Chapter TWO
"Oh, how I love the Spa! Thank you Dear for treating us to girl time today," Mona said.
"Yeah, Thank you Angela. This! You're the best," Sam said, hugging Angela.
"Oh, you're both welcome. There's nothing like the "SISTERHOOD" and besides Mother, it's your weekend," teased Angela. "Hair, manicure, pedicure, and massage are just what's needed to get you all fired up, and ready to go," exclaimed Angela.
"There you go spoiling the moment, Angela. It's America's birthday. I'm celebrating my life at the same time," said Mona. "And a good-looking man is all I need to get fired up, and ready to go, but you wouldn't … well we won't go there, Dear," Mona sarcastically replied.
Angela shot her mother her usual look of disgust, that Mona pays no attention to. Sam of course, snickers to herself, but dares not show any response either way to their mother-daughter banter.
"Oh Angela, I'll be cutting out of the barbeque a bit earlier tonight. My flight leaves from JFK really early tomorrow, and I have a hotel at the airport to make it easier," Mona said.
"How early Mother," inquired Angela?
"Not that early, Dear. I'll be around for all the corny stuff. I do want to see some of Tony's fireworks he sets off," Mona said.
"Speaking of Dad's fireworks," Samantha interjected. "Do you guys think he will be really upset if I skipped out on this show today," Samantha asked? Both Angela and Mona shot her a look as they were shocked that she'd even consider skipping Tony's fireworks show. "You see, Eric, sort of has tickets for the Fairfield Fairgrounds County Fourth of July Concert and Fireworks. I was hoping maybe you could help me get Dad to let me leave the barbeque early with Eric to attend," she said with a worried, but pleading expression.
"Oh Samantha, you know how your father is about holidays and specifically his fireworks show. He does it every year for you and Jonathan. You should have given me more time than hours before to handle this with him. I know you've known about the event, before now. Next time, ask me when you find out you're going to need my help asking Tony something, okay Sam. Now he's going to be moody for the festivities," Angela said.
"I know. I'm sorry. I will next time Angela. Dad's gotta understand, we were kids back then when he started fireworks. I mean Jonathan may still look forward to it, but I'd rather do something different. So, you think you can help me get his permission to go," Samantha asked Angela?
"I can't help you get permission to go, but I'll put in a good word for you to go. It shouldn't be a problem Sam though. Your father is still going to be disappointed. This will be another nail in the coffin, confirming you are growing up and outgrowing his childhood traditions. That always makes him difficult to deal with," said Angela.
"I know. But if anyone can get him back to reality, it's you. He might fuss, but he caves with you," Sam said.
"He does not, Sam. I can sometimes get him to consider another point of view," Angela said blushing, "but Tony doesn't, cave, when I suggest something," she said. "Now before we go any further, I guess I need to know, what time does this event start and when does it end? Who will be attending with you and Eric? How are you getting there and back? And will there be a responsible adult accompanying you? Did I cover it all," asked Angela with a smile?
Mona just looked on as she listened and laughed a bit. She loves Sam like her own granddaughter, as she knows Angela and Sam love each other in the same respects. She has always enjoyed Angela and Sam carrying on with their "mother daughter" moments, that she wished that she and Angela had.
"Angela you're so funny. You actually sound like Dad. The event starts at 9:00 pm and it is over at 2:00 am. Eric is actually going with all his cousins and their dates on his grandmother's side. There is a concert with local bands from the area. As far as responsible adults, Eric's two twin cousins, Jason and Jameson, will be attending. You know the married two; one's in law school and one is medical school," Sam answered.
"Oh, sounds like a night of festive bliss, The Treadwell Family Fiesta," Mona sarcastically said, rolling her eyes to the top of her head.
"Mother. Behave yourself," exclaimed Angela. "Well, that does make a difference. He will still complain, but he should be fine with that. Afterall, he was a teenager before and wanted to have some time with his girlfriends, so he should understand. And more than likely, there was no responsible adult accompanying him, Bobby, Joey, Philly, Vinnie, Dennis, Tiny, PeeWee, Eddie, and all the rest of the guys on Pitkin Avenue," Angela said.
