AU. Steph and Ranger move from Miami to re-establish Rangeman headquarters in Trenton and to be close to family. An old acquaintance disappears and they soon find themselves involved in a global mystery.
I wish to apologize in advance for any errors. Thank you all for your reviews it keeps me inspired. I will continue to post a Chapter or two daily until this story is complete.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA! Enjoy your 4th of July weekend.
Chapter 10 - Dr. No
Carlos arranged to meet with Grandma Mazur, Val, Ella and his mom at Steph's old apartment, which is now Grandma Mazur's place. Grandma told her stud to leave for a couple of hours because Carlos wanted privacy. As the ladies sat in the living room they could see Ranger was clearly distressed.
Carlos looked pleadingly at the women, "I need your help. You are all aware of the circumstances regarding Steph's birth." They affirmatively nodded their heads.
"Steph wanted to know everything she could about her birth mother. Our Paris office obtained her original birth certificate. It appears Steph was a twin." Gasps are heard from the ladies. "We are assuming that Steph's mom hooked up with a couple of soldiers but didn't know which one was the father. A baby was sent to each man. Stephanie was sent to Frank and Stephan to Herb Bowen. Mr. Bowen passed away a couple of years ago. Here is a picture of Herb and one of Frank. It's obvious who's the daddy. We had our lawyer contact Stephan regarding some outstanding issues with his father's estate and that his presence was required in Trenton. I paid for his airfare and will put him up at Rangeman for the time being."
"Stephan was serving as a missionary in Brazil and is a carpenter by trade. He will arrive 2:00 pm today. I need your help in telling Steph. Frankly, I don't know how she will react. Val I know this is rough on you also. Val nodded her head and leaned into Grandma Mazur."
"Val stated honestly, "The sad part, is this information probably won't change the way Steph is treated by our parents."
Ella clasped her hands in prayer and said, "Carlos, put Steph and her brother in the conference room. Leave their original birth certificates on the table and let them communicate and work it out."
Maria agreed, "They don't need any bystanders or outside pressures. If they have any questions they can call and get answers."
Grandma Mazur said, "This is a happy occasion. Steph and Val will get a brother and Stephan will get two sisters, three nephews and four nieces. Parentage doesn't matter, its what's in your heart. I have a feeling Stephan has a good heart."
The triplets were sitting on the couch in the family room coloring until their dad arrives. Steph sat across from the boys drinking coffee. The boys noticed their mother's twitchiness. The brothers looked at each other in understanding.
AJ asked very calmly while continuing to color, "Mom where are we going?"
Steph responded, "With your dad."
AJ asked again very calmly, "Where?"
Sighing, Steph relented and told them they had a doctor's appointment. The boys loved going to the doctor, dentist, or hospital. Their mother however was a nervous wreck whenever near a doctor. Their dad told the boys to give their mom lots of love, comfort, and control. She hates when unfamiliar people touch them. Their doctors in Florida refused to let her in their office unless she took a Valium.
Their daddy and Uncle Bobby arrived and asked if they were ready for their doctor's appointment. The boys nodded yes. BJ asked his Uncle Bobby if he had his mom's medication. Bobby laughed and Steph rolled her eyes, "Yes I have it in my pocket." They all climbed into the SUV for a first time visit with their new pediatrician. Dr. Norman was a referral from their Florida pediatrician.
Carlos walked in first with the boys. Steph and Bobby bought up the rear. All conversations stopped when the Manoso men entered the room. Women wet their panties and ignored their kids. The man was gorgeous and the boys were off the charts. It took a moment before the receptionist had the presence of mind to ask Carlos to sign-in. Stephanie found some seats in the waiting room. The woman beside her leaned over and whispered, "You are a lucky woman a gorgeous husband and heartbreakingly handsome boys."
"Thank you I agree."
Dr. Norman's staff was tripping over themselves to be the ones that waited on the Manosos. The boys were finally called to the exam area, one triplet per exam room. Carlos and Steph sat outside the exam rooms with all doors open in each room.
Dr. Norman introduced himself to Bobby, Carlos, and Steph. The doctor and Bobby discussed the boy's care over the phone along with the expectations from his staff and office. Most importantly Bobby would be present during this initial examination. He is the boy's uncle and have been overseeing their care since birth.
The well-behaved and courteous boys charmed the nurses. Dr. Norman saw CJ first.
"Hello I'm Doctor Norman, should I call you Carlos or CJ?"
"Hello, you can call me CJ. My dad is Carlos."
"Great CJ do you have any problems you need to tell me about before I start my exam?"
