Part 4

Disclaimer: As usual any characters that are recognizable are not mine. I just like to take them out to play for a while!

An: Annnnd Bonus chapter! I didn't expect this story to get quite this much attention lol!

Stephanie felt as if all the air had left the room when she saw the letter in the familiar handwriting of her father in with the quarterly report from her investing firm. Their letter had been very apologetic letting her know that her father had been in multiple times begging them to help him find his daughter. While they refused to give her address information they could not help but to at least agree to forward this letter for him. She sat down hard on the rocking chair in Alex's nursery breathing hard near panicking.

"Mamma what's wrong? Mamma?" When Stephanie didn't answer Alex went to the door screaming for his uncles and auntie Astryd.

Footsteps pounded through the house as they ran in, Ben and Marcus armed. "What's wrong Alex?!"

"Something is wrong with mamma she won't answer me."

Marcus stowed his knife back in his boot hurrying to Stephanie. "Querida hermana que ha pasado?" (beloved sister what has happened?)

Stephanie didn't answer, just held out the letter in shaking hands. Marcus took the letter skimming over it before handing it to Astryd.

Pumpkin,

I don't even know where to begin. I can only say that I am so sorry for what happened while I was away and even before. I didn't pay enough attention as you were growing up and I regret more than I can ever make up for. I know it is no excuse, but we were raised in a different generation where the men worked and the women raised the children. The roles for men and women were so defined and unlike you I never questioned that. Had I known about what the Morelli boy did he would have been far worse off than you breaking his leg with the Buick. Morelli is behind bars having been convicted of murder and bail jumping. It may not be for his crimes against you but he is where he belongs paying for his crimes.

I have left your mother and live and work at a security company here in Trenton called Rangeman. I am enclosing my phone number. Please reach out to me. I just want to know how you are. I promise I will not try to force a relationship or guilt you into changing to be someone you are not. I could not be prouder of you for standing and saying no to your mother and the people here who refuse to move with the times.

Your sister is coming back to Trenton. That bastard she married left her and the kids with nothing and ran off with their babysitter. I had enough money in savings to get them here and will do my best to support them until Valerie can get back on her feet but I felt that you should know. I know you and Valerie never had the best relationship and that is mostly your mothers fault for making her feel like the stepford wife routine was the only right way to live for a woman.

I hope to hear from you soon.

With all my love,

Dad

"Son of a bitch. She has come so far and this could set her back." Astryd cursed

"My brother runs the security company her father works for. He is a good man. I can reach out to see if there is any further information I can get." Marcus hurried from the room cursing inwardly. He had suspected that Alex was his nephew for some time as there had been a huge mix up at the sperm bank he had stored some of his sperm at in case something happened to him. Carlos had gotten a letter 5 years ago letting him know of the mix up and offering a settlement, but they refused to tell him who had gotten the sperm and if there had been any children. He had planned to approach Stephanie soon about the idea of a dna test armed with pictures of his brother Carlos as a child. Alex could have been his little twin. It had been quite ironic that Stephanie had named her son Carlos in the end.

A call to Stephanie's therapist had him visiting the house within the hour and quickly making the decision to sedate her. "She's in shock for now. Let's give her the rest her mind needs and give her time to process. I am confident this will not be a complete setback as her mother wasn't involved, but keep an eye on her for the next few days."

Everyone practically held their breath when Stephanie stirred the next morning. Alex hopped up from Astryd's lap running to her happily. "Good morning mamma!" he practically shouted, hugging her hips.

"Good morning my love. I'm sorry for scaring everyone. That was quite a shock. I hadn't thought of Trenton or anyone in it for a couple of years now. I promise I am alright now although I think I would like to sit down and talk to you about some thoughts I had. I know Valerie and I were never close, but I want to help her. I know how it feels to feel helpless like that." Stephanie picked up her son, snuggling him close as she spoke.

"That is very good of you Stephanie what do you have in mind?""Astryd asked.

Taking a deep breath for strength she blurted " I need to go back. I want to set up a house, car and allowance for Valerie to live on. She has never been anything but a housewife. It's all my mother would allow her to dream of being. I have more money than I can ever spend in 2 life times from my investments that continue to grow and this place sustains us and itself and has major profit every year. I have not had to touch any of the money I withdrew since our second year of operation thanks to all of your guidance."

"Alright I think that is a wonderful thought Stephanie, but you don't have to go back to Trenton to achieve it unless you want to." Astryd answered.

"I do want to. I feel like I need to see my father to see if I can rebuild any sort of relationship with him. I would love for Alex to have his grandfather in his life. That relationship was so important in my own life.."

"We will go with you. The property manager can handle things here while we are gone. Ben hardly lets the man work so he can earn his keep for once, and Mari will be happy to stay here to cook and keep the guests happy. We trained them for these kinds of possibilities." Marcus said with no room for negotiation.

"I don't know where to begin here so you will be most welcome." Stephanie laughed.

"I will book tickets to Trenton and arrange our stay." Marcus got up heading for his computer room lovingly dubbed his lair.

"Call your father Stephanie and let him know you are coming. You should also call your investment firm and a lawyer to start getting the ball rolling on getting the financial side of things set up for your sister." Ben said softly.

"I don't have a lawyer, Marcus."

"I will get you in touch with the man my brother and I use. It would most likely be best to set everything up through a trust just in case a relationship is not possible with your sister."

"I hadn't even thought that part through I appreciate you looking out for me Marcus." Stephanie stepped up hugging him tight.

"We will go start packing. We will probably be there for a while. Come on young man you can help me." Astryd said, picking Ben up and swinging him around as he giggled, making them all smile.

Stephanie stepped into her bedroom dialing her father as her heart raced, not sure if she should pray that he not pick up or that he should. "This is Frank." His voice came over the line.

"Daddy?"

"Pumpkin is that you?"

"Yes daddy it's me I am coming home to help with Valerie. I will be home soon with your grandson."