CHAPTER FIVE - MALL MADNESS – "THE EXES" PART THREE

"Whew, I got in the door with twelve minutes to spare. It's 12:48 pm. Boy this line is a bit longer than I anticipated, but at least I'm here," Tony said.

After about seven minutes Tony gets to the front and he hears, "NEXT IN LINE". As Tony makes his way to the customer service encounter, he hears, "Oh my gosh, Tony it's you," says the teller.

Tony looks up to see who's shocked to see him, and he's taken completely back, when he realizes it's Kathleen Sawyer. Tony hasn't seen or heard from her since he broke up with her a few years back, but back then she was waitress. Now she's working at his bank. Trying to contain the hoarseness in his voice, Tony speaks, "Hello Kathleen".

"Tony Micelli, what a surprise to see you hear. It's been a long time. You look well. I hope life has been treating you well. How can I help you today," Kathleen asked?

Tony feeling trapped between a rock and a hard place because he didn't tell Angela about why he was going to the bank only to run into Kathleen in the bank as the teller who's waiting on him. He feels obligated to tell her now why he's there. None the less to move this awkward moment along, Tony signs the back of his check and hands it along with his license to Kathleen. "I've been well, thank you. You, you look well too. Ahh, I just want this check deposited in my savings account please," Tony asked Kathleen.

"Sure, no problem, Tony," Kathleen said. She took the check from Tony and began processing it. While processing the check, she couldn't help to make a few glances up at Tony who appeared to be sweating bullets. "Relax Tony, there is no need to be so awkward, right," she asked. We didn't have a tumultuous relationship or breakup, just one a relationship that probably should have never taken place. I notice there is no wedding band on your finger. I have to be honest, I thought you and Angela would be long married by now. Sign this deposit receipt please," Kathleen asked?

"Yeah, our relationship wasn't fair to you. As I said before, I was sorry for misleading. I'm grateful that our breakup was not tumultuous, as you said. No, I am not married yet. Uhm, Angela and I were engaged, then well we had a brief separation, but we are back together now. So, I'll have a wedding band on soon enough. How about you? I see you have a ring on your finger," Tony asked?

"I am engaged Kathleen said. I met a wonderful and sweet man, who is an investment executive turned philanthropist. We plan to be married later this summer. Have you and Angela set a date," asked Kathleen as she shorted through her paperwork for another signature form for Tony since the check was for a high dollar amount.

"No Kathleen we haven't set a date yet. We just got back together. My career took me out of town to coach baseball and teach at a junior college. The distance put a bit of strain on our relationship, but I'm back and there isn't anything we can't work through. And Congratulations, I'm really happy for you. You're a sweet lady and you deserve a wonderful man by your side. I wish you the best in life," responded Tony.

Kathleen smiled at Tony. She was grateful for the polite yet pleasant interaction. She handed him a piece of paper for a final signature and said, "Your check will be placed on a 10-business day hold awaiting all the funds to be released. Your final signature on this deposit slip is all I need to complete this transaction. Well College, this must be the place where you worked out of town. Looks like they really liked you," insinuated Kathleen from the large dollar amount.

Tony laughed uncomfortably, since he hadn't told Angela yet about his bonus. He looked back at Kathleen and said, "Thanks for taking care of me. I'm surprised to see you here working in the bank. But I guess you got tired of the service industry too. Best wishes to you on your marriage".

"Thanks Tony. And I did get tired to the restaurant. I took a job at the bank after I graduated from Ridgemont and was quickly promoted to manager. I'm currently in a branch manager training program and I'm taking classes towards my MBA at Ridgemont. It also led me to meet my fiancé. So, how about you? Where did your college degree lead you, Tony," asked Kathleen?

"I actually ended up moving to Iowa to be an associate professor of history and baseball head coach at a junior college. It was an invigorating experience. My team won the division championship and I was even awarded the teacher of the year award by the college, with an extension of a three-year contract to teach and coach. I did decline the job offer to return home to Fairfield. I had a wonderful woman here, a family, and I needed to find work here in the area. So right now, I'm unemployed but hopeful for what the future brings. Say, I've gotta get going, Angela is waiting on me. But it was nice seeing you and I wish you well with all your future endeavors in life. Take care of yourself Kathleen," Tony said.

"Good to see you. Thank you and best to you and Angela," Kathleen replied.

