AN: Bonus chapter this weekend, I had this half written and decided to split the last chapter.
Chapter 12: Val's Surprise
"Hey Steph, it's your favorite sister," Val cheerfully said.
"You're my only sister – of course you're my favorite," I replied while rolling my eyes. I saw Bobby smile out of the corner of my eye.
"So, I have something to tell you, and I know you are back in Trenton, so I hope you can give me a heads up on how Mom and Dad will react," she carefully said.
"Okay, but you were always Mom's favorite so I'm sure you already know, and Dad is Dad. Are you aware that Grandma and Grandpa Mazur moved in with them?"
"I know about that. Grandma asked me for some advice as a nurse to help grandpa. The thing is after I had the girls, I kept my nursing license and took continuing education credits. I also went back and got my BSN. I have been working at a family medicine office since the girls were little. We never told Mom and Dad. When they came to visit for a week, I took vacation. We have a housekeeper who does the cleaning, cooking and watches the girls after school. I went back to school to be a nurse practitioner," Val explained.
"Val that's great, so why does it matter now," I requested.
"I'm coming to Trenton to sit for the licensure exam for a nurse practitioner. I kept my nursing license but it doesn't transfer because I would provide more care. I was going to ask Mom and Dad if I can stay there. Steve kept his license in New Jersey and has accepted a job with the State Attorney's Office. We're going to move back in a few months, I'm going to look for a place to live. I don't want to live in the Burg and Mom will be crushed," she said.
"Okay, Val. Mom will absolutely freak out, but you already knew that. Dad and our grandparents will be proud of you. How about you stay with me. I have a second bedroom I am going to use as an office. I can put a day bed in there or we can share like when we went to Point Pleasant on vacation as kids," I said.
"Oh, you already have a place. That's great. I wasn't relishing the bathroom situation," she said.
"Why do you think I found a place so fast," I laughed.
"You think Mom will be that bad?"
"Yeah, she not only was trying to fix me up but she had my wedding planned to the Italian Stallion while we sat there in shock at the dinner table, the second day I was back," I explained.
"You have got to be kidding me. I have to go but we'll catch up. I'll text you my flight info," she said. I could hear someone calling her in the background.
"Okay, I won't tell Mom. That way if you want to slip in - you can. You can delay the coming storm," I joked before ending the cal.
I checked the washers and saw the clothes were done but the bigger washers were still running. I took my clothes and put them in the dryer, except for my bras which I left in the lingerie bags to hang in my bathroom. I took them to the car and returned to see Bobby starting to take the guy's clothes out of a large washer and put them in a dryer. I saw my sheets and towels finished so I put them in a dryer as well. I used dryer balls and liked them better than the sheets, I'd have to tell the guys about them. Not only do they shorten the drying time but they are more economical and environmentally friendly. I helped Bobby move the sheets and towels into the dryers. It didn't take that long for my clothes to dry so I folded them on the table. I had to wait for the laundry bag to dry to put them in, I always washed it when I emptied the hamper. I mean why put clean clothes in a dirty bag.
Bobby and I chatted while I helped fold the clothes and towels after mine were done. I told him about the dryer balls and he decided to pick them up at the store. The box of dryer sheets he used was empty. We folded the sheets together. We loaded up the car and headed home. It was about 5 pm.
"Can I ask you a question," Bobby asked.
"Sure, but if you are wondering about the call with my sister, I'll gladly tell you. Val was the perfect Burg girl growing up. She did everything perfectly. She did everything my mother wanted. Val went to nursing school, which was acceptable. My mother would've preferred she not go to college and just marry a guy to take care of her. My mother wanted her to marry the son of one of her friends.
Val went to community college to get her nursing degree. She went to a fraternity party at Princeton and met Steve. They got married after he graduated from law school. He did some clerking with a judge on the State Supreme Court and took the bar in New Jersey. He got an amazing offer from a firm in LA so he accepted it. He worked at the firm as a paralegal until he passed the bar. He's done well for himself and I know he was making great money. My mother told me often enough. Steve isn't from the Burg, which upset my mother, but he was a lawyer so she could brag about him and the wonderful life he provided Valerie and their daughters.
I always thought she quit her job in nursing when she had the girls. All good Burg girls stop working when they have kids. They can go back when the kids are older, but the only acceptable jobs are in one of the factories, bank teller, nurse, teacher, day care or secretary. Going into the Army was not at all acceptable. My mother thinks the husband should take care of his family. A wife should take care of the kids, cook and clean. Finances are handled by the husband. If he runs off with the babysitter or his secretary you must have done something wrong to cause it. You didn't keep your windows clean or denied him in the bedroom. If he cheats you look the other way because men need variety and can't be monogamous.
