Chapter 17
Stephanie lifted Ricky from the SUV and placed him into the stroller. He squealed when they entered Pino's, where his Rangeman uncles were waiting for him to arrive. Every eye turned towards the door to watch Stephanie enter with a child.
Phone cameras flashed as people took photos of Stephanie. Others took videos of her entrance. Eddie approached Stephanie and her entourage. "Hi, Stephanie. You look radiant," Eddie greeted.
"Thanks, Eddie. How's the family?" she asked.
"Great. I see you've been busy creating your own family," Eddie stated as he pointed to Ricky and her baby bump.
"Maybe just a little," Stephanie joked. "This one will be here in another five months. The boy getting passed around my Merry Men is Ricky."
"Manoso's boy?" Eddie asked. Eddie raised an eyebrow when Mateo lifted his face to look at him.
"Yes. Ricky celebrated his first birthday a few weeks ago," Stephanie replied.
Eddie calculated the math mentally before asking, "Is he why?"
"Why I left? Partly. I wanted to get through the pregnancy without interference," she confessed. "Carlos and I got married on Valentine's Day last year. Mateo, this is my cousin-in-law, Eddie. Eddie, Mateo is Carlos' younger brother."
"Congrats, Steph. A pleasure to meet you, Mateo," Eddie said before he hugged Stephanie. She took a seat at the table and pulled Ricky onto her lap when Joe barged into Pino's.
Joe saw Stephanie sitting at the table in the back, surrounded by the men from Rangeman. He saw the little boy on her lap and instantly knew he was her child with Manoso. Joe felt ashamed of his behaviour towards Stephanie. If he had kept his dick in his pants, the child she was holding could have been his.
He approached the table to speak to Stephanie. "Hi, Stephanie. You look happy," Joe stated.
Stephanie was surprised Joe didn't call her Cupcake. "Thanks, Joe. How are you?" she asked with genuine concern. She knew about his prostate removal and the pregnancies. Stephanie was sad Morelli couldn't have children, but he did that damage to himself.
"Okay, I guess. Listen, I want to apologize for the way I've treated you in the past. I hope someday we could be friends," he replied. Stephanie wasn't convinced his apology was genuine. Many times before, he'd beg for forgiveness just to repeat the same behaviour as before.
"You're forgiven. It will take time to get past the hurt and pain you caused before we can become friends," Stephanie honestly stated.
"Sure," Joe sadly responded. "Take care."
"You too, Joe," Stephanie reciprocated as Joe walked away.
"That was disappointing," Mateo stated. "I was expecting to see the Italian anger and fireworks Hal mentioned on the way here." Everybody laughed until they saw Helen Plum enter.
"Here come the fireworks," Stephanie whispered to Mateo.
Helen entered Pino's furious that Stephanie returned without so much as a phone call. What kind of daughter doesn't call her mother when she gets home? An ungrateful one, Helen thought. She stomped towards the back table where her loser daughter sat with the thugs from Rangeman. Helen stopped short when she saw the adorable child in Stephanie's arms.
Her anger switched to high gear. "Stephanie Michelle Plum. How dare you embarrass me by showing up with a bastard child," Helen screeched.
"Hi, mother. Nice to see you too. I'm feeling wonderful. Thank you for asking," Stephanie quietly said.
Helen was taken aback for a second before she laced into Stephanie. Ricky wailed as Helen continued to yell. "Helen!" Stephanie yelled. Her mother stopped mid sentence to stare at her youngest daughter. "You are upsetting my son. If you don't know how to behave without embarrassing me, then leave. My son doesn't need to hear your vile words."
"How dare you talk to me in that tone," Helen admonished.
"In the same tone, you talk to me? Whatever, mother. Do you ever stop to hear what you are saying? The only problem I see is you interfering and attempting to control everything in my life. You wanted me to get married and have children. Guess what, mother? I am married, and I have a son and another on the way. What more do you want from me? Please tell me what you want because I would really like to know," Stephanie stated calmly and quietly.
Helen opened and closed her mouth like a fish. She didn't know how to respond. Stephanie was correct because she got married and had children. Both were things Helen wanted for her daughter. The only problem was not getting Joseph for a son-in-law.
Stephanie watched her mother's face and realized what her mom wanted. She laughed and said, "Marrying Joe Morelli was never and will never be an option. If I were you, I'd stop wishing for the impossible."
