*All Characters are the property of Janet Evanovich. I make no money from this, and only own the storyline.*
*All Characters are the property of Janet Evanovich. I make no money from this, and only own the storyline.*
I woke up the next morning still laying next to Julie feeling amazingly rested, and refreshed.
It was 8:35 am, and I was starting to vibrate with nervous energy to get through today's
drama. Today I am declaring my Independence from Chambersburg after 32 long suffering
years. Against my better judgement, I am letting Julie come with me, because she wants to
meet her new Grandma Mazur. I want Julie as settled, and comfortable with Trenton life as
possible. If she doesn't feel right here, we will pick up, and head out. There are plenty of
other RangeMan offices to work for. I'm determined to give us the best thing for us only. I
like to think of Ranger when making certain plans, like looking at houses which will be the
next step in a few months or so. I want to get something that is a family home, but that I
could see us all in comfortably. Lots of excitement and decisions here lately. After we woke
up, we got cleaned up and went to the kitchen table to wait on breakfast. We have started a
morning ritual of discussing our day, and what we want to accomplish the next few days. We
give suggestions, and make sure we are together for the important stuff. I seriously like
being a Mom. I have someone to share my life with, and it isn't stifling, actually it's quite the
opposite... I feel liberated.
Julie is a smart kid, she knows that there is tension, and drama coming up. She heard what
Morelli said to her. I spent the better part of the morning just making sure she knows that he
needs serious help, and that the reaction of my Mother will possibly be more of the same,
but they couldn't be farther from the truth. Even though Julie didn't see the whole blow up
with Morelli, she could read between the lines, and I'm sure she will eventually see the
video... especially if she spends any amount of quality time with Grandma Mazur. Lord help
me. I had to make sure Julie knew I didn't just save her, she is saving me. We need each other
equally. She came to me at the perfect time, and to be truthful, I know that this will be the
true test of Ranger's love for me. If he truly loves me, he will want to live this life, and go on
this journey with us.
After breakfast, Julie and I loaded up in the new company car provided by RangeMan, a 2014
Buick Enclave in black of course. I'm going under the assumption that it is bulletproof, bomb
proof, and just to try to get an edge on safety and staying power, they made sure it was a
Buick in honor of Big Blue's uncanny ability to avoid danger in the presence of Stephanie
Plum. Assholes. Sweet, considerate assholes. The vehicle is an absolute dream. Julie loves it
because she says the seats are comfy. I'm pretty excited about the back-up camera, and the
fact that there are 3 rows of seating, and the seats can be laid down. That is going to be a
huge help when we move into a house, and when Julie starts having friends over once she
starts school. Thank God I don't have to drive a mini-van. I may be a Mom now, but I'm still
not Valerie.
We pulled up in front of my parent's house at around 10:45 a.m. It was a Saturday morning, so
Valerie, Albert, and the kids were all there waiting on lunch... the Kloughn's don't pass up
free meals in any capacity. I was actually kind of relieved to be honest, I'm hoping that Jules
will get along with Angie, because they are in the same grade, and I want to talk to Val about
the school she takes her kids, because like I said before- I'm out of my depth. My Mom, and
Grandma Mazur were standing on the front porch, Burg radar clearly in tact. My cell phone
was still off, so God only knows how many times my Mom called, and left voicemails. The
fact that she was on the front porch, and not ironing the ceiling gave me the confidence to
get out of the car to go in. Hopefully she had tippled herself into a happy place.
I held Julie's hand on the sidewalk going into the house, and gave it a little squeeze. I'm not
sure who I was comforting...her, or me. Julie had a big smile on her face, and once on the
porch, my Mom looked at us with disgust, and said "Stephanie... this must be your new
Mexican child. I honestly don't know where I went wrong. Martha Gorsky's daughter doesn't
go gallivanting around, and come back with a teenage child of a different race. What will the
neighbors think? Why me?"
I looked at Julie, and squeezed her hand again so she looked at me. Thank God I had already
warned her that my Mom wouldn't say anything nice, or true- the reason I didn't want to
bring Julie here to subject her to Helen Plum, or the Burg for that matter. I smiled at her, and
introduced her to Grandma Mazur, then asked Grandma to take Julie to meet Val, Albert,
Daddy, and the girls... I had a few things that I needed to say to Helen Plum.
