Sorry, it's been a long week and it's about to get worse. This is a "To Be Continued" chapter; hopefully the rest will be posted on Tuesday or Wednesday (or maybe earlier if things go well). In better news, the chapters slated to be posted for the next two Saturdays only need minor tweaking, so they won't be late. Sorry again, thanks for reading.

It was just another normal payday, week in week out, same old same old; Angela dropped the check on the kitchen table, then made her way to the back door, off for another Friday of playing the advertising game on the isle of Manhattan. However, instead of her usual routine, Angela did something that shocked Tony into realizing that today was definitely not same old, same old. Today, Angela paused long enough to squeeze his hand and give him a quick kiss goodbye on her way out the door.

"See ya, later, hon," she said as she blew him another kiss.

"See ya," he waved as she shut the door.

Now he was troubled. All of a sudden, the check on the table seemed to be accusing him. It was ridiculous of course, it was just a simple piece of paper with some writing on it, how could it accuse him of anything? Still, he pushed it under a place mat to get it out of his sight, then turned to finish breakfast cleanup. Try as he might to ignore it, the check still haunted him from its hiding place. Tony gave up on the dishes to confront the uneasy feeling he had had ever since Angela dropped that check on the table.

"All right, you," he said, grabbing the document from under the place mat. It looked so innocuous, so banal. It had no right to be. He stared at it, wondering why it was bothering him so much. It was the same paycheck as last week and the week before. Same style, same numbers, same handwriting, same everything. So why did it feel so different? Realizing it wasn't the check that was different, it was him, Tony sank into a chair. Resting his elbow on the table, he forced himself to look at the new reality of his relationship with Angela.

Did they cross a line they shouldn't have crossed? Funny, that was a thought that hadn't entered his mind until the check blithely flitted its way onto the table. All of a sudden his relationship with Angela was exposed in a harsh light. Had he suddenly become what David Lee Roth complained about being, 'just a gigolo'? No, it was silly, their relationship had changed, but the truth of their feelings hadn't; they'd only decided to acknowledge their feelings instead of ignoring them. That didn't turn their relationship into something tawdry.

Tawdry would have been if he had taken that cabal of women up on their offer all those years ago. He'd never told Angela about that. Five neighboring women, all willing to...enhance his income...if he could see his way to spending a little time with them during the day. Individually, of course. At least he always thought they meant individually; he'd dismissed the idea so quickly when it had been proposed he never even thought about their conditions. It was no wonder rumors regarding his relationship with Angela started so quickly. He shuddered to think about how Angela would react if she ever found out about that even after all this time.

He dismissed this line of thought; he and Angela had worked on their relationship for years, belittling neighbors would be something neither one of them would tolerate. So why was he still so uneasy? He took a few more minutes to come up with an answer, but none was forthcoming. There was no more time to devote to his problem, he had a class to get to and it was time to be on his way. He pushed his thoughts aside to focus on his scholarly journey.

Angela went through her day at work blissfully unaware of Tony's predicament, thoughts of the upcoming weekend filled her mind. Jonathan had plans to spend the weekend with Sam, which meant they would have the house to themselves for two days. Two days, alone together, the possibilities were endless. Thinking of endless possibilities, a delightfully delicious thought sashayed through her mind; maybe it was time to indulge in some new lingerie. No, it wasn't a maybe, it was definitely time. She smiled, looked at her calendar for the day and decided there wasn't anything she couldn't delegate. Yes, definitely time for some shopping, with any luck she'd even make it home before Tony and be waiting for him wearing a very nice surprise.

Angela gathered her stuff, made a couple of quick phone calls to her staff members, then sailed past her mother with only a wave and a, "have a nice weekend," as she sauntered out the door. Mona was struck silent by her daughter's behavior for a moment or two; then suddenly she twirled around in her swivel chair and yelled, "yippee!" so loudly that several workers left their offices to see what the fuss was about.

"She really left, didn't she?" Jack asked, entering the lobby for confirmation of Angela's departing phone call, "I still can't believe it."

"Believe it," Mona answered, to prove it she decided to reenact Angela's departure. She left her chair and sauntered to the door, "have a nice weekend," she waved. The staff laughed, shook their heads, and, knowing that their workday would have no reprieve, returned to their offices. Even Mona happily returned to work, so enthusiastic was she over the recent turn of events in her daughter's life. The office had been a much more contented place to work since this turn in Angela's personal life; there was more laughter, more communication, and even more creativity. Angela's office hadn't been a terrible place to work before her new romance, but Angela's consistent good mood combined with these unexpected benefits made the office so pleasant even Mona didn't mind working.

