A big thank you to Margaret for deeming this good to go. And another big thank you for all the reviews. I know I've been tardy about PM-ing my thanks but I really appreciate each and every one of them. Thank you.

Chapter 29

Ranger's POV

I was really proud of my daughter. Not only was she selflessly prepared to use some of her savings for a bridal shower for Stephanie, who she barely knows, but she'd already bought invitations, which told me that she was serious about going through with this. Rachel and Ron had raised her well. I can't take credit for anything more than half her genetic makeup and the fact that she looks like a fairer, female version of me.

I didn't want her spending any of her hard-earned baby-sitting money on a party but I also didn't want to hurt her pride. I had a feeling Julie could be as stubborn as I am and refuse to accept any help. I hoped another call to Rachel could rectify this.

Unfortunately, my cell rang before I had that chance to call my ex.

"Ranger. Dad. It's Julie. Listen, I was just going to write out these invitations and I realized I don't know where you and Steph are registered."

"Registered?"

"You know, for gifts. Couples pick out their china pattern and glassware and stuff they need and they register with a department store so they get the things they really want instead of 9 crystal vases."

"We haven't done that. I'll ask Ella to look into it. Can I get back to you this afternoon?"

"It has to be stuff you want. You can't let your housekeeper take care of this. You and Steph need to go to someplace like Dillard's, like now, and pick out a china pattern. The people in the registry office can help you."

She had this down. Was she really only fourteen?

"We don't have a Dillard's here. Will Macy's work?"

"Yes, just do it. I'm going to write on the invitations that you're registered at Macy's, so you better go to Macy's. Seriously dad, now. Time is ticking away."

My daughter seemed to have some very persuasive powers. "Ok. I'll call Steph and we'll go to Macy's this afternoon." And was I really agreeing to this?

"Sooner rather than later," she continued. "I'll call Steph, too. I know you get busy and I don't want you to forget about this. It's important, dad."

And did I just get lectured?

"Enough, Julie," I told her before she had a chance to continue her tirade. "I understand that you think this is important. And we will get to Macy's, but how do you think you'll get Steph to agree to this without giving away your intentions?"

"Um," she said, pausing for a second to consider her options. "I didn't think that far in advance. I know, I'll call Ella. Can you give me her cellphone number?"

Oh boy. With the two of them in cahoots this could go any which way. But, against my better judgment, I did just that. I gave Julie Ella's number.

Once I disconnected from Julie, I called Steph. She really needed to know about this.

"Babe," I said when she answered. I know my one-word salutations and responses drive her crazy but it popped out anyway. "I just got off the phone with Julie. She's insisting we head over to Macy's now to register."

"Register?"

She had the same one-word response that I did.

"She said we need to pick china patterns and glassware for your shower so we don't get 9 cut-crystal vases."

"Ugh. I thought people would get me negligees and sexy underwear that I could wear on our honeymoon…"

"Julie says that registering for stuff, as she put it, is the way to go, but if you want to try to convince her otherwise…"

"Then she'll know that I know. We can play this her way. When do you want to do this?"

"Julie was insisting that we needed to get to Macy's this afternoon and she said it had to be Macy's because she was putting that on her invitations."

"Pretty assertive kid, I wonder where she gets it from?"

Obviously me.

"Les and I have a lead on Littlefield. I suppose I could back-burner going to talk to him so we can get to the mall today..."

"This afternoon," I interrupted, "Julie says time is ticking away..."

"She didn't?"

"She did. And she's going to call Ella so they can come up with a way to get you and I to the mall ASAP to pick out things we like and set up this registry." And postponing Littlefield wouldn't be such a bad idea.

"Oh no. Ella, too?"

"Afraid so."

"Ok. What were your plans for the day?"

"Other than the mall? I suppose I can turn everything else over to Tank. And I hope he understands the importance of bridal showers to fourteen-year-old girls."

"Doubt it. How about you take me to Pinos for lunch and then we can go shopping?"

"How can you even think about food when time is of the essence?" I joked with her.

"If we don't feed the beast I'll just choose any old thing to get us out of there so I can go to the food court. It's Pinos or Popeye's."

"Pinos it is. I'm in my office, I'll meet you in the garage in ten."

I was locking my desk drawer when the intercom buzzed. It was Ella, and since the intercom isn't portable I was going to be late meeting Steph in the garage.

"Hi Ella. Hold on a sec." I multi-tasked and sent a change of plans to Stephanie while I listened to Ella.

"I just got off the phone with Julie. She's really something. She's got the next few weeks all figured out and was trying to line up my help in getting you and Steph to Macy's today."

I couldn't stop smiling. Ella was right, Julie really was something else. Steph walked in at this point so I put the intercom on speaker while Ella continued.

"Since we both know that this shower isn't a secret from Steph I agreed to go along with her plan. Want to hear it?"

"Steph's here and I've got you on speaker. Of course we want to hear it. If it's any good, maybe I'll give her a job in sales at Rangeman next summer."

