Epilogue: 2013
It's Nate and Jaime's third birthday. We have Valerie and her two daughters over for the party. She's dating one of the men working at Rangeman. I heard she was dating Albert Kloughn, but it didn't work out. He's a Jewish virgin, and Valerie thinks he's too young for her. Albert is six years younger. I understand why she feels it's wrong. Well, that and his expectation for Valerie to fund opening his law firm. Kloughn is a dreadful lawyer.
Valerie's ex-husband went to jail for having sex with a fourteen-year-old girl. Allie was only thirteen a few days earlier. When his cellmates heard about it, they shivved him during their time in the yard. Steve didn't survive the trip to the hospital. His body got transferred to Trenton for burial. Valerie took the girls to his funeral. She paid for the funeral out of the estate. Steve had her listed as the sole beneficiary. Allie's family tried to sue Valerie, but I had my friend and Rangeman's lawyer, Fraser Harding, represent Valerie to refute the claim to the inheritance. It didn't look good when Allie's parents learned Steve Sutton wasn't the first married man Allie had sex with. Allie had videos—the stupid girl.
I watch as Woody pulls out the chair for Valerie to sit. She smiles and thanks the handsome cowboy. Woody is my age. The man is smitten with Valerie and the girls. He owns five horses and a farm outside Trenton. Mary Alice loves riding the horses.
Carlos and I never returned to Miami. With our children in Trenton, we decided to stick around to launch the addition to Rangeman Securities. Living in Trenton is closer to New York. Whenever the Avengers or Stark Industries need me, Tony sends a helicopter. I swear the man has more money than sense. Carlos says it's an acceptable compromise.
Dad arrives with Uncle Pete, Aunt Brenda and my cousins. I love having my family together. Nate runs to his grandfather for a hug. Jaime waits until her brother gets his attention before approaching her grandpa. Dad scoops her with his left arm, "There's plenty of room for you too, sweetie." Jaime giggles when Dad kisses her cheek. She squirms until Dad sets her and Nate on the floor.
My mother-in-law introduces herself to Dad. He politely shakes her hand, unwilling to hug a stranger. Ricardo Sr, Carlos' father, shakes Dad's hand. I forgot it's their first time meeting.
"I'll get it," I say when I hear a car parking out front. Dad chuckles and shakes his head. Steve Rogers and Bucky stand behind me as I open the door. "Hi, Joe. Why are you here?" I ask.
"Maria invited me," he replies.
I roll my eyes and shout over my shoulder, "Maria, your guest arrived."
Lester's sister, Maria, rushes forward. "Hey, Joe. I'm glad you made it," Maria gushes. I block his entrance to my house.
"Do you know?" I snarl.
"He told me everything, Steph. I know about you rearranging his nuts," Maria angrily replies. "Who I date is none of your business."
Joe hangs his head and turns to walk away from my house. I felt Carlos approaching. Bucky must have told him Morelli was at the house. Carlos wraps a protective arm around my waist and pulls me flush against his side. "Why are you at my house, Morelli?" Carlos demands.
"Stop it!" Maria shouts. "As I told my dear cousin-in-law, who I date is none of your business." She spoke rapidly in Spanish, telling us everything Joe told her about his past. It's everything I found during a background check. Morelli didn't hide anything from Maria.
Carlos and I step aside, granting Joseph Morelli access to our home and family. "Joe, we wanted to make sure Maria knows about our history before inviting you into our home," I explain.
"I understand," he's quick to reply. Joe's lips turn into a smile. "I never expected anything less from the woman who defended herself against the Burg. You are a remarkable woman. I'm sorry for everything I did to harm you."
"Are you treating Maria well?" I ask. Maria scoffs and swears at Carlos in Spanish.
"Yes. I know you will make me eat my nuts if I hurt Maria," Joe laughs. He enters the living room with Carlos and me. I leave Maria to introduce Joe Morelli to the family. Lester is seething.
Jaime senses her uncle's distress and approaches him. She climbs onto his lap and places her hands on his cheeks. Resting her forehead on his, Jaime closes her eyes. "Close eyes," Jaime orders. Lester chuckles and follows her instructions.
Joe watches Lester and Jaime. "Is she Maria's niece?" Joe asks.
"Technically, second cousin. Jaime and Nathan are my children," I reply.
"I heard you didn't want to get married and settle down with a family," Joe argues.
"Joe, I don't want the Burg's definition of marriage and family. I never said I didn't want to get married or have children," I explain. "Does Maria want the Burg life?"
Smiling, Joe replies, "No. She wants to work. Once our child is born, she'll stay home for a year, then return to work. Maria enjoys her job with Victoria. I would never prevent her from doing something she loves."
This sounds like a different Joseph Morelli than I used to know. I'm glad he pulled his head from his ass to rise above the Burg's idea of an acceptable family life. "When did you find out?"
"Two weeks ago. Steph, I want to marry her, but she wants to wait until the baby is born. What should I do?" Joe asks, running a hand through his hair.
"Respect what she wants," I reply. "I know Maria wants to get married. Could she think you're proposing because of the pregnancy?"
"Possibly," he admits. "I've never felt this way about a woman before."
Jaime kisses Lester's cheek and gets off his lap. He stands to approach Maria. They go upstairs to talk privately. "Hi," Jaime says, tugging on Joe's pant leg.
