Chapter 30

"I hate you," I told Tenessa.

"Why? What did I do wrong?" she asked.

I dragged her to the full-length mirror in my room. "Look at us," I said as I repositioned her body to show our silhouettes. "I'm freaking huge."

She laughed before saying, "Sweetie, this isn't your first rodeo. Your body already knows what to do."

"You barely have a baby bump," I continued to complain.

"My body is still learning," she explained.

"I know, but I still hate you," I joked.

"Can you believe we only have one week of our pregnancy left?" she asked.

"I certainly can believe it. I've never carried a baby this long," I admitted.

"It must be driving you crazy," Tenessa stated.

"I'm way past being crazy," I joked. "It feels like I was pregnant for years. I'm getting impatient."

"Um, Steph?"

"Yes?" I wondered why she was grabbing my attention.

"Your stomach just went completely concave," she pointed out. I looked into the mirror as my stomach returned to its proper shape.

We watched my reflection for another six minutes. My back was killing me. "Huh, my stomach indented as I felt a piercing pain in my back," I told Tenessa.

"Sweetie, I think you're in labour," she stated. "Julie!" Tenessa yelled.

"Yes, mom?" she asked when she entered my room.

"Tia Steph's in labour. Can you grab her bag? It should be inside her closet," she directed.

"Sure. I'll put the bags by the front door. Do you want me to get Jace ready too?" Julie offered.

"If you don't mind," I replied.

"Not at all, mama," she stated. I heard Jace giggle as Julie woke him from his nap. "You're such a happy baby. Mama's going to have your sister soon. Are you excited?"

"Da da da da," Jace chimed between giggles.

"I need to call papa and Tio Mike," Julie said as I heard her change Jace's diaper.

"I've got it covered," Tenessa shouted. She used her phone to call Ranger. "Carlos, grab Ram. Stephanie's in labour."

I heard the front door slam open. Hector tore up the stairs to enter my bedroom. "It's time to give birth?" he asked, speaking in English. Tenessa was shocked. She only heard Hector speaking Spanish.

"Yes, hermano, it's time. Are you driving me to the hospital?" I asked.

"Si. I'm driving you," he answered.

"He speaks English?" Tenessa asked.

"He does, but it's our secret," I replied. "Our Merry Men are less guarded when they think he doesn't understand or speak English."

"Nice. I like it, Hector," she stated. Hector smiled as he pressed his finger to his lip. "I'll keep your secret." She made a zip motion across her lips.

"Lory, Curt, and I know he speaks English too," Julie added. "It's fun watching the other guys spill their secrets."

"Let's get you to the hospital," Tenessa stated. She rubbed her hand down her stomach. "I'm not feeling well."

"Tio Hector, you need to call for help," Julie advised. "I think mom's in labour."

He lifted me into his arms and ran towards the SUV. Once I was secure in the seatbelt, he returned to the house to get Tenessa. I watched him carry her to the car and buckle her into the seat behind me.

Julie secured Jace into his car seat. She tossed the bags into the back. If she forgot anything, one of the men would grab the items later. "I forgot your bag, mom."

"It's alright, Jules. I forgot to pack it," Tenessa confessed.

"But mama told you to pack it weeks ago," Julie whined.

"I know, you don't need to remind me," she moaned through a contraction.

"Hi, Zip. Can you grab some clothes for mom, Tenessa? She forgot to pack a bag," Julie said into her phone. "Because she ignored mama's instructions. Thanks. I'll see you at the hospital."

Ranger, Michael and Celia were waiting for us at the hospital. The men helped us from the car while Celia passed her car keys to Hector. "It's parked in the garage. The fifth level in section C," she said in Spanish.

"Gracias," he replied.

After Hector grabbed my bag from the back, he tapped the hood, indicating Celia could leave with Jace. "Call me when the babies are born," she yelled before driving away.

"Have you called Lory and Curt?" I asked Michael.

"Yes. Lory and Curt have exams today. We'll see them in a few days," he replied.

I've been thinking about Jeremy for the last few months. I hope he's watching over Leon.

My thoughts were pulled back to my current predicament when my water broke. "Oomph," I moaned. "Why does my water always have to break before I get to the delivery room?" I complained.

Michael laughed, "Only you, Anie."

I felt the sudden urge to push. "Michael, get. Doctor. Now," I managed to grind out. Labour was intense. I needed my daughter out now.

