Happy Valentine's Day

Friday, February 14, 1992

After dropping Mona and Angela off at the train station, Tony had to stop by the grocery store to pick up a couple of small items for the dinner he was going to prepare for Angela tonight. They'd talked about celebrating their first acknowledged Valentine's Day together by returning to Chez Rene; but decided they'd rather stay home, away from the crowds. Linguine alle vongole for two by the fire sounded much more romantic to both of them. How fortunate for them that Valentine's Day fell on a Friday this year and they could send the kids and Mona off to the City for a fun weekend while keeping the house all to themselves.

As he opened his wallet to pay, Tony got the shock of his life; as at some point in between last night and this morning his playful vixen of a wife had slipped a new photo into his wallet. He stood stock still gaping at the picture until the cashier interrupted his reverie, "sir, $14.98, please?"

"What? Oh, sorry," Tony juggled his wallet to extract the money. He almost walked away forgetting both change and purchase until the cashier brought both to his attention. He sheepishly left and hurried to the car to call Angela; never before had he truly seen the benefits of having a mobile phone, but right now he was very grateful to have one. He was even more grateful that Angela had one so he could call her before she arrived at work. It took him a couple of minutes to calm down enough to contact her as every time he tried to dial he wound up fumbling the phone.

He gave up, deciding that indulging in a few more minutes of gaping at the screen siren who had unexpectedly appeared in his wallet was the only way to calm his racing pulse. It probably wasn't, but that's the excuse he gave himself. Tony pulled Angela's picture out of his wallet completely, touching it to make sure he wasn't imagining this photo. He wasn't. There was Angela posing in a fantastic tribute to Betty Grable; she emulated Betty's famous pose perfectly. Her back was to the camera, her arms rested on her hips, exposing and emphasizing her delightful feminine curves. Her face peeked over her shoulder with an impish grin. Angela had all the details correct; the one piece swimsuit baring most of her back, the high heels, the 40's hair. Tony was overwhelmed and as far as he was concerned, Angela left Betty Grable in the dust. Betty may have been famous for her legs, but Angela's were, in his not so humble opinion, far superior.

Angela had picked the perfect photo to recreate for Valentine's Day. It was an idea she had been working on since posing as a pin-up girl last fall worked so well.

Tony loved the photo; but there was something else he loved even more. Angela had written an inscription, it wasn't long, but it said it all:

I love you!

xxxxx

Angela

As much as he could have stared at that photo for hours; and he could, Tony had an important phone call to make. It was time to calm himself down enough to call the babe in the picture. Fortunately she didn't need to leave her number on the photo as Tony knew it well. He was finally able to dial without dropping the phone; but still cursed the fact that she had to go to work today. His Fridays were devoted to Independent Study, a perk of being a senior. He had planned on going to the library for most of the day, but any thoughts of school work flew out of his head the second he saw Angela's picture. He had half a mind to drive down to the City and pluck her out of her workday once again, but didn't trust himself to drive that far. Dammit, why couldn't Valentine's Day have been on a Saturday this year so he didn't have to do battle with Angela's work for her attention?

He called her cell phone, she answered immediately, it was almost as though she was expecting his call; which she was, "hi, honey," she said breathlessly.

"Hi...Angela...I'm speechless."

She giggled, "good. Happy Valentine's Day." Angela was proud of herself for rendering Tony speechless.

"Happy Valentine's Day," he barely managed to answer, "Angela, I may not be able to breathe normally for hours."

She smiled, "don't hyperventilate, darling."

"Easy for you to say."

She laughed, "yes, yes it is."

"I wish you didn't have to go to work today."

"Tony, I didn't go to work today," she answered deceptively simply and very huskily.

Tony almost dropped the phone again, "what do you mean? I dropped you and Mona at the station myself."

"Did you see me get on a train?"

He took a moment to try and clear his brain. Of course he hadn't seen Angela board a train, he never did, it wasn't possible to see the platform from the drop off point. Then his brain actually managed to perform its intended function, "so where are you?" curiosity seeping into every syllable.

"Home," she answered ever so innocently, then waited a beat and dropped, "alone."

"Yeah? You're not going to be alone for long."

"Drive safely, I love you and want you home in one piece."

"Don't worry, bye." Poor guy was so out of it that he didn't even realize he hadn't said "I love you" to his wife; she didn't mind, in fact she was thrilled that she could affect him so.

