Thanks again for your reviews of chapter 17. They helped me add a few things to this chapter, and gave me an idea for the next one. All familiar characters belong to Janet. The mistakes are mine alone.

Chapter 18

Ella had her head bent close to my mom's when I reached the bar.

"Stephanie is a wonderful woman," Ella was saying to her,"and we are all excited that she's becoming part of the Rangeman family."

"I'm sure you are," my mom said politely to Ella,"but Stephanie already has a family."

"Yes," Ella told her,"but I'm sure you'll agree that there is always room for more people in your life who genuinely care about you."

My mother's only answer to that was to press her lips tightly together.

"I appreciate what you're trying to do, Ella," I said to her, making my presence known to them,"but it really isn't necessary."

"Oh ... but it is, Stephanie," Ella said."Your mother needs to know exactly what she's jeopardizing with her rude comments and overall pushy nature."

"I assure you that nothing I have is in jeopardy," she told Ella, brushing off the criticism, probably because she doesn't believe it's true.

Denial clearly runs in the family.

"That's what you think now," Ella continued,"but not every mother is fortunate enough to have her children around her daily. Or even to have her children around at all."

"Ella ... " I said, not wanting her to hurt herself for the sake of my screwed-up family.

I don't know a whole lot about Ella's past, because I do think some things are private, but anyone can see the sadness that crosses Ella's face at times when she watches Ranger or his men.

"It's okay, Stephanie," Ella told me."You know that I would do anything for you, and for Ranger, and to me this is just as important as preventing a bullet wound."

My mother's spine was ramrod straight. I recognized this as her I'm about to get bad news posture. Also known as Stephanie's on the front page again/heaven help me stance.

"Helen, you may not approve of everything your children do, but you have to let them live their own lives. That's your job as a parent. To give them life, raise them, and then watch them blossom into the people they are meant to be without interfering."

Ella took a deep breath, and I knew I wasn't going to like this part at all.

"My son, Antonio, meant the world to me. To both Louis and I. And that's exactly what we did for him. We nurtured him and watched him grow into a handsome, brilliant, good-hearted young man. Antonio's dream from the time he was little was to join the service and do his damndest to help people less fortunate than himself. Much like Ranger and the men he has hired to work for him. The only difference between them is ... Antonio never came home to us."

"Oh God, Ella," I said, putting my arms around her."I'm so sorry."

She hugged me back before finishing."So am I. And there's not a second that goes by that I don't miss him, but I wouldn't have tried to change him for anything, even if it could have saved him in the end. Antonio died doing what he loved, and while it doesn't ease the ache, at least I know he was living his life the way he wanted to, the way that made him the happiest. It's only a small bit of comfort, but it does help on the worst days."

My mother was trying to remain unaffected, but it's impossible with someone like Ella.

"I shared something this personal - and this painful - with you, Helen, because Stephanie, your daughter, deserves better than what you've been giving her. You keep telling her that her line of work is dangerous, and that she could be seriously injured at any time, but have you given any thought as to what would happen if, God forbid, Stephanie was actually killed by someone she was apprehending or by a car while crossing the street to get lunch? I may not have my son with me everyday, at least not physically, but I know with every fiber of my being that Antonio died knowing that I loved him more than myself right up to the day we lost him. Can Stephanie say the same about you?"

I was trying real hard to blink back my tears. And I tried to convince myself that they were solely for Ella and Louis, but I knew deep down that a few were for myself. I really couldn't say that about my parents. My mom and dad do love me, and had taken care of me growing up, but not like I'd witnessed with Rachel and Julie or the way Ella had brought up Antonio.

"I'm so sorry, Stephanie," Ella said, when she noticed my tears."This is supposed to be a happy night."

"It is a happy night," I told her,"because I get to share it with my family - my biological family and also my chosen one."

