Luck Of The Draw
FAMILY MATTERS
Freaking out, Angela throws the duvet on the bed and wraps her robe around her nude body. She runs to stand in-between the bed and the bathroom door and answers dryly, "Yes, who is it"?
"It's Mother, Dear. How are you this morning," Mona asked, concerned from outside the door? She goes to open the door and it's locked. "Angela the door is locked, do you have a man in there or are you doing something else you're too ashamed to admit", Mona sarcastically inquired?
"Oh Mother, you are so incorrigible! I just didn't want any early interruptions. Give me a minute, I'm coming," said Angela as she hesitantly headed to the door to open it.
"Oh, don't bother Dear. I was just reminding you that I am leaving for the weekend. My cab is here now, so I'm on my way out.
"On your way out where," Angela inquired?
"I guess you forgot, but I have a breakfast date this morning and a couple of events in the city the rest of the weekend. By the way, I probably won't make it in to work on Monday either. But I plan to be home Monday evening some time. I'll call to check in on you later. And Angela, come out of your room over the weekend and at least go outside and get some sun, so you don't lose all your color," Mona nagged.
Angela smiled as she went to the door closing her robe and continued to speak without unlocking the door. "Oh, Mother, I wish I could be more like you. I appreciate you checking on me. I know this is your motherly way to show you care. Enjoy your weekend Mother. I'll get along okay. And I will make an effort to get out of my room this weekend," promised Angela.
"Angela," Mona said in a soft and caring voice, "I promise it gets better in time. But you have to do something to stop making yourself so miserable. Go hang out with Rease, she's so full of life. Or check in with Wendy, Isabel, or your fitness club girlfriends. At least you have girlfriends to check in with. It's in that way, I wish I was more like you Dear," confessed Mona.
Stunned at her mother's admission of having no female friends, Angela responded, "Mother, you could have girlfriends if you wanted them. Anyone would be lucky to have you as their girlfriend," Angela said on the other side of the door, hoping to encourage her mother to befriend a female.
The jury is still out on that one my Dear! Listen, just don't party with Ben & Jerry or at 31 Flavors all weekend, okay! Bye my Baby, I'll talk to you soon," Mona said as she dashed down the stairs and out of the front door carrying her weekender and a suitcase. She was relieved Angela didn't open the door because she was going to feel guilty for leaving her alone in her state. If only Mona knew that Angela's cure for her depression had returned to Fairfield and was taking cover behind Angela's bathroom door. But Mona was so wrapped up in making her plans for her extended weekend that she didn't even pry to see why Angela was behind a locked bedroom door, which normally wouldn't be a subject she'd allow to remain unaddressed.
Tony emerged his naked body from the bathroom. "Geez, Mone tore out of here like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date," joked Tony.
Angela laughed lightly, as she turned around to find a gloriously naked and still slightly aroused Tony standing in front of the bathroom entry way. In an alluring daze, as she walked towards the bathroom Angela says in a surprising voice, "You're still in the nude, huh Tony," as she stands face to face with him. Now with a blushing yet satisfying expression, she continues, "Well thank goodness the shades are still down since the sun is up! You know we're not in Iowa anymore! Standing freely in our birthday suits on the morning porch isn't an option anymore, as fantastic as it was. It's back to Fairfield and all its nosey neighbors," Angela reminded Tony.
"We did live rather freely and careless in Iowa didn't we. We were worse than, The Harpers, ewhhh," laughed Tony. "Well, we'll be Fairfield appropriate soon enough Sweetheart, I promise. And Mona has nothing to worry about, I'll personally make sure that you'll never be miserable or depressed again," Tony assured Angela. Then he pulls Angela close, embraces her, for a sweet, tender, and endearing open mouth kiss. "Baby you taste better than Ben, Jerry, and all 31 flavors", Tony lovingly teased Angela.
Angela reluctantly releases herself from Tony's kiss and embrace, as she's a bit weak in the knees, and says, "Tony, we can't, Jonathan, remember! She takes a deep breath and changes the subject to say, "Come to think of it, Tony, I didn't realize until this morning that you showed up with just your award last night. Did you have any luggage that I don't remember seeing," Angela asked?
Disappointed that Angela pulled away, even though he understands, Tony explains, "Actually, I don't Angela. I didn't have time to pack anything. I shot straight from the banquet to the airport to jump on the next flight to Chicago. Rosie said I only had like 10 minutes to board. By the way she sends her love, she misses you terribly, and she hopes you call her soon. But I'm not worried about clothes. I want to be naked here with you," joked Tony as he began to walk the pathway in the bedroom as if he was on the Catwalk, seductively flexing every muscle in his body in front of Angela.
