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"Dad, is there something going on between you and Angela?" Sam asks one day after she uncharacteristically asks to help her dad clean up the kitchen. Tony stops washing his dishes for a moment before remarking, "What makes you say that?"
"Well, you guys seem awfully close lately," Samantha begins before mumbling, "And I caught you guys kissing the other night."
Surprised at his daughter's confession, Tony stumbles over his words as he explains that she may have misinterpreted something adding, "You know, it being dark and all."
Unsatisfied with the answer but not wanting to push anything, Samantha simply nods before heading to her room to finish her homework. Knowing what she saw, Sam makes it a secret mission of hers for the next few days to catch her dad and Angela again either via a kiss or a glance. For someone who is not fond of her dad's previous relationships, Sam is really hoping this arrangement sticks. Not just so she can stay in Fairfield, but because she wants to see her father happy.
"Angela," Tony begins as he enters Angela's office where she is lounging reading a book, "Sam asked me about us in the kitchen earlier."
Looking up from her book to see Tony standing in front of her closed office door, Angela questions, "Asked how?"
"She thinks there's something going on with us," Tony answers his eyes catching hers to let her know how serious the conversation is.
"Oh," Angela remarks in surprise as she sets her book aside. "Should we tell her?"
"We may have to. She saw us kissing."
Eyes wide, Angela whipsers shocked, "She did?"
Nodding, Tony walks further into the room and asks again if they should tell Samantha about his and Angela's relationship.
"What do you think?" Angela asks honestly not caring one way or the other. She knows what the gossip is like in her neighborhood, but feels as if keeping the knowledge inside the home is safe. Answering her question, Tony admits, "I'm afraid she'd call Marci or Bonnie or someone."
He hates that he feels this way- that he is unable to trust his thirteen year old daughter. Taking in her husband's words, Angela answers, "Don't you think we should allow her just a little bit of trust?"
Sighing, Tony answers, "I guess so, but then I'd feel bad telling Sam but not Jonathan. The kids should have a right to know together."
The couple is quiet a moment until Angela asks if they cannot simply tell the children they are dating instead of married.
"It's kind of like the truth, and may be easier for the children to digest."
Taking in the suggestion, Tony replies, "You may have something. I just don't know about neighborhood gossip, you know? I'm PTO president and look how much trouble I had just to get elected."
"You mean the slander campaign?" Angela asks dryly seeing Tony's point. She in no way wants the kids to get in more fights on the playground. Deciding they will keep it a secret from the kids for a while longer, their plan lasts all of two hours when Samantha comes into the living room where Tony and Angela sit watching television. Waiting until a commercial, Samantha takes her moment to ask if she can talk to them. Sitting up a little straighter, the adults give their attention to her. Turning the volume down with the remote, Tony asks what is wrong.
"Nothing with me, but I do want to ask about you both," Samantha admits albeit a little slowly as she registers how to continue. Both adults wait for their daughter to continue. After another moment, Samantha admits, "I saw you guys kiss the other night. I know it sounds like I was spying, but honest, I wasn't."
"Sam, no one is accusing you of spying," Angela remarks gently. Sam gives the adults an expectant look waiting for them to confess something to her. Glancing at each other, Tony and Angela make sure to keep a united front as they truthfully answer the teenager.
"We did kiss the other night, you're right," Angela starts. Watching Sam's face register the news, Angela soon adds, "Your father and I were having a conversation and Tony was thanking me."
"With a kiss?" Sam questions knowing that is not how friends thank each other. "No offense, but you two have been acting odd since that snow day we all had."
"Odd how?" Tony replies wanting clarification before he decides how much to tell his daughter. Explaining to the adults the glances she notices and the flirting, Sam feels a little awkward. If there is something going on between her dad and Angela, the teenager wonders if it is too late to go back on the conversation. Excusing herself, Sam begins to leave the room when Tony calls out, "Hey, oh! Sam, honey, wait. You wanted answers, and we're gonna give them to you."
Sitting down again, Sam listens to the adults as they explain to her that they have decided to give a relationship a shot, but just want to keep it from too many people. Nodding, Sam asks, "Does anyone else know?"
"Just Mother," Angela admits. Nodding, Tony adds, "She kind of tricked it out of us."
Agreeing, Angela then tells Sam, "We also need you to keep this to yourself. We don't want a repeat of last year when you and Jonathan fought those other kids in the park."
Remembering the incident, Sam agrees before asking when she can tell people. Surprised, Tony and Angela fail to have a ready answer. Neither has thought of when they will tell people, only who. Truthfully, Tony states, "We don't know. We'd like to let the family know first."
"Well, Mona and I know. What's to stop you from telling Jonathan?"
The couple looks at each other before looking at Sam who smirks, "You think he'll blab don't you?"
"You can't tell him," Tony quickly tells his daughter not sure if she would tease him or not.
Sitting beside Tony at the kitchen table, Angela holds her mug of coffee with both hands as the couple looks at Sam waiting patiently for an explanation. Finally Tony begins, "Sam, you're not wrong. Angela and I did kiss the other night."
"Okay," Sam begins. "Does that mean you two are in a relationship or is it something else, like when Mrs. Lipton down the street kisses her pool boy?"
"The first one," Angela reassures never having wanted that relationship in the first place. Nodding, Tony explains to his daughter that the relationship is still new and that he and Angela want to keep it secret from the neighborhood for now. Nodding, Sam then asks, "What about Jonathan?"
"Yes dear, even Jonathan. For now."
"Who else knows?" Sam asks.
"Mona," The adults say in unison. Hiding a smile, Sam simply begins to process the information she is given. A part of her is excited since Angela is like a mother to her. The other part of Sam is worried that the relationship will end leaving her and her dad to find a new place to live. Putting a smile on her face, Sam tells the adults how happy she is for them before heading upstairs. A few weeks later, Nick Milano comes to town exciting Samantha. She misses her grandfather despite the prison sentence. She just hates when he has to leave again. Saying so to her dad, Tony reassures her that Nick's leaving is best for all of them. Still not believing him, Sam makes up her mind to write her grandfather every so often. Watching his daughter leave the kitchen, Tony runs into Mona on his way to the garage to make sure Nick took all his things. Entering, the duo finds Angela writing a book which Mona promptly starts to read. Reading a steamier passage, Mona notices her son in law's reaction and almost cheers when Angela teases Tony about the passage being too hot for him.
Tony merely remarks that no man can do what is written in the passage. Eager to have some fun, Mona instructs the couple to act out the scene. When they comply, Mona watches as Tony takes Angela in his arms and act hair caressing that she reads before leaving them to figure out things on their own. Mona is convinced this is the reason she has yet to have another grandchild. When Mona leaves Tony and Angela alone in the garage, the couple has to control their laughter, mostly so Angela can keep from falling. Righting her, Tony's eyes grow wide as Angela asks, "You don't want to know how the rest of the page turns out?"
Voice cracking just a little, Tony answers, "Maybe later."
A grin playing on her face, Angela kisses Tony before stating, "I'll see you later."
Sashaying out of the room, Angela leaves the garage and shuts the door. Composing herself, the blonde heads inside the house deciding work will be a good distraction for her.
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