Here goes the next chapter. Stephanie is going to have a long evening ahead of her. A big thanks to those who are following and leaving reviews, if you have any questions ask away. Whether you are team babe, cupcake, or Diesel, I hope you enjoy the story and leave your pick in the review.
If they ever made a remake of the movie my personal choice for Lula would be Lizzo. Who would you pick? Now a quick warning and acknowledgement to the reviewers.
Warning: The following is for entertainment purposes only.
Zella Nicholas: Thank you. I hope the story only gets better from here.
Redickave: There are moments of seriousness in the story, but the humor of the characters is what keeps me a fan of the Plum Series.
Gayle tonscheck: When I first started reading, I was team Morelli, but once Ranger entered the scene my opinion changed. Now, I don't want to give away who she ends up with just yet, so I won't say anymore. To answer your question, she has the meeting because she wants a change in her life, and even though her family gives her eye twitches they are everything to her. My take on the story is that this is a big change in her life. Her parents, especially her mom, gets a lot of hate, but they have never turned their back on her. Her mom's biggest threat is cutting her off from cake, which she could easily get anywhere. We will get into that later.
Caren47: Thank you for the review, keep reading. I hope the next chapter meets your expectations as well.
To my unnamed guest thank you for reading and it would be great for her to read lol It would make my day.
Stephanie walked in her parents' house at 5:59 on the dot. "I'm here" she yelled. Everyone was waiting. The dining room looked crowded, but they made do. "Hello everyone." She took a seat squeezed between Lula and Connie, and watched her dad serve himself more meat. Her mother had a pitcher of 'tea' next to her glass. "Where's Valerie?" Valerie had two daughters from her first marriage, and on her third child from her second. St. Valerie is what Stephanie called her, she did everything just like a Burg wife should. "The baby started teething and kept them up all night with a fever." Her grandma said.
"Gravy." Stephanie's father yelled, as her mother hurried up and passed the gravy. "Is everything alright with you and Joe?" Her mother asked. "You didn't break up with him again, did you?" Everyone stopped whatever they were doing, and all looked towards Stephanie. For as long as Stephanie could remember, her mother always warned her about the Morelli men. Her mother said to say away from them, but she never listened. To hear her mother now, one would think differently.
It took Stephanie's mother a while to warm up to her dating Joseph, as her mother called him. Now he ate dinner with her family on an almost weekly basis. This brought a smile to her face. She took a deep breath before she answered now was not the time to lie or shy away. There was a purpose to her visit that didn't include double fudge amaretto cake. Well, maybe it did involve the cake a little.
"No. I didn't break up with him." Her mother nodded and then took a sip of her tea. "He broke off with you?! That's what it is. He broke up with you." It wasn't said as a question, but a state of fact. "He did not break up with me." Everyone kept looking back and forth from Stephanie to her mother. "I might as well say it, this is the Berg, everyone knows everything anyway." Stephanie's mother jumped from her chair, bringing attention even from her father. "It's a lump! You found a lump! I knew those wire brazier's you use would eventually cause a lump!"
Stephanie couldn't take it anymore; the stress was too much. She jumped up banging her fist on the table. "I DO NOT HAVE A LUMP! MORELLI DID NOT BREAK UP WITH ME! I DID NOT BREAK UP WITH HIM! HE PROPOSED TO ME" Everyone gasped, Stephanie's mother fainted, and took down her 'tea' with her. "She could never hold her tea." Grandma Mazur said. For once, Stephanie's father did not turn back to his plate of food. He stood up and helped his wife off the floor sitting her back in the chair. "What happened?" Her mother asked. "You fainted." Lula said. "I don't blame you, I almost inhaled and choked on my fork." Connie added. Stephanie's father gave his wife a refill, and then sat back down.
Everyone was settled back in place and began bombarding Stephanie with questions. Connie stood up and whistled everyone to attention. "Alright! We're all going to have order! We all have questions! She hasn't even said if she accepted his proposal or not!" Stephanie's mom perked up at that. "Of course she accepted! She has been dating Joseph on and off for years. It's not like she has been dating anyone else. What other options does she have?" Connie, Lula, and Grandma Mazur all looked in different directions feigning ignorance listening to the cricket's chirp. Stephanie's mother looked at each of them, trying to make eye contact. "Come on. If there are other options, why doesn't she say? Joseph is a wonderful catch. Who else is there? Mother?" Grandma Mazur played with her purse. "Lula. You are her best friend. Tell me." Lula stared at Stephanie. "Connie?"
Grandma Mazur sighed. "Ellen, you got to stop drinking so much tea. There have been a few men coming in and out of here. And those are the ones we know about." Steph's mom sat looking at her mother with her mouth open. "Like whom?" She asked in a condescending manner. "There's been Ranger." This bought on a whole new argument with Grandma Mazur shooting the ceiling.