"Ha, ha, ha, very funny Tony. Well, how long do you plan on being here Professor Bare-Bottom," asked an excited and aroused Angela? You only have a tuxedo, and the "foundation garments" you traveled in. I don't know if anything you had is still hear, and if it is, it's got to be clothes that you did yard or mechanical work in, nothing decent to wear. Come to think of it, I don't think you have any shoes here either Tony", Angela said. "Ohh, and what about Samantha, she's back too, right," asked Angela?
"Don't worry Angela. We'll just go to the mall and get something a little more comfortable for me to wear. I'm sure Sears and Penny's has a sale. As for Wells, before I left, I gave my two-week notice to Dr. Graham. I plan to be at home a full week. Then I'm flying back to Iowa, packing up and closing out my business affairs, loading up the hitch to my Jeep, and driving home to Fairfield. And Samantha isn't here. She went on a brief vacation to Los Angeles to visit Marci Ferguson. She said they started writing each other, then calling each other, and decided they missed each other, so Sam went from Iowa to California. I guess Hank was supposed to join her for a few days, but he got a last-minute call for some interview at the cable station where he's working this summer, I think. In his profession, he can't afford to miss anything," sneered Tony.
"Oh wow…blast from the past, Marci Ferguson. That's wonderful. I'm glad the girls connected. Boy, I haven't talked with Isabel or Paul in what seems like, forever. They tend to be hard to reach with both having Medical Director jobs in their fields at their hospitals, their professional commitments, and the boys. They don't have time for much of anything. At least they were both going to be in the wedding until we postponed it before Iowa. I anticipate seeing more of Isabel and Wendy since they all have kids graduating with Jonathan this school year," Angela said.
"Speaking of Jonathan, you think he's sleeping in, or does he have plans too," Tony asked? I have missed my guy so much. We've talked a few times while we were separated, and he tried to be respectfully discreet about what you were going through, but I could read between the lines. I want to get downstairs so I'm just going to have to wash up and put on this tuxedo. I want to make breakfast for you guys, I heard the dietary plan around here was worse than Nick Milano's plagiarized recipe book. Don't tell Sam I said that, because she'll be so mad, I cracked on Nick," Tony said.
Angela laughed and said, "Oh I'd never tell Sam. You know I don't know if Jonathan has plans or not. I really have been just coming and going Tony. I didn't remember Mother telling me she was going away for the weekend either. Let me go see what Jonathan has planned. He usually leaves notes on his bedroom desk and on my office desk with important dates that I need to remember. He's been so sweet to me since I got back from Iowa. He doesn't really know what to think or say. I think that is why he was calling you, to fill you out. I noticed the phone bill, but I would never stop him from reaching out to you. Besides you promised him long ago, that you're his best buddy, and you didn't have to be working for me to continue that relationship. Just like this is Sam's home. I never would have pushed her and Hank away. Joe and Fran offered for them to come live with them when I came back. I told them only if they wanted to go, nothing changed for me except we weren't together. I'm glad they choose to stay," said Angela.
"What would I ever do without you Angela! You've been so wonderful to Samantha no matter how crazy and impulsive she gets. That's a Milano trait, not a Micelli one. Sam told me Joe and Fran invited them to live with them, but she and Hank wanted to stay and take care of you," said Tony.
"Let's get this day started, Okay! Angela, let me freshen up and head to the kitchen. Give me about 20 minutes before you go wake Jonathan," Tony said. But he thought to himself that he promised Jonathan that he and Angela didn't have to be married. It's probably too hard for Angela to say right now, so she improvised, Tony thought.
Angela takes a deep breath. Then in a bit of embarrassment, Angela decided to confess, "Tony, don't think I'm psycho or anything but I, I'm so embarrassed. I stole some of your clothes from Iowa. I have been wearing them here in the privacy of my room to try to comfort myself, because they smell like you. So, there is at least a fresh Wells College t-shirt and joggers that you can put on. As for underwear and socks, you're gonna need to refresh what you have. And as for those shoes, we'll make Foot Locker the first stop," said a shamefully smiling Angela.
With both eyebrows raised and his hand across his bare chest in shock, Tony said, "Oh, that's great Angela, I can just run my skivvies through the washer and dryer while I'm cooking breakfast. Hey, I'll wear your robe while I make Belgian waffles and scrambled eggs. And don't worry baby, what's mine is yours," Tony mocked. He continued to tease, "Angela, your kleptomania was your way of preparing for me to come back home to you!"
"Tony, you're really going to make this hard for me. Okay, I'll admit it was a crazy thing to do, but I guess I'm crazy in love with you," Angela conceded.
