There appears to be some confusion about the last chapter. I was attempting to reveal a return to normal at RangeMan in Trenton after all that has happened. By the reviews, I missed the mark. All mistakes are mine.

Epilogue

Stephanie and Ranger had returned to Miami a number of times for business reasons and had timed one of them for a mini family reunion.

Patricia had set it up, but cautiously advised all the adults that while Stephanie was excited to meet everybody, well, it might be slightly overwhelming at the same time.

Ranger had been by her side the entire afternoon, greeting people and watching over his Babe. He had been intrigued that a number of the attendees had recognized his name and were using RangeMan Miami as their security service for either business and/or residential. Word spread and a number of people were asking for more information on the security services RangeMan could provide.

Stephanie had been very surprised that she had such an extended number of people to meet and get to know, but she was attempting to keep them separate from her life in Trenton. After all, she was not about to burn any bridges.

~~~o0o~~~

Edna was recovering at a phenomenal rate but she wasn't confident yet of travelling outside, so Frank, Helen and Stephanie headed to the retirement community for a visit.

They crowded into her room and took a seat on whatever they could find, leaving Edna her favorite chair to relax in.

Stephanie had closed the door so nothing could get passed on up and down the hall.

She looked around at her family.

"I just wanted to update you on what's been going on", she began.

She cleared her throat nervously.

Frank, Helen and Edna stiffened in spite of themselves. Was this her farewell speech? Was she dropping them for her birth family? Was she and Ranger picking up roots and moving the head office back to Miami?

Stephanie looked at them shifting around. She could well understand their nervousness. It had been a tough time for them all.

Frank, Helen and Edna had earlier held a discussion without Stephanie and they felt that the best they could hope for was if any of this ever got out, they would acknowledge the gift of a child given to them to raise as their own. Edna had looked Helen in the eye and stated that while she might feel uncomfortable about the whole situation being discovered, what was done was done.

Stephanie's gaze zeroed in on Helen.

Helen was shifting uncomfortably. She had not agreed how they would deal if it came to light. She instead wanted to literally bury her head in the sand and hope that it all went away soon. She'd even broached the suggestion to Frank that they take a winter holiday and maybe forget to come back!

Frank looked at his wife. Was she starting to unravel again, just like she had oh so many years ago?

He looked at Edna and she was also looking at Helen. They did an almost invisible nod to each other. They would discuss this at a later time.

Finally Stephanie spoke. "It's been quite the journey over the past number of weeks and months. I'm not going to lie but there were a number of times as I was growing up I really doubted that I even belonged. Saying that I'm stating for the record that you are my family and looking back on my life I treasure all the happy moments and grieve with the sad.

There's the old saying that you can't choose your family but you can choose your friends. I needed my RangeMan family to help me get through this. I also needed my RangeMan friends to believe in me.

I'm hoping for your understanding as I come to grips with the realization that I was not conceived from the both of you. I want you to continue to love me for who I am. You are the family I grew up with sharing my secrets and trust."

Stephanie looked at her family sitting down.

"I've always taken pride in the fact that I had both Hungarian and Italian blood in me. I received the results of a test where through saliva they can track where I am really from. Guess what? I really do have both Eastern European and Italian ancestry, along with a very strong indicator that I have British ancestry in me too."

She looked at her family.

"I know it's not the Burg way, but I've been seeing someone who has helped me understand that what I'm feeling is normal. She helped me to remember that you loved me and gave me a safe place to grow up and find my way.

At the same time, she has encouraged me to continue my search for my birth mother. I know that Michelle is out there somewhere. I don't think she's dead, but I can't give you a definitive reason why I think that.

I'm working with someone in Miami who is – not was – Michelle's sister. She has so many contacts and since she continues to live in the area I think she can look into places and talk to people. All she needed was some direction on how to begin to search and now that she has the will and newfound skills, I am confident that she can provide a direction for us to pursue.

I on the other hand, know how to search on the computer. I seem to be able to think outside the box and maybe I can unearth something we can draw on.

I'm confident that we will find her. Someday."

She looked at the three of them again.

"If you're interested, I have some pictures. Some were taken at a family gathering that Ranger and I were invited to. It's really strange, but I can see a resemblance in a number of people there. Patricia, my birth-mothers only sister introduced me and completely put me at ease with all these new people I seem to be related to by birth."

Edna spoke for the first time since they had come into her room.

"Honey, we only wanted the best for you. At the same time, I guess we forgot that you deserved to hear the truth. I would love to see your pictures and hear any stories you might want to pass on."

Stephanie looked at her grandma. She had sounded so positive about wanting to know more and Stephanie moved to her. She leaned down and gave her a hug.

"Thanks grandma. I needed that."

She pulled some photos from her purse and sat down on the arm of Edna's chair.

"This is my birth aunt, Patricia Wilson. She's married to Murray and they have three really cute kids. They've invited me to come and stay whenever I'm in town. She's a Senior Chartered Professional Accountant for a large firm in Miami.

This is a picture of my birth grandparents. Their names were Jean and Earl Lawrence. They both passed away in 1996."

Frank stood up and moved to stand beside Edna's chair.

"Can I see them too, Pumpkin?"

Helen stayed in her chair, mulling over the conversation. She needed to talk to Valerie and get her views on the entire matter. She would know what needed to be done.

Stephanie showed another picture.

"This is artists' rendition of what Michelle might look like now. The artist took a picture of me and added another 15 years or so. Ranger arranged it and has forwarded this to all the security companies. Right now he's concentrating in Florida but if we hear anything to the contrary we can always expand that to the surrounding states. Patricia has also sent the picture to the Baptist Churches in Florida. If she's attending church, someone will recognize her."

It was an almost inner thought as she said to her family. "I wonder if I'm doing the right thing. She's been hiding for over 30 years. Do we have a right to dig her out?"

There was no answer to that.

