"Who the hell does he think he is?" Tony is fuming as he turns around. "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?" He yells towards Joe.
"Get in Fran!" Joe says through clenched teeth.
"Joe you shouldn't have." She softly says so no one hears.
"Get in the DAMN CAR Fran!" He presses.
Fran turns around. "I am very sorry Angela." She says.
Then Nicky pushes passed Tony. "I am very much my Nana's grandson, whether you like it or not!" He yells towards Joe. "At least Nana and Nonno care enough to stay near us!" Tears are now streaming. "Don't you ever dare tell Nana that we are not her grandchildren or that mom wasn't her daughter! Because we are and mom IS and we are one big family and we love each other." Every build-up emotion is flooding out of this young boy. Angela quickly makes her way to him and takes him into her embrace.
"Let it go Nicholas, please don't worry about it, I know he doesn't mean it. Grandpa is also hurt that he lost your dad." She says.
"So? I'm also hurt about losing mom and dad. I am not hurting anyone else to try and make me feel better." He shoots Joe a look. "Why do you want to hurt Nana?" Nicky turns around and runs away.
"I'll go get him." Jonathan sprint after him. "Wait up Nicky!"
Joe and Fran drive off.
"He said something like before, hasn't he?" Tony turns to face Angela. "Or something along that line, hasn't he Angela?"
"Does it really matter Tony? He is saying things because he's hurt. He's lost his son. I can't blame him." She looks at her feet.
"Uhm.. why don't you too talk, I'll take the girls to Jonathan's car." Mona guides the girls away from the scene at hand.
Tony is pacing around, angrily. "The nerve. That assh.."
"TONY!" Angela yelps out.
"What did he say to you?" He says through clenched teeth.
"Let it go Tony, now is not the time." Angela tries to calm him.
"Angela.. WHAT did he say to you?" he presses.
"Tony it's not of any consequence now is it? I don't want thing to escalate any more than they already have!" She is still unwilling to inform him.
Tony grabs both her upper arms. "An-ge-la! You are my wife, you are the mother of my daughter, you are the mother of our son, YOU are the grandmother of all of OUR grandchildren, ALL five of them! And if anyone treats you like you're less than that, they will have a problem with me. If Joe has said anything along that line to you, I want to know. You need to tell me this."
Angela loosens his grip on her. "Tony I have always told you everything. You are the one I trust more than anyone. But I need you to trust me on this. I do not want to talk about what happened between Joe and me."
"Nicky knows." He states. "Our grandson knows and he is angry with Joe."
Angela looks at her feet. "Nicky overheard us. I never wanted anyone to know. I was definitely not going to tell anyone. But you, Micelli men, feel this overwhelming need to protect me." Tony opens his mouth, but she holds her hand up. "Which I greatly appreciate but I am a big girl, I am a grown woman. Before you came along I also had to do it by myself, I've stood up against so many men, powerful ones, pushy ones and even hateful ones. Joe is acting from a hurt place. I think he's not only hurt with losing his son, but us being the ones getting custody over the kids, Jonathan our back-up and even me being the one responsible for their finances."
"But you're the most logical choice for that. I mean you've build your own company from scratch, only once were in a bit of trouble and have been in the black numbers ever since." He proudly says. "And I totally understand their decision."
"Yes but you were there when they decided on this Tony. They spoke to us about it. I don't think they ever spoke to Fran and Joe about any of this. They are, understandably, in shock at this. Although I wonder why he ever thought that they were getting custody, living in Florida. Or maybe it's because the kids are their last reminder, last connection to their son. I don't know. I don't want to fight over this, not while we have other stuff on our mind. We have 3 kids under 10 to take care of, they need to go to school soon. They need to go back to normal as much as they can without their parents. Tony.." Both her voice and eyes are pleading with him "We need to guide them, that's all that matters now. Please just focus on them. I promise you when everything has settle down.. I will tell you everything. But I beg of you, let this rest for now."
She could still see the muscles in his jaw clench. "He has hurt you, I've seen it in your eyes and I see it in your eyes."
"Tony I don't care about his opinion at this moment, I care about us and our family. I care about getting through these coming days, having to say our final goodbyes to our daughter and son-in-law. Tony I need to focus my energy on that and not on Joe Thomopoulos." She is exhausted. "We all need to be able to say goodbye together, even with Joe and Fran."
