"That was the worst meal I ever had!" Mona grumbled as she entered through the back kitchen door. She threw her purse on the table and went over to the refrigerator and opened it.

"HMMM I wonder if there is still some of that chicken and potatoes left?" she mumbled to herself as she scanned the contents.

"Nothing! Damn it!" she slammed the door. She glanced at her watch and saw that it was about a quarter to 11.

"I wonder if Simon is still up? Maybe we can go to the Downbeat for a drink and get a decent meal." She picked up the phone to dial and was greeted by the voice of a very angry woman.

"I can not believe you did that to me Tony! Do you have any idea how humiliated I was?!"

' Oh my God! It's Kathleen!' Mona realized. 'I wonder what has gotten her pants in a bunch?'

"But Kathleen, if you would just let me explain…" Tony pleaded.

At that moment Angela entered through the swinging door. Before she could say a word Mona put her finger to her lips and motioned her over to the phone. Angela knew it was wrong to eavesdrop on their private conversation but after everything that had happened she couldn't help herself.

Mona put the receiver between the two of them and Mother and daughter listened in as Tony tried to talk his way out of his faux pa.

"I mean she is your boss Tony! YOUR BOSS!"

"I know that Kathleen. But she is also my best friend and I was worried about her."

"About what?! She is a big girl Tony!" She took a deep breath. "If it were Sam I would understand. But you took me out to a very fancy restaurant only so you could spy on your boss." She sniffled. "I mean here I thought we were going to have a nice romantic dinner and instead you were preoccupied and barely paid any attention to me."

"I know. I know."

"Yeah, everytime I tried to talk to you got up and left. I was left all alone because my boyfriend was too busy worrying about his boss and her date."

At the mention of the word boyfriend Angela felt her insides clench while Mona rolled her eyes.

"Look Kathleen, I know I messed up."

"That's an understatement!" Kathleen snapped.

"But you need to know and understand something."

"What?"

"Angela is my best friend and as I said earlier this evening I'm afraid she is moving a little too fast with this guy."

"Isn't that her business Tony? I mean seriously you act like she is this helpless little girl that needs you to rescue her."

Tony shook his head. "It isn't like that Kathleen."

"Then what is it like? I mean explain it to me Tony. Because I am at a loss."

Tony sighed. He knew she deserved an explanation . It was the right thing to do. But how could he explain that from his first night of employment he had made a vow to himself he would look after Angela, Mona, and Jonathan just like always had with Sam. That was why when he had heard noises coming from the kitchen he had grabbed his baseball bat and busted in only to see Angela being attacked. Of course he had found out she wasn't and that the man was actually her date. But even so he knew he had done the right thing. Just like when he had thrown that creep Jim Peterson out after he had made his lewd innuendos and gone after Angela and Jake The Snake when she was trying to recapture her lost youth. Not to mention the time he thought Angela was giving Jack too much power and that they were having an affair on top of it.

"I'm waiting Tony." Kathleen said quietly her words taking on a sharp edge.

"Well it's like I said. Angela is my best friend and when I took this job I made a promise to myself that I would always look after her. "

Kathleen scoffed. "Oh come on Tony. Don't you think you're going a little bit overboard? It was like I said Angela is a big girl. I know you said that when you were hired that Jonathan was what seven years old?"

"Yes."

"So okay then. I can understand you looking out for him. But Angela is a grown woman with her own business. I hardly doubt she needs or wants you interfering in her personal life."

Tony rubbed his eyes. Normally she would be right. But the truth was he couldn't help himself. It pained him that Angela had seemed so smitten with Christopher. And not only Angela but the rest of the family too. They acted like he was the second coming or something. They were all so enamored with him that it was causing him to have nightmares about a faceless man taking all his loved ones away. So when the opportunity had presented itself to go spy on Angela and Christopher he had taken it. And yes he did feel like a heel dragging Kathleen along but if he was going to be honest with himself he would do it again in a heartbeat.

"Look Kathleen, if we're going to be together you have to understand that Angela is a part of my life. A very important part. And there will be times that I am going to be worried about her. If I think she is in trouble I am going to do whatever I can to help. That is the way it's been since she hired me and that isn't going to stop just because we are dating."

Kathleen rolled her eyes. Normally she would be touched by how much he cared about her but something felt off. It felt like there was something more. She had asked him at dinner if Angela was more than that and he had replied that she was kinda more than that. So what did that mean exactly?!

Kathleen sighed. "Tony, I'm going to ask you something and I need you to tell me the truth."

"Okay. What is it?"

"Is there something going on between the two of you?

:" I told you we're friends. Best friends."

"I know. But you act like I don't know…. Like she is your girlfriend or wife."

"Come on, it isn't like that! I do care about her and yes I worry about her but I'm dating you."

Mona put her hand on Angela;s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. Angela smiled back at her.

"Tony, look it has been a long night and I am tired. I don't want to discuss this anymore. I'm going to bed."

"Okay. Call you tomorrow?"

"No, I need a few days to myself."

"Okay, if that's what you want."

"Thank you. Good night Tony."

"Good night Kathleen"

They hung up and when Mona and Angela heard the click they hung up as well. They heard Tony grumbling to himself and realized he was coming into the kitchen. Angela immediately went over to the stove and turned on the tea kettle while Mona opened the refrigerator pretending to look for something to eat.

"Okay who ate the chicken and potatoes that were here earlier?!"

"I think it was Jonathan." Tony told her.

"I'm going to have to tell my darling grandson to stop eating all the food in this house!"

"He's a growing boy Mona."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Tony collapsed in one of the chairs and Mona sat down beside him.

"Problems Bub?"

Tony sighed. "Yeah, I guess you can say that. "

Mona and Angela exchanged glances.

"So what is it?"

"Well I kind of made a fool of myself tonight."

"How so?"

"You mean Angela didn't tell you?" He looked from Mona to Angela then back to Mona.

"No, she hasn't. So what's up?"

"I well… I took Kathleen to Le Fleur tonight so I could spy on Angela and Christopher."

"Why would you do something like that?"

"Because I was worried that Angela was moving too fast with Christopher. And I wanted to make sure she was okay."

"I see. And I take it Kathleen figured everything out and wasn't too happy with you."

"No, she isn't."

"Do you blame her?"

"No, not at all. But I told her that Angela was my best friend and that I would always look after her."

At the mention of the words best friend Angela turned around so they wouldn't see the tears in her eyes. She quickly and quietly wiped her eyes with her hands and removed the tea kettle after it started whistling. Putting on a cheery smile she turned back around and asked them if they wanted any tea.

"No thanks. I think I'm going to go to bed. Good night Ladies." Tony got up and left the kitchen

"I'll take a cup." Mona said gently. Angela nodded and made them both a cup of tea. She set Mona's cup in front of her and then sat down with her own..

"So Tony made a fool of himself tonight?"

"That he did."

Mother and daughter laughed and clinked their cups, a mutual feeling of joy passing between them.