Thank you for reading. The end is near. One or two chapters to go. Lee Anne

A Family Affair

Chapter 10

In unison Stephanie and Ranger nodded at the President's offer, neither wanted to wait a moment longer to be husband and wife. Their 'someday' began now.

Shifting slightly, Ranger turned to Stephanie's father. "Frank, may I have your daughter's hand?"

He began laughing heartily. "Don't you think it's a little past that? Son, you make my daughter happy and that makes you part of our family already."

"We don't have any wedding rings," the bride commented. She had a gorgeous marquis diamond on her finger and that would more that due now that she thought about it. They could pick out ones later.

Grandma tugged at her finger a few times. "Here, use this one until you get your own," she said laying her aged silver band in the Bad Ass's palm.

"Grandma, I love you," Stephanie hugged her small Grandma Mazur.

"Thank you, Edna," Ranger said touched by her grandmother's thoughtfulness.

Wiping her tears, Stephanie had to get ready for her wedding and change her daughter. "I need to get ready." She gathered Addison in her arms. Grandma picked up the diaper bag and Stephanie's purse following her.

"We'll be back," Edna Mazur told the room escorting Stephanie to the bathroom.

"Ben, I think the President can do better than an office for a wedding. There's a beautiful bell and city out those glass windows downstairs for a backdrop," Mrs. Cosgrove told her husband.

"You're right." President Cosgrove kissed his wife's cheek. "It's why I married you."

"I'll be down in a few minutes," Stephanie told her wedding guests and fiancée.

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Downstairs the First Lady took over, she was directing the Secret Service Agents to gather all the flower arrangements around Liberty Center for her husband's visit and place them around the historical bell. Those not doing that were folding up chairs. Bobby, Lester, and Ram were given a chore to bring the luncheon buffet for after his speech out of the back room. A wedding needed food. A center staffer went looking for ribbon and another went to find appropriate music for a wedding. Emily Cosgrove's personal assistant went for champagne and glasses at the Omni since it was the closest hotel.

Finished touching up her smeared mascara, applying lip gloss, and fluffing her hair, Stephanie gave herself one final look. She was glad she went back to a boutique while shopping with Grandma after arriving in Philadelphia; Stephanie spotted a halter maxi dress in soft blue on sale. Since she was undercover and Ranger would be there, she bought it for the appreciative sexy eyebrows she knew it would garner. And, maybe a Cuban induced orgasm or two.

Coming off the elevator, Frank was standing there with a bouquet of white and pink roses tied together with a long white trailing ribbon. "Ready, Pumpkin," her father said handing his beautiful and fearless daughter the flowers. She moved Addie to her other arm so she could take the elbow he was offering.

'Ready, Daddy. Grandma, walk with me."

Symphony music filled Liberty Center. Coming around a display, the chaotic center was quiet only for the music playing. Standing by the Liberty Bell was Ranger waiting for Stephanie. President and Mrs. Cosgrove were in front of it and he had a bible in his hands. Tank, Bobby, Lester, and Ram were standing off from the historical landmark in their casual clothes with the decorated General. Ranger was his handsome Cuban self in black jeans and T-shirt. Secret Service Agents were standing along the walls. Stephanie giggled there were some people probably here for the speech gawking in the windows. Around the Liberty Bell were flowers and behind it through the glass Independence Hall shining in the afternoon sun.

Grandma and Frank escorted Stephanie down the path of flower petals to Ranger. Addie was watching her daddy from her mother's arm.

Reaching Ranger, Frank laid his younger daughter's hand in his. Grandma took a chair and her great-granddaughter from Stephanie, there was a bottle waiting for her which caused Addison to kick her small pink shoes.

"Well, this isn't the speech I had prepared so I'm going off the cuff here," President Cosgrove joked. "Family, friends, and government officials we are here today to witness the union of Stephanie and Ricardo.

Joy is in the simple things: touching,

Embracing, chattering on for hours about nothing,

Sure of your place within another's heart.

Simple things: like coming home knowing

Exactly where the treasure lies; like being

At ease with what you do and who you are;

Needing what you already have; accepting,

Desiring what you have been given; feeling

The gratitude of someone who is loved;

Investing goodness instead of money; giving

For the pleasure of giving pleasure; seeing

Fortune come to take you in its arms.

All this joy is yours for the price of loving,

Not only well but long, days of willing,

Years and years of wise and patient love.

"Those words were told to my wife and me on our wedding day. They were so true then and still after a number of years of marriage and family. It is those simple, little things, Stephanie and Ricardo, which will mean the most in your life together. Those simple, little things grow from your love for each other."

"Stephanie, do you take Ricardo to be your husband. To be there in the good and bad times supporting each other. To share your tears and your laughter all the days you share together."

"Always," Stephanie said softly facing a smiling Ranger.

"Ricardo, do you take Stephanie to be your wife. To be there in the good and bad times supporting each other. To share your tears and your laughter all the days you share together."

Ranger couldn't take his dark eyes off his beautiful bride. "Forever," he said.

"Ricardo, what token of your love do you have to give Stephanie?" the President continued.

"A ring."

President Cosgrove held up the silver band saying, "A ring with no beginning or end just as true love, you are not always sure the moment it began but it never ends. Repeat after me. Ricardo, with this ring I thee wed."

Ranger whispered the words to Stephanie slipping her grandmother's wedding band on her left hand fitting perfectly.

"Under the eyes of God and by the privilege granted to me being elected President of the United States of America by the people, the United States Navy, and the state of New York, I pronounce you man and wife. Ricardo, you may kiss your bride."

Her radiant face was cupped in his hands as Ranger took in every inch before touching Stephanie's lips. Their first kiss as husband and wife was soft and continued to deepen. He whispered, "It's our someday, Babe."

'It's our forever, Ranger."

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The wedding poem—' Joy Is In The Simple Things' by Nicholas Gordon.