Kathleen was on top of the world. Her classes were going well, she had great friends, and a terrific boyfriend. Okay being a waitress wasn't exactly her dream job but she wasn't planning on being a waitress forever. Lately she had been fantasizing about becoming an Art teacher along with Tony who would probably end up being a History teacher. She imagined the two of them getting married and teaching at the same school together. They would ride in together, have lunch together, and go home together. Weekends, holidays, and summer vacations would be the best though because they could sleep in late and just laze around all day. She had never imagined herself settling down with anyone as much as she did with Tony. He was everything to her. Oh sure they had their problems. Angela being one of them. One of?! Hell, she was the only problem as far as she was concerned. If she would just disappear off the face of the earth their relationship would be perfect. But, she had to face the cold hard truth. Angela was a part of Tony's life and would always be whether she liked it or not. She hoped though when she and Tony graduated and got married Angela wouldn't be such a big part of his life anymore. But that was still in the future and right now she had to think about the present and the fact that Molly, Steve, and a few other people from the commercial were going to be here in few minutes. As if on cue Molly and Steve walked through the door, saw her, and came over to the table.
"Hey Molly!" Kathleen said standing up and giving her a hug.
"Hey back at ya!" Molly said returning the hug. They both sat down.
"Hey Steve!" Kathleen said smiling at him.
"Hi Kathleen." Steve said softly. While Kathleen was on top of the world Steve felt like he was at the bottom. He had hoped and prayed that when Kathleen had found out about Tony and Angela had shared their first kiss together and had kept it from her that it would be the end of Tony and her but instead Tony and Angela had somehow managed to smooth things over.
"Something wrong?" Kathleen asked in concern. "You seem kind of down."
'Yes something is wrong! I'm in love with you but you only have eyes for that jerk!' Steve thought. He wanted desperately to say those words to her but instead he said:
"I'm okay. I'm just a little tired." Yeah, he was tired. Sick and tired of wanting Kathleen and not being able to because she so enamoured with Tony.
"Okay. Well if you want to talk I'm here." she said smiling so sweetly it took all his willpower not to kiss her. Gawd he couldn't believe how much he wanted to kiss her! But, he had no choice but to hold himself back. If or when they ever did kiss he wanted her to be 100% into it. And she definitely wouldn't be into now what with her Tony infatuation. He rubbed his temples while he listened to Kathleen and Molly engage in some girl talk.
"So I figure we can get married after we graduate and look for a house."Kathleen sighed happily.
"OOOH a June wedding?" Molly smiled."That sounds wonderful!"
"Yeah, I always wanted to be a Summer bride. Oh, and you are definitely my maid of honor!"
"Really? I mean don't you have some cousins or other friends?"
Kathleen shrugged. "Yeah, I have cousins but I'm not close to them. I mean in the short time we've known each other I've come to think of you as a sister." She smiled and held her hand out.
Molly wiped away a tear and placed her hand in Kathleen's. "I feel the same way and I would love to be your maid of honor!" Kathleen wiped away her own tear. They smiled once more at one another and resumed their girl talk.
"So since it will be a Summer wedding it will probably be outside?" Molly asked.
"Yeah, maybe at the park at sunset?. Then we could have the reception there too."
"That sounds so romantic." Molly said dreamily.
'It does doesn't it?" Kathleen said her tone of voice matching Molly's. "And of course the best part; the honeymoon!"
"Any idea where you'll be going?"
'Well I would love to go to Hawaii or The Bahamas but they're both really expensive so I'm not sure. But, wherever we go at least we'll be together." 'And most importantly away from that BITCH!' she thought smugly.
Kathleen continued, "And we'll buy a house, get teaching jobs at the the same school….."
"Oh for crying out loud Kathleen would you please stop it!" Steve cried.
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"Why thank you Tony." Mona said grabbing the martini out of his hand.
"This isn't for you." Tony said grabbing it back. 'It's for Angela. She's going to be home soon."
"AWWWW making Angela a martini? How sweet!" Mona winked.
Tony sighed. "I'm just being a friend. She had her focus group today."
"Oh, then she'll definitely need this. I know how much she dreads them."