Hector ran to get the on-call doctor. Jasmine arrived within a minute of being paged. She quickly directed us to the closest room to deliver my daughter. I barely made it onto the table when Olivia Michelle Ramsey made her entrance into the world.

Early the following morning, Ricardo Carlos Manoso IV was born. Ranger brought his son into the room so I could see my godson. He resembled his father, as all new babies are prone to do. I had a feeling he was going to be a mini-Ranger like his father.

Tenessa and I shared a room until we could leave the hospital. "She's beautiful," Tenessa said as she held my daughter.

"Ric is as handsome as his papa," I said as I held him in my arms. Our Merry Men visited us on a schedule. I thought Tank choreographed the visits when I had Jace, but I learned Tank created a detailed visitation schedule to ensure we weren't overwhelmed by guests.

Both Ness and I received gifts for the children. I climbed from my bed into Tenessa's bed. We laid with our heads touching as we conversed quietly. "Are you marrying Carlos?" I whispered.

"Not likely, but his name's on the birth certificate. I still don't need a piece of paper to prove we're committed to each other," she replied.

"If he asked, would you marry him?" I wondered.

"Maybe, but I'll only marry him if I could adopt Julie," she answered honestly.

"You want to adopt Julie?"

"One hundred percent yes. She's an amazing girl. I would be honoured to be her mother," she confessed. Ranger tilted his head towards us. I knew he could hear our conversation since his hearing is impeccably acute.

"In that case," Ranger said as he approached Tenessa. "Nessa, will you marry me?"

Julie added, "And adopt me?"

I watched her eyes glimmer before she said, "I'm not sure. What's in it for me?"

"Ness, you're a silly woman," I said as I smacked her arm.

She giggled. "Just kidding. I already know what's in it for me. I would be married to a gorgeous Cuban Adonis. His beautiful goddess daughter will be my daughter. Yes, Carlos, I will marry you. I would love to adopt you, Julie," she seriously replied.

"Can I still call Tia Stephanie, mama?" she asked.

"I don't see any reason why you shouldn't," Tenessa replied. "She was your mama when you needed one."

Ranger helped me move from Tenessa's bed back to mine. He laid beside me to whisper, "I'd like to build an addition onto your house. A separate wing for my family."

"Of course. I was hoping you'd continue living with us," I whispered. "I like having you, Tenessa, and Julie close by."

"Babe," he said before kissing my cheek. I smiled when he left my side and climbed into bed with his fiancée.

Michael shook his head before climbing into my bed. "Should I be worried?" he joked.

"Not even a little," I replied. "Ranger asked if he could build a wing onto our house for his family. I already said it was okay. I'm sorry for not asking you first. Do you mind?"

"I don't mind. He's our family," Michael answered.

Olivia was having problems digesting the formula. She kept throwing up a few minutes after each feeding. A nurse brought me another formula type. It was soy-based which smelled awful. Livie seemed to keep this formula down. However, it made her extremely gassy. I wouldn't be surprised if the men would get a kick out of her farting abilities.

"This formula could stain," Tenessa said as she wrinkled her nose.

"Would the stain show on black shirts?" I mused.

"Probably not," she replied. Ranger groaned before calling Ella. He asked her to order stain-resistant clothes for Tenessa, Julie, me, Ram, and him. Tenessa groaned, "Men."

I shrugged. Ranger ordering extra clothes for us didn't surprise me. He's a very generous man. We need to talk about his will again. I know he said I was receiving everything he wasn't leaving to Julie, but he needs to leave an inheritance for Ness and Ric.

Ranger held my hand as he led me towards my living room couch. Tenessa was in their basement apartment with Julie. Michael was upstairs with Jace and Olivia.

"What's up, Batman?" I asked.

"My will," he replied. "Nessa and I discussed my will content. I'm leaving Ric the same amount of money as I'm leaving Julie. My fiancée wants very little from me. She agreed to an inheritance of five million. Everything else is going to you. My company, stocks, bonds and assets are yours."

"But I still don't want all of that," I argued.

"Which is still the reason I'm leaving it all to you," he reiterated. "You will take care of my company."

"I still can't think about your death," I confessed. "You'll probably outlive all of us."

"Babe," he stated.

"Do you realize I'm leaving everything I own or may inherit to my children?" I asked him.