Ella smiled."I do consider you my daughter, Stephanie, and Ranger my second son, and I'm so glad that you two are finally getting married. You are exactly what this company has needed, and who Ranger has needed all along. I've believed that ever since that first morning I brought breakfast up to you when you were hiding from those Slayers."

"Thanks, Ella. I love you all, too."

"And that love is completely mutual, Stephanie. Too bad your mother still needs convincing," Ella said directly to my mom, since she hasn't really said much.

"I love my daughter," my mom finally said to Ella.

I've heard this before, many times, but it always sounds rehearsed and a little bit forced. Burg mothers are required to say that they love their children, even while cursing every single one of them out pretty much every single day.

Ella didn't look like she was buying it, either. Being put in the hot seat by Ella's raised eyebrows, my mother felt the need to clarify.

"I love both Stephanie and Valerie," she said."Since the moment they were born, I've lived my life for them."

"And that's the problem," Ella told her."You have to make a life for yourself so you don't try taking over your children's lives."

"I don't do that," my mother said defensively.

"Yeah ... you do, Mom," I said to her."But I've finally figured out a way of dealing with it. And I think you've noticed that I'm no longer paying attention to it, or to your opinions. I have a life outside of the Burg, and I can pick and choose who I want to listen to now. So I'll give you fair warning, if you don't back off and let me live it, you may not be included in it anymore. I've told you before that Ranger and I are not going to answer to you for our choices, and that includes where we live. And, not that matters, Ranger could probably buy Trenton - or New Jersey - if he felt inclined to, so I wouldn't worry about his financial decisions. Ranger doesn't say yes to anything unless he believes in it one hundred percent, and that's what has made him the successful businessman that he is." I turned to Ella."Come on, Ella, I want to hear all about this proposal you wrangled out of Louis."

"Louis told you about that, did he?"

"Yep, now you can fill me in on everything Louis didn't know about that night."

"It will be my pleasure, Stephanie."

My mom hit the sauce shortly after our talk. I ignored the little niggling bit of guilt I was feeling and spent the majority of the night stuffing pizza and beer into my face, while listening to Ella, Louis, and Mary Lou, and sneaking peeks at Ranger. I kept an eye on my mother, too, but didn't say anything else to her until I saw Shorty at her table for the third time. I left our table and walked over to hers.

"Mom, maybe you should lay off the booze," I told her, not happy to be leaving Ranger once again to babysit her."We still have another hour or two here. And even though you'll never admit it, you may want to be conscious during them."

"Stephanie, I am not going to get drunk. A tipple now and then is all I have. Besides ... I've only had one drink."

Uh-oh.

"Mom, you've had two so far. And you're currently working on your third. I'm cutting you off for everyone's sake. Where the heck is Dad, anyway? Shouldn't he be the one keeping an eye on you?"

"Your father is playing darts with that looker Manuel and the beefcake you call Junior," Grandma said, popping up next to me with Emma in tow.

"This is the best bridal shower I've ever been to," Mrs. Gertz said to me.

I looked around at my friends and family - and the ones who are a combination of the two - and had to agree. It isn't the place that makes a night special, it's who you choose to spend it with that makes all the difference. Connie and Lula had arrived together not long after my parents, and after they gave me a brief rundown of their day, and an unpleasant image of Vinnie's night, they went out to try to secure enjoyable nights for themselves. Connie was working on Shorty, Lula was trying unsuccessfully to flirt with Tank again, and Mary Lou was showing Ella school pictures of her kids while Ranger talked to Louis as his eyes kept track of me.

"It is a pretty great night," I told Mrs. Gertz."I bet it'd be even better if my mother came up out of her glass for air."

"She'll be fine," Bobby said, casually walking over to us."We'll be watching her very closely to make sure."

I looked suspiciously from Bobby to where Shorty and Lester were as I figured out their plan. I tipped my head to get Bobby and Lester to come with me so my mom wouldn't overhear. Maybe a few of Ranger's skills are rubbing off, because they were both quick to follow me.

"Are you guys and Shorty trying to get my mother shitfaced?" I asked, watching as Ranger excused himself to join us.

