Chapter 15 Forced Family
"Hey, Julie, why don't you go for a swim. I need to talk to Steph," Ranger said. Julie raised an eyebrow before agreeing. She realized her dad and Stephanie had to talk.
"Okay," Julie replied before she walked into her bedroom to get into her swimsuit.
"Babe, they got Stevens and his men. But there was a video of your mom making a deal with Stevens. She would pay him five thousand dollars if Stevens got you pregnant or orchestrated a way for you to get pregnant." Ranger was furious to learn Helen was behind kidnapping them. He wanted Helen to pay for messing with Stephanie's life and traumatizing her.
"So Valerie was right. My mom could not trust me to give her a grandchild on my time." Stephanie walked into Ranger's strong arms. She took comfort in his warmth. It annoyed Stephanie when her mother kept interfering in her life. Stephanie wondered when her mother's meddling would end.
"Hey, this baby is a good thing for all of us. I promise I will do what I can to provide for our family Babe," Ranger said as he held Stephanie.
At the Plum house
Helen was happy to get supper served at six pm. Frank, Helen and Grandma Mazur were sitting at the table for supper when they heard a knock at the door. Helen's lips thinned as she got annoyed with the interruption. "Honestly, everyone knows dinner gets served at six sharp. It's rude to interrupt people while they're eating," Helen complained.
Frank shook his head as he excused himself. He opened the door to the officer. A police cruiser parked at the curb. Frank wondered why they were at his door. "Can I help you, officer?" Frank asked.
"Is this the residence of Helen Plum?" the officer asked. He knew Helen Plum lived in the house, but he had to follow protocol.
"Yes," Frank said. The officer passed a document for Frank to read.
"We have a warrant for Helen Plum's arrest. She got charged with kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment," the officer explained. Frank read the charges on the arrest warrant. He shook his head in embarrassment.
Helen wondered why Frank didn't dismiss the person at the door and return to dinner. She approached the front door to ask the person to leave. "Are you Helen Plum?" the officer asked.
"Yes, what can I help you with officer?" Helen sweetly asked.
"I have a warrant for your arrest," he said.
Helen replied, "You must be mistaken. I'm an upstanding citizen. Your mother must be embarrassed that you're arresting an innocent woman."
"Mrs. Helen Plum. You are under arrest for kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment," he said as he placed a cuff on her wrist. As he turned her around, he continued, "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you by the court. Do you understand your rights?"
Helen was shocked. She couldn't understand how they discovered her crime. Helen asked Frank to call Albert to represent her. Frank shook his head and closed the door when the officers left with his wife.
After eating their dinner, Edna and Frank cleaned the dishes. "Call Stephanie. She may know why Helen got arrested," Edna suggested.
Frank grabbed the phone to call his youngest daughter. "Hey, Dad, what is going on?" Stephanie asked her father when she answered the phone.
"Your mother just got arrested," Frank replied. "The charges are kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment. Do you know or have you heard anything?"
"Dad, do you remember when I was missing for a month and a half?" Stephanie asked.
"Yeah, your mother said you were working at Rangeman and were out of the state," Frank replied.
"No, Dad, that isn't what happened. Mom paid a man named Stevens to kidnap Carlos, Joe and me. We got held captive until I got pregnant. I'm carrying Carlo's baby," Stephanie gently said.
"Why, would she do that?" Frank said louder than he intended. He was angry Helen would harm Stephanie by forcing a pregnancy. The trauma his daughter endured at Helen's hand, angered Frank.
"She wanted me to give her a grandchild. She wanted me to be a stay-at-home mom like Valerie and her. Mom got tired of waiting for it to happen naturally. There's a video of mom making a deal with Stevens. Dad, I will hire an attorney for mom and cover the cost," Stephanie said.
"No, pumpkin. Your mom is on her own this time. She went way too far. I will hire an attorney, but a divorce attorney. I am through with your mother's games," Frank said.
"Dad, are you sure?" Stephanie asked.
"Yes, pumpkin, I am sure," Frank said. "I love you, pumpkin."
"I love you too, Dad," Stephanie looked at her cell phone when her dad hung up. She was crying because her father sounded defeated.
Stephanie looked at Ranger. "Babe," Ranger said as he pulled Stephanie into his arms. He felt her reach between them to wipe the tears off her face.
"My mom got arrested. My dad is going to hire a divorce attorney," Stephanie explained. "She messed up her relationship with dad and me."
"Wow," Ranger said as he held Stephanie. "She made her bed."
"I know, Carlos. Mom has to lay in it too," Stephanie said.