Chapter 47
SPOV
I reached over to grab Mallory's hand. Giving it a small squeeze, I whispered, "Told you he'd be happy." Mallory looked a bit nervous. Like me, she needed a little reassurance.
"Mal, darling, you just made me the happiest man on earth," Manny stated as he turned Mallory around to straddle his legs. "We'll handle this one day at a time. At your pace. How far along are you?"
"Just a few weeks. We have a lot of time to acclimate," she replied.
Lucas turned me around to face him. He placed the item on the coffee table before cupping my face in his hands. "I love you so much Steph," he said before placing a very gentle kiss on my lips. "How far along?"
Manny heard our exchange and turned his head to watch us. "Same as Mal. I think we got pregnant on the same day," I confessed.
"You're having a baby too?" Manny practically shouted. "We're going to have two Range-babies?"
"Yes sweetie," Mallory said as she pulled his face back to look at her. "My sister and I are having babies. The doctor called before dinner to confirm the results."
"It's too early to announce. So I expect you guys keep your lips zipped," I ordered.
"Wifey is bossy," Manny stated.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Lucas commented.
We talked about prenatal care and when we expect the men to accompany us to our appointments. Mallory and I were content to go together, but we insisted they need to make an appearance during our ultrasound. They also need to accompany us during our third trimester appointments.
Before I had time to sit back and relax, it was time to move Dad into his new house. Mallory was supposed to be moving in with him, but those plans were changed once she told Manny about the baby. His house literally backed onto our property. A six foot fence separated our back yards. I had no doubt Manny and Lucas were planning to make our yards accessible to each other.
"When did Manny buy the house behind us?" I asked Lucas on the way to Dad's new house.
"While you were on your mission. It closed just before he left with Mallory to assist you and Binkie," he answered.
"Oh… when did he move in?" I followed up.
"Zip, Zero, Cal and I moved his belongings from storage around the same time." Lucas added, "I was planning to tell you, but Manny wanted everything ready for Mallory first."
"Okay, you're forgiven this time," I started. I was about to say something else, but my phone rang. Removing it from my purse, I noticed it was Valerie.
She was crying so much I could barely hear a word she said. Through her mostly incoherent words, I thought I heard her say, "Al… gone… pregnant."
"Val honey. Did you just say you're four months pregnant and Kloughn left you?" I asked to clarify.
"Yes," she said on a sob. "I don't know what to do."
"Take a few deep breaths honey. We'll figure it all out, okay?" I said to calm her.
"Okay," she answered before taking deep cleansing breaths. "I feel better. We've been living with Al's mom. She asked us to leave."
"Can you live with Helen?" I reluctantly asked. I needed to know if our mother would create issues.
"No way. She's mean to Mary Alice. I don't want my girls growing up the same as we did. We aren't exactly talking. I'm finding it hard to forgive her," she admitted.
"Me too. Is it okay if I talk to daddy? He's moving into a four bedroom house today. His house also has multiple bathrooms," I informed her.
"I need to talk to daddy myself. It's time for me to put on my big girl panties and take control of my own life."
"I'm proud of you Val. Let me know if you need any help moving. I can ask the guys for help," I offered.
"I'll call daddy and get back to you." We said our goodbyes and ended our call.
A few hours later, Valerie arrived with her children, a moving van filled with their bedroom furniture and clothes. Ram jumped from the driver's seat of the moving van. Vince was already out of the van and opening the back door to remove the furniture. I must be off my game today. Those two men disappeared and I never noticed.
"I see you called them?" I joked.
"Daddy made the arrangements. We're going to be neighbours," she replied before her face fell. "The girls need to change schools."
"Mom, we told you it was alright. Our old school was in the Burg and you know how narrow minded they are," Angie stated.
"They really are. And we can make new friends," Mary Alice added. Lisa was busy hiding behind Valerie's legs.
"Hey princess. Does this belong to you?" Ram approached Lisa with a tan teddy bear. She nodded and reached for her toy. "Come with me. Your papa is looking for you." Lisa smiled brightly and reached up with her arms to be picked up. Ram smiled when she nuzzled into his neck.
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LPOV
Our friend Ram looks content carrying Lisa. He's always wanted a family, but could never find a woman to settle down. I knew he had surgery as a teenager to fix his twisted testicles. Due to the damage, he's unable to have children. A few years ago, his fiancée announced she was pregnant.
Ram had his sperm levels checked and discovered he couldn't possibly be the father. They broke their engagement. When she had the baby, he was going to have a paternity test done, but blood typing proved he wasn't the father. Gwen and Ram are both O positive. The child is A positive so it definitely was not his child.
I watched Ram's eyes follow Valerie into the house. He always liked his woman with more 'meat on her bones' as he called it. Ram claims it gives him more to hang onto. I just hope Valerie gets over Kloughn before starting a relationship with Ram. He already loves little Lisa, Angie and Mary Alice. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch for him to love her unborn child too.
"He looks happy carrying Lisa," Stephanie said as she wrapped her arm around my waist.
"I was thinking he looks content," I admitted. "He also likes Valerie and the girls."
"That's awesome. Ram will be a very good father," she added.
"Val just needs to get over Kloughn first."
Stephanie turned to face me. "What I tell you can't go any further. Promise?" she asked and I nodded. "Val never loved Al. She was only with him to give the girls stability."
"Kloughn was a joke. Ram could offer her stability and more," I defended my friend.
"Exactly. They'll make a very cute couple. He deserves to be happy… so does Val and the girls."
We entered the house to hear Lisa call Ram daddy. His face lit up so much it was causing me temporary blindness. I noticed Valerie was watching Ram interact with Lisa. She was smiling. When Ram looked at her, she blushed. Her hand brushed the back of her neck before a slight look of confusion spread across her face.
