Chapter 27
Joe and Paulina arrived in Trenton to help Angie Morelli plan the funeral for Bella Morelli. Grandma Bella passed away in her sleep during the night. Cameron celebrated his tenth birthday the day before.
"I thought she'd live forever," Paulina stated. "I'll visit with Stephanie while you help your mom."
"Thanks, sweetheart," Joe said after kissing his wife.
Paulina drove to the Manoso home. She smiled when the gate opened. Stephanie waited on the front porch for her friend to arrive. "You get more beautiful every day," Paulina whispered as she hugged Stephanie.
"So do you, Lina. Everyone is inside waiting," Stephanie announced. "How's Joe?"
"Devastated. He was close to Grandma Bella," Paulina replied. "I've never seen him look so lost and broken."
"He'll get through this," Stephanie stated. "Let me know if I can help." Paulina nodded.
"Tia Lina," Michaela shouted.
"You're looking more like your mother every time I see you," Paulina told Michaela. "How old are you now? Twenty?"
"No. I'm nine," Michaela replied, rolling her eyes. "Julie's twenty-three."
"Where has the time gone?" Paulina wondered. Michaela shrugged her shoulders before grabbing Cameron's hand.
"I'm taking Cam to the kitchen for a snack," Michaela said over her shoulder. Tawny had already bypassed the group of adults to see Ella in the kitchen. She wasn't shy, but she didn't like getting surrounded by a lot of people.
"Sorry about your loss, Lina." Stephanie hugged her friend again. "I'm sorry about the crowd," she added. "Julie got home early this morning."
"And all of her hunky uncles had to drop by," Paulina joked.
"Something like that."
"Is she still dating the Gazarra boy?" Paulina asked.
"No. Julie and Shawn broke up after their basic training in the army. She said it wasn't working with Shawn. He's a nice boy, but not the one for her. Julie started dating Dexter Emerson the following year," Stephanie explained.
"Let me guess, Shawn couldn't handle the shovel talks?" Paulina asked.
"Nope," Stephanie admitted.
"Who is Dexter?"
"Oh. Do you remember Hal? Dexter is his younger brother. Julie developed a crush when he joined Rangeman." Paulina laughed as they joined the horde of men in the living room.
Dexter got shovel talks from all of Julie's uncles. Stephanie and Paulina barely contained their laughter. "What's funny?" Julie asked as she sat beside Stephanie.
"Your uncles are telling Dex to treat you right, or he'd have to answer to them," Paulina explained.
"For the love of chocolate! Why? They already did that when we started dating," Julie complained.
"I think the rock on your finger would be the reason for the recent threats," Stephanie stated. "Congrats, Jules."
"Thanks, mom. Dex proposed when he picked me up from the airport. We were planning to announce our engagement dinner," Julie said. "I didn't sign a new contract with the army."
"Why not? I thought you were enjoying your job?" Stephanie asked.
Julie leaned into Stephanie to whisper, "I'm pregnant. Dad's going to flip."
She had returned from a three-month deployment which meant she was nearly four months pregnant. "I'm not ready to be a grandma yet, but I'm happy for you, Jules," Stephanie honestly replied.
"Are they still dishing the shovel talks?" Cami asked.
"Yup," Julie replied. "I think they noticed my new jewelry."
"That they have," Cami confirmed. "Hal and I are excited for you, Jules. However, we don't know if you're our niece or sister-in-law."
"Sister-in-law trumps niece," Julie quickly replied.
Julie, Stephanie and Cami looked around the room at their extended family and friends. Manny had his arm wrapped around his wife, Tonya. Cami stared at her husband, Hal's, ass. Stephanie smiled at her niece, Cece chasing after Cami's son.
Tank and Celia only had two children, Philippe and Cece. They decided to stop after their daughter Cece was born. Hal and Cami had a boy they named Jasper. Cami was expecting their second son in a few months.
Manny and Tonya don't have children because they both made sure it was permanently impossible. Lester and Peyton had a young daughter. Paisley was their only child. Bobby and Sasha had a boy they named Robert.
Most of the older Rangeman guys retired from the business. The younger men worked in the BEA department. Stephanie, Cami and Tonya handled all the client contract negotiations while Ranger, Lester, Bobby and Tank managed the branches.
Helen Plum had moved in with Angie Morelli when Bella got sick and required more care. She remained a respectable woman. Her grandchildren got to know the kind, gentle grandmother that Stephanie had with Edna Mazur.
"Are you okay, mom?" Julie asked.
"I'm fine, sweetie. I was thinking about your grandma Plum, which got me thinking about my grandma, Edna Mazur. I miss her," Stephanie replied.
"Me too." Grandma Mazur passed away in her sleep. Stephanie had gone to the apartment to check on her. Edna died with a big smile on her face.
"She must have dreamed of happy times," Stephanie added.
"Grandma Mazur lived her life like there was no tomorrow," Julie stated.
"Too true." Stephanie stood from the couch. She tugged Julie's hand, getting her to follow. "We need to tell your father," Stephanie stated.
Carlos saw his wife and eldest child maneuvering through the men towards the kitchen. Stephanie shook her head and pointed out the back door. "Babe?" Carlos asked when she closed the door behind them.
"Julie?" Stephanie prodded.
Ranger never gave his daughter the chance to speak. "Congratulations, Julie. Dexter is a respectable young man. When are you due?"
"Dad? How did you know?" Julie asked.
"I'm your father. I know things," he joked.
