Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Frank POV

Chapter 2

oOoOo

Helen hadn't moved since Morelli left, although her eyes did wander longingly to the front door a couple of times since the asshole's hasty departure. She barely sipped her champagne. She looked bewildered and disappointed, but most of all, she was confused as she chewed her lip and wrung her hands in her lap. Edna, too, was watching her daughter's reaction. It seems Helen has a lot to think about. But I know my Helen. She is deep in denial. It may as well be tattooed across her forehead: "Why me?"

I bet she's wondering what just happened and how things changed so quickly. It was not in the plan. Derailed. With the clinking of our champagne glasses she looked up with a half-smile. We had thwarted her plans, her dastardly, pathetic plans with Morelli.

How dare she make such decisions for Stephanie, especially with that asshole! Stephanie doesn't want that vision those two clueless idiots envisaged. What the hell would Stephanie want with an abusive man? Certainly not to marry him! Morelli is a serial cheater. Tonight was about showing her some payback, to see if she liked being treated the way Morelli spoke to Stephanie and how she treated her own daughter with such disdain and scornful judgments. We were just warming up. This is just the beginning. The still before the storm, you could say. It hasn't really sunk in yet. She's still in a state of shock, but also denial.

Edna and I had discussed this situation a number of times, times when Helen was so wasted from her "iced tea". Knowing that the right opportunity would reveal itself soon when the stars all aligned. We knew that it was imminent with all the apparent secrecy and subterfuge lately. Together we had decided to take her to task at a summonsed Friday night dinner. Stephanie and Carlos had no idea about our wicked plot this evening, but we both promised to get Helen off this Morelli-is-perfect-for-Stephanie merry-go-round. It was our new mission. My Pumpkin deserved so much better than that constant censure from Helen. She deserved a better future life partner than Joseph Morelli. He would destroy her. I can't understand why, after all that bastard has done to my daughter, why would Helen still be pushing for Stephanie to marry that fucker?

Leaning back, basking in the afterglow of evicting Morelli, I was tempted to light up my cigar, but Helen doesn't like the smell of cigar smoke in the house. I smirked. I live in this house. Damn straight. I grinned at Carlos, raising an eyebrow as I pulled my cigar from my shirt pocket. Edna's eyes went wide and she grinned at my sly idea. Reaching behind her, she opened the sideboard to get the large glass ashtray. Stephanie smiled and assisted by getting the candles for the candelabra and lit them. That always helps with the smell of cigar smoke. Carlos and I unwrapped our cigars. I inhaled the rich aroma and hummed my approval before we lit up. Surprisingly, Helen poured two glasses of dark rum for us, and placed a bowl of dark chocolates on the table to compliment the rich flavours.

With a proud smile, Edna grabbed her vase of violets, placing them now in the centre of the table, Helen's eyes tracking their placement. Helen stood up and opened one of the windows. She disappeared into the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with a fresh pot of coffee and then her special crystal vase with the tulips from Carlos. Because the vase was wide, she displayed the tulips on the sideboard. They were impressive.

"Ranger, er Carlos. I meant to thank you for these beautiful flowers. That was rude of me. I am sorry. They are so lovely. Thank you."

Carlos nodded and smiled. "My pleasure, Mrs Plum."

Ah. There they are. Her Burg manners have re-surfaced. Stephanie and Helen ate some dark chocolate while Edna had another champagne. She was beaming at our lovely couple. My Stephanie is engaged, to a man who genuinely loves her. He doesn't treat her with contempt and condescension. Carlos respects Stephanie just as she does him, just as she is. Unconditional love. I have seen and heard about his concern for her and rescuing her, being there and supporting her. Such a contrast to the other fucker, the moron, who is more concerned about his own reputation than Stephanie's welfare. Carlos accepts her as she is, unlike that Morelli fucker who wants her to change to suit his needs. I'm still furious about the cooking and recipe inferences he made. It took all my self-control not ream him a new one for making such impudent suggestions at the time.

Watching this comfortable setting, as it is now, with the people who count, it feels right. I smiled at Stephanie and squeezed her hand. While Edna and I had hugged and shaken hands with Stephanie and Carlos in congratulating them, Helen remained sitting there in her chair, quiet and detached. She was in a daze, still in a zone of shock and denial. But now she has remembered her hostess manners and is doing the right thing. It's not forced but I don't doubt her attitude will change once her head has stopped reeling.