"Are you gonna be pissed if we say yes?" Bobby said to me, shooting a nervous glance towards Ranger.

"I don't know yet," I said to Bobby.

Truth is, I thought it was sweet in a way. My mother couldn't insult anyone if she couldn't form any words at all.

"I remember you mentioning how your mother loosened up a little when she 'tippled'," Lester told me,"so we thought we'd have a little fun with her."

"How many men are involved in this?" Ranger asked them.

"Most of us. We know Stephanie can take care of herself," Lester said,"but we like helping her out when we can. This may not be about a stalker or a bomb, but the quality of your life, Steph, is still being fucked with."

"Guys, I can handle my mom on my own now. I don't need anyone to run interference anymore."

Bobby all but rolled his eyes."We know you don't need backup here, but we're providing it anyway."

"Thank you," I said to them, knowing those two words aren't adequate to cover what they have all done for me.

"No thanks are needed," Lester told me."Just relax and have a good time. We'll take over parent patrol for you."

"I'm guessing Cal is in on your little scheme," I said, watching Cal approach my mom."Oh ... my ... God. Is Cal asking her to dance?"

"Judging by the way Shorty is making some room," Bobby told me,"I'd say yes."

"Yep, the world is about to end," I said, watching my mother wave her glass at me.

I crossed the room to her and took the highball glass out of her hand before it crashed onto the already battle-scarred floor.

"Stephanie, did I just agree to dance with the tattoo?" My mom asked me, clearly trying to figure out what the hell had gotten into her.

I, of course, knew what had. It was Shorty's special concoction that mixed whiskey, tequila, and little else. The years of Burg etiquette that have been drilled into her, and the polite dismissal that my mother has been dishing out all my life, were no match for Shorty's Shotgun, which Shorty will tell you has its own kickback that will land you flat on your ass in no time.

"No, Mom. You agreed to dance with Cal. The tattoo is only a part of him," I said, never getting out of the habit of defending my guys to anyone."A very small part. The tattoo isn't what makes Cal the man he is, his heart and his integrity are."

Cal cleared his throat, a clear Rangeman sign that - although I'd embarrassed him - he was touched by what I'd said. I'm getting really good at finding their soft spots. It isn't easy sometimes, but it's always worth the effort.

"You can save me a dance," Cal told me, before pulling my mother into the growing crowd.

"What do you say, Babe?" Ranger asked, slipping his arm around me."Are you going to let your mother have all the fun?"

"Nope. And I think you should get at least one dance with me before Cal claims his." I told Ranger.

"He can try, but you're mine for the night."

"I'm yours forever."

"Yes, you are."

Ranger pulled me into his arms, and as I cuddled closer to him, I watched my mother get dipped by Cal. Hector was dancing with Mary Lou. Grandma snagged Tank. Connie had struck out with Shorty - her love 'em and leave 'em reputation reaching even here - but Bobby took pity on her, and poor Hal got Lula. Ella and Louis had their arms around each other, talking about something that caused small smiles to mirror themselves on their faces. Valerie had been a little late to the party, the downside of being married to Albert Kloughn, but she was making up for any lost time with Ram and Vince. Yep, niece number four is on the way, I thought to myself.

"Care to share?" Ranger said to me, tugging on one of my curls.

"I was just thinking that I bet Valerie and Mary Lou will both be pregnant when we get married."

"I think Valerie has all she can manage with Albert, she won't be adding to it."

"We'll see," I said, as I circled Ranger's neck with my arms and fitted my body tightly to his.

Ranger is a great dancer. That's one of the few good things I'd learned during my Steven Tavish days. I'm still surprised that someone as deadly as Ranger can be comfortable doing something as romantic as dancing. But even I had to admit that we weren't so much dancing as brushing our bodies slowly against each other to the music. Whatever it is we're doing, I'm thoroughly enjoying.

