Thank you to all who have read, favourited and/or reviewed the story!
I got a review for 'Brown Eyed Girl' stating that they didn't like the fade into black sex scenes. Since the story was rated T, and had a disclaimer in the beginning of every single chapter that it had FADE INTO BLACK SEX-SCENES I found this complaint a bit strange. But I also realized that I haven't made that disclaimer for my other stories, since I thought the T rating would be self explanatory. Sorry folks, there will be only fade into black sex-scenes in this story as well. And very few at that. I find it challenging enough to write in English. Honestly, I've read enough bad sex scenes to last me a lifetime, and have no illusions that my own attempts would be any better.
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Chaper 3. Edna
The viewing had an open coffin, so Edna didn't have to do anything. She said her condolences to the widow, tried the cookies, and chatted with some of her friends from the Clip and Curl. They decided to meet up at the bingo two nights later, and then Stephanie drove her home.
"Baby granddaughter." Edna said. "Don't let your mother bully you into anything that you don't want to do. I don't know where I went wrong with her. That kind of hypocrisy and rotten attitude was definitely not something either her father or I taught her. And it seems she's only getting worse." She shook her head sadly, and pulled an envelope out of her purse.
"I got lucky at the bingo last time," she said. "I know money's tight sometimes."
Stephanie didn't want to take the envelope, but Edna insisted. Stephanie gave her a hug, and then drove home.
When Stephanie got back to her apartment and opened the envelope it held more money than even the biggest bingo pot. She decided to give them back to Grandma Mazur, but then she saw there was a letter in the envelope:
Baby granddaughter. I know one should not have favorites, but since Helen always have treated you and Valerie so differently, I have decided to try to help you out a little. I have seen you struggling lately, both financially and where you want to go in life.
You have so much more opportunities than I ever had. And I am begging you, please, please, do not settle for anything less than what you want. Your dreams and plans are the important things, not your harping mother or the Burg.
I want you to fly, not crawl.
Much love
Your grandma
P.S. I won some money on the Powerball. Not billions, but enough to give the girls a start on their college funds, and some time for you to think over what you want.
Stephanie began to cry. How could two women so closely related as her mother and grandmother treat her so differently, and have so different views on how she should live her life? She counted the money. If she lived frugally she had at least half a year until she needed to get a job. Hopefully that time would make it possible to make up her mind on what she wanted to do, and to get there, or at least pointed in the right direction. And in that time Ranger should be back again. They needed to talk. She couldn't keep on hoping for a 'someday' if he wasn't headed in the same direction.
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The next day Stephanie continued to look on job sites, and also tried to figure out what kind of work she wanted to do. She had her business degree, and even though she didn't want a full time desk job - she shuddered at the thought of wearing pantyhose all the time - maybe she could have a job where she could utilize her different strengths. She also took a look on her 'career' as a bounty hunter. Honestly. Considering that she hadn't had any training before she started, she was definitely not a failure, no matter what Morelli or her mother called her. She had a really good percentage of FTAs brought back into the system. It was more that the execution of bringing them in sometimes, OK most of the time, lacked finesse. She was good at picking up the clues to find them. Not so good on getting them to come with her willingly. She couldn't help a grin. Vinnie would be in for a massive surprise if he thought Joyce Barnyard would bring in the skips as well as Stephanie. That was by the way another strength she had. Most people who met her liked her well enough. Joyce – well not so much. She just hoped that Mooner or other more likeable skips wouldn't have to deal with Joyce.
When she started to get hungry she ate the last leftovers from Ranger's dinner, and decided that she had to go shopping. She needed at least olives, peanut butter and bread. And maybe she should at least consider trying to eat a little more healthy. She sighed. She could almost hear Ranger's voice talking about her food choices. And then she decided that she was well on her way to a creepy Twilight-moment, hearing voices, and Stephanie Plum was definitely not going to be like Bella Swan. She picked up her purse and drove to buy some food. She avoided the Burg, and came home not having met anyone she knew. She put away the groceries, and sat down to look through ads in the local paper she had bought. Nothing looked interesting, but she decided she would also think about what kind of place she could see herself working at, and what would suit her. Definitely not the button factory or the personal products plant.
Her mother called her phone the next day, but Stephanie decided not to answer it. She needed a pause in her contacts with her mother. And frankly, she wanted, no needed, her mother to apologize for her words and actions. Grandma Mazur had a cell phone nowadays, so they had talked without interference from Helen. Stephanie had called her yesterday and thanked her grandma for the money, and Edna said that she had saved a little something for herself as well.
Today Edna said that Frank would drive her to the bingo that night, so she didn't need Stephanie's help. They both felt it was better not to have Stephanie in the vicinity of Helen Plum. Edna had also said she hadn't told Helen or Frank about the Powerball money. And revealed that she had overheard Helen talk to Joe Morelli on the phone. Edna hadn't been able to hear what they talked about, only that it was Joe. Stephanie sighed. She had hoped that Joe would understand that they were really and truly over. They had had a toxic relationship and honestly, she shouldn't ever have let him into her life again after she ran him over with the Buick.
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Later that same night someone knocked on her door. She checked that the door chain was on before she opened. Outside stood her dad.
"Hi, Pumpkin," she heard him say. "I drove your grandma to the bingo tonight. And when she was sitting at the table she had a massive stroke. The ambulance came and got her, but they couldn't do anything. Valerie took your mother to the hospital, and I came here to get you."
Stephanie distantly heard his voice, but she had trouble taking in what he said. And then she saw that her silent, stoic dad was crying. They hugged, and Stephanie could feel her own tears.
"I'll just grab my purse."
