Ranger's POV

Dinner at Helen Plum's house was exactly as Stephanie expected. Helen had invited Joseph Morelli and Gus Chianni, another plainclothesman officer with the Trenton Police Department. Stephanie and I picked up our wedding bands from the jewellers. She purchased a gold locket and thick chain for Julie, who loved the gift. The jewelry shop owner engraved the inside of the locket. "To my bonus badass daughter. I will always love you." The locket was double hinged to allow Julie to add three small photos inside.

Julie cried when she read the inscription. Stephanie promised to put pictures of her brother and sister on one hinged side, and Julie wanted us to put our picture on the other hinged side. She wanted reminders of the most important people in her life.

Stephanie politely greeted Morelli as she sat at the table. She used her left hand to tuck the hair behind her ear. "You're married?" Joe asked, grabbing her hand to look at the rings. I selected the platinum band with a sizeable blue diamond surrounded by sapphires and black onyx. The engagement and wedding bands were fused together. She had a third band with black onyx and sapphires. Stephanie could wear that ring when leaving the others at home for safekeeping.

"Yes," she replied, glaring at her mother.

"Valerie, Stephanie, help me in the kitchen," Helen ordered. I pulled out Stephanie's chair so she could assist with the food.

"Why are you here?" Joe demanded when I sat beside Julie.

"My mother-in-law invited us for dinner," I replied.

Woody must have sensed the tension and extended a hand. "I'm Woody," he said, shaking hands with Joe and Gus. They shook mine when Angie mentioned that ignoring someone's extended hand was rude. Julie and Mary Alice giggled.

Stephanie and Valerie returned with platters of meat and potatoes. I preferred chicken, but Helen cooked a pot roast. My wife looked angry. She smiled politely as she placed the roast on the table, passing me the knife and fork to cut the meat. Valerie put the potatoes on the table. She quickly returned to the kitchen to grab the gravy, leaving Helen to carry the wine and vegetables.

"What's in the beans?" Mary Alice asked.

Angie used her fork to grab some and inspected it on her plate. Julie leaned over and announced, "That's bacon. Mom said Grandma Plum liked adding bacon to beans."

"I'm not used to eating bacon," Angie said.

"I love bacon. I'll eat those bits for you," Mary Alice offered. Angie laughed as she served herself some beans and asked her sister to help remove the bacon. Mary Alice picked out the bacon bits to eat. She used her fingers, but Angie didn't mind. Angie helped Mary Alice with the task.

"Mary Alice, get your fingers out of Angie's food," Helen demanded.

I had to give that child credit. She squared her shoulders and replied, "Angie doesn't eat bacon. I'm taking it from her plate because she asked me to. You should mind your business and keep your opinions to yourself."

Mary Alice wiped her hands on the napkin. "Would you like some meat and potatoes?" Woody asked her, stopping Helen from admonishing the girl for standing up for herself.

"Yes, please," Mary Alice replied. Woody held the platter for Valerie to grab food for the girls. Stephanie smiled as he offered to hold it for her, too. I waited until Woody put the platter on the table before grabbing a small portion. Helen had cooked the beef throughout, and I found an inside piece that promised a little flavour.

"Why are you here?" Angie asked, looking at Gus Chianni.

"I'm supposed to be Valerie's date. Joe is Stephanie's dinner companion tonight," he replied.

"That's silly. Aunt Stephanie is married. Why would she need a dinner companion who isn't her husband?" Angie challenged. I loved Stephanie's nieces. Living in LA taught them to be fearless. However, I expected Stephanie to have something to do with it. I heard Stephanie tell the three girls not to let anyone bully them. They are allowed to tell someone when they don't like something they are doing, which makes them feel bad.

Stephanie worried about being an excellent mother to Julie, but she was much better than she expected. Julie loved Stephanie despite only meeting her the previous day. They have a natural connection; perhaps it was like a bond I shared with Stephanie. Since Julie was an extension of me, it was easy for Stephanie to accept Julie. What was I thinking? Stephanie was a kind, loving and generous woman. She worked hard to prove Joe Morelli's innocence. He didn't deserve her help after everything he did to her in their shared past. Stephanie rose above and did what was right, which made me love her more.

"Your grandmother thought we would be more suitable companions," Gus replied, splitting the remaining beef and potatoes with Joe. Their plates were overflowing, spilling gravy onto Helen's perfectly white tablecloth. Stephanie stifled a laugh as she ate her dinner.