"What if something happens to Carlos?" Helen asked, playing the devil's advocate.
"Then I'll marry one of these men at my table," Stephanie announced. "Anyone other than Joseph Morelli."
Helen stomped her way towards the exit. She tripped and fell flat on her face. Stephanie looked horrified until Ricky started laughing. Everyone quickly joined. "Did the mean lady falling make you laugh, Ricky?" Lester asked. Ricky smiled until his cheeks puffed out and laughed harder.
Stephanie laughed when the men were deciding who she would marry if Carlos passed away. It was ridiculous, but something that could happen. They immediately discounted Mateo because he was her brother by marriage. She rolled her eyes and ordered a meatball sub when the waitress arrived to take their orders.
Ricky ate whatever Stephanie had on her plate. She broke off pieces small enough for him to eat. Her pants and top were stained from marinara sauce after he ate, but she didn't care. The Burg could take their opinions and shove them where the sun doesn't shine. Stephanie couldn't care less.
Valerie arrived with the girls to visit with Stephanie and Ricky. Mary Alice immediately loved her cousin. Angie looked down her nose at the mess Ricky made of Stephanie's clothes. "He's still a baby, Angie. They make messes," Valerie said when Angie commented.
"But Aunt Stephie is in public. Grandma Helen said it's embarrassing," Angie whispered. "She needs to think about how other people view her cleanliness."
Stephanie wasn't amused. Valerie was embarrassed Angie would say such a thing in public. Her daughter idolized her grandmother too much. It was something Valerie was trying to correct. She didn't want her child raised in the old-fashioned Burg manner, yet Valerie caught herself redirecting Mary Alice to comply with Angie's mannerisms. She found it hard to turn off the parent tapes.
"Angie, commenting out loud in public is rude," Valerie said loud enough for only Angie and Mary Alice to hear.
"But grandma said," Angie interrupted.
"Angie, I'm your mother. You follow my rules, not grandma's. Did I make myself clear?" Valerie scolded.
"Yes, mom," Angie replied.
Mary Alice grabbed Angie's hand to comfort her. She was empathic like her aunt, Stephanie. It wasn't nice to make fun of someone getting scolded. Mary Alice didn't like Angie rubbing in her mistakes. She refused to behave in that manner.
Valerie hugged Stephanie and said goodbye. It was time to get the girls home. She wasn't impressed with Angie's behaviour towards her aunt and cousin. Valerie never realized how harmful her mother's words were until she heard Angie criticize Stephanie. It was time to stop the behaviour before it escalated.
Joe visited his mom to discuss his father. His sister Cathy picked up Bella to spend time with her and the kids to give Joe and Angie privacy to talk. "How bad was dad?" Joe asked.
"I don't know what you mean," Angie stated.
"Mom, I know dad slept around, and he beat you. Why did you let me and Anthony get away with our behaviour?" Joe wanted an honest answer from his mom.
"You have always been a good boy, Joey. Stephanie Plum tricked you into taking her into the garage," Angie replied, using the words Bella kept repeating while refusing to say anything negative about her late husband.
"That's not what I remembered doing, mom. I coerced her into following me. She was always curious, and I took advantage of her," Joe stated.
"No, you didn't, Joey. It was all Stephanie's fault," she tried to convince him. If Joey left the region, Bella would never forgive her.
Joe pulled his hand down his face. "Mom, I know you don't believe what you are telling me today. Dad isn't here to force you to take his side," Joe said. He reached to grab his mom's hands.
A tear dripped off Angie's chin. "I wanted you to marry a good Italian girl. Stephanie was a good girl until she got mixed up with the hooligans at Rangeman," Angie stated. Bella was going to curse her unless she convinced Joey to stay. He was Bella's favourite grandchild.
"Mom, Stephanie and I brought out the worst in each other. I see that now. Look how I reacted when you and Helen planned our wedding. A married man should not cheat on his wife, so I tried to get it out of my system before committing fully to Stephanie. My prostate is gone. I have no Morelli namesake, and I don't think I can have sex again. Stephanie didn't deserve how I treated her. One day I'll find the woman I'm supposed to marry. It isn't Stephanie," Joe explained.
"She married one of those thugs at Rangeman," Angie stated, repeating the rumour Bella heard at the butcher.