"Yeah, so anyway…" he trailed off when the phone rang.
"I'll get it. It's probably Max." She walked over to the kitchen door.
"Tell him I said Hi!" Mona waved her hand in acknowledgment and passed through the swinging door.
Tony walked over to the couch and sat the martini on the table. He was anxious about the focus group. As much as hated to admit it he was curious about what they said. Not that he really wanted to do any more commercials but he did have his pride and he hoped that liked him at least. He heard Angela's key in the front door and walked over to it just as she walked in.
"Hi Angela!"
"Hi Tony!" she said tiredly putting her briefcase and purse on the desk.
"You look like you could use a drink and it just so happens I have a martini waiting for you." Tony said placing his hand on her elbow and leading her to the couch. They sat down and he handed it to her. She took a long leisurely sip.
"Thank you Tony. I really needed that."
"You're welcome. So how did today go?"
"Well they liked the product and the commercial…." she trailed off.
"That's good." He cleared his throat. He wanted to ask if they had liked him… and yeah Kathleen since she was in the commercial too but he didn't want Angela to think he cared too much about it. Of course he did since it was important to her and her career. And yeah his ego hoped that they did like him.
"Yeah, one guy said that his wife would love it and one of the women said the setting was really romantic."
"And what about me and, he cleared his throat again, Kathleen? I mean I'm just curious. " he said hastily.
Angela hesitated. What should she tell him? She didn't want to hurt his feelings but the two of them had always been honest with each other. Like the time she told him she wouldn't hire him because of the way he spoke. She opened her mouth to answer but closed in when Mona walked back into the living room a dazed look on her face.
"Mother? What is it? You don't look so good." Tony turned so he could look at her too.
"Yeah, Mone. Did something happen between you and Max?"
"That wasn't Max. That was Cornelius. He received a call from Archie's neighbor a few hours ago. Archie had a massive heart attack!
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Kathleen and Molly stared in astonishment at Steve. They then looked at one another and then back at Steve.
"Steve what in the world was that about?" Molly asked.
"Yeah, what the hell is wrong?" Kathleen demanded.
Steve rubbed his hands over his face. He hadn't meant to snap at Kathleen like he had but he just couldn't take her gushing over Tony anymore. He knew he better apologize and fast!
'I'm sorry I snapped at you Kathleen. But, I just couldn't take it anymore."
'Take what?"
"You going on and on about Tony and your dream wedding and everything else!"
"Well I'm sorry Steve but Tony is my boyfriend and we are going to be together forever." Kathleen said quietly but firmly.
"He doesn't deserve you! He's not good enough for you!" Steve felt his face get hot.
"Why? Why would you think or even say something like that?!" she demanded her own face getting hot.
"Well he lied to you about Angela and him sharing their first kiss together. Who knows what else he is lying to you about?"
"Oh that. Look I was upset when I found that out. But, as they both said it happened years ago. As for their other kisses..'
"What? Angela and Tony have kissed other times?" Molly asked in amazement.
"Well the one time they were both drunk and the other time it was Christmas and they were under the mistletoe. I mean things happen when you're drunk and a mistletoe kiss is tradition after all." She shrugged liked it was no big deal.
"Kathleen, if Tony lied to you about all that he is probably lying to you about other things too."
"Oh yeah like what?"
He took a deep breath. He didn't want to hurt her or make her any more angrier than she was but he knew that the time had come.
"Like the fact that they're married and have been for over a year."
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Angela rose off the couch and went over to Mona who was now crying softly and put her arms around her. Tony got up as well and wrapped his arms around both women. For a few minutes they stood there silently Mona's sniffling the only sound in the room. Finally she got herself under control and detangled herself from their embrace.
"Mother are you going to go to Maine?"
"Yeah, I ummm I need to go make the.."
"I'll do that Mone. You just sit down for a minute." Tony picked up the phone and dialed.
Angela led Mona over to the couch. She couldn't believe what was happening! Mona and Archie had just barely made up after nearly twenty years of estrangement and now he had a heart attack?! All that time wasted and there was very good possibility that he could die. No! No, she wouldn't think that. Archie was going to be just fine!
