I was amazed at what Babe had been able to put together in just two weeks. She had snagged a great venue due to a last minute cancellation by a couple who double booked locations. True to her word Stephanie had kept it had simple. Invitations to the point pleasant beach front wedding had been sent through text message, social media or email. Two elegant tents were set up on the beach, one for dining the other for dancing. Rows of white chairs lined each side of the aisle.
I stood at the arbor with the officiant waiting for my bride. The khaki colored relaxed fit linen suit Stephanie had picked out for me was paired with a light blue silk tie. I wore a single breasted vest instead of a jacket over a lightweight crisp white shirt. Babe had insisted we be barefoot on the beach.
The music began to play. Before Stephanie could start down the aisle, a pudgy man with sandy blond hair scurried in front of her.
"Excuse me , oops, pardon me , sorry," Albert Kloughn said as he and his three daughters walked past guest before taking their seats. Strapped to his chest was his infant son who was now wailing. Albert soothed the child and the song "Here comes the Bride" began to play once more.
Stephanie had only taken a few steps down the aisle. She looked gorgeous in the sleeveless ivory colored lace gown that helped minimize her baby bump. The dress had a silk blue sash that matched my tie. Her flowing curls danced over her shoulder and framed her face. Like everything else, Babe had kept her makeup simple by wearing only mascara and red glossy lip color. This was Stephanie Michelle Plum , the woman I met and had fallen in love with in Trenton.
Before she cold get halfway down the aisle another commotion ensued.
"Stop! Wait! Hold on , Stop the Music!" Frank Plum called.
Stephanie turned around to see her father running to join her side. "Daddy?"
" I could not let you get married to the only man you have ever truly loved without walking you down the aisle," He said as he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"That's great, now can we get this show on the road already ?" Edna Mazur yelled.
We stuck to the traditional vows. When we were pronounced Mrs. and Mrs. Manoso , all of the guest stood , cheered, clapped and whistled loudly for several minutes.
Babe waved them all quiet." I know everyone came to see us get married. But this is also about us coming together as a family."
Stephanie brought up all of the girls. She took a large jewelry box from a chair. Babe opened the box. Inside was a gold heart that was cut into five puzzle pieces. Each was attached to a necklace. Stephanie placed one around each girls' neck. Then she had me put a necklace on her. Stephanie picked up remaining puzzle piece and slipped around my neck. The chain was heavier ,not dainty like the one girls wore. My puzzle piece was more masculine but still fit in with the rest.
"I would like you all to meet our daughters. This is Julie Manoso, Angel Manoso and Zahira Manoso, each are a part of our family. In a few months there will be two more little Manoso," she said as she smoothed her gown over her belly.
Again everyone cheered and clapped.
"look at you batman, I see my girl got you out of uniform today," Lula said with a smile.
There was something different about her. She was calmer and her personality was little more grounded.
"Lula, you are looking good," I said as I took in her new slimmer figure.
She was by no means skinny. Lula had maintained her curvy physique ,but now she was a learner healthy version of her voluptuous shelf. She was wearing a brightly colored sundress that showed some cleavage with a full skirt that showed off her legs but left something to the imagination. The outfit was finished off with a pair of bright red heels. Lula wore her hair straight and down past her shoulder in layers. In true Lula form, her hair was black with purple streaks.
A large man walked over to Lula and put his arm around her possessively.
"Hey, Manoso you better not be over here puttin the move on my wife. I know she's sexy, but she is all mine," He joked.
"Bunchy, long time no see." "You still working as a Treasury agent?" I asked.
He had a boy with him that appeared to be around three-years-old, maybe a little older.
"Hi there, what's your name?" I asked.
"I this many," the boy said holding up his index finger. I looked at Lula and raised an eyebrow.
"Nope, he ain't lyin the boy will be two this in a few months. He is just big," She explained.
"Big is not the word that little guy is built like a …."
"Tank. Yes just like his daddy. We made this little the night before Tank went off to England." Lula said with a sad smile.
I stood there in shock. I was speechless and had no idea what to say.
"Nobody told me, "I blurted out.
"Well, too not many people knew. Me and Steph did not keep in touch while she was bouncing around the country looking for a home with Robin. I was in a bad way after I lost Tank. Then I ended like one of those crazy people on that TV show, "I didn't even know I was pregnant". I thought I had just ate a bad burrito. The pain got worse and worse. When I went to the hospital they told me I was having a baby. I was like who is having a what, uh un this must be a mistake," Lula explained.
Stephanie walked over to join us. When she saw Lula she gave her a huge hug that lasted for several minutes.
"Wow, you look amazing Lula. How did you do it?" Stephanie asked.