"Okay, I won't give you a hard time about it, if you promise to model some of the stolen merchandise for me. I was thinking, a t-shirt and your panties at the Bed & Breakfast. It's sort of a fantasy I've had about you. Well, it was you in my Cards jersey with red panties, but this would be close enough," admitted Tony.
Quietly laughing, Angela winked at Tony as she took her robe off and handed it to him to wear, while exposing her bare body. Tony's face lit up in pure delight. Not as dazed or amazed as he was the day when he walked in on Angela stepping out of her bathtub years back. More of a familiar pleasure, that has finally been reencountered after an extended absence. Then in a sultry voice she said, "So I guess you've changed your mind about the women in your life modeling, Mr. Micelli. However, if you're good, I'll model whatever you want me to," Angela acquiesced.
Tony, instantly excited from his full body view of a naked Angela before him. As Tony steps towards her to accept her robe, Angela turns her back to catwalk towards her closet and grab another robe and cover up. "Now Angela, you aren't playing fair," whispered Tony standing back and admiring the rear-view image of Angela.
"Oh, but I am. You started it, and I'm finishing it! Remembered we agreed, you won't be taking care of my automotive needs before tonight. I'm sticking to the play, Coach, even if you are trying to change my mind. Now, I'm going to check on Jonathan, and I'll be back. By then you should be finished showering and headed downstairs. Then I'll freshen up and meet you and Jonathan downstairs for breakfast. That way my two favorite guys can have some time alone. I know he misses you too," Angela told Tony as she kissed him gently on the lips.
"Okay Baby, the sooner we get this day started the sooner we can get to tonight. Besides I have to wash & dry my undies, and we've got to get to the mall. It's about 7:40 am and I want to be there as close to open as possible. Try to send Jonathan down by 8:00 am, Tony said as he turned kiss Angela and go into the bathroom to shower. By the way, I love the bathroom. It was smart that you had Joe remodel the bathroom while we were in Iowa, anticipating our arrival home," Tony said.
When Angela rehired Joe to finish the remodel of the master bedroom, she got him to design a remodeled bathroom as well. They decided to go forth with the construction when Angela moved to Iowa with Tony. Angela had a new jacuzzi installed with 12 jets, a walk-in shower, a new his & her vanity with mirrors, linen closet, and a new toilet and bidet. She remembered how much Tony enjoyed the bidet when they visited Italy.
Angela went down the hall to Jonathan's room with her head in the clouds and a smile on her face. She knocked on the door, "Jonathan. Sweetheart, are you awake?" After a minute she didn't get an answer, so she cracked the door a bit while continuing to knock and say, "Jonathan, Darling are you in there?" Still no answer, Angela peeked through the door, and she noticed that the bed was made up. She opened the door completely to find Jonathan's room completely empty. She walked over to his desk to see that his calendar had the weekend marked as "J.R.O.T.C. Retreat, Friday – Monday".
"I forgot, what kind of mother am I," Angela shamefully asked? Angela instantly felt like the worst mother alive. "How could I not even realize that Jonathan wasn't even in the house all night. No wonder he didn't answer the door when Tony came last night, he was off on a retreat. I didn't realize until now just how zoned out I've been. Even more embarrassed than being a kleptomaniac, I don't know how to admit this to Tony. He's going to be a bit disgruntled about this, I know. But this does give Tony and I the perfect reason to stay home. Oh, but then there is Hank, since Sam is gone to LA. No, we can't have interruptions happening. Besides I promised Tony a Bed & Breakfast, and we're both excited about it. I do need to get out of this house. So, I'll bite the bullet, confess to being an inadequate mother, and have a nice get away with Tony afterwards. We deserve it. And if we fool around before we get out of here, I won't feel guilty either", Angela said aloud convincing herself to keep it moving.
As she went in the hallway to head back to her room, Tony gestured quietly to Angela to send him down in like 10 minutes. Angela took a deep breath and confessed, "Tony I'm ashamed to say but Jonathan won't be joining us for breakfast".
Tony looked aghast as to why Jonathan wouldn't be coming down. "Care to elaborate Angela," Tony said.
"Well, it turns out Jonathan isn't here. He's actually has been gone all night, and that is why he didn't answer the door last night. He's attending a J.R.O.T.C. retreat this weekend through Monday. Much to my shame, I forgot. I know you're completely disappointed in me as a mother. I can't believe how out of it, I've been. I remember signing the permission slip, I just forgot this was the weekend. Are you disappointed," Angela asked?
