Chapter 25

Ellen's POV

Yesterday was an epic disaster. I can't believe that Frank and my mother wanted to spend the day with us. Well, I guess I could understand that they wanted to spend time with my granddaughters, but they both ignored me. Mother didn't even help in the kitchen. I don't know what has gotten into her. You would never think that she was my mother.

I had invited my dear friend, Angie Morelli, her mother-in-law Bella, and darling Joseph to dinner. Joseph and Valerie have been out a few times, and I am hopeful that a proposal is in the future. He would make the perfect husband for Valerie. After all, he is a respected detective with the Trenton Police Department. Joseph would be a wonderful provider for Valerie and her girls. I only hope that Valerie has learned how to better satisfy a man, because I know a man like Joseph will have high standards. You know the old saying, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, well, if Joseph is anything like his dear Uncle Joseph, who died in Vietnam, then he will more than satisfy dear Valerie. I was destroyed when I found out Joe died in the war. I guess that's why I ended up falling for my lame ex-husband, Frank, and resorting to having an affair with Rocco.

Frank and Edna arrived at the house at 1:00 PM and immediately went to my granddaughters. They both basically ignored me, but they were cordial to Valerie. I guess I should expect that from them. Angie, Bella, and dear Joseph arrived around 1:30. Angie was so kind as to bring the sweet potato pie and her special stuffing. I have the Turkey and all the rest of the fixings waiting. We sat down to eat at 2:30 and then we spent some time together catching up. I hoped that this would be the beginning of a match between dear Joseph and Valerie. Valerie was wearing a pretty Brown wrap style dress that ended at her knees. Even though the top was a V-neck, it was not too low.

During dinner, things started to take a downward turn. It all started so innocently, then Frank and my mother had to go and ruin everything.

"Joseph, I'd like to apologize for my daughter's actions. I don't know why Stephanie had to get involved in bringing you into jail when you were innocent. I'm so ashamed by her actions. Please forgive me. I don't know where I went wrong with that girl.

Before Joseph could respond, Frank spoke up, "Ellen, please don't belittle Stephanie in my presence. She did nothing wrong. Joe was supposed to return to court, and he didn't. He broke the law, even if he was innocent, he still had a legal obligation to show. I'm proud of what Stephanie did. She's a very strong and capable woman, and I wish you would see how special she is, Ellen."

"Please, Frank, Joseph told me all about that company she works for. Nothing but thugs and criminals, and all men. That is no place for a proper woman to work. Not only did she get divorced, but she has to work there."

"Her boyfriend, the owner of the company, is a highly decorated Army Ranger. He is not a criminal or a thug. In fact, he treats my baby granddaughter and their children better than you ever treated your daughters, Ellen. Really, I don't know what happened to you. This was not the way your father and I raised you."

Once my mother started to chime in, I knew it was time to change the topic. Nothing good was going to come out of that conversation, so I decided to ask Angie about how the Orrs were doing. Apparently, that was a taboo topic as well. Things managed to get better, but then it was time for dessert. When we were sitting at the table, eating apple pie, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie, my mother had to take her gun out of her purse. I have no idea when she got it or why, but before I could stop her, she put a bullet into the pecan pie. Thank goodness for Joseph. He was able to disarm my mother before she could cause any more damage. Frank and Edna left about twenty minutes later.

Once my ex-husband left, I was able to talk freely with Angie, Bella, and Joseph.

"Joseph, I discovered recently that Frank used the money from the sale of our former home to buy this house for Stephanie. I have an appointment with Richard Orr, my ex-son-in-law, tomorrow to go over my legal rights to this house. I know Stephanie will make things difficult, and I'm concerned for our safety since she hangs around those miscreants."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Plum. I will do whatever I can to help keep you, Valerie, and the girls safe. After all, it is part of my job as a detective." Valerie swooned over his remarks and I was left feeling hopeful.

"Thank you, Joseph, you helped to take a huge weight off my shoulders. Angie, you should be proud of your son."

"I am, every day. He is my pride and joy. So much better than Anthony, who is too like his father, God rest his soul," Angie says as she crosses herself, when it comes to his womanizing ways. We continued pleasant conversation until Angie and Bella left, about two hours after Frank and my mother. Joseph stayed, spending time with Valerie in the living room while I finished cleaning up the kitchen. One cannot go to bed with a messy kitchen.

When I finished with the kitchen, I left a bag with leftovers on the counter for darling Joseph. He is a bachelor after all and could use it. No reason for him to need to cook. That's the problem with women like Stephanie. They don't know how to take care of their men. In their minds, cooking should be something they do together. How preposterous. I informed Val that I was going to bed and said good night to Joseph, letting him know about the leftovers. They were sitting together on the couch. Great! I went into my bedroom, saying a little prayer that Val would spread her legs if he wanted so that she could be Mrs. Joseph Morelli.

