Disclaimer: The characters of the Stephanie Plum series belong to Janet Evanovich and are used here without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
Challenge: Weekly Wednesday Challenge – Week 4 - Muses
Young Carlos Overhears
By TT
Carlos ran ahead of his mother. It was very, very rare that they were allowed to come to their father’s work place and he was excited to be there.
Ignoring his mother’s voice, he turned a corner, a smile on his face at the pride he felt in his father’s work.
He spotted his father in the hallway talking to another man and immediately slowed down. He managed to get within a few feet of his father before he stopped cold. He knew that angry tone in his father’s voice and knew with certainty that the other man was in big trouble, maybe even about to be grounded.
“Damn it, Bob, DROP it!” his father shouted at the other man.
Obviously not knowing what was good for him, the other man pushed the issue. “Eight months. You’d only be away from home eight months.”
“This conversation is done,” Carlos’ father said, turning on his heel and taking a step down the hall before spotting his son.
Carlos watched in amazement as his father’s face transformed from livid to loving as their eyes met.
“Carlos!” he greeted cheerfully, walking up to give his son a quick hug, well aware of his son’s belief that hugging wasn’t manly, but also knowing how much Carlos liked to be hugged. “What brings you here?”
“I did,” his mother replied, approaching the duo. She leaned forward and kissed her husband on the lips.
“Come with me,” Carlos’ father encouraged, leading them to a break room.
Present
“Damn it Tank, DROP it!” Ranger snapped, uncharacteristically losing his patience. The fact they were in the hallway at the office and no one else around didn’t make him any happier about losing his temper, but he had surpassed his limit of patience with Tank’s nagging.
“Ranger, man,” Tank tried once more. “It would only be for eight months and then you’d be back. I don’t understand what the big deal is.”
Ranger glared at his friend as a scene from his youth popped to mind. His father had passed up a huge opportunity because it meant he would have to leave his family for eight months. For years in his teens and twenties he’d thought his father’s rejecting that opportunity was ridiculous. The increase in pay could have helped them out tremendously.
Now that he and Stephanie were together, the thought of leaving her for the better part of a year wasn’t just unacceptable, it was unthinkable.
“This conversation is done,” he snapped, using the same words that his father had so many years ago.
Turning away from his friend, he spotted Stephanie standing a ways down the hall. The anger and impatience he’d been feeling just moments ago melted away and he could feel a smile breaking out on his face.
With a few steps, he was in front of Stephanie and brushed soft kiss across her lips.
Wrapping an arm around her waist, he drew her closer to his side and said, “Let’s go grab some lunch.”
As they walked away from the scene of his confrontation with Tank, Ranger’s smile remained as he realized his father had been a wise man who definitely had his priorities straight.
End