"Oh Sweetheart, don't blame yourself. You have been out of it. I'm just as responsible for your misery. But at least you know where he is now and he's safe. You're a wonderful and loving mother. I meant what I said back when Jonathan skipped a grade, that if I was to have a kid, right now, I'd want you to be the mother. I mean it Angela. And just don't tell Jonathan you forgot. He just assumes you remembered right now. He gets too sensitive sometimes about these sorts of things. And this type of moment won't happen anymore. The dynamic duo is back together again. We're better together in every way. You're the best parts of me that I lack, and I am the best parts of you that you lack. Together, we're unstoppable. And we're cute together, if I do say so myself. Hey, if we did have a kid, it would be gorgeous," Tony exclaimed!
Cracking up, Angela grabs Tony's upper arm and throws herself against him with glee and says, "You can always find the silver lining in any situation. You're so funny Tony. But that does make me feel better. It's still sweet that you'd want to have a child with me, especially after I don't know where the one, we already have is. You know how to warm my heart! And you're right, Jonathan is extremely sensitive about when I drop the ball in motherhood. He just as well not become aware that I did so concerning his J.R.O.T.C. retreat.," agreed Angela.
"Jonathan was really excited about the retreat too. He asked Mother about all the family members that have been military men. He's strongly considering following in the tradition of the Rockwell men. I told him that I would be disappointed if he didn't go to college. He's actually interested in entering J.R.O.T.C. in high school, attend college as a ROTC student, and then choose between grad school or a military branch. I have to admit I am not excited about such a path, but I will give as long as he gets a bachelor's degree before joining the military. Oh shoot, I'm doing it again, discussing the kids. I'm sorry Tony, this time is about us, and I got caught up again," Angela apologized.
"See that's why you're a beautiful mother Angela, even when you try to not talk about the children, you end up talking about the children. Another good point is we don't have to be responsible for a minor child this weekend while we are away, even though he's pretty responsible and almost 18. And I'm glad he is excited about something! He told me about it briefly when he called me once, but he hadn't confirmed for me he was going to a retreat. I want to hear more about this. But I got to get my stuff in the wash and start breakfast. We definitely have to go to the mall. Remember, I'm straight commando under this robe Angela," Tony exclaimed!
"Oh, I didn't forget Tony. So am I," Angela mischievously confirmed!
Caught off guard by Angela's playful yet truthful admission, Tony decided to stick to the play and keep it moving. "Angela, we gotta stick to the plan. We'll finish this conversation in the kitchen. You shower and get dressed My Love and meet me in the kitchen for breakfast. And don't come in trying to surprise me doing anything sensual. I'm going to call Hank over and let him know I'm back, in case Sam hasn't already. I gotta find out more about these job interviews Mr. Geppetto has scheduled. See as parents, our job is never done," said Tony.
"Not to change the subject, but I love you, Angela," Tony lovingly declared, as he held Angela close and kissed her across her lips. Then he smacked her on the butt and ran downstairs.
Laughing hysterically, Angela whispered, "I thank God for bringing home the most wonderful man that has ever loved me outside of my Daddy and Jonathan," Angela prayed, as she looked up to the ceiling before heading in her room to shower and get dressed.
Tony came up from the basement after throwing his unmentionables in the washer. He heads through the swinging kitchen door into his kitchen humming a little medley in Italian that his mom, Lena, use to hum (one of his few memories of his mother). Tony then picks up the phone and dials the exchange for the garage apartment. A groggy voice on the other end says, "Good Morning". It's Hank and he's apparently still asleep.
"Opps, there goes another rubber tree plant", enthusiastically sings Tony.
"Oh, Hi Tony. How are you? Sam is in LA with Marci. Wow it's awful early for you, is everything okay," Hank asked?
"Oh, everything is wonderful son-n-law. Come by the kitchen this morning, for some breakfast and we can catch up. I'm making Belgian waffles, Angela's favorite!
"Wait, you're cooking! Tony are you here? And Angela, does she know? Did you guys get back together? Does Sam know your home? Am I so hungry that I'm delirious and dreaming I'm having this conversation with you," questioned a confused, yet excited Hank?
"No Son, it's true. You aren't dreaming. I'm home in Fairfield, Angela and I are together, and I'm about to cook breakfast. Yes, Sam knows, and I know she went to California to visit Marci. Get fresh and come on by Sonny-boy! It will be you, Angela, and myself this morning because everyone else is away. I'll fill you in when you get over here," said Tony.
"This is so great! I'm so happy for you both. I can't wait to see you. I'll be right over soon as I get fresh," Hank exclaimed!
"I guess Angela and I will have to get used to being empty nesters soon. Jonathan will be off to college, eventually Sam and Hank will move. We'll always have Mona, well in-between her excursions. But we won't have any more kids. We got roped in with Billy a couple of years ago but that was snatched from under us. Hopefully in the next 5-7 years, Sam and Hank will make us grandparents. Nonno, Grandpa Tony, that sounds so wonderful. We will definitely have to find a new normal. But we'll do it together!