"Why are you like this?" His voice is filled with warmth and love.
"Like what?" She asks in surprise.
"This forgiving." He caresses her cheek. "Another quality to admire and love about you."
Angela steps back, breaking their connection. "If I hadn't been able to forgive, you and I would have never become a couple." He sees hurt in her eyes, hurt of an old wound just being ripped open. "And you know that. And I'm not forgiving towards Joe, but this isn't about them or us. This is about OUR children and we all need to be able to put our ego's aside for them."
He immediately knows what she's talking about, the subject that had been discussed many times before, Kathleen. "I'm sorry, I think I need to learn how to keep my big mouth shut sometimes." Angela cracks a small smile at his remark. "And for the sake of our children and grandchildren I will keep quiet. But if he says one more thing to you, I can't promise you I can hold myself in." He takes her hand into his. "Thank you for again being the voice of reason." He kisses her hand. "We need to find Jonathan and Nicky."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Nicky hold up!" Jonathan finally catches up to the young boy and stops him by holding on to his shoulder. Nicky pulls his shoulder lose, but stays put.
"Uncle Jonathan?" He looks up, his face wet with tears.
"Yes Nicky?"
"Grandpa Joe is acting stupid."
"I agree with you on that. But I also think grandpa Joe is acting out of shock and sadness." Jonathan holds his hand out to Nicky, who takes it as they start walking towards a small park.
"Nana said that he was also acting out of hurt. But he's hurt Nana twice now. And it's not fair.." his voice trails off. "Mom really does love Nana… I mean loved."
"Come on Nicky, sit down." Jonathan takes him towards a bench. "You see sometimes adults are.. well.. how do I put it. Doo doo head." Nicky chuckles. "When adults get hurt or sad they say things they might not mean.."
"Then why say that?" Nicky looks at Jonathan.
"If you'd let me finish.." he says with a smile. "Grandpa Joe and grandma Fran are both hurting just as much as we all are. And I know they know how much mom means.. I mean meant to both your mom and dad. That's not why they lash out. You see, both your sisters and you are actually the last reminder of their son, your dad. So they are probably afraid of losing you too." Jonathan tries to explain all of it on a kid's level. "I think the best thing you can do, is to let the adults handle it. I know my mom, your Nana, very well. Hey.. she raised me!" he laughs at his own joke. "She can handle it, she is a smart and calm woman." ~Unlike your Nonno, who is ready to throw hands.~ Jonathan thinks to himself. "And again, I do think grandpa Joe will come around and apologise. Every adult reacts to pain in a different way. Like my mom bottles everything inside, Nonno is Italian, so he is more in tune with his emotions and then they're grandma Fran, who is sad and shows it. But grandpa Joe is angry, because it's so unfair. You have to understand buddy, even us adults aren't perfect and we all react differently. Do I make any sense to you?"
Nicky sits back. "it's like when David's grandfather died, he was really upset when he died. Maria and Sophia were really sad and cried a lot. But me, I do feel so sad, I have cried but I feel so angry. And I also kinda guilty that I am this angry. I want to punch something." He looks at Jonathan. "Does that make me a bad person? Like grandpa Joe?"
"First of all Nicky, grandpa Joe isn't a bad person. He is hurt."
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have said it like that."
"It's okay." Jonathan also sits back. "And no it doesn't make you a bad person when you feel angry. It makes you a human. And don't forget Nonno has a punching bag in the garage if you ever want to punch something, just make sure you don't punch someone. Even with words."
"I won't I promise." Nicky leans into Jonathan, he automatically puts his arm around Nicky's shoulder and they sit in silence when Angela and Tony walk towards them.
"There you are!" Tony says with a sigh of relief.
"Is everything alright?" Angela asks and just smiles at the two of them. Jonathan sees the relief in his mother's eyes.
"Everything is alright, isn't it Nicky?" he softly squeezes his shoulder.
Nicky gives a big smile. "Everything is alright. But I think I need to apologise to Grandpa Joe."
