"Tony! Welcome back!" Dr Graham rose from his chair and walked over to Tony.
"Thanks. Dr Graham." They shook hands.
"So how was your trip?"
"It was good. Thanks again for giving me the time off."
"Oh that was my pleasure. I know how important your family is to you."
"Yes, they are. Very important."
"Well now that you're back there are a few things we need to discuss."
"Well before we get to all that there was something I needed to talk to you about."
"Oh that's right! Sorry Tony I was just so excited that you're back it must have slipped my mind." He walked back to his desk and sat back down.
"Please have a seat."
"Thanks."
"So what's on your mind?"
"Before I tell you I just wanted you to know how grateful I am for this job. Teaching and coaching here the last few years was a wonderful experience."
"Well Tony it is an honor having you on our staff."
"Thank you."
'Why do I get the feeling there's more?"
"That's because there is." Tony took a deep breath. "You see, while I was in Connecticut I ran into two of my former professors. Although one is now the new Dean of Ridgemont. And he offered me a teaching and coaching position."
Dr Graham sat back in his chair. "I see. Well, I can understand why it would be a tempting offer. I mean your daughter and grandson both live there."
"Yeah. They are actually a big reason why I have decided to accept the position."
Dr Graham sighed. "I'm not going to lie and say that I'm happy about this."
"Oh believe me Dr Graham I understand. But, it's just like you said. My family is very important to me. And if I accept this job I'll be able to see them more often."
"And Angela? She lives there too, right?"
"Yes, she does."
"Well won't that be a little awkward?"
"How so?"
"Well the three of you living in the same town. I know you told Angela you were engaged to Teresa. I can only imagine how difficult it would be for the three of you."
"Well that's not going to be a problem."
"It isn't? Oh I see. Are you and Teresa going to commute or something?"
"No, we actually broke up."
"You did? Tony. I'm so sorry."
Tony shook his head. "Don't be. It was for the best."
"Would you like to tell me what happened?"
"Well it is very simple. Teresa was against me accepting the job. And when I asked her if she would move to Connecticut if I accepted the job she told me she wouldn't. That was when it hit me like a ton of bricks."
"And what was that?"
"Angela did."
"Angela did what?"
"Angela was willing to do whatever she had to do so I could have this great opportunity. I mean she commuted, she took some time off from her agency, and then she finally moved out here. She did all that because she loved me. And she walked away from our relationship when you offered me the three year contract. Because she saw how excited I was. She sacrificed her own happiness for mine. And like a damn fool I let her. Because I was so wrapped up in myself. I let her go Dr Graham. I let the love of my life walk out of mine. And I need to fix it. I need to make things right between us."
"Well, Tony, as I said I'm not going to pretend to be happy. But, I do understand your reasons for wanting to take the other job."
"Thank you."
"So, I guess you are officially resigning?"
"I am."
Dr Graham stood up and walked around his desk. Tony stood up as well. "Well Tony. As much as I don't want to do this. I accept your resignation."
"Thank you Sir."
They shook hands.
"We're all going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you all too. But, I miss my family and friends in Connecticut a lot more. That is where I belong."
"Well I wish you the best of luck."
"Thank you."
"Good bye, Tony."
"Goodbye Dr Graham."
Tony walked over to the door and opened it. He smiled to himself and left the office.
He walked down the stairs until he got outside and went over to his jeep. He unlocked the door and slid in the driver's seat.
"I'm coming home Angela. I'm finally coming home."
########################################
"Sam honey, would you please stop pacing?! You're making me dizzy!" Hank begged as he watched Sam pacing back and forth in their living room."
"What? Oh, sorry honey. I'm just anxious. "
"Yeah, I can see that. But, Sam pacing isn't going to make the phone ring any faster."
Sam sighed. " I know I know. I just wish he would call!"
"I know you do."
Sam smiled and walked over to the couch and sat down next to him. "It's just I really hope he accepts the job at Ridgemont. I know I told him that I would stand by him no matter what but it's been so great having him back here." She groaned and collapsed against the couch. "Can you believe it?! I'm a grown woman. I have a husband and a wonderful little boy and yet I miss my Daddy." She sat back up. "I guess I have to face it."
"Face what?"
"That I'm Daddy's little girl and I always will be."
"Well you're a cute one!" Hank winked at her. Sam smiled and leaned in to kiss him when the phone rang.
""It's him!" Sam shrieked and leapt off the couch and ran into the kitchen.
"How does he know? How does he always know?!" Hank laughed and followed her.
