Oracle 12: No Remorse, Whatsoever
Everyone in Pino's freezes the moment Valerie's open palm smacks into Joseph A. Morelli's already bruised face. Saint Valerie, Stephanie Plum's elder sister, the beautiful, perfect blonde who overshadows all Burg girls like the sun outshines zillions of stars, then spits on his face before calmly morphs back into the 183-pound mom of 4 girls, says thank you politely and takes her three take-out pizzas from the stunned waitress behind the counter, and walks out of Pino's as if nothing has ever happened. One by one, the police officers, the firefighters, the EMTs, other diners from the Burg and the owner start to clap their hands. Without a word, Morelli turns and takes his leave. He'll have to go get some fast food for brunch. He's no longer welcome in his favorite pizza place.
Words not only travel faster but are also much more powerful than nuclear missiles here in Trenton. He didn't have a chance to close his eyes and get some sleep after the fiasco because of the endless calls from his upset mother and female relatives. He is also not welcome in Stephanie's favorite bakery any more. None of his neighbors (especially the four old ladies who helped pick up and put all Stephanie's rain-soaked belongings into new, unbroken plastic bags) talked, nodded or even recognized his existence this morning. Just like his colleagues. Both Eddie and Carl got to punch him twice before being pulled back by fellow officers. And someone grabbed the last two doughnuts the second he reached out for them.
Joseph A. Morelli watches Valerie Kloughn drive away, and suddenly realizes he has never really loved Stephanie Plum. Yes, she's fun and cute and good in bed, but she's never the girl he really wants. He's been always wanting a girl like Valerie. He wants a girl who can cook, clean, sew on a button and iron. He wants a girl who knows to stay safely away from the dangerous world and all those crazy criminals outside. He wants a girl who wants to have babies and can't wait to become a perfect housewife. He wants a girl who never dreams for the impossible and realizes human being can't fly. He stands all alone in the parking lot, think about all the time he wasted on the wrong girl, and finally blows out a defeated sigh.
He should have broken up with her a long time ago.