"Stop looking at her and focus on me, Babe. Tonight is about us, not your mother. We're all adults here, and she's old enough to be responsible for her own actions."

But even Ranger looked over when we heard my mother give an honest to goodness giggle.

"I don't think she's going to be responsible for anything tonight, thanks to Shorty."

"He has his uses," Ranger told me, earning him a glare.

Ranger was unfazed by my Burg death glare. He just lowered his head and kissed me, not at all worried that I'd bite him. Then again, Ranger would probably like it if I tried to bite him. He raised his head just in time for us to see my mom stumble as she was passed from Cal to Hector.

"If she remembers tonight at all," I said to Ranger, watching Hector's impressive moves on the floor,"she's going to be mortified."

"I believe that was their intent, Steph. It's hard to feel superior when you have a little of your own dirt sticking to you."

"Plus a killer hangover, and plenty of pictures to remind her of this special occasion," I said to Ranger, nodding in the direction of Grandma using my phone to capture my mom in Hector's arms."I think I just found our Christmas card photo for this year."

"Your grandmother is going to beat you to circulating the evidence," Ranger told me.

I blew out a sigh."Grandma's going to be after me to make copies tomorrow. If I didn't have Julie's picture on there and the rest of our Miami ones, I'd just give her the phone."

"If you did do that, I want every picture of me you think I don't know you took deleted. I don't want to find out that your grandmother is selling calendars of me at the Clip and Curl."

I laughed. That is something Grandma would do. Mental note, snatch the phone out of Grandma Mazur's hand ASAP. My mother kissed Hector's cheek when the song ended and Grandma was right there capturing the moment. Hmm, maybe I can wait until we're ready to go home before taking my cell away from her.

Even though I'd told everyone to come without gifts, I did notice quite a few boxes taking up one table towards the back of the room. When I questioned Mary Lou about it, she grinned at me.

"All I'll say about mine," Mary Lou told me,"is don't open it in front of your parents."

Grandma was just the opposite, encouraging me to open her present with everyone watching. I quickly told Hal to put those two off to the side. Mary Lou has a twisted sense of humor, and Grandma has no clue what the word inappropriate actually means. Lula and Connie's were off limits, too, until Ranger and I got home. Considering what they both think is okay to say out loud to anybody who'll listen, I wasn't going to chance unwrapping something in public that they had bought on their own. No one would ever contemplate buying Ranger sexy underwear for a shower present. Then again, it's hard to get sexier than Ranger not wearing any underwear at all under his cargo pants.

"Why are you staring, Babe?"

"I'm just thinking about underwear?" I told him.

"Mine or yours?"

"Both, actually."

"Is that why Hal is pulling gifts with his face turning redder and redder as he picks them up?"

"Probably."

"Lula or your grandmother?"

"Mary Lou this time," I said.

"That camo-covered one is Santos'," Ranger told me."I gave the men a brief description of what would be acceptable gifts for you, but I'd be careful with Lester's. Woody's, too.

"See, this is exactly why I said no gifts, but no one listened to me."

"Everyone is enjoying this, Babe. They're just having a little fun. The men like you inviting them to these kinds of things, so they wouldn't have showed up here empty-handed."

"Lucky us."

"Lucky me," Ranger said with a wolf grin,"if Mary Lou's wink is anything to go by."

I would be annoyed, but if Ranger likes what I'm wearing, or not wearing, he made damn sure I liked his reaction to it, too.

The guys stuck to Tastykakes, mall gift cards, and spy-type gadgets that Ranger will have to explain to me later on. My parents' gift was an elaborate wedding day photo album, just waiting to be filled with our pictures. It would be a nice gesture in any other family, but it seemed to me like my mother was trying to horn in on our wedding again. I set it aside without commenting on it, but I knew I'd be buying, and putting together, my own wedding album.

Gifts are always welcome, but I already have what I really want ... Ranger, and all the people he considers friends accepting me into their lives. I couldn't ask for more than that. But then Ella topped everyone's gifts, and had me almost in tears again, when she offered to make our wedding cake as her present to us.

