Tony had decided to escape the tension at home by going to Brooklyn to play pool at Marty's Melody Room. Luckily it had worked and he had been able to put everything that had happened and the stress of the past few weeks out of his mind. He had enjoyed spending time with his friends, laughing and joking with them. A part of him didn't want to leave since this was the first time in weeks he had felt relaxed and at ease. The situation at home was so tense and nerve wracking he felt like he could explode at any moment. He hated the fact that the family was being torn apart. He hated it even more that it was all his fault. He knew he didn't have anyone else to blame. He was the one who had decided to sleep with and date Kathleen. So as the saying went; he made his bed and now he was lying in it.
Driving home his thoughts had swirled around his mind like a tornado. On the one hand he was enjoying his time with Kathleen. He wasn't in love with her or anything but they did have things in common and she was nice and a lot of fun to be with. On the other hand he definitely wasn't enjoying the tension his dating her was causing the family. The kids could give lessons in the silent treatment, Angela and him only spoke when absolutely necessary, and although Mona was still speaking to him he could tell that things were difficult for her as well. Some people would suggest that he just break things off with Kathleen to restore peace within the family. If he did break up with her would things be okay then between Angela and him? Would things go back to the way they were before? And what about the kids? Would they break their silent treatment and go back to the fun-loving kids he knew they were? He sighed. Who knew dating someone could cause this much chaos?! Dating someone was supposed to be fun and easy. But not in this situation.
He arrived home and entered through the back kitchen door. He was about to go into the living room when he heard Angela and the kids talking about Kathleen and him. He knew it was wrong to eavesdrop but he felt frozen in place.
"It's about you and Dad. Or more specifically Dad and Kathleen." Sam said.
Tony could hear the tension in her voice. He knew she was having problems with him dating Kathleen. Everytime Kathleen would try and talk to her Sam would give very short-usually one word answers- and escape up to her room like she couldn't wait to get away from them. He wanted to talk to her about her behavior but Mona had convinced him not to stating that it would just make things worse. After all she pointed out Sam was almost 18 years old and entitled to her opinion on her Dad's girlfriend- no matter what it was.
"What about them?" Angela sputtered.
Tony winced at the hurt tone of her voice. He hated himself for how much he had hurt her. He hadn't meant to. He would never purposely hurt her for anything in the world. 'But you did!' he silently scolded himself.
"We thought the three of us should talk about it. We already did with Dad."
"You did? When?"
"The day after it happened. We saw Tony go into your office and we both wanted to talk to you but we overheard a few things that got us worried so we went to Grandma and well she told us what happened. "
"I see." Angela said quietly.
"Look Angela we didn't mean to eavesdrop. We really didn't.. But, when we heard what the two of you were saying….."
"What did you hear?"
"That you didn't want Tony to feel bad for seeing someone because of you."
"And Dad saying that he didn't go looking for this."
"That's when we knew something had happened and Grandma confirmed it."
Tony sighed. He still remembered the angry and disappointed expressions on their faces the night they talked about it. They had been angry with him in the past. But they usually got over it pretty quickly. But he knew this time it would take much longer.
"Angela, we want you to know that we are so angry with Dad and how he treated you."
Tony hated hearing that but the sad thing was he had no one to blame but himself.
"I appreciate the two of you looking out for me but there's no reason to be angry at Tony. The truth is as much as it pains me to say this he didn't do anything wrong. We're not married, engaged, or a couple in any sense of the word. And who knows what could happen in the future? It's like I told Tony maybe we have to go through this to see if we can go any further."
Tony remembered that conversation vividly. So many times he had wished he would have said and handled things differently. If he had maybe things wouldn't be in turmoil like they were.
Sam shook her head. "Angela, I don't understand how you can be so noble. You and Dad were on the path to something more and he goes and does this?!"
Sam was right. Angela was noble. No, she was more than that. She was amazing, remarkable, and understanding. Way more than he deserved. Any other woman would have demanded he make a choice right then and there but not Angela. She had let him go to decide for himself.
"Honey, do you remember when we had that talk about my intentions towards your Father?"
"Yeah. I said I always thought you two would end up getting married and you said that you guys had discussed it but decided not to decide for now."
"Yes and I told you that Tony and I had a open ended complicated relationship that was in flux…."
"And you didn't know where it will end up." Sam finished for her.
"What a second! When was all this going on?" Jonathan asked.
