How Many Kids Do We Have?
Chapter 51
"Ok, Eddie. Thanks," Ranger closed his cell phone.
"Well," Tank was standing next to Ranger in the parking lot of the mall.
Stephanie's birthday was tomorrow and he picked of the necklace from the jewelry store and bracelet he had designed to match.
"Morelli only had a few bruises. He's taking a few days off. Eddie said the chief of police blew his top because Juniak called him over the bad publicity Joe has given the city."
"There has been the help of an innocent four-year old along the way. Do you think Morelli is on his way out?"
"Anything is possible. Let's go to the toy store. I want to replace the dump truck, then we need to pay a visit."
"Lead the way, Boss."
Tank and Ranger came out of Toysrus with more than a dump trunk.
"Christmas isn't for a couple of months, Ranger. You only went in for a dump truck."
"Tank, they're kids, they need toys."
"The detective kit is right up Caden's alley. But, wresting figures for the baby?"
"Cassidy and Grandma watch wrestling at the Plum's so I'm told. When the midget has out his radio controlled truck, I never get to play since he only has one. Little girls need dolls."
"And, Julie needs her own digital camera and new MP3 player. Since when are you the expert on children? I want to play with the Rock'em Sock'em Robots"
"I'm not Tank, I've observed Stephanie. She treats each one as their own person and encourages them."
Tank was shaking his head, "You're whipped."
"No, I'm a family man, now. I'm want to make another call," opening his cell phone. "Mayor Juniak. Carlos Manoso."
"Ranger, I take it you're calling about Morelli."
"Joe, what's the deal with Morelli? He needs to get over Stephanie. He paid a visit to my home last night drunk while I was out of town. Caden and Julie captured him with water balloons and a flying dump truck."
"I thought something had to happen. Frank is so proud of that boy. I talked with the chief about this bad publicity. I would like to see Morelli off the streets and behind a desk until the Sex Scandal blows over," Joe Juniak was laughing. "Poor Frank, Edna gives his headaches. She was nasty looking as a dominatrix."
"That is something that will take a while to forget."
"I'm also hoping that Morelli will accept a temporary assignment in Detroit if he's forced to work a desk job. We have an investigation going on with the Detroit police and they would like one of ours to come there for a few weeks. The chief told me that Morelli has resisted the offer."
"Well, maybe I can convince him some. Thanks."
"Give Stephanie my best. Congratulations. Franks beaming over a new grandchild."
Ranger closed his phone and turned on the ignition of the truck, 'Morelli's been resisting a temporary assignment in Detroit, Tank."
"Let's go convince him to go."
Ranger and Tank rang the bell on Joe's door. They could hear Bob barking.
"Coming."
The door opened and Joe was met with a fist to the nose, knocking him back a few steps.
Joe starting to come at Ranger, but stopped when Tank walked in behind him.
"Stay away from my wife and my children! Stephanie is MINE."
Joe glared at him with a hand over his nose. Blood was dripping.
"This is my house. Get out!"
"That was my house you were banging at last night. I don't need my wife who is pregnant with MY child upset and MY children frightened that something is going to happen to their mother."
"Since when are you the great family man?"
Ranger stared at Joe and it hit him when he became the family man, "The moment Stephanie came home with three children. She gave me the chance to walk away, I chose to stay."
Ranger and Tank turned to leave, Ranger looked back at him,
"You should accept that assignment in Detroit. Quoting someone, 'This town is not big enough for you and Caden.' And thanks."
"For what," Joe was still holding his nose.
"Because you let Stephanie go that night when the two of you broke up in Pino's parking lot. She came to me and I was never letting go. I ended up with two more great children that I couldn't love anymore than if they were ours biologically."
Ranger closed the door and headed to his truck with Tank. He turned towards the townhouse with an unmistakable urge to go home and play with toys.
They came in through the front door with the bags.
"What's all this?" Stephanie said as she and the children were coloring on the dining room table. Cassidy was laying on the table scribbling.
"I was shopping," disappearing into his office to hide the jewelry store bag.
Cassidy and Caden were standing there looking at the bags drooling.
Ranger opened a bag and pulled out the dump truck, "Ta Dah."
"My truck. Thanks."
He handed Cassidy the wrestling figures and she ran over to Stephanie to open them.
"Look we can race now," Ranger showed Caden the radio Porsche.
"Yeah."
Tank took the Rock'em Sock'em Robots out to play.
"Look what I found," Ranger was holding up a book.
"Mommy, It's the duck and the cows! Can we read it?" Caden was jumping up and down.
"Tonight, before bed."
Ranger bought the new book with the Duck on Farmer Brown's farm.
"We can see what he's up to since he's not president," Ranger was laughing.
"It's a little early for Christmas," Stephanie was looking around the once clean living room.
"Babe, kids got to have toys," laughing as his robot knocked the head off Tank's.
Tank was going to leave before dinner, but he sat through Stephanie reading 'Dooby, Dooby, Moo' to the children.
"Farmer Brown could hear 'Dooby, dooby BOING! Fa la, la, la BOING! Whacka, whacka BOING'."
They were all laughing at the animals jumping on the trampoline they won in the talent show.
"Mommy. Duck is so smart. He's funny."
Tank was reading the pig book and the other duck book to the kids while Ranger helped Stephanie make dinner. Julie loved her new digital camera and MP3 player. Ranger was getting a kick out of watching Tank wiping his eyes a couple of times from laughing so much.
"Bombshell, Ranger's right. You find the funniest books to read."
"I think that is one of the best parts of my day reading a bedtime story to them."
"I know I missed it when I was in Boston," Ranger kissed Stephanie. "I missed after the bedtime story the most," whispering in her ear.