The next morning, I woke up early. Valerie woke up a few minutes later and we both prepared breakfast for Angie and Mary Alice. We were making them chocolate chip pancakes with bacon. "What time did Joseph leave last night?"

"He left about an hour after you went to bed, Mom. I enjoyed spending that time with him."

"You know he is the catch of Trenton. If you managed to land him, you'd be set. Did he make a move on you?"

"We kissed a little, but that was it."

"Valerie, now is not the time to worry about your honor. You have two children everyone is aware that you had sex. We know you are not a virgin. There is no reason to be prudish or coy, especially if you want to have any type of future with Joseph."

"Mom, it wasn't me who stopped anything from happening. It was Joe. I was ready to go further, but he said with the kids here, it wasn't appropriate, but we did make a date for dinner tomorrow night, as long as you can mind the girls."

Much better, Valerie is learning. "That sounds fantastic. Of course, I'll watch the girls. Maybe we'll make some cupcakes or sugar cookies. Now, what are you going to wear?"

"I have that navy blue dress I bought before we left California. It has the sweetheart neckline and the flare skirt."

"Oh, that would look lovely. Don't forget to wear a pair of practical navy heels."

"Of course, Mom."

The girls came down shortly after that, so we spent the morning talking about what they wanted for Christmas. We needed to get that shopping done as soon as possible. I good Burg housewife has all gifts purchased and wrapped by December 15th. No last-minute shopping here. At 12:30, I was dressed and ready to go meet with my former son-in-law, Dickie Orr, who represented me when I divorced Frank. I need to discuss starting actions to get this house from Stephanie. That little hussy doesn't deserve this house. Valerie does.

I am wearing a pair of black dress pants with a pretty long-sleeved floral blouse and a pair of practical black heels. I have my black pea coat and a hat on, ready to see him. I get in my Buick and drive over to his offices. I let his receptionist know I'm here.

"Mom, it's so good to see you," Dickie says as he comes out to greet me. We give each other a kiss on the cheek as is appropriate. "Please come into my office."

I follow Dickie into his office, where we sit on opposite sides of a handsome leather couch. "How are you doing? And how is Valerie? I heard she is having a hard time."

"We are doing well. Yes, Valerie is having a tough adjustment, but she is seeing Detective Morelli, so things are looking up."

"That's great. How can I help you today, Mom?"

"I recently discovered that Frank used the money we got from the sale of our house to provide the down payment on the house Stephanie had been living in. Since he purchased it before the divorce was finalized, that makes it part of our marital assets, correct?"

"You are absolutely right. If you give me the address of the property, I can check and see if Frank's name is on the deed or the mortgage. If it is, we could sue for ownership. Then, Frank and Stephanie would have to either buy you out, at a third of the current market value if both names are on the deed. You could also buy them out instead."

"That is the way I would like this to go. Here is the address." I hand Dickie a slip of paper with the address on it. He goes to his computer and hits a few buttons. He smiles, then looks over at me.

"It seems we are in luck today. Frank's name is the only name on the deed, which means instead of having to pay 2/3 the market value, you'll only need to pay fifty percent to buy him out. I can get the motion ready today and send it over to his attorney of record, Josephine Kearney."

"So, what happens from this point forward? And how much will this cost?"

"For you, Mom, nothing. I'm representing you pro bono. Any time I get to further punish Stephanie for what she did to me is worth more than any money I could make. Once I file the motion, it will be sent to Ms. Kearney's office. She will contact her client, Frank, and a court date will be established. Once we have a date, we'll go to court, and the judge will hear both sides and any further motions that Ms. Kearney will have. Now, I am going to assume that she will try to play it up that since the divorce was almost finalized, and that since Frank had already signed the papers, it is not a marital expense. However, she was supposed to send me paperwork to have you sign excluding it from the divorce. She never did that. So, in the end, you would be able to either get fifty percent from the sale of the home or will be able to buy him out. We'll propose a buyout amount and hope that Frank accepts it."

"Sounds perfect. Thank you, Dickie. I still don't understand why Stephanie did what she did to you, after you agreed to raise those brats as your own." I sigh. "I don't know where I went wrong with her."

"It's okay, I've been much happier without her. It's all for the better."

"Please send my regards to your parents. Now that I'm back in Trenton, we'll have to get together."

"I'm sure that they would like that, Mom."

After Dickie gives me some more information and I sign some papers, I'm on my way to finish my shopping for the weekend groceries, and the ingredients to bake with my granddaughters tomorrow night.