I sat in the kitchen, sorting the bills on the table into two piles: this paycheck and next paycheck. I knew it needed to be done but honestly, it was the part of adult-hood that I absolutely hated with a passion.

Oh silly me, I have yet to introduce myself to you. I'm called many things like Beautiful, Bomber, Bombshell, Angel, Babe, Little Girl, Wifey, and of course, Cupcake. My name is Stephanie Plum. Or, it use to be; now it's Stephanie Plum-Morelli. Yes, I said Morelli, but please don't hate me. I know, you're wondering how that happened, right? Well, honestly… so am I. So, let me start about eighteen months ago and explain.

I'd been working at RangeMan part time doing searches for the guys. One day, exactly eighteen months ago, I was pulled into a conference room filled with Ranger, Tank, Lester, Bobby, Manny, and Cal. Ranger explained that the six of them had been called up for a mission and they were leaving that night. They didn't know how long they'd be gone, but they promised to be safe and return home as soon as they could.

I went home that afternoon and cried. I don't know why, but it felt like my world as I knew it was about to change. The next morning, I walked into Vinnie's and tried to act like nothing had happened, but the girls knew. They had donuts and Kleenex sitting out for me.

A month passed and I heard from Hal and Woody that the guys had been making their check-ins with no problem. I was thrilled to know they were all okay, but wished they were finally home. While I knew the rest of the guys at RangeMan, I wasn't as close to them as I was the six that left. I missed my guys and I missed their companionship.

Anyway, somehow during the fourth month that the guys were gone, I ended up engaged to Joe. I don't remember how it happened exactly. I mean, I know I was spending more time eating at my parents' house and Joe was there ninety-nine percent of the time. Anytime there was a game on, he and I watched it together. We shared beers every now and again. Then one day, I looked down at my hand, and there was the ring.

My mother and Angie Morelli were thrilled when they found out we were engaged. They started making plans that I had no control over. Joe moved all my stuff from my apartment into his house in one afternoon while I was at work. When I arrived at my apartment that night, there was a note taped to my door: Cupcake, when you come home, you'll find all your belongings. Love, Joe. What the fuck? Home? My belongings? I opened my door and found the apartment bare as the day it was built. Part of me was pissed, but part of me knew this day was coming.

I headed over to Joe's, I mean our place, and opened the door. Joe stood there in a towel with a huge grin, "Welcome home, Steph," he said as he kissed me softly. One thing led to another and soon that towel disappeared along with my clothes.

When I woke up in the morning, I noticed marks covering my body in places that could be hidden; he'd been careful not to mark where our parents could see. Rolling over, I saw Joe was still in bed, so I curled up next to him and let my hands wander. Once he was awake, we made the most of the morning.

Things were going well between Joe and me, we'd not had a fight in a long time. He'd call if he was going to be home late and I was able to keep my job at RangeMan. Then one day, we had a visitor… Mama Morelli came to tell us when we were getting married. I didn't like the fact that it had been decided for us, but Joe was like, "Oh come on Steph, now we don't have to do anything other than show up."

So, that's what we did; we showed up to the church ten months to the day after the guys left. Even as I was walking down the aisle, I was telling myself to turn and run; this isn't what I wanted. I didn't love him enough to be married to him. I could feel my life changing and not for the better.

Once the "I do's" were done, I was right… my life changed. I was to become the housewife; quit my jobs and stay at home cooking and cleaning. Never mind that I didn't know how to cook. I turned in my noticed at Vinnie's and RangeMan. Connie and Lula were pissed I was quitting, but understood that it was what was expected.

RangeMan, well, no one there said a word as I handed in my badge, key fob, and uniforms. Woody looked like he wanted to say something, but he kept his mouth shut. Hal nodded to me as I walked to the elevator. Taking one last look around, I pushed the close door button and rode to the garage.

When I arrived at home, Mary Lou was there to help me fix dinner. She was thrilled that I was now a wife and staying at home; something about her and I having more time for each other and more things in common. I adjusted to my new life as well as I could. I never left the house except to go to the grocery.

I'd run into Lula or Connie every once in a while on the streets and they'd give me an update on the guys… still in the wind, no word on when they'd come home. Both girls wished I'd come by the office more, but I couldn't. The last time I did, Joe found out about it and decided to "teach me a lesson" in case I'd thought about returning to work. It was another three weeks before I left the house again… didn't want to explain the bruises to anyone.

As for my family, Mother was excited that I "finally grew up and stopped being an embarrassment." Daddy didn't say a word about my current situation. Not even when he walked me down the aisle of doom. As for Grandma Mazur, she was the only one to ever voice her opinion on the whole marriage. She knew how miserable I was and tried to help me out as much as she could. Unfortunately, just after my four-month anniversary, Grandma passed away in her sleep.

Joe went to the funeral with me, but mostly to make sure that no one from Rangeman approached me. Even though we were married and the core of Rangeman was gone, he was still worried that some of the guys would show up at the funeral. Well, he was right, Hal, Woody, and Hector showed up; but none of them approached me. They just stayed at the back of the funeral home. I wasn't quite sure why they were there; none of them talked to me. They just paid their respects and left.

Shit! Look at the time. I need to get dinner started so it's done when Joe walks through the door. I don't want another lesson on what time dinner is to be on the table. It's summer time and I'd like to wear my tank tops… not more long sleeve shirts.