Valerie
Joseph Morelli's trial started when I had my second ultrasound. Pierre and I were expecting two boys. He was ecstatic, and so was Dad. My doctor recommended getting a c-section at thirty-eight weeks if I didn't go into labour. With my husband's size and broad shoulders, the doctor said it was my safest option.
I was nervous about carrying twins. Everything scared me, like winter, ice and slick rain. Pierre reassured me many times that I would be fine. He seemed to forget I never had to deal with snow during my pregnancies with Angie and Mary Alice.
Pierre said I shouldn't have to walk across the ice or snow. He parked our SUV in the garage, and we could access it off the mud room. Whenever a significant snowfall occurred, Junior drove the snow plow to clear the driveways for the men living offsite.
Monique promised to visit when I got closer to my due date. She wanted to help with the girls and the twins until I established a routine. I remembered the challenges I faced when I had Mary Alice. Angie was a toddler and getting into everything when I wanted to sleep. Pierre planned to help whenever possible. He assured me that he could function on less sleep than me.
Stephanie exited the elevator and smiled. She prepared the boxes containing balloons to announce what I was having. Gender reveal parties were the biggest fad on Facebook and TikTok. Angie and Mary Alice wanted to announce the babies using the party. I rolled my eyes but went along with their wishes.
"Have you heard anything about the court case?" I asked, referring to Morelli's sexual assault trial. The prosecutor said I didn't have to testify since they had video proof. I was relieved. Multiples in pregnancies were considered as high risk. The prosecutor claimed enduring cross-examination would cause too much stress for me.
"He pled not guilty," Stephanie replied, shaking her head at Morelli's idiocy.
"What about Mom?" I asked.
Stephanie leaned against my desk. She chewed her bottom lip for a few seconds. "Morelli's lawyer demanded to listen to the evidence. He heard Mom's comments. I'm afraid it's not good," Stephanie explained. She glanced at her watch. "Eddie and Robin should be arresting her soon."
"What are the charges?"
"Conspiracy to cause bodily harm, assault and a few other charges. It doesn't really matter. Mom could spend between five and fifteen years in prison, depending on how many counts of assault they declare her guilty of," Stephanie explained.
"Is her trial occurring at the same time as Joe?" I asked. I realized my question was ridiculous. Mom's arrest resulted from disclosing the evidence to the defence lawyer. Her case would take months before it got presented to the jury of her peers.
"No," Stephanie said, shaking her head. Her tooth bit into her lip again. Stephanie attempted to keep her thoughts to herself. I needed to know what my sister heard about the situation. "Jury selection was bad enough for Joe's case. Expect Mom's lawyer to request a venue change."
Ah. I understood why Stephanie was concerned. "What makes you say that?" I wondered. Stephanie had information I didn't.
"I overheard a conversation when Ranger and I were at Rossini's during a client lunch meeting. I doubt Angie Morelli knew we were there," Stephanie explained. "She warned Mom about the potential arrest. Hang on a second. It's Lester." Stephanie answered her phone on speaker, wanting me to hear the conversation.
"Hey, Steph. Hector and I disconnected the battery to your mom's car. You were right about her trying to leave," Lester said.
"Did she get arrested?" I asked.
"Hi, Val. Yes, she got detained. Eddie added resisting arrest to the charges," he replied. "She kept screaming that she's innocent."
Stephanie snorted. "Innocent people don't run," she mumbled.
"Does she have a lawyer?" I asked.
It was Lester's turn to laugh. "Yup. She told Eddie to call Albert Kloughn," Lester replied.
I covered my mouth and laughed. Albert was a dreadful lawyer. He was an ambulance chaser, hoping to land the case to prove his worth and launch his career. I heard through the Burg gossip grapevine that Hannah left Albert at the altar. Hannah left Trenton shortly after. I wondered if she heard Albert had sex with multiple women.
"That's another case Kloughn is destined to lose," Stephanie said. "Thank goodness you didn't marry him, Valerie."
Albert Kloughn was a minnow in the ocean of defence lawyer sharks. He couldn't argue his way out of a paper bag. I heard he was still living with his mother. Mom probably hired Kloughn because he didn't charge his clients unless he won, which wasn't the way to carve a living.
"Why didn't Joe plead guilty?" I wondered. He knew I had proof of the sexual assault.
"Men like Joseph Morelli hide behind their badge and reputation in the community. Morelli probably thought the charges would get dropped. The prosecutor needed you to join the suit to strengthen his case."