"You would be surprised how much weight you can lose chasing a kid around. Kids are great for weight loss on account of, if I wanted little Lorenzo to eat his veggie,I had to eat mine too. And you can't feed no baby Cluck in a Bucket chicken. So I had to learn to grocery shop and eat at home."
"Baby?" Stephanie said as she gave me a confused look.
"Oh yeah white girl, meet Lorenzo my son," Lula told Stephanie.
"Lorenzo this here is your auntie Stephanie."
A hurt look showed on Babes' face, "You had a baby and didn't tell me?"
"Girl, get that look off your face on your wedding day. It wasn't like were not going through your own drama. What was I going to do, call you and say hey Steph, a baby just fell out of my who-ha and I had no idea I was even pregnant. I knew you had your own stuff to worry about."
"Lula that's no excuse. You know I would have been there for you," Stephanie whined.
"I know girl, I'm sorry. But I just didn't want you to drop everything and run to me. That's the kind of friend you are Stephanie."
" Lorenzo was Tank's father's name right?," I said to Lula.
"Sure was."
Bunchy cleared his throat loudly from behind Lula.
"Oh yeah, and I married Bunchy a few months ago." Lula laughed.
Babe smiled at Lula , "Are you happy?" she asked.
Lula shook her head yes , "Then I'm happy for you!"
"Now let's get this toast out of the way so we can eat," Babe said.
Stephanie stood at the front of the dining tent on a small stage next to two easels covered with clothes as she tapped a glass to get everyone's attention.
"I need you all to grab a glass of champagne. Don't worry this sparkling cider," Babe said holding up her glass.
Every one of you has been there with me and Ranger from the very beginning, waiting for us to make it official. You all cheered us on and rooted for our relationship. Now that we have finally done it, I know you all are as happy as we are. Eddy, Carl, Big Dog ,I am going to need you to tell me who won this pool over at the police station because I am collecting a cut. I want to make a toast to family, friends, and food, Stephanie said as she held her glass high in the air. Cheers everyone! The whole room raised their glasses and toasted along with her.
"Hold on, we are not done yet," Stephanie announced. As much as I love you all and am glad to have you her to share this happy occasion with those closest to us , there is something missing. The two men in our lives who would have been the happiest to see Ranger and I married are no longer with us. Tank Sherman and Bobby Brown were two terrific men and I miss them both every day," Babe said as voice quivered with tears in her eyes.
I walked over to the small stage and stood next to her taking her hand in mine. Babe pulled the covers off the easels to reveals two large collages with pictures of Bobby and Tank taken over the years.
Let take the time to remember our dear friends who brought us so much warmth, joy, laughter ,love and oh so many good times. Bobby had always dreamed of becoming a doctor ,he never got the chance to finish that dream. In his honor, Range man has established the Robert Brown scholarship. One student a year will be awarded a full scholarship to the medical school of their choice.
When Babe finished her speech she collapsed in my arm and sobbed. After she was done crying I took a handkerchief from my pant's pocket and wiped the tears and runny mascara from Stephanie's face. She looked at me and my clothing and shook her head.
"Look at you, how do you do it? There is not a single wrinkle or wet spot on you," she laughed. "Come on let's go grab a plate and get to the buffet. "
As I perused the buffet I had to laugh. The menu was meatball sliders from Pino's, mini club sandwiched , chili cheese dogs , coleslaw, fried chicken ,potato salad and several kinds of pizza.
"Babe, is this pizza from Shorties?" I asked.
"Yes, it is and they will cater a cocktail party if you ask."
We sat down to eat and watched our girls mingle with the family and the rest of the guest. Edna Mazur twirled Angel around in her arms playfully. Julie and Zahira sat with Lula and Bunchy laughing.
After we finished our meal it was time to cut the cake. A waiter rolled out what looked like a large multi-tiered cake made of donuts. The cake topper was Batman and wonder woman bobblehead set.
"Donuts , Babe".
Stephanie shrugged and gave me a smile.
As Babe sat at the table licking Boston cream from her fingers, a tall African American woman timidly approached us. She had dark hair and kind brown eyes. The woman appeared to be in her early fifties but was still elegantly beautiful. I had seen this lady before but could not place her.
"Excuse me, Stephanie", she said with a smile.
"Yes, what can I do for you?"
"I'm Amelia Brown. I hope you don't mind me crashing your wedding. But when some of the guys from Range man , Bobby friends that I have kept in touch, told me about it, I had to come.
"Mrs. Brown nice to see," I told Bobby's mother. "Babe this is Bobby's mom!"
"Good to see you to Ranger."