"I wanted to respect your decision about gifts," Ella said,"but I would really like to do something for you and Ranger."

"Are you sure, Ella?" I asked her."You're already so busy as it is."

"Stephanie, nothing would make me happier than doing this for the two of you," Ella told me."I'd love to be part of your wedding day."

"You are, and would be, a part of it no matter what. That's why I really didn't want to elope, even if it was tempting at times," I told her, cutting my eyes in my mother's direction.

Ella's gift idea had somehow managed to seep through the alcohol fog, and my mother was none too happy about it. I bet I would've been normal a long time ago if I'd had parents like Ella and Louis encouraging me, and loving me, like they had their son. At that moment I was a little envious of Antonio, even though I would've given anything to bring him back for them.

"Let it go, Steph," Ranger said, catching the look on my face and correctly guessing its source."It hasn't been easy, but Ella and Louis are tough people, and they've made a conscious decision not to let Antonio's death change the people they'd become."

"It seems impossible not to," I said to him.

"It's a daily struggle, Stephanie," Ella told me,"but Louis and I are determined to not let Antonio down."

"There's no chance of that, Ella. Believe me. You and Louis are kind, sweet, loving people who didn't deserve what happened to you."

"That's not exactly true," Louis said."Antonio didn't deserve to die so young when he had so much to give to the world, but we swore to live, and also enjoy, every minute of our lives for him, since Antonio wasn't able to continue living his."

"Antonio would be very proud then," I told them."There are few people I respect more than you and Ella."

Ella smiled at me."I bet I can guess who is in the number one spot."

"Yeah, Ranger's number one for me in a lot of ways."

"Good," Ella said, looking at Louis,"that's exactly how it should be with the person you're sharing your life with. A marriage won't work otherwise."

There is absolutely no question there. I respect, love, and lust over, every inch of Ranger.

After all the presents were opened, the night started to wind down. More food was ordered, but even the men who weren't the designated drivers for the night switched to water instead of beer. My mom is the only one who wrangled one last drink out of Shorty.

"If your wedding is anything like this," Mary Lou said to me,"it's definitely going to be memorable."

"Hopefully there'll be a slightly better view. Ranger and I will be going to see the place next week."

"Does this mean you'll finally have a date?" She asked me.

"Yep," I told her."If this doesn't work out, I'm going to convince Ranger to head back to Miami. My dress will look just as good on a beach as it will in a room with a great view."

"You'd better call in the contract workers," Tank told Ranger,"because the building will be empty if you decide to do that. Booking a plane might be something to think about if you take this out of Jersey."

"Ranger," I said to him,"any chance you know someone who owns a plane?"

"I do have a few contacts."

"Well ... keep their numbers handy, just in case."

I really didn't want to celebrate without everyone.

"Steph, I don't have to keep them handy," Ranger said to me,"they're all memorized."

"Just like everything else," I said into my glass.

"Remember that, Babe. If you want to go somewhere, you only have to let me know where and when."

"I'll keep that in mind, but everything I want is right here." I paused as I thought Ranger's comment through."If I don't want to leave Trenton, can you just drop the people I don't want here with me in another country or something?"

He smiled."Whatever you want, Steph. All I need are their names."

"You'd better watch your ass, Santos," Zero said as he was passing by.

"Lester's ass is fine, Zero," I told him.

"Thanks, Steph," Lester said to me.

I sighed and rolled my eyes at the same time.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it."

"Too late, Steph," he said."You said it and you can't take it back."

"Very mature, Lester. And I've already declared Ranger's ass the best in Trenton ... possibly even the world."

Ranger's ass is perfect while moving and also standing still. And I've found for something that is all muscle, it's surprisingly grabbable.

"You only say that because you haven't seen mine in all its glory," Lester told me.

"And she never will," Ranger said to Lester."So stop talking out of your ass before I have to beat the hell out of it just for kicks."

