Happily Ever After
Business was going good. They had been averaging three skips a week, plus they had a security contracts for couple apartment buildings and a few offices including the one that house housed their office. They had been in business for two months and everything was going great. They were gaining a great reputation. Then the event that changed many American's lives happened. RangeMan, as well as every security firm in the tri-state area, was called in to beef up security at airports and seaports.
Pretty soon they brought some of the troops home from overseas. The minute Tank, Lester, Hal and Ram stepped foot on American soil, they called Ric. They all put in their resignations and joined Ric's team. Tank had always been Ric's second in command, so Tank remained just that. They all stayed busy for months. Ric took the job at Newark Airport so he could go home to Stephanie and the kids every night.
Pretty soon, Ric realized he needed more people. He hired four more guys, Hector, Zero, Junior and Woody. The government was paying good money for the security contracts. Ric wasn't hurting at all. Stephanie took charge of the office taking phone calls and filing paperwork,as well as keeping the books. She sucked at math, but Ric helped her understand the accounting. She did as much work at home as possible.
Two Years Later
Ric was thrilled about business being great and now, with the high demand for security, he needed yet again more man power and a bigger office.
Ric and Tank each took out a huge business loan and together they bought an old apartment building. They transformed the seven floors of old apartments into a very spacious office building. They left one floor as apartments for his men who didn't have a place to live in town and transformed the top floor into a huge 6 bedroom suite for Ric and Stephanie's family. It had a full sized kitchen, a living room and a den, dining room and a home office.
The major remodeling took about 8 months to complete and within the next year the building was finished. They had a big celebration when they nailed the brass plaque to the right of the front door, RangeMan, LLC.
Ric had hired his aunt and uncle to help with housekeeping and maintenance for the building. They had the whole sixth floor to themselves. A 2 bedroom apartment, a huge laundry room and a super sized resturaunt style kitchen. His Aunt Ella loved to cook.
Over the four years of getting the buisness started. Stephanie popped out two more kids, and Ric was thrilled he could be home with her during these two pregnancies. Ricky was 9, the twins were 7 and the new additions were four year old Martina and one year old Frankie. After Frankie, Ric got a vasectomy and called the baby making quits.
They couldn't have been a happier family. Stephanie only cooked when she felt like it, because Ella did all the cooking. Stephanie often insisted on helping Ella with the cooking, but Ella would refuse.
Stephanie had a time with Ricky. He refused to wear anything but the same clothes as his father. Black shirt, black cargo pants and black boots. Everyone called him 'Little Boss' and Ricky took that title seriously. He would go around yelling orders. All the guys would laugh and say "10-4 Little Boss". Stephanie was irritated because Ric encouraged it. Both of the girls were princesses and 'King Daddy' spoiled them rotten.
Alex wasn't interested in being like his daddy, he was a bookworm from the minute he learned to read. He was very smart and would shock Stephanie and Ric with what he knew, especially at the dinner table.
"Did you know a blue whale's penis is twelve feet long?" Stephanie choked , "Alex, sweetie, lets not discuss animal parts at the dinner table, please."
Ric chuckled, "Could you imagine that, Babe? Twelve feet!"
"Ricardo! No, not at the table. Stop encouraging him."
Stephanie being 28 with 5 kids caused her to grow up fast. She couldn't believe how much changed in ten years. Ten years ago, her and Ric went on there first date. Now, they are married, run their own business and have five kids. She couldn't wait to see the look on the people's faces at the High School Reunion next week.
High School Reunion, Class of 1996
Stephanie and Ric decided they would attend only one of the two events scheduled for the reunion. Friday night was a cocktail party for the alumni only and Saturday afternoon was a family friendly barbeque. The decided to just go to the barbeque. They had pony rides and carnival games for the children and plenty of food to go around.
Ricky and the twins found some kids they knew from school and ran off to play. Martina sat on 'King Daddy's" shoulders and little prince Frankie sat on Stephanie's hip.
When Stacey came over to Stephanie, she was shocked at the cute little boy on her hip.
"Steph, he is precious. I heard that Cera Dolan has six kids! How does someone like Cera Dolan end up with six kids?" Cera Dolan was the smart bookworm type, coke bottle glasses, braces and wore plaid jumpers with white lace ruffled shirts. Stephanie just shrugged.
"So," Stacey started,"who was the lucky man that got you knocked up?" Stacey had moved to Chicago right after graduation and hadn't been around for the news of Stephanie and Ric's wedding in 1997.
Ric returned as if right on que, with Martina attached to his head, "Hey Stacey".
"Ric?" She turned to Stephanie, "Your still with Ric and you have 2 kids?" Stacey hadn't changed too much, still a bit ditzy.
"Um, actually Stace, we have 5." Stephanie said smiling.
Stacey mouth dropped opened and since the kids have Manoso genes they all arrived at just that moment calling for their daddy. Stacey stared in aawe.
"Wow, how old is..." Stacey stared pointing at Ricky.
"That's Ricky, he turned nine in March." Stephanie explained as she watched Ric getting the kids drinks.
"So you and Ric finally... after... Damn" Stacey was just about speechless.
There was some noise on the little stage under the gazebo at the park where the event was being held. Their class president, Amanda Lombardi, got on the stage and started talking. When she mentioned that the 'Class Royality' was still together after all these years cheers were loud and she called Ric up to the stage, Stephanie followed but didn't go up she was holding on to all the kids.
Ric talked about his accomplishments, Army Rangers, starting his own business, and being a father and husband. He was proud of his family. Amanda clapped and cheered and the crowd joined in. Amanda placed a crown on Ric's head the motioned for Stephanie to come up on the stage. Stephane wrangled the kids and they all went on the stage and everyone cheered while Stephanie felt embarassed. Alexis looked up at her daddy with his crown on his head and smiled. She looked at all the people watching and shouted , "All, hail King Daddy!"
The crowd replied with shouts and clapping at a deafening volume.
Stephanie blushed with embarassment, but she knew deep inside they would always be the king and queen of their castle. Thats why they lived on the top floor of the office building.
They shall live happily ever after ruling their kingdom, The Kingdom of RangeMan.