Chapter 17
My Merry Men loved having my dad around. He told the best war stories. Tank passed the scheduling portion of his job to dad. Bobby put him in charge of booking the annual physicals. Ranger gave him the list of vendors for equipment replacement. Rangeman doesn't get a lot of walk-in clients.
Dad's been working at Rangeman for a month. He's enjoying the job and gets along with the men.
I have an appointment in less than an hour. Vince was accompanying me.
"You're still not showing," Nancy observed when I checked in.
"Nope. This little man isn't giving much away," I agreed. "I was expecting to expand overnight, but it never happened."
"Don't tell the others how far along you are," she whispered and winked.
I took a seat in the waiting room. My sister Valerie entered a few minutes later. "She's six months pregnant. Due a few days after you," Vince whispered as Valerie waddled towards the reception desk. I reflectively rubbed my tiny bump, thankful I wasn't that huge.
"Hi, Steph. Why are you here?" Valerie asked.
"Getting my monthly checkup," I replied. "When are you due?"
"January 27th," she replied. "You?"
I got saved from answering as Nancy called my name, "Stephanie Plum, follow me." The truth was, I'm due on January 23rd, a few days after Hector's birthday. Grabbing Vince's hand, I dragged him towards the examination room.
"Thanks," Vince whispered. "I didn't want to be stuck out there."
"When I said you're accompanying me, I meant during the examination too," I replied.
"There are things I don't need to see," he mumbled.
"You can turn around for those parts," I suggested. "If you can't handle the appointments, I can always ask Lester, Ranger or Bobby."
"I've got it," Vince insisted as I knew he would.
"Step on the scales," Nancy directed. "You gained two pounds since your last appointment."
"Is that good or bad?" I asked.
"For one month? That's good, but a little low," Nancy replied. I felt it was a little much, but I had not gained any weight until now. A two-pound gain in six months was a little low.
Nancy had me change into a gown. Vince turned around to avoid seeing me naked. I stifled a laugh when Nancy told me to put my feet in the stirrups. We were having fun jerking him around. He lowered his head and plugged his ears. I had Nancy tap him on the shoulder to say we were kidding.
Dr. Brady was pleased with my progress. She said my weight gain was acceptable. "You should gain roughly one pound per week. By your due date, I would expect you to have gained between twenty to forty pounds," Dr. Brady stated.
She turned on the sonogram to check the baby. Since I wasn't showing the correct fundal length, Dr. Brady relied on the imagery to see my son's progress. "Hey, Vince. Take a look," I said as my son showed on the screen.
"He's adorable," Vince gushed. "I think he has your nose."
I rolled my eyes, "It's too soon to know for sure."
Dr. Brady took some measurements. "Your son is 20.2 cm long. He's on schedule for 24 weeks. His spine looks good," she rhymed off a few more measurements, but I was too busy staring at his face. Vince is right. He has my tiny nose.
The scent of cinnamon and Christmas cookies filled my nose. I knew Diesel was checking in on our son. Vince sniffed the air. He looked at me and raised an eyebrow. I nodded, telling him he was right. Diesel kissed my forehead before his scent dissipated.
I received another sonogram image. My son is handsome. Vince was staring at the picture while I was booking my next appointment. Valerie was still waiting, so she snatched the sonogram from Vince's hand. "You're six months pregnant?" she shouted. "There is no way. You must be starving yourself. You're barely showing. The Burg was right. You only got married because you're pregnant."
It was too late for damage control. The women in the waiting room were snapping photos of me and sending messages. I was furious. Dr. Brady heard the commotion and directed me towards her office. "I've updated Bobby with your medical records. Based on the events today, I feel it would be best to conduct your remaining appointments after hours at Rangeman. Bobby assured me that he will have all equipment on site. I'm sorry you have to experience such attitude from another patient," she said.
"The other patient is my older sister, Valerie. With my husband out of town, I will have more security surrounding me from now on. Thank you for making alternate arrangements for me," I said before leaving her office. I'm surprised she didn't ask me to find another doctor.