As Tony turned to walk out of the bank such a release came over him. He saw Kathleen Sawyer for the first time and it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. He's always dreaded how things would be if they ever saw one another again. He was glad that she was doing well professionally and that she had found love. He's probably not going to bank at the galleria location anymore, but that's a different story! Tony also knew he had to tell Angela he ran into Kathleen, but he didn't want her or the pain he caused in the past by getting involved with her on Angela's mind while they were preparing for such a romantic getaway to focus on themselves and reconnecting. Unlike Kathleen he was trying to get re-engaged to Angela and any mention of Kathleen Sawyer couldn't be in his favor.

In the men's shoe department, Angela was holding both of Tony's suits and looking to match them with two snazzy pair of shoes. The sales men came out to assist her right away. Once they got the two pair of shoes together, she gave him a list of the other shoes that Tony requested. Angela picked out a pair of swim shoes, a pair of dress and casual sandals, and two pairs of oxfords. Angela added a pair of boat shoes.

Angela was satisfied with her purchases for Tony. She was excited for him to see what she picked out for him. She purchased the blue dress shoes and boat shoes. She put everything else on his credit card. As she concluded the transactions, she heard a familiar voice say, "Still the perfect picture combination of attractiveness, intelligence, sensitivity, and humor."

Angela, looked behind her to see that her ex-boyfriend, Geoffrey Wells was standing there admiring her. "Geoffrey, wow. It's been so long. How have you been," asked Angela out of politeness as she was completely uncomfortable. Mainly because she's shopping for Tony who she's is hoping to get re-engaged to, while she's being complemented by her ex-boyfriend almost fiancé.

"Have a nice day, Mrs. Micelli", said the sales clerk as he passed her the receipt and credit card.

"Thank you, young man, you as well," said Angela as she awkwardly accepted the credit card and receipt and placed them quickly in her purse. She was only awkward because she knew she and Tony weren't married, the clerk just assumed so. But they did so in front of Geoffrey. She gathered her bags and turned to face Geoffrey with a fake chipper expression.

"Mrs. Micelli. I'm not surprised. It was more than obvious that you and Tony were meant to be together. I kept telling myself that there is nothing between her and that housekeeper, he's just a friend, but I was only kidding myself. That's good, you two finally got married. Congratulations. I'm engaged myself," Geoffrey said.

"Oh, that's wonderful Geoffrey. Congratulations. I'm really happy for you. I'm sure she's a lovely woman. I hope you will be very happy. As for Tony and I, we aren't married. We were engaged, then we ended up trying to balance a long-distance relationship, and our careers got in the way causing a period of separation. We are now back together. Since I was doing some shopping for Tony the clerk just assumed we are married since I used his credit card. You look well. Life clearly has been treating you well," added Angela.

"Yeah, life is treating me well. I am partner at the investment firm and I have a great fiancé. How is Jonathan and your mother, Mona? And Tony and Samantha, your agency" Geoffrey asked.

"Everyone is well. Jonathan will be a senior in high school in the fall. He's on a JROTC retreat this weekend. Mother is still mother, she's still a very vibrant and vivacious woman. Samantha is in college and married. And Tony is well too. He got a teaching degree. He's worked at a junior college as an associate professor of history and head baseball coach, where he won his division championship and teacher of the year. But he's back in town now looking for local opportunities. The agency is doing well. We've grown to do some very exciting things. There is actually a full staff beyond Mother and myself. Thanks for asking about everyone and the business. I hope your family is well too. You mom, Mother Well," Angela asked.

"Oh, Mother is stable. Happy that I'm finally getting married. I'll have to tell her that you asked about her. That was kind of you to remember her," Geoffrey added. "Yeah, I thought you'd be a publicly traded company by now Angela. I'd definitely buy stock in The Bower Agency," teased Geoffrey.

"Well, you never know what the future will hold. That is so kind that you still have confidence in my business leadership skills. Well Geoffrey, I 'm not trying to be rude. It was very nice seeing you and briefly catching up. I simply must keep going, Tony is expecting me. We have a tight schedule today. Congratulations again on your engagement and I wish you many wonderful years of bliss. Take care Geoffrey," said Angela as she smiled at Geoffrey. She didn't have to experience an awkward embrace or hand shake because her hand and arms were full of items for Tony.

"Yes, you take care of you too Angela. And Congratulations to you and Tony. Best to you," Geoffrey answered as he stood back and watched Angela scurry out of Macy's entrance holding tons of bags filled with items for Tony.

As Angela walked off, she had such an uneasy feeling. It was like her hormones wee raging for some reason. She all of a sudden felt irritated about Geoffrey running into her. But why? He was polite and pleasant. What a weird way to feel because of a pleasant encounter with an ex, thought Angela.

"Still an angel to be hold," whispered Geoffrey out loud.