Tony shoulders stiffen and he is about to open his mouth when Angela puts her hand on his shoulder. "Maybe you should, I don't think grandpa Joe meant what he said."
"I know uncle Jonathan explained it to me." He looks at Jonathan. "Thanks for the talk uncle J."
"Any time Nicky, any time. That's what family is for."
They make their way back to the cars and drive back to the house.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Coming home Tony immediately starts fixing a small lunch. Mona and Jonathan decide to go to their homes and promise to call later.
Nicky gets upstairs to play some video games. The girls decide to go play with their Barbies. Angela is about to walk outside the kitchen, but thinks the better of it.
"Tony?" She turns before leaving.
"Angela?" He smiles.
"We need to talk."
"Are you going to tell me about Joe?"
"Yes and no." she loves staying vague.
Tony turns around and she sees the confusion in his eyes. "Yes and no? Could you be any more vague?"
"I can. But I don't think you'd appreciate it."
"An-ge-la!" she feels his irritation rise. "Spill it."
She smiles. "I'm going to call Fran and Joe." She looks him straight in his eyes.
"You're what?" She sees the annoyance rise in his eyes.
"I am going to invite them to dinner tonight." She straightens her back, knowing that this might end up in them going head to head.
"Oh? And who is cooking this dinner?" He folds his arms in front of his chest.
"I was hoping you and I could cook together. I am not as helpless in the kitchen as I used to be. You've taught me well." She gives him a small smile, but still has her back straightened for the fight she feels coming on.
"And what makes you think I want to make dinner for that man?" He asks.
"Because that's what Samantha would have wanted." She softly says.
He is taken aback by her reply.
"And you know that I am right." She presses.
He rubs his face with his hands. "I want to say that it's a low blow." He looks at her. "But I know you're right. Sam wouldn't want this."
"And you know that we know why Samantha and Hank decided to make the will the way they did. And why they excluded Fran and Joe as caretakers of the kids. And they haven't even excluded them entirely and we all know that. I know Joe responded from a hurt place and I am definitely not going to deny that it doesn't hurt me, but somehow I also understand where he is coming from."
"You do? How? I mean.. dammit Angela. I am so angry at him for saying what he did. Acting like you don't matter, like you're not a part of our family." Tony turns to tend to the lunch he was preparing. "And you know how much you meant to Samantha and how much you me to me! I will spend my lifetime protecting you Angela, whether you like it or not."
Angela hugs him from behind. "I may not always need it, I may not always like it but I will always appreciate it." She kisses his cheek.
"I am so sorry I wasn't there when Joe first spoke to you. I would have knocked some sense into him." He hangs his head low.
"And then? The kids would have seen Nonno beating up Grandpa. You'd really want them to see that after the news they got the night before?"
"Could you, for once, stop being the voice of reason?" He quickly turns and takes her into a tight embrace. "I need to protect the love of my life."
"I know, but you and I also know that violence isn't the answer."
"Stop it voice." He tickles her sides.
"To-nyyyy.. I am trying to be serious here."
"Okay, you call them, invite them. We will cook, I will not beat the snot out of him. But I won't promise I'll be nice to him either."
Angela hugs him. "Thank you Tony." She gives him a soft kiss, not passionate, but soft and tender, making him shiver.
"Let me get the grilled cheese sandwiches done for the kids. You want one?" He hopefully asks.
Angela wants to say no, but she hears the hope in his voice. "Just give me a half, you can have the other half. But first I'll make that call." She says disappearing behind the swinging door.
"I'll take it." He says before putting the first two sandwiches in the machine. Quickly setting the table in the kitchen. "We will need another chair at this table." He says making a mental note to talk to Angela about it.
When Angela walks into the living room the girls are on the floor with their Barbies.
"You girls having fun with your Barbies?" She asks.
"Well I forgot to bring Ken." Maria says. "And Sophia forgot to bring Skipper."
"Oh.." Angela stares at them.
"Yeah we didn't pack them, so they're still at home." Sophia pouts.
"Home." Angela softly repeats and she turns white. ~They forgot them at home.. their home.. Where they lived with Samantha and Hank.~ She closes her eyes for a moment. "Then we will have to go get them at your house, won't we?" She says with a smile when she opens her eyes. ~Keep it together Angela, keep it light!~ She says to herself.
