All familiar characters belong to Janet. Mistakes are mine alone.
"Happy Divorce Day!" Edna shouted, as soon as Frank stepped through the front door of her apartment.
As we stood behind him, I cut my eyes to Stephanie to see if my wife had figured out before we got here what Ella and Edna have been whispering about. From her 'Oh shit!' expression only partially hidden by Olivia's head, I'd say she is as shocked as Frank is.
"Grandma, I thought we agreed not to call this get-together that," Valerie said, coming over to us. "Wait a minute, did you lie just so I'd bring the girls tonight?"
"Darn tootin' I did," Edna replied, as my girls walked ahead of me to join the family while I closed the door. "You were threatening to leave my granddaughters at home if I called tonight what it is … a divorce party!"
I almost felt sorry for Valerie, trying to reason with Edna and thinking she has a shot of being successful at it.
"We talked about this. Lisa won't know what this means … but Angie and Mary Alice don't need to see how happy their grandfather is to be away from their grandmother."
"Why not? You didn't mind them seein' how miserable Frank and my daughter were together," Grandma Mazur countered.
I gave her a nod of respect. Edna has a point and she punctured the hell out of the argument with it.
Being a graceful loser, Val turned to face us. "I don't know how you're doing it," she said to Stephanie, "but you are a saint for living under the same roof as her and not going nuts."
"We live on separate floors," my wife answered. "That helps. Plus, Grandma and I tend to agree on the big stuff. I didn't know about tonight's theme, though I should've guessed given how cagey she and Ella have been when I was trying to figure out what they were plotting." My wife cut her eyes to me. "Did you know?"
"About a party to celebrate phase two of Frank's life? Yes. What your grandmother decided to call it? No, but I'm not surprised. She wants to encourage your father and remind him that he did try to salvage what was left of his marriage. Helen brought this outcome on herself."
Since Olivia is a little on the sleepy side, she was content to stay in Steph's arms and just be held while the adults discussed Edna's motives. Olive had her afternoon nap, but we're cutting it close to bath and bedtime now. The second burst of her usual energy was spent playing Hide-and-Seek with Mado, who wasn't aware she was participating in a game with our toddler, and making another round of Slow Cooker stew for Gunny and Mo.
Her participation in executing recipes isn't typically tiring, but the stew is of the chop-and-dump variety so Steph would chop up each ingredient and put it in a bowl for Olivia to carry across the kitchen to me. I would 'put my muscles to use', Steph's words, and lift our daughter up to counter-height repeatedly just so she could dump the bowl contents into a Crockpot. It turned into its own game after the second bowl got emptied.
Since Edna and Frank's game nights happen after dinner, to trick him into attending tonight's 'party' she kept to their usual schedule. Which also means we won't be here for very long. My nieces are doing remote learning in the morning and Valerie sticks to a schedule as fanatically as we do.
Frank still appeared a little shocked to see Valerie's family here along with us. It's been a while since we've all been together in one spot. But he doesn't appear upset about the occasion as he talked fish and arcade games with Mary Alice and countries he's visited with Angie. I didn't think he'd backslide in his recovery, but tonight proved it. Whatever Helen may try to do in the future, she's going to be facing a different Frank than the one she's always known.
"You know, our life reads like total fiction," Steph whispered to me. "No one would believe this or us."
I pressed my lips to her temple before doing the same to our baby's. "It's good fiction at least."
That got a grin out of her. "The best."
Edna raised a glass of champagne and almost cracked the glass when she hit a fork against it to get everyone's attention.
"Quick yackin' and let's get to snackin'," was her party starting order.
I followed behind Stephanie as she moved to sit on the sofa beside Angie. "Can you bring me anything that looks like it'll provide a sugar rush?" My wife asked me. "I think I'm going to need some artificial energy tonight."
"Sugar isn't good for you, Aunt Steph," Angie pointed out so I didn't have to.
"I know, but sleepy times call for sugary measures."
"That isn't how the saying goes," our niece added.
Steph used the arm not around Olivia to get Angie in a combo headlock and hug. "I know. You're welcome for making that quote a lot better."
Against her better judgment, Angie laughed. "When's Julie coming back?"
"Soon," I answered. "We're trying for at least once-a-month visits to Trenton, in-between our trips down to Miami."
"Cool. She's like the sister I never had."