Stephanie had a point. I was from the Burg. My two daughters were Joe's biological children. The nail in Joe's proverbial coffin was the video in the nightclub and the one outside Rossini's. Robin Russell took photographs of the bruise on my wrist.
A few days later, Mom got released on bail. She had a month before her trial began. It got moved up when she attempted to kidnap Angie from school. Luckily, Manny caught her in time. Angie cried and told Manny that Grandma Plum was taking her away from me.
Mom got remanded into custody immediately. She couldn't post a second bond, either. Mom had no available funds. Dad and Grandma refused to help. What did Mom expect?
She called Rangeman and demanded for Stephanie to help. Stephanie said, "No," before hanging up. Two weeks later, Stephanie and Carlos moved, coinciding with the trial date for Mom. Pierre and I had to stay behind in case the prosecution or defence lawyers called me to the stand. They already had my deposition and evidence. What could I possibly add to my testimony?
Five years later….
Mom spent the past five years in prison for assisting Joseph Morelli in his attempt to arrest me. Morelli was in for thirty years, serving back-to-back sentences for multiple counts of sexual assault and rape. I couldn't believe how many women came forward after I added my name to the lawsuit.
Stephanie and Carlos moved to Miami before the sentencing hearing for Mom and Joe. She didn't want her children near those vile women bitches in the Burg. Her son went to a private school but was not free from their toxic reach.
Pierre and I stayed until they got sentenced. Stephanie and Carlos briefly returned to support me when I had to provide a victim impact statement. It was the first time anyone from the Burg heard about my first encounter with Joseph Morelli. I spoke of how he pulled me into his father's garage to assault me. His actions ruined my self-esteem. I went into a spiral and made many mistakes as a result.
My therapist helped me see that I only felt that attraction to Joseph Morelli because of how he treated me after the initial assault, which I romanticized much like Stephanie had done. He flirted and winked. Whenever his girlfriend, Terry Grizolli, was away, he took me on dates. It confused me. I never told anyone, except Stephanie, Pierre and my therapist, what Morelli did to me. Oh! I got Stephanie to tell Dad about it. As we predicted, Dad was furious. It was shortly after that when he moved to Miami with the girls.
Dad moved to Miami with Grandma and my daughters. He promised to keep them safe. Monique introduced Dad to a wonderful woman named Lana. She grew up in New Jersey and moved to Miami after graduating college. Lana was two years younger than Dad. He was happy.
Pierre and I named our twin boys Andre and Henri. We had a daughter, Estelle, a year after the twins. I laughed when Angie added Juliette to her name, and Mary Alice added Genevieve when Pierre adopted them. They wanted French names, too. The teachers in Miami called them Julie and Genny.
I made too many mistakes in the past. Most of which were unforgivable. Did I ever cheat on Pierre? No. The thought never crossed my mind. Our marriage was strong.
"What are you thinking about?" Pierre asked. He had Estelle sitting on his shoulders. She grinned at me, showing where she lost her first tooth. Ellie was too young for her adult teeth. "I Googled it. Some children lose teeth at four. Our Ellie is one of them. What are you thinking about?"
"The trial with Morelli and Mom," I replied.
"Why?"
"Have you read the Trenton newspaper?"
Pierre shook his head. He grinned when Ellie rubbed it. She giggled as she touched the softness of his skin. Ellie kissed Pierre's head before demanding, "Down!"
"Go find your brothers and sisters," Pierre said, gently tapping Ellie's butt. He waited until Ellie was out of sight before reading the Trenton Times on his phone.
Mom died in a fatal accident as the emergency crew raced across Trenton to rescue her. The article stated Mom was a highly regarded woman in the Burg. Her death was a loss to Trenton. It said that Dad, Stephanie and I abandoned Mom in her time of need. We forced her to plead guilty to conspiracy and kidnapping. In our quest to tarnish Mom's reputation, we convinced Grandma to take our side and moved to parts unknown.
"It's disgusting. Mom pleaded guilty. Why would she do that if she was innocent? I don't get it," I said.
"They found a way to blame Stephanie. Did you read the next article?" Pierre asked. I shook my head.
Former Trenton Police Department Detective Joseph Morelli was found dead in his cell following a disagreement with another inmate on the prison grounds. Lorenzo Grizolli took credit for the assault leading to Morelli's castration with a shiv. Seventeen years ago, Lorenzo was found guilty of manslaughter for Anthony Joseph Morelli's death. Anthony was the late detective's father.
