The next few weeks Jonathan and Hank helped Tony with getting everything ready for the special day. Mrs. Rossini would be making chicken parmagiana, garlic bread, and a salad. They ordered a cake from one of the local bakeries, and of course they would have some plain chicken and noodles available for the bride. With all of her connections at Bloomingdales, Angela was able to get the perfect dresses for herself, Mona, and Samantha without having to leave the house. Everything was coming together perfectly. Mona was up and around and nearly her old self a few days before, and was able to help Angela get ready. Angela was beginning to get quite a round belly, and looked beautiful,
"Oh Mother, I can't believe that this day is finally here!" Angela exclaimed. "I've thought about it so many times over the years, what our wedding would be like. But today, it's even better than I could have ever imagined. Having our loved ones with us as we become husband and wife, officially cementing us as a family. Having these two little ones growing in my belly, and soon to become grandparents as well. I truly am happy and blessed!"
"Angela, while your marriage to Michael didn't work out, I know that this marriage will. You and Tony are soulmates. You truly are meant to be," Mona said.
"Well, Mother, I think it's time I shared something with you."
"Oh? And what would that be?"
"Well, you see, when Tony and I went to Kissing Rock at Jonathan's camp. We discovered it was "Anthony and Ingrid", not "Anthony and Angela"."
"Yes..."
"Well, I was so nervous when I had my first kiss that I didn''t want to share my real name and..."
"You're Ingrid?! I knew it! So you truly ARE soulmates then!"
"Yes, I'm Ingrid. Yes, Tony and I shared our first kisses together."
"Well that certainly explains a lot! As I was saying, we've all seen that look of love in your eyes for years now, which is now even more than it has ever been. Your love for each other is deep, and it really is great to see."
"Oh, Mother! Thank you so much for being our cheerleader even when we couldn't admit it aloud to each other. Well, conciously at least!" She smiled.
"Now let's finish getting you ready!"
_
Tony awaited his bride in their living room with Jonathan standing next to him. First out from the study was Samantha, her rose-colored dress fitting loosely around her round belly, escorted by Hank. Next came Mona in a blue-green frock, beaming with pride for her daughter and soon to be son-in-law. The music changed to the Wedding March, and all the guests stood up. Angela came out in a peach-colored gown. She was breathtaking, and with her pregnancy now roughly halfway through, she was glowing. Tony watched as she walked towards him, the love between them showing in their eyes. Everyone oohed and aahed as she glided down the makeshift aisle.
As the bride and groom said their vows, there wasn't another sound in the room. And when the minister declared them husband and wife, everyone shed tears of happiness. They all then proceeded to the dining room - Tony and Angela, Mona, Sam and Hank, Joe and Fran, Billy and Mrs. Napoli, and Wendy and Herb. Mrs. Rossini and Jonathan brought food in from the kitchen, and they all cozily sat around the table, passing around dishes of food. Paul and Isabelle were noticiably absent as they were out of the country finishing up their time with Doctors without Borders, but sent their congratulations to the happy couple.
"Mrs. Rossini, thank you for the delicious meal," Tony began. "I know that it's usually the best man and maid of honor that make speeches at weddings - "
"And we will be, Dad," Jonathan interjected.
"Thank you, son. But I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone who is here with us today. You are all family to us. You have all suported us in one way or another over the past several years, and I just wanted to let you know how much Angela and I have appreciated that. As we continue to grow our family," taking a moment to look at Angela and Samantha, "we are grateful for the gifts you have all bestowed on us. I'm not sure who spearheaded that idea, but we are blessed to have the nursery furniture in place for our sweet babies."
"Yes, thank you all for your wonderful gifts!" Angela added. "We weren't expecting anything, especially with such a short notice and this being so close to the holidays, but we are very grateful as Tony said."
"Well, Mom, we knew that you wouldn't need the typical household items that most newlyweds do, so Hank, Jonathan, and I contacted everyone about getting you furniture for the babies," Sam said. "And Mona helped coordinate the money being sent to "Babyland" where the furniture came from. And here is a card, with a gift certfiicate for the balance from everyone here, as well as Marcie and her parents."
"Oh, my sweet children! I love you all so much!" Angela gushed. "I can't believe that you all did that for us!"
"Well, you and Dad have done so much for us over the years," Jonathan stated. "I guess I'll do my speech first as I kind of all already started it." Everyone laughs. "Mom, Dad, from the first time I realized that there was more than employer/employee with you two, I've been hoping for this day. After all, remember Chez Rene?" Tony and Angela looked at each other and smiled. "And from that point forward, I kept hoping and praying you'd end up together. And now that this day has finally come, I just want to toast you both to a lifetime of happiness. I love you both so much, and am proud to be your son!"
"Here, here!" were the shouts around the table.
"Thank you, son. We love you too!" Tony said as he got up to give Jonathan a hug.
"That was lovely, Jonathan," Angela said with tears in her eyes. Jonathan leaned down to hug her as well.
"My turn!" Sam said. "Dad, from the day you moved us here from Brooklyn, well, really even before, I had been hoping for you to find someone to fill your heart like my first mom, Marie had. And after seeing you and Angela interact and be parents to both Jonathan and me, I had a feeling that there was love brewing between you two. And after so many near misses, you finally came together as a couple, eventually getting engaged, and then even moving to Iowa briefly. You two can do anything together, and that's why I know that you will be great in raising the two babies coming in a few months. You instilled values in both Jonathan and I that we will carry through into our own lives. And that's why Hank and I decided to look for a house nearby, because I want to be near my parents, my brothers, my sister, and my grandmother. I love you both with all of my heart!"