"Today?" Maria beams up.
"I will talk to Nonno about it." She smiles. "I promise. Nana has to make a phone call now."
"Okay.." the girls contently turn to their Barbies again.
Angela sits behind her desk and sighs before picking up the receiver and dial the number for the Fairfield Inn.
"Mr. and Mrs. Thomopoulos' room please." Angela listens to the phone ringing.
"Fran Thomopoulos." Angela feels relieved hearing Fran pick up the phone.
"Hi Fran." Angela says with a soft voice.
"Angela?" Angela can hear both relief and surprise in her voice.
"I wanted to call to invite Joe and you to dinner tonight." She swallows. "I think we have some things to talk about, don't you?"
"I think we do too." Angela released the breath she was holding.
"Could you be her at 7pm?"
"We will be there." Fran says.
"We will be where?" Angela hears Joe ask.
"Angela and Tony's." Fran matter-of-factly states.
"I am not going. They're taking our grandchildren." Joe angrily says.
"They are not taking our grandchildren!" Fran's voice is calm yet firm. "And we will eat dinner with them. Am I making myself clear?" Angela listens. "Don't try me Joseph Thomopoulos! This is not the time." Angela has to hold in the chuckle she feels coming up. "We will be thee at 7pm Angela."
"See you then. Thank you Fran."
Filled with relief Angela heads back to the living room, the girls immediately notice her.
"Did you speak to Nonno?" Sophia asks.
Angela laughs. "No sweethearts, Nonno is making lunch. I think the grilled cheese sandwiches are ready. Do you smell that?" Both girls put their noses in the air and sniff. "Want to go check?" Both girls get up and start running. "Hold on young ladies!" They stop in their tracks and turn. "Clean the mess first, I will go get your brother." She walks upstairs.
She knocks on the door. "Yeah? Come in!"
Angela opens the door "Nicholas Nonno has made grilled cheese sandwiches, please turn off your game and come down."
Nicky wants to object, but looks at Angela. "Okay Nana."
"Want me to wait for you?" she leans into the doorframe.
Within seconds he jumps off the bed and is next to her. "Are you done already?" She says in a happy surprise.
"Nana! It's a PlayStation! Latest technology is fast." He rolls his eyes and Angela laughs.
The lunch is consumed quickly, the kids are informed that their grandpa and grandma will come for dinner that evening.
"Did you ask Nonno?" Maria pushes.
"Darling.." Angela starts softly. "The girls forgot certain Barbies at their home."
"No Nana, I forgot Ken and Sophia forgot Skipper." Maria says in a bossy tone of voice. ~`She is just like Samantha.~ Angela thinks as a slight smile forms.
"So you see, we have to go get them. And maybe get some fresh clothes too." Angela looks at Tony. He gives her a look of horror, he knows what she is saying. "Which means we have to go to their house." Tony nods in understanding. "I could go alone. Maybe take the kids with me?"
Tony looks at her in shock. "You'd go alone?" then slowly shakes his head. "This is a family matter and I am going with you. You.. want to go now?"
"Maybe that's best." She gives him a weak smile. "We pass the supermarket on the way back, we could get some groceries for tonight and coming days."
"Yeah, yeah.. good idea. Would you mind driving?" He asks her with puppy eyes.
"I've never minded driving." She puts her hand on his upper arm and softly squeezes. "You know that."
Everyone gets into Angela's car and drive off towards Samantha and Hank's house. Angela notices Tony wiggling with his leg, she puts her hand on his knee and looks at him. "You okay?"
"Yeah.. I will be." He puts his hand over hers, he needs to stay in contact with her.
Tony unlocks the door to the house and the kids run by them. All of them run upstairs to their room.
"The house looks dark." Tony sadly states.
"It does and yet it doesn't." Angela sighs. "Maybe we should check around the house, see if everything is in place. I could water the plants, maybe you could check the kitchen if they haven't forgotten any produce."
"Yeah.. that sounds like a good idea." Tony heads towards their open kitchen with Angela on his heels. "Oh they left their dirty dishes." Tony starts doing the dishes after Angela filled the watering can.
Angela kisses his cheek. "I'll be right back okay darling?" Tony just nods.
