"Hello Marie." He sighed the weight of everything going on pressing down on his shoulders.
"I know it's been a while since I've talked to you but I think about you every day. Especially when I look at Sam. She looks so much like you Marie." Tony shook his head in amazement. "And she's a mom, can you believe that? Our little girl is a mom. Nicky is his name. He's a great kid. Wait a minute, what am I saying? Of course you know what is going on. I know you're watching us from above. I guess with everything that is going on… " He rubbed his hand over his face.
"I just feel so helpless Marie. Angela is fighting for her life and there's nothing I can do about it. It's the same way I felt when you were sick. I'm so used to being the one who fixes everything. But your cancer and Angela's car accident were both out of my control. I remember when you told me you had cancer I felt this cold chill go through my body. And I felt the same chill when Sam told me that Angela had been in a car accident. I'm scared. I am so scared that I am going to lose her like I did you. I can't go through that again. I need her Marie. I love her. I never thought I would love someone after you died. The truth is I never wanted to.
He stood up and began pacing. "I know before you died we had a long talk. I know you told me that it was okay if I found someone to love again. But, I just couldn't do it. I felt like I was betraying you and your memory. Oh sure I knew I wasn't going to be a monk or anything. But letting another woman into my heart? That wasn't going to happen. But then I met Angela. A woman so different from you it's crazy. I mean she's a W.A.S.P." he chuckled. "She went to business school and has her own ad agency. If I had fallen for Gina, Frankie, or even Kathleen it would have made a little more sense. But, I guess it's true what they say; the heart wants what the heart wants. And I want Angela. I've wanted her for years but was too chicken and pig headed to admit it. And now I may never get that chance. The pathetic thing is I had so many chances over the years. So many lost chances."
He stopped pacing. He stood there for a few minutes going over all the times he had put up a wall against his feelings. Over all the times he pushed his feelings aside. All the times he watched Angela date other men. All the times he dated other women. But somehow they always came back to one another. They needed another chance. They deserved another chance. After all, they had shared their first kiss together. Two starry eyed kids-as Angela liked to call them- who were reunited twenty years later. What were the odds? Was it fate? Destiny? Whatever it was he was going to do everything in his power to make things right.
"I better get going. They're all probably wondering where I am. Thanks for listening." he smiled softly. He walked toward the door then turned back around.
"I love you Marie. I'll always love you. Rest in peace sweetheart."
He then opened the door and closed it quietly behind him.
######################
"Dad! You're back!"
"Of course I'm back."
"I was just worried about you."
"We all were Tony." Jonathan said.
"I know guys. I just needed some time alone. So any word?"
"No, not yet." Claire told him.
"This waiting is driving me crazy! I mean how hard is it to come and tell us what is going on?!" Mona threw her hands up in the air. Claire went over to her and put her arms around her. Tony, Sam, and Jonathan looked at each other in amazement. Mona normally wasn't the touchy feely type. Either Claire and her were very close or Mona was so distraught she would welcome comfort from anyone.
Luckily they didn't have to wait much longer because just then a nurse came into the room.
"Hello, are you here for Angela Bower?"
"Yes, yes we are." Tony said his heart was racing a mile a minute."
"How is she?" Jonathan asked and grabbed Sam's hand.
"Well I can tell you that she made it out of surgery."
"Oh thank God!" Mona collapsed against Claire.
"But, she's in a coma."
"Will she come out of it? How long will she.." Tony swallowed hard.
"We don't know. The surgery went well. Now the rest is up to her."
"Can we see her?" Sam asked.
"Not quite yet. She's still in I.C.U. "
"When?" Tony pleaded.
"We will be moving her to a private room in a couple of hours. You'll be able to see her then. But only two at a time."
"Okay. Thank you nurse…I'm sorry we don't know your name." Sam smiled at her.
"It's Hudson. Elizabeth Hudson." She smiled back and left the room.
"So two more hours we have to wait to see her. " Tony groaned. "How am I- how are we supposed to wait?!"
Sam walked over him. "Dad, I know you're not the most patient person in the world" Mona and Jonathan had a good laugh at that. Tony gave them both a look then started laughing himself.
"Okay, you're right. I'm not the most patient person in the world. It's just this waiting. This waiting.." he trailed off, unable to go on.
"We know Tony. We know." Mona said and walked over to him. She put her arms around him and they held each other tight.
After a few hours Nurse Hudson came back in and told them that Angela had been moved into a private room. She reiterated they could go see Angela but only two at a time.
Tony and Mona went in first. They were taken aback from her appearance. Her normally rosy complexion was pale and she was hooked up to a lot of machines. But she was alive. That was the important thing. It was the only thing that mattered. They sat down on either side of her.
"Hey sweetheart." Tony brushed his hand against her cheek. "We're here. "
"And we're going to stay here until you wake up."
"Well Sam and Jonathan want to see you too. And they will in a few minutes. I- well we" - he gestured between Mona and himself- needed to see you first. We needed to see if you're okay. And you're going to be. We can't lose you."
"And we won't lose you." Mona told her. "I won't allow it, Blondie. You hear me?"
Tony laughed. "You better listen to her. She means business."
"Come on Tony Sam and Jonathan want to see her too." Mona stood up.
Tony nodded and stood up. He leaned down and kissed Angela on the forehead.
"We'll be back in a while sweetheart."
They left the room and told Sam and Jonathan they could go in.
Sam and Jonathan sat in the same places Tony and Mona had.
"Hey Mom."
"Hey Angela."
"We're glad you're doing okay."
"Yeah, we don't know what we'd do without you."
Tony and Mona were waiting outside her hospital room. Claire had gone home.
Tony was pacing back and forth.
"Mona, what would have happened if she hadn't made it through the surgery?"
"She did Tony. She did."
Tony nodded. "I just want her to open her eyes.
"Me too."
After a few minutes Sam and Jonathan came back out.
"I'm going to go home now." Sam said and gave Tony a kiss.
"Me too." Jonathan gave Mona a kiss as well.
"Call us if anything happens." Sam told them.
"We will."
Tony and Mona went back into Angela's room and sat back down.
For the next week they alternated staying with her. They all made a promise that at least one of them would always be with her. Tony of course never left her side.
They talked to her. They held her hand. They waited.
It was late one night. Tony was talking to her. Telling her stories. Singing her songs.
"Oh sweetheart I wish you would open your eyes. I just.. I can't live without you. I need you. I know I've made a lot of mistakes. But, I want a chance to make it up to you. I love you so much." he cried and laid his head down on her stomach.
After a few moments he felt a hand run through his hair. He picked his head up and looked at Angela.
Her eyes were open.
"Angela! You're awake!"
"Tony?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you too."
"