"Bye," she answered, although she wasn't sure if Tony heard her or if he was halfway home already.

Tony skipped the rest of the errands on his to do list; which meant that Angela's Valentine's Day chocolates were going to be Angela's Monday-After-Valentine's Day chocolates instead, but Tony didn't think she'd mind the delay. She didn't. Fortunately, the pink roses he'd ordered for her were to be delivered, so he didn't have to worry about them. They might freeze on the doorstep from no one answering the bell, but there are sometimes sacrifices that happen in the pursuit of romance.

Angela's real Valentine's gift was already safe at home; he'd picked up the diamond earrings from the jeweler a few days ago and stashed them in a dresser drawer in his old bedroom. The hiding place was his best defense against Mona snooping around, she'd dropped many hints that Tony had better not come up with something like seat covers as a Valentine's Day present. Tony felt the pressure; not only did he have to get something very special to commemorate the first Valentine's Day that he and Angela would be spending together as a married couple, he had to make sure the gift didn't disappoint his mother-in-law as well. It was a burden that had almost driven him to distraction until he and Angela went out to dinner one night. Angela wore the diamond earrings Geoffrey had given her all those years ago. Those diamonds in her ears brought back too many unpleasant memories for Tony. He said nothing to Angela, but secretly vowed that she was never going to wear diamonds from another man again. In fact, if he had his way, those earrings were going to be eradicated from Angela's jewelry box, he mused that maybe Mona would like possession of them. Angela herself knew nothing of her mother's intervention or Tony's insecurities, her mood leading up to this Valentine's Day was even more giddy than it was in the Christmas season. Never before had she so looked forward to Valentine's Day, and nothing could dampen her bliss.

Tony did his best to drive home patiently; it was a trial as even in his not so rushed times, driving was a contact sport to him. Today it was even more difficult to rein in his frustrations with those numbskull drivers on the road and focus on getting himself safely home to Angela.

At home, Angela was in the living room waiting rather impatiently herself. She'd taken a taxi home from the train station as soon as Tony's Jeep was out of sight. Mona had wished her and Tony a very happy Valentine's weekend as she waved good bye; what a relief it was to her that those two were finally celebrating the day as they should have been for years.

Angela did another final check on all the arrangements, there wasn't much to check as she'd already checked everything for a final time a dozen times. Her Valentine's Day presents to Tony were upstairs in the bedroom waiting for him; a framed 8x10 of the picture in his wallet (also with an "I love you" inscription) and a pair of her father's cuff links. Champagne on ice was also waiting for them. There were only so many times she could recheck and see that they were still there in the places she'd left them the last time she checked them.

Angela kept looking at her wrist to check the time, only to be reminded each time she looked down and saw her bare wrist that she wasn't wearing a watch.

Finally, after what seemed to be an interminable wait, she heard Tony's car screech into the driveway and come to an exclamatory halt. She heard his car door slam and now only had to wonder if he would be coming into the house through the kitchen or the front door. She figured the kitchen was the more likely option as the door was closer to the Jeep. If it were possible to slam a door open, Tony would have done it. He did slam the door shut after he entered, then he threw the groceries on the table as he flew through the kitchen yelling, "Angela!" before he even got to the swinging door.

"In here, Tony," she called to him as she posed herself accordingly.

He followed the sound of her voice into the living room, leaving the kitchen door swinging behind him. It was a good thing he was moving fast enough to clear the door because the vision he saw made him stop in his tracks. Being hit in the backside by an unattended swinging door would have introduced an unwelcome bit of comedy into this seduction.

Angela was standing at the bottom of the staircase, her back to him, dressed and posed exactly as she was in the picture. She tilted her head and said in a very saucy tone, "I'm glad to see you home safe and sound."

Tony was beyond words. His eyes were riveted on her and she saw the passion in them. He looked at her, taking in every curve from head to toe. His gaze lingered as he admired the way the long line of her legs was accentuated by the high-heeled shoes. Although a tame swimsuit by modern standards, it performed its job of enticement admirably as Tony's eyes moved up from her legs, over the curve of the fabric to Angela's bare back. Her shoulders were accented by the barely there shoulder straps, showcasing a gorgeous expanse of skin from her neckline to the curve of the suit across the bottom of her back that he couldn't wait to explore. It was time to move from admiration to action. He quickly crossed the distance between them and put his arms around her waist, simultaneously capturing her mouth with his lips. Angela moved her hands away from her hips, she rested one over his hands, the other caressed his cheek.

