I have to say I'm overwhelmed by the response to The overly depressing story I'm in the middle of publishing... By special request, here's a little bit of light and happy with a Fourth of July theme.

I can honestly say this story wouldn't have happened without Margaret! (you'll probably recognize her style!) :-) There will be a couple more one-shots following the theme...

As you probably know, all characters belong to Janet Evanovich, all mistakes are mine, I make nothing from this...

Frank's Independence Day.

Amazed doesn't begin to tell you how happy I was when my youngest daughter came over with her husband to show me what they had arranged just for me.

Me.

Francis W. Plum

Retired Sergeant, US Army.

Retired Postmaster.

Husband to Helen Mazur Plum.

Son-in-law to one bat crap crazy Edna Mazur.

Daddy to two daughters, one of who is a 'snookum's, while the other one, my favorite of course is a 'Babe'.

Need I mention I'm a Grandpa to three beautiful girls and a grandson hamster, Rex?

Sigh.

After another night of a 'hell on earth' dinner where my wife chugs half her weight in booze, and listening to the bat crap mother in law go on and on about a dead guy with only one testicle, my youngest daughter and her husband, Ranger took me to my only solace, the garage, where no one in their right mind would dare enter.

"Daddy, we're worried about you. Your blood pressure is up and the way you were clenching your knife made me think just who you'd like to be stabbing thru the heart with it. Ranger and I've been talking," putting her hand on my arm, Steph continued on, "You need your own space Daddy, and we're gonna make that happen."

"How on earth did you know about my blood pressure, baby girl?" I just had to ask.

Looking over at her husband with a smirk on his face, I answered my own question, "Ah yes, I keep forgetting your not married to a mere mortal but I believe you call him Batman, am I right?" Lowering my new reading glasses down somewhat over my nose, I peered over my specs at the loving couple in front of me.

"Frank, let us do something for you that has been long overdue in my way of thinking. Please. It would give you and Steph as well as myself peace of mind, if you will."

With a nod of my head, Steph flung her arms around my neck and peppered my cheek with kisses.

"Thank you Daddy, you won't be disappointed!"

Walking the couple out to their car, Ranger told me his men would be by later on in the week, and to 'pretend they weren't even there.'

I just told him, "It's not like I don't pretend every day that my day won't start off with an argument with my mother in law', what's one more thing to pretend about?"

That was two weeks ago.

And now, my daughter is back with a few of the men she works with, all dressed in black, right along with her husband.

I noticed a new door in my garage that had appeared one day. I never made time to clean out the basement. Too much going up and down the stairs for me to throw out crap that should have been thrown out years ago.

I always wanted to move downstairs in the basement, to escape the insanity of my life at home, but I never followed thru with that.

Looks like someone read my mind.

Brown eyes of my son-in-law met mine, and it was like he could tell what I needed and wanted so desperately in my life.

Less stress.

Peace and Quiet.

And, please Dear Lord my own bathroom.

And the only way I could get that would be to sever my ties with my family, which I am not willing to do at this time. I do love my family, but enough is enough.

Turns out Hector, my baby girl's partner was such a geek when it came to security that a hand print scanner was installed.

Only three people could get downstairs now:

Myself.

Stephanie.

and of course, Ranger.

Did I mention that a retina scanner was also installed?

Also for just the three of us.

Ranger was adding some panic buttons around the basement, once I could see it that is.

I'd have thought that Helen would have noticed by now that I wasn't ever around except for meals anymore.

But with the addition of Valerie and her family at our dinner table just about every damn night, the only thing that kept a smile on my face and my mouth shut was the thought of my own 'independence' from this family of mine.

Never mind the fact that no one said one damn thing that interested me in the first place:

Valerie was having another girl.

Edna had a new man, that was still 'alive' if you could believe that one.

Helen was going on and on about whatnot in the neighborhood happenings.

Like I really give a fuck. Shoving my chair back from the pot roast dinner, I just stood up and went outside to calm down.

Is this really how a normal family is, night after night?

Meal after Meal?

I've never felt loved or appreciated by anyone in this family, except for Steph and Ranger. It was the little things they did that eased my mind:

Meeting me for lunch at the diner they first met, every Friday.

Going to the sports games whenever they could score some tickets.

All the while, I let Helen think I was busy with my cab or at the Lodge, did she ever bother to call?

Never.

Not once.

I knew the Fourth of July was just around the corner, that was the day Steph told me that my own 'independence from Plum Hell' was happening.

Only Stephanie ever knew how much I just wanted to relax in peace and quiet, be alone with just me and the sports channel.

Instead of the weather channel that Edna insisted on watching all the damn time. Not even peace and quiet in my own home, the home I had just gotten the mortgage paid off for. A few years early, thanks to my son in law. The same son in law my own wife never talks to, just like my oldest daughter, both are set in their ways.

On the fourth of July, the whole family got together for a barbeque before the fireworks. After we ate, Carlos and Stephanie joined me in the garage.

Stephanie handed me a key to the mysterious door. The key seems like overkill, but it's more of a symbolic touch. Nobody's getting past the fingerprint and retina scanners.

I quickly unlocked it and looked inside. Instead of the rickety old stairway from the kitchen, the new stairs were carpeted and plush. They didn't make a sound as I walked down and turned on the lights.

I stood with my mouth hanging open at the sight. My new basement was the size of the entire house. The old stairs were taken out, and a wall was put up, covering up the old entrance.

The sitting area had my own poker table. There was a mini fridge stocked with beer. The leather recliner looked like it was built for me.

The sleeping area was partitioned off, but open to the widescreen TV that hung on the opposite wall, where you could watch it from either side of the room. Ranger showed me another one of Hector's little gifts. If you press a button that they added to the TV remote, you can see everything that's going on in the house. Apparently he installed cameras everywhere, mostly near places Helen likes to hide her liquor.

I opened one of the small doors, and dropped to my knees in gratitude. My own bathroom.

I went to my daughter and son in law, and enveloped them in a huge hug. Tears were staining my cheeks as I told them, "This is the best day of my life!"

We got upstairs just in time to go to the fireworks. After the show, I gave my daughter another hug. When I had her in my arms, I whispered, "Thank you pumpkin." Much louder, I said, "You're the best girl a father could hope for."

She kissed my cheek and said, "I love you, daddy."

I turned to Carlos and did one of those man hugs. So that everyone could hear, I told him, "Thank you for making my baby girl so happy, Son."

Helen took another hit from the travel mug that wasn't fooling anyone.

Val and "Cuddle-umpkins" looked like they didn't know what language I was speaking.

When we got back to the house, Helen asked me if I was going to bed.

"Nope. I'm headed for the garage."

"The garage? Frank, what will the neighbors think?"

I don't know about the housewives around here, but I know all the husbands will want to come over for poker night. All I said to Helen was, "They'll think it's Independence Day!"