"Yes. I would love to see Curtis and Ric running Rangeman someday," he confessed.

"Aren't you worried Curtis would keep your son away from the business?" I wanted to know.

"No. Your son is already honourable. He will make sure Ric is involved," he answered. "I imagine he would keep his brother-in-law employed."

"You noticed too?" I asked. He nodded. "When should we expect the invitation?" I joked.

"After Julie graduates from university," he replied.

I laughed because nothing ever works out how we expect. "Sure, after she graduates," I reluctantly agreed.

Curtis plans to join the Army to follow in his father's footsteps. If he joins the Rangers after his three-year term, he would want to get married before being deployed on his first Ranger mission. Julie should be 18 before his first Rangers mission. "When does Curtis start basic training," Ranger stated.

"In another year. Lory and Curt graduate in January."

"He's timing his military career quite well," Ranger was impressed.

"That he is. I have a feeling Lory will be getting married next year," I said.

"How does it make you feel?" he asked.

"Honestly? I'm alright with her decision. Mallory and Leon want to be married before attending Harvard," I replied.

"She'll be barely 19," he added.

"I married Jeremy at a young age. If they want to get married before living together, who am I to stop them?" I would prefer them to be married first, but it's ultimately their decision. My opinion shouldn't be a factor.

"Julie and Curt?" he asked.

"It's their decision," I gently reminded him. "Curt will treat her well. He's saving himself for her."

"Very honourable," he nodded. "Thanks, Babe." He kissed my cheek before retreating to his apartment.

"Is everything settled?" Michael asked.

"As much as it ever will be," I replied. "Ranger's still leaving me with the bulk of his estate and company. We're Julie and Ric's guardians."

"Liv and Jace are sleeping," Michael stated.

"Thank you. How are we going to manage two babies?" I asked.

Someone knocked on our front door. Michael opened the door to Hector and Lester. "Your babysitters are here," Lester announced.

"Um. Why are you babysitting?" I wondered.

Ranger entered the living room. "Construction for the addition commences tomorrow," he replied.

"Are we relocating to Rangeman?" I asked.

"We are," Tenessa announced. She was carrying Ric in her arms.

"I see. The babysitters are required so we could pack," I reasoned.

"Yes," Tenessa replied as she placed Ric into Lester's arms.

Ranger carried several suitcases to the car. He refused to leave any of his clothes behind. I honestly couldn't blame him. Most of his clothes were Rangeman uniforms or Armani suits. "Pack all your clothes and jewelry," he stated as he walked past to grab more items.

Julie dragged a smaller suitcase behind her. "Is that all you have?" I asked.

She giggled. "No. This suitcase contains Ric's clothes. Dad will grab my suitcase in a minute," she replied.

Michael and I quietly packed our clothes into the suitcases. We didn't want to wake up Livie. Jace could sleep through anything. I kept peeking into her bassinet beside my bed. She was peacefully asleep as we packed all our clothes.

While Michael was carrying the suitcases down the stairs, Hector snuck into my room to grab Livie. She started fussing before Hector lifted her from her bed. "I think she's," I began when Hector cut off my words.

"Hungry," Hector finished as he produced a bottle to feed her. He sat in the rocking chair as Livie happily ate.

As I filled the suitcases, I placed them just outside the bedroom door. Michael made several trips to take them to our car.

When I started packing Jace's clothes, he woke up from his nap. He stood in his crib as I moved around his room to pack his clothes and toys. I heard more movement in the hallway than there was before. When I peeked from Jace's room, I saw Tank carrying Livie's bassinet to the car.

Binkie surprised me as he entered Jace's room. "I'm here to grab your little man," he announced, "Hector has Olivia. Lester has Ric. Junior is keeping Julie in his sights."

"Thank you, Binkie. You'll need to change his diaper first. He was grunting a few seconds ago," I warned him.

"Cool. Don't pee on me Jace," Binkie said as he lifted Jace from the crib.

I was planning to change Jace, but if Binkie was willing to help, I wasn't going to say no. Binkie changed Jace's diaper like a pro. "Did Bobby give you guys lessons on how to change diapers?" I asked.

Binkie laughed and replied, "It wasn't Bobby."

"Then who was it?" I wondered.

"Me," I heard Michael answer from the doorway. "I made them practice whenever Jace was at Rangeman."