Sunday, September 22, 2002 – 10:00AM
"Thank you so much for taking the kids this week. It will finally give Hank and me some time to enjoy some alone time." Samantha says.
Tony puts his fingers in his ears and goes "La, la, la, la, la!"
Angela smacks his arm. "Oh Tony, grow up!" She laughs. "We're are more than happy to take of our grandkids, honey."
"I know, but I, no we do appreciate it. We haven't been anywhere ever since the twins were born." Samantha smiles.
"Where are my little monkeys?" Tony excitingly asks.
"They're getting everything out of the car dad. Hank is helping them, they'll be right in." Samantha sighs at her father's impatience.
"I will go and see if I can help." Tony disappears.
Angela puts her arm around her daughter. "You looking forward to your weekend away honey?"
"Oh yes, very much." She says putting her arm around her second mom. "Don't tell them, I will miss them, but it will be great to have some alone time. I mean between our work, their school and the extracurricular activities, it's hard having a social life. I don't know how you did it?" She looks up at Angela.
Sitting down on the couch next to each other, Angela takes Samantha's had. "I had your father." She swallows hard. "And mother. I had it easy."
Mona had moved out of the apartment above the garage when she met Stanley. They bought a nice apartment in a new complex together about 6 miles away. Although Angela would never utter the words, she misses having her mother around.
Samantha notices her sad look and squeezes her hand. "I miss having her around too. Just like you have become my mother, she became my grandmother." She gives smile. "You see most people don't get as lucky as I did. I not only had Mona and you, but also Mrs. Rossini."
"I know and I still see her at the office." Angela gave a sad smile. "But, well it's just not the same with Jonathan, mother and you gone. The house is too empty. Maybe it's too big for your father and me alone." Angela says, knowing she will never sell their house. BUT this weekend with my grandbabies will help."
"I'm happy to hear that, mom." Somewhere after Angela and Tony got married, Samantha had asked both her father and Angela if she was allowed to call her mom. She didn't want to hurt her father or even blemish her mother's memory. Speaking to her father first, to make sure he was okay and ask if he thought her mother would be okay with it too. Both Tony and Angela had cried when she asked permission. Angela was more than ecstatic when she asked, as to her Samantha was already the daughter she never had.
"So where is Hank taking you?" Angela smiles.
"Montréal." Samantha's face lit up. "Five day together in Canada!"
"You will love it! I know it." Angela pours two cups of tea.
"Did you take the week off?" Samantha pops a cookie in her mouth.
Angela nods. "Well not off, I am working from home when the kids are in school. But other I don't want to miss a minute with those 3 when they're home!"
"What about dad?" She takes a sip of her tea. "I mean, could he take time off?"
"Well as I you know, taking time off is easier for me, still owning my own agency. But your dad has asked if they could change his schedule for the coming week. He has made sure he only has morning classes to give. The assistant coach will take over his duties for the week. We will, of course, be taking the kids to a game of the team."
"Of course! Dad is so proud of his boys." Samantha chuckles.
That's when Hank and Tony enter the house. "Look what I found!" Tony smiles with the two young girls on his arm.
"Nana!" The girls say in unison. But before they're down, her 8-year-old grandson is already around her neck.
"Hello Nana!" He hugs his grandmother tightly. "I've missed you."
"Oh my Nicholas." She hugs him back. "I missed you too my-not-so-little-boy." Angela had always naturally bonded with Nicky, before the girls were born.
Both Tony, Joe and Fran had been quite jealous of their bond. Tony thought back at the time he once snapped at Angela, telling her he wasn't even her real grandson. He instantly regretted his words the moment they crossed his lips. "I'm sorry sweetheart, you know I didn't mean that." He had really hurt her by saying that, he could see the pain in her eyes. "Oh baby.." he had immediately taken her in his arms as she pulled away. "Tony?" she had said with tears in her eyes. "Ange.. sweetheart, I was just jealous. I mean of course he is your grandson too. I just assumed, you know.. because we share blood, our bond would naturally be tighter." Angela had let the tears flow before she said "Tony, blood doesn't automatically creates a bond. Look at Jonathan and you and then at Jonathan and Michael." He had looked at her in surprise. "Jonathan and you are so much closer to each other than Michael and he ever were." He had taken both her hands in his, looked her deep in the eyes. "I am so sorry sweetheart, you are so right. And I love that you are this close to Nicky, I just wish I was too." He had kissed both her hands. "You will Tony, in due time. Just be patient." She gave him a wicked smile. "I guess I'm just really popular with Micelli men." She had joked. He smiled. "I shouldn't have said what I just did."