"She finally found her mate," Stephanie stage whispered and clapped.
"What do you mean?" I asked her.
"Do you remember when we first met? I'm not talking face to face, more like whenever you were near me," she asked to trigger my memory.
"Ah. We felt the tingling sensation on the back of our necks whenever we were close to each other," I quickly made the connection.
"Yes… that," she stated before helping the girls carry their suitcases to their bedrooms. I took another glance at Ram and noticed him rubbing his neck too. It seems he too feels the magnetic connection.
"Hey Ram. You seemed to have grown an extra head," I joked. Lisa peeked up from Ram's neck and giggled.
She reached towards me for a hug, but she refused to completely leave Ram's arms. I gave her an awkward hug before she snuggled back into Ram's neck.
"I think she's attached to me," Ram joked.
"It looks good on you," I stated before searching for my wife. Stephanie was helping Valerie set up the crib in Lisa's room. Their quiet conversation echoed in the nearly empty room.
"Give him a chance Val. I can tell he likes you. If Albert comes back asking for visitation with Lisa or the baby, you can make arrangements then. There's no point getting ahead of yourself," Stephanie told her.
"I've always like him, but mom told me to stay away from the thugs," Valerie sadly said.
"Val honey, Helen should have zero say regarding your choice in partner. She was excited to learn Kloughn was a lawyer. It was too easy for her to get lost in the title and not notice he couldn't support his family. Steve left you broke with a huge debt hanging over your head. He disappeared without a trace and yes I have been looking for him. Did you resolve your money issues?"
"Someone paid all the debt I owed. I don't even know who to thank," Valerie told Steph. Both Stephanie and I knew Mallory paid her debt from the life insurance policy on Emily. It broke Mal's heart when she realized what Steve did to her twin.
"Val, we'll do anything to help family. I'm not saying I paid your debt, I'm just saying sometimes family comes together to help. You may never know who paid your debt, but all you need to know is your family loves you," I said as I entered the room.
Stephanie and Mallory were actively searching for Steve. They know he transferred funds to an offshore account. It's been rerouted so many times, it was nearly impossible to find. Steve made it very difficult to tie the offshore account to him. He obviously had help from not so savoury people. Being a corporate lawyer, he had access to men who knew all the tricks of the trade. If we give her enough time, Stephanie will find every cent he owes to Valerie.
I heard the laughter of children coming from down the hall. When I went to see what they were doing, I saw Ram buried beneath all 3 girls. They were laughing when Ram pretended to be stuck. "Did you get anything done?" I asked him.
"Absolutely nothing," he replied.
Lisa disagreed. "Dada do," she insisted.
"Ram isn't our dad," Angie told her. Lisa stuck out her bottom lip and started crying.
"Come here sweetie," Ram called. She ran into his arms and buried her face into his neck as she cried. Valerie was watching from the doorway to see how Mary Alice reacts.
"Angie, we all know Ram isn't Lisa's or our dad, but she feels a special connection to him. She isn't hurting anyone by calling him dad," Mary Alice said to defend her sister. "Our real dad is gone and so is Albert. Lisa's still a baby and she needs to have a daddy. Don't you like Ram?"
"Yes, but why does Lisa get to call him dad and we can't?" Angie asked as tears leaked from her eyes. Valerie entered the room to answer her question.
"Angie, Mary Alice, would you like Ram to be your dad?" she calmly asked.
"Only if he wants to be my dad. Albert didn't act like my dad, but Ram does. I'm so confused," she cried.
Ram passed Lisa to Valerie so he could talk to Angie and Mary Alice. "Sweeties, I really like your mom. Lisa spent time with me at Rangeman when your mom needed a babysitter. She got to know me. I'm not trying to replace your dad, but I will always be there for you," he said.
I decided to go out on a limb and ask, "Have you ever played laser tag or paintball?"
Stephanie entered the room, "Oooh… paintball… I haven't been for so long. Angie, Mary Alice, would you like to go sometime? I used to play with my friends when I was your age. You girls could be on my team with Aunt Mallory. What do you think? Girls against boys?"
"Boys like Ram and Uncle Lucas?" Mary Alice asked.
Cal entered the room. "Me, Binkie and Manny too," he added.
"I bet we could win too," Mallory stated.
"Against all those boys?" Angie asked.
"You bet," Stephanie answered. "Just the four of us girls against the five guys."
"Should we place a bet?" Mallory asked.
"Yes," Angie and Mary Alice replied.
"Can we go tomorrow mom?" Angie asked Valerie.
"Sure. What are you going to bet?" she asked. Angie leaned over and whispered into Valerie's ear. "Are you sure?"
"Yup," she answered.
"So… what are we betting?" Ram asked.
"The losers cook a four course dinner for the winners," Angie stated. "I really want to try Uncle Luke's empanadas."
"You've got yourself a deal," Ram fist bumped her.
Frank ordered pizza for everyone. After we finished eating and cleaning up, we wished everyone goodnight and left for home.
When we were in the car, I asked, "Are you sure about paintball tomorrow?"
"Yes Lucas," she sighed. "I'm barely pregnant. A bit of running isn't going to hurt us. We'll play the easier course for the girls."
She seemed to be a bit distracted. "What's on your mind?" I asked.
"I need to talk to Ranger. We need to tell him I'm pregnant," she answered.
"It's too soon to tell anyone," I reminded her.
"I know, but he needs the time to cope or get help from his therapist."
"Rangeman or home?" I asked.
"We'll tell him at our home," she replied. She sent him a message, asking him to meet at our home. It took him almost 15 minutes to arrive.