"No sir."
"I'm going to listen to your heartbeat then your lungs." He then checked CJ's mouth, eyes, ears, reflexes and hernia. Dr. Norman asked CJ did he know how to use the potty.
"Yes sir. Can my brothers and I call you Dr. No, like in James Bond?"
Scratching notes on CJ's chart, "Sure CJ, I kind of like that. Do you have trouble sleeping at night?"
"Sometimes when I hear mommy scream, then BJ wakes up when he hears daddy roar, but we know they are okay because one night AJ checked on them and Grandma Mazur said that was how they praised Jesus. That mommy and daddy was filled with the spirit.
Bobby couldn't wait to tell Tank and Lester this tidbit. Dr. No turned his head to chuckle. His nurse looked at CJ's parents. Steph was red and Carlos looked at her with a full on smile. She praised Jesus herself in the exam room.
"What do you like to eat?"
CJ giggled and said, "I like beans and rice."
"What types of games do you like?"
"I like puzzles, reading, seeing who can cannonball the farthest in the pool and flight simulator."
"CJ, I am really impressed by your vocabulary are you going to school?"
"No my brothers and I will attend preschool this fall for half a day."
"Well CJ you are in excellent health but to keep you from getting sick you need a shot."
"No problem."
"Do you have any questions for me?"
"Yes, can I listen to my heartbeat, check your ears, eyes, and throat and hold your bolas while you look to the side and cough?"
"You can do everything accept touch my cough, cough bolas."
"Oh so it's like that. Don't you touch my bolas again," he said loudly.
Steph appeared at the door with a look so deadly Dr. No was about to shit his pants. Bobby quickly explained to Steph what was going on. She eventually calmed down. Bobby explained to his nephew why Dr. No refused. CJ accepted the explanation and stood up to shake Dr. No's hand.
On the way to see AJ, Bobby related to Dr. No how the Florida doctors wouldn't allow Steph in their office on shot days unless she was medicated. She tended to cause a scene and they couldn't get any work done afterwards.
"Dr. No repeated the same exam on AJ." These little guys are too cute. Mr. Manoso is blessed with a gorgeous wife and healthy sons.
Dr. Norman asked AJ did he know how to use the potty.
"Yes sir."
"Do you have trouble sleeping at night?"
"Sometimes when I hear mommy scream…"
Dr. No quickly interrupted, "Anytime besides when you hear your mom and dad?"
AJ shook his head no.
"What do you like to eat?"
AJ giggled and said, "I like beans and rice."
CJ and AJ's giggles had him curious but he let it go. "What types of games do you like?"
"I like puzzles, seeing who can cannonball the farthest, reading and medical stuff."
"AJ do you get upset when people can't tell you or your brothers apart?"
"No sir, my mom, dad, sister, and brothers all wear family bracelets with our name engraved. Everyone knows to ask or look at the bracelet. AJ fiendishly smiles unless we switch them. Mom, dad, Julie and abuela Ella can tell us apart without the bracelets."
The doctor switches to Spanish and tells AJ, "You are in excellent health young man but to keep you from getting sick you need a shot."
"Increible!"
The conversation continued in Spanish, "Do you have any questions for me?"
AJ answered in Spanish, "Yes, can Miss Beth give me the shot in my butt. It's kind of flat I want it to plump up like dad and my uncles. I don't want an inflatable butt like those TV sisters. Although it would be fun to bounce around on my butt." AJ grabs Beth's hand and tenderly kisses it while giving her his most charming look, "Please."
Dr. No replies, "Sure AJ, Do your brothers speak Spanish as well as you."
"Yes Sir."
"This kid is dangerous. I don't want him anywhere near my sixteen year old daughter."
Finally he reaches BJ to find Dr. Kelley speaking to him and asking about his dad.
Dr. No asks, "Where is Carrol my assistant."
BJ replied pointing to Dr. Kelley, "She sent Miss Carrol away so that she could ask me questions about my dad and is he happy with my mom."
Dr. Kelley was the office's popular girl. She had her eyes out for any successful looking man, including one of our married partners. I think it's time for both doctors to go.
Carrol was waiting outside the exam room keeping an eye on BJ. She wouldn't put it past that slut to attack the son in full view of the parents.
For the third time he gave a physical exam to a Manoso. He bypassed the potty question.
"Do you have trouble sleeping at night at anytime, besides when you hear your mom and dad?
"No sir."
"What do you like to eat?"
BJ laughed outright and said, "I like beans and rice."
He had to ask. "Why do you and your brothers like beans and rice?"
