"Sam, I'm not rejecting him."

"Yes, you are. Angela I know you still love him and he loves you so why aren't you giving him- no scratch that the two of you a second chance?"

"Honey, it's complicated."

"Well, your relationship has always been." Sam smiled. "But seriously Angela.."

"Sam, don't you get it? Tony is only back in Fairfield because of a job. He didn't come back for me or for us. If he hadn't just happened to run into Elliot and Joan he would still be in Iowa and engaged to Teresa. And what if Teresa had decided that moving here was a great idea?! Then I would be stuck watching the man I love married to another woman. "

"Well fortunately she decided it was a bad idea and now my Dad wants to be with you."

"As what? As his second choice? As a rebound?"

"Angela, do you really think my Dad thinks of you like that? That he ever could?"

'Well, what am I supposed to think? He just barely breaks up with Teresa and suddenly decides that hey since I'm back in Fairfield I might as well get back together with Angela!"

Sam shook her head. "Angela, you couldn't be further from the truth. "

"Then enlighten me. Because I am at a loss."

"I know that my Dad has always loved you. Even after you left him in Iowa he still loved you."

"Then why didn't he come back? And more importantly why did he get engaged to another woman?!"

'Well, I think he stayed because he was hurt that you left him. And I think he did understand why you did but he was still hurt. And then his stubborn pride got in the way and well after a while I guess he decided that it was over between the two of you."

"And so he got engaged to Teresa."

"Yeah, but I don't think he ever really loved her like he did you or my Mom. I think he cared about her and I know they bonded over their mutual breakups but I never saw him talk about or look at her like he does you."

"Sam I just don't know."

"I know you're angry and confused. I get it. But, I also know that you love him. Just I don't know talk to him. "

"We already have."

"Then talk some more. The two of you have been through too much to end up like this. "

Angela chuckled. "Well Mother suggested we both spend time with Nicky. She said he could help bridge the gap between us like Billy did after Kathleen."

"Well there you go! That's a great idea!"

"Sam, I will not use Nicky like that."

"Angela, I know you never would use Nicky. And neither would Dad but hey if you want to take Nicky to the park one day you have my permission and approval."

"Okay, I'll think about it."

"Good. " Sam smiled. "I'm going to go now. "

"Okay bye honey."

Sam turned around and opened the door. She turned back around.

"Angela?"

"Yeah?"

"Whatever you do, please don't close the door on my Dad or on your relationship."

#####################################################

"Wow! Jonathan, that is certainly a give it to me straight question!" Tony laughed nervously.

"I know. And I would really like an answer."

"Yeah, I mean you certainly don't pull any punches do you?"

"Tony.."

"When you ask the tough questions you really ask the tough questions!"

"TONY! You're stalling!"

Tony sighed. "You're right I am."

"So then what's the answer? Did you love Teresa or were you just using her like you did Kathleen?"

"Jonathan I.." he shook his head. "Okay, no I never did love Teresa. I do care about her like I did Kathleen and I hope that Kathleen found someone who loves her and I hope Teresa does some day as well. But, no I never loved either one of them and yes I did use both of them to deny my feelings for Angela."

"Tony, that's.."

"Shameful? Disgusting? Oh believe me I know. "

"Then why did you get involved with Kathleen in the first place?"

"Because I was scared. I was so damn scared. "

"Of my Mom?"

"Yes, of your mom. My feelings for her were so deep. We were best friends and she was my boss. I just couldn't deal with it."

"So you turned to another woman-Kathleen so you could continue denying you had feelings for my Mom?"

Tony nodded. "Yeah, and believe me I am not proud of myself. I not only hurt Angela but I strung Kathleen along for months. "

"Okay, so what about Teresa?"

"Well, like I said I do care about her and I think we bonded over our mutual breakups."

"But, why did you get engaged? If you cared about her and only remained good friends I would understand. But, Tony, you asked her to marry you! Why?!"

"I guess, it was because I didn't want to be alone for the rest of my life."

"You could have come home at any time. My Mom would have welcomed you with open arms." Jonathan pointed out.

"You're right I could have and I should have. "

"So then why didn't you?"

"Because I was hurt that she left. Then I was angry. Then after a while I figured she was right. I was doing what I was meant to do. And then I was afraid that if I did come back home I would end up resenting her. That is what she was afraid of too. And I decided that I didn't want that. I would rather be her friend long distance than to risk the two of us eventually resenting each other. "

"Okay, I guess. I can understand. "

"Thanks pal."

Tony got up. "Well I'll let you get back to what you were doing. "

"Thanks." Jonathan got up as well. They walked to the door and Tony opened it.

"Thank you for being straight with me Tony."

"Anytime!"

"And I really am happy that you're back." Jonathan smiled.

"So am I Jonathan. So am I."

A FEW DAYS LATER:

After some not so subtle nudging from Mona and Sam Angela and Tony both agreed to take Nicky to the park. Well, taking Nicky to the park wasn't the problem. They both loved him with all their heart and spending time with him made them both happy. It was the spending time with each other that posed the problem. But, as Mona and Sam both pointed out they needed to talk.

Tony and Nicky arrived first and went over to the swings. Tony was pushing him when he spotted Angela walking towards looked radiant. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a short sleeve yellow blouse. Her hair was up in a loose ponytail.

She took his breath away.

Angela spotted Tony and Nicky by the swings. Tony looked amazing. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a tight black t-shirt.

He took her breath away.

"Hello!" she exclaimed once she got near them.

"Hi Grandma!" Nicky yelled and jumped off the swing. Luckily Tony hadn't been pushing him too high.

"NICKY! You need to be careful!" They both scolded him.

"I'm sorry. I am just happy to see you Grandma!"

"I'm happy to see you too honey but you can't jump off the swing like that."

Nicky nodded. "Okay."

"Okay, now come on and give me a big hug."

Nicky ran into her arms and they gave each other a big hug.

"Hey, Nicky Grandma and I are going to sit over at the bench while you play. "

"Okay Grandpa."

"And make sure you stay where we can see you."

"Okay Grandpa." With that he ran over to the slide.

Tony chuckled nervously. "So ummm would you like to go sit down?"

"Yes, I would." Without another word she walked over to the bench and Tony followed her. They both sat down and watched Nicky play on the slide.

"Nice day." Tony started in an attempt to break the ice.

"Yes, it is."

"So Angela.."

"Tony I.."

They both laughed nervously.

"You go." Tony said.

"Well, I. There's something that I need to know."

"Okay, what is it?"

"If you loved me like you say you did."

"Angela I do love you. "

Angela nodded. "Okay, if you do love me then why didn't you.."

"Why didn't I what?"

"Why didn't you ever come back home? Why didn't you ever come back home to me?!"