Joe got blocked from entering the visitation room. He tried to get past the men at the door, but they held him back. Joe stood outside the room as he watched Stephanie. He recognized his daughter from the photographs. Joe looked around to see if his son was with Stephanie. It must be the reason for the thugs blocking his entrance.
"Is that Joe?" Savannah asked, motioning with her chin toward the door.
"Yes," Stephanie replied.
"He resembles a purvey, creepy mob boss," Savannah whispered. "I don't like the vibes he's radiating."
"Neither do I," Stephanie confessed. "Stay close to us, okay?" Savannah grabbed her hand.
The minister approached the pulpit set beside the casket while Dave Forester, Stiva's newest owner, closed and locked the casket. He welcomed everyone to Edna Mazur's funeral. After saying a prayer, he spoke about redemption, love and forgiveness. He shared how Edna lived her last year helping Stephanie, while making Stephanie believe she was helping Edna. Dave explained how Edna watched Stephanie's friends heal from their past traumas while helping her granddaughter see the amazing woman she became despite ridicule from the Burg. He reminded everyone that they are not without sin or fault. Many women in the room were part of spreading lies and rumours about Edna's granddaughter. The minister didn't mention names, but his eyes landed on Helen many times as he emphasized the hurt and pain caused by those claiming to love Stephanie. Helen felt it was a lecture more than sharing the word.
"I now call Edna's granddaughter, Stephanie, to come forward to share the eulogy," he said. Stephanie stood on shaky legs.
"You've got this, mom," Savannah whispered. Savannah heard the women judging Stephanie's funeral attire. She couldn't believe how petty the women behaved when Stephanie honoured her grandmother's request. Seeing is believing. Stephanie nodded but grabbed Ranger's hand. He escorted her to the front to share her story.
"When I was a child, my grandmother often came to my rescue. She baked cookies when I broke my arm after jumping off the roof. Grandma gave me spending money and encouragement to follow my dreams. I know everyone either read the poems Joe wrote or heard about them. Nobody knew I got pregnant. She protected me and guided me through the good and bad days. The Burg criticized and ridiculed me for losing my virginity to one of the Morelli boys. It was the worst time of my life," Stephanie said. Stephanie turned her head toward Ranger. He put his left arm across her shoulder, displaying the dark wedding band on his finger. Stephanie reached up to hold his hand. Helen gasped when she saw the matching rings.
"Grandma held me as I went into pre-term labour while visiting relatives. My beautiful daughter, Savannah, survived, but unfortunately, my son, Frankie, died. Grandma and I buried my son in the local cemetery. Joe, if you're listening today, Francis did not survive. His lungs were too underdeveloped to sustain his life. I'm not hiding him somewhere, so give up your quest to find him alive. He got buried in the Blessed Hearts Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio. His death destroyed me. I vowed never to have more children." Stephanie paused to wipe her eyes with the cloth handkerchief Ranger gave her.
"I remember when grandma received her prognosis. We went to her yearly appointments to hopefully hear good news. Grandma begged me to go on an adventure with her. She had a bucket list that she wanted to complete before she died. I was heartbroken. How was I supposed to travel to those places and watch grandma slowly die? Grandma had faith in me when I didn't. During our journey, we learned more about each other and ourselves. I've learned the importance of protecting the ones I love, beginning with me. Why didn't I make myself a priority? I let everyone bully me into what they expected from a Burg woman. I learned there is no limit to the love I share. There is nothing I wouldn't do to protect those I love. Most importantly, I learned to love myself. Grandma, without your love, patience and guidance, I would have missed out on my one true love. I have a future with my daughter. Thank you, Grandma. I love you."
Tears ran down Stephanie's cheeks. She didn't attempt to stop them. Ranger pulled Stephanie into his arms. "Edna was one of a kind. When my men learned Stephanie was taking time away from work to travel with Edna, they raised enough funds for the women to enjoy themselves and fly first class. Edna and Stephanie helped my men move past mental roadblocks. She missed her calling as a therapist. Her no-BS attitude made everyone she helped see their trauma in a different light. Edna was not afraid of calling us out on our misguided thoughts," Ranger said.
Ranger thought about the words Edna used to counter his concerns. He wouldn't be married to the love of his life without Edna's push off the precipice. Stephanie knew Ranger was watching his words in front of the younger children. "Edna thought outside the conventional box. She lived by her rules. I am honoured to have known her," Ranger added.
