A/N: To the guest reviewer who wanted Steph to get a backbone: trust me, she does. Her life has been challenging, and she's been browbeaten to accept whatever treatment she's given, and she's a little depressed but trying to hold it together for Zoë. The reckoning is coming, however. Thank you for your thoughts; I love all reviews!
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jeanne Ellen POV – October 12, 2022
When Steph left for home with Zoë, I hightailed it up to Ella's apartment on the sixth floor. She is an excellent baker, and I hoped she'd agree to make two cakes for me.
"Hi, Ella," I greeted when she opened her door.
"Hello, dear, come in," she invited, opening her door wider.
I entered her apartment, feeling content as always when I visited her. Her space is always so welcoming and calm but is so cozy that it seems to hug you. "Ella, I was hoping to ask you for a favour," I said.
"What's going on, dear?"
"It's my sister's birthday tomorrow, and I suspect with everything going on right now, she's either forgotten it or will try to forget it. I hoped I could impose on you to bake her a cake."
"I'd be happy to. Do you know what type of cake is her favourite?"
"She likes cake of all types, but pineapple upside-down cake is her hands-down favourite."
"I've never made one, but I'm sure I can find a recipe online," Ella said.
"Thank you so much, Ella. I don't like baking, so I'm glad you're willing to help me with this. I decided to throw Steph a small get-together tomorrow night for her birthday. Would you and Luis like to come?"
"We'd love to come. Stephanie is a nice young woman; I feel so bad for everything her husband is putting her through. How many people are you inviting? Should I bake two cakes?"
"It's last minute, so I'm unsure how many will be there. I thought I'd invite the leadership team here and you and Luis. I don't think she's gotten in touch with anyone she grew up with yet, and I don't think this is the right time for a family reunion with everything going on, so that's probably it. Just a chance for her to hang out with some of the Range-family. I want Tank and Ranger to hire her full-time when she moves here."
"Well, it doesn't sound like there needs to be two cakes."
"No, probably not. I should make it a dinner party. I can do the cooking tomorrow while Steph is here. Maybe it should be a surprise dinner party. Or maybe I don't call it that, and instead, just some friends coming over for dinner. Yeah, that's probably best. She doesn't like being the center of attention anyway. But as it's her birthday, we need the cake. Okay, that's settled. I should go. I have some research to do on my two new FTAs. Thanks again, Ella, you're the best! I'll text you in the morning."
"Always a pleasure chatting with you, dear!"
Three hours later, I had a good handle on how to find my new skips. Picking these up would result in a decent paycheque for me: fifty thousand for both. However, one of the files would require a distraction. He's wily and hard to pin down. I can probably hire some of the Rangemen off the clock to help me with that.
Since I had about another hour and a half before Tank could leave, I decided to create a menu for dinner tomorrow night. Even if her palate ran a little toward the adolescent, Steph was an adventurous eater. But it'd need to be healthy because everyone else, including Zoë, preferred it that way.
I got onto my phone and googled some healthy recipes, finally deciding on a cumin-crusted chicken dish with kale salad and hummus dressing as our main dish. As a starter, I'd make guacamole and baked tortilla chips. Steph would love it, and it'd be healthier so the others wouldn't ignore it. Ella would provide dessert, so I needn't worry about that. I made a shopping list based on the menu, then asked Tank if I could borrow his truck to go to the supermarket to do the shopping, then I'd come back and pick him up before we went home.
He tossed me the keys, and I headed out. Forty minutes later, I was back in the garage waiting for Tank to come downstairs. While I waited, I texted the men I wanted to invite in a mass group text to invite them over for dinner tomorrow night for Steph's birthday. Everyone said yes, so there'd be an even dozen with everyone there. While not part of the leadership team, I'd also included Hector since he's been so helpful with Steph's problems over the past week, and their meeting this morning had been positive.
When we got home, Steph was finishing making dinner, which turned out to be fish tacos. Steph had picked up fresh fish on the way home, and they were fantastic. She also made a batch of virgin slushy peach margaritas, even allowing Zoë to have a small one.
I had been thinking about something all day, and when Steph took Zoë over to the pool house for her bedtime routine, I took the opportunity to tell Tank my thoughts and get his perspective.
"Lover, what do you think about my purchasing an investment property?" I asked as we sat together, cuddling on our couch.
"What kind of property?"
I smiled. "I was thinking of a two-bedroom condo or townhouse I'd rent out."
Tank looked at me for a moment before he smiled too. "Let me guess. You'd rent it to Steph for her and Zoë to live in."
I did my best to look innocent. "Why, that's a great idea, Lover! I hadn't thought of that."
He chuckled and squeezed me tighter. "Sure you didn't, Baby. If you want to do that, you should. Do you need help with it?"
"No, I can do it myself. Of course, I wouldn't spend that kind of money without talking to you about it first. Even if I didn't need any of your money."
"How much are you thinking it'll cost?" he asked.
