Chapter 37
"Why didn't you tell Ranger about Julie wanting a baby?" Michael asked.
"Some things he needs to find out on his own," I answered.
"Curtis was worried about their wedding night," Michael stated.
"Why would he be worried?" I wondered.
"Julie wasn't the only virgin in their relationship," he shared.
"Should we be discussing their sex life? I always thought he slept with someone during college," I admitted.
"He almost did, but he made a promise to Julie. If he expected her to wait, he would have to abstain too."
The Manoso and Ramsey families are becoming more intertwined. Our older children are married, and our youngest would likely get married when they're older. We will share our grandchildren. It was perfect.
A few weeks before Christmas, Julie gave birth to a gorgeous little girl. She was writing her first exam when her water broke. I held her hand as she gave birth. Curtis was deployed a few weeks earlier for a special ops mission. As Ranger predicted, Curtis was the team leader. Julie and I are proud of Curtis. "It's too bad he couldn't be here," Julie commented.
"I recorded everything from above the waist," I reminded her.
"Thank you, mama. I'm glad you're here with me," she whispered.
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be."
Mallory and Leon dropped by at regular intervals to check on Julie. "You had her," Lory exclaimed when she walked into the room. "She's beautiful, Julie. What's her name?"
"Michelle Arielle," she replied. "I named her after my two moms. How's Jeremy?"
"Jerry's walking already. Will Dina and Tina babysit for you too?" Lory asked. Rangeman hired close friends of Ella and Luis to watch the children. Each family had two bodyguards for the children. Zip and Junior would assume bodyguard duties for Julie's daughter, Michelle.
"Probably," Julie replied. "I still have to write my exams. My professors gave me an extension, but I want to finish them before Christmas."
"I was lucky to finish my exams before having Jeremy. Studying and watching a baby isn't easy," Lory confessed.
"It must be difficult when you add the long intern hours into the mix," Julie reasoned.
"If it weren't for mom, dad, Binkie, Ranger, and Tenessa, Leon and I would have struggled."
"They say it takes a village," Julie stated.
"Our village is one large and happy band of mercenaries," Lory joked. "Okay. Time to get serious. Leon and I would like you and Curtis to be Jeremy's godparents. We'll have a priest perform the rite when Curt comes home."
"Curt and I accept. Would you and Leon be Michelle's godparents?" Julie reciprocated.
"It would be our honour. I have to finish my rounds," Lory said before kissing Michelle's head and Julie's cheek. "I love you, Jules, Chelle."
I giggled at Lory's nickname for Michelle.
Later that evening, I called Angie to tell her about her new cousin. Angie was still living in California with Sophia. Neither woman was interested in getting married. We were hopeful when Angie started dating, but she assured us she is not getting marriages or having babies. She hopes to teach English at the local high school.
Mary Alice met Edwin Santos during orientation week. He's studying mathematics at the University of North Carolina at Raleigh. My niece told me Edwin is Lester's younger brother. I met Edwin at an office Christmas party. He was younger, but Edwin didn't hang around the law firm. Edwin and Mary Alice started living together during the summer.
Ranger and Lester pooled their resources and purchased a place for them to live for their second year. "Mary Alice called," Celia announced when she dropped in to visit.
"Oh yeah? How does she like her second year?" I asked.
"She loves school," Celia sadly stated.
"Mary Alice isn't coming home for Christmas," I quietly said.
Celia shook her head. "No. She's working at the local animal shelter," Celia added. She looked around before telling me, "She's engaged to Edwin."
"I'm so happy for them."
"Me too," Celia admitted. "I'm glad she found someone just like her. Even though he's a math nerd," she joked.
"Mary Alice deserves to be happy," I added. We moved along in our discussion to the younger children. I told Celia about their kissing fiasco from last year.
Changing the subject, I asked, "Are either of you available for babysitting duties? Julie still has exams to write. She needs time to study."
"I'll help," both women quickly volunteered.
"That is the reason I love you two so much," I said.
Curtis came home on Christmas Day. He immediately fell in love with his daughter. "She's beautiful, just like her momma," he said as tears streamed down his face.
Julie wrapped her arms around her family. "Welcome, home soldier," she stated. "I named her Michelle Arielle."
"Our mom's middle names. Just like we planned," he quietly added.
"Lory asked us to be Jeremy's godparents. I accepted on your behalf," she informed Curtis.
