I don't know what was driving me to write this. Just a piece of pure unadulterated kitsch.

Chapter 2

The Sunday started with warm sunny weather. Tony's internal clock woke him at 6.00 am as usual. He began his day with a long run through the empty streets of Fairfield. He loved these mornings on his own when everyone was still asleep. He thought back to yesterday evening, to Angela and her unbuttoned vibe. Angela, she was always in his mind. They became closer the last months than he ever thought was possible but there was always something that held him back from going further with her. She was so classy, well-educated and from… Connecticut and he couldn't deny his Brooklyn roots. Yes, he was a freshman in college and he did all that he could do to catch up with Angela, but it would never be enough to be in step with her. He sighed. Why was life always revolving around money?

After a one hour run he entered the house and took a shower. Rubbing his hands over his face prompted him to make the decision that shaving was necessary. After finishing he left his room. The house was still quiet. It was already eight. Tony crossed the hallway and knocked quietly on Angela's door. No answer. He turned the doorknob and looked at her. Angela was still fast asleep, her long blond hair tangled around her beautiful face. Noiselessly, he went to her bed and carefully stroked away a strand of hair that had fallen into her face. He needed all his willpower not to kiss her and wake her up. Silently he stepped back and left the room. She was probably exhausted from the last week.

Angela opened her eyes, she had been awake for an hour. Of course, she heard Tony entering her bedroom and fought down her wish of caressing his hand when he touched her hair. When would he ever have the guts to tell her how he really felt about her? Would she ever know the experience of being in a relationship with Tony? "Stop dreaming, Angela," she told herself. She decided that getting up was the best thing to do for now.

"Good morning!" Tony said to her when she entered the kitchen through the swinging door. God, she was amazing.

"Good morning!" She replied and looked at him, wishing immediately she could react like she wanted to. It seemed that the most natural thing in the world would be kiss him good morning.

"Tony, I have an idea, what about picking up Sam and Jonathan and taking them to… "

"To Penfield Beach?" Tony completed her question.

"Wow, how did you know that?"

"Well, I know you. But I thought of it this morning, it is so hot again and we need recovery. Juice and coffee as always? Or something real like… "

"Crunchy Crawlers?"

"Angela, let's not play that game again," Tony sighed nervously remembering their very first breakfast when they had a fight about healthy eating habits. Ok, it wasn't really about eating but talking about sex in front of two children on his first official working day wasn't an option.

"It's still early; I'll go in my study and look over some papers." Angela replied.

"Not without breakfast and sorry, no Crunchy Crawlers, but a blueberry pancake."

"How could I resist?" Angela sighed excitedly, "although Crunchy Crawlers aren't that bad when you blend them with the right things."

"What exactly are we talking about?" Tony sounded somewhat perplexed.

"Never mind," she giggled and finished her pancake.

"Ok, I'll fill the picnic basket."

"Meatballs?"

"Of course!"

Angela left the kitchen and Tony started the preparation for the trip. Working on Sundays was not her favorite thing, even if the kids were not at home. She thought about the possibly lost accounts, but decided it was more important to look into the future. Compensating for the loss would take a long time. One thing was sure: she had to attract new business which was a difficult thing to do because of the recession. People were cautious these days, carful with their investments. Not the best times for advertising industry. Angela almost felt the same as back in the days when she got fired from Wallace & McQuade. The notion of losing her independence scared her immensely. When she was married to Michael, her first husband, he always wanted her to stay at home and was never happy with having a successful career woman at his side. Angela never wanted to go back to that kind of lifestyle.

Later, they picked up the children and drove the shortest way to the beach. At first, Samantha wasn't so excited because Tony unfortunately "forgot" her newest fancy and very small bikini but after checking out the beach and realizing there were no cool boys, she adjusted her attitude. After all, it couldn't hurt to catch some sun's rays, so she put down her towel and relaxed. Jonathan was tired from his school trip because he stayed up for a party that went to midnight before a teacher caught them. He was almost falling asleep in the hot sun. Tony put down the blanket he wanted to share with Angela. He was already in his swim trunks. Angela removed her shirt and shorts; and much to Tony's surprise she wore a bikini as well. He swallowed.

"Angela, this is a very rare sight but I could get used to it." Tony tried to joke himself out of the awkward situation of seeing his "boss" in so little of clothing.

"You've already seen me in less, remember?" Angela secretly savored the way he looked at her.

"I only saw the soap bubbles."

"That's what you told me. Can you please put on some suntan lotion on my back, Tony?"

"Uhm,.. yes, lay down."

She settled down on her stomach and closed her eyes. Tony poured the creamy lotion in his hands and started applying it to her back. He almost trembled when he touched her silky, slightly browned skin and he desperately tried not caressing her in a way that up to now he had only dreamed about. Angela felt his warm hands on her back and on her shoulders and could barely withstand his tender touch as it only created a deeper need to have more of him. Things were better than a few weeks ago when she thought she lost him to a former girlfriend, Frankie. It had been a terrible afternoon for her, she wondered if Tony noticed her unsettled behavior, and if he had, could he have understand? But how could he? Coming up with Shakespeare when you're going to tell somebody that you love him wasn't the easiest way, but they did take a major step forward into their so called relationship.

Tony, to be sure, was just as unsettled concerning what to do about his strong feelings for her. He decided to enjoy this day without a thought of tomorrow. He rested beside her and turned his head toward her realizing that she was looking at him with eyes full of… what? Warmth? Tenderness? Desire? If he only knew for sure. He gently stroked away a drop of suntan lotion she got on her cheek and took her hand in his. They closed their eyes simultaneously and both drifted off in sleep.

Jonathan was bored, there was no one to interact with. Why was everyone wasting a day at the beach, sleeping?

"Sam, let's go swimming."

"No way, my hair will get wet and frizzy; I don't want to look like a monkey."

"You already look…" Jonathan got up and shook the sand from his swim trunks. "Maybe Tony will… "

"Forget it, kid. Look at them." Sam smiled at the sight of her Dad and Angela sleeping close together and holding hands in the sand.

"I better not interrupt this. Who knows if it will ever happen back again?"

"Sometimes you're a bright boy, ok, let's go, I changed my mind. Race you to the water!''

Angela awoke a few minutes later, feeling Tony's hand on hers made her pulse race. Slowly she removed her hand and did something she always wanted to do, she let her fingers slide through his soft dark hair. It felt so good but she also noticed the fluttering of his eyelashes as he opened his eyes.

"Angela, did we fall asleep? Where are the kids?"

The romantic mood changed in the moment they realized that the kids weren't with them. Angela got up and sheltered her eyes with her hands looking to the ocean.

"They're in the water. Look, Tony."

"Oh, good. It's nice to see them having fun together. What about lunch, are you hungry?"

"I'm starving but let's wait for the kids."

Minutes later Sam and Jonathan came back to them. They started eating and their laughter and happiness filled the air. The day passed quickly with playing cards and building sand castles even though Sam weakly protested that she was much too old for these childish games. Angela and Tony enjoyed the day together and in particular Angela was distracted from the trouble in her agency. Tony was glad about her being her so relaxed; it was an important part of this being a perfect day for him. A beautiful family day was now over and the next could begin.