"Ranger, I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to threaten bodily harm during a party."

"You'll have to come out with us more, Steph," Tank said."Then you'd see that you can't end a night without at least one good knuckle-busting fight."

"There will be no fighting, beating, and absolutely no more drinking," I told them, watching my mom snuggle up to my dad.

It'd think it was cute if they were any other people on the planet, but it was disturbing to see my parents appearing like an actual couple.

I leaned close to Ranger's ear."It's a good thing we promised a dinner with your parents instead of insisting they come here," I told Ranger."I don't know if I'd want our parents to meet like this."

"My parents would have enjoyed watching the men liquor up your mother," Ranger said."But we'll stick to dinner for now. Why don't you see if you can get your phone back now so we can pack up."

"Still nervous about Grandma having something of you to drool over?"

"Yes. Now move."

"What's the rush?" I asked him.

"Because I'd like to be doing something other than talking to you, and I can't do any of what I'm picturing in the middle of Shorty's."

My face turned a flattering shade of embarrassed.

"Ranger, you can't say stuff like that in front of Ella," I told him, catching the twinkle in Ella's eyes.

"On the contrary, Stephanie," Ella said to me."I think Louis and I are also ready to leave."

I love Ella to death, but I really didn't need to hear that.

"I'll walk out with you," Mary Lou said, as I watched my dad and Valerie help my mom stand up straight.

"Yeah, maybe it is time to say goodnight," I told her.

I located Grandma and Mrs. Gertz who were entertaining Zip and Ramon this time. I held out my hand and Grandma reluctantly gave me my cell back. I'm really hoping that when I check it tomorrow I won't see that she'd snuck into the men's room sometime over the course of the night.

"I might have accidentally put a video up on that YouTube site," Grandma Mazur told me.

"How can you accidentally upload a video?" I asked her."You have to go through a couple of steps to do that."

"Okay, maybe Emma's granddaughter showed her how to do it the last time she babysat and Emma might've walked me through it. I titled the video 'Helen Plum Gets Some'. I think it's kinda catchy. I wonder how many hits it'll get. I think that's what you call them."

My mother is going to have a fit if she finds out about that. Though it's unlikely that the group of Burg women my mom pals around with will be watching online videos. Then again, their kids, or grandkids, could stumble across it at some point.

"We're getting ready to head out," I told Grandma, not willing to ruin the night by trying to lecture her about this."Do you want us to drive you home?"

"Heck no," Grandma Mazur said."The night's still young. Emma and I are gonna cruise the Burg and see what's cooking. Your mother won't know what time I come home, so I'm gonna enjoy it while I can."

"You're not going to do anything that will make the police call me, are you?"

"Nope. Tonight you're off the hook. If we get picked up for anything, I'll have the cops call Frank. He should be good for something."

I'm just going to tell myself that she'll be fine and leave it at that.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I told her."Please don't cause too much trouble tonight."

"Who ... me?"

"Don't worry, Stephanie," Mrs. Gertz said."I'll keep an eye on her."

Somehow that didn't reassure me. I gave Grandma a quick hug and went back to Ranger and Mary Lou.

"Grandma promised to call my dad to bail her out," I told Ranger.

"That works for me," Ranger said.

Sure it would. Ranger's grandmother stays at home, cooks, and doesn't conspire with her friends to create mayhem at two in the morning. Ranger had nothing to worry about. Unlike me and the grandmother I have that likes strippers, once applied for a job as a porn star, and thinks a jail cell is a fun place to spend the night.

I could have argued with Ranger that I have way more to be concerned about, but the thought of spending the rest of the night with Ranger wrapped around me sounded too good to mess up now.

My arm found its way around Ranger's waist as we met my family at the door when my dad was set to leave.

"Is Mom going to make it?" I asked him.

"Yeah, she'll go right to sleep and be up at six cooking bacon again," my dad told me.

"Will she remember that she had a good time here tonight?"