As soon as Julie was out of earshot, I looked at my Mom with disgust. Before she could say
another word, I said in a voice only she could hear "How dare you make ridiculous, racist,
disgusting comments to my child. I came over here to introduce you to the love of my
life, and you can't even get a single nice word in before you start. I want to make something
abundantly clear. This will be the first, and last trip Julie makes here. If Daddy, or Grandma
want to see us, they are more than welcome. I only came here to let you know that I'm
cutting the cord myself on this unhealthy relationship. I want you to know that you can
no longer bribe me with dessert, or try to fix me up with Joe Morelli, or serial killers. I want
you to know that I don't want, or need your advice on how to raise my child. To be completely
honest, I really need to thank you before I can move on. I want to thank you for being the
least supportive, most scheming, conniving, closed minded, racist, alcoholic bitch I have ever
met, because having you as a Mother has made me even more damned, and determined to
give my child the exact opposite of what you gave me. Thank you for showing me exactly
how not to raise my children. This is the last you will see of me, and mine. Keep your gossip,
and comments to yourself, and if I hear that you are spreading gossip, and believe me, I will
know- I will spread so much gossip about the real Helen Plum to the Burg you will never be
able to show your face again. I have so many voicemails, and so much evidence that you are
a crazy alcoholic that it would make your head spin. DO NOT fuck with me. Now that we have
straight, I will be retrieving my child from your home, and we will not be back. Thank you
for your time."
Helen just stared at me open-mouthed, and red faced until she realized that we had been on
the porch for a good 10 minutes, and the neighbors were starting to stare from their porches.
She shot me a look that said she was headed to go tipple some more, and walked inside.
I went to the den where everyone else had congregated to a sight that warmed my heart.
Julie was sitting in between Angie, and Mary-Alice laughing, and smiling completely
oblivious to anyone else in the room. Thank God, they get along. Daddy was watching t.v, and
everyone else was looking at the girls, smiling.
Val walked over to me, and engulfed me in a hug. She told me she had seen the video, and
had never been more proud of me. Daddy followed, shockingly abandoning his t.v to wrap his
arms around me. Grandma gave me a wink, and a smile from the recliner. I filled them in on
my conversation with Helen, and told them that they are more than welcome to come visit
us, or meet us for lunch anytime. I made a lunch date with Val, and the girls to discuss school,
and gathered Julie up to head home.
I navigated us out of the house, and buckled us into the car. I looked over at her, asking if she
was okay as I pulled out. Easygoing Julie just smiled, and said "I really love Grandma Mazur,
and Angie. I think we are going to be friends. We both really like Reading, and Math. Angie
said she is in 7th grade too, do I get to go to school with her?"
I stopped at a stop sign, looked over at her, and said "You know what she said isn't how
everyone feels, right? We will never go there again, and I promise you will be able
to see the rest of my family, especially Angie. She was the reason I didn't want to bring
you there. I grew up with a similar problem you had with Rachel. My Mom treated me
horribly. She never asked me to leave, but she always told me I wasn't good enough.
I never want you to feel that way, Jules. You are amazing. I swear, I will spend my life
showing you how awesome you are. I think we are both better than our birth Mother's. I just
wanted you to know that. As far as schools, I am going to talk to Val when we go to lunch
on Monday, but I don't see why you couldn't go to school with Angie if that is what you want.
I want you to be comfortable wherever you go. Angie goes to school at Trenton Middle
School, so we don't have to worry about the Burg busy bodies that hang around my Mom."
Julie seemed satisfied with my little speech, and just replied "Cool. That's where I want to
go. Angie said she will introduce me to her friends if I go to school there. Thanks, Steph- you
are the best Mom ever. You don't have to love me, you just do."
I couldn't stop the tears from falling down my face after she said that. I choked back a sob,
and said "You are an amazing daughter, Jules... I'm really lucky. Since it's lunch time, how
about we head to Cluck in a bucket, get a bucket of chicken, and head over to the bonds
office to see Connie, and Lula. I want to get that over with, and I need to tell Vinnie I
quit. After we are done there, we can head home, and rest up. Today is emotional overload
again, but I promise tomorrow we will spend all day doing whatever you want. Be thinking
of what you want to do, because we will do whatever. Movies, mall, spa, zoo, the couch.
Anything you want, you deserve it after the week you have had."
