Tony went into the kitchen to get his much needed drink and found Mona sitting at the kitchen table eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
"How could you Mona?!" he asked angrily going into the refrigerator and pulling out a cold beer.
"It's very simple Tony. First you take two pieces of bread…."
"Not that!" Tony rolled his eyes and popped the tab on the beer can and took a long swig. He sat down at the table. "I meant how could you tell Sam and Jonathan what happened?!"
"Oh that."
"Yes that!"
"Look Tony I wasn't planning on saying anything. But what was I supposed to do? They both came to my apartment all worried and upset."
"You could have said you didn't know anything."
"I wasn't going to lie to them. After all they did overhear Angela telling you that she didn't want you feeling badly about seeing someone because of her. So they already had an inkling what was going on."
Tony sighed deeply feeling like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. While he respected the fact that Mona said she wouldn't lie to them he also wished that they had never found out. Well they would have eventually since he would be going out with Kathleen and they would have no doubt picked up on what was going on.
"Okay okay I get that you didn't want to lie to them."
"No, I didn't. I mean they're not little kids anymore. Sam is practically in college and Jonathan will be in a few years. This does affect them too. I mean you and Angela are basically the only parents they have. They probably feel like their Dad betrayed their Mom."
"So do I." Tony said quietly his face downcast.
Mona placed her hand over his. While she wasn't happy over the fact that Tony had slept with Kathleen she hated seeing him looking so forlorn. As she had said earlier Angela and him probably were on the way to something but right now they weren't.
"Tony, you need to stop blaming yourself. I mean what's done is done. All you, Angela, well all of us can do is move forward.'
"That may be easier said then done."
"Why?"
"Well I decided to keep on seeing Kathleen." he looked at her to gauge her reaction. While she didn't look as upset as the kids she didn't seem thrilled by the news either.
"I see. So I take it Angela knows?" she pulled her hand away and picked up her sandwich and took a bite.
"Yeah, it was actually kind of her idea. She said that in light of what happened we should broaden our horizons. She said that maybe this is part of our journey."
"So how long will this journey be for? One date? Two dates? The rest of your school year? Marriage?"
Tony was taken aback at the word 'marriage.' "Who said anything about marriage? Mona, we haven't even been out on our first date yet."
"True, but face it Tone the two of you have gone way past the *first date.* "
He sighed and took another swig of his beer. "You're right."
"So I suppose the kids know about all this?" At his nod she continued. "And I take it they're not to thrilled."
"No they're not. Jonathan asked the same thing you did. How long will this journey be for? And Sam said that this wasn't the 1800's and that a woman wouldn't be shunned if the man she slept with never spoke or saw her again."
"She has a point Tony. I mean it's not like Kathleen is going to be run out of town if you decide not to date her."
"I know that Mona. It's just after talking to her and getting to know her well I guess I'm curious to see if anything more could be there. And I don't just mean physically. We actually have a lot in common. We're both older students. We both work in the service industry. I guess I just see a kindred spirit in her." He looked over at her. She was looking back at him a small yet sad smile on her face.
"Mona, look I'm sorry. I know that you want Angela and I together.."
"Don't be sorry. I mean yes I want you and Angela together more than anything but Angela is right. Maybe this is all a part of some weird and frustrating journey."
"She never used the words weird and frustrating."
"Yes, but aren't they the perfect words to describe your relationship?" she chuckled and elbowed him gently in his ribs.
He laughed softly. "Yeah, I guess they are."
Mona got up and took her plate over to the sink. She leaned against the counter and sighed. The next few weeks or maybe months weren't going to be easy but she had faith that they would all get through it. They had to because she knew in her heart that Tony and Angela belonged together. She placed her hands on his shoulders.
"Tone, just one thing?"
"Yeah?"
"Please don't make this a long journey. I mean the poor nun will need to rest sometime."
She squeezed his shoulders and left the room via the back door.
Tony sighed and finished his beer in one gulp. He got up and put Mona's plate in the dishwasher, rinsed out his beer can and threw it in the garbage can. He turned off the light and went into the living room where he turned out all the lights except the one on the front table. He pulled back the curtain and looked out. Was he hoping to see Angela coming up the walkway? Yes, he was. But, unfortunately there wasn't much he could do about it. He put the curtain back and headed upstairs to bed.
He just hoped that this journey didn't drive Angela and him apart.