The Ring
The sun rose brightly over Oak Hills Drive, Black Friday nineteen-ninety-one. After a long night of love making in Angela's office, they each treated to their respective bedrooms in the wee hours of the morning knowing they would have an early wake up call to begin their shopping excursions.
Oversleeping his alarm, Tony was awakened by Samantha racking on his door, "Dad, wake up, it's six-thirty, we're late!" Knock, knock, knock, "Dad, time to go shopping," Sam announced excitedly cracking the door open to his bedroom. "Yo dad, WAKE UP!" She hollered, causing him to jump from the bed in fright.
"Samantha!" He whined.
"Get up dad, we're late!"
"Ya, ya, okay! Is Angela awake?" He inquired.
"I don't know! I woke up and thought you were already up then saw the house still dark and came to wake you up. Why aren't you awake yet?"
"Uh, I don't know," he needed to cover his reason for his exhaustion, "I guess just wore out from all the festivities." He got up and started to the door. Puckering his lips to her head, "Good morning honey, let me get Angela up and we can get going," he yawned. "Is Jonathan up?"
"Ha, him up this early, please! As if!" The sarcasm evident in her tone.
"Please just go get him up." He walked past her, towards Angela's door.
Slam, Slam, Slam "Jonathan, wake up!" She threw the door open to his room and turned on the light.
"Samantha, you could be a little nicer! He is your- never mind, be nice Sam!"
"I was nice dad; I could have flipped his mattress, but I didn't!" She walked back into her room, closing the door behind her.
Shacking his head in disbelief, they really do act like siblings, he thought, Tony knocked softly on Angela's door, "Angela, are you awake?" Silence! He knocked a little louder, "Angela, honey, are you up?" He cracked the door open to her room. Noting the silence and darkness, he knew she was still asleep. He opened the door to find her curled up on her bed, a pillow tight in her arms. He stepped in, leaning the door back closed behind him, "Angela, sweetheart, time to get up," he leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Stirring slightly but not waking up, she moaned, "Oh Tony, don't get up!"
A slight blush creeping on his cheeks, he shook her shoulder slightly, "Angela, honey, wake up, we need to get ready to go shopping." His voice a little louder and deeper.
Turning over to face him, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down onto her, "Lets just stay in bed and make love all day!" She whispered loudly.
Struggling to break free from her arms, Tony grabbed her wrists, separating her hands from around his neck, "Angela, wake up, the kids are up, come on honey, we gotta get going."
Blinking her eyes, uncertain of what was going on, "Tony, what time is it, what are you doing here?" She lifted herself up from the bed.
"It's after six-thirty. I overslept and Sam woke me up, we need to get up and get ready if we're going to catch any of the hot sales. The kids are getting ready, you need to get up and get ready."
"Oh," she yawned, rubbing her eyes. "Okay, okay, but my idea is better!" She smiled at him, throwing her legs off the bed, pecking his lips with a kiss.
"Yes, yes, it is," he whispered, "But shhhhh, we got kids in the house!" He patted her rear as she walked past him toward her bathroom. "Hurry up, I'll get coffee started so we can go."
Turning to face him again, she leaned into him, "I've got to take a shower, I'm a little sticky!" A coy smile plastered on her face.
Clearing his throat as visions of their midnight rendezvous flashed in his mind and he began to get aroused, he took a step back, eyeing her up and down, "Yes, uhh, okay, ya, just do what you need to do!" He made a quick get-a-way before getting himself in trouble.
After their unsuccessful attempt at getting Mona up to join them, Tony, Angela, Sam and Jonathan headed out towards Manhattan with their list of shopping deal and stores they wanted to visit.
By lunchtime, they had made three trips back to the jeep with bags and packages they had purchased during their first round of shopping. Boots for Sam, perfume for Mona, a book series on jungle animals for Jonathan, a new cookbook for Mrs. Rossini, sweaters, scarves, gloves, socks, knickknacks and trinkets but nothing for Angela. Tony's frustration was threatening to damper the day as they continued up and down Madison Ave and 5th Avenue and he was unable to find the perfect gift her.
He wanted something that conveyed all the love he'd felt for her the last eight years but was unable to show her. He wanted something that would be a symbol and testament to what she meant to him. Something that would reminder her each and everyday how much he loved and cherished her. Something she could- and there it was, the eternal representation of his commitment to her- an engagement ring.
Was he ready for this, was it to soon, would she accept his proposal, was he worthy of asking her to be his wife, was he ready to marry again, would Sam be okay with it, would Jonathan accept it, would Mona allow it, what would people think about her marrying her housekeeper- a million thoughts, questions and emotions took over his body. He stood at the store front, staring at the window display oblivious to the fact that the others had walked off and left him behind. His heart was racing a million miles an hour as every emotion and insecurity he had flooded his mind. But no matter how hard he tried to convince himself to keep walking and searching, his heart kept telling him, "You don't think these things, you feel them!" He ducked into the store, unnoticed!
An hour had passed- Angela, Sam and Jonathan made their way back to the Jeep hoping to find Tony there after his sudden disappearance. Approaching the car, Angela noticed Tony leaning over the steering wheel, his head resting on his arms. Scared and concerned, she rushed to the door and slung it open, Tony, are you okay? What happened? We've been looking everywhere! Where did you go?" She rambled rapidly.
A bit dazed from her sudden appearance and haste, Tony's eyes fluttered, "Angela, oh, I'm sorry. I stopped in a store for a second and I guess lost track of where you all were, so I came back here to wait for you." His voice somber and melancholy.