Nancy looked like she was going to be sick. The other nurse directed Valerie into an examination room. "I forgot Valerie was your sister. I'm so sorry," she apologized. "Why would she do that to you?"
I shrugged and said, "Does it matter? It was bound to happen sooner or later. I'm embarrassed Valerie chose now to behave in this manner."
Dad was waiting in the garage for Vince and me to arrive. He opened my door and pulled me against his chest to comfort me. "Why would she do that to you?" he asked.
"I have no idea, Daddy. She's been acting strange ever since Diesel and I got married," I replied. "Valerie said the Burg women think I married Diesel because I was pregnant. Has Valerie been talking to mom?" I knew rumours were circulating about me getting pregnant. Not because people saw me faint or vomit, it's because Diesel and I married too fast. The Burg biddies have nothing better to do than spread their lies.
However, I was pregnant when I married Diesel, but it wasn't the reason for getting married. We didn't know about the baby until last month. Even if we discovered the pregnancy before our wedding, it's nobody's business but ours.
"Ronnie's waiting for you in your apartment. I called her when Vince messaged me," Dad whispered.
"Thanks, Daddy." I kissed his cheek before taking the elevator to my apartment. Ronnie was waiting by the open door with her arms opened wide. I let her hug and pull me into the apartment.
"First things first. Can I see the picture?" Ronnie asked. I laughed and gave her the sonogram image. "He's adorable. I think he has your nose."
"You said the perfect thing," I stated before laughing. "Thank you, Ronnie. I'm feeling better already."
"Why do you think Valerie confronted you?" she asked.
"I've heard the rumours circulating the Burg. Valerie lives in dad's house, and she would've heard them too. I think she's gathering fodder for mom," I answered honestly.
"You think your mother's behind this?" Ronnie wondered.
"I guarantee she is. Let me call grandma Mazur," I replied. My phone was on speaker as I dialled my old apartment phone number. Ronnie grabbed a small digital recorder to capture our conversation.
"Hey, baby granddaughter. I heard you're pregnant," grandma said to greet me.
"You heard correctly. I am pregnant. Diesel and I just found out last month," I stated.
"Well, I'll be. Congratulations. Your mother's been saying you got married because you're pregnant. She's telling everyone it's Joseph's baby, and you're passing it off as Diesel's bastard," she added.
Wow, this is news to me. I never thought mom would ever stoop that low. "Okay, that's impossible. I'm not sure where she's getting her information," I responded.
"You know Helen. What she doesn't know, she makes up. I think she's gone crazy and tippling again. Be careful because I think she'll try to steal your baby," Grandma warned.
"Thanks, grandma. I knew I could count on you for the truth," I said.
"I'll let you know if I hear anything else. Take care of my great-grandson," Grandma said before hanging up.
Ronnie stopped the recorder. "Your mother needs serious help. Didn't you say she went into rehab for help?" Ronnie asked.
"She did, but I bet she started reverting to her old ways before too long. There's a reason she moved in with Angie Morelli. Dad said it was after Joe died. I wouldn't doubt if Angie blames me for his death. After all, I did send him to prison for B . Joe was likely a dead man walking before he stepped foot into my apartment," I reasoned.
"Why do you think that?"
"When I went on my journey to self-improvement, Joe's lover, Terry Gilman, hired a hitman to kill me. Have you met Ram?" I asked.
"He's a nice man," Ronnie replied.
"Well, Terry hired his brother, Anthony, to kill me. Nothing went according to plan. Ram and Anthony set her up and sent her to prison. Terry's uncle, Vito Grizzoli, blamed Morelli for Terry's incarceration. They paid him back in kind," I explained.
"Have you heard anything about Terry?" she asked.
"Nothing but radio silence," I answered. My TV suddenly turned on to show the latest news.
