Chapter 18
Six months later, Steve Sutton got sent to prison for five years minus time served for statutory rape. Brittany gave birth to his son before putting him up for adoption. A family in Texas had adopted the child. Steve couldn't understand why the charges stuck when Brittany said she was older.
The prosecutor said that his ex-wife, Valerie, had hired the babysitter and told him the correct age. He chose to ignore the truth and believe the lie. Deep down, Steve knew Brittany was underaged, but continued to pursue her. It wasn't Valerie's fault that Steve didn't believe her words. He wrongfully assumed Valerie had lied.
Angie and Mary Alice were disgusted that their father had another child with the babysitter. The girls spent a few days a week at their grandmother Helen's apartment. It was small, but the girls enjoyed the time they spent with their grandma. Valerie had let the girls decide if they wanted to visit. However, Valerie stated if Helen mistreated the girls, the visits would end.
Helen had been shocked when her mother gave her the settlement order. She started receiving extra money per month, which afforded her a safer apartment. Her mother found another one-bedroom unit in the apartment building where she lived. Helen lived on the third floor. She had the new car that Frank gave her after she moved. He sold the other car for more than what she had originally paid.
Angie kept telling Helen to sue Frank for his pension. She told Angie to mind her own business. The settlement papers indicated Helen received half his military benefits. Helen was receiving her fair share of the marital income. She knew that Frank had assets before they were married, but she honoured the prenuptial agreement.
Helen watched Valerie's girls after school when she didn't work. It was enjoyable to spend time with the girls. Mary Alice had acted like a horse, which she found unladylike, but Valerie told her to leave Mary Alice alone. It was a phase that she'd eventually outgrow. The girls were with Helen while Valerie went to her appointment. Their Christmas break started a few days earlier.
Valerie had started dating Blaze a few months earlier. She had never been treated as well by any man before. Ben was gentle and respectful. He protected Valerie and the girls without being overbearing. She was most impressed when he never noticed the other women flirting with him.
Blaze worked at Rangeman Trenton with Stephanie. They got partnered when Stephanie passed her entrance tests. Stephanie was in the middle of running a search when Valerie called. "Hello," Stephanie answered.
"Um. Steph, are you alone?" Valerie asked.
"No. I'll find a secure location and call you back," Stephanie said. She went to the seventh-floor apartment to call Valerie using her cellphone. "Hey, Val. What's wrong?"
"I'm pregnant. When Ben and I had sex last month, the condom broke. I thought my birth control shot covered me, but it failed too," Valerie cried. "What am I going to do?"
"Have you confirmed your pregnancy with the doctor?" Stephanie asked.
"That's where I went today. The doctor had sent me for a blood test a few days ago. I got a positive result today. Mom has the girls after school today. She's going to know I'm pregnant," Valerie replied.
Stephanie wasn't convinced Helen would hold her tongue. It would be an excellent way to test their mother. "Val, this isn't any of mom's business. But I think you should tell Ben. He has a right to know that he's going to be a father," Stephanie said. "Hang on a minute, Val. I have to use the washroom."
She set her phone on the table and ran to the washroom. Stephanie pulled the pregnancy test from her pocket and peed on the stick. She sat it on the counter and washed her hands.
"Sorry, Val. I really had to go," Stephanie said.
"Are you pregnant too?" Valerie joked. "Seriously, Steph. How do I tell Ben?"
"Rip off the bandaid. Do not make the same mistake I did and run. Ben loves you and the girls. He'll be happy," Stephanie replied. She gave Valerie suggestions on how to break the news to Ben. Stephanie kept an eye on her watch for the time. It was still another minute before the result would be ready, but she checked anyway. "Hey, Val. Where are you?"
"Um. Parked on the street a block away," Val replied.
"Come to Rangeman. I'll help you tell Ben," Stephanie suggested. She left the test on the counter for her husband to see. Stephanie sent a message to Ranger to bring Ben up to the apartment. If he wondered why she had made an odd request, he never said anything.
Valerie arrived with Ben and Ranger. Ben held Valerie's hand as they entered the apartment. "Babe?" Ranger asked.
"Carlos. I have something to announce. It happens to be the same news Valerie has for Ben. If you don't mind, can you grab the item from the washroom?" Stephanie asked.
Ranger ran back to the living room and dropped to his knees. He kissed Stephanie's abdomen, below her belly button. Ben looked between Stephanie and Valerie before looking at the pregnancy test in Ranger's hand. "Honey, are we having a baby?" Ben asked.
"Yes, Ben. We're expecting. The doctor confirmed the pregnancy today," Valerie replied. Ben wrapped his arms around Valerie and hugged her tight. He was excited to have a child with the woman he loved.