Julie nodded her agreement, and we headed to Cluck in a bucket, and over to the Bond's
office. I called Tank, and asked him if he needed me to get his files, since he is still a little
iffy about being around Lula, and he was beyond thankful. We pulled into the bond's office
and saw the girls with their noses pressed up against the glass. I grabbed Julie's hand with my
right hand, and the bucket of chicken with my left hand, and headed into the Lion's Den. Lula
grabbed the chicken, and settled in the chair, Connie headed to her desk, and Jules, and I
sat on the couch. The whole room was silent for about 30 seconds until finally Lula couldn't
take it anymore.
"White girl... what in the world is going on? Granny sent me the video of you chewing out
Morelli. I swear, Batman is going to have a fit when he sees Morelli hit you. So, is Batman's
batspawn really your daughter? What happened in the past 4 days, you disappeared out of
nowhere and..." Finally, I cut her off. God help me, she just called Julie batspawn.
"Lula... please don't call Julie batspawn, it sounds...disgusting. Anyways, this is the one and
only conversation we will have on this subject. It is nobody's business how it came about,
but yes- Julie is legally my child now. We are settling into life together, and no- Ranger is
still in the wind, and has no idea. This was an immediate, quick decision, and that is why I
left suddenly. I will no longer be working here, because I have accepted a full-time position
at RangeMan. I love you two, but like I have told everyone else, if I catch wind of any- I mean
any gossip about us, you will deal with my wrath. I promise you, it won't be pretty."
Lula, and Connie stared at me open-mouthed for a solid two minutes before Lula could
formulate a sentence. She looked at me with squinty eyes at first, and then broke out into
a huge grin. "Damn, White girl! You are a full-blown Mother bear! I don't know how you
never thought you would have kids, you are the shit! I promise, support only, no gossip.
You have to come shopping with me though, make sure you bring Mini-Ranger with you."
Connie still hadn't spoken, I'm pretty sure she was in shock from the information, and my
new-found ability to not get railroaded from anyone. We sat for a long time, and talked about
our new apartment, and going house hunting soon. We grabbed the RangeMan files, and as
soon as we had made it to the door, Vinnie came out of his office. He started in on me about
disappearing, and I just smiled, and said- "Vinnie, I quit. If you have a problem with it, you
can contact Tank. He told me if you have an issue with me, and my employment status with
RangeMan, you can find someone else to do your high bonds."
Vinnie paled at that thought, and turned on his heel to go back into his office. I looked over at
the girls, winked and walked out with Julie hot on my heels. Exhausted with the events from
the day, we drove straight home, made a stop on 5 to deliver the files, and headed to our
apartment on 4. We immediately changed into comfy p.j's, found a movie, and popped some
popcorn. After the movie, Ella brought us some homemade mac and cheese, and chocolate
cake, and we talked about our plans for tomorrow. Julie decided to sleep in, lounge in
pj's, and do our own mani's and pedi's at home. We thought girl-time, and Chinese take-out
sounded better than getting out. We need some recovery time from the past few days.
After Julie went to bed, in my bed again, I slipped into the living room to call Mary-Lou. I
knew she would have just put the boys down, so I called to fill her in on what has been
going on. She was beyond thrilled for me, and couldn't wait to meet Julie, and introduce
her boys to her. Mary-Lou's son Mikey is a grade below Jules but goes to the same school
that she will be attending. After about 30 minutes, we were both too tired to talk anymore,
and decided to get together on Wednesday afternoon.
I headed to bed, and spent my usual few minutes observing Julie's angel face. I jumped a
major hurdle today standing up to my Mom, and not letting the girls railroad me. I feel
so amazing that everyone except for Morelli, and my Mom are being supportive of me
being a Mom to Julie. Mom... I never thought I would ever be called that, and when
Julie said I was the best Mom ever, I felt 10 feet tall. I would never ask her to call me Mom,
but I have to admit, it was the best feeling I have ever felt. I fell asleep feeling 1,000 pounds
lighter knowing those confrontations are out of the way, and tomorrow there would be
no cell-phones, no interruptions, just quality girl time with Julie.
A/N: And that is Burg Beat-Down II. Hopefully I will have the next chapter up in the next few days, next chapter will be getting Steph & Julie settled, and Steph starting her job at RangeMan. Keep the reviews, and messages coming. I really appreciate all the messages, and help I have been getting on this story. Sending lots of love to you amazing ladies sending me suggestions. Still having formatting issues, but will be re-doing all the chapters formatting when I get my laptop back. For now, I am using a tablet, and FanFiction is condensing all my paragraphs. I swear, I will fix it soon lol
Thanks again :)
xoxo-Brit*