How interesting. I think Carlos is the first man to visit our home, on a dinner invitation, with gifts. Flowers for Helen, and Edna too, the Cuban cigar and the delectable merlot for me, which just happened to be so perfect with our devious plan. It wasn't scripted but totally enhanced our plans. That he brought a bottle of merlot, which would usually be an ideal accompaniment to a pot roast, when Helen had decided to roast two chickens instead, was fortuitous for our plan. Morelli never brought flowers, ever. I chuckled as I remembered the way he scowled at Carlos, because it highlighted his own bad manners and presumptuousness, and especially his impropriety, every time.

We said goodnight to Stephanie and Carlos after we cleared the table and blew out all the candles. We were all smiling. Helen tried for the most part. Let's say, she was cordial and polite. But, I must say, it is so good to see my Pumpkin so happy. He's not going to clip her wings, he's going to let her fly. I can tell. Helen slipped into the kitchen after saying goodnight.

"Thank you, Daddy. Thank you, Grandma. That was kind of fun. Did you plan this charade for tonight?" Stephanie whispered with a giggle.

"We told you we wanted to give her a taste of her own medicine, and we were ready for whenever."

Edna chuckled. "I knew as soon as Carlos gave Frank the bottle of merlot that tonight was Da Night! I nearly did a happy dance. Game on! The timing was just right, especially with that horse's patoot losing that ring box. That was just too tempting!" Edna cackled.

After a final hug of congratulations, Carlos thanked us and said goodnight to Helen in the kitchen, who was loading the last dishes into the dishwasher. Hm. Methinks she's stewing. This will be interesting.

Sure enough, once they left, as I closed the window, Helen emerged from the kitchen, her hands on her hips.

"What was all that about? I had a beautiful evening set up and you ruined my plans."

"Your plans. See. That was the problem. You keep interfering in her life. That has to stop! You have this warped notion that Morelli is a suitable partner for our daughter which is just incomprehensible!"

"But I was helping."

"Honestly? Is that what you call helping? Enabling a lying, cheating, scoundrel of a man, a dishonourable man who molested our daughter and later took her virginity on the cold bakery floor when she was still under age?! Which part is helping, Helen? What happened to "Watch out for those Morelli boys!"? Well? Now you're throwing her at him like … I don't know what. I have no words there."

Helen stood defiantly. However, she did wince at the molestations. But, before she could counter my cutting remarks, Edna added a piece of her mind in further admonishing her daughter. Helen just wasn't seeing the issue. Or she was just ignoring it, like the elephant in the room.

"Look at what you did to Stephanie with that disastrous marriage to that dirty, philandering cheater, Dickie Orr. He's just as bad as his father. That wedding was not about Stephanie. You ignored her ideas, right to that hideous poofie-floofie wedding dress which you chose. That man didn't deserve her either. You had visions of grandeur and position or status. Whatever. Your deplorable advice to Stephanie when she came crying about his infidelities was disgraceful. Shame on you. You were more concerned about your reputation regarding the scandal with Stephanie divorcing him. I was so proud of my baby granddaughter. You, however, were an embarrassment."

"But …"

"No buts, Helen. Morelli is scum. Just like his cheating, lying father, he was a cherry popper. Did you notice he smelled of beer already before he arrived? Is that what you want for Stephanie? Have you forgotten about Angie Morelli and her being beaten all the time? I never forgot, tending to her wounds and tears. She had a miserable life and you darned well know it. The apple did not fall far from the tree, Helen. Have you seen how he shouts at Stephanie when she's had a car mishap or some other issue? No? Nor have I, but I have seen so many uploaded videos. It makes me sick." Edna was vehement in her attack.

"Not Joseph …" Helen muttered in an absurd attempt for his defence as she stood up to lord it over her mother.

I growled in frustration, banging my fist on the table, making her jump. She plopped back down in her chair, shaking her head.

"Oh! For Chrissake Helen! Stop that denial! He tells you lies. He's been manipulating you to entrap Stephanie. He wants her, to possess her. He doesn't love our daughter. I have seen those videos. He never even asks if she is alright! Or hurt? Ranger, however, he does. He has rescued her so many times. I don't trust Morelli." My voice was raised. She was so damned stubborn and it was frustrating the hell out of me.