"Girlfriends? Geez, I wonder how many girls Dad dated before Mom, and after Mom," inquired Sam?
"Your guess is as good as mine Honey. From being around the Brooklyn fellas, I gather your dad was quite the ladies' man. All I know is he can never stop talking about those Benedetti Twins," said Angela throwing her hands in the air and shrugging her shoulders. Angela, Sam, and Mona all laugh.
"Yeah Sam, from what he's told me, his time in the Majors seemed pretty wild to me," joked Mona. Angela was shaking her head from left to right, looking at Mona with bucked eyes, and one arm raised. Mona gasped and threw her hand over her mouth, not realizing she was suggesting, that maybe Tony was unfaithful to Marie.
"Don't worry Mona. I can do the math. I've already had that feeling about Dad. Being the daughter of a single dad, you hear his conversations, especially in a small Brooklyn apartment. It didn't sound like he set out to be wild with other women. It sounded like he was partying too much and couldn't say no, when these women came on to him," Samantha said. Mona put her arm around Sam, looking over her head at her daughter's quiet, yet anxious face; as they both hoped Sam will tell a bit more.
Sam continued, "There were conversations from before mom died too that made me wonder. One lady even wrote Dad a letter once, saying her baby, was Dad's. I remember Mom and Dad arguing about it after he got hurt in the Majors. Turns out, she was lying right through her teeth! Dad always said he never touched her; she was just out to get him because he rejected her. His friend's wife from the Cards, Ms. Pam, told Dad the father was a different teammate, when they came to Mom's funeral. That made me feel better. I just always wished Mom could've heard it. I always guessed it was God and Mom letting me know Dad was an okay guy and not to worry with her being gone to Heaven and everything," Sam said, holding her abdomen and looking down.
"Oh Sam, your dad is a wonderful man. He's a great father, and I'm sure he was a good husband to your mom. He loved her so much; he loved you both. He's also a handsome gentleman, and so I'm sure the women went wild for him. But your dad usually does the right thing. He's got a good heart and head on his shoulders. He wouldn't do anything to put his family in jeopardy. Hasn't he always done the very best he could for you," asked Angela, trying to sympathize and assure Samantha that Tony wouldn't put his family in harm's way with moments of indiscretion, even though she wasn't one hundred percent sure herself?
"Trust me Sam, as a woman who lives her life to the fullest," Mona was saying as both Sam and Angela interrupted her, in a burst of laughter. "Hey, listen you two yo-yos', while I'm trying to make a point," scolded Mona!
"Sorry Mona, we're listening," assured Sam. Angela was still catching her breath but nodded in agreement with Sam.
"Now as I was saying, when you're vibrant, young, and beautiful like Tony and me, you can't help but attract all these people, who want to be with you. Tony is a hunk, and all women gravitate to a hunk, and will naturally fall all over him. Well, most women," Mona said sneeringly, looking over at Angela. "Sam, Honey, I think your mom knew and understood that. She's from the old neighborhood too, so she knew he was a chick magnet. But she also knew, that he loved only her. That's probably why she married him. She knew that when Tony loved you, then it's just you he loves, no matter how many women swoon after him. I don't see Tony ever doing anything to hurt the woman he loves more than anything in the world," Mona said as she pulled Sam in close for a hug and she stared deeply into Angela's eyes with a warm smile and a wink.
Angela received her mother's gesture with a nod, but signaled nothing more. She stepped towards Mona and Sam and added her embrace to their hug.