"Oh Sam! I am so glad that Tony and you came to us too! I love you too sweetheart!" Angela cried. Sam leaned over to hug her.
"Samantha, that was beautiful! I love you too, my Sammi!" Tony said giving her a big hug.
"Wait, you're moving? When?" Mona asked.
"We're not moving yet, Mona, but we're just starting to look around. I know you want your apartment back." Sam said.
"No rush, Sam. I'm enjoying being a part of the preparations here right now."
"Thanks, Mone."
"Beautiful speeches, kids. Now who's ready for some wedding cake?" Carmella asked.
_
A few weeks after her parents were married, Sam and Hank found out what they were having. "Mom, Dad, come here!" Sam called out as she entered into the kitchen one morning in mid January.
"What is it, honey?" Tony asked as entered through the swinging door. "Angela's upstairs asleep. She had a rough night."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that Dad. I really wanted to share the news with you both together."
"What is it? Is everything okay?"
"Yes Dad, everything is fine. I just wanted to let you know that my brother can be called Matteo, but you'll have to figure out another name for my sister."
"Is that your way of telling me you're having a girl?"
"Yep!"
"I'm going to have a granddaughter? Oh Sammi, I'm so happy for you!"
"Thanks, Dad!"
"What's all the commotion going on? Mom's still asleep!" Jonathan stated coming into the kitchen.
"Jonathan, you're going to be the uncle to Marie Katherine Thomopolous." Sam said.
"I'm going to have a niece! Yay! Congrats, sis!" He came over to give her a hug.
"Aww, thanks bro!"
"Wait, did you say Marie Katherine?" Tony asked.
"Yes, Dad, I did. It's a tribute to both of my moms."
"Angela will love that, I'm sure. I'll let you share the news with both her and Mona later then." He headed over to the stove to start making breakfast for his family.
"Oh, that's right, Mona is back in the office. I'd forgotten about that. Pregnancy brain is for real."
"Sam, when is Hank headed into the city? I was hoping to catch a ride with him to take Grandma for lunch since I have today off of school."
"I'm not sure, but he should be coming down shortly. Hey Jonathan, since you're going into the city can you do me a favor?"
"Sure, sis. What's up?"
"Can you pick up a package I have at Bloomingdales? Hank wouldn't be able to get it until the weekend, and I kind of need it before then."
"Got it! Yep, I can definitely do that for you."
"Thanks, Jonathan!"
"How many pancakes do you both want?" Tony inquired.
"I'll take four Dad," Jonathan said.
"Four sounds good to me too!" Sam answered.
"Good morning Dad. Good morning Jonathan." Hank cheerily said as he came in the door.
"Good morning, son. How many pancakes would you like this morning?"
"I'll take six, if that's okay."
"Sure thing! I'll grab some more batter out, as Angela will have at least that many too." He smiled knowing that her appetite had grown a lot since she'd entered the second half of her pregnancy.
"Hey Hank, I was wondering what time you were headed to the city today?" Jonathan asked.
"I'm thinking of heading out around 10am. Why, what's up?"
"Well. if it's okay I was thinking I could catch a ride in with you as I'm planning to take Grandma for lunch since I don't have school today. I can take the train back afterwards."
"I can definitely give you a ride in, and if you don't mind hanging around in the city for a bit, I can give you a ride back as well."
"I actually have a date later so depending on what time you're done, I may need to take the train back."
"Okay, we can play it by ear then."
"I'm going to go up and check if Mom wants a tray brought up to her," Samantha stated.
"I'm going to get dressed while you're making breakfast, Dad," Jonathan said.
"I guess that leaves us married men, right Dad," Hank said.
"So, I hear you're having a daughter. Congratulations, son!"
"Thanks, Dad. I'm excited, but a bit scared too. How'd you feel when Marie was pregnant with Sam?"
"Well, we didn't know if we were having a son or daughter until birth. But having a little girl was great as a younger dad. Even though I was playing ball, I didn't have that pressure to have to teach baseball and football and hockey and basketball. Yeah, Sam was a bit of a tomboy, but when we moved here she loved all the girlie stuff that Angela and Mona gave her and did with her. So growing up somewhere besides Brooklyn she may not have been a tomboy."
"Dad, was it hard raising her alone after her mom died? I mean I've asked Sam, but she doesn't remember a whole lot."
"I won't say it was easy, but she made it easy on me. She didn't give me a whole lot of trouble, well at least not until right before we moved here. The day we moved in she had a shiner from a fight she was in at school. That's when I decided we needed to move somewhere else."
"That had to have been hard, moving from Brooklyn. Moving from where you grew up."
"It was, but I love my daughter so much more. And you moved from where you grew up too."
"Yeah, but Bridgeport isn't that different from Fairfield. At least not like Brooklyn is."
"That's true. But as I said, Sam was my priority. I wanted her to grow up somewhere safe, somewhere that I didn't need to worry about her at school or even at night."
"I get that. I love my daughter already and she isn't even here yet. Is that weird?"
"Not at all, son. You're gonna be a great dad!"
"I'm learning from one of the best!"
"Thank you, Hank. Pancakes are ready!"