THAT MIAMI GLOW
Ranger POV
Chapter 6: I
oOo
I had reminded Stephanie of this earlier:
"If you constantly have to tell someone the same exact thing about how you feel and they don't change it, understand that they don't respect you."
Yes, we both knew it was going to be an arduous dinner with a huge serve of guilt and multiple side serves of contemptible criticisms and unreasonable expectations à la Burg. She had rolled her eyes and nodded her head in agreement, squaring her shoulders in determination. She raised her eyebrows in a challenging grin making me love her even more, rubbing her hands in anticipation.
That was our little pep talk. We knew what to expect, and I had to maintain my control for it to succeed. However, the inherent need to protect Stephanie was profound. But I did promise to let their tirades burst forth.
"I can handle it, Carlos. We both can. Let's do this. And it's going to be good. Who knows, it might be even better than we expect or imagine."
Stephanie is not a pushover anymore. She is stronger and more resilient than ever. Knowing I had her back, she held her head high not allowing the disdainful tones to call her into submission.
Deep in her heart, I know that Steph is a people pleaser, but there was no pleasing these two vile and toxic miscreants. Respect for Stephanie in making her choices, choosing her own path and deciding on her own future, was non-existent to them. All she received was disrespect, absolute disdain and condescension.
After our leisurely, wonderful, exciting and delightful vacation, I was not going to indulge nor empower them to undo all our glorious memories and experiences, just to please them! Madre Dios!
So, I pushed my half-eaten dinner plate away, placing the cutlery in the customary finished position. Stephanie did the same, earning her a scornful glare from the harpy.
It was most evident, that Helen and Morelli had their own agenda and never considered Stephanie's part in it, least of all her say in their plans, since it was already decided, apparently, in their warped world. All she was required to do was acquiesce and just obey like a mindless Stepford clone. See? Simple. And there it is, no respect whatsoever.
And, her father? That really perplexed me to the point of frustration. Like always, he sat there, silent and uninvolved, seemingly mentally not even present. How does the man live with himself? He used to refer to his youngest daughter as his Pumpkin. He sat, stuffing his mouth with his dinner, not making more than a few grunts here and there. Has he disassociated himself from all this? He seems to have become so compliant under Helen's power, neither supporting, however nor disagreeing with her either. I noticed he made no eye contact with Stephanie although I detected a slight flinch when Stephanie made the point about not asking for their blessing.
Yet, reading his body language, as Frank stared at Helen, and then at the asshole Morelli, his demeanour had made a subtle yet quite distinctive change. Now this is curious. He had quietly put down his cutlery beside his plate, his hands, palms down on the table.
My eyes also detected a silent but very unsubtle communication between Helen and Morelli. Frank did too, as did Edna. She rolled her eyes. Helen seemed to be encouraging the fuckwit with an insistent nod. Hm. Stephanie noticed it too, so she intercepted before he had a chance to do the harpy's bidding.
"So, Joe. What are you doing here? Hm? Let me guess … I wonder. Hm. Oh, of course, it's so bloody obvious. You and my mother are still conniving for a … what? A Plum Morelli wedding? Hahaha! Pfft. Of course, you are. Did you not hear me? Carlos and I are married."
Nice backhand, Babe. And here comes Helen's retort. I wonder who will get the points on this one? I reckon I have this one nailed. Go me! I chuckle inwardly and wait, poised with bated breath.
"Well. That's easily fixed. You can go and get an annulment first thing in the morning and we can restore some sense and normality into your life. That's how things should be. Why me? Somebody has to fix this mess you've got yourself into. Whoring yourself around like you have with those thugs and this one. Oh! It's utterly disgusting and disgraceful. The shame of it all I have had to endure. Why me!? It's time you redeemed your recklessness. You don't even care how it makes me, … us look."
This was accompanied with one of her melodramatic sighs. Madre Dios! This womanis a total nut job. I was going to say she's a piece of work or a piece of shit. Well, you know, both fit.But, damnit, that little charade earned both of us points, more to Stephanie. Her knowing grin with that nudge told me she knew it too. The evil she-wolf went on relentlessly.
"Now, all will be forgiven after that annulment is done, and then you can move forward and live the Burg life like you are supposed to, marrying a fine upstanding citizen, a Burg man, like Joseph. He is even willing to forgive you and then, you and he will be married and have children like we planned."
Her tone was so false and mollifying, belying her bitter disapproval of all things Stephanie. Once again it was all about her, her image, her reputation, and her standing in the Burg community. Shit a brick!
Like we planned?! What the fuck?! The condescending tone is just so vomit-worthy. Despite the volcanic rage that had me poised to leap across the table and rip that vicious acerbic tongue right out of her mouth, Stephanie's firm grip on my hand kept me grounded. I cannot believe the shit that spews forth. Is she living in an alternate universe? Yet, Stephanie did predict that Helen would run her rant along this path, including the whoring about. She warned me and we decided that we would allow her to say her spiel, no matter how bad or noxious it sounded, while we maintained our blank faces. Forewarned is forearmed. Damnit. That means that Steph gained double points there.
Edna sat quietly, engrossed in this bizarre performance, trying not to laugh, holding one hand over her mouth. Frank now had his elbows on the table, ignoring the frown from Helen, his chin resting on his clasped hands. I bet that frown was an "elbows off the table, dear". He was scowling, now actively listening to the bullshit from these two delusional morons.
