Chapter 14
I thought Casey got spoiled by my Merry Men. It was nothing in comparison to how much they doted on Dani. Woody and I travelled to New York every second weekend to spend time with my family. We stayed with my grandpa Frank and great-grandpa Henry whenever we visited. It was easier for us to drive to New York because our work schedules were more flexible.
My dad, Danny, loved his granddaughter. "Hi, Daniella," Dad said when he held her for the first time. "I'm your grandpa. You look like your mommy. Beauty with big blue eyes."
Grandpa Frank approached me to take Casey from my arms. "You look great," he said. "How much exercise is Rangeman getting you to do?"
"No more than what they expect of any other employee," I replied.
"What about the top-secret mission to the jungle? Did everything go as expected?"
"I have a new appreciation of what our soldiers do for our country. It was exhilarating and scary at the same time. I'm glad my team listened when I told them to run. We avoided getting caught in the crossfire," I replied. Grandpa Frank was in the Marines and understood how precarious a mission could get. I could tell Great-grandpa Henry heard our conversation.
"You lead your team to safety?" Henry asked.
"I only told them to run," I said.
"But nobody got hurt, right?"
"Correct. We all got out of the area without sustaining injuries," I explained.
"In other words, you lead your team to safety," Frank said, smiling. Casey reached towards grandpa's face, touched his moustache and giggled.
"Did grandpa's moustache tickle you, Casey?" I asked.
"Mama." Casey giggled and touched Frank's moustache again, "Bapa."
"I think Casey called you grandpa," Henry laughed.
"Sounded like Bapa to me," Danny joked. Casey started laughing. His laughter was infectious.
Erin, Eddie, Sean, Jack, Danny, Jamie and I looked at each other. We tried to reign in our laughter, but when we looked at Frank, we couldn't stop it from bubbling to the surface. It didn't take long for Frank and Henry to join.
Casey squirmed until Frank put set him on the floor. He wobbled away to get cuddles from his uncles and aunts. I smiled when he went to dad and tugged on his pants.
"Here, dad. You can hold Daniella," Danny said as he placed my daughter into her great-grandpa's arms. Danny had a grin on his face. I watched Dani's face and knew what she was doing.
"Please tell me you didn't pass off your granddaughter as she was filling her diaper," I whispered. Danny grinned as he lifted Casey.
"Stephanie, I think Daniella needs her diaper changed," Frank said. Dani grinned as she looked at her great-grandpa.
"Danny always passed off the boys when they needed diaper changes," Erin announced, outing him to Woody and me.
"I did not. I've changed diapers before," Danny said as he tried, and failed, to keep a straight face.
"Only when I wasn't available, and Linda was at work," Erin said, reminding him of operation baby diaper diversion.
"Busted," Henry laughed.
"Man, give me a break," Danny said. He tried to defend himself, but his siblings weren't giving him an inch. I laughed as Woody took Dani to change her diaper.
"He's a keeper," Erin joked. She watched Woody retreat up the stairs to change Dani in our room.
"I'm lucky," I admitted. "Woody doesn't mind changing diapers."
"Does he cook too?" Eddie asked.
"Yup. I can make some dishes, but Woody is an amazing cook," I replied.
"Jamie and I don't get a lot of time to make a home-cooked meal," Eddie confessed. "We get take out or eat street meat."
"Which is why we have family dinner every Sunday," Grandpa Frank stated.
Casey pulled on Sean's pant leg after dad put him back on the floor. He wanted his uncle to pick him up. "Casey is affectionate," Danny observed.
"He's spoiled. At Rangeman, all my Merry Men carry him around the control room. Casey rarely has nobody holding him," I stated.
"I assume they carry Daniella around too?" Danny asked.
"They do," Woody replied, having returned with a freshly changed Dani.
Woody and I stayed overnight then left early the following morning. We wanted the children's routines to remain constant. Frank kissed Casey and Dani's forehead before he left. I hugged him and Henry before I put Dani into her car seat. "We'll see you in a few weeks," I said before getting into the car.
Casey started wearing black cargo pants and Rangeman shirts. He looked cute running around the control room, babbling orders to the men. Dani wore the black cargo pants too, but her shirts were pink with Rangeman embroidered in pink a few shades darker than the shirt colour.
Time flew by too fast, and my babies grew up even quicker. My baby, Dani, turned four, and Casey would celebrate his fifth birthday next month.
Casey attended the private Catholic school a few blocks away from the Rangeman office. On most days, Casey insisted on walking to school. He selected a different uncle each day to walk him.
Dani, my beautiful little girl, had her uncle Carlos wrapped around her finger. The twinkle in her eye told me that Carlos indulged her again. "What did you do?" I asked when Dani ran from his office, giggling.
"She wanted an electric pink Jeep. I promised she'd get it at her birthday party tomorrow," he replied.
"Why would you do that? Dani's spoiled enough by you," I complained.