"Thank you. I'd love to be Jeremy's godfather. Did you ask Lory and Leon to be Michelle's godparents?" he wondered.
"I did. Lory and Leon accept," she replied.
The priest performed the christening ceremony a few days later. I helped Julie and Curtis update their wills to assign guardianship of Michelle to Mallory and Leon. Mallory already allocated Jeremy's guardianship to Curtis and Julie. Should both sets of parents pass away, Michael and I would raise our grandchildren.
Ranger was holding his granddaughter. "Have you thought about having more children?" I asked.
"Babe," he replied. I patiently waited for him to say more. "I had a vasectomy after Ric was born. Tenessa tied her tubes. No more babies."
"Michael had a vasectomy too. Kind of pointless since I had a hysterectomy a few months later. I'll need to borrow our grandchildren when I need my baby fix," I said thoughtfully.
Ranger shook his head and said, "Babe."
New Year's Eve was loud and full of laughter. For the first time, Lester brought a woman to the party. She's around my age with dark blond hair and grey eyes. With the name of Mercedes, you would expect her to be pretentious. Mercedes was grounded and intelligent. She was the opposite of the type of women Lester typically beds.
"Hi, I'm Steph," I introduced myself to Mercedes since Lester forgot.
She timidly replied, "Oh. You're the woman Les calls Beautiful. I have to agree with him. You are stunning. Mercedes. Please call me Mer." Mercedes glanced around the room before adding, "Everyone is surprised Les brought a date."
"Because he never has until now," I confessed. "You must be someone special."
"I hope so," she admitted. "I'm not one to date players, but Lester broke down my defences."
Lester's government contract ended a few months ago. He resumed an undercover role a few times. I wonder if it's the reason he wasn't looking for a life partner. Les infiltrated a family by sleeping with the daughter. As long as he would need to reprise the role, he refused to have a relationship.
The man himself joined our conversation. "Have you already introduced yourself to Beautiful, Gorgeous?" Lester asked Mercedes.
"I have. Steph's as beautiful as you said," Mercedes said as she winked at me.
"Stephanie's a beautiful person inside and out. It's the reason I call her Beautiful," he confessed. "You don't mind, do you?" He seemed a little unsure.
Mercedes held his face between her hands. "Les, she's your best friend. Steph is married to your friend. I don't mind at all," she replied. "If you'll excuse me, I need to visit the ladies' room." She kissed Lester lightly on the lips before heading towards the washroom.
"She seems nice," I stated.
"Mer is a lot like you," he admitted. "She's kind, generous, loving, and gorgeous."
"Don't let her get away. You look happy," I observed.
"I am happy. We've only been dating for a few months, but I feel as if I've known Mer for years."
"I'm proud of you, Lester," I said before kissing his cheek. "It's almost midnight. Find your woman. I need to find Michael."
In between missions, Curtis worked at Rangeman. Julie was attempting to finish university while raising Michelle. I was happy Curt and Julie decided to wait until she graduated before having another child.
Last night, she confessed the reason for having a child immediately. "I married Curt at the same age you married Jeremy," Julie stated. "Our quick marriage happened because he was leaving for Ranger training. We wanted to be married before he left. It wasn't until I was in labour when I realized our lives were parallel. What if someone kidnapped Curtis, or he died during his mission. I would be raising a child alone as I finished my education."
"You would not be raising Michelle alone. We would help," I said as I motioned to our family around the room. Julie hugged me since she couldn't find the words to thank me.
Angie and Mary Alice waited until Julie's birthday celebration to ask me an important question. "Did you always know?" Angie asked.
"What did I always know?" I asked, unsure what Angie wanted to hear.
"Great-grandma Mazur left Mary Alice and me all her possessions. I found this inside her safety deposit box," Angie stated.
Grandma Mazur passed away on Valentine's Day while having sex. I was sad she died but thought dying during sex was one hell of a way to go. After I read the paternity test, I said, "I found out a few months after I moved here."
"Were you ever planning to tell us Joe Morelli was our uncle?" Mary Alice asked.
"If you asked, I would've been honest. Given Joe's lifestyle and criminal behaviour, I didn't think it would be beneficial for you to know," I confessed.
"You're right," Angie admitted. "It would've upset us." Mary Alice nodded in agreement.
"Are you planning to contact his relatives?" I asked.
