Chapter 4

When Angela came home after work the next evening, the house was quiet and empty. No 'hello' welcomed her. She took her heels of with a contented sigh and collapsed on the couch. She was tired and exhausted because she worked hard on a solution to get back at least one of the lost accounts. Thinking that one of her employees was corrupt and unfaithful caused a feeling of nausea. What were the reasons for doing something like that? Didn't she pay them enough money? Was it something personal? Did someone grasp an opportunity too good to pass up?

Sam went downstairs when she heard the front door shut. She looked at Angela who held her head in her hands and her elbows on her knees.

"Hi Angela, something wrong?"

"Trouble in the agency but nothing I can't handle. Nothing to worry about, sweetie," Angela wasn't so sure she could solve the business difficulties, but she didn't want to upset the girl, "where is your Dad? Celebrating?"

"You could say so. He went to Brooklyn to spread the latest news. I just hope his buddies don't take him to the cleaners. His heart is too big." Sam groaned, remembering the day when Tony sold his 62 Mets baseball for her, so that she could go on a skiing vacation. Even though she bought it back she would never forget what he had done for her.

"Your Dad is the most responsible man I know. He wouldn't do something stupid."

"If there is anybody who needs his help he will give away his last bread and his last shirt. But when I asked him this morning to increase my pocket money, he was a little stingy," Sam sighed theatrically, "I don't even know if so much money is the right thing for him. Hopefully he won't freak out."

"Sam, don't worry about your father. We'll keep his feet on the ground." Angela wasn't so sure about that but didn't want to unsettle Sam who anxiously looked at her watch.

"Then why is he so late? I don't like it when he's not at home. I want him to be here with us."

"Winning money isn't a daily occurrence. I can understand that he likes to share the joy with his friends. He needs a break from his daily routine. Let him have his fun."

Angela embraced the girl and gave her a swat on the nose but Sam seemed thoughtful and sad. It was obvious that she had something in her mind.

Sam couldn't hide her concerns any longer, "Angela, he won't go away from you, will he? Maybe he doesn't need this job anymore? What will happen to us if he decides to go away? I don't want to leave you."

Sam was afraid Tony would leave college and change her life in an unpleasant way. When they moved from Brooklyn to Angela's house more than 4 years ago she had a difficult time at first, but now she liked living in Fairfield and had a lot of friends. Sam didn't like the idea starting from scratch again. In her opinion Angela also couldn't live without Tony. If there was anyone who could support "the uptight Angela" when she had her five minutes of crazy it was her father. More importantly, she always thought they would become a couple. Even though Sam thought of her like a mother none of the family could deal with Angela like her Dad and vice versa. No one could knock any sense into Tony when necessary, except Angela.

Angela had her doubts about Tony too, but at this time she preferred thinking positively because she knew Tony liked their home. She couldn't think about losing him so she kept her fears away in a dark drawer of her wardrobe.

"Sam, it's late, you should go to bed. You have a math test tomorrow. I'll wait up for your father and I talk to him, I promise."

"Are you sure he will come home tonight?"

"I hope so, Sam."

"Ok, I'll catch some sleep but if he doesn't come home tonight he is in big trouble," Sam pointed out, "good night, Angela."

"Good night, sweetie."

Sam went upstairs and left Angela behind in the living room, she rose from the couch and entered the kitchen. There were some leftovers in the fridge and she put them in the microwave, the newest acquisition in the Bower-Micelli household. She wondered when she began to think of it as a "Bower-Micelli" household. Actually it was "her" household but when Tony showed up at her door everything changed overnight. The microwave gave a 'pling' when the meal was heated and Angela carried it to the table and started eating. It was a rare thing that she ate alone in the kitchen and she missed company now.

Just for relaxation she opened a bottle of red 'Micelli' wine Tony's Uncle Aldo brought them when he visited Tony with the rest of his loud and noisy family. Thinking of Maurizio's infatuation for her and the juvenile, but passionate, kiss he gave her made her smile. Above all Tony seemed to be a little jealous of his young cousin and that gave her thrills. What did he say as his crazy family departed for the airport after a chaotic week? "We'd probably get married someday" Did he really say that because it was the only way of getting them out happily? Or was it a promise for the future? If it was, there might be a sudden change in the plan. Tony was no longer dependent on her which could lead him on another path. Angela was ashamed of herself when she realized that she felt better with a Tony without independence. He didn't deserve her obnoxious thoughts and she knew she was extremely unjust. She poured herself another glass of wine and went back to the living room.