~~~o0o~~~

Larry looked around their home.

The past few months had flown by. All the paperwork had come through and the house was finally theirs. They had moved out of Nancy's mothers' house and into this one, slowly purchasing new furniture as the need or want warranted. The moving truck with the stored items from RangeMan had arrived and was being poured over with glee, everyone excited to find items and mementos long forgotten.

Heritage Auction House had indeed put up the #9 Superman comic for auction and the interest had surprised even them. After all the fees and taxes had been calculated and charged, the cheque was in the Morrison bank account and they were feeling more relaxed in years.

Larry was in the process of setting up his own painting business and while it would be a one-man operation, he could work the hours and jobs he wanted. He had talked to Nancy and while she was enjoying working, there was some thought that when she was ready she would be leaving her job, staying home for the first time since the boys were born and taking on the position of bookkeeping for their new company.

Their boys were happy and doing well in school. Evan had been accepted into a number of accelerated high school courses for the winter term, confirming that his wish to become a doctor was possible if he kept his marks up.

Eddie had been presented with a Division 1 uniform and was improving with each practice or game. He had looked at his dad sitting so proudly in the stands when he scored the first goal Larry had ever seen him score. He too was looking at continuing on to college, hopefully selected on a full-ride soccer scholarship.

Nancy's mom had been surprised with a cleaning service to help around her home. Her arthritis was beginning to trouble her and not having to drag around a heavy vacuum or get down on her knees to wash floors was certainly something she could use. Nancy had pleaded with her mother to accept the help and had actually admonished her not to clean the house before the cleaning lady arrived!

~~~o0o~~~

Larry had kept careful track on what RangeMan had advanced him along with the plane ticket, and adding a sizeable amount for the medical assistance, the living accommodations and meals and in his opinion, unforeseen expenses, the certified cheque had been mailed directly to Tank. Larry had reasoned that if either Ranger or Stephanie received the cheque, it would be returned, and he wanted to express his appreciation for their help.

He and Les had kept up a loose line of communication and Larry chuckled to hear of Les's ever-continuing playboy activities. While he had never given in to anything as impulsive during his earlier years, he had secretly cheered on Les as he continued to show a total disregard to growing up.

Larry would never hear from RangeMan that Mary Margaret Morrison had been committed after the 30 day psychiatric assessment. In the report, It was noted that she was delusional and not in touch with reality. There were a number of indicators that she was suffering from a serious imbalance in her brain and that in the psychiatrists' opinion, she should be kept in a safe and controlled environment. It was also noted that she was living in the past, pining for her lost son, and completely ignoring the fact that she still had a living son and his family.

The court had ordered that a search warrant be issued on her house in Philadelphia after a tip had been anonymously forwarded to the Philadelphia Police Department. Now both Philadelphia and Trenton Police Departments were involved in the actions and perceived actions of one Mary Margaret Morrison. Photos of the wall of the office, and photos of the cage in the basement led to more charges, charges that would be served if and when she was released from the psychiatric facility. Interesting to note that when the search warrant was served, the box with the printing was nowhere to be seen.

Sheriffs were observed carrying out boxes of evidence, and the neighborhood stood outside on the sidewalk across the street with camera phones in hand.

In their collective opinion, the lady who had lived there was certifiably crazy.