"I think Woody and Uncle Ranger are better companions," Angie said. She slowly cut her meat and covered it in gravy before popping it into her mouth. Smart girl.

Pretending to be the perfect hostess, Helen asked, "Woody, what do you do for work?"

"I'm still active in the Army, ma'am," he politely replied. "I have another year on my contract. Between missions, I'm working for Rangeman."

Joe and Gus snorted. They mumbled it was a company for thugs, mercenaries and criminals. I wondered who started that lie. "What did you say, Joseph?" Helen politely asked.

"It's a new security and fugitive apprehension company in Trenton. Chief Juniak explained their purpose in our city. I checked with my friends in Atlanta and Miami. They said Rangeman hires thugs and criminals. Most of the skips they return to the precincts are badly beaten," Joe replied.

Helen gasped, "And you work there, Woody? I won't allow you to influence my granddaughters."

Stephanie rolled her eyes and continued eating. Valerie and the girls followed their lead. "I don't need your permission, ma'am," Woody kindly said. Helen pursed her lips. She waited until everyone ate their meals.

"Valerie, can you help me with dessert?" Helen asked.

I don't know how Stephanie pulled it off, but her and Valerie's phones rang simultaneously. Both women answered the call and listened to the message. "I'm sorry, Mom. There's a situation Stephanie and I need to handle. Thank you for inviting us for dinner," Valerie said.

"I'm sorry we can't stay for dessert, Mom," Stephanie added. "We have to get home to sort the mess."

"What happened?" Helen demanded.

Stephanie and Valerie looked at each other and replied, "Our apartments are flooded from an overflowing toilet. We have to get home to clear the apartment."

"You live on the second floor, Stephanie. Water runs down. How can your apartment be flooded?" Helen argued.

"Mom," Valerie snapped. It was the first time she had spoken harshly to anyone. "We live on the fourth floor in the same building. If you want us to visit again, you'll let us leave without causing a bigger scene than you already have."

"I don't want you hanging around thugs and criminals," Helen yelled.

"Mom, I work for Rangeman. Does that make me a thug or criminal?" Stephanie asked.

Helen clutched her chest, "No! You can't work there."

"Thank goodness I don't need your permission or approval. Ranger, Julie and I will not be returning for dinner in the near future until you pull your head out of your ass and stop listening to the lies Morelli just spewed," Stephanie said. "Let's go home, Julie. You don't need to listen to my mom calling your dad and me names."

"Where are you going?" Helen asked.

"I came over for dinner to introduce you to my daughter, Julie. Instead, you were unpleasant and drunk. Yes, Mother, Valerie and I could smell the whiskey on your breath. We didn't say anything in front of the guests, who you had no right to invite without our knowledge. I'm not going to divorce my husband to be with that man," Stephanie said, pointing to Morelli. "I thought I made that clear during the last dinner invitation. Goodbye, Mother."

"Proud of you, Babe," I said, making Stephanie grin. She kissed me chastely and held Julie's hand as we collected her purse and left. Valerie, Woody and the girls quickly followed.

"What was she thinking?" Valerie asked. "Mom has never done that to me before. Her behaviour was embarrassing me."

"Welcome home, Valerie," Stephanie laughed. She hugged Valerie and whispered. Valerie nodded and accepted Woody's help into the SUV he drove to Helen's house. When Stephanie climbed into the car, she said, "It's a shame Grandma Edna wasn't there. She's always good for a laugh."

"And bruising asses," I added. Julie asked what I meant, and Stephanie explained, describing my reaction when Edna grabbed my ass. Thankfully, Stephanie never mentioned Edna copping a feel. My girls laughed as I drove home.

"Mom," Julie said, referring to Stephanie, "What happened to Valerie's first husband? Angie and Mary Alice said the police took him to jail."

Stephanie looked to me for advice. It wasn't Julie's business, but she left it to me to decide if she should know. "What did the girls tell you?" I asked, hoping to gain more insight into why Julie asked the question.

"Mary Alice said her dad had sex with the babysitter and got arrested. Angie said the babysitter was eighteen. She also said her dad and the babysitter were having sex before she turned eighteen. Why would he get arrested if she was older than sixteen?" Julie asked, proving she knew more about sex and age of consent than I was comfortable with.

