Stephanie had become increasingly suspicious after I had refused to answer her question that night. No, she was not in my face about it, but I could tell she was in detective mode. Normally she would let my dirty jeans lay on the floor until laundry day. Now as soon as I took them off , she had them in the hamper. I knew she had been going through my pockets. Then she parked her car in the garage to make sure she would to have to drive my vehicle to visit her grandmother. Good thing I had already deleted my GPS system. Cupcake was so good that I had to be on my toes to stay ahead of her snooping.
I was glad to be at work and free to call Rosalina without having to worrying about being overheard by Stephanie. As I strolled through the door to my office I saw my wife sitting in my chair behind my desk.
"Steph, what brings you here?"
"Just thought I would stop by to see if my husband wanted to take to lunch for helping him figure out that case."
I had already planned on going to see Rosalina at lunch time. My schedule was free now that I had solved my last case with Steph's help. My normal visits Rosalina's house had been reduced because of Stephanie's prying. I missed Rosalina and the kids.
"No can do, I have got a meeting up in Camden. How about a rain check, Cupcake ?"
"Funny,I don't see that on your schedule, Joe ," she said looking at my desk calendar.
"I just got the call on the way in," I explained.
"That's too bad Joe, but you can make it up to me by stopping by that little bistro on the way back and picking up my usual. It will be quite the treat since we don't get to Camden too often."
Great,now I was going to have to drive forty-five minutes to get her usual.
"No need for you to be hanging out in here. I'll walk you back over to your department, " told Stephanie.
I had no idea how long she had been in my office. What I did know is that I needed to get her out of there before she had a chance to do any more spying.
By the time I drove to Camden to pick up the food, it was well after lunch time. I decided to pick up a pizza for Rosalina and the kids. They would be home from school soon and, making them an afternoon snack would one less thing for her to do. First, I would need to stop by the house and put Steph's food in the refrigerator. She was going to be out late tonight since she would be hanging out with Grandma Mazur at the hospital.
When I arrived at Rosalina's house she seemed overwhelmed. Her eyes had gray circles underneath them. She was wearing a stained sweatshirt and old faded jeans that hung off her hips. Little Antonio was wailing his head off in her arms. Rosalina did not even hear me when I came in the house. She and jumped at the sound of my voice.
"Joe, why didn't you tell me you were coming? Look at me I'm a mess."
"You look fabulous darling !"I said as I placed a kiss on her lips and took the baby from her arms. "What is wrong with our little guy here?"
"I think he is coming down with something. He has been fussy all week , he not eating and I think he feels warm. I can't get him down for a nap or at night."
"I'm sorry I have not been around to help you. Things have been crazy at the police station. How about you take a nap and I take this little guy for a ride to go pick up the kids at school?"
"That would be great Joe ,"she sighed.
"How was school today?" I asked as the two children jumped into the car.
"It was sooooo fun!" Giavanna squeaked from her car seat.
"That's cause you are still in baby school," Valentino said.
"Am not ," Giavanna huffed.
"Are too, you only go half day. You're just a Pre-K kid. "
"Valentino you were just like her last year ," I told him.
"So, that was last year. Imma big boy now !"
I could not help but laugh. Sure, at the five he was a big boy.
As we pulled into the driveway I notice that the baby was sound asleep. Gently, I lifted him out of his car seat and carried him into the nursery. After placing Antonio in his crib and covering him with a blanket , I went to check on the woman who I had fallen in love with. Rosalina was sound asleep.
"Come on little ones. Who is hungry?"
"I am!" they both shouted.
"Shhhh , your mama, and little brother are both sleeping."
I served them their afternoon snack. Then we started working on their homework. After we finished, I took the kids outside to play so we did not disturb Antonio and his mama.
Giavanna and Valentino washed up and help me prepare dinner after playtime. When Rosalina woke up supper was on the table.
"Joe Morelli, you are great. I'm going to have to lock you down and put a wedding ring on you," Rosalina told me before wrapping her arms around my waist and leaning in for a hot sensual kiss.
"Sit, eat," I told her in an effort to change the subject.
"MMM, where did you learn to cook like this ?"
"From my mama."
"So when do I get to meet the woman who taught you to make dinner like this?"
"I'm not sure. she is a busy woman. "
"How about I load up the dishwasher and you can get the little ones ready for bed and check on Antonio."
"Sounds great !"
When I got home I went straight to the shower. After toweling dry, I put on a pair of pajama bottoms and went down to the kitchen. Stephanie was sitting at the table eat the food I had picked up for her.
"Hey, Cupcake. How is your grandma? "
"She is doing much better now that you convinced mom not to send her to an old folks homes. How do you do it, Joe? You have got Helen Plum wrapped around your little finger."