Stephanie squeezed Ranger's hand. "I have to share the last words my grandma said to me. Grandma told me not to sweat the petty stuff, but I should definitely pet the sweaty stuff," Stephanie shared.
Most people laughed, but Helen shouted, "Stephanie Michelle Plum. How dare you tell an inappropriate joke at a funeral."
"Stuff it, Helen," Frank replied.
"Men?" the minister asked. The pallbearers stepped forward to carry the casket. Zip, Bobby, Tank, Ram, Woody and Binkie carried Edna while Ranger, Cal and Lester kept Stephanie, Savannah and Julie safe. Hank and Chester kept Joe Morelli away from Stephanie and Savannah.
Joe was fuming. Two of Ranger's men blocked him from grabbing his daughter's arm. He wanted to know why Savannah didn't look for him. Not once did it occur to Joe that Savannah knew everything there was to know about Joseph Anthony Morelli. Savannah didn't like anything she read or heard about her biological father.
She watched him from the front of the room as complete strangers offered condolences. Savannah followed her mother by responding, "Thank you for coming." Savannah could see Joe trying to push his way past the guards. Joe was every bit the pompous ass the men described him to be.
Stephanie, Ranger, Lester, Valerie and all the children piled into the first limousine, leaving the rest of the men to ride inside the other vehicle. It didn't take long for them to arrive at the cemetery to bury Edna Mazur in the family plot.
Savannah held Stephanie's hand as they walked up the hill to the gravesite. Ranger stood protectively behind Stephanie, Julie and Savannah. Tank, Lester and Bobby quickly joined the ranks to act as their sentinels.
Every family member, including Charlie, tossed a yellow rose on the coffin, leaving Stephanie and Valerie for last. Valerie placed her flower with the others and said, "Goodbye, grandma."
Something caught Stephanie's eye as she leaned over to add her rose to the pile. "Vannah, duck," Stephanie yelled. She launched herself at Savannah as something ripped through her shoulder. Stephanie landed on top of Savannah.
More gunfire erupted around the grave. Valerie and the men had the children secured beneath their bodies. Lisa, Anna and Bert cried from fear. Cal passed Owen to Ella to get him to safety.
Javier Hernandez did not like anyone pretending to be him. He tracked down the fucker who dared to use the name and its affiliations within the New York gang. Hernandez wasn't dumb enough to mess with Hector Almirez or anyone under his protection. Hector and Ranger were the only men alive who scared Hernandez. "There you are, fucker," Hernandez said as he aimed at Eugene Brown. He waited until Eugene fired a shot before killing him. The defence of a third party would be his claim.
He heard the click of a gun engaging. "Put your hands where I can see them and drop the weapon," Tank ordered.
"Ah. Mr. Sherman. I didn't shoot Ms. Plum. I killed the fucker who shot her," Hernandez said. "The weapon is clean and I have a permit." Tank pulled Hernandez's hands behind his back to cuff him. Carl Costanza grabbed the gun to place inside the evidence bag.
"We'll match your weapon to ballistics," Carl replied. "If your bullet doesn't match the ones entering Stephanie's shoulder or Savannah's arm, we'll release you."
"Who shot the child?" Hernandez asked.
"You or Morelli," Tank replied.
Hernandez held up his hands. I only fired one shot after Eugene Brown hit Stephanie. Eugene got tagged by my bullet," he said. "Almirez better know I didn't shoot his hermana or sobrina." (sister or niece) "Morelli, the cop, came onto my turf, calling himself Jose Amante. Douche made off with a married woman while his girl stayed in Trenton. Everyone knows Jose was a cop. The asshole didn't know the language. What does he have against his ex-girl?"
"Mother of his child," Costanza replied. "Morelli got injured, and Eugene Brown is dead."
"The girls?" Hernandez asked.
Before Carl could reply, Stephanie screamed, "No! Not Savannah. Why? Who shot my baby? I'm going to kill him."
"Stephanie lives. Is her child okay?" Hernandez asked. He was afraid for his life. If Savannah died, Hector would take it out on him.
Carl didn't know the answer. They dragged Hernandez to the police cruiser in the parking lot, where they saw medics loading Savannah into the back of an ambulance. Stephanie and Ranger climbed inside with her. "Is she?" Tank asked.