"We'll be sure to remind her if she doesn't. I never thought I'd see her dance with a tattooed man, never mind two of them. Why that Hector would choose to permanently put teardrops on his face is beyond me."

"The reason doesn't matter, Dad," I told him, not wanting to get into a discussion about gang symbols."And you could have cut in on Cal or Hector at any time."

"Better them than me," he said."I think this place might beat the lodge. I won twenty bucks from that Bones guy."

"Good for you, Dad. You know, you can come back here anytime. Shorty will take good care of you. And you can usually find a couple of the Rangeman guys here. They stop before or after work so they don't have to eat company food all the time. Not that it's bad," I said, noticing Ella's look.

"Ella knows what you mean, Babe. Eating properly isn't for everyone."

"Yeah ... me."

"This was fun, Steph," Valerie said."It's nice to have a man talk to me about something other than dinner or dirty clothes."

"That was the plan, Val."

"I know you're being sarcastic, Stephanie, but I mean it. Once you're married and have kids, you'll understand what I'm saying."

"Not going to happen," I told Valerie."I may be marrying Ranger, but I'm not ready to put away my FMPs."

Valerie's forehead scrunched up as she tried to figure out what the heck I was talking about.

"Oh, Valerie, we really need to talk."

"About what?" Valerie asked.

"Never mind," I told her."You may already be too far gone."

"I am not," Valerie said.

"Whatever, Val."

"I'll see you guys later," I told them, and waved my family off before addressing the men.

"Thank you all for coming tonight. Not only did Mary Lou not get an ulcer ..."

"Hey!"Mary Lou said to me.

"Sorry, Mary Lou, but you were terrified of my mother."

"Okay, so maybe I was, but apparently I shouldn't have been. Your mom didn't seem all that scary tonight."

"That was our goal," Bobby said."Mrs. Plum was almost tolerable towards the end. How the hell did you come from that woman?"

"It's probably horrible to admit, but when I was seven," I told Bobby,"I did go snooping through my parents' papers trying to find my birth certificate just to make sure I was in the right family."

"They just don't know how to appreciate you, Babe. That shouldn't alter how you see yourself."

"Yeah, I'm starting to understand that. It's like Grandma Mazur. I don't look at my grandmother differently, or love her any less, because certain people find her ... odd."

"We get what you mean, Steph," Vince said."You'd actually like her more because of that. That's why you were determined to get to know all of us."

"You guys aren't odd," I told them."You just got used to people jumping to conclusions, or making assumptions, about you so you closed yourselves off a little. It just took a doughnut or two, and multiple disasters, to wear you all down. That and my endearing personality."

"Although I do enjoy a good doughnut," Lester said,"I think it was you we couldn't resist."

"Yep. It was the whole blue-eyed, curly-haired, eye-rolling package," Bobby added.

"Whose package are we talking about?" Grandma asked."This sounds like a conversation I want to be in on."

"Sorry, Grandma. It's not the type of package you'd be interested in."

"Darn. Well me and Emma are gonna take off. We struck out here so we're going to see if we can pick up some men somewhere in town. Maybe Eddie Maltvitz and Pete Sandsten managed to escape from the nursing home again. They're always up for a good time with a couple of hot chicks like Emma and I."

Oh brother. I really hoped Eddie and Pete were already in a medically-induced sleep, and not up to any kind of time except for a dream-filled one. But I did see why Grandma would want to find a little company, because I'm really happy to be going home with my own guy.

I watched Mary Lou and Grandma Mazur leave and then was surrounded by a solid wall of muscle as the guys wanted their own goodnights. When I first met them, I never would have pegged them as huggers, but I've since learned that they are all full of surprises. Ranger took my hand when I landed back in front of him, and we followed a few of the men out. And I was sure that nothing could wipe the stupid grin off my face as I thought about the remainder of my night, which included going back to Ranger's apartment and getting a jump on our honeymoon ... and on Ranger.