"I'm stunned Angela. I mean I know that people have heart attacks I just never thought it.." she trailed off.
"I know Mother. I know. You know maybe I should go with you."
"No Angela you have this commercial and your work."
"But, Mother I think you're going to need some moral support.'
"I appreciate that honey. I really do but I'm not going to be alone. Cornelius is going to be there too. I think the two of us need to do this by ourselves."
"Okay, Mother if you're sure?"
"I am thank you."
Tony hung up the phone. "Okay there is a flight leaving in a few hours. I'll be more than happy to drive you there." he smiled gently at her.
"I'll go pack a bag." Mona said and got off the couch. She walked over to the kitchen door and was about to push it open when she stopped and turned around.
'Thank you, both of you." she said softly and turned back around to go into the kitchen. A moment later they heard the back door close.
Tony and Angela looked at each other mirror expressions of sadness on their faces.
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"What did you just say?" Kathleen asked. Did he just say what she thought he did?! No, of course he didn't. She obviously heard him incorrectly.
"I said Tony and Angela are married."
Kathleen laughed. She laughed so hard that her body shook and tears rolled down her eyes. After a few minutes she composed herself."
"Steve, come on I mean that is the silliest thing I have ever…"
"It's the truth Kathleen."
"Why would you say something like that? I mean how do you even know it is true?" Molly asked .
Steve sighed. "I uh I had my cousin Dave who is a private detective dig up dirt on them. Not only did he find out that they're married but Angela was a bigamist when she married her son's Father. It seems she married some guy named Brian Thomas when she was 18 and….
"Never mind that!" Kathleen interrupted. Normally the news that miss high and mighty Angela was a bigamist would have filled her with glee but she wanted to get back to the alleged Tony and Angela marriage. Not to mention the fact that she couldn't believe that Steve had the audacity to dig up dirt on Tony!
She continued. "Steve, I just want to know one thing? What in the hell gives you the right to go snooping around in Tony's past?! I mean if you want to dig up dirt on Angela hey I'm all for that but not Tony's! So please tell me what gives you that right?!" she demanded.
"I did it because I'm in love with you. I have been since the moment I laid eyes on you."
"You're in love with me?" Kathleen asked in amazement."
"Yes, that is why I asked my cousin to check out Tony and Angela's pasts. I wanted to see if there was anything there to break the two of you up. And there is! I mean their first kiss together and their marriage!"
"Enough!' Kathleen snapped. "How dare you? You are making this whole marriage thing up and I am going to prove it!" She grabbed her purse and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Molly asked a concerned look on her face.
"I'm going to go talk to Tony. He'll straighten this whole mess out!" With those words she spun on her heels and stalked out the door.
Steve sighed and buried his head in his hands. Now he had really done it!
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Tony and Angela arrived home after dropping Mona off at the airport. They went over to the couch and sat down both of them lost in their own thoughts. He broke the silence and asked her if she was hungry.
"No, I'm not. I just can't believe this Tony! I mean Mother and Uncle Archie just reunited after years of not talking to each other and now this!" She got off the couch and started pacing to the front door, back to the couch, and back and forth.
"Everything is going to be fine Angela."
'How do you know that Tony? I mean how?!" she asked tears slipping down her cheeks.
Tony got off the couch and walked over to her. "You're right I really don't know. I'm just trying to be positive."
She nodded. "I appreciate it Tony. I really do. I'm just…" she trailed off unable to go on her whole body shaking with sobs.
'Awww Angela come here." Tony said putting his arms around her. She went willingly into his arms and laid her head on his shoulder.
Kathleen pealed onto Oakhills Drive and pulled up in front of Angela's house. She took a deep breath, turned off the car, and got out. She walked up the path leading to the front door all the while trying to convince herself that Steve was lying. There was no way that Tony and Angela were married! It was ludicrious. How dare Steve try and drive a wedge between Tony and her she thought furiously. She reached the front door and was about to ring the doorbell when a movement inside caught her eye. She peeked in the front window and couldn't believe what she saw.
Tony and Angela were locked in an embrace!