctimonious "why me" and other "why can't you be like" whoever she deemed was better than me and shove it where the sun didn't shine. I was tired of her putting me down and making me sound like a misbehaving child.
"Cupcake, I tried calling the apartment phone, but you must have unplugged it," Joe said. Damn straight, I unplugged the other phone because it kept ringing. "Where are you? I'm standing outside your door with pizza and beer. My boys miss you. Let me in."
"Get someone else to service your balls," I mumbled as I deleted the message. Joe called a few more times, each message growing increasingly violent. It was strange that Joe had never called home during my last two weeks, but he was all up in my business with calls and dropped by the day I disappeared. Was there some cosmic shift that caused everyone to call me on the same day?
I deleted each message from Joe until I heard him say, "Cupcake, I'm sorry. I used my badge to get Dillon to open your apartment. Your closet and dresser are still full. The only thing missing is you. Please call me when you get this message. I need to know you're okay and Manoso hasn't kidnapped you."
"Ugh!" I screamed. "Nobody kidnapped me asshole. I left." Joe left the message this morning. I wondered if he waited outside my apartment eating the pizza and beer before deciding to ask Dillon for access. Joe could have picked the locks. His key wouldn't have worked because Hector changed it to the remote access one with a key. Dillon had the key. I never bothered arming the door before I left.
"Stephanie, this is your mother," Mom said as though I wouldn't recognize her voice. I decided to listen to the message since she sounded pleasant. "Your father said you were taking care of your Aunt Tootie. I'm happy you're doing something other than chasing after criminals and working with those thugs. Angie Morelli and I are renting the VFW Hall for your wedding to Joseph next summer. I have your sizes, so I'll take care of the gown and shoes. Joseph will get the marriage license. All you have to do is show up on the wedding day."
I had to tell Dad about Mom's plan. Instead of deleting that voicemail, I saved it. Maybe I could get Diesel to help me get the message to Dad to head Mom off at the pass. Mom left more messages, but after the one with her planning my wedding to Morelli, I wasn't interested in hearing the other plans she made without my consent. Since Dad only needed the initial voicemail, I deleted the rest from Mom.
"Hi, Auntie Steph," Mary Alice said. My heart leaped into my chest. I had forgotten about how everything would be for my nieces. "I love you. Please take really good care of Auntie Tootie so you can come home soon. I miss you. Granny Edna told me to leave you a message because I stopped galloping like a horse. She said you would be proud of me. I love the Palomino horse model and the riding lessons. Granny Edna promised to record my lessons and email them to you. Thank you for my birthday gift. Bye." I saved Mary Alice's message since it warmed my heart.
"I am proud of you, Mary Alice," I said, wiping the tears off my cheeks. Grandma was the best. She not only gave me the money to leave, but she gave Mary Alice the gift I arranged for her birthday. It was something Woody suggested for my niece. He said having riding lessons and a Breyer model horse would go a long way with Mary Alice. I had to find a way to let Woody know he was right. However, he might find out for himself. Mary Alice's lessons were at the ranch where Woody stabled his horse.
Angie received her birthday gift a month earlier. I gave her a Kindle loaded with age-appropriate books and others like Twilight, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and the Divergent series books. Valerie didn't mind me giving those book series to Angie. My sister thought Angie reading them on a Kindle prevented others from noticing. We know Mom would get upset about those books. She wouldn't let Angie and Mary Alice watch the Harry Potter movies. I thought that was disgusting, so I had a marathon weekend at my apartment, giving Valerie and Albert time to themselves. Mom watched Lisa so Angie and Mary Alice could have a break from their younger sister.
Valerie's message started sweet. She wanted me to call the girls to let them know I was okay. I continued listening to her words and bristled when she said, "Mary Alice loves her birthday present, but how am I supposed to take her to the riding lessons? Didn't you think about this before leaving town? What am I supposed to do? I can't afford to pay…" Valerie's tirade was cut short.
Albert's voice replaced Valerie's in the message. "Frank arranged rides for Mary Alice. You don't need to worry about anything, Stephanie. Thank you for making Mary Alice a delighted girl. Personally, I'm upset we never thought of it first. Take care of yourself." Valerie kept asking Albert to give her the phone to finish her message, but he never listened. Albert's message ended without returning the phone to his wife. I giggled and deleted the message. It sounded like Albert finally grew some balls.
The next twenty or so messages were from people in the Burg. Most wanted to know if I left town with Ranger. After hearing the first two words, I rolled my eyes and deleted the messages. When I got to the message after Mom's final rant, which, according to the voicemail system, was the last, I heard, "Babe." I replayed it, hoping Ranger said more than one word. It must have been all he could say before the voicemail cut him off.
Reluctantly, I deleted the message. "Final message," the woman's voice announced as another message joined the queue. I thought she had already said that. Someone must have left the message upon learning my voicemail had space. Ranger's voice sounded with the message.
"Babe, I'm sorry. Our night together scared me, not because of how amazing you were, but how I felt the following morning, and I reacted without thinking. I never meant to hurt you or make you feel used. Babe, I have a confession. The moment you stepped into the diner, my life changed. I was supposed to leave Trenton after setting up the Rangeman branch. You're the reason I stayed. I couldn't live in a place where you weren't," Ranger said. "Your recent departure proved you aren't interested in rekindling a relationship with the cop."