"It was when I was thinking about skipping my senior year. I was worried about leaving my Dad alone and I thought if he and Angela got married he'd be okay. But, then Bonnie and I saw Angela kissing that Howdy Doody guy and well it got me worried. Just before that I had told Bonnie that the two of you were like two peas in a pod."
Angela chuckled. "Well I don't think I have ever been referred to as a pea. A pumpkin maybe but never a pea."
Tony heard the kids laugh and felt his heart lighten. It had been awhile since he heard it and it was music to his ears. He wished though that he was part of the laughter. It pained him that he wasn't. Now he knew what the phrase; on the outside looking in meant. He had never felt it before and it was killing him that he was feeling it now.
"I just want you both to know that no matter what happens we love you both and nothing and nobody will ever change that."
Tony smiled softly. Angela was right. They raised Sam and Jonathan together and they would always be their kids and they would always be loved- no matter what.
"We love you too and yes we love Dad. We just don't like him to much right now. "
Tony was glad to hear Sam say that. While he completely understood their anger and disappointment it would hurt him more if they said they hated him.
"You got that right!" Jonathan said.
Tony felt his stomach tighten at the anger in his voice. He wished there was something he could say or do to make things better.
"Look don't be so hard on Tony. He loves you both very much."
"So what are you saying we should just forgive and forget?"
"I can't decide that for you. You're not kids anymore. You have to decide that for yourself. I just hope it won't be forever for your sakes and as well as Tony's."
He did too. He missed them. He missed Angela. He missed the way the way they all used to be.
"You're amazing Angela." Sam said admiringly.
Yes, she is. Yes, she is. Tony thought.
Tony watched as Angela opened her arms to Sam who willingly went into them. After a moment Jonathan put his arms around both women and the three of them sat there holding on to one another. Any other time he would have come into the living room and gathered them all into his arms smiling like a fool and commenting about what a happy and loving family they were. The kids would have rolled their eyes and escaped upstairs while Angela would have chuckled at their quick departure. Then the two of them would have sat on the couch and talked about what a great family they had.
He shook his head. After a while they broke apart and the kids went upstairs. Angela leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Tony watched her and desperately wanted to say something to make her feel better. He wanted to say something-anything- to ease the hurt and tension of the past few weeks. As if she could feel his presence she turned around.
"Hi Tony. How was Brooklyn?"
He came into the living room. "Good. I ummm played some pool with the guys. I won of course." he chuckled nervously.
She smiled at him but then quickly looked away. He sat down on the couch beside her.
"Angela?"
"Yeah?" she turned back to look at him.
"I just wanted to say thanks."
"For what?" She was confused. What could he possibly be thanking her for?!
Tony cleared his throat "I uh heard you talking with the kids just now."
"Oh."
"Yeah, I know it's wrong to eavesdrop. But I just felt frozen in place. I just wanted to thank you for sticking up for me. Even though I know I don't deserve it. "
"I just don't want all of you to have all this tension between you."
Tony was silent. While he was glad she didn't want any tension between the kids and him the tension between the two of them was even worse. He would give anything to ease the tension between them.
"What about us? Will we ever get back to where we were before?"
"I hope so. I really do. I'm just…"
"It's okay. I understand. I just miss you Angela."
"I'm still here."
"I know. But, it isn't the same."
"No, it isn't. But it was like I said before. Maybe we have to go through this to see if can go any further."
He nodded. "Yeah, maybe."
"I guess this is a good time to tell you that I met someone."
"You did? Who? When? Where?" He fired the questions at her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like a lawyer." He said sheepishly.
'It's okay." She chuckled, "Well his name is Andy and he's a doctor. I met him last week at that hospital fundraiser I attended."
"I see."
"Yeah, well anyway we got to talking and discovered we had things in common and he asked me out for this Saturday night."
"That's uh that's good. I hope you have a good time." 'But not to good.' he silently said to himself. Then he berated himself. Angela would never sleep with a man on the first date. She was too classy for that. But, even if she wasn't and did sleep with this Andy guy who was he to judge?!
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Well, I guess I'll head up to bed now. Good night Tony."
"Good night Angela."
He watched her as she got up and went to the stairs. She looked up towards the top then back to him.
"Tony?"
'Yeah?"
"How about some time next week we all go out to eat? Just the five of us."
Tony smiled. "Sounds like a plan. Yeah, just the five of us."
Angela smiled back and ascended the stairs.
Tony leaned back and breathed a small sigh of relief. Maybe just maybe things could and would get back to the way they were.
All he could do now was wait and see.