Disclaimer: Not mine, they belong to Janet Evanovich

A/N: I know I said Helen would get her's next but, my muse hijacked this story, and so far she won't give it back!


Chapter 2

Steph Pov

Waking up in Carlos's arms was amazing. I felt like I finally found my place, my home. I felt his arms tighten around me.

"Morning Babe."

"Morning Carlos."

"I like hearing you say my name, But I loved hearing you scream it last night."

I blushed, thinking of how loud I'd been.

Carlos smiled, and then he kissed me. This led to a brand new way to say good morning.

Later, as we were eating an incredible breakfast brought up by Ella, I broached the subject of my mother.

Carlos was in agreement with me that things couldn't stay the way they were with her. We came up with a plan. Helen Plum, was about to get a little, of what she'd been giving me for years. Little did I know, my mother had a plan of her own.

Helen POV

She's done it again. That poor excuse of a daughter of mine, has destroyed another car. Why me? To make matters worse she had shouted at poor Joesph, shouting all kinds of horrible things to him, before walking off with that thug, and she hadn't answered or returned any of my calls.

I haven't been able to reach her in weeks. What kind of daughter doesn't return her mother's calls? Why can't she just settle down with Joesph. Wait until I get ahold of her, I swear I'm going to shake some sense into that girl.

I only want what's best for her, she needs to quit that horrible job, and marry Joesph. Enough is enough. I'm going to call Joesph right now and invite him to dinner. Then I was going to get my worthless daughter over here to apologize to him. Once that happens, we can start planning their wedding.

I know I'll have my mother call her, she always answers her grandmother's calls. I'll just tell mother to tell her, it's a family celebration dinner, after all it will be once Stephanie agrees to marry Joesph.

Edna's POV

The past few weeks have been a doozy. My baby granddaughter, has finally decided to go after what or should I say who she wants.

We've been meeting at a little diner, for lunch a couple times a week. Stephanie told me, it was the place where she first met Ranger.

I gotta tell you it makes me so proud to see Stephanie take control of her life. Her mother has been a downer for way too long.

I don't know where I went wrong with that girl. She makes me so angry. She has 2 wonderful daughters, and all she does is whine. I swear if I hear one more Why Me rant, I'm going to lose it. If anyone should be saying why me?, It should be me. Why do I have to have a stuck-up, miserable daughter like her.

Uh-oh! Now she smiling that fake smile at me asking me to call Stephanie, and invite her over for a family celebration dinner. What is she trying to pull now? If she hurts my baby granddaughter one more time, she's going to wish I'd given her up for adoption.

Time to call my baby girl and warn her. Maybe that hottie Ranger, will come with her. I know her cares for her, that's obvious to anyone with eyes.

I go to my room and call Stephanie on my cell phone, explaining I was worried about what her mother was up to. She told me she'd be here at 6:00 sharp, with Ranger, and not to worry because she had a plan of her own. Hot Damn! This is gonna to be better than a open casket funeral.

Frank POV

Stephanie hasn't been around in weeks. She hasn't called or stopped by, and I'm wondering why. Helen's been calling her constantly, since we started getting phone calls about her telling Morelli to go to hell. About damn time I never did like that kid.

As I said, when Stephanie stopped coming for dinner, and stopped calling our home, I started to wonder why. I've never been one to look for trouble, after 'Nam' all I wanted to have, was a quiet life.

But in searching for answers to Stephanie's behavior, I've found I'm very disappointed in my own. Truth is I've been keeping my head down, pretending I'm deaf, dumb and mute. I'm very disappointed in myself. I've allowed my wife to brow beat my daughter without mercy for years. What kind of man, what kind of father does that?

Now Helen is on the phone calling that bastard, asking him over for dinner. What the hell is she thinking?! I start to go into the kitchen to tell her there is no way that little shit is eating even one more meal at my table, when Edna grabs my arm, pulling me into the garage.

When she tells me Stephanie is coming to dinner with Ranger, and a plan, I start to smile. It grew into a big grin. I've been sleepwalking through my daughter's life, but I'm wide awake now, and I'm going to let my pumpkin have her moment. God knows she deserves that.

Then I'm going to apologize to her for everything I've never done, and pray like hell she'll forgive this foolish old man, and I hope she'll give me a chance to make it up to her. Helen be damned! If Helen doesn't do the same, she'll be on her own. I'm through burying my head in the sand.

Looks like we'll be having dinner and a show tonight, And I personally can't wait!


This time I swear Helen gets hers next. Let me know what you think!