"It's the Morelli charm Cupcake," I said as I took a beer from the fridge.
I walked over to Steph and picked her up caveman style. "Come on let's get to work on filling that nursery Steph."
The next morning I woke up tangled in my wife's limbs along with the sheets. Her nest of chestnut curls rested against my chest. I hated to leave her to get up and go to work.
I started working on boxing up the evidence from my last case. As I sat down and went over the details, my cell phone rang. Before I could answer it , my wife walked into the office.
Cupcake what are doing here? You are not scheduled to work for hours.
"Lula could not make it in this morning and I had to prepare some evidence for an FBI meeting with your sergeant." I stayed and got to present to the FBI!" she said excitedly.
My cell phone rang again. Quickly I sent Rosalina to voicemail.
"That's great Cupcake," I said wrapping my arm around her waist to pull her in for a kiss. Then my phone rang again with Rosalina's ringtone.
"Who is that , Joe? What's with the ringtone?"Stephanie asked suspiciously.
"Just one of my C.I.s from the street. I can call him back later."
"Your CI has his own ringtone, Joe?"
Before I could answer her question my desk phone rang.
"Morelli."
"Joe ! The baby is burning up. He is screaming his head off and I can't get him to stop crying.
"Uh huh, that does not sound good."
"Antonio has a rash and he has started vomiting. I'm so scared Joe , can you come with me to take him to the pediatrician?"
"I'm on my way right now."
"Where are you going? Joe what's wrong ?"
"Nothing for you to worry about Cupcake. I have to go. You can tell me all about your meeting with the FBI later."
I gave my wife a peck on the lips and then I ran out of there to my car. After I got about three blocks away from the parking lot I noticed I had a tail. Stephanie was a few cars behind me in a borrowed car. She was good, it took me several minutes of speeding and erratic driving to shake her off my scent. Once I knew she was gone I drove straight to Rosalina's house. She was waiting outside for me with the baby in his car seat.
"He is so sick Joe. I have never seen him like this," she cried.
Rosalina's face was pale and her eyes were all puffy and red. "It's going to be alright," I told her.
When we arrived at the pediatrician Rosalina was shaking so badly that she could not hold Antonio. I held the baby in one arm and secured the other around Rosalina's waist holding her close as we walked inside the doctor's office. I had to fill out the forms because Rosalina's hands were shaking so badly. She sat next to me with her head resting on my shoulder as we held hands in the waiting room. Before it was Antonio's turn to see the doctor I looked up to see a wall of black utility boots and cargo pants towering over me in my chair in, toe to toe with my feet. Tank had suddenly appeared and was now glaring at me.
"Officer Morelli, Long time no see."
"Yeah ,Tank we will have to catch up on old times later."
"That sounds good. Maybe I will have my wife bake us some cupcakes," he sneered before going to sit down with Lula and their child.
The baby was diagnosed with scarlet fever. After I picked up his prescription and drove them home , I got back to work. As much as I wanted to stay to take care of the little guy, I had to get back to the police station.
Stephanie was sitting in my office chair waiting for me when I arrived back at my office. I could not help but to notice the large black SUV parked outside the building that housed Steph's department. I was hoping that if I kept her in my office long enough that the occupant would drive off.
"Guess what Joe!" she said jumping up from my chair and into my arms.
I always enjoyed seeing her excitement. I observed her goofy expression and thought about how much I love this woman.
"What," I replied playfully.
"The FBI was so impressed by my presentation that they want me to go to Atlanta to present to a task force. I leave tonight. I'm only going to be away for three days. You can manage without your wife for three days ,right ,Joe."
"Of course, I can. Why don't you let me take you out to lunch celebrate?"
"Sounds like a plan," she said as we walked to the door. I could only hope that the shiny black on black SUV with the tinted windows would be gone by the time we returned.
Thankfully ,Cupcake wanted to go home right after lunch to pack for her trip. By the time I got home from work that night, it was dark and I was hungry. With no wife at home the house felt lonely. There was also no one to make supper. I went upstairs and packed a bag.
"Come on Bob, let's go get some supper," I said as he jumped into my truck. When we pulled into Rosalina's driveway Bob had his ears flapping in the breeze. The excited children ran out of the house to play with the furry dog. Rosalina was right behind them. The corners of her lips curled into a smile when she noticed the small suitcase in my hand.
"Will you be staying to help out with the baby? "
"For a few day , until Antonio is feeling better. I know how difficult a sick baby can make your routine. I hope you don't' mind Bob. "
"Not at all, we always had a dog at home when I was growing up. Now let's all get inside. Supper is getting cold.