"Hey!" Mary Alice yelled. "You're not so fun yourself you know."
"I am so. Grandpa likes hanging out with me."
"He likes me more, because I don't chicken out when it comes to baiting a hook."
I tried to suppress a smile as I caught Steph's eye. Children are amazing creatures. Give them the time they deserve and they are willing to forgive you for your past idiocy. My father-in-law is experiencing that two-fold … first with his daughters and now his granddaughters.
"No fighting," Steph told the girls. "You're both cool and fun to hang out with. Your Mom and I had similar thoughts about each other, and now look at us. We hang out together on purpose. You guys will get there too."
"No way," Angie stated.
"She's a butthead," Mary Alice responded.
Olive sat up, suddenly sensing a disturbance in the peaceful Rangeman force. Steph put both arms back around her and rested her chin on our daughter's shoulder as she addressed her nieces.
"Care to make a bet?" My wife asked, to distract them from their bickering.
"A bet?" Angie asked. "On what?"
"I bet you both a hundred dollars that you'll be living within a mile of each other when you get as old as I am."
"Will not!" Was Mary Alice's reply.
"Will not more," Angie answered.
Steph shrugged. "We'll see. In twenty years, I'll be expecting my two-hundred dollars. Better start saving now."
A sigh drew our attention. "Steph, what did I tell you about gambling with my children?" Valerie asked.
"You said no more Oreo cookie bets … you said nothing about cold, hard cash being exchanged."
Val glanced at me. "I thought you'd be able to rein her in a little."
"I wouldn't, even if I knew I could."
"Fine. If you're going to corrupt my girls … I want yours. Gimme," she said back to Steph, holding out her arms for Olivia.
Olive grinned at her, and then proceeded to turn her face into her Mama's chest, one side of her smile still visible.
"Sorry, Val. Looks like Olive wants to stick with the cool kids," Steph teased.
"You're still a brat," she accused, but her smile offset the insult.
Not that my wife was offended in the least. "And proud of it."
"Mom, you said we're not allowed to call people names," Angie told her mother.
"Yeah, Val. What kind of example are you setting here?" My wife asked.
Before Valerie could respond, Edna cleared her throat. We all shot our eyes her way and noticed the suspicious dampness in Frank's.
"Dad?" Steph asked, standing up with Olivia still holding tight to her. "What's wrong?"
He was quiet for a few beats, clearly trying to get a handle on himself and his emotions. "Thank you," he finally said.
"Huh?" Steph asked.
"What for?" Is what Valerie went with.
"For giving me back something I missed out on. I remember all the childhood squabbles you girls engaged in, and I was always told to let you work it out for yourselves. I wanted to step in before it got heated and remind you both that you need each other … and I get to do that now, even though you don't require my advice anymore. You both are doing well on your own."
"Your advice is always welcome," my wife told him. "Whether or not we take it … is a separate conversation."
"Steph's right, Dad," Valerie added. "We know how hard you've been trying to connect with us, and Steph, the girls, and I appreciate it. I wish things had gone differently … with Mom realizing things needed to change too, but I can't tell you what it means to me to know that I can pick up the phone and you'll be there to help beyond just an offer of a ride home. That was more Steph's thing anyway … getting her vehicles blown up and all."
My Babe's eyes narrowed. "If our dogs were here, I'd sic them on you for saying that."
"No you wouldn't," Val replied.
"No, I wouldn't, but I'd consider it real hard."
"Maybe you could sic Ranger on me instead," Val said, trying for a straight face and failing miserably at achieving it.
"Why would you want Ranger to come after you?" Albert asked, as confused as ever, but still interested in whatever his wife has to say.
My sister-in-law blushed, clearly caught by her husband in the act of baiting Steph ... even if he doesn't realize it. "It was just a joke, Cuddle Bear. I know Ranger wouldn't kill me. Ammo and Gunner could."
"No, they couldn't," Frank told her. "Those two are pushovers."
"Whoever approaches Stephanie or Olivia uninvited would disagree," I reminded him.
One word from me or Steph, and 'the pushovers' turn into Rangedogs hell-bent on protecting their family.
"Which is why I always knock and wait to be let inside your apartment," Frank admitted. "They watch that little girl like a hawk."
"She's really cute," Steph said, gently rocking our daughter, "you can't blame them. Mo and Gunny love you. Don't they, Olive?"