"Carlos, I still have to confirm with the doctor," Stephanie reminded him. Ranger grabbed his phone to send a text to Bobby. "Are you asking Bobby to confirm?"
"Babe, I can't wait for you to make an appointment," Ranger replied.
"Okay, Bobby can run the test," she caved. It took a while for her to trust Bobby after running the paternity test on Jayden. "Carlos, we have to tell Jay and Julie."
Bobby arrived before Ranger could offer any suggestions. He was excited to hear they would have a baby at Rangeman. "I'll put a rush on the test," Bobby said after applying the label to the sample. Stephanie rolled her eyes.
"Babe, you're not going into the field," Ranger stated. He didn't want anything to harm Stephanie or his unborn child. Stephanie didn't care that she'd get confined to her desk. Jayden would insist that she stay safe too.
Ben kneeled in front of Valerie. "Honey, I love you and the girls. I can't wait another day without asking if you would become my wife. Valerie, will you marry me?" Ben asked.
Ranger and Stephanie watched as Valerie nodded at Ben. "You have to say the word," Stephanie said.
"Yes, Ben. I'll marry you," Valerie said with tears running from her eyes.
"You've made me the happiest man on earth," Ben replied. He put the ring on Valerie's finger. Ben kissed the ring and her abdomen before standing to kiss his fiancée. "What would you say about having a Christmas wedding?"
"Sweetie, Christmas is in a few days. I'm still living with dad," Valerie said.
Ben's eyes flicked to Ranger and Stephanie before saying, "I had a house built near Ranger and Stephanie's house. We can move there once we get married."
"You built me a home?" Valerie asked.
"Right now, it's a house. It would only be home when you and the girls move in. I want to adopt Angie and Mary Alice, if it's okay with them," Ben replied.
Valerie buried her head in Ben's chest and cried tears of joy. She had never been happier. As Valerie cried, Jayden entered the apartment.
Jayden picked up the pregnancy test from the floor. He knew it didn't belong to his Aunt Valerie because Angie found one last week in the trash at home. Jayden wrapped his arms around Stephanie and Ranger. "Am I going to be a brother?" he whispered.
"We should know soon," Stephanie replied. "Bobby probably put my sample first in line to get tested in the Rangeman lab."
"Hal is running the forensic department this week. He'll run your test first when Bobby logs the data," Jayden stated.
Stephanie was startled when Tank, Lester, Bobby, Hal and Cal burst into the apartment. Ranger raised an eyebrow, wondering why his men stormed their home. Hal swung Stephanie in his arms. "We're having a baby!" he shouted.
"Put me down, Halosaurus," Stephanie said. Hal returned Stephanie to her feet. The other men took their turn to congratulate Stephanie. When Bobby swung her, she whispered, "Valerie's expecting too."
Bobby dropped Stephanie to the floor. Ranger caught her before she could fall. "Are you?" Bobby asked, pointing to Valerie's abdomen.
"Yes. Ben and I are having a baby," Valerie said. "I received confirmation from the doctor today." Bobby lifted her to swing her. "Bobby, put me down. I'm going to puke."
He quickly dropped Valerie near the bathroom door. Valerie started to vomit before she reached the toilet. She sat on the floor after emptying the contents of her stomach. "Are you okay, Val?" Stephanie asked from the other side of the door.
"Cleanup in aisle five," Valerie replied.
"Crap," Stephanie said. "Carlos, where are the cleaning supplies? Valerie didn't make it in time."
"Steph, can you pass me some clean clothes? I need everything except a bra," Valerie announced. Stephanie entered her closet to grab the items. She had stacks of new panties since her husband loved to tear them off her body.
"I'm coming in, Val," Stephanie announced before opening the door. Valerie sat on the floor in the puddle of puke. Stephanie helped her sister change into clean clothes. "The panties are new."
"Why do you have new panties?" Valerie weakly asked.
"Carlos keeps tearing them from me," Stephanie said, blushing. "At this point, I should go commando."
"I'm sorry for messing up your washroom," Valerie stated.
"Don't worry about it, Val. It's not the first time I had to clean up vomit," Stephanie added. She had brought in the cleaning supplies.
"Babe, Is Valerie decent?" Ranger asked.
"Yup. She's dressed." Ranger pushed into the bathroom.
Ranger dropped Valerie's soiled clothes into the hamper and pushed the women from the room. He cleaned the floor and wiped down the counter. After he tossed the cloths into the hamper, he used his phone to request Ella to get the laundry washed.
"Where do I get one of those?" Valerie stage-whispered.
"Right here, honey," Ben said. He wrapped his arms around Valerie and glared at Bobby. "You may hug her, but don't jostle her body. I don't want her to get sick again."
"HUA," the men shouted before hugging their friends.