A flustered Angela tried to fit her key in the kitchen door; of course today of all days it would decide to be difficult when she tried to turn it. Her shopping had taken far longer than she had anticipated; likely because once she started she didn't want to stop. This, however, made her saleslady at Bloomingdale's very happy. The train ride home seemed to take forever too, although it didn't take any longer than usual, it was just Angela's agitated state of mind manifesting in impatience. Angela looked at the key, and shook her head, no wonder it didn't work, this was the key to Mona's apartment. She took a breath to calm herself and then used the correct key to enter her own home.

Angela had to hurry, she didn't have as much time as she had planned before Tony was due to arrive home. Eager to be upstairs and changing into something much more comfortable, Angela slammed the door behind her and rushed through the kitchen, carrying her precious purchases with her. It didn't take her long to change into her favorite new outfit, a long champagne colored satin charmeuse gown with matching silk organza peignoir. She twirled around and looked at herself in the mirror, elated to feel so feminine and sensuous.

Throwing the rest of the bags in the closet, along with her purse and her work clothes, Angela rushed back downstairs to finish preparations for Tony's arrival. She collected the proper accoutrements for the night; the champagne, the ice bucket to chill the champagne, the glasses, and really that was it, there was nothing else she needed. Pleased with herself for managing to arrange everything before time ran out, she sat on the couch and tried to decide how to best pose herself. It was a difficult decision. Would Tony come in to the house from the front door or the kitchen? Angela stretched out on the couch facing the kitchen, placing an arm over her head very precisely, but trying to make it look casual. She stayed there for a couple of seconds before deciding that this was not the best option. Next, she sat with her back to the front door and put her hands on her knees. She turned her head toward the front door and said, "hi, Tony." Nope, that one didn't work either, not at all welcoming.

Angela got up from the couch and paced, she glared at the couch like it was its fault she wasn't coming up with any sort of seductive pose. She stopped, put one foot up on the couch and leaned over like she was checking her stockings. She shook her head, definitely not, she wasn't even wearing stockings, so what was the point?

How difficult was this? She was an advertising executive, she was used to manipulating a product for a desired effect. Why was it more challenging when she was the product? In frustration she sat down on the couch. On a whim she picked up a champagne glass; yes, a prop, maybe that's what she needed. She held the glass out, "fill my glass, Tony?" No; absolutely not. Defeated, Angela returned the glass to the coffee table and put her head in her hands.

The stillness allowed her to hear the key at the front door lock. She was out of time, without even thinking she faced the door and tucked her legs up on the couch behind her. She arranged her sheer robe so it draped around her and off the couch, then she leaned one arm on the back of the couch and the other on her lap. Simple, effective and done without over thinking.

Tony finally opened the door, he was glad to be home, it had been a long day in which he had been far too distracted by this morning's morose thoughts. He'd start dinner and take the alone time he had before Angela's arrival to try and sort through what he was going to say to Angela tonight. For as much as he wanted to avoid the subject, pretend that money didn't play into their relationship at all, he couldn't. They would have to confront this issue, and he was not looking forward to this conversation.

Tony shut the door, threw his books on the desk and stopped in his tracks; amazed.

"Hi."

"Hi," Tony barely managed to answer. He blinked a couple of times, maybe he was dreaming? Angela couldn't be sitting on the couch wearing almost nothing, could she? "Angela?" he asked the apparition.

"Yes, Tony."

She answered, so either Angela really was home or somehow his imagination was creating an Angela that could talk. That didn't mean his powers of speech were currently adequate to engage with her.

"Tony?" the apparition prompted, "are you all right?"

Tony did his best to recover his wits, "sure...Angela," obviously he hadn't made much progress.

Angela was thrilled she could unnerve him so. "I went shopping today, Tony."

"I noticed," a too late entry for the Understatement of the Year Award.

This wasn't going as Angela had planned. She thought Tony would be more demonstrative, and a little closer to her by this point; specifically on the couch with her and not still dawdling by the door. "Tony, I thought you would like this outfit."

He looked at her, longingly, "Oh yeah, I like it. I like it a lot, but you'd better go change Angela, you wouldn't want Mona to come in and catch you dressed like that, would you?"

"If you mean because her resulting jump for joy might break some china, then yes, I would be worried, but Mother isn't dropping by the house this weekend, at all. She's leaving us our privacy. So, why don't you show me how much you like this new outfit? Upstairs, maybe?" she hinted.