Tony was a man of many moods, and passion had become one of Angela's favorite moods in the very short time he had been sharing that mood with her. She'd seen his enthusiasm when turned to a project or when focused on his schoolwork; but when the full force of his passion was centered on her, it sent chills through her all the way down to her toes. Angela reciprocated his passion; she melted into him, kissing him, touching him and making a mental note that he was obviously very glad to see her.

As much as he hated to, Tony had to come up for air. Angela turned to him and rested her head on his shoulder as he drew her in more tightly to his chest, his arms surrounding her with his love.

"Angela," he said, barely able to speak, "how...I mean...wow...I mean...yowsa," he kissed her again, once more letting his passion have its way with both of them.

There were a lot of questions to be answered and Tony was torn between wanting the answers and picking up his wife, carrying her upstairs and not seeing downstairs again until Monday. He compromised, he pulled away from kissing Angela's lips to put his hands on the side of her face to kiss her all along her jaw line and cheeks, eventually slipping his hands down her neck to kiss and caress all the tender spots of her ears and neck. This afforded him quick moments to ask, "how...photo...wow."

Angela was able to decipher that as, "how did that photo come to be?" It was almost as difficult to answer him as it was for him to ask the question as his persistent kissing was most definitely having an effect on her. She was clutching his arms and thinking that she really needed to get his coat, and everything else, off of him. His coat was cold from being outside, but the only chill she felt was from Tony stroking her cheeks with his thumbs as he paused and tried to catch his breath. She put a hand over his and said, "I work in advertising, remember?" Although this was intended as a joke, at this point Tony just might not remember where she worked. "I know discreet photographers."

Tony took a deep breath as the full weight of this realization sank in, "who is he? I'll kill him."

Angela had anticipated this and smiled, "don't worry, Tony, this he is a she."

Tony was greatly relieved, he grinned and tenderly touched his lips to hers again. Angela put her arms around his waist in an effort to pull him closer. He moved down to kiss the bottom of her neck and touch the soft skin left bare at the top of the bathing suit. He was conflicted; he desperately wanted to nudge those shoulder straps off her, but also wanted to wait until they were upstairs for that.

The only coherent voice in his head yelled, "then what are you still doing downstairs?"

He had to agree with that little voice, what were they still doing downstairs? Toward that end Tony finished kissing his wife and stepped away to put an arm around her waist to guide her upstairs. She smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Angela, I've known you for seven years. Where have you been hiding this aspect of yourself?"

She stopped walking, "do you think it was easy? There were so many nights I spent aching for you, wanting to cross the hallway, but knowing I couldn't. There was too much solitude in my bedroom Tony, and I was so lonely. So very lonely. Did...did you ever think about me during those long nights?"

"All the time."

Angela threw her arms around him and rested her head on his chest.

"I ached for you too, Angela."

She raised her head and kissed him, "we have a lot of lost time to make up for."

"Yeah, we do."

There was so much lost time; for so many years Angela had convinced herself that she was happy in her relationship with Tony. Looking back on that relationship now she saw how very hollow and half-lived that relationship was; she felt so sorry for their former selves.

Tony noticed a sudden sadness in Angela, her sudden change in mood brought his desire down to a state where it could be a little more controlled, he touched her cheek, "what's wrong? Have I lost you?"

Lost her? Not a chance,"of course not, honey; I was just thinking about the lonely people we used to be."

"We did the best we could, Angela."

"I know." She snuggled in to his arms to enjoy the precious moment they were sharing now. Tony held her tightly and kissed the top of her head, his pulse was starting to quicken again. He let go of her enough to walk up the stairs, arm in arm. Three steps up, Tony suddenly stopped and turned to his wife, "you know Angela, you could let me seduce you once in a while."

"Oh Tony," she put a hand on his chest, "I never knew you were so..." she gave him a quick kiss, "kinky," she teased. He laughed.

"Tony," Angela continued sincerely, "you don't have to do anything to seduce me; I'm all yours."

He saw the truth of her statement through the love in her eyes. He picked up her hand and kissed it, "you don't have to do anything to seduce me either, Angela."

She blushed and kissed him softly, "so now that we are both mutually seduced, what do we do?"

His lips turned up in a feral grin; Angela's smile grew to match his. He was just about to lean down to pick her up when the doorbell rang. Tony cursed the lousy timing of whoever it was as he looked at the front door.

