The Ring
All credit goes to the amazing writers, producers and crew of WTB! This takes place right after Death and Love part 2!
Tony and Angela are sitting cuddled up on the sofa with a half eaten bowl of popcorn watching a movie. After the evening's craziness, no make that the past few weeks craziness with the engagement fiasco, both Tony and Angela were enjoying the quiet.
"Angela? How about we invite the family and Mrs. Rossini over for dinner Friday night to celebrate our engagement?" said Tony. "I can cook a big meal and make a special dessert, triple chocolate walnut cake!" "That sounds delightful Tony!" said Angela. "Ok I'll call Mrs. Rossini and we can let the rest of the family know when we see them" said Tony.
Later that night…
Tony quietly makes his way to Mona's apartment and knocks on the door. "What?!" yells Mona. "It's Tony, Mona let me in!" "This better be good Tony, I have a date waiting" said Mona. "It's almost midnight!" said Tony. "Your point?" said Mona.
"I need your help. Angela told you about our family dinner on Friday night right? I want to surprise Angela after dinner with a ring since, ya know…" stuttered Tony. "Since you two messed up royally. Practically gave the blind nun another flat tire…" Mona quipped.
"Mona…. Enough already! Will you help me or not?" begged Tony. "Alright, alright I will. What do you need?"
Friday evening in the kitchen…
Angela comes walking through the swinging door into the kitchen. "Hmmm it smells wonderful in here Tony! You really outdid yourself!" "Thanks Angela- I just wanted everything to be perfect for you, for us."
"It will be! Just having you here with me, by my side is all I ever wanted or needed. I love you Tony", said Angela as she embraced him, placing a passionate kiss on his lips.
"Enough of the mushy stuff please! You're ruining my appetite!" said Jonathan as he walked into the kitchen, followed closely by Samantha.
"Oh grow up Jonathan. It's adorable how they are finally getting to express their unrequited love after all these years. I was beginning to think we would have to put them in a retirement home before they'd ever admitted they loved each other! You know Dad, you're still 'un-young'" quipped Samantha.
"Sa-man-tha!!" yelled Tony, while Angela tried to stifle her laughter. They are momentarily interrupted by the doorbell ringing.
"Saved by the bell Samantha. Please go let Mrs. Rossini in and guard your cheeks, she's going to be in an extra pinching mood I'm sure!" laughed Tony.
"What can I do to help you Tony? said Angela. "Nothing in here sweetheart. Why don't you take out the appetizers and see who wants any drinks? Jonathan, I need your help setting the table and then can you go see if Mona is ready?" said Tony.
Once Angela was back in the living room, Tony pulled Jonathan aside and told him to go to Mona's and help her with the surprise. Tony finished making the final touches to dinner, turning off the oven and the stove. He started softly singing "wait a moment" to himself as he reached into his jacket pocket to make sure the ring was still in its place before heading into the living room.
The family caught up Mrs. Rossini to the last few week's chaotic events between Tony and Angela. "Stunad Tony! A blimp?!? What were you thinking??" yelled Mrs. Rossini. "Eh oh, oh eh… so it wasn't my finest hour! I wanted to make a grand gesture to the woman I love… so shoot me!" yelled back Tony.
"Okay okay everybody! I think it's time to eat! Let's head into the dining room" said Angela, trying to diffuse the tension between the two hotheaded Italians.
Just then, Mona and Jonathan walked into the living room, both giving Tony a quick glance that thankfully Angela was oblivious to as she was being led into the dining room by Mrs. Rossini. Sam held back with Mona and Jonathan to secretly discuss Tony's surprise.
"Mrs. Rossini will have to be told about it too but there's no way to tell her now. We will just have to wait until right before and hope it goes well" said Sam. "Good idea. That blabbermouth blows this secret, I'll kill her", whispered Mona, as they walked into the dining room.
Dinner went on as usual, the family enjoying Tony's delicious and beautifully cooked meal, enjoying each other's company. As the meal was coming to a close, Tony and Angela went to stand up to start clearing the table. Samantha and Jonathan stopped their parents and told them they would clear the dishes. Mona and Mrs. Rossini also offered to help and brought everything else into the kitchen, leaving Tony and Angela alone together.
"Now that doesn't happen very often", laughed Angela. "Hey, let's take it while we can get it!", chuckled Tony. "Shall I pour us another glass of wine my love?" said Tony. Both Angela and Tony cuddled into one another, slowly sipping their wine. After a few minutes, soft sounding music could be heard coming from the living room.
"What is that sound Tony?" "Beats me. Let's get the dessert ready and find out shall we?" Tony said.
Angela and Tony made their way into the kitchen to start the coffee and get the cake ready. Tony took out the cake from the fridge and handed it to Angela.
"Angela, why don't you bring this into the living room while I finish getting the coffee ready?" said Tony as he moves back to the coffee pot.