Samantha and Hank's house is much smaller than theirs, but it's full of plants. Angela starts watering the plants and goes upstairs, knowing that Sam also has plants in their bedroom and her little office. Before entering the bedroom, Angela closes her eyes and sighs. The room smells like a mixture of Samantha's perfume, Hank's cologne and laundry detergent. She looks at the bedroom and smiles. There is such a mixture of Samantha and Hank and photos of the kids and their happy faces. She quickly waters the 2 plants in their room and exits. Leaning against the door and closing her eyes again. ~That was harder than I could have imagined.~
She walks towards the kids and asks if they found what they needed and if they had some plants that need watering.
"Nonno and I will be right in to check what clothes you want to take, I still have to water the plants in your mom's office. Okay?" The kids do their thing and just nod.
Angela walks into the tiny office, immediately closing the door behind her and leaning in against the door she looks around at the tiny office. Everywhere she looks, every nook and cranny is filled with Sam. She puts the watering can down and sit on the chair. She looks at the photos on the desk. There is one of Samantha and Marie, Sam is little around 3 maybe. Then a photo of the Bower-Micelli clan at their first Christmas together, a couple of photos of Hank, her and the kids, but the most prominent and surprising one to Angela is a photo of Tony and herself on their wedding day. It's a photo she's never seen before. Tony and she are dancing their first dance and both Samantha and Jonathan are looking at them, the photo is made from behind them. It is such a beautiful photo. She is about to take the frame to inspect the photo when the same photo catches her eye. This time on a stack of papers. She takes the photo and reads the heading 'True love is worth the wait. A dedication to my parents. By Samantha Micelli.' Angela rereads the header and looks at the photo, her head resting on Tony's shoulder, their hands together as his other hand rests on her back. She can't help but smile at the photo, such a happy moment in their life. She side eyes the stack of papers until curiosity takes the best of her, happy to see that they're bound together. Angela starts reading the preface to, what she finds out, is Samantha's manuscript for a new book.
'This book is a dedication to my parents Mr. Anthony Micelli and Mrs. Angela Micelli-Robinson, who have taught me the meaning of true love and that sometimes true love is worth the wait. Their love story is one no one thought would ever happen, but everyone was waiting on. Theirs is not to be taken lightly, they've worked hard on becoming the couple they are today. Having to put their feelings aside for the 2 children they were raising together. And all this in a society that looked down on their relationship due to their differences in social status.
One child from each of them, my brother Jonathan is his mother's son and I am my father's daughter. Yet they weaved us into a beautiful blended family. For those wondering neither Jonathan nor I have forgotten our biological parent, but we are grateful for the family we've become.
To Angela, my chosen mother, I refuse to use the words second mother. Never have you given me the feeling that I came in second to Jonathan. I was yours as much as he was. You've punished me when needed, you've helped both me and dad grow into the woman I am today. Never have you tried to replace my mother, you've allowed her to stay a part of my life. Naturally you filled the empty spot she left behind, becoming the best chosen mother and grandmother anyone could ask for. I am forever grateful to you, the love I feel for you is unmeasurable.
To dad, my hero, my defender and also my biggest supporter, we've shared our highest of highs and our lowest of lows, but never would you give up. You've taught me that through hard work and a good attitude, you can make your dreams come true. I know watching me grow up, mustn't have been easy, but together we did and look where it got us? Out of Brooklyn into Connecticut, creating our own new family and building your own career and finding a second love. You were always there, with all the love you have in your heart, not only for me but for every single person whose life you touched. I will always be daddy's little girl, thank you for all the sacrifices you had to make, I love you with all my heart. You are the best dad and Nonno in the world.
Your love story is unique and all yours
You took the longest, winding road you could find
We are all just happy you finally crossed the finish line
This is my present to you for your 10 year anniversary
I will love you two till my dying day.
Samantha'
Angela is bawling when Tony opens the door to the office.
"Mi Amore.." his voice filled with concern. "Are you okay?"
Angela smiles through her tears. "She loves me Tony, she really loves me." As she lets the tears flow freely.
A/N: A special thanks to my dear friend Marisa for giving me the idea of having Sam write the manuscript for a book. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!