I wiped more tears from my cheeks. "Carlos, this isn't like you. When did you start sharing your feelings?" I whispered.
Chuckling, Ranger continued, "I bet you're asking yourself why I'm sharing my feelings. Babe, spending one magical night with you has ruined me for all other women. I tried to go with the flow when an aggressive woman kissed me. Her lips weren't yours. Her kiss wasn't your passion-filled one. I felt repulsed by her. You, however, turn kissing into an art and I can't get enough. My guys think I'm in a relationship because I told that aggressive woman that I was seeing someone. The men want to know which woman has captured my body, heart, and soul so thoroughly."
I laughed, "The guys probably wanted to thank me for taking you off the market."
As though he could read my mind, Ranger said, "They probably want to thank you for taking me out of action. When I go out with the guys, they won't have to compete with me for a woman's attention. However, I won't visit the nightclubs or other singles events unless Rangeman runs the security. I'm out of that game. Babe, our night together was more than sex. I felt our souls join as one. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced. You make me want to become a better man. I want to be your husband. God, Babe, I want you in my life and bed for eternity. Once I finish this government job, I'll return to Trenton. I promise to wait, remain faithful and be exclusive to you. My heart is in your hands. Please, I beg you to contact me and tell me you feel the same. Babe, please tell me you love me with your entire being as I love you. Whatever you need, Babe, I will give you. Take care of our child. I'll be waiting until you bring our son home. I love you more than I can express in words. Be safe, and don't go crazy. I love you."
I saved Ranger's message. Did I love Ranger with my body, heart, and soul? Absolutely. I pulled my knees to my chest, wrapped my arms around them to hold me in place, and cried, burying my face in my knees. Ranger loved me, and I loved him. Why couldn't he have admitted that to me before he left town? Ranger's message said the fear of me breaking his heart made him react. Instead, he broke mine.
Diesel knocked and called through the door, "Stephanie, dinner's ready."
Wiping my nose on my arm, I said, "Okay. Give me a minute."
"Are you okay?"
"No," I replied.
"May I come inside?" he asked.
"Okay," I whispered. Diesel heard my response and opened the door. He sat on the bed beside me and pulled me into his arms.
"Why are you crying?" Diesel questioned.
"Ranger loves me," I replied. Diesel gently lifted my head to look into his eyes.
"And you love him," Diesel said. I nodded. Diesel motioned for me to play the message for him to hear. His brilliant smile indicated he liked every word he heard. "Do you need to send him a message?"
"Yes, but I don't want him to find me yet," I replied. "I need time to wrap my head around him breaking my heart, then leaving a heartfelt message declaring his unending love. How do I know he's telling the truth?"
"Stephanie, I've known Ranger for a long time. He would never say he loved you if it weren't true, and especially not in a voicemail for you to have a permanent record," Diesel explained. "Ranger means everything he told you in the message. What are you planning to do with that information?"
"I want him to know I feel the same way," I confessed. "I'm not sure about marriage, but I wouldn't leave it off the table. He has a lot of work to do before I marry him."
"You should tell him how you feel," Diesel suggested. I raised my brows, wondering why I had to tell Ranger how I felt. Talking about my emotions wasn't something I did. I preferred living in denial land. "Sooner is better."
"Fine!" I snapped. "How can I block my phone number?"
"Come with me," he said, pulling me to my feet. I shook my head and pointed at the ensuite washroom. Diesel kissed my forehead. "I'll be in the kitchen. You can call Ranger after eating dinner."
"Thanks," I whispered. Diesel left the room. I waited until his footfalls landed on the steps before stepping into the bathroom.
After washing my face twice and changing my shirt, I met Diesel in the kitchen. I stifled a laugh when I noticed he placed each family-sized macaroni and cheese on a placemat with a fork beside it. "I didn't want to wash too many dishes," Diesel explained. I don't blame him.
We ate in companionable silence. I ate all except a few forkfuls of my macaroni and cheese. Diesel pointed to the box and raised a brow. Smiling, I pushed it toward him. He quickly ate the rest and cleared the table. I moved to the living room when Diesel washed the forks and set them on the draining board.
He brought me a bottle of water from the refrigerator. After twisting off the cap, he gave it to me. "Thanks. How do I send Ranger a message without him finding me?" I asked, passing him my burner phone.
Diesel unlocked it without needing my thumbprint. He pressed a few buttons before dialling Ranger's mobile number. I never questioned how Diesel knew which phone to call. Diesel passed me the phone. It rang once before going to voicemail.
I sighed and waited for the beep. "Hi, Ranger. It's Stephanie. I wanted you to know that I felt everything you had during that night. You are a part of me. My heart, body and soul belong to you. Your assumption of me carrying your child is correct. I'm unsure if it's a boy, but I'll find a way to let you know. I need time to wrap my head around everything," I said. I paused for a few seconds. Diesel encouraged me to tell Ranger the other thing. "Ranger, I might be going crazy, but during the last few weeks in Trenton, I felt like someone was watching me. My skin crawled, and I felt I was in danger. It went away when I left my parents' house. The second time this happened, I was at my apartment, and the sensation disappeared when I got into my car. I don't have stalkers, but can you get your guys to check my past FTAs to see if any of them were released from jail? Anyway, maybe I'm paranoid. You don't need to worry about me because I'm safe. Don't get shot while trying to save the world. I love you, Carlos."