Taking pity on me, Stephanie answered, "In some States, like California, the age of consent is eighteen. Any man or woman having sex with a person younger than eighteen is charged and sent to jail. It doesn't matter if both people agree to have sex. It's against the law in California. You're still too young to know about things like sex and consent."

"We learned about it in health class when one of my friends got her period. The school board decided it was time for us to learn about hormones and body changes," Julie explained. My face paled. I didn't want to think about Julie having her periods and what that meant in terms of development.

"It will happen eventually, Carlos," Stephanie said. "With Julie having the information now will save us the trouble of explaining it later."

I added, "If you have any questions, ask Stephanie." Julie and Stephanie laughed.

"That's the plan, Dad."

Stephanie and Julie discussed where to attend school. I wanted Julie in the private sector, while Stephanie said it didn't matter to her. We had the resources to give Julie whatever she wanted. Julie confessed to wanting to attend a private school, where the staff would only allow authorized people to take her home. She was afraid someone would kidnap her. "Why would you think that?" Stephanie asked when Julie explained.

"It's my worst fear. I overheard Rachel and Ron complaining about the bodyguards Dad wanted to hire to protect me. They said they could use the money for more important things. The money you sent for support payments never got spent on me. Ron and Rachel used the money for the others. Last year, they took Ronnie and Stacy to Disney. I had to stay with Rachel's parents. They never took me on vacations since Stacy's third birthday," Julie said.

"I haven't been to Disney either," Stephanie shared. "Why don't we go before you start school in the fall?"

"Would that be okay, Dad?"

"Yes, mi hija. We can visit Disney before school starts. Maybe Angie and Mary Alice could come with us," I offered. Julie grinned and started talking about all the rides her siblings rode and what she wanted to see. Stephanie indulged Julie.

"I attended public school. We'll visit the private schools soon," Stephanie said when Julie asked which one she recommended. I parked in my spot in the Rangeman garage. Stephanie noticed the plaque on the wall, indicating that the space belonged to me. She found a matching plaque beside mine, closest to the elevator, with her name.

Julie grinned as she exited the car. She touched our names and giggled. "As if anyone would dare to take Dad's spot," she laughed.

"Those are our assumed parking spaces. The others park farther from the elevator," Stephanie explained. "We gave Valerie a spot close to the elevator on the employee's side of the garage."

"Why are you and Dad parking here?" Julie asked.

"Good question," Stephanie replied, waiting for me to answer.

"This parking area is easiest to access. The other entrance is harder to find, and it keeps people from finding the employee's cars," I explained. Julie raised a brow and crossed her arms, waiting for the real reason. "The employee entrance has a camera at the door, but the parking area isn't secured by cameras like this area." I pointed at the cameras strategically placed in the garage. "We park the fleet vehicles here. Stephanie and I have our cars on this side to keep them from damaging the others if someone decides to plant an explosive on the vehicle. The insurance only covers damages to fleet vehicles besides mine and Stephanie's cars."

"Would that really happen?" Julie asked. We climbed into the elevator as Valerie and the others arrived. They waved us to continue with the ride without them.

"Yes," Stephanie replied. "It happened a few days ago. The Jeep I was driving had a bomb placed on it by a bad guy. Thankfully, I wasn't getting into the car when it exploded. Someone died in the explosion."

"That's sad. I'm glad it wasn't you. Is that something I have to worry about?" Julie stared at her hands as we waited for the elevator to arrive on the fourth floor.

"No, Jules. I was working for my cousin as a bounty hunter. Now, I'm working with your dad here. I have a safe job. You don't need to worry about anything happening to me," Stephanie replied, putting Julie's mind at ease. Stephanie explained her job to Julie, who was mesmerized by the responsibilities of her title.

When Stephanie explained the research on potential clients, employees and fugitives, Julie asked, "Have you run a background check on Rachel and Ron?"

Unwilling to lie to Julie, Stephanie replied, "Yes. We found out many things about them. When you're older, I'll tell you everything. You're too young to know what I found."

Julie accepted Stephanie's explanation. I knew Stephanie would share the information with Julie when she was old enough to understand the implications of her mother's actions. Rachel doesn't deserve to have Julie as her daughter. I couldn't wait until Stephanie adopted Julie. We started the paperwork when Julie arrived.