Joanne turned around in shock and found herself looking right in the angry face of Tony. His eyes were like black steel boring into hers. She shivered a bit but was determined not to let him know how much he was affecting her. The truth was though she had never seen him so angry. Even when she had accused Angela and him of living in sin when they ran against each other for P.T.A. president he wasn't this upset. But now he looked like he wanted to strangle her with his bare hands.
She turned back around and looked at Angela who looked as shocked as she felt.
"Angela! Are you going to let him talk to me like that? I am a guest after all!"
"You are not a guest! You are just some nosy busybody who apparently has nothing better to do than come over here and harass Angela with your hair brained idea!"
Joanne stood up and faced Tony with her hands on her hips. "Hairbrained?! I know what I saw Tony! Or have you forgotten your little rendezvous with Renata at the park?!"
The park? Tony and Renata were at the park? When? Why? All these questions flowed through Angela's mind.
"Tony what is she talking about?"
Joanne turned back to Angela. "Oh Angela dear naive Angela. I saw Tony and Renata in the park over a month ago and they were all cozy and hugging."
"That's it! Get the hell out of here!" Tony said through clenched teeth.
Joanne sighed. "Ok. Fine. I'll go." She walked over to the door and put her hand on the knob. She turned back around.
'I just thought it was my sisterly duty to tell you that you are dating a two timer who is screwing a woman young enough to be his daughter! BYE!" With those parting words she opened and closed the door behind her.
Angela turned back around and looked at Tony. He no longer looked angry. He looked scared like he was about to lose everything. He crossed over in front of the couch and came over to her. He grabbed her hands in his.
"Angela! Sweetheart, you have to believe me! None of this is true! I am not having an affair with Renata!"
She looked into his eyes. They were pleading with her to believe him. She shook her head. Did he really think she would believe anything Joanne said?! Foolish man!
She leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss. He let go of her hands and pulled her to him, increasing the intensity of the kiss. She pulled slightly back and looked in his eyes.
"Tony, of course I believe you. I know you would never do something like that."
Tony breathed a sigh of relief.
"But, I am curious. Why does Joanne think you're having an affair with Renata? And what about the park?"
Tony sighed. "Okay, there is an explanation to all of this. And I was planning on telling you. But, I couldn't."
"Why not?"
Tony took her hand and led her to the couch. They sat down and faced each other.
"Okay, first of all Joanne is right about one thing. I did meet Renata in the park one night. And while I am telling you this I do have to apologize."
"For what?"
"The night I met Renata I had told you that I had to go to my office at Ridgemont but instead I was with Renata."
Angela nodded. "I'm guessing this has something to do with the video you had her make for me"
"Yes. I obviously wanted it to be a surprise and that was the only time we could meet because she had the late shift that week."
"How did you come to ask her? I mean why?"
"It was Sam and Jonathan who suggested her. "
"Okay. So you asked her and she said yes."
"Yes, she did. And then I walked her to her car and we chatted a little. She told me that she loved classic movies and tv shows. And that her favorite singer is Karen Carpenter."
Angela smiled. While Karen Carpenter wasn't her favorite she could see why a sweet and lovely young lady like Renata would be a fan. (A/N: Renata I hope this makes up for everything!)
"And when we got to her car I thanked her and yes I did give her a hug. But all it was was a thank you hug. And I did give her a hug when she first got there but that was a simple thank you for meeting me"
"And let me guess. Joanne saw the two of you hugging and jumped to the conclusion that you were having an affair."
"Yeah. Mona told me she actually came over here one day to tell you."
'Wait? Mother knows about this?"
"Yeah. So does Claire."
"Oh wait a minute! The night Mother and Claire bought Renata here."
Tony nodded.
"So when was Joanne here?"
"It was my first day at Ridgemont."
Angela smiled at the memory. She had taken Tony a picnic lunch just like she had done on his first day as a student.
"Yeah, so anyway Mona said that Joanne came over to warn you that I was running around on you."
"And what did Mother say to her?"
"Well she told her that it wasn't true and she also poured a pitcher of iced tea all over her."
Angela's mouth dropped open in shock. "She did?!"
"Yeah, she said they told her that if she breathed a word to anyone she would answer to them."