As Nicky became older, he grew closer to Angela and also more to Tony. He had shown to have quite the athletic talent, much to Tony's delight.
When Nicky was little Joe had a heart attack. That triggered Fran and Joe to move out to Florida, so they hardly ever saw them.
"Nana!" Angela kneels down for the 5-year-old twins.
"Maria! Sophia!" She squeezed them tightly. "My sweet girls!" as she alternates her kisses between the cheeks of the two young girls.
"Hey ma!" Hank gives his mother-in-law a kiss on the cheek and a small hug.
"Hello Hank." She gives him a warm smile.
"So do any of my little monkeys want some milk and cookies?" Tony asks with a big smile.
"Me! Me! Me!" The little girls jump around and follow their grandfather.
Angela caresses Nicky's cheek. "How's school sweetheart?"
"Great! I am getting really good grades and I get to try out for the basketball team!"
"I am so proud of you." She smiles at him. "For now I'd say go to the kitchen before your sisters eat all of Nonno's freshly baked cookies."
When Angela said she was proud of him, he beamed. "Thank you Nana." As he makes a beeline to the kitchen.
"They are such wonderful kids." Angela watches the door swinging. "You two have done a great job raising them." Angela looks from Samantha to Hank. "I am so happy you allowed me to be their grandmother."
Angela and Tony saw the kids on a regular basis as Samantha and Hank still lived in Fairfield. Hank did most of his theatre work in the City and Samantha found a job at the local newspaper and she had started writing novels. Her parents were so proud of her, made her sign every copy of all the books she had written.
"I am happy dad decided to move out here to give me a better life." Samantha smiled at Angela. "I not only got a better life, I've gotten the best life. Dad gave me a family, a second mother, a brother and because he moved here, I got to meet the love of my life." She says giving Hank a kiss.
Tony walks in with the kids.
"Eeewww.. MOM! DAD!" Nicky closes his eyes.
Tony walks up to his wife and gives her a small kiss.
"Eeeewww.. Nonno! Nana!" Nicky closes his eyes again.
"I think it's sweet." Sophia says.
"Me too." Maria chimes in.
"Old people should still get love." Sophia says with a straight face.
"Ay oh, oh ay.. who are you calling old?" Tony says with a smile picking up the little girl. "Could an old man do this." He throws her up in the air and catches her.
"Watch your back handsome." Angela says with a slight smile. "I mean she is right, we are getting older."
"I am only 50!" He says indignantly. "You are older than I am!"
Angela laughs. "I know, but hush hush now." She smiles at him. Her wicked grin, the one he loves above all smiles.
"Whoa.. you guys are over 50?!" Nicky says.
"Watch it Nicholas!" she gave him a smiling, warning look as he grinned back to her. Tony never understood the bond between them, they had just instantly clicked when he was just a baby. But he loved it nonetheless.
"Do I get to stay in Uncle Jonathan's room again?" Nicky smiles.
"Well yeah buddy. Your sister's will stay in your mom's old room. You can bring up your luggage up to your room. And buddy?"
"Yes Nonno?"
"We've put in a Playstation 2 for you." He winks at his grandson.
"Really? No lie?"
"Oh dad!" Samantha sighs. "You spoil him too much."
"Don't worry, we didn't forget about the girls, we've put in a tv and a DVD player with the latest Disney and Barbie movie."
The girls start to cheer.
"MOM?! DAD?!" Samantha threw up her hands.
