Master of the Heart
Because I should say a few things before you read my story.
As always this story is not for profit or print it belongs to Empress Evanovich.
This story is dedicated to my true love, if it weren't for him I wouldn't be able to write or know about love. Also, I can't forget my girls at Trashy Books and all the Happy Ever After Endings Babe's long for.
Now for the disclaimers.
-Joe is not bashed only bruised if your wondering.
-I've taken a few liberties like assuming Dicky and Stephanie's marriage was annulled since they had no children.
-I've most likely created different spaces in the homes we are familiar with like Stephanie's parents home and making up a beautiful space for Momma Manoso.
Chapter One: Jersey Gray.
Rangeman Trenton, NJ
December 31, 2018
The line of black SUV's started in the underground parking garage and stretched up the ramp into the grey Trenton sky where they wrapped around the building and came to a stop at the industrial front door of a modest seven-story red brick structure. A short bald male wearing all black was removing an iconic sign he turned the third screw in a set of four and it fell to the unswept sidewalk. The weather-warn brass plaque hung precariously swinging back and forth. The man sighed shoved his screwdriver and hands in his pockets to keep warm while his breath billowed in the cold making him look like a smoker.
Meanwhile at the Vincent Plum Bail Bonds Agency
In front of a brick one-story flat-roofed business on Hamilton Ave, a busty blond woman tugged at the folding security curtain. Her small frame tugged back and forth making little progress on the herculean task each time. The door to the business swung open, a tall heavy set woman dressed in a hot pink zebra-striped shirt and matching skirt came out waving a can of WD-40. The women stood side by side and had a small discussion then the blond went and sprayed the top and bottom tracks. The heavyset woman kicked off her neon pink FMP'S and pulled at the crisscrossed metal until it had unfolded into a diamond pattern of rusted security across the building until it had almost blocked the front door.
"I just can't believe it this, it's the worst Valentine's Day in history." The heavyset woman could be overheard saying. The blond moved to hug her you could hear her sob.
"This is it, the end of life as I know it." The heavyset woman said as they went inside together.
Across Town at The House of Plum
Helen worked diligently in the steamy U shaped kitchen as she hummed a happy tune while stirring the meat sauce on the gas stove. Her mother entered the kitchen came over to take a look.
"A watched pot never boils," she said then sat at the small warn utilitarian table.
"True" Helen replied as she joined her mother.
The silence was broken when the front door slammed shut.
"I'm home," said Stephanie.
"We are in the kitchen" Grandma Edna yelled out.
Stephanie stepped through to the kitchen door with a basket of clothes in her arms.
"Is that the last load dear?"
"No, one more then I need to go back and deep clean the apartment."
"Come sit down and we can give you another cooking lesson!" Helen said.
"Can it wait till after dinner? Please, Mom?"
"You need to learn these things, Joe and your children will need dinner every day, you might as well get into the habit of making dinner. I can show you all our family recipes for lasagna!"
"We have more than one recipe for lasagna?"
"You silly girl you know we do, one for holidays, one for every day, and the old one that has been passed down a few generations."
"So that's why lasagna tastes better sometimes?"
"What do you mean taste better?"
"Sorry."
"We have a meatless recipe too!"
"That's not ours." said Grandma "That belongs to Mrs. Stouffers"
Stephanie rolled her eyes.
"I need to go upstairs and organize my room so I'll have a place to sleep tonight."
"Oh I'll come up and help you get sorted out as soon as the lasagna is in the oven, then we need to look for invitations and bridesmaid gowns!"
"I'll be down in about a half-hour Mom no need to come up, besides your pot of water is boiling."
"Oh, I lost my focus!" Helen exclaimed.
"Did ya ever." Grandma replied under her breath.
"Wait a minute how did she know it was time for the noodles? Do you think she knows how to make Lasagne?" said a baffled Helen.
The Future Home of Joe and Stephanie Morelli
The flat-roofed brick row houses stood tall against the bleak colored sky. Joe Morelli was holding his front door open as Mooner and his friend carried out big black slate slabs, one by one they carefully placed them in a U-Haul truck. It was difficult to imagine the tiny row house could hold a regulation size pool table but the wad of cash in Joe's back pocket proved otherwise.
Mooner closed and locked his wheels and walked back to Joe.
"Dude, I will try to live up to your standards. J.P.J! Dude The man, the myth, the legend! *"
"Your Welcome?" Joe said. Not knowing how to reply to that phrase.
"Gotta go harvest that bachelor mojo, Thanks, Joe! Cowabunga!" he yelled as he gave a Jersey fist pump. Joe saluted in kind.
* a reference to J.P.J. better known as John Paul Jones bachelor extraordinaire.