"Nope. We just wanted to know why you didn't tell us," Mary Alice stated.
"We understand Tia Steph. I'm sorry our uncle hurt you and those women," Angie apologized.
"Sweetie," I said as I held Angie's face. "You don't need to apologize for anything Joe did. He's gone and can't hurt anyone else."
Angie and Mary Alice moved to the fireplace and burned the only record connecting them to the Morelli family. "Nobody else needs to know," Angie stated as she watched as the document burned.
Ten years later, on New Year's Eve.
"Where has the time gone?" I asked Michael. During the last eleven years, Julie and Curtis had two more children. A boy they named Brian Michael and another girl they named Felicity Mallory. Leon and Mallory had another boy they named Vince Curtis. I was amazed they honoured their parents, aunts, and uncles as they named their children. Curtis naming his other children after Jeremy's parents touched my heart.
Ric and Livie have been dating since they were ten. They will celebrate their eighteenth birthday in April. I smiled as I remembered my bet.
Lisa and Jace were engaged to siblings. Jace asked Cara to marry him before they started their final year of university. Cara's brother, Dan, asked Lisa to marry him a few days later. They were planning a double wedding. Jace and Lisa were always as thick as thieves. It didn't surprise me they were engaged and planning their weddings at the same time.
"Looks like we're planning weddings for New Year's eve next year," I told Celia.
"We are?" she asked.
"Yup. Jace, Cara, Lisa, and Dan like the idea of celebrating the new year married. This New Year's eve is too soon. Shh. Listen," I whispered as I dragged her closer to our children.
"We can't get married this year. I called the courthouse. None of the officiants are available. Jace and I reserved an officiant for next year on New Year's Eve," Lisa quietly said.
"My mom will let us get married here," Jace offered. "We always host New Year's Eve parties." Cara and Dan readily agreed to the plan.
Celia covered her mouth so they couldn't hear her laughing. "Oh my goodness," she said when we went into the kitchen. "I guess they have all of their plans set in stone. We can get away with the same catering."
"I know. It certainly makes planning easier," I agreed.
"What about Liv and Ric?" Celia asked. "I noticed they're inseparable."
"After we placed our bets, we were forbidden from discussing our selections," I confessed.
"Why not?" she wondered.
"It would be unfair to sway the children to our advantage," I explained.
Tenessa joined our conversation. Her eyes narrowed as she asked, "Are you talking about the bet?"
"Nope," Celia replied. "Steph said she's not allowed to discuss your selections."
"Okay, as long as she didn't say what she chose," Tenessa told Celia while staring at me.
"Did you hear Jace and Lisa's wedding plans?" Tenessa asked.
"We have. I have a feeling it's the only wedding ceremony I will organize. Although Steph will be doing all the work," Celia confessed.
"You need to help," I told Celia.
"Me too," Tenessa volunteered when Celia agreed.
Ric and Livie's birthdays passed without incident. They were eighteen, legally old enough to marry. I laughed as Michael, Tenessa, and Ranger's bets were lost. Only my bet remained in play. We doubled our wagers.
In the early hours of July 1st, Ric and Livie borrowed my car and left. Livie left a note saying she was going on a road trip with Ric. They'll call along the way to check-in.
I showed Michael the note. He shook his head before laughing. "You called it," he stated.
"I haven't won the bet yet. They need to get married on the 4th," I reminded him.
"It's their favourite holiday," Michael deadpanned.
Ranger and Tenessa arrived to see if we heard from Livie. "Ric left this note," Tenessa said as she handed me the identical note I held in my hand.
"Babe," Ranger groaned as he read the text.
'Road trip!' Ric messaged. 'AC, here we come.'
Our children frequently called during the next few days. I wanted to surprise them in Atlantic City, but the others convinced me to stay home.
In the afternoon on July 4th, we received wedding photos from Livie and Ric.
"Pay up!" I shouted as I ran outside towards Michael, Ranger, and Tenessa.
Ranger tipped his head back and laughed. "Only you, Babe."
Every year, our July 4th celebration guests expanded as more babies were born into the family. More of my Merry Men got married and had children.
I held Ric and Liv's son, Ricardo Carlos Manoso V. As I looked around the yard at my friends and family, I realized my life was full of laughter and joy.
Over the years, I always thought Jeremy helped save our friends' lives. The life he saved, was mine.