"Cupcake," the fuckwit sighed, again with that patronising manner.
Madre Dios! The tone! Ugh. Blah! And, that sickeningly smarmy look. As if she would fall for that. Helen was practically swooning, giving the stupid fucker an adoring look of encouragement. Aye-yai-yai. This is just so nauseating. He went on. Yeah, go dig yourself into a deeper hole asshole.
"We were engaged to be engaged, Cupcake. It was never a permanent break. Everybody knows. You know you always come back to me and we make up. The "boys" have missed you."
Again, with the sycophantic manner and tone. Ick! He must have stood in front of the mirror and practised that pathetic routine. The "boys have missed you"?! Oh, hell no. Please tell me he is not saying what I think he just implied. Ungh! Yuck! That is so gross.
Luckily Stephanie did it for me since I was thinking about it … she rolled her eyes, for both of us. Edna was stifling a snort and coughed into her glass of water. Frank's eyes definitely narrowed with that remark. I'm just mentally shaking my head with disbelief. What a stupid motherfucker. Who says that sort of shit, and, at the dinner table?! And, in front of her parents and her Grandma?! Stephanie bumped me back to reality. My blank face was still intact but the asshole is pushing the boundaries. I just stared at him, impassive. But deep down I wanted it to be my threatening glare, the one I have mastered where I can make men piss their pants. Now that would be fun at the dinner table. Not. Another nudge from my Babe. Okay. Got it. Message received, as I patted her thigh in response.
"Hm. Ah, Yes, I recall that "engaged to be engaged" bullshit," Stephanie retorted sharply, using her fingers for the air quotes.
"Stephanie!"
My Babe completely ignored the harpy's angry reprimand.
"And what did that mean? Who says that sort of crap? Instead of a buying a ring you bought yourself a pool table! Hm. That's a bit heavy for my ring finger, you know."
Oh! Yes! Babe! Nailed it! Ha! Morelli grimaced, and faltered for a moment, annoyed with her reminder and firm retaliation. But the fool of a fuckwit had to get to his spiel, plastering his sickly patronising expression on his face. Helen wriggled in her seat with an air of conceited expectancy.
"Cupcake."
Ugh. He paused with a saccharin smile. Evidently, the fucker seems to think that works wonders.
"I know no one else would have you, after all this disappointing behaviour. It's time you settled down, quit your job and marry me. I am willing to overlook some of your digressions and indiscretions. My Mother has agreed to help you learn to cook my favourite recipes. There's nothing like home-cooked Italian food, especially my Mother's manicotti."
Digressions?!
Indiscretions?!
MADRE DIOS! Give me a gun. Damn! Mine is in the car. Stephanie insisted I leave it in the lock box. Shit. Someone shoot him! Is he for real? Pfft. He wrote the book on Digressions and Indiscretions. What a motherfucking wanker! Stephanie's shoulder nudged me gently, rubbing against me. I breathed. She knows me so well.
Which part did he not understand? Maybe he didn't hear it clearly. We are married, asshat, and it's a forever marriage.
But, "I know no one else would have you." What the fuck?! Hello fuckwit! I am sitting here, with my Babe, my beloved wife. Jeez! He's lost the plot. He is beyond denial. Delusional, that's it. This is so fucked up the way these two are thinking. The fuckwit is deranged and the harpy is neurotic. They must have rehearsed this. Jesucristo! Regardless, I maintained my blank expression as Steph let go of my hand. Oh yes. Here it comes.
Stephanie straightened her back and slowly folded her arms, which caused him to hesitate briefly, but he pressed on. Inside I was shaking my head at the sheer stupidity of these two. They both liked to rant, Helen with her inane "Why me's?", and "What will the neighbours say?"
Helen toasted her glass with a sickening simpering smile at her precious Joseph. That's when we both burst out laughing, Stephanie with a snort laugh with her glass of water. This caught them by surprise, obviously not the reaction they expected. Edna was smirking in approval. Frank remained impassive, watching, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.
But then, then Morelli came out with this next retort. Oh, hell no! You have got to be kidding!
"Cupcake. You're mine. I had you first."
His voice was a bit more edgy than he intended. It was clearly evident that he was beyond frustrated. This was not going according to his plan. Once again, he has seriously underestimated my wife, my Babe.
Holy fucking shit! Stephanie tightened her grip on my thigh to steady me since the urge to stuff my fist into that ugly maw was intensely strong. "I had her first?!" What the FUCK?! Madre Dios! Fuck! He's a sick man. What a douche. Inwardly I was shaking my head at the sheer stupidity of the fucker.
True to her word, Stephanie was calm and in control throughout this insane discussion. Yes, I know we had agreed to let them rant. But holy shit! I was finding it difficult to maintain my blank face. Stephanie kept me grounded. Dios! I love her so much. I need some more adjectives for this fuckwit asshole moron and his vomit-worthy approach. Technique is far too eloquent to describe his tactics.
But then, I detected a sudden shift in the atmosphere.
Uh oh.
oOo
TBC
And so, the fan spins faster with more of the proverbial shit to come.
A/N: This chapter included the writing prompt (in bold) from Facebook, posted by Jo-Ann Fiore recently.