She threw her arms around his neck, "God Tony, I was so worried, then I saw you leaning over the wheel like that, and I thought something happened. Are you sure you're, okay? You don't sound yourself?"
"No, ya, I'm fine, just tired," he assured with a fake smile. "Are you all about ready? I'd like to get home before dark. I think I've had all the shopping I can take for one day." He rubbed his temples with his fingers.
The drive back to Fairfield was relatively quiet. Angela had fallen asleep in the passenger seat while Samantha and Jonathan looked out their respective windows, each listening to music on their Walkman's. Pulling into the house, Tony looked over at Angela, she was so peaceful and beautiful- he sighed, with sadness in his eyes as he reached over to gently path her hand, "Angela, we're home."
Emptying the Jeep of all their purchases, Tony retreated to his room for a short time before returning downstairs to prepare dinner while Angela took a nap in her room.
Removing all the left overs from the refrigerator and warming them all up again to serve for dinner, Tony was lost in thought when Mona entered through the kitchen door. Noting his distraction and lack of greeting, Mona made her way towards him from behind, leaned in close and hollered, "Yooo Tony!"
Sending the biscuits flying into the air, Tony turned into Mona "Jesus Christ Mona, what the hell! Are you trying to give me a damn heart attack?"
Laughing, she took a few steps back towards the table, "No, no, just having some entertainment! I've been standing here for twenty minutes," she exaggerated, "And you've been in your own world. What gives Ton?"
"Nothing, nothing, just a lot on my mind!" He lied.
"I'm not buying it Bub! You're mister holiday cheermeister and here you are sulky and melancholy. What did my daughter do?" She added devilishly.
"Nothing Mon, she didn't do anything,"
"Maybe that's the problem?" She interjected suggestively.
"Mona!" He hissed!
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, go on! What's got you in this funk?" Sincerity and concern evident.
Closing his eyes, his head in his hands, he began to ramble, "Christmas is the matter! Christmas and Angela. Christmas and stupid Christmas gifts. Christmas and finances. Christmas and all the bullshit that comes with it!"
"Wooow, wooow, Tony, you love Christmas! What's all this rambling about?"
"Ya, I loved Christmas till I figured out I can't afford it and never will be able to afford to give Angela what she deserves. Come on Mona, who am I kidding? I can't even buy her a damn ring!" A slip of the lip that didn't go unnoticed.
"What did you say Tony?"
"Nothing, never mind! I've got to get dinner warmed up." He started to get up.
"Hold it!" She commanded. "Sit!" She pointed to the seat, her eyes narrowed and firm. "You're not going to make a statement like that and think I'm going to let you off the hook, do you?"
"Mona, can we just forget it please," he sat back down. "It was a stupid idea, and I can't afford it so just forget it." He pleaded.
"What kind of ring were you planning to buy my daughter Tony?"
He looked down, refusing to answer.
"Look at me Tony," She insisted.
He looked up, tears swelling in his eyes.
"Tony, are you planning to propose to Angela, are you trying to buy her and engagement ring?" Her tone soft and curious.
Biting his lip, his hands trembling, he took a deep breath and shock his head in affirmation without speaking.
Jumping up, she began to dance, "Yippyyyyyy," she hollered, "Happy days are here again," she sang.
"No, Mona," he interrupted, "They are not and I'm not and I wish you would just forget all about this!" He was aggravated and disheartened.
"Why Tony, what's the problem? You get down on one knee and ask her, it's simple, trust me, I've heard it a thousand times!" She chuckled.
"No Mona, it's not simple, I can't afford to buy her a ring and if I can't afford to buy her a damn ring, how am I going to ever be able to give her what she deserves as my wife. Come on Mona, who am I kidding? I have nothing to offer her Mona, I can't even afford to buy her a damn ring!" He stood up and slammed the chair against the table.
"Tony," Mona stood up, rounding the table towards him, "Angela loves YOU, Tony," she empathized. "Not your bank account, not what you can and can't buy her, but YOU!" She pointed at his heart. "What you give from here, Tony. How you make her feel loved and beautiful and wanted." Mona's maternal side coming out full force. "When she talks about you Tony, she has stars in her eyes! She glows at the mere thought of you. She didn't fall in love with you because she wanted diamonds and pearls, she fell in love with you because of the person you are inside, Tony." She took his hands, "Look at me Ton." He raised his eyes to meet hers, "You could propose to Angela with a slimy, paper, cigar ring and she would wear it proudly, Tony because she loves you and nothing would make her happier than being your wife. Can't you see that, Tony?"
Looking around the room, tears shadowing his vision, he sniffled, "But Mona, I found the perfect ring and I wanted so bad to get it for her but with everything else right now, I couldn't do it, I couldn't afford it and honestly, probably never will." His eyes saddened.
"Damn it Tony, if it's just a ring you need, here," she took a ring off her finger," Here's a ring. A beautiful, expensive, ring. Give it to her and be done with it otherwise it's going to be another eight years before you finally promise."
"I'm not taking your ring Mona!"
"Why not, I have a dozen more!" She boosted proudly.
"Because Mon, an engagement ring has to have meaning, it's special, it's-"He froze, an intense, pensive look on his face.
"It's what Tony?" She snapped her fingers in his face, bringing him out of his trance.
"It's a symbol that lasts forever!" A smile crossed his face, he grabbed Mona's shoulders, kissed her cheeks, "Thank you Mona, I gotta go, I'll be back shortly, keep an eye on the stove for me." He ran out the door.
"But Tony, where are you going?" She hollered after him.
"To get a ring Mona, to get the ring!"