"Yeah, and I think she'd surprise you — that kid's been reading bridal magazines. Anyway, she wants me to call Steph, now, and tell her that I've set up this registry for you and already pulled some samples for your approval.

"She said she was going to call Macy's in Quaker Bridge right after we got off the phone and set up the account so I really didn't have to do anything. She also thinks you'd like Thomas and Vera Wang china and wants the registry to pull samples for you to inspect when you come in this afternoon. Oh, and how am I supposed to get the two of you there? She's making an appointment for 2:00, in my name, for the two of you to come in. I just hope this all works out as she's planned and a 2:00 slot today will work for the store. I'll let her set it up and then I'll call Macy's to see if we need to adjust the schedule. That daughter of yours can be quite determined."

"So I've learned," I told Ella, looking over at Steph who was smiling and shaking her curls in disbelief.

"Well I guess we can have a long lunch then," she told me, glancing at the time on her phone. "It's only 12:15."

"That is, if she actually gets that appointment," Ella chimed in. "I'll call now. Sit tight, I'll call you right back."

"Call my cell," I told her, "I need to get some food into Steph before we hit the mall or all we'll see is the food court. We're going to Pinos."

Steph's POV

"I thought Julie was cute the other day when she was determined to throw me a shower. Now I'm not so sure if 'cute' is the right word. She's becoming a little obsessive with this, don't you think?"

"I do, and I was planning to call Rachel. Initially my call was to be about funding for this party but now I'm thinking we need to get Julie to back off a bit. It's all well and good that she's happy for us and wants to show her delight by doing something nice for you but as you said, she becoming a little OCD. Is that normal teenage behavior?"

"I jumped off a roof when I was almost 13, hoping I could fly, so you can't go by me."

"I think you just wanted to get away from your mother. Rachel and Ron are great parents. I have a feeling this OCD gene is my fault."

"Your compulsion is to keep me safe; Julie wants to rule the world."

"So did I. I got over that in the army. Maybe she needs to go away to boarding school."

"Carlos, that's not fair. You can't take her away from her friends and family because she's a little over-enthusiastic. I think this is the first time she's ever undertaken a big challenge and she just wants to get it right. Let's let this play out before we do anything rash. But I would call Rachel and offer to pay for the party. I don't want Julie spending her money on me. It's enough that she's doing all the organizing. Weren't you the one that told me, time is money?"

"Something like that. But I do see your point; her behavior probably is part of the growing process. I'll ask Maria about it, she's got two girls."

"We can call Val right now. Angie and Julie are the same age, although I don't think if Angie were a bridesmaid she would even think to organize a shower. She's a mini Val but she's just not that mature. And holy shit, I just thought of something. We promised Julie she could be a bridesmaid; I never asked Val's kids."

"Julie is my daughter; I think that gives her priority status. But if you want to ask Angie and Mary Alice you better be a little more organized than I'm getting married 'someday'. I don't think their Burg upbringing will be too cool with that."

"They're California kids. And besides the only reason I've agreed to do this shower thing now is because Julie goes back to school in two weeks."

And of course, now I wondered if Julie had even invited my nieces to this party.

"Carlos? Do you think Julie's invited MA and Angie? Can you call her and find out? And maybe ask to include them? I think they'd be disappointed if they weren't invited. I mean, I didn't specifically call them out on my list so it's kind of my fault."

"I'll talk to my mother. She's the one making the phone calls."

With that, he pulled out his phone and placed a call to Gloria. I saw him smile after only a few words were exchanged.

"All taken care of, Babe. My mother called Valerie this morning and extended the invitation to the two older girls. They've already accepted."

With that taken care of, my stomach decided to let itself be heard. It growled loudly, which got a 100-watter out of Carlos.

"You never fail to disappoint. Let's go feed that beast."

Ella's POV

At first I was a little apprehensive about letting Steph and Ranger in on my conversation with Julie. I didn't want her father to discourage her; she was really brave for someone so young. I felt that I did the right thing though. I didn't candy coat our talk, I just stated it as a fact. And it seemed to go over well.

I gave Julie another ten minutes to get through to the bridal registry department at Macy's and then I placed my call.

"This is Ella Guzman. I believe my goddaughter just called, using my name, to set up a registry for Stephanie Plum and Carlos Manoso. I hope she hasn't inconvenienced you. She's quite a determined young girl."

"Yes, Mrs. Guzman, this is Lia Campanella, the head registrant here. I just got off the phone with your goddaughter. And you're right about her determination. Fortunately we were able to accommodate her, and you're all set for 2:00 today."

"Thank you and I'm sorry if she was a little forceful. It's her dad that's getting married and she's over-excited about it."

"I love hearing that determination in young people. So many are so laissez-faire these days. She'll do well in life."

I had a feeling she would, too. I thanked Ms. Campanella, felt bad that I lied about Julie's relationship to me but let it go, and hung up.

I'd promised Ranger that I would let him know the outcome, so instead of heading down to 5 to replenish the lunch sandwiches, I called him back.

"Julie did good and set up the appointment. You're all set."

"Thanks Ella. We'll be there at 2."

I knew they would and I felt such a sense of relief.