~~~o0o~~~

The other three comics were safely stored in a bank vault and would be sold as the need or interest arose. Who knew, these comics might someday be worth even more and would make their retirement even easier. The boys' university expenses would be covered and if their parents played their cards right, the boys could start out their adult life with a bit of a nest egg of their own.

~~~o0o~~~

Six months later and Stephanie and Patricia were working hard.

Patricia Wilson was a senior accountant in a large firm by day, but after hours she was a lay minister with a Baptist Church congregation in Miami. Her faith had kept her strong through the uncertain years of not knowing what had happened to her sister Michelle. She was using those contacts now. Both Patricia and Stephanie reasoned that with a family so very strong in the faith that that feeling of comfort might lead Michelle to reach out in her time of need.

It was Patricia's idea to contact all the Baptist Churches in Florida checking back in their log books for a young girl who had come to their church. A meal, a cot to sleep on, or assistance with medical needs. It would all have been carefully documented.

Trailing somebody after disappearing over 30 years ago was proving to be difficult to say the least. Memories fade after time and unfortunately asking about a girl with curly hair and very blue eyes wasn't much to go on.

They had already received one tidbit of information. It appears that Michelle had indeed headed to her home church after fleeing the Morrison house that night. She had been found sleeping on a bench in the back garden by the newly hired caretaker and had been taken in, fed and given a cot to sleep on. Notes to the log stated that she had disappeared just a few hours later that day.

Another tidbit came in. A young girl matching Michelle's description had been seen at a Baptist Church in northern Florida for a few days. She had partaken of the Sunday feast but had not indulged in conversation with the parishioners. The minister had noted that she seemed very shy and hadn't been willing to divulge much in the way of personal information.

They had a direction and with renewed enthusiasm and also with the use of Facebook, something might come in.

Patricia had scorned the entire idea of Facebook until her friend Amy contacted her about Stephanie wanting to connect. Now, she was using it and amazed how many people were willing to check things out. Her message box held messages of hope and offers to do what they could. Patricia passed on relevant notes to Stephanie so that she could direct her searches.

Patricia had been adamant that she would never stoop to looking at pets and wild animals on the Facebook site; well, until she saw just the cutest puppy picture one day.

~~~o0o~~~

Looking back, it had been quite the roller-coaster ride.

She had learned so much about a person who she couldn't even imagine knowing about just a few short months ago. Funny how life had thrown her a few curveballs, but she was proud of the fact that she had risen above the difficulties and had made it work.

She continued to visit the Plum household for suppers and her beloved Grandma Edna was treated to lots of visits. These were the family she had grown up with and they were forever in her hearts.

Valerie had been told of the circumstances and she had pursed her lips, promising that no word would ever come from her. She was living in the Burg after all and tongues would wag for weeks and months if that ever got out. She had advised her mom to stop worrying about the whole thing. Val was showing some backbone and promised Stephanie in a meeting over coffee that she was watching and keeping an eye out and an ear to the ground with respect to her mom.

Vinnie, the slime ball that he was, stood true to his word and nothing was ever said about that room in Philadelphia, or the musings way back when.

She was in contact with Larry. He and his family were happy and he was becoming more confident of his ability to look after his family in their new setting.

~~~o0o~~~

Stephanie was sitting at her desk at RangeMan. There was another note from Patricia and she had just replied.

A warm hand brushed up against the back of her neck and unconsciously she leaned into the loving gesture.

She looked up just in time to accept a soft kiss from her husband.

It was two years since they had been married and they were stealing away to a secret destination. Their bags were packed and waiting in the car.

Tank had been advised some days before that he had the office for at least a week and he'd grumbled back that they were over the newlywed period now and it was time to start acting their age.

Ranger had promptly pulled his Babe toward him, leaned her backwards right in front of Tank and had given her a mind blowing kiss.

Tank harrumphed and had headed to his office, closing the door behind him.

"Dammit to hell, go find a room you two!"

Authors Note: Thank you for reading and following along on this journey. I treasured each and every review or musing and am ever so grateful that you took the time to encourage me to continue.

Myrna