"Mobunny uvee," she said, tipping her head back to see her Mama's reaction to her words.
It was a smile worthy of a party. "Yep, Mobunny loves you. So do Mama and Daddy."
That got her dark head swinging my way. Those little arms reaching out to me will always cause a feeling that borders on pain. I stepped forward and lifted my baby up. The way she immediately snuggles into me pretty much rights all the wrongs in the world.
"Okay, my arms are free," Steph said, "and Ranger's are full, so point me in the direction of dessert."
Mary Alice immediately came to life. "I taste-tasted everything, Aunt Steph. Get a brownie and a chocolate chip/walnut cookie while we wait for cake. Grandma Mazur told us we couldn't cut into it until Grandpa got here."
"I'm here now, so let's break open that cake," Frank said. "There's no need to wait for anything anymore."
I couldn't be prouder if he'd been my own father. Like his daughter … all he needed was someone to believe in him to become someone he believed in. I was about to step behind my wife just to monitor how much junk she consumed … not that I'd have a problem with her not being able to sleep due to a sugar high. I have plenty of things in mind to occupy her, but Edna's doorbell rang before we took more than a step towards the kitchen.
All activity in Edna's apartment screeched to an immediate halt. I'd bet everyone is afraid Helen would ambush us on her and Frank's divorce day, but I know better. No one can come onto my property without my permission, and Helen doesn't have it. This is an inside interruption.
"Enjoy your celebration," I told the group. "I'll take care of this."
Everyone listened to me and continued into the balloon and streamer-draped kitchen except for Stephanie. Being my wife, she knows just about everything I do. Whoever's at the door was already in the building … which means it's a personal or professional problem brought to us by our guys.
"You want me to take Olive?" Steph asked.
"She's fine where she is," I said, opening the door.
I didn't even have it halfway open before Atlas burst through the opening. "I fucked up," he told me.
"First off, watch the language," I warned him, shutting the door so he wouldn't decide to punch it just because it was nearby. "And second, what did you do?"
"I called her. I told myself not to, but I frickin' did!"
"Amari?" Steph asked, coming to my side and sliding a comforting hand up and down both Olivia's and my backs.
"Yeah. I'm pissed as hell at her, but I asked Vince for her current info anyway. What the fuck is wrong with me?"
"Duck," Olivia told us.
"That's right, Olive. Uncle Atlas is a duck totally out of water here," Steph said to her.
"I know you're picking on me," Atlas told my wife, "but it's true. What do I do now? She wants to see me so we can 'talk'."
"Do you want to talk to her?" I asked. "Hear her side of things?"
"How the 'F' do I know? She takes me in when no one else would and then screws with me. What am I supposed to think here? Does she want me, or just want to get back at me?"
"Would you like me to field this one?" My wife asked me.
"No, but you can follow us out into the hall and give your take on it."
"Done," she said, keeping an arm around Olivia and I as we all stepped out of Edna's place.
"I think you owe my wife an apology," I told him.
His back went up. "Yeah, sorry I interrupted your family thing. I needed to talk to the Boss and was told this is where he was."
"I appreciate that half-hearted attempt, but that isn't what I meant," I told him. "You all but rolled your eyes at Stephanie when she suggested a group date, but that's exactly what you seem to need. It's entirely possible that you're going to mess this up without help if you don't calm down and start thinking things through."
His eyes slid Steph's way and I could almost hear him swallowing down some bile … along with a healthy dose of crow and humble pie. My wife was all too happy to gloat. Having had her instincts questioned from childhood on, she never gets tired of hearing proof of how good she is at predicting an outcome.
"You were right," he admitted. "I thought I could deal with this on my own, but my head's all fucked up. I owe her, but now I'm pissed at her. How do I sort that shit out?"
"Well, now you owe Olive some earplugs for future conversations. And you need to listen to Ranger and I," my wife told him. "If you actually want to see Amari, invite her here … after she produces a negative test result, and we'll all have dinner together. I'm not as good as Ranger is at protecting entire nations, but my ability to read people, and sniff out their intentions, almost matches his. If she genuinely loves and misses you, I'll know it in less than five minutes. The million dollar question is … do you really want to know what she wants? A woman willing to go to these lengths to find you is either up to something seriously not good … or she's someone you'll never be able to let go of."