BJ leaned close and whispered so that Uncle Bobby couldn't hear, "Don't tell our parents but it causes my family to fart."
Chuckling, "What type of games do you like BJ?"
"I like puzzles, reading and math."
"No cannonball?"
"Yes sir, that's a lot of fun."
The doctor tells BJ, "You are in excellent health young man but to keep you from getting sick you need a shot."
"Wow! Can you close the door when you give it to me? I don't want my mother to see me."
"It's okay to cry in front of your mom you don't have to be brave."
"Oh I won't cry it's my mom she will cry or pass out. Then she will attack you and your nurses. Our doctor's in Florida made my dad give her a pill so she could mellow out."
"Do you have any questions for me?"
"Yes, my dad will take us elsewhere if Dr. Kelley is here during our next visit. He will ask me what happened and I will tell him and my mom the truth when we get home. Mom may come back this afternoon. You should warn Dr. Kelley."
Dr. No left BJ and went to his office to consult with Bobby and the boy's parents.
"Mr. and Mrs. Manoso your boys are healthy and extremely smart. CJ asked if he could call me Dr. No and I gave my approval." Steph laughed Dr. No was perfect. "I was surprised that they were bilingual. They tell me that they will be going to pre-school for half days in the fall."
Carlos replied, "Thank you and yes, we want them to interact with other kids their age to develop their own identity."
"Excellent! There was an incident involving one of our doctors before BJ's exam. She asked BJ inappropriate questions about you Mr. Manoso and your marriage. The doctor's name is Kelley…Dr. Kelley. She will be reprimanded."
Steph stood to excuse herself, "Dr. Norman please continue discussing the boys health with Carlos. I need to use the restroom." Steph excused herself to look for Dr. Kelley. She found Dr. Slut in the children's waiting area trying to get information from her sons.
Everyone was watching Steph listen to Dr. Kelley grill her kids on their dad. The boys ignored her. "Are you boys listening to me?"
Finally BJ stood and looked Dr. Kelley in the eye. "Dr. Kelley my daddy loves my mommy. He has women trying to get with him all the time through us. The same goes for my mommy, who has guys trying to get with her. This is our first visit to this office so you may be unaware that my mom is extremely dangerous when someone tries to go after my dad. For your sake stop and forget about my dad."
"Oh, I am sure I can make your dad very happy."
BJ looked beyond Dr. Kelley and said, "Mom I tried to warn her."
"I know sweetie." Dr. Kelley froze and turned around to stare at the seething woman. She tried to brazen it out. "Dr. Kelley may I have a word with you in your office."
"I have nothing to say to you."
Steph approached her and grabbed her arm behind her back and said, "Yes you do."
Carlos and Bobby finished the consultation with Dr. No, Bobby headed back to Rangeman and Carlos returned to the waiting room with the boys. He knew what Steph was doing and approved.
Steph was in Dr. Kelley's office for five minutes. No one heard a thing. When Steph opened the door the entire staff, parents, and patients stared at her as she calmly walked to her husband and sons and said, "Lets grab something to eat and go shopping."
Five minutes later Dr. Kelley exited her office looking rattled with a box. "I am tendering my resignation effective immediately." As the entrance door closed behind her Dr. No and the office staff rejoiced. However the nurses got the message loud and clear to not mess with the Manoso men.
Jeanne Ellen had her associates ship Dickie to Peru. She spotted Tank shadowing her this morning and knew she had to lay low for a few days if not longer. It was luck that Stephan was ordered back to the States because of the Zika virus and the upswing of crime in Brazil.
She contacted the hospital in Paris to obtain a copy of Steph and Stephan's original birth certificate. As she was giving the clerk information, the clerk asked is this copy for the brother. The sister's representative from Securite Rangeman obtained a copy a couple of days ago. Jeanne thanked her for the info and said she wouldn't need a copy.
So Steph must have learned about her parentage. I bet anything it was a relief not to be related to Helen. Well it's just a matter of time before she finds out about her brother. Knowing Ranger the brother may already be in Trenton.
Increible – Spanish meaning Awesome
Bolas – Spanish meaning balls
I'm having a difficult time choosing which man is Steph's dad. It will remain ambiguous for a while…any suggestions?
Also, I try to use the name "Carlos" when he is interacting around family and "Ranger" when working or ruthless. I'm getting a little crazy using this format and apologize if you feel the same.
This story will end soon. I have an unfinished story under "The Big Bang Theory" that is bugging me because I have writer's block. I hate leaving a story unfinished.
Thanks again for your reviews.