Lula shuffled a bit in her chair, turning to Steph's mom. "Mrs. P. no offense, because I was taught to have manners and all, but Ranger is a catch." Connie chimed in with her own opinions. "Yeah, but there's also Diesel. He's dreamy." Stephanie's father's head looked like a tennis ball going from person to person. "Which one is Diesel? Is that one the weirdo that pops in from time to time?" Stephanie just nodded. "Crapes. You better not think of marrying that one! I will disown you!" He stared at Stephanie without blinking waiting for her answer. "No. I am not marrying him, and we never even dated." What she didn't say was that Diesel did sleep naked in her bed next to her when he was in town. Her father stared at her for a step and went back to eating his food.
"Morelli proposed, but he was a little late with his proposal. Ranger proposed two days before him." Everyone stopped and stared at her. "AWWW Hell Naw!" Lula said as the chaos ensued again. "I forbid it!" Her mother chimed in. "I've seen him naked. Lucky you! I wouldn't mind a marriage proposal from Ranger." Stephanie's father had his mouth open in shock, looking at his mother-in-law. Then he looked at his knife a little too long for Stephanie's comfort. She took a step around her chair and took the knife from his hand.
"Heaven help the man she does marry." Lula chimed in. Stephanie took her spot again at her seat. "Look, I appreciate everyone's input, and that is why I am here. Morelli and I have been dating for years on and off, but do I really want to marry him? He wants me to give up my job, I don't want to do that yet. He wants kids and that terrifies me. I do love him, but I also love Ranger."
Everyone was quiet at her admission, and for the first time no one had anything to say. "I made a list, and I need help from my family to make the right decision. Mom. Can you at least keep an open mind about this? I need your help." This was a lot of emotion for a family that never shows any. Her mother took a deep breath, locking eyes with her father for a moment before nodding at Stephanie. "Let's hear your list. We will help you. Right?" Everyone looked at Stephanie and nodded.
Stephanie and her family went through her lists with a fine-tooth comb, even her father had given his fair share of opinion. By the end of the night each one cast their ballet, except for Stephanie who had to make the final choice. She took the folded papers out of the bowl and began reading them one by one. "Joseph. Joseph. Ranger. Ranger. So far, we have a tie. Neither." She recognized the handwriting and looked at her father. "You have to choose." She spoke. "No, I don't. This is America, I am not forcing my daughter to decide who I want her to spend the rest of her life with. When I married your mother, it was out of love, and not because her parents arranged a marriage. As much as I complain about your grandmother, I also chose her because your mother's family was a package deal. You married Dickie because you thought that was expected of you. He was a horse's behind, but you seemed happy, so I held my piece. This is your choice, not mine, your mother's or anyone else. You marry who you want. End of story."
Stephanie didn't know what to say, but she knew her father was right. He said more than she had ever heard before. Still, she wanted his opinion. The choice was on her. She took a glass and filled it with her mother's tea. They all served a glass of tea and quietly drank the whole bottle.
The next day Stephanie found herself on the floor smelling bacon, hash-browns, pancakes, and eggs. She stood up hearing Lula snoring on the sofa next to where she was sleeping. Slowly she stood up and went into the kitchen. "I need grease. Grease and donuts." Her mother was at the stove with her grandma close behind. "Connie went to make a donut run." She barely nodded and sat at the kitchen table. This kitchen had so many good memories for her, it was the safest place she had ever been. It seemed to have a life of its own.
"Stephanie, it's hard for me to keep quiet with, I just want what is best for you. Whatever you choose to do with your life, remember that as your mother, you can count on me to be here for you. Will I scream? Yes. Will I ask about lumps? Always. Since the moment you were born, I knew you would be a force to recon with. You run into danger, with open arms and it scares me. I love you." We gave each other a brief hug; I loved her too. She began serving plates by the time Connie arrived with the donuts, which was the same time Lula walked into the kitchen.
Stephanie stuffed her face with the delicious grease dripping from her bacon. The coffee and donuts topped it all off. Connie left, taking Lula with her, and then Stephanie said her good-byes before leaving for home. She rode home in deep thought surprisingly without incident. Upon entering her apartment, she was thankful to find it empty. After jumping in the shower, she decided to call Ranger.
"Babe." Was all he said. "Are you busy today? I have a high bond skip and need some help. He has been hiding in an apartment on Stark Street, he's kind of dodgy." He was quiet for a beat. "I'll pick you up at 7. I have a few meetings and won't be able to help until then." Not so much as a goodbye.
Here is the next chapter, I hope you all enjoyed it. Stephanie had the meeting with her family, and now she has to face her decision. Again, thank you to all who left a read and reviewed. I will be posting again on Monday.