It was almost 11.30 pm. Tony had never come that late. At least he could call. She sat down on the coach and was fast asleep in a second. She didn't hear the door unlocking minutes later. Tony came in and he was in a cheerful mood. He had a fantastic time with the guys. He noticed Angela sleeping peacefully with a small smile on her lips. What made her smile? If he could only guess her dreams.

With his fingers he pulled away a few strands of her long hair. An incredible longing to kiss her overwhelmed him, but there was no way to achieve this goal. Should he carry her to bed? Carefully he took her in his arms and went to the stairs. In her sleep she put her arms around his neck and snuggled closely into his chest. He walked over to her bedroom and set her down on the bed. She tossed and turned, but woke up when he tried to cover her with a blanket.

"Sorry, Ang, I didn't want to wake you. Why didn't you go to bed?" he whispered quietly.

"I wanted to stay up, I promised Sam I'd talk to you," Angela answered tiredly.

"So you did, but can we talk tomorrow? It is late and you need your sleep."

Angela was full awake now. "No Tony, I need to talk to you."

There was so much she had to say to him. So many questions to ask. She didn't know where to begin but decided to put Samantha's worries first. She sat up at the edge of the bed and wiped her eyes. Tony sat down on the other edge of her bed.

"Tony, I talked to Sam. She didn't feel very well this evening."

"Why? I told her I was going to meet the guys."

"She is scared, Tony; she thinks her life will change and that you'll go away with her. You have to talk to her tomorrow."

"I will. No clue what gives her such ideas. I've no ambitions to go way. She should know me better."

"She is a child, Tony, and what she knows for certain is that people can change when they suddenly come to money."

"People, but not me. I want to do something good with that money and I started already."

"You did?" Angela was no longer worried about Sam now. She knew that Tony wouldn't do anything that concerned his daughter and at least, she had some answers for herself, too.

"I was with Eddie today. He has a girlfriend and she is pregnant. He lost his job last week and was unable to find a new one. I took them to Macy's and bought them baby stuff. Diana was so happy and relieved; Angela, that made me happy, too."

"Oh, that' wonderful, Tony. I'm glad he found someone who makes him happy and is at his… eehm, social status." Angela responded, shaking her head thinking of her old friend Emily with whom Eddie had a short, but hot, passionate affair more than two years earlier.

"Social status? Uuh, you're thinking of Emily? Angela, they had a connection that heated the air like a nuclear bomb and he was lovesick for months. If Emily wasn't that stubborn and had called him back they could be married today. Eddie met Diana a year later. It took him so long to get over Emily that I don't know for sure whether he really loves Diana or whether she is a substitute." Tony realized now the hesitant reluctance from his friend during the shopping event.

"Whenever I talk to Emily she always asks me about Eddie. She's never found anyone. She is still single and not happy."

"If you ask me, they shouldn't have cared about the social status. They could have been happy and muddled it. Love is more worth than anything else and they lost it unnecessarily."

"You're right, Tony, but a leopard cannot change its spot and Emily might be more snobby than it seemed."

"Angela, we're shifting away from the topic and there is nothing we can change. I don't want to talk about social status tonight. I'll talk to Sam tomorrow. We need our sleep now," Tony stood up and turned to the door, "sleep well."

"Good night, Tony." Angela answered him a little surprised from his sudden start. It was the first time he hadn't asked her about her day. She wasn't even sure whether he remembered the lost accounts. She felt rejected and looked down to the floor but realized that it must upset him talking about Eddie and Emily.

Tony immediately regretted trying to escape. It wasn't her fault that Eddie was unhappy. He turned around again and kneeled in front of her taking her hands, they were now at eye level to each other.

"I'm sorry, it's only… I had a great day but I'm aware of that yours probably wasn't so great. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," she smiled. He hadn't forgotten!

Tony pulled her hands to his mouth and kissed them.

"Sleep well, again."

"Good night, again."