"Stephanie married Manoso. They have a son together, and she's expecting again. She's the happiest I have ever seen. Stephanie was never that happy with me. I'm transferring to another precinct," Joe confessed.
"Where?" Angie asked.
"Pennsylvania PD. I have a few friends in the department. The commissioner offered me the detective position in major crimes. I can finally get out of homicide."
"That would make you happy," Angie stated, finally understanding his need to change jobs, but not why he wanted to leave.
"It would. I want what Stephanie found with Manoso. I'm not going to find that in Trenton," Joe said. "Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast. It isn't arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth."
"Why are you quoting the bible, Joey?" Angie asked, her eyes narrowed as she studied his face.
"It's how Stephanie and Manoso feel about each other. I saw it years ago, but I had to possess her. I'm not in love with Stephanie. I don't respect her. When we dated, she drove me crazy. I want an easier marriage than what I had as an example," Joe answered.
Angie finally understood. "You want the all-consuming love of your life that you see in Hallmark movies," she said while trying to keep a straight face.
"Love of my life, yes. Hallmark kind of love, I'll pass," Joe said before laughing.
They laughed until Angie said, "I'm proud of you, Joey. I want you to be happy. Find a nice Catholic woman with children to raise."
"Okay, mom. Thanks for the talk." Joe kissed his mother's cheek before he left the house.
Stephanie buckled Ricky into the stroller after changing his clothes in the washroom. She had Ricky bundled to protect him from the elements. The temperature dropped between the time they arrived at Pino's until they got ready to leave. Mateo took the stroller to push Ricky towards the SUV. Tank, Lester and Hector were close by to ensure the Manosos remained safe.
Hector checked the line of cars to make sure they didn't have trackers or other surprises. When he cleared the vehicles, they got into the SUVs. The entourage followed Stephanie's SUV and watched for tails.
Ricky fell asleep during the ride home. Mateo carefully removed him from the car seat to carry him into the house. Stephanie laughed when he slowly unzipped his snowsuit. "Mat, you don't need to be so gentle. He's not going to break," she said as she bumped him out of the way. She quickly undressed Ricky and laid him in the playpen in the living room. The men sat around the living room to watch Ricky sleep.
"He's going to be a spoiled boy," Hector whispered when Stephanie returned from changing her clothes. She wore Ranger's oversized shirt with yoga pants.
"Loved, not spoiled," Stephanie corrected. Hector wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against his side. He raised an eyebrow, silently asking if he could touch her baby bump. "It's too soon for you to feel the baby move. I can feel the flutters."
Hector smiled when Stephanie placed his hand on her stomach. "I'll deliver this one too," Hector said before repeating it louder in Spanish. Stephanie rolled her eyes.
"Did Hector just offer to deliver the baby?" Bobby asked.
"He did," Stephanie giggled. "Hector delivered Ricky."
The men were shocked. They didn't know Hector discovered Stephanie's location and delivered the baby. Hector spoke rapid Spanish to tell the men the story. Stephanie caught most of the story. She waited for Hector to say how the midwife helped after Ricky was born. "Who delivered the placenta?" Bobby asked. He couldn't picture Hector would want to deal with that mess.
"A local midwife. I found a woman to monitor the pregnancy. Hector did most of the work, but she arrived in time to handle the rest," Stephanie replied.
Bobby, Lester and Mateo decided to research how to help Stephanie if she goes into labour too quick to get to the hospital. She rolled her eyes but didn't stop them from making plans.
Stephanie leaned against Hal and fell asleep. Growing a human made her tired. Several hours later, she felt someone lift her from the couch. From the scent of their cologne, she knew it was Mateo. "Thanks, Mat," Stephanie mumbled, then kissed his cheek.
Mateo hoped he could find a woman like Stephanie one day. She's the epitome of the perfect woman, mother and wife. He returned to the living room to check on Ricky. Watching Stephanie earlier today made Mateo realize the men gravitated towards her because she's generous, loving, kind and accepting. Stephanie loves them for being the men they are.
Tank lifted Ricky from the playpen and changed his diaper. Ricky buried his face into Tank's neck as he carried him upstairs for bed. "Sleep, little one. I'll see you in the morning," Tank whispered. He stared at the little boy who resembled his mother more than his father. Tank never saw himself being a father, but the amazing little boy made him wish for things he never wanted before.