"Sorry honey." Angela says with a grin. "We are just really excited to have them for the next 5 days. And if we can't spoil our grandkids, what else will we do with our money?" Angela elbows Tony.
"Ah yes.." he says.
"And we don't just use our money for our grandkids." Angela says as Tony hands Samantha an envelope. "But also on our kids, this is just a little gift from us to you to spend in Montréal."
Samantha opened the envelope and stares at her parents with an open mouth. "We.." she shakes her head. "We can't accept this." As she tries to give back the envelope.
"No sweetheart." Tony pushes it back. "This is all for you two. You never had the wedding I was planning for you, you didn't have a honeymoon. And we also gave Jonathan and Adam money for their travels. And when they're allowed to get married, we will definitely give them money for their wedding."
"Did you also buy Katie and Matt a Playstation 2 and a TV with movies?" Samantha chuckles.
"No we gave Katie a baby laptop and Bobby a Gameboy advance. We need to stay age appropriate." Angela says with a serious face.
"Sweetheart, we are in the position to spoil our grandkids, let us." Tony quickly adds. "We love spoiling them."
"We cannot accept this money, it is too much." Samantha says. Hank is getting curious.
"How much are we talking about?" he quickly asks.
"I didn't count, but the stack it thick enough." Samantha looks at her husband.
"Sam, maybe we shouldn't be ungrateful. I mean we could use it to fix up the kids' rooms."
"No Hank!" Samantha interrupted him.
"Samantha, honey.." Angela started. "We are not giving you this money because we think you need it, we are giving you this money to enjoy your time together. You dad and I want to spoil you all, not because we have to or feel like what Jonathan gets you deserve, but because we can and we want to. Let's face it honey, your dad and I make more than enough money. We live comfortable, we travel as much as we can and we still have money enough. We don't want you to feel uncomfortable, we want you to enjoy your lives as much as we enjoy ours." Angela slides her arms around Tony, kisses his cheek and puts her head on his shoulder. He automatically puts his arm over her shoulder and starts caressing her back.
"Hey sweetheart. Your mom and I are in a position to spoil our kids and grandkids, please allow us to do so. I couldn't this when you were growing up but I can now." He kisses the side of Angela's head. "We love spoiling you all."
Samantha contemplates for a moment before answering. "Okay, we will accept it. BUT.." she starts. "I don't want to take this much with us to Montréal. We will just take some of the money and pick up the rest when we pick up the kids." She looks at her parents smiling at her. "Don't you two smile like that to me."
Tony softly squeezed Angela's shoulder. "We just want you to be happy." He smiles and then looks at his beautiful wife. "Don't we, gorgeous?"
Angela hugs her husband tightly. "We sure do, handsome." As they softly kiss each other.
Samantha loves that her parents are so much in love after all these years. Both Jonathan and she knew that they would be perfect together before they knew it and finally gave into their true feelings for each other.
"So you guys are leaving after lunch?" Tony smiles at the kids and releases his wife.
Hank smiles. "What are we having?"
"Come help me Hank." Tony smiles.
"Come on girls, mommy will help you get settled in my old room."
"Okay mom!" Maria grabbed her mom's hand.
"Will you help too Nana?" Sophia put her little hand in her grandmother's.
"Sure sweetie." She smiles at the little girl.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Tony and Hank start preparing lunch, after cutting vegetables, making salad and opening buns Tony looks at his son-in-law.
"So Hank, my boy.." Tony starts as Hank stares at Tony with an open mouth. "I think it's time I thought you the Micelli way of making the best hamburgers. Let's start up the barbecue."
"Are you for real pa? I mean you never let me touch the stove and now you're letting me touch the barbecue?"
"Who said you get to touch the barbecue?" Tony looks at him confusingly. "I will teach you how to make the best burgers." Tony pats him on the back. "Come on."
After some time Angela, Samantha and all the kids come down.
"Nana, can Sophia and I draw?"
"Of course you can sweetie, but it will have to be outside because it's still a lovely day and Nonno is preparing lunch outside. Or would you two like to chalk up the driveway? We did buy some new chalks."
