Phantom Lover Chapter 10

News of Tony and Angela's engagement came as a surprise, but at the same time not a surprise to their neighbors. They weren't surprised the two were finally engaged, just that they'd managed to date so secretly. The quick wedding date gave rise to many rumors; some took it as confirmation that the pair had been secretly dating for years, others started a pool on the due date of the baby. Joanne Parker started that one, her mind not being able to comprehend that people might want to get married quickly because they didn't wanted to spend any more time apart.

The plans were made for a Saturday afternoon wedding, with the reception in one of the small rooms at the club. With so little lead time for wedding planning they had to take what they could get at the club; and if a smaller room meant that Joanne Parker couldn't be invited? Oh well, too bad, so sad.

Angela had one more job for the soon to be out of her personal employ messenger; he had to hand deliver the invitations to the guests as there wouldn't be time for them to be delivered by the post office. Fortunately the messenger knew the neighborhood well by now.

The week flew by; one day Angela, Mona and Sam went dress shopping. They had a great time, although only Sam and Mona bought new dresses. When questioned, Angela would only say that she already had her wedding gown. To which Mona raised her eyebrows and asked, "just how long have you been planning your wedding to Tony, dear?"

Angela rolled her eyes and answered, "since Sunday, Mother. No, I have not had a wedding gown in the closet for years waiting for the day Tony would ask me to marry him."

"You think we can believe her?" she asked Sam.

"I think so," Sam answered.

"Smart girl," Angela said. Sam obviously knew which woman to side with. Wanting to changed the subject, Angela suggested, "how about some ice cream?"

"Yes!" Sam answered enthusiastically.

Mona wanted answers on this gown, she vowed that some day she would get them. Until then she'd have to content herself with ice cream, which, for Mona, wasn't much consolation. For Mona the only consolation ice cream brought her was when she was licking it off some one; and since that certainly didn't seem likely to happen any time in the next few minutes, she was going to have to play nice with her daughter and Sam; no matter how comparatively boring that was.

Saturday finally dawned, fine and sunny, which was good because they had chosen an outdoor location for the wedding. Angela got dressed that morning, giddy in the knowledge that tonight she'd be Tony's wife and she would no longer sleep alone or wake up alone. They'd spend tonight together at the Fairfield Inn (of course) but would have to delay a longer honeymoon until Tony was on break from school and she could clear her schedule enough. If a delayed honeymoon was the only downside to a quick wedding, Angela would gladly postpone a vacation for two until a later date. Their schedules being what they were they'd probably just wind up sending the kids to Mona's for a few days and have their honeymoon at home anyway.

But honeymoon thoughts weren't uppermost in Angela's thoughts at the moment; thoughts of the wedding were. She temporarily moved her "Phantom" music box to her dressing table so she could listen to it while she got dressed; it put a smile on her face both for the memories it brought and also for the dreamy promise of her future life with Tony.

The woman had taken over the main house. It was crazy with activity; the flowers arrived, the photographer arrived, the hairdresser arrived. Mrs. Rossini arrived, still a little in shock by this quick turn of events, but very happy about it (and also secretly wondering if there might be a little bambino on the way.) Tony and Jonathan escaped the madness by dressing at Mona's and posing for pictures there.

At long last, everyone was ready. The men took one limo to the site of the wedding; the women took a second limo, which left after the first was out of sight just to make sure Tony couldn't see Angela in her wedding dress until the proper time. While they were waiting to get into the car, Angela admired her wedding bouquet, an exquisite arrangement of white and red roses in full bloom. The roses formed a large hemisphere, then gently angled in as they cascaded their way down to one red rosebud. It was beautiful and Angela was thrilled with it. Although Angela hadn't seen them before they left, she knew her guys were wearing red rosebud boutonnieres with their tuxes.

Angela tore herself away from admiring her bouquet to enter the limo and make the trip to the ceremony site. And just where did they choose to be married? Near the path of willow trees, close to the spot of their second tryst; but farther away from the railroad tracks. It was a pretty location, and everyone bought their lie that they chose the location due to everyplace else being booked up already. It wasn't a complete lie, other places were booked up, but no one had to know the site had another meaning to the very happy couple.

Tony awaited his bride with Jonathan standing next to him. The officiant and the guests watched as Angela's limo pulled up. Mrs. Rossini emerged first, clutching tissues and trying not to cry. Samantha was second; Tony smiled at how beautiful his daughter looked in her pink maid of honor dress. Mona was next out of the car, grinning like crazy at finally getting her daughter and Tony married, a long held dream of hers was coming true and she was enjoying every second. The ladies gathered around the car door so Tony's vision of Angela was obscured as she exited the car. He tried to see over them, but couldn't get a good sight line.

Mrs. Rossini walked down the short aisle to her seat in the front row. Mona graced the aisle as though she was a queen on parade; one could almost see her waving her hand like royalty and saying, "yes, yes; I introduced them, they can thank me for their happiness; and I won't let them forget it." She said none of this, of course; but her satisfaction at this wedding was palpable. Sam was next, carrying her little bouquet of white roses. Tony was so proud of his little girl that he even managed not to think about Angela for a few moments. Sam took her place as maid of honor and her dad mouthed, "you look beautiful." She beamed back at him.

