CHAPTER 3

"This was a good idea, Angela, I haven't walked through Central Park in ages." Angela was tucked into Tony's arm as they walked, as the weather was turning colder, the sky ominously gray.

"Me either, actually. When was the last time you were here?"

"Marie and I used to bring Samantha here all the time when she was a little girl. She loved the Carousel and going to the zoo." He smiled at the happy memory, continuing, "I only brought Sam here once after her mom died. She has this one vivid memory of begging Marie to take her on a carriage ride one day when I was at work. She finally broke down and did it, bought her ice cream and a little snow globe souvenir that she wanted too. We didn't have a lot of money for overpriced tourist traps but it made her so happy. She carried that little snow globe all over the place. So anyway, about a year after Marie died, I brought Sam to the zoo. When she saw the horse-drawn carriage she burst into tears - it was the first time she'd shown any grief over her mother in a long time. I probably shouldn't have let that keep us away, but it broke my heart."

Angela stopped and turned toward him. "You've never told me that story before," she said softly. "That must have been such a hard thing to navigate alone as a single father. I know the exact snow globe you mean - it's the little one on her dresser, isn't it? She told me once she bought it with her mother."

He nodded. "I really didn't feel like she was herself again until we moved to Connecticut. I don't know that either of us did." His eyes met hers briefly, and he cast his gaze straight ahead. She gave him a tender smile of understanding and snuggled a little tighter into his arm. It was only 3:30, but the winter sun was already fading into dusk, and the evening chill was setting in.

"Well, I could say the same for Jonathan and I when you and Sam moved in. He badly needed a father figure, and you were so much more of that to him than Michael ever was, right off the bat. And I - I needed a friend," she admitted guiltily. "Michael was gone a lot while we were married, but there's a different sort of loneliness you feel when you know it's truly over." She quickly added, "nothing, of course, compared to grieving the death of your spouse."

He led them to a bench and they sat down together. "I guess we were both lucky Mona found me," he joked, trying to lighten the mood. "I think that's why I dismissed that job so quickly. I mean, Angela - we've formed a family here these last four years. It's not a conventional one, mind you - but Jonathan, Mona - and you -" his eyes met hers, "you mean everything to me, and to Samantha. That's what she wanted to talk to me about this morning. She doesn't want to leave."

"I can certainly understand that, no teenager wants to leave their friends and their school. She's so settled here. She would adjust though, Tony. She's so bright and personable."

"She was okay with that part, actually." He cleared his throat and sat back, smoothing his tie nervously. "She knows what a good opportunity this would be for me. Really mature of her honestly. But she ah...she doesn't want to leave you. She says it would be like losing her mother all over again," he said quietly.

Her eyes snapped to his. She managed to utter a stunned, "She said that?"

He nodded. "Course she did. Are you kiddin' Angela? You are a mother in every way to her. She loves you."

"I couldn't love Samantha any more if she were my own," she agreed tearfully, "And I don't know what Jonathan would do without you."

He turned to face her on the bench. "I mean, Angela, this isn't just a job for me anymore. It hasn't been for a long time. You guys are our family. We - we are a family. This affects all of us. And who knows, I would by lying if I said this wasn't confusing for all involved. Maybe we aren't meant to be that forever, but we have a good thing going, and I'm not willing to break it up on a whim." Angela's heart swelled as he acknowledged their unspoken, complicated bond. An unbreakable family unit.

"So, then Tony," – she treaded carefully, getting to the point – " what was your meeting about today?"

"Well that's kind of what it was about. I wanted to explore seeing if they would let me take the position in New York and commute to D.C. off and on."

"I see," she replied, her mind racing to catch up. "And - what did he say?"

"He said he would talk to his colleagues in D.C. and let me know. It doesn't sound like it's something they normally do, but it also wasn't a no."

"I see. Well I hope it works out."

"You do? Ange, you got awful quiet just now."

"Oh, no - I'm really excited for you Tony - for whatever this is. And I'm so glad you're pursuing it. It's just - a lot to think about." She took a deep breath and stood up; he followed suit and she linked his arm again. "Well. Shall we go somewhere for a drink?"

He studied her carefully. She was usually so easy for him to read but suddenly her guard was up. "Sure, Angela, let's hit it."

"It's really getting cold - almost too chilly to walk anymore, but my favorite hotel bar is just a quick cab ride North of here. Bemelman's bar at the Carlyle. Ever been?"

His eyes flashed with recognition. "Once, a very long time ago. I love it, let's go."