"YES!" Both girls say in unison.
"Nana, I need to show Nonno and you my new hook shot. I have been improving it. Nonno is going to be so proud of me!" Nicky glows.
"I can't wait to see it and I know Nonno is going to be so proud of you." Angela says caressing his cheek.
"You go outside, Nana and I will grab the drinks okay?"
"Sure mom." As he turns and runs outside.
"He is such a whirlwind." Samantha says with a smile.
"He reminds me of your father." Angela opens the fridge and grabs the lemonade. "Energy for 10!" She laughs.
Samantha starts laughing. "You've got me there! Do the girls remind you of me?"
"Sophia reminds me of you, when you first came here. And Maria reminds me of when you were a bit older. And yet when I see them together, they are just you entirely. But then again I don't know how Hank was when he was little." Angela grabs a tray and puts on some glasses then looks at Samantha. "Honey, Hank and you are doing fantastic. We are so proud of you two. Raising 3 wonderful kids, both working so hard and so successful."
"Well dad and you raised us right." She smiles. "We are where we are because of your support. I know dad and you drove us up the wall from time to time." She chuckles. "But in the end, now that I'm older and a mother myself. I get it, you were just trying to take the best out of us. Just know Jonathan and I know and appreciate that."
"Appreciate what?" Jonathan came through the swinging door.
"Sweetheart.. what are you doing here?" Angela hugs her son.
"Dad invited us for lunch. But asked not to tell you. A little family surprise."
"So where's Adam, Dweeb." Samantha winks at him.
"He went round back, Nitwit." He winks back.
"Good to see you Jonathan." She hugs him.
"Good to see you too. We've been way too busy."
"Are my little nephew and niece here too?"
"No Sam, we've let them home alone." Jonathan sarcastically says. "They are with their dad."
Samantha laughs. "Well I wouldn't put is pass you." She raises her eyebrow.
Angela looks at the interaction between her kids with a grin. They were still on each other's backs and she would have want it any other way. She is more than happy with her blended family.
"Look Sam, mom's got that weird look on her face again." Jonathan teases.
"Yeah, those droopy eyes when she sees us interact." Samantha adds.
"Well.. of course!" Angela says with a grin. "Family matters! And as far as I'm concerned, I have the best family of them all. My handsome husband, my sweet son and sweet daughter, great son-in-laws and the 5 most beautiful grandbabies in the world!"
"Family matters." Samantha smiles.
"It does." Jonathan hugs his mom. "Now will you ladies take the lemonade out, I'll hold the door for you." He laughs while opening the door.
"Such a gentleman!" Samantha sarcastically says while rolling her eyes.
"He gets that from his father.." Angela laughs.
"Good one mom!" Samantha laughs.
"What does he get from me?" Tony says when they come outside.
"Nana!" Little Katie waddles up to her grandmother. She quickly hands Jonathan the tray she was holding. "My little Katie-baby." As she picks her up, the 2-year-old loves cuddles. "And where is my Bobby?"
"I can't Nana.. I'm helping Nonno." He says with a serious face as Tony has holds up his grandson to flip a burger.
"Be careful Tony!" Angela warns.
"Relax mom, dad has been doing that since I was Matt's age."
"You have?" Angela gives Tony a shocked look.
"He is still okay isn't he, beautiful?" He says with smouldering eyes. He knows she can't resist him.
"Just be careful, okay?" Angela smiles softly. "You go to your daddy. I need to go hug your brother."
Tony nods and flips the last burger. "Okay Bobby, you go greet your Nana and then go play with your cousins okay." He puts the young boy down.
"Okay Nonno." He speeds off towards Angela. "Nana! I've made the team, I've made the team."
Angela sweeps him off his feet. "That's my boy! Well done Bobby. I am so proud of you."
"Nonno is also proud." Angela knew Tony was so happy when Bobby had told them he wanted to play baseball like Nonno. Tony had secretly hoped that Nicky would get in to it, but he loved basketball more.