Angela took the cake and headed through the swinging door but stopped short once entering the living room. She was surrounded by what seemed like sea of pink roses. The lights in the living room were dimmed and the song "It Had To Be You" was playing softly in the background. Jonathan, Samantha, Mona and Mrs. Rossini were standing next to each other in front of the chairs by the fireplace, each holding a pink rose. Angela couldn't help but get emotional and tear up at the sight in front of her as she stood there holding the cake.
Jonathan stepped forward first and took the cake from his mother, placing it on the side table. He handed her his single pink rose and guided her into the center of the room, behind the couch, where the rest of the family waited.
"Mom, it was just us for what seemed like the longest time after Dad left. You were there for me, filling in as both Mom and Dad until Tony and Sam came along. Even when we could all see how happy and in love you both were with each other, you selflessly put your feelings aside for your children. It's finally your time to be happy with Tony", said Jonathan.
Tears could no longer be held as Angela embraced her son. Samantha walked up next to Angela and handed Angela her pink rose.
"Angela, I never thought my Dad would find someone he loved like he loved my Mom. We were both lost for so long after she died, but somehow she guided us here to you, Jonathan and Mona." Samantha had to stop to wipe the tears that were pooling in her eyes.
"I can't imagine my life without you Angela, my bonus mom. With you and Dad finally getting this chance at love, I couldn't be happier!" she said as she gave Angela a big hug.
Mrs. Rossini, by this time blubbering like a baby, was able to compose herself and handed her pink rose to Angela.
"Never in a million years would I have pictured Tony so happy, living away from Brooklyn, in Connecticut no less! A part of him died along with Marie back then, the spark and twinkle in his eye was gone. But then came you and I started to see that sparkle again. It was like a weight was lifted from his shoulders. For that Angela, I will forever be grateful to you. Welcome to the Familia!" By this time, the blubbering started again as both women embraced.
"Okay enough of all this mushy stuff now!" said Mona. "If you think you are getting me to cry and go on and on all sentimental, think again! I've told this to you before, but I'll say it again- don't mess this up dear…" "Mother!" said Angela.
"Okay, okay!" Mona hands Angela the fourth rose. " Angela- you are a force to be reckoned with in your professional life. I've seen you tackle captains of industry, CEOs, clients and everyone in between, becoming the successful woman you are today. As proud of you as I've always been, today I can say I am the proudest I've ever been that you are for once listening to your heart and not your head. Call it mother's intuition, but I knew from day one you and Tony were meant to be together. So ditch the blind nun with the flat and have your happily ever after- you both deserve it!"
Overcome with emotion, all Angela could do was embrace her mother, who by this time did in fact have tears in her eyes. The moment was interrupted by the front doorbell ringing.
"Who could that be now?!?", said Angela, wiping away the remaining tears from her eyes as she walked over to the front door.
As she opened the front door, Tony appeared on the other side holding a bouquet of pink roses.
"Here Angela", as Tony handed her the bouquet. "Makes an even dozen now", he said.
"Angela, I know we did this before, well two or three times before actually, but I'd hope you would humor me for just one more time."
"Seven years ago, in this very spot, is where it all began for me, for us. The day you opened the door to me, you opened up my heart again. For the longest time, I never thought I'd find a second chance at love. I never thought I'd find another partner to parent Samantha with, to help me raise her and allow her to grow into the beautiful young woman she is today. I thought this would just be a job to take to try and get us a better life than the one we were in then. Never in my wildest dreams did I think the woman behind this door would be my soulmate.
I love everything about you- the way you love our family, our children, our home. I love the way you get excited about a good chocolate dessert (or a bad one), watching an old movie together cuddled up on the couch or after you've come home from work after landing a new client. I love how there's no one else I want to play mini golf with, take strolls on the beach or spend the night dancing in my arms.
We may have taken the longest, windiest road possible to get here, but there's no doubt in my mind you are the one for me, the love of my life. So many years ago at camp, you were my first kiss and I hope and pray with all my heart you will be my last."
Tony now pulls out a blue ring box from his jacket coat and gets down on one knee. The ring is a perfect sized diamond flanked with blue sapphires on each side. Taking Angela's free hand in his own, he says "Angela Katherine Bower, will you do me the greatest honor of my life by marrying me?"
Angela is overwhelmed with emotions but manages to pull herself together. "Tony, I have dreamed of this moment for longer than I can remember. I love every moment of every day spent with you and our family. I cannot wait to spend the rest of our lives together. So yes, a thousand times yes, I would love to marry you!"
Tony removes the ring from the box and places the ring on Angela's left hand. It perfectly fits on Angela's finger. Tony gets up off the floor to embrace Angela and enters into a passionate kiss. The couple was interrupted by the family's loud clapping and cheering.
The family congratulated Tony and Angela, but it was short lived by Samantha and Mona's inquisitive natures. "Okay spill it you two! First kiss? Anthony and Ingrid? I knew it! Details now!" said Samantha.
Tony and Angela just looked at one another, smiled and knew there would be no getting out of this one; not that either one minded…