Tony looked down the aisle to see Angela walking toward him. His eyes almost popped out of his head and he couldn't keep the grin off his face when he saw Angela in her wedding gown; it was the same dress "Christine" wore to the Masquerade Ball at the Country Club. She looked even better in it this time, without the mask and with her own hair, which she wore down. (Partially to cover up the fading hickey, which had been covered up with make-up; but Angela wanted more covering the spot, so she used her hair to obscure it as well.) This was going to be a very fast wedding, Tony and Angela were back to their, "I Only Have Eyes For You" routine. Far too slowly for Tony, Angela walked down the aisle. When she finally reached him, he took her hand and leaned over to whisper in her ear, "are you trying to cause an incident people will talk about for years?" She had the nerve to only answer him by smiling so innocently and demurely that Tony could only roll his eyes and smile in response.

The officiant was quick to pick up cues, and the chemistry between these two was off the charts, he started the service in an instant, "dearly beloved, we are gathered..."

He probably said something else, but Tony and Angela weren't really listening, they were too busy gazing at each other.

"Ahem, I said; do you Tony, take Angela to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Yup, too busy gazing at each other to pay attention.

Tony cleared his throat and Angela smiled, "I do," he said.

"Do you Angela take Tony to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do," she sighed.

The minister completed the vows; watching Tony and Angela promising to love, honor and cherish each other in sickness and in health, till death did them part.

Next up, the rings; the officiant nodded to Jonathan and he took his mother's wedding band out of his pocket and handed it to Tony. Angela beamed with joy at her little boy; then by some miracle actually remembered to turn and hand her bouquet to Sam so there would be no obstruction to Tony placing the ring on her finger.

Tony also managed a miracle by listening to the minister and repeating the words, "with this ring, I thee wed." Angela looked at the new ring on her finger and beamed even more.

The minister looked at Jonathan again and he took Tony's ring out of another pocket. Angela took the ring from her son, still smiling even more brightly than the sun. She placed the ring on Tony's finger and repeated the words, "with this ring, I thee wed."

The officiant finished the ceremony and said the words everyone was waiting for, "you may kiss the bride."

Tony placed his hands on his wife's cheeks and kissed her. He moved his hands down and put them around her waist, she put her arms around his neck and they continued to kiss, oblivious to their guests. Jonathan was at first embarrassed, then he just lost patience and crossed his arms in annoyance. Sam was happy and Mona grew even more smugly satisfied with herself. Mrs. Rossini just kept crying.

Finally Tony and Angela finished their kiss, they separated and their friends applauded their marriage. Or were they applauding the kiss? Tony and Angela didn't know and didn't care. Angela retrieved her bouquet and they walked down the aisle arm in arm as husband and wife.

At the reception Tony and Angela shared their first dance to "All I Ask of You." They were a beautiful couple on the floor, obviously taking the lyrics of the song to heart. Their guests admired their love for each other, and were happy to be part of this special occasion.

Later in the evening the reception was in full swing as Angela clasped Tony's hand and pulled him away from the festivities.

"Where are we going?" he asked as they left.

"Oh, I think you know the spot."

Tony stopped walking, "Angela, we can't. This is our wedding reception."

"There's no more appropriate time to consummate a marriage."

"Sure there is...the honeymoon, for instance."

"My goodness, Tony; I didn't think you'd be so prudish about this."

"I'm not...it's just that there are people around."

"There were people around on the night of the Masquerade Ball as well."

"Yeah, but they weren't looking for us. What about the cake cutting?"

"Tony, relax, will you. We're just going for a walk...alone."

Yeah, sure they were. Tony didn't believe it either but he walked with her to their favorite spot. Angela leaned against the stone pillar again.

"Wow, Angela; you look fantastic in the moonlight."

"Thanks, hon. You gonna do anything about that?"

Well, there would certainly be nothing wrong with kissing his wife in the moonlight, so he did.

Of course Angela had other plans, which she put into action. Down went Tony's zipper and Angela grasped him firmly in hand and quickly hardened him.

"Geez, Angela; what are you doing?"

"I'd have thought that to be obvious."

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

She still hadn't let go of him, "you're so easy, Micelli."

"Only for you, Mrs. Micelli."

"I don't think one can truly be called 'Mrs.' until the marriage is consummated." Then she pulled her hand away and lifted her skirt.

"Well, it would be romantic to consummate our marriage here," he said.

"Mm hmm," she agreed, drawing one of her beautiful legs up his.

Tony drew closer and Angela put an arm around him, "love you," she whispered.

"Love you too, Mrs. Micelli," he whispered back, joining her so that his actions backed up his words.

"Oh, Tony," she sighed as he continued to make her Mrs. Micelli. This was better than their first time; now she didn't have to hide behind a mask, she could look him in the eyes and kiss him, which she did. This was no frantic coupling like before, this was two people loving each other, albeit quickly due to the party; but tenderly. The strokes were long and loving, and even though she hadn't held the title for long, Angela knew she was going to love being Mrs. Micelli.

Their marriage consummated, Tony kissed his bride, "love you so, Angela," he said.

"Love you too, darling," she answered.

"At least this time I don't have to worry about you pulling a Cinderella act on me."

She laughed, "no, you definitely don't have to worry about that."

They kissed again in the moonlight, then made themselves presentable enough to rejoin the party.

Mona noticed their absence; but even more so, noticed their return. She was a very smug woman throughout the night, even though no one else ever knew why.