"Don't answer it," she begged.

"It could be your Valentine's flowers."

"Oh, well in that case you should answer it." It's amazing how quickly plans could be changed for flowers.

"You sure you don't want to?" Tony asked for purely sarcastic clarification.

She crossed her arms, "I might get a little chilly."

"I don't think that's possible for you; you're far too hot to be cooled by a little February weather," he gave her another quick kiss and she giggled.

"I'll be right back," he said on his way down the stairs, taking a few calming breaths along the way.

"I'm not going anywhere," and she blew him a kiss.

He "caught" the kiss just before he opened the door and smiled at her. Tony composed himself enough to interact with the outside world. Fortunately, he didn't have to interact for long. The doorbell ringing did signal the arrival of Angela's flowers and the messenger from the florist was quickly on his way to the next stop in a long day of deliveries.

The appearance of the flowers delayed their ascent upstairs, but at least Tony didn't have to worry about the flowers freezing now. He looked up to Angela, still standing where he left her on the staircase. He walked up to her and handed her the box, "happy Valentine's Day, hon."

Angela's face lit up as she accepted the box; today was by far the best Valentine's Day of her life and it was just getting started. She couldn't wait for the rest of the day's activities. She pulled the top off the box to reveal 13 exquisite pink roses. Twelve for this year's Valentine's Day and one to keep up the tradition of the rose for the bud vase in her den, a tradition that was going to have to be slightly amended this year as it didn't look like Angela was going to see the inside of that room for a few days.

Angela sighed and leaned down to the roses to breath in their delightful aroma. Tony saw the joy on his beloved wife's face and thought that even though the roses had been expensive they were worth every cent to see that expression on her face. He started to head downstairs.

"Where are you going?"

"To get a vase."

"Tony, the crystal vase is upstairs, and that's the most appropriate vase for these roses." She held out her hand to him. He took it and they stood on the staircase for a moment looking into each other's eyes and basking in the love they saw there.

"Thank you for the flowers," she finally said as she drifted over to kiss him.

"You're welcome."

Angela's mind was back in the past, thinking of that vase and how much he'd sacrificed for it, " I still can't believe you sold your baseball card for me."

He shrugged, "I just wanted to get you something nice for Christmas."

"I already had everything, how sad that I didn't know it at the time."

"C'mon Angela, that was a long time ago; and I did get my baseball card back, because of your thoughtfulness. Thank you for that."

She smiled, "You're welcome. Still, a little peck under the mistletoe hardly seems an adequate thank you."

Tony raised an eyebrow, "you have something else in mind?" Mutual gratitude was much better shared. Of course she did, he could see it in her eyes; and if that's the way she wanted to flirt, he wasn't going to stop her. Angela never had to do anything to thank him for the vase, the look in her eyes that Christmas morning was more than enough thanks for him, and she knew that.

"Thank you," she said as she leaned in to kiss him.

"Still too much talking!" that yelling voice in his head was back, or maybe this voice was coming from elsewhere, he wasn't sure, but it was time to listen to it. He agreed with the voice, but he was courteous enough to say, "you're welcome," as he broke off their kiss and bent down to sweep his Valentine off her feet. Angela's whole being radiated love as she snuggled her head on his shoulder on their way upstairs. She loved her husband, she loved the roses and she really loved it whenever he picked her up and whisked her away to a world where this love could be expressed.

On the landing Tony ventured another idea, "hey Angela, can you come up with a Mickey Mouse Club outfit?"

"Mickey Mouse Club?" That seemed a little juvenile to Angela, but then the penny dropped and she answered, "oh, Annette." Of course. She saw the way his face lit up and answered, "I'll see what I can do." Privately she thought that Marie might have been the better choice to fulfill that fantasy, but that was certainly not a thought she would ever share with him.

Remembering Annette's post-Mouseketeer days, Tony added, "a bikini would be fun too."

"I wore a bikini on our honeymoon," she reminded him.

A very happy grin emerged on his face, "I haven't forgotten, why do you think I brought up the idea again. And if I recall properly, you didn't wear it for long," he said, still smiling at the very fond memory, "and you won't be wearing this bathing suit for much longer either.

Tony didn't lie.

Note: I'm not sure how familiar people are with the WW II pin up of Betty Grable; if a visual is necessary just Google Betty Grable, the picture comes right up. As always, thank you for reading!