"So now both of my grandsons are great athletes." Tony watches Nicky throw in ball after ball. "He is as good as you were with that basketball." He winks at Sam.
"Uncle Jonathan?" Sophia and Maria were at his feet.
"Yes ladies?"
"Can Katie come play with us?" Sophia asks.
"Can we dress her up?" Maria adds.
"Well of course Katie can play, but she is not a dress-up-doll, so don't do anything she doesn't like." Jonathan turns to the little girl on his arm. "You want to go play with your cousins Katie?"
"Yes daddy."
"Okay but don't come near the barbecue and stay where we can see you." He quickly kisses her cheek before putting her on the ground. The three little girls run towards the crate of Barbies that Angela and Tony had set out for them.
Angela walks up behind her husband, hugging him from behind. "Hi sexy." She whispers in his ear.
"Hi gorgeous." He turns his head to kiss her.
"We are some lucky family aren't we?"
"Yes we are."
"There is just someone missing…" Angela says with sad voice.
"I'm sorry Mona couldn't come. She is always flying off somewhere?"
"Who is?" Angela turns as she hears her mother's voice.
"Mother!" As she quickly releases Tony to hug her mother, because she is much taller than her mother she mouths to Tony 'You knew!', Tony just winks and smiles.
Tony hands the tongs to Hank. "Hey Stanley." Tony extends his hand. "How have you been doing?"
"Hi Tony, I'm good, so how are you?"
"I'm a happy man, look at this." Tony holds up his arms. "I am one lucky man."
"You are. So am I. We have some foxy ladies!" Stanley says patting Tony on the back as they look at their women.
"We sure do." Tony still looks at Angela with puppy dog eyes.
"Mother, I've missed you so much!" Angela hugs her mother.
"Oh dear, don't get too soppy." Mona cynically says, but secretly enjoys her daughter's company. She has also missed having the family around.
Angela laughs and puts her arm round her mother's shoulder. "Come on. You can say hi to the kids."
The family is overjoyed that they're finally all together again. Usually these type of gatherings happen during bigger holidays and sometimes they're still not able to all meet up at the holidays.
The family sits around the large picnic table Tony had made a couple of years ago, large enough to seat them all.
"I'm going to get my camera." Tony runs back into the house.
"Some things never change!" Samantha laughs.
Angela whips out her newest mobile phone a Nokia 6610i and snaps some photos around the table.
"Mom, you're getting just as bad as dad." Jonathan laughs. "Parent paparazzi!"
Everyone starts laughing.
Angela turns around at her kids. "Tell me sweethearts, how many photos have you made of your kids?"
Both Jonathan and Samantha stare at her with an open mouth.
"Touché!" Mona laughs. "That's why I hardly took photos of you dear. No pressure. And besides, some of the ones we have, you look rather.."
Angela shot her mother a look. Both Angela and Mona start laughing. Both knowing exactly what the other one is thinking. Their relationship had evolved in the years they lived under the same roof, Mona still teased her daughter relentlessly, but the relationship became as close as it could come. When Samantha and Hank found a place of their own, Mona had eased back into her apartment.
Tony ran out with a video camera and starts filming, meanwhile he hands Angela the photo camera. Angela starts snapping photos as Tony films.
All of a sudden Angela shivers, she feels it in her spine, like something is about to happen. She shakes the feeling. "Everyone, I'd like to make a family photo. Who knows when we will have the next opportunity to take a complete family photo."
With some moaning and laughter everyone agrees. Tony first starts making a photo of the grandkids, the grandkids and their parents, small family photos, then Stanley and Mona. Mona and Angela. Adam takes the photo of Angela and Tony, Angela, Tony and the kids and Angela, Tony, the kids and grandkids. Adam sets up the tripod as everyone takes their place for the family photo. Using the self-timer.
Jonathan and Adam had given Tony the latest digital camera for his birthday. Adam was a photographer and enjoyed that Tony was so crazy about taking pictures of the family.
"Dad, shall I take the memory card? I can edit and get the photos printed." Adam offered.
Tony smiled from ear to ear. "My son!" As everyone burst out in laughter.