"Vannah's okay, Tank," Stephanie replied. "Some asshole shot her in the arm and back, but the vest caught the second bullet. The blood on her jacket is from my shoulder."
Tank nodded at Ranger, then helped Carl load Hernandez into the car. Carl and Big Dog drove to the TPD with Eddie and Robin following behind with Morelli cuffed in the backseat.
"Babe, I thought your nightmare became a reality," Ranger said.
"So did I," she whispered. "Are you okay?"
"Not yet, but I will be. Babe, I was scared."
"Me too, Batman. Thank you for insisting we wear the vests beneath our jackets," Stephanie said. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Ranger held Stephanie as tight as possible without hurting her left shoulder.
Ranger's phone rang when they arrived at the hospital. He listened as Lester explained they had secured the area and located a few more gang bangers responsible for the shooting. "Eugene Brown got tagged by Javier Hernandez. Apparently, Hernandez doesn't like people impersonating him. I get it. I hate that shit too. Sally Sweet tagged Eugene Brown's Slayers buddies. They were the ones who survived when he gunned them down the last time. I'm still trying to figure out where he stored that Uzi," Lester explained. "I bet he pulled it out of his..."
"Santos," Ranger interrupted. "I don't care where Sweet got the gun. Does he need a lawyer?" Ranger and his men had a lot of firepower behind them, but they weren't the rescuers that day. It was the tall, cross-dressing man, who came to Stephanie's rescue for the second time. He stood with his legs spread apart, wearing three-inch heels and a short red dress with his Uzi in his right hand. Sally Sweet snapped the elastic around his wrist as he gave the officers his statement.
"Nope. Albert secured one from Rangeman to represent Sweet," Lester replied. "He won't get arrested for shooting Stephanie and Savannah because it wasn't the same rounds."
"Good. Morelli?" Ranger growled.
"Shot in the leg. Got stitched and dressed in the field by Bobby and on his way to the precinct," he reported.
"Julie?"
"With Hank, Chester, Raymond and Charlie. They're bringing her to the hospital," Lester replied.
"Eyes on Morelli and Helen," Ranger ordered.
"Yes, sir." Lester hung up, knowing their conversation had ended.
Inside the hospital emergency room, the doctor examined Savannah, then stitched the wound in her right arm. She received a prescription for antibiotics. "You're free to go," he announced.
"I'm waiting until you treat my mom," Savannah said defiantly. The doctor tried to get her to move, but she remained inside the room.
"Who is your mom?" he asked.
Stephanie opened the curtain. "I am," she replied. The doctor looked between the two women and shook his head. "I tried to tell the nurse we're related, but she didn't believe me."
He shook his head again. "Is there a possibility of being pregnant?" the doctor asked after stitching Stephanie's shoulder.
"Yes," Stephanie replied. The doctor tore the paper with the prescription and ripped it to shreds. He wrote a new prescription for Stephanie to get filled. The doctor told Stephanie to take the antibiotics for the full ten days since she couldn't take the stronger medication. "Thanks." Stephanie grabbed the paper and left with Savannah and Ranger. She wanted to get home to shower away the events of the day.
Helen ranted about the gunfire at the graveyard. She couldn't believe Stephanie had caused such an embarrassment. First, her daughter wore an inappropriate colour at the funeral, but she also told a crass joke. Then, Stephanie had to entice some lowlife to shoot at the coffin. If her mother wasn't already dead, she could have died when the bullet passed through Savannah's arm and embedded into the casket.
Nobody on site gave her the details regarding her family. She only wanted to know if her granddaughters and Valerie were okay. Helen couldn't care less about Stephanie. She married the wrong man, in her opinion. When she got home, she called the hospital for details. They blocked her from receiving information, citing litigation if they broke doctor-patient confidentiality. It was never a problem before. Why did everything have to change when Stephanie married that thug?
She had rushed to Joseph Morelli's side when he got shot. Helen used his belt to stop his leg from bleeding. The Rangeman medic, Bobby Brown, arrived to stitch his leg and wrap it in gauze and bandages. Bobby Brown said the bullet grazed his leg and a trip to the hospital was unnecessary. The police department could escort him to the hospital if he ran a fever.
Frank pulled Helen away from Joe Morelli. He was disgusted with her behaviour. "Why me? Why did my daughter have to embarrass me?" Helen whined. Frank rolled his eyes and pressed his lips together as Helen lamented during the walk to the car.