Ranger pulled me onto his lap and kissed my cheek. "I'd do anything for mini-Babe," he said.
"Woody and I appreciate your generosity, Ranger. Promise me that you and Ella didn't go over the top to plan her party," I begged.
"Babe," he said, smiling. I loved seeing Ranger smile. His two-hundred-watt smile illuminated the room.
"You look handsome when you smile. Has Julie decided on a college?" I asked.
"Columbia," Ranger replied. "She's moving here in August."
"It would be nice to have her close," I stated. "Julie is an amazing young woman. I can't wait to see her again."
"I've sent her photos of Casey and Daniella. She's looking forward to seeing your children. I'm sorry, Babe," Ranger said.
"I don't mind that you sent Julie photos," I stated. I had a feeling that he was apologizing for more than sending the pictures.
"I'm still in love with you, Babe. I wish I could have given you everything you deserve," Ranger confessed.
He loves me body, heart and soul. It wasn't the first time Ranger had professed his love for me. I saw the love in his eyes just as I see it disappear. My heart broke as I realized Woody and I needed to leave Trenton to give Ranger a chance to fall out of love with me.
Ranger lifted my chin to look into my eyes. "Please don't leave me," he whispered. "I'd rather see you with Woody raising your children than to live a day without you here."
"Carlos, I could see it's breaking your heart. I don't want to hurt you anymore," I quietly said.
"Please, Babe." I looked into his eyes and agreed. Woody and I talked about leaving many times. We wanted the children to live closer to their grandfather.
"Woody and I will stay," I stated without adding, "for now."
Eventually, Woody and I would leave Trenton. I suspected Ranger could read my thoughts. He kissed my forehead and let me get off his lap.
Several years later…
My gorgeous daughter, Daniella, graduated high school with top grades. She decided to attend Columbia University to live closer to her grandfather Danny Reagan. I'd miss her, but she was only a short drive away.
Casey had joined the marines. The Merry Men were disappointed that he didn't join the Army or Navy. My son followed in the footsteps of his grandfather. He planned to enrol into the New York police academy after his third tour. I didn't want him to be a cop, but it wasn't my decision to make.
True to my word, my family remained in Trenton. Woody and I retired from Rangeman. We lived off our generous Rangeman pensions. Ranger never found a love interest. I was sad he didn't find someone else to love. He deserved to be happy.
Woody and I were just as in love as the first night we got together. He truly was my soulmate. My wonderful, amazing husband supported my decisions. We visited his parents and my New York family whenever time permitted.
I visited Nicky for a few days every few months. She was a fun shopping partner. We laughed and made poor choices in food. We'd run off the fatty foods, but it was worth it. Nicky was like the sister I had always wanted.
Many years later…
My life was full of love and laughter. It was the ride of a lifetime. The past few years were tough as we said goodbye to our friends and family. I was married to Woody for fifty-five years before he passed away. He was the love of my life.
Woody's death wasn't as hard for me as losing Casey thirty years earlier. My amazing, handsome son got caught in the crossfire of rival gangs in New York. Getting that call at 1 am was devastating. His young bride miscarried their first child through her grief. I haven't seen her since the funeral.
Unfortunately, I had to say goodbye to Carlos a few years after Woody. I loved Carlos, not as much as I loved Woody, but the feelings were nonetheless true. His funeral was hard for me to endure. I held Julie as she placed a white rose on the coffin.
"You're the last man standing, Stephanie," Julie whispered. "Rangeman belongs to you now."
"Rangeman belongs to the family," I said, disagreeing with her. "Your son, Carlos, should have the company. I've signed the company over to Carlos and Daniella."
"Thank you, Stephanie."
"Do your father proud," I said. When Julie left me alone at the gravesite, I placed a red rose on the coffin. "I love you, Carlos."
A few nights later, as I lay in my bed, I dreamed of Carlos and Woody. They were asking me to come home. Behind the men, I saw my extended family and friends. I took Carlos and Woody's hands and allowed them to lead me to where I belonged.
Daniella's point of view:
"Thank you for taking the time to honour my mother, Stephanie Michelle Plum Johnson. She lived life to the fullest and never let anyone tell her she couldn't do something. My mom was a loving, kind and generous woman. I'll miss you, mom. I know you're in heaven with dad, grandpa and all of your Merry Men," I said.
My daughter, Jasmine, gave birth to a girl the day before mom passed away. She named her daughter Stephanie Michelle after her grandma. It warmed my heart that she honoured her mother in that way. A few years earlier, she named her son Woodrow Carlos, after her grandfather and favourite great uncle.
"Mom, if you're watching us from heaven, we want you to know that we love you. Just as I see it, you are with everyone you've lost and loved. Goodbye, mom. Until we meet again." As I had promised my mom when dad passed away, we partied all day and night in her honour.
Stephanie and her chosen family watched over their family. Just as I see it, all good things must come to an end.