Valerie was surprised they welcomed her so readily. She had not been accustomed to being around a lot of men. The Merry Men treated her like a sister. "I should get back to work," Valerie announced after Ranger hugged her.
"Your boss is a tyrant," Stephanie joked.
"Babe," Ranger growled. He lifted Stephanie by her waist and kissed her passionately. Stephanie wrapped her legs around Ranger's waist, ignoring the voyeurs in the room.
"Ya, I'm going to hang out with Tia Ella," Jayden announced with a wave. Jayden grinned as he used his phone to tell Julie about the baby.
Julie: I hope it's another boy.
Jayden: It doesn't matter to me. But a younger brother would be cool.
Julie: I guess we'll find out when mama is seventeen weeks pregnant.
Jayden: Right… when they can detect gender.
Julie: Can I tell my mom?
Jayden: Best to wait until mom gives you permission.
Julie: Thanks, Jay. I'll call soon.
Jayden sent another message to his dad, letting him know he had told Julie. Stephanie pulled the phone from his pocket and laughed. "Julie knows," she said, turning the phone around. Ranger groaned. Stephanie quickly replied, saying she needed to wait for another eight weeks before telling Rachel. "How did Julie know it was me?"
"Babe?" Ranger asked. He read Stephanie's response. "You said eight weeks instead of two months."
"Smartass," Stephanie retorted. "Okay, men. The party is over. It's time to get back to work."
Hector waited for Stephanie to return to her office. He hugged his friend when she entered the room. "Congratulations, Hermana," Hector whispered.
"Thanks. How did you know?" Stephanie asked.
"Jayden," he replied. "May I be the godfather?"
"Of course, Hermano," she replied. Hector grinned and kissed Stephanie's cheek. He was disappointed to miss the wedding. Hal streamed the ceremony for the Rangeman branches to watch, but it wasn't the same as attending.
Ranger and Stephanie had returned to Trenton to unload the pets and Jayden. They waited until Julie had to go home before taking their honeymoon in Hawaii. Neither of them wanted to miss any time with Julie.
After spending two weeks in Hawaii, they visited each Rangeman office to introduce Stephanie to the men. Ranger was proud to be married to his Babe. Stephanie was shocked to learn the men knew about her and Jayden. She found a photograph of Jayden and her on Ranger's desk. It was taken a few days after Jayden's kidnapping.
"You look happy," Hector stated.
"I am happy," Stephanie replied. "Jayden is in high school. Julie is my stepdaughter. I'm married to my soulmate, and we're expecting our second child together. I just wish my grandparents were here to see this baby."
Hector placed his hand over Stephanie's heart. "They live forever in here," he whispered. He kissed her forehead before leaving her to work.
Stephanie opened her email to see the hell Rodriguez had inflicted on her. She noticed the fifty searches in her inbox. All of the requests were for background checks on potential employees for Rangeman and other corporations.
Part of the Rangeman business security contracts offered background checks for employees. The companies readily paid the expense to ensure the safety of their team and business. Stephanie rolled her eyes when she began the searches.
She spat out her coffee when she came across Dickie's name. "Are you okay?" Lester asked. "I heard your coffee splatter on your keyboard."
"I'm fine, Les. One of my searches is for Richard Orr Jr. He applied to Smith, Berkeley and Simpson. I didn't realize he was home," Stephanie stated.
"Ya. Dickie got dropped in Australia looking like he got used as a blowup doll. A group of hikers found his crate and carried it to town for someone to open. He told the authorities where he lived but refused to say how he managed to land in Australia. They got copies of his passport and ID through fax and shipped him home at his dad's expense," Lester explained. "He got home almost three months ago."
"I don't want him going after Jayden again," Stephanie said.
"Beautiful, Dickie suspects Rangeman had a hand in his disappearance, but he refuses to do anything about it," Lester stated. "You, Jayden, Ranger and your little one are all safe."
"I can't believe I'm willing to do this again after fifteen years," Stephanie said, rubbing her non-existent baby bump.
"We can hardly wait to see the babies. They're going to have more protective uncles than they need," Lester said. He rounded Stephanie's desk to place a kiss on her wild curls. "I've started the betting pool already. You are having a girl, and Val is having a boy."
"How much to enter the pool?" Stephanie asked.
"One hundred bucks. Fifty per pregnant woman," Lester quickly replied.
Stephanie gave him the money. She bet Val would have a girl, and she would have another boy. "I'll even give you a date. August 12th. Val will give birth in the early morning, me later that night," she said. "Oh. My boy will weigh 8 lbs, 7 oz. Val's girl will weigh 6 lbs 9 oz."
"Wow… that's oddly specific," Lester stated. "Okay, I can work with that." Lester pulled a bound notepad from his pocket to record the information.