"I'd like to stay under five hundred thousand. Preferably less if we can find something suitable."
"Well, let me know if you want my contribution. I'd be happy to help."
I tilted my head and kissed him gently, then deepened it. He threaded his hands in my hair, pulling me closer. I turned and sat in his lap, straddling his thighs. We kissed again, and I ran my hands up and down his arms, stroking his firm muscles. "I love you, you know," I whispered.
"I love you too, Baby. I love your heart, mind, and body," he said with a smirk as he rocked upwards into me. I could feel his erection, and I ground down into him, eliciting a groan.
"Save that thought for bed, okay? I have more things to talk about."
He kissed me again. "I won't forget where we left off. What else is going on?"
I told Tank of my idea for a distraction for one of my skips, and he agreed to ask a few of the men if they'd be willing to help me off the clock. I asked him to make sure he'd tell them I'd pay because it was worth it to me to take him in without anyone getting hurt.
We chatted about some more mundane things before I texted Steph and asked if she wanted to come over to watch a movie with us. She declined, saying she was going to bed early. We were going to the daycare first thing in the morning, and then I was going after one of my skips while she went to Rangeman with Zoë. If Steph liked the daycare, she'd enroll Zoë starting Monday. Instead of watching a movie, Tank and I decided to go to our bedroom and pick up where we left off.
Steph loved the daycare and the woman who ran it, Carlotta. She was an earth mother type who loved the kids and seemed to treat them like one of her own. She had two employees to help her; the kids all seemed happy and well cared for. After an interview, Carlotta agreed to allow Zoë to start on Monday, and Steph was happy that she found somewhere so suitable for Zoë. I had already texted Tank with Carlotta's name and asked him to run a background search, and the preliminary results came back clean.
I found my skip with minimal fuss. He had a job that started at nine o'clock, so by eight-thirty, I was in place in front of his house. As he left his house and turned around to lock the door, I was behind him, pulling his wrists back to cuff him. Despite my small size, I had been doing this for a while, and I have more than one martial arts black belt. Plus, he didn't weigh much more than I did. His crime was cyber fraud, and he was worth fifteen thousand to me after I turned him in.
Once I dropped him off, I stopped by Les Sebring's office and handed in my body receipt. His office manager confirmed she'd deposit it into my bank account, so I headed home to start cooking, cleaning and decorating for Steph's party. I texted Ella to let her know my plan, and she said she'd come over about half an hour before everyone else was scheduled to arrive.
The house was immaculate by four o'clock, and I had put up some subtle decorations. Steph is not typically one for the spotlight, so I didn't want anything too in your face. Most of the food was prepared and ready to be cooked except for the guacamole, as I didn't want it to get brown before serving. I hurried into the shower, cleaning myself with military efficiency to spend that extra time choosing my outfit and making myself up. When Steph and Zoë got home, I'd send her to the bathroom to do the same because I knew she'd want to look her best and won't feel like she does after working all day. When she arrives, I'll tell her I've invited people for dinner.
Thirty minutes later, I was blow-dried, made up and dressed in a pair of high-waisted slacks with a soft sage green sweater that brought out the colour of my eyes. I slid my feet into a pair of flats and felt ready.
Ten minutes later, Steph and Zoë arrived home, and I met them in the driveway before they could go directly to the pool house.
"Hi, Squirt, Steph!" I welcomed brightly. I hugged Zoë and said to Steph, "you should make yourself beautiful. I've got guests coming for dinner to celebrate your birthday."
"I thought you forgot my birthday. Who's coming over?" she asked.
I grinned. "No one you need to worry about. I invited people from Rangeman. Ella, Luis, Ranger, Lester, Bobby, Hal, Cal, and Hector. Then, of course, there's us and Tank: twelve people and no one who will make you feel bad about yourself. I wasn't sure if you reconnected with any of the friends you had when we were growing up, so I didn't invite anyone else."
"Will there be cake?"
"Yep. You're going to love it." I said.
"Good enough, then. Will you watch Zoë while I get ready? When is everyone getting here?" she asked.
"Around six. Ella and Luis will be here at five-thirty."
She went to the pool house and left Zoë with me. The tortilla chips were in the oven baking, and I made a large batch of guacamole. An hour later, she came back, and she looked stunning. Her hair was tamed into soft curls that framed her face, and her makeup was subtle and elegant. Usually, she was a bit heavy with it as a born-and-bred Jersey girl, but not tonight. She wore a classic little black dress that came down to her mid-thigh, with a swishy skirt, a scoop neck, and cap sleeves. She wore simple black pointed flats and carried an outfit for Zoë.
"Zo-zo, sweetheart, can you please put this on?" She held out the dress to Zoë, who regarded it warily.
"Why, Mama?"
"Because we're having a little party tonight, and I'd like you to dress up a little."
"Why are we having a party?" Zoë asked.
"It's your Mama's birthday," I interjected. "We want to celebrate how wonderful she is."