"Thanks. You guys are the best. I know Dad loved Mom and me and wouldn't harm us. That was what I've always held close, to combat all the feelings I was having about what happened when he played for the Cards. But back home, you know after Mom died, the women were like wild alley cats when it came to Dad. At least that was how Mrs. R use to say it. I mean, the number of women hanging around The Rossini's fish market, waiting on Dad to close shop was ridiculous. Then they just floated over to Marty's Melody Room, waiting on Dad to show up. I only know cause his friends kept hollering for him to come down and go hang out with them over there. They were always saying some lady's name wanted to see him. He always would say, he was taking care of me, helping me do homework or something with Grandpa Micelli. But there were times when he would go. I told him he needed to go have some fun with his friends too, but I didn't mean those man-hungry women. The one's I hated the most were those twins Sally and her sister, Teressa, and Tonya. Thank God we moved to Connecticut and Dad's taste has clearly improved," Sam said smiling at Angela. "I was so glad when you decked Teressa, I didn't think you had it in you Angela," teased Sam.
Angela returned an uncomfortable smile, as Sam has put her unofficially on the spot. Angela's mind ran back to her altercation, well bar fight with Teressa, because she was jealous over Tony bringing Angela to Marty's and no longer giving her the time of day. Then she had a jealous memory about Tonya, as she and Tony were both on dates at the Fairfield Inn with Geoffrey and Tonya at the same time. Truthfully, Tonya was really no threat to Angela. She just was sleeping with Tony while Angela was in the next room sleeping with Geoffrey. Which disturbed both Tony and Angela.
"Honestly Sam, I didn't either. I still don't know what came over me. I really did try to give her some space," answered Angela, with a snicker, knowing it was Teressa challenging her about Tony that threw her into fight mode.
Sam laughed. "Hey, I'm going to head to the junior section and pick out a few things. I'll be back up to check out," Sam said. Then she walked off to the escalator to get to her section in Bloomingdales.
"What an awkward, yet intriguing conversation that was, aye Angela," Mona asked? "I never thought how Sam viewed her Italian Heart Throb father," teased Mona.
"Oh Mother, you make everything sound cheap. But I never thought about how Sam's view either about Tony, dating. I thought it was pretty accurate myself," admitted Angela.
"So how does that make you feel Angela? I mean, Sam basically acknowledged that you are Tony's sight of affection. She basically credits you for getting rid of the women from Brooklyn that she hated the most," noted Mona.
"Oh, that's ridiculous. I may have forced the absence of Teressa, due to the bar fight, but that is it. And truthfully, Tony wasn't contacting her before I even encountered her. And I've never got in the way of Tony and Tonya. I was dating Geoffrey at the time. I've never interfered with him and any woman he's dated," Angela said.
"Well, Tony got rid of good ole boring Geoffrey because he loves you obviously, and Tonya too," teased Mona as she laughed a bit. "And Dear, you most certainly did dismiss every woman Tony has ever gotten involved with since he moved in, in your own way," assured Mona with a wink.
Angela just looked at her mother sideways. She didn't want this conversation to continue, so she refused to respond. She was glad Teressa was out of Tony's life and apparently no longer working at Marty's either. She was glad Tony isn't keeping up with Tonya either. And as hard as it is to admit, she knows that she has definitely caused Tony to question any woman he dates since he's moved in to her home. As well as she knows she's become a love interest of Tony's, as he's become one of hers. They have only discussed not exploring their feelings to ensure the family stays intact, but Angela really wishes they could move forward. She's tired of all they discreet, physical, unspoken, and stolen moments shared between them. She's tired of flirting across the room in silence and they live together. She's tired of discussing the household and the kids as a reason to be together so they can sneak quiet time alone on the couch. She would like to be with Tony in a normal and healthy way. But they've decided due to the friendship and employment, how they live, is best.
"Mother, as eye opening as the conversation was, it most certainly was nothing I thought we'd be discussing, especially with Sam. While I do agree with her observations of Tony and women of interest, it was interesting to me that she feels the same. But hopefully we assured her about her parent's relationship," Angela said with a bit of concern. "Don't take this the wrong way, Mother, but we know I've been there. That is an uneasy feeling for an adult to process about their parents, let alone a child," Angela said with sympathy, concern, and sensitivity.
"That it is Dear, and I'm sorry you found out the way you did. I'm even more grateful that you've forgiven me," admitted Mona with heavy eyes.
Angela hugged her mom and said, "Of course, Mother. I love you!"
Snap Crackle Pop! Chapter TWO