"Why did you have to be a bitch to our daughter? She should charge you with assault," Frank said.
"Please," Helen snapped. "Parents have the right to discipline their children."
"Stephanie is not a child. She's a married adult. Our daughter did not need your permission to get married, and Stephanie certainly did not need your approval in her choice of husband. She honoured Edna's request for her funeral, which was to wear bright colours and celebrate her life. I'm dropping you off at Stephanie's old apartment. I got the men to move your clothes from my house to your new home," Frank said. He pulled into the parking lot of the apartment building.
"But what will the neighbours say when I'm not at the reception?" Helen asked.
"I don't give a damn," Frank yelled. Helen jumped back from his tone. "You should have thought about it when you slapped our daughter in front of hundreds of witnesses."
Frank parked the car and turned it off. He pocketed the keys to prevent Helen from retrieving them. Frank walked to the passenger side, opened the door and roughly pulled Helen from the seat. He marched her to the entrance at the back, then gave her two keys. One opened the front and back entry doors, and the second opened apartment two-fifteen. "Wait! Don't leave me here, please," Helen begged.
"You have the divorce papers, Helen. I recommend you sign it. Goodbye," Frank replied. He ran to his car, jumped inside, then sped off.
Helen looked at the apartment windows, wondering if anyone had witnessed what Frank did. Her new neighbours were at the Polish club, waiting for Stephanie to arrive.
"Is Aunt Stephie coming?" Mary Alice asked Binkie.
"They're just leaving the hospital. Stephanie and Savannah need to change first," he replied.
"Oh. Mom said we're only here for another hour. I hope she gets here soon," she said.
Charlie put her arm around Mary Alice's shoulder for comfort. "You know Stephanie can't say no to all that food," Charlie said, pointing to the tables behind her.
"But it's almost all gone," she whined.
Julie bounded across the room to Charlie and Mary Alice. "Hey, Mary Alice. Did you know they have more food in the kitchen for Stephanie?" she asked.
Mary Alice's eyes popped open. "They do?"
"Yup. It's kind of a funny story. Would you like to hear it?" Julie asked. She guided Mary Alice to a set of chairs in the corner. Julie gently pushed Mary Alice onto a chair. She moved one to face Mary Alice, then sat down. The other children quickly joined Julie and Mary Alice.
"Can we hear the story too?" Michael asked.
"Of course," Julie said, smiling. "Your great-grandma Edna planned everything. Steph, grandma Edna, Savannah and I talked about the reception for the funeral today. Grandma Edna reserved the hall until midnight because she knew something was going to happen at the gravesite."
"Woah," Michael replied. "How would she know that?"
Julie giggled. Binkie and Woody found the question amusing. Stephanie had shared the reason for Edna's bucket list with them. It amazed them that Stephanie selected those specific men to accompany her to dinner with the Plums, and they were the ones requiring the most help from Stephanie and Edna.
"Grandma Edna said with grandma Helen, anything was possible. It was best to plan for the worst but hope for the best. She expected Helen to make a scene when her friends and grandchildren wore bright colours to her funeral," Julie explained.
"Is that why grandma slapped Aunt Stephanie?" Angie asked.
"Yes, and not telling Helen about Savannah," Julie replied.
"So we know why we can stay here until midnight, but why do they have more food?" Michael asked.
"She told us to have a food fight," Lester replied. He tossed some pasta salad at the kids. Everyone ran around, throwing the food around the room.
There wasn't any food left on the table when Stephanie, Ranger and Savannah arrived. "Oh my goodness," Stephanie said, laughing. "Lester, you were supposed to wait for me."
Lester lowered his head. "Sorry, Beautiful," he said.
"Cleaning crew, activate," Stephanie shouted. The men stood at attention for a few seconds before moving around the room to clean.
Tank and Hector arrived within a few minutes with clean clothes for all the guests. Bobby whistled to catch everybody's attention. "We have clothes for everyone. When you've changed, dump the clothes into the laundry baskets. They will get laundered and returned," Stephanie announced.
"It's not necessary, my dear," a few women protested.
"Sorry, but it's my grandma's request. She covered the cost of everything," Stephanie said.
"Okay, but only because it's what Edna wanted. Thank you for an enjoyable evening. Tell Clarissa behind the bar when to bring the remaining food out," Mrs. Bestler said.