Amelia took both of Babes' hands in her own, then kissed her on the cheek. "It is so good to finally meet you. Bobby loved you! He was an only child. And from the time he could talk, until he graduated from high school, Bobby would ask me for a sister. One day he called me and announced he now had a sister. Then he proceeded to tell me all about the Bomb Shell Bounty Hunter. Every time he called, Bobby would have a story about his Bomber as he called you. That boy worried about you. He would say to me, mommy, she going to get herself hurt bad out there. You should have heard all the ways he came up with to get you to train with him. Everything from tricking you to bribing to low-level extortion. He never had the heart to go through with any of it," Amelia laughed.
Babe sat there speechless. Then she started to cry. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. He was your only child and I …."
"Don't you dare finish that sentence. It was not your fault, you were not the one who shot him!" Mrs. Brown said firmly as she smiled at Stephanie. "Enough with the tears, when do we get to dance ?"
"Right now," Babe said.
We headed over to the other tent and that cued the D.J. to start the music. Everyone hit the dance floor. Albert Kloughn danced with all three his daughter and his son still strapped to his chest. Babe made her way over to the group and joined in.
"Hey, Stephanie. Val could not come. The doctor has her on bed rest. This pregnancy has been rough on her." Albert explained.
"Again, when are you two going to give it a rest?"
Grandma Mazur was busy dancing with all the Rangemen while they tried to keep from being pinched.
Ten minutes later, I heard Lula squeal as Ram and Connie walked in arm and arm. Stephanie rushed over to the pair. All three women held hands and bounced around like school girls. Babe led Connie over to meet our girls. Soon Mary Lou joined the group.
Ram walked over and clapped me on the back. "Bout time man."
"So you and Connie, how long has this been going on?" Ram gave me a smirk and refused to answer.
The D.J. started to play one of Babe's favorite songs. She grabbed me by the hand and took me out on the dance floor. Connie and Ram,along with Lula, Mary Lou and their husbands joined us. After a few dances, someone tapped me on my hip. I looked down and Randy Briggs as was talking to me.
"I need Stephanie to step outside for a minute. I brought some friends who want to see her, but they can be kind of messy so I didn't want to bring them inside,"Briggs said.
We followed Briggs outside of the tent and there sat two small chihuahuas alongside Bob. He pranced and ran to Babe when he saw her. She bent down hugged the dog while he nuzzled her neck. Stephanie tossed a ball for Bob to fetch that Randy had brought. Bob whimpered happily as he played with Babe.
"Okay, that's enough. I have to get him back before Morelli finds out he is gone from the yard,"Briggs announced.
Stephanie's eyes went wide, "You stole Bob !"
"Stole, borrowed , I thought you would like to see him," Randy said as he put Bob's leash on his collar.
"Like, that little dude is still crazy," Mooner said as he exited the dining tent with a mug full of frothy beer. Duggie was right behind him with a glass of his own.
"Ranging kegger Steph. Thanks for the invite. Want a sip?" he said offering her his mug of beer.
"No thanks," Babe told him as she ran her hand over her baby bump.
"Dude like it's swimsuit season. She doesn't want to add to the beer belly she is already sporting," Mooner suggested.
"So what have you two been up to?" Babe asked while trying not to laugh.
"We moved to Portland to open up a Marijuana shop. It's legal there. But we both had criminal records so they would not give us a permit. So we set up a snack shop next door to a Marijuana shop. We still deal chips and tasty cake. I make more off those guys with the munchies than I would selling weed," Mooner joked.
When me and Steph walked back into the tent, the DJ was playing the song "Thinking out loud" by ED Sheeran. There was love at every stage on the dance floor. We watched Julie dance with Clark ,alongside Ella and Luis. Frank Plum tipped his hat to Amelia brown before asking her to dance. I took Babes' hand and joined everyone else on the dance floor. Mooner and Dougie looked for a woman to dance with. When the could not find one they danced with each other.
Hours later Babe and I left the party early to get to the honeymoon that I had planned.
I opened the door to the turbo for Babe. After I closed the passengers side door I angled behind the wheel.
"Where are we going Mr. Manoso," Babe asked?
"Haywood Street, Ella has prepared a lovely honeymoon suite on Seven for us. It's complete with Bulgari , and Tasty Kakes Mrs. Manos. "
Babe smiled and put her hand on my thigh. "I always did love your Apartment."
Author's Notes :Thank you all for reading and leaving such incredible feed back. I appreciate all of those who patiently continued to read this story even with all of the mistakes and allowed me grow and improve. I know I am still not there yet and my chapter are not perfect ,but I am working on it. This is the last chapter before the epilogue. So did you love hate tell me what think. BTW, I have gone back through the story and done some editing.