"Happy Birthday, Mama!" Zoë squealed, launching herself at Steph and hugging her hips.
Steph said, "thank you, Zo-zo. Let's go get you into this dress." She took Zoë to the bathroom off the main hall, and they emerged a few minutes later, Zoë now wearing a purple cotton dress that came down to her knees.
At five-thirty on the dot, Ella rang the doorbell, and I admitted Luis and her. They followed me into the kitchen; Ella hugged Steph and wished her a happy birthday. Luis carried the cake, but the lid had an opaque cover, so Steph couldn't see what type of cake it was. Luis handed me the cake, and I put it into the fridge.
"Thanks so much for baking the cake, Ella. I'm sure it's delicious."
Over the next half hour, everyone else arrived. I took everyone's drink orders, and Tank passed around the dishes of guacamole and tortilla chips. An hour after the last guest arrived, dinner was ready, and we sat down to eat.
A couple of years ago, when we started inviting friends for dinner, we bought a large round dining table. We wanted to be able to all sit together, without any head of the table. The conversation was flowing, and Steph seemed happy with the company. I was observing everyone as I was wont to do. She was seated between Ranger on her left and Lester on her right. Lester was flirting benignly, and I had warned her before she ever met him that he was just like that and that she shouldn't take it personally. Interestingly, Ranger seemed annoyed by his cousin's antics, though he's a reserved man, and Lester often annoys him with his loquaciousness and gregarious personality. She was being friendly to everyone and seemed to pay him no more attention than she was to anyone else. Hehe. Maybe that was what was bugging him. He's used to women tripping over themselves to get next to him, but she's not doing that.
I hid my slight smile behind my wine glass and turned my attention to some of the others. Zoë was sitting across from her mother and was telling stories of her visits to the aquarium in New York, along with more stories of our cats. Luis and Ella were paying attention to her adoringly, and I thought that might be because their son died in Afghanistan when his Army unit transport hit an IED. They'd never know a grandchild, and they both loved kids.
Sitting next to me, Tank was chatting with Bobby, Cal, and Hal about the old days in Basic Training, despite Cal having been in the Navy and Hal was a former Marine. Hector was sitting on my other side, and he was quietly observing everyone too. I think he understands more English than he lets on, but it's a very well-guarded secret if he does. Luckily, I'm fluent in Spanish, having learned it in university and kept up with it in the Army and with the men from Rangeman.
He turned to me and said, "Esta comida es deliciosa. ¿Cocinaste todo tú mismo?" (This meal is delicious. Did you cook everything yourself?)
"Sí, encontré algunas recetas en línea y pensé que funcionarían para esta noche. Me alegro de que los hayas disfrutado. Ella también preparó el postre favorito de Steph." (Yes, I found some recipes online and thought they would work for tonight. I'm glad you enjoyed them. Ella made Steph's favourite dessert too.)
Ten minutes later, everyone's plates were clean. I received many compliments on dinner, and Ella and I went into the kitchen to put some candles on the cake. She carried it into the dining room, and I started the happy birthday song. Everyone joined in, and Steph's face flushed with embarrassment. She waved her hand over the candles until they were extinguished as Helen taught us since blowing our spit on the cake was unsanitary—one of the few lessons she imparted that I wholeheartedly concurred with. Everyone had a slice, even Ranger, who rarely desecrated his body with refined sugar. Ella explained in Spanish that the cake was sweetened with pineapple juice, so it wasn't as bad as it could be. He refused the whipped cream on top, however.
Steph must've had too much to drink because I noticed she was starting to slur her words a bit. I frowned, not knowing how many drinks past her usual limit of two she was. If I had to guess, it was her third. She'd be passed out or dancing on the table if it were more than that. When she made to pour herself another, I took the bottle and shook my head, cutting my eyes to Zoë. She would never want Zoë to see her drunk, so she nodded and winked.
After the cake portion of dinner, I suggested Zoë say goodnight to everyone and took her to the pool house for bed. Steph hugged her goodnight, and Zoë said, "happy birthday, Mama, I love you!" She gave Steph a big smacking kiss before I led her out of the dining room. When I returned, everyone had migrated to the living room, and Tank was telling Ella to leave the dishes and that he would clean up after everyone was gone. It's against her nature to leave things like that, but I guided her to the living room and shook my head with a soft smile.
Steph was talking to Hal and Cal now about New York. Cal grew up in the city, and they were discussing their favourite places and activities. Hal grew up on a farm in Idaho and always wished he could visit New York, but he only did after he left the Army. He explained it was too busy for him, but a place like Trenton was perfect as bigger and busier than what he was used to but slower than New York.
Luis and Ella were the first to leave, followed in short order by Lester and Bobby. By ten o'clock, everyone was gone, and the kitchen was clean. Steph retired to the pool house after thanking us repeatedly for the birthday party.
Tank and I fell into bed together, wrapping around each other like we usually did to sleep, and I nodded off to dreamland quickly.