Surprising everyone, Joe squats to her level. "Hi, I'm Maria's boyfriend," Joe says. Jaime nods. She knows who he is.
"You wuv Mawia?" Jaime asks. She still has problems pronouncing her Rs and Ls. Joe confirms by nodding. "Okay. Come wif me." I'm giggling when Jaime leads Joe to the table and pushes him onto a chair. She climbs on his lap and touches his cheeks like with Lester.
Joe gasps at whatever Jaime is doing. I think she's trying to read his mind or intentions. It often seemed she could read my mind, but I know it's more that she can hear my wants and needs. Diesel tried to explain that Jaime had my intuition. However, she needs to feel a connection to a person before sensing their intentions. Touching people's faces only happens when Jaime feels safe with them.
Angie and Mary Alice exchange a grin. They run to their Uncle Tank and explain what they want. Tony Stark overhears and chuckles. "We can make it happen," he says, removing his phone from his back pocket. Tony walks away and taps on the keyboard. I wonder what he's up to. Bucky and Steve laugh and mime what Tony is arranging. I think it's adorable and brilliant.
Lester and Maria arrive a few minutes later. Maria's eyes are red from crying. She sees Jaime and Joe sitting at the table and smiles. "What is she doing?" Maria asks.
"Communicating in her special way," I reply. Maria looks stunning in a pretty pale pink dress. Joe is wearing dark jeans and a button-down shirt over his white t-shirt.
Tony catches my attention and nods when Jaime kisses Joe's cheek. Jaime joins Angie, Mary Alice and her brother. They murmur while giggling. I can hear their plans. Jaime claps her hands and runs to her Abuela. She excitedly explains everything. My mother-in-law smiled and retrieved the cake from the dining room table.
Oh boy. I hope Joe doesn't get mad. Carlos raises a brow. I whisper, telling him what the kids are plotting. Carlos laughs and waits by the door for the other guests. I'm not impressed with inviting more people into my home, but I'll do anything for my children.
When Angie approaches Joe, our guests arrive, "Can you come into the living room?"
Joe quirks a brow and lets Angie stand him near the fireplace. Mary Alice brings Maria into the room. She places her beside Joe. Jaime steps forward to make Joe and Maria hold hands and face each other. My son gets Tank to stand beside him, facing Joe and Maria. Nate clears his throat and asks, "Joe Mowelli, be mi Tio?"
He looks at Tank, questioning what Nate is asking. "Nate is asking if you want to marry Maria Santos," Tank interprets.
"Yes, I do," Joe replies, grinning like a fool.
Maria blushes and hisses, "Nate, what are you doing?"
"Tia Maria, is Joe mi Tio?" he asks, ignoring her question.
"Tank?" Maria asks.
"Maria, do you want to marry Joseph Morelli?" Tank asks.
"Of course I do," Maria sighs.
"Yay!" the kids chant. Tony passes Tank the papers for Joe and Maria to sign. They print and sign their names at the bottom of the document. Carlos and I grin as we add our signatures as witnesses. Tony quickly whips the papers from our grasp and passes them to Pepper for safekeeping. She rolls her eyes and passes it to Joe Juniak, the current Mayor of Trenton.
"You have to kiss the bride," Angie says, rolling her eyes.
"What?" Joe asks.
Tony chuckles. "Do you make it a habit to sign without reading?"
"What do you mean?" Joe asks.
"You and Maria are married," Angie Morelli announces. "Now, as the pretty young lady said, you must kiss the bride." She wipes the tears from her eyes, using the handkerchief tucked into her pocket.
We combined the birthday party with a wedding reception for Joe and Maria. Sometime during dinner, Tony and Carlos ordered wedding gifts for the happy couple.
After hugging her daughter, Isabela asks, "Lester, when will you settle down?"
"Mama," he whines.
We celebrate long after the twins go to sleep. My daughter is asleep in Joe's arms. She must see something good in Joe to trust him that much. Carlos gently removes his daughter from Joe's arms. "Wait until you have your child. Ten pounds start feeling heavy after fifteen minutes," Carlos teases.
Lester gently takes Nate from Natasha's arms. Carlos follows his cousin upstairs to put the children to bed. They return a few minutes later.
Joe and Maria thanked us for everything before leaving. Angie Morelli and Bella left a few hours earlier. Both women were pleasant to me. It seems my dear mother was mainly responsible for the horrible rumours in the Burg. Since Mom's death, everything in the Burg has changed. More young women are stepping away from the Burg's ideals. Mary Lou prefers to be home with her children, but she does the accounting for her husband's plumbing company. Lenny took over his dad's business a few months ago.
"I can't believe Joe Morelli is a part of our family," I say.
"Me neither," Carlos replies. "Jaime and Nate like him."
Groaning, I lean against my husband. Never in a million years would I have seen this coming. Joseph Morelli married a Cuban woman with an illegitimate baby on the way. Everyone in the Burg expected Joe to marry Terry Gilman or me.
"Babe, let's go to bed." I grumble because I'm comfortable cuddling with him on the couch. He chuckles and carries me upstairs to our bedroom. We make love and fall asleep in each other's arms. My life is full of love and friendship. I wouldn't have it any other way.
My phone chimes at 0300. I grab it to read the message. "Bomba, Avengers Assemble!"