Eight weeks later…
It was Stephanie's turn to host and the girls were all excited to help her select the pictures for her wedding album from the proofs. There had been a large breakfast as the girls talked about the kids, the husbands and Stephanie's new role as house counsel for Hans Müeller. She also shared that once she relocated to Miami permanently, Richard Orr sold her old apartment to provide compensation to the women his son and the three losers intended to traffic.
"Lauren is coming back in February… which means another family calendar." Stephanie announced as she brought the pina coladas to the table on the deck of the house the girls once shared. Lula had sold it to Stephanie when she and Tank had moved their family to a larger home and the tenant who had been renting it had recently moved out. Now Stephanie and Ric planned to live here.
"We created a monster by saying yes to her the first one." Val was applying sunscreen. "We could decline."
"Hey, did you hear that Rachel Manoso is head over heels for the new guy she met at the wedding? Martine, I think." Mary Lou told her friends, knowing Rachel wouldn't mind.
"Yeah, Ron Martine. We had a double date with them last week," Stephanie said. "They seem really good together." The gossip of all the young RangeMan continued on.
"I am just glad we instituted a monthly Moms Day Out. No kids, lunch with friends… it is like temporarily visiting heaven." Val gazed out at the ocean. "I love my kids, but a little vacation like this goes a long way."
"Who are you tellin'" Lula sighed. "We have great kids, but they are exhausting."
Stephanie put a drink in front of each of her friends and sipped hers through a straw. "God, this totally hits the spot." And then she waited.
Lula nibbled the pineapple slice that garnished her drink.
Val swirled her straw a little nervously.
Mary Lou fidgeted with the napkin her glass sat on.
Val was the first to crack. "I can't drink this… I am pregnant again…" She pushed the drink toward her sister. "The night of your wedding, Stephanie… we were not as careful as we should have been."
"Oh my God, us too. The same night, the same thing." Mary Lou shook her head. "And it is twins again. I just had my sonogram and we heard two heartbeats."
"It was a trifecta then, cause me and Tank too…" Lula confessed. "But we are sticking with one at a time. My sono was a week ago."
"I knew it!" Stephanie laughed at the three. "I knew you all got knocked up at my wedding!"
"How could you possibly know…"
"Lula, you have been squeamish around bananas for over a month, Val, your chest has more than doubled in size, and Mary Lou, you stopped eating breakfast at all two weeks ago. Your ginger biscuits nibbling wasn't fooling anyone."
"Then why did you make us these drinks?" Val asked.
"There's no booze in them."
"But how could you be sure that we wouldn't get yours?" Mary Lou piped up.
"Because all four are virgin." Stephanie said, taking another big sip. And waited. They would get there. And she saw when the truth dawned. All the girls spoke at once.
"Does that mean…"
"Holy Cow…"
"Really?"
Stephanie nodded and hugged each girl in turn. "And I have about a six-week head start on the lot of you. With triplets, according to my twelve-week scan. So, we will be catching up to the rest of you in no time."
The noise level exploded and the girls drank, ate and made plans for Stephanie's nursery.
"We really need to plan on a sizable day care center in the new building." Tank said as they settled in later that same afternoon. The men had all the kids in the basement of Lester's house watching the latest Disney blockbuster on the giant TV.
"No kidding. For us alone, never mind the rest of the guys." Ric agreed.
Bobby looked at his friend. "You know, Ric, if it wasn't for you telling the girls we would help them that day in the diner, I wouldn't have my family."
Lester nodded, "None of us would. You are the reason we are all with the women who make us whole."
"We can never repay you." Tank agreed.
"And Stephanie and I are together and starting to fill our own nursery."
"You are way behind on that front, my friend." Bobby said with a smile. Tank and Lester nodded agreement.
"We won't be for long… Guys, Stephanie and I are having triplets. She is due on the anniversary of us first meeting."
"Well, I will drink to that, Primo." Lester held up his bottle of beer. "To the next generation of Rangers and Babes." The friends clinked their bottles together.
Ric and Julie made it back home just as Stephanie finished her clean-up of the kitchen. It was late so Stephanie got Julie settled in bed right away.
She returned to find Ric reviewing the album choices.
"Where are the good photos from the reception?" He asked as he worked through the pile. He was of course referring to the "Girls Gone Wild" pictures.
"I worked with Diesel and have pictures from both Vegas and the reception. I am planning to give them as stocking stuffers." She kissed her husband. "But yours is the best one."
"Babe!" Ric smiled his brilliant beautiful smile and laughed out loud. "I love you!"
"I love you too."
And they lived happily ever after…