Author's Note: I noticed that I haven't done this in a while, but thank you to all those who have reviewed! You guys rock! I don't want you guys to feel unappreciated. Hope you enjoy the next chapter!

Um, do I really need to bother? I know and you know that I'm not Janet Evanovich, therefore don't own anything.

Chapter 19: Secrets

Sunday once again, came too quickly. The nervousness began to settle in.

"Babe, they like you. We established that the last time you were here. Why are you so worried?"

"Because now I'm meeting the rest of the family and your Grandma! Sorry, but grandmas tend to give me the willies." Shuddering at the thought of Grandma Bella. No, this was Carlos's family. They didn't have a Grandma Bella.

It was a Grandma Rosa.

Please, don't let her have the Cuban Evil eye.

"Carlos! You're late."

"It was Stephanie."

"What? She's pregnant now?"

"NO," I screamed, stepping in. "I was having problems with my hair." Like I couldn't get the thoroughly fucked look out of it.

"Well come it, come in." She showed us to the living room where a little Cuban lady sat.

Grandma Rosa.

Oh boy.

She reminded me of Grandma Bella, but not in the scary, make your eye twitch because she thinks you're pregnant kind of way.

"Carlos, cómo es mi nieto favorito?" (How is my favorite grandson?)

He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Muy bien, abuela. Esto es mi novia, Stephanie." He said, moving me closer to her. (Very well, Grandma. This is my girlfriend, Stephanie)

"Ah, si, si, vente." He pushed me closer. (Ah, yes, yes, come here)

She looked me over, nodding her head. "Veo a muchos niños para tu." She said to me, with Ranger translating in my ear, "muy bonitos. Si, si, se muy bonitos. ¿Te amo mi nieto?" (I see many children for you. Very beautiful. Yes, yes, very beautiful. Do you love my grandson?)

I knew enough Spanish for that. "Si, mucho." I replied. (Yes, a lot)

"Bueno, porque veo muchos años felices juntos." She got up and hugged me. I guess that I was in the family now for sure because Maria now looked relaxed. My guess is that you needed her approval for everything. (Good, because I see many happy years together)

"Vente, mama, la cena esta lista." Maria helped her over to the table. (Come mama, dinner is ready)

"I guess that went well." I said, turning to Ranger.

"I have never seen my grandmother take so well to anyone of my sibling's spouses like she did to you."

"That's not even the weirdest part."

He raised an eyebrow.

"When Grandma Bella said that I was pregnant with Joe's kid, I freaked. Grandma Rosa says that we'll have many beautiful children and look at me. I haven't even broken a sweat."

Ranger gave me a large smile. He put a hand on my stomach. "I can't wait to see you grow large with our children."

"Large? Are you saying I'm going to be a whale?"

"Babe." He was still smiling at me.

"Because, I like everything where it is."

He wolf grinned at me. "Me too."

Oh, boy.

"¿Cómo esta Ricardo?" Grandma Rosa asked. The only Ricardo I knew was sitting next to me. I would hope they wouldn't talk about him when he was right there.

"Esta bien, mama." Maria looked pained.

I looked at Ranger, who shook his head at me.

"Later," he told me.

"Lester! You're even later than Carlos and Stephanie!" Maria said as Lester sat down.

"Sorry, I got hung up at work."

"Carlos, is that any way to treat your cousin? Make him work so hard he's late?"

"No, I gave him the day off." Lester smirked at Ranger.

"Jeez Stephanie, I thought you said you weren't pregnant." Lester said. Celia slapped him upside the head.

"They were late getting here. Probably doing the nasty."

I blushed.

"What's the nasty?" Maria asked.

"You don't want to know." Celia said.

She turned to Ranger and hit him upside the head. "Shame on you. You don't want to get her pregnant now, do you?"

"Not now anyway." He said quietly to me. I blushed.

The rest of the dinner was chaotic. Everyone laughing, eating and screaming at each other. Ranger and I just sat back and enjoyed the show, which Lester pretty much provoked.

"You'll be coming back soon, right?"

"Mama…"

"Carlos," she warned. Then she turned to me. "He works too hard. Make him relax some times."

"I will."

We were driving silently until I realized that we weren't going back to Haywood.

"Carlos?"

"There is someone else I want you to meet."

I opened my mouth to ask who, but the look on his face told me not to.

When we finally stopped, we were about an hour outside of Trenton and pulling up to what looked like an apartment buildings.

"Hello, Carlos. It's so nice to see you back here." The receptionist said. "They are just finishing up dinner, so why don't you just go on ahead in."

"Thank you, Lynette."

We headed through a set of doors back towards what I thought were apartments. But they were actually just rooms. And then it dawned on me.

We were in a retirement home.

Ranger turned into the room all the way in the corner. When we walked into the private room, I saw the man immediately on the bed. He looked drained and unfocused. He had the jet black hair like Ranger and the length. They had to be related.

"Stephanie, I want you to meet Ricardo Carlos Manoso Sr. Babe, this is my father."