"In answer to your earlier question. Yes, Helen. We deliberately derailed your plans tonight. On purpose! It was necessary."

"Oh." She was speechless.

Edna show her that video from last week. Watch this Helen." She was shaking her head. "You will watch it. I want you to listen. Listen to his rantings and see his anger."

Reluctantly, Helen watched, initially with pursed lips, arms folded defiantly, trying not to take any notice with an insolent shrug of her shoulder. We watched her closely. Yup. Now she sees him in full flight, red-faced and pacing making his Cupcake rant. The words were scathing and derogatory. But the alleged concern was all about him, him and his fucking reputation. Helen's shoulders slumped. I spoke softly, looking her directly in the eye.

"Helen. Did you hear what he called your daughter? Did you notice the audience around him? The Trenton cops, the fireman, the reporter and all those wretched people videoing his actions and her appearance. They all heard the nasty disparaging insults. This is public humiliation. I remember seeing Anthony Morelli doing exactly that with all that pacing and crazy arm waving shit, to Angie, even in front of their children. Do you see any respect?"

Her eyes were glistening. I nodded to Edna to continue the video. She wanted to turn her head away. "Watch!"

There was Ranger and his Rangeman team, checking on her, protecting her from the onlookers by forming a visual barrier, Bobby tending to her cuts or injuries. Stephanie's smile was wonderful when she saw Ranger. It was so obvious when he asked her if she was alright. Helen's features softened when she saw this. In the meantime, the asshole was still ranting and pacing. Such a dickhead.

"Is that what you want Stephanie to endure, Helen? But the video and his bullying tactics don't tell you what happened. In this case, her car was hit by a stolen car that ran a red light. Luckily, she was able to get herself out safely with her skip, and called the emergency services. All those bystanders didn't even offer any assistance. It wasn't her fault. Stephanie did not do something silly, foolish or dangerous as Morelli seems to be implying. His criticisms were not warranted. And he's supposed to be the detective?!"

Her posture had changed from defiance to shock, and, if I am not mistaken, an element of anger.

"Do you recall what he told you about that scene? I do. I was sitting in my arm chair. He said how she smashed into another car, in such a derogatory manner. He called her incompetent and useless at her job. He said how she embarrassed him in front of his work colleagues. He humiliated her actions and her appearance. Did you hear him tell her to quit her job and marry him? What's with that?! That's not love.

But you saw for yourself how she saved her skip and herself. She checked on the driver of the other car. That person was handcuffed and taken into custody for carjacking, reckless driving and running a red light. He caused the crash and the cars to burn. He was speeding. Our daughter was not reckless at any time. Morelli doesn't tell you all the facts. He lies. He props himself up while constantly putting her down.

Did you notice the reactions and the difference between Ranger and Morelli? I did. Edna did. But the newspaper only reported the events based on what Morelli's biased and incorrect judgments were. That sensationalism sells papers. They too disrespect our daughter. I am fed up with them denigrating my Pumpkin.

Now. You go to bed, in the spare room tonight. I am disappointed that you got sucked into the sickening Morelli vortex. Think about all the disparaging things you've said to Stephanie. You two together have been manipulating her and criticising her job, a job she loves, and her appearance. You have allowed yourself to do his dirty work. It stops now. Goodnight Helen."

Yes, I dismissed her abruptly. It is the only way to deal with her at the moment.

She whispered a soft goodnight and sullenly went up the stairs. I hope that seeing is believing.

Edna patted me on my shoulder.

"That was necessary, Frank. You have given her some things to think about. But, you know, this is Helen. It's not going to change overnight. We will have to be on our guard. Tomorrow is another day."

I chuckled. I had already made plans for tomorrow. It was gonna be good.

"Ooh. I see that evil glint in your eye, Frank."

I just raised my eyebrow and smirked.

"Goodnight, Edna."

oOoOo

TBC

Yes, well … the Muse had other ideas. So now it will be more than a two shot.

Thank you for all the amazing reviews. Your responses have been heartening. As one reviewer so aptly said, Margaret would have loved this story. I can hear her cackling in delight from heaven above.

So … tomorrow … We are very excited about that chapter. Karma has come to help.