Apparently, my dear sister continued to work as a nurse in LA and she has now become a Nurse Practitioner. She never told my parents. She has a housekeeper who helps with the kids, cleaning and cooking. When my parents came to visit for a week she took vacation time. I know my parents don't go visit every year. My mother also doesn't feel they should have to when Steve makes so much money. She also has a weird idea of where it's acceptable to go on vacation. Going to LA was only acceptable to visit Val. I think in 10 years they went four times. When each of the girls were born and a couple of other times. I know Val and her family came a couple times but only spent part of a week visiting our family and the rest of the time visiting Steve's family in Virginia. His father worked for the Department of Justice.
Val's coming to New Jersey to take the licensing exam. They are moving back to Trenton. She's thinking about living outside the Burg. My mother will lose her shit. I refuse to marry Morelli and I want a career, working with computers of all things. I feel for Val. She's never faced the wrath of Helen Plum," I explained.
"Your mother sounds interesting. She's got control issues. Anyway, when we open Rangeman in the new building, we'll have a medical suite. A nurse practitioner would be great to have on staff. I'm thinking about becoming a physician's assistant. I don't know if I want to go through medical school even though my GI Bill would pay for it. I have my bachelor's degree in pre-med. We have a former Army buddy who is an orthopedic surgeon at Princeton Medical Center who would supervise me and Val if she worked for us," Bobby said.
"I'll talk to Val about it. If the hours are acceptable to her and she can be there for her family, she might be interested. I know she goes to Mary Alice's soccer games and Angie has dance recitals. She has sent me pictures and videos. We never had a close relationship, probably because of my mother, but it's better now that we are adults," I explained as we pulled into the parking lot.
Bobby sent a quick text after turning the vehicle off so the guys could help carry the laundry in. Ranger insisted on carrying my laundry up to the apartment and jutted his chin toward the entrance, where I saw Morelli pulling in. We quickly made our way into the building.
Ranger and I went into my apartment and he put the laundry bag in my bedroom. "Babe, come over to Ram's apartment when you are done putting your clothes away. We'll put ours away then meet there. Tonight, we create our grocery list. On Saturday, a couple of us do all the grocery shopping. We start at the Trenton's Farmer's Market for fruit, vegetables and meats. Then we go to the grocery store for anything else we need. We are trying to use more environmentally friendly cleaning products."
"I love the way you guys work together; I'd like to go grocery shopping with you tomorrow. I always loved going to the farmer's market with my grandparents. My mother insists on only going to Giovichinni's and Sal's Butcher Shop to buy her meat and deli items. Maybe Walmart for cleaning products or what she can't find in those shops. I went with my friend to Sam's Club. Maybe we should consider getting membership at one of the warehouse clubs. We have Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's not too far and each has advantages. Maybe one of each and we have different guys for each," I explained.
"That's a good idea and all the clubs have gas so we could save money there. We'll be adding fleet vehicles as we grow. Right now, we have a few and some of us have personal vehicles like yourself," Ranger said as I heard the buzzer.
I rolled my eyes and walked to the door, started recording on my cell phone and depressed the intercom and said, "Who is it."
"Your fiancé," the voice said.
"I don't have a fiancé, so again, who is it," I inquired.
"Joe Morelli," he said but you could tell there was anger and he was gritting his teeth.
"I don't want you here, I've already told you I'm not interested, please leave or I will call the police to have you removed," I said.
"Cupcake, I am the police," he yelled.
"Not here you aren't, this is Hamilton Township's jurisdiction and if you don't have a warrant, I'm not letting you in."
"I'm calling your mother, we'll see how you like that," he yelled.
I walked away from the door and went into my office. I could hear the buzzer going off. I pulled up the TPD website and took his picture and pasted it in a word document. I typed a notice and printed a few copies. I walked out and grabbed Ranger's hand.
"Babe what are you doing," he asked.
"I'm hanging these around the building, near the doors, so everyone knows to not let him in. We are only half this building. I will take it to the office and they can hang in the other buildings as well. I need to tell Uncle Joe and get his advice," I explained as we hung the notices on the billboards by the door.
Ranger read the notice I hung and chuckled.
"Do not let this man in the building. He'll tell you he's my fiancé and that he's a Trenton PD cop. He's not my fiancé and I've never dated him. I'm contacting the Hamilton Police Department for next steps.
Lt. Stephanie Plum, US Army
Building 2 Apartment 320"
"I'm going to go put my clothes away while you bring the rest of those back to your apartment. Don't forget your grocery list and meet us at Ram's apartment," Ranger said.
"See ya in a few," I smiled as I walked to my door."
"Babe," he said chuckling as I closed my door.