"Okay. But what about the iced tea?"
"Mona said she insulted Claire by calling her the help in that snide voice of hers."
"Wow poor Claire! Oh wait! So Mother drenches her in iced tea and then Renata drenches her in coffee?"
Angela started laughing. She knew she was being childish but she couldn't help it. And before he knew it Tony was laughing too.
"Okay!" Angela wiped the tears from her eyes. "How did Pam and Diane get mixed up in all this?"
Tony shrugged. "Obviously Joanne blabbed to them."
Angela shivered. "UGH the three of them being friends."
"Yeah, it is kind of scary." Tony grimaced.
Angela grinned and got up and sat on his lap.
"Okay, now that is all over and done with, I say we forget about Joanne and everyone else and concentrate on each other." She began kissing behind his ear.
Tony swallowed hard, obviously affected by her lips that were trailing down his neck.
"Sounds good to me!" his voice a few octaves higher than normal.
THE FOLLOWING WEEK:
Tony and Angela were driving to The Mountain Laurel Inn, a hotel that specialized in weddings. Tony had heard about this place from one of his students whose sister had gotten married there a few years ago. They said it was a beautiful place and to make it even better it was located by a pond. Tony recalled when Angela and him got their annulment she had mentioned wanting to get married by a pond. So he suggested the idea to her and she loved it and he made an appointment to meet with the owners and the staff to go over the details.
"Oh Tony, this is such a great idea! I'm so glad your student told you about it!" Angela gushed.
"So am I. After all you did tell me that if you ever got married again you would want it to be by a pond." He smiled at her.
"You remembered." She said softly.
He lifted her hand up and kissed her knuckles. "Of course I did sweetheart. After all, I did tell the judge when I marry An."
"An appropriate person?" She smirked.
Tony laughed.
"So am I an appropriate person?" she teased him.
"Oh you're more than appropriate." He grinned at her and wiggled his eyebrows.
She grinned at him and sat back and looked out the window as the scenery flew by. An hour later he pulled into the parking lot of The Mountain Laurel Inn.
He cut the engine and pulled the keys out of the ignition. They opened and closed their doors and walked hand in hand up the cobblestone pathway.
"Oh Tony, this is so charming!" Angela gushed taking in the former Victorian house that had been renovated a few years to the breathtaking and amazing hotel it was now.
"Yes, it is."
He opened the door for her and he followed after her. Two women were behind desks both typing away but stopped when they saw them.
"Hello! You must be Ms. Bower and Mr. Micelli." one of them said standing up.
"Yes, we are but please call us Tony and Angela." Tony smiled at her.
"Very well. My name is Sue."
"And I am Jenny." The other woman said. "Welcome to The Mountain Laurel Inn!"
"Thank you." Angela smiled.
"Everyone is waiting for you in the conference room. If you would please follow us?" Sue asked.
"Certainly."
Sue and Jenny began walking with Tony and Angela following along behind them. After about five minutes Jenny opened a door and motioned them inside. Tony and Angela entered and were greeted by at least twenty women.
"Els? Ilene? Ms. Bower and Mr. Micelli are here. Although they said we could call them Tony and Angela." Sue informed two of the women.
"Thank you, Sue. and thank you Jenny."
Els and Ilene stood up and went over and shook Tony and Angela's hands.
"Hello and welcome to The Mountain Laurel Inn. My name is Els. I am one of the owners."
"And I am Ilene. The co-owner." The other lady smiled. "And we just want to say how honored we are that you chose The Mountain Laurel Inn as your wedding venue."
"Yes, we are. And now we would like to introduce you to our staff who will do everything they can to make your wedding day the day you have always dreamed of." Els smiled.
She started with the woman to her left and went around the room.
"We would like you to meet Marisa, Ashley, Jamie B, Jamie W, Sierra, Shavonn, Cindy, Tiffany, Hilary, Kerstin, Jessica, Audrey, Mona, Marina, Amy, and Jo."
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The women who are mentioned for The Mountain Laurel Inn part of the story are members of the Who's The Boss? fanfics/videos on Facebook. Ladies, I hope you enjoy my little surprise!
And I tried to remember everyone but if I forgot you (and if I did I'm sorry) and you want to be part of the story feel free to p.m. me!