He was still being recalcitrant, Angela was confused, "Tony, what's wrong?"

"What?" was his only answer.

Yes, he was distracted, and what bothered Angela the most was that it wasn't her new nightgown that was doing the distracting, he seemed completely lost in his own little world, one that did not include her.

Angela moved, she put her legs on the floor and took her arm off the back of the couch, "Tony, please come sit down." They were both a little startled when he actually managed to perform that task, even if he did sit as far away from her as he could. Angela noticed his distance and started to worry, "did something happen at school?"

"No, Angela, everything is fine."

"Then why are you over there and why are we wasting time talking? There are much better options for the evening," she slid her fingers up his forearm to remind him of those better options.

"Sorry, Angela," he turned, pulling his arm away from her.

Now Angela was beyond puzzled and heading into fear, "Tony, there's obviously something bothering you. Will you please tell me what it is?" she asked tenderly.

He faced her, she was so beautiful and looking at him with nothing but compassion in her eyes, he felt like a jerk. How could he have let some insecure thoughts this morning intrude on their relationship? He leaned forward to kiss her, Angela welcomed him; but realized instantly that his kiss was cold and distant.

She broke away, confused. She looked at him, her expression questioning his actions. Tony rose from the couch and walked away from her. Angela's fears were now full blown, she couldn't imagine why Tony was essentially pushing her away. The only reason she could fathom for Tony's reluctance tonight was one which overtook her rational nature and exposed her deepest fear; that maybe Tony had seen Kathleen at school today. Worse, maybe he had done more than just see Kathleen at school today. Whatever the reason for Tony's reticence, one thing was obvious, it was time for a change of wardrobe.

"Tony, I'm going upstairs to change, I'll be back soon," she said as she made her way to the staircase.

He acknowledged her with a nod, watching her go upstairs. The diaphanous fabric of the peignoir floated behind her, making Angela look ethereal as she walked dejectedly to her room. When he could no longer see her, he slumped back onto the couch and tried to focus on how to start this conversation they were going to have to have.

Angela tried to control the ache of her heart as she opened her bedroom door, it was a battle she lost.

Downstairs, Tony was angry with himself for rejecting Angela. Here was the woman he loved; warm, passionate, wearing almost nothing and he treated her as though she had the plague. She might never forgive him for letting her down so coldly; hell, he might never forgive himself.

Angela returned, with each step down the stairs, her greatest fears overwhelmed her. What if Kathleen told Tony he had a child somewhere? She had no doubt Tony would marry Kathleen because he felt it would be the right thing to do; but where would that leave her? Alone and heartbroken, that's where it would leave her.

She was terrified of losing Tony, and now she may be confronted with that very situation. "Tony," she called, her voice shaky.

He looked at her and stood up to greet her; she had most certainly changed clothes, gray sweats, decidedly not sexy. He only had himself to blame.

"Tony, please, just say whatever it is you have to say," she implored, each word a tortured struggle.

He didn't know where to begin. He looked at her and saw something he didn't like, anxiety, "sit down, Angela," he asked out of concern. This only made her more uneasy, but she did sit down on the couch. He sat down next to her.

"This isn't easy...," he started.

Angela gripped her hands together in an effort to ward off the worst.

Tony was still perplexed by Angela's behavior, he reached out to touch her hands, "Angela...," he didn't have a chance to say any more because Angela jumped up from the couch away from him. That was a reaction to his touch that had never happened before, he definitely didn't like it.

"Just say it, Tony," she pleaded, facing away from him, "you saw Kathleen today, didn't you?"

Tony was stunned into silence, which wasn't the best response to Angela at the moment as it only confirmed her suspicions. Of course it hadn't confirmed anything; he was just shocked, Kathleen's name hadn't been mentioned between them in, he couldn't remember how long, months at least.

He stood up, "Angela, I didn't see Kathleen today, I haven't seen her since we broke up."

Angela leaned against the back of the side chair in relief, but still didn't turn to face him.

He dared to take a step or two closer to her, "Angela, why the sudden anxiety? What brought this on?"

"I thought you were going to break up with me."

"Break up with you?" that was a thought that had never occurred to him, "why?"

Now she finally turned around, but she still help onto the back of the chair for support, "you've barely spoken to me all night."

"I had something on my mind."

"Are you going to tell me what it is; or do I keep having to guess?"

He held out a hand to her, "Angela, sit down, please." Warily she took his hand and let him sit them on the couch.

To Be Continued...Soon.