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It was Sunday. I had been married for twenty four hours, and it was roast chicken day at my parents; house. Mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce and stuffing. And I’d asked for pineapple upside down cake for dessert. Dinner is always at six o clock. It used to be that if you were five minutes late getting to the table everything was ruined. The chicken was dry. The stuffing was cold. Lately, my mom was more mellow and flexible with timing. I attributed this change to the bottle of Jack Daniels she kept in the cupboard. Nevertheless, I tried to be on time for dinner, and I did my best today, but I was almost ten minutes late.
I parked at the curb and ran for the front door. I hurried into the dining room and took my place at the table.
“Sorry,” I said. “Time got away from me.”
“I was afraid you were in a car crash,” Grandma said. “We were just getting ready to call hospitals.”
Grandma didn't mean it. It had become a family joke. It was her place to say it. My mom didn't look worried, and my father was busy working his way through a mountain of roast chicken and mashed potatoes. I put my napkin on my lap and Grandma passed the platter of chicken to me. I two handed the platter and Grandma looked at my left hand.
“That's such a pretty wedding band,” she said. “And it was a beautiful ceremony. At first I was disappointed that there wasn't going to be a bug wedding, but this was better. Next time I get married I'm going to just have cake and champagne like you.”
“And I didn't have to wear my church shoes,” My father said. “Best wedding ceremony ever”
“Where's the groom?” Grandma asked. “We gotta do one more toast to the two of you.”
“He's on his way,” I said. “He got hung up at work.”
The front door opened and closed. No footsteps followed, and Ranger appeared in the entryway. He looked down at me, squeezed my shoulder in his hand before sitting next to me at the table. I was sure I made the right decision. Ranger had always been there by my side, loaning me guns, cars, giving me a job, backup, cameras, and never once expected anything of me.
Morelli had wanted me to be the Burg wife with kids, quit my job and cook. It just wasn’t my interest. He had always been the safe option, but, safe wasn’t me. When I told him I was marrying Ranger, he put his hands in his pockets and took a deep breath. “I don’t like it and I can’t change your mind.” And he walked away.