Julie rolled her eyes. Stephanie mouthed, "Batman," when Julie caught her eye. She should have known that Batman knows everything.
"Mom, do you think I can do this?" Julie asked, rubbing her abdomen.
"Of course you can. I've seen you with your brothers and sister. You'll be a great mother," Stephanie replied.
"Only because I had an amazing role model. I love you, mom," Julie said as she hugged Stephanie.
"Dexter, fall in!" Ranger barked through the back door.
Dexter's face paled when his boss ordered him to the yard. He got many warnings from the guys regarding Julie. "Sir?" Dexter asked as he closed the door behind him.
"Congratulations, son," Ranger replied. Julie had confessed that she didn't tell Dexter about their child. Ranger wanted that oversight to get rectified immediately.
"Thank you, sir," Dexter stated.
Stephanie and Julie laughed. "Dex, sweetie. It's Carlos," Stephanie reminded him.
"Dex, I'm fifteen weeks pregnant," Julie announced.
"We're having a baby, love?" Dex asked.
"Yes, we're having a baby," Julie repeated. Dexter lifted Julie and swung her around. "You're happy?"
"Over the moon with joy," he replied.
"Can we get married next weekend?" Julie asked.
"Anything your heart desires," Dex wisely answered.
Stephanie and Carlos smiled at the couple. She remembered telling Carlos about Mattie. Carlos kissed the tear from her cheek. "Remembering Mateo, Babe?"
"Yes. Your face showed the same glow as Dexter," Stephanie replied. "We have a wedding to plan."
"Ella will help," Ranger stated.
The following weekend, Ranger walked his oldest daughter across the garden to the arch at the back of their yard. He kissed Julie's cheek before giving her hand to Dexter.
Rachel sat beside Ron and their children on the bride's side of the garden. She was still dating Trevor and had no intention to marry the man.
Ron never settled into a long-term relationship with another woman. His marriage to Rachel put a sour taste in his mouth.
Julie's brother, Ronald Jr, and sister, Silvia, saw through Rachel's facade years earlier. They only talked to her when necessary. Ron felt it was a shame that Rachel couldn't express genuine feelings of remorse.
He was surprised that Julie invited them to the wedding. Julie never talked to Ron or Rachel after Stephanie adopted her. However, she did maintain contact with her brother and sister.
Fifteen weeks later…
"Mom, my water broke," Julie announced. Stephanie was helping Michaela with her homework.
"Okay. I'll get Rickie to help your sister," Stephanie stated. She sent a few texts as she went to help Julie.
"I dropped some towels on the mess Jules made in the living room," Mattie announced. "Do I have to clean it too?"
"No, sweetie. Your uncle Mateo said he'd take care of it. Thanks for helping. Did you grab the blanket?" Stephanie asked.
"I left it on Julie's hospital bag," he replied.
"I've got Michaela, mom. Get Jules to the hospital," Rickie said as he gently shoved Stephanie towards the door.
Stephanie helped Julie get into the car. "Dexter and your father will meet us at the hospital," Stephanie told Julie. "I can hardly wait to meet my grandson."
"It feels like a baby whale," Julie complained. "Are you sure Dexter will be at the hospital?"
"Yes, Jules. Your baby daddy will be at the hospital," Stephanie reassured Julie.
They got to the hospital in plenty of time. Twelve hours later, Julie gave birth to her first child, Jordan Steven Emerson. He weighed just over ten pounds. "He's handsome," Stephanie said as she held the boy.
Dexter climbed onto the bed to lie beside Julie. "I'm proud of you, Jules."
"We make beautiful babies," she stated.
Stephanie couldn't wait to see what the future held for her daughter. When their children got older, Carlos and Stephanie would give them Rangeman to control. It was their legacy for their children and grandchildren.
"Deep thoughts, Babe?" Ranger asked as he lifted Jordan from Stephanie's arms.
"Thinking about Rangeman and our children," she confessed.
"It will belong to them one day," Ranger stated.
"I can't wait."
"Neither can I."
Fifteen years later, Michaela Manoso married Cameron Morelli. Helen Plum never got to see the day her granddaughter married a Morelli man.
Joe wrapped his arm across Stephanie's shoulder. "I think this is what the fates had in mind," he whispered.
"Exactly. It's the reason we never worked," Stephanie agreed. "We were always meant to be family."
"I couldn't agree more," Ranger added. Joe left Carlos and Stephanie to congratulate the newlyweds.
Ricardo Carlos Manoso IV stood beside his son, Ricardo Manoso V and his four year old nephew, Calvin Manoso. His brother, Mateo, had married a girl named Evelyn that he met in college. They named their son after Cal to honour Mateo's favourite uncle. Mateo got the flaming skull tattooed on his arm a few weeks after Cal passed away.
Stephanie looked around the reception hall. Many of her Merry Men were with their wives and children. A few were missing. Cal, Vince and Binkie had passed away six years earlier from a warehouse explosion. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Frank Plum watched his youngest daughter with amusement. He never thought he'd see the day when a Plum woman married a Morelli. Cameron was nothing like his grandfather. For that alone, Frank was thankful.
Valerie sat with her children and grandchildren at the reception table. She had lost Albert a few years earlier from a stroke. Val reached across the table to touch Mary Alice's hand. Of all the children, Mary Alice was the only one not married. She had two children and lived with her long-time boyfriend. Valerie accepted their decision. She waved at Stephanie across the room. Stephanie finger waved in return.
"The best is yet to come," Carlos whispered to his wife.
Truer words have never been spoken.