"A riot just broke out at New Jersey's Correctional facility. The prison has a history of physical and sexual abuse of inmates by the guards. Women in the C wing banded together to take down the guard as he assaulted the cellmate of mob boss niece, Terry Gilman. Unfortunately, the guard's weapon discharged, striking Gilman, who died on the scene," I listened as the anchorwoman recited the news.
"Oh my goodness. That is horrible," I said as the woman repeated the information. An announcement went throughout Rangeman. All available men were to meet on the roof for transportation to the prison to assist with riot control.
My cellphone rang with an unknown number. "Hello?" I answered on speaker. Ronnie was quick to record the call.
"Ms. Plum? Vito Grizzoli, here. I apologize to you on behalf of the Grizzoli family. The family did not condone Terry's behaviour regarding Joseph Morelli. If she had listened to me, she would still be alive. We know you are not responsible for her incarceration or death."
"I'm sorry for your loss," I offered my condolences.
"Thank you. I will personally make sure my men maintain their distance from you and your family. Good day, Ms. Plum," Vito said before hanging up.
"That was weird," Ronnie said after stopping the recorder device.
"Tell me about it. Did the reporter say who Terry's cellmate was?" I asked.
"No. Why?" she asked.
"Terry doesn't typically involve herself with those issues unless it's someone she cares about protecting. I'm wondering if it's a friend or lover," I said while thinking.
"If I had to guess, I would say lover. Was Terry bisexual?" Ronnie wondered.
"Not that I know, but I heard she sometimes participated in threesomes," I replied. "Something tells me the woman had greater importance in Terry's life. I just can't put my finger on it."
We continued watching the news to see if any more information gets provided. Terry's cellmate ended up being her mother, Magdalena Grizzoli. She was serving a life sentence for killing her abusive common-law husband, Victor Tripoli. I always assumed her mother passed away when she was in elementary school. Her uncle probably buried that detail to protect his sister.
The Burg rumour said Terry's mother died in a murder-suicide scenario. Terry was at her uncle's house when Tripoli killed the mother before turning the gun on himself.
Vito Grizzoli can't hide what the anchorwoman revealed today. Maybe this news would overpower the lies about my son belonging to Morelli. I could only hope it works that way, but it won't with Helen at the helm of the rumour mill.
"The newsflash distracted us a little. I feel sad for the Grizzoli family. Terry and I never saw eye to eye, but I didn't think she deserved to die," I told Ronnie.
"Steph, she hired someone to kill you. I think Karma came and bit her in the ass," Ronnie countered. "It's a horrible situation, and as her uncle said, you're not responsible for her actions."
"You're right, but there's been too much death this year. I hope Vito can find some peace through all of this," I added. Ronnie didn't respond to my comment.
"Does the news affect how you feel about your sister?" Ronnie asked.
"No, I'm furious with Val. She had no right to take my sonogram and comment on my pregnancy. Her excess weight has nothing to do with me. I thought she would have my back," I said, defeated.
"Are you angrier that she violated your privacy or criticized you for your pregnancy progress?" Ronnie wondered. She got right to the heart of the matter.
"I lived with criticism all of my life. We worked hard to get through the damage my mom caused. Valerie was always perfect in mom's eyes, but she never criticized me until today. I feel almost betrayed," I confessed.
"Your pregnancy isn't the same as the typical woman. Diesel's a special man, and your baby is too. Unfortunately, your sister chose to be judgemental. Val's choices during her pregnancy shouldn't be yours too. Follow the doctor's guidelines, and everything will work out as it should," Ronnie said, redirecting me.
"Thank you, Ronnie. I'm glad you live close. I hope I'm not taking you away from your patients," I said, worried about overstepping.
"Steph, you are a patient of mine. Your needs are more important right now. Raoul said your emotions are going to be more extreme during the pregnancy. Women pregnant with unmentionable children require more care," Ronnie gently said.
"So I'll have more crazy moments like today?" I joked. She made me feel better by saying I'm experiencing a normal pregnancy for an unmentionable child.
"Probably, but I'll be here to help," she promised.