Authorities questioned Lorenzo for his actions in the prison. Lorenzo said Joseph followed in Anthony's footsteps. Anthony, the father, assaulted his sister, Teresa, when she was seventeen. When the district attorney refused to charge Anthony based on Teresa's word, he took matters into his own hands. During a bar fight, Lorenzo broke Anthony's nose. Anthony passed away during the night from asphyxiation. Lorenzo felt no remorse for his actions leading to Anthony Morelli Sr's death. It was one less sadistic Morelli on the streets.
Regarding stabbing Joseph Morelli in the testicles, Lorenzo claimed it was a pleasure to castrate Joseph for ruining many lives and reputations. Mr. Grizolli received another life sentence for Joseph Morelli's death.
A great detective would never have stood trial or died without Stephanie Plum. The vile woman convinced her sister and countless women to proceed and charge Joseph Morelli with sexual assault. Ms Plum's vindictive behaviour was directly responsible for the unfortunate outcome. Joseph Morelli's death would hang over Stephanie's head for many years. Thank goodness she left Trenton.
"That asshole reporter vilified Stephanie," I gasped. "I hope she sues him for defamation of character."
"She's doing much more than that," Pierre replied.
"Oh?"
"Wait and see," Pierre cryptically said.
It was another month before we learned Stephanie's plan. She had interviews with several talk show hosts, magazines and newspapers. Stephanie had proof for everything she claimed. I had no idea Stephanie kept every article the Trenton Times printed about her and Rangeman.
Every talk show aired the story on the same day. The magazines and papers published the articles the following day. My sister aired every stitch of dirty laundry in the Burg. Women who thought their husbands were faithful got their husbands' infidelity shoved into their faces with incriminating photographs and videos. Men learned of their wives' affairs, learning some of their children weren't biologically theirs.
Dad learned Mom had affairs with various men. He was livid when Stephanie gave him proof and confessed it was one of the reasons he filed for divorce. Dad didn't have those skeletons in his closet. I don't know how Stephanie uncovered the intel. Someone at Rangeman must have watched Mom when Stephanie moved home.
"I can't believe Mom got mad at me for sleeping with Joe once during my marriage to Steve. She was no better," I said after reading the articles.
Many unforgivable actions were shared, followed by divorces. The Burg had never seen as many marriages dissolved from infidelity. Nobody forgave the inexcusable actions of their spouses.
Rangeman Trenton closed its doors. Stephanie and Carlos opened branches in California, Seattle, Chicago and Hawaii.
In six months, my family would move to the newest location. Stephanie argued there were plenty of beaches and sun for us to enjoy. Pierre and I would run the Hawaiian branch. Monique and Josephine would move with us. I couldn't wait to live in a new city with my fabulous family.
Stephanie and Ranger promised to visit every few months. They would remain in Miami to care for Grandma Edna and Abuela Rosa. Both women were ill. Stephanie and Jeanne Ellen were the grandmother's primary caregivers.
Kylie and Jeanne Ellen have twins. Kylie carried the boy and girl after getting the embryos implanted. Hunter was the donor. Biologically, Tara was Jeanne Ellen's daughter, and Tucker was Kylie's son. They were raising the children with Hector and Hunter. I loved how they included Hector as a father figure. He loved his children.
"Pierre, how did we get so lucky?" I asked.
"It wasn't luck, my love. Your sister taught you the value of forgiveness. She supported you despite everyone saying your actions were unforgivable. Stephanie is the epitome of love, kindness and generosity. Through her guidance, you learned nothing was unforgivable," Pierre explained. "Our relationship should be an example of what a healthy one looks like."
"Provided I didn't repeat my past mistakes," I added.
"Have you thought about it?" Pierre felt secure with our relationship. His question was valid, given my past.
"No, my love. You're all the man I need. Pierre, you're the star of my sexy dreams."
Pierre kissed me passionately. He gently lifted me until my legs wrapped around his waist. "Ewww, they're kissing," Andre said when he caught us.
"Son, one day you'll understand," Pierre told Andre while setting me on my feet.
Our children wrapped their arms around us. I loved my three daughters and twin boys.
In fifty years, I would look back at my life and appreciate everything Stephanie did to help me move forward and forgive myself for my unforgivable actions.
~~~~~
A/N: thank you for reading my story.