Sam picked up the phone on the third ring.
"Hello?"
"Sam honey? It's me."
Sam sighed and collapsed in one of the chairs.
"I'm so glad you called. We've been waiting and waiting."
Tony chuckled. "Yeah, I'm sure you have been."
"So? Come on Dad spill it! What have you decided?!"
"I'm coming home."
"You're… Oh my God Dad! Really?"
"Yes, honey. I'm coming home. "
"Hold on a sec Dad." She covered the phone with her hand. "He's coming home Hank!" Sam smiled through her tears.
Hank sat down beside her. "That's great news!"
Sam removed her hand and continued their conversation.
"Oh, Dad, everyone is going to be so happy!" I can't wait to tell them!"
Tony cleared his throat. "UMMM actually I don't want you telling anyone."
"You don't?!" Sam asked in confusion.
"No, I would rather tell them myself. Especially Angela."
"Oh, okay. I mean it makes sense. You wanted to tell Angela in person that you were engaged to Teresa and now that the two of you are going to be living here in Fairfield you want to let her know that in person too."
"Well actually we won't be."
"You won't be what? Living here? Dad, I don't understand. You said you were coming home."
"I am. But Teresa isn't"
"She isn't? Oh, she's going to commute from Iowa?"
"No, we broke up."
""You broke up? Dad, why? What happened?"
"Well, we had an argument about me accepting the job at Ridgemont. She told me that if I took it she wouldn't move to Connecticut with me."
'Well, she would be leaving her home and everything. I can kind of see how hard that would be."
"Yeah, but Angela did."
'Angela did?"
"Yes, she did. Remember when we went out there for my interview?"
"Yeah."
"And I declined the offer at first but then you all encouraged me to take it. And Angela told me that she would rearrange her work schedule and that she was willing to commute. "
"And then she moved there to be with you." Sam said softly.
"Yes, exactly. She was willing to do anything for me so I could have the opportunity to have this great job. She even ended things because she saw how happy I was here and how happy I was when Dr Graham offered me the new contract."
"She sacrificed her happiness for yours."
"Yeah, and I let her. Damn it Sam! How could I have done that?!"
"Dad, come on. Don't beat yourself up."
Tony sighed. "Mona and Jonathan were right. I am just like Michael."
'What do you mean?"
"I chose my job over Angela. I chose my career over the woman I love."
"Dad? Did you just say the woman you love?!"
"Yes."
"Not loved but LOVE?"
"Yes, love. I love her Sam. I always have and I always will."
"Oh, Dad. I'm so happy to hear you say that!"
'I am too honey. It feels good saying it. "
"Well the person you really need to say it to is living here in Fairfield."
"I know. I need to tell her. But, I'm scared."
"Scared? You?" Sam chuckled.
'Yeah, I know. I'm a big scaredy cat. But, seriously honey, a lot has happened since she left Iowa."
"Yeah, like you getting engaged to another woman."
"Yeah, that is at the top of the list."
"Dad, I know that Angela still loves you too. I remember going over there after you told her about you and Teresa. She was devastated. I mean yeah she tried to downplay it but Mona and I could both see she wasn't doing well."
"Yeah, I remember when I told her. She broke down crying." Tony said sadly.
"Well when you finally come back home and tell her that you love her I guarantee she will be crying again. "
"Oh, I'm sure of it."
'So, when will you be home?"
"Oh, in about a month. I have to finalize a few things here."
"Okay. If you need any help packing up I can fly out."
"Me too!" Hank whispered.
"Hank said he would too."
"You will? Oh that's great. I could really use the help."
"Well, you got it!"
'Thanks Sam. and tell Hank thanks too."
"Will do. Bye Dad!"
"Bye honey!"
Sam hung up the phone and smiled at Hank. "He's coming home!" she squealed and threw her arms around him.
"I gathered that." Hank smiled, "And from what you said Tony and Teresa broke up?"
"Yeah, they did, because she wasn't willing to move here."
"Yeah, but Angela did move out there to support him and be with him"
"Yeah, she did. And now Dad is moving back here to be with her."
"Only she has no idea."
"No, she doesn't. You know it's so ironic."
"What is?"
""Well Dad didn't want me telling Angela that he was engaged and now he doesn't want me to tell her that he is coming home."
"So, I guess once again we're going to be keeping a secret from everyone."
"Yeah."
"Well at least this time it's a good secret."
Sam smiled. "It is! And I can't wait until everyone, especially Angela finds out!"