The Room, Unslept in

A/N: I cannot believe this is Chapter 7 of this story. I set off to write a one-off story about what it must've been like for Angela to come home that first night after leaving Iowa. You all encouraged me to write more – to include Tony's point of view, etc., so here we are on Chapter 7. The more I wrote, the more I thought about those two months of separation – events that were coming up, missed, or thought about, etc. The story goes on …

PS – I don't own any of the characters from Who's the Boss? I also don't own the song(s) I use in this story. If you like the songs included here and don't remember them or haven't heard them before, YouTube is a great place to listen. Thank you again for following me on this painful two-month journey and all of your support.

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Chapter 7: What About Graduation?

Angela sat on the sofa thinking. The TV was on The Weather Channel, but she wasn't paying attention. She had some work folders on her lap, but she wasn't looking at them. There were some storyboards to the side of the sofa sitting on several easels. She was sipping on some ginger ale and munching on some crackers, fighting the nausea she felt again. She wished these stomach issues would just leave already. In fact, she was thinking of seeing a doctor soon if they didn't stop.

Jonathan came down the stairs hesitantly knowing what he was about to talk about wasn't going to be easy.

"Hi, Mom," Jonathan said looking at his mother.

"Hi, Jonathan. Is everything okay?" Angela asked with concern in her voice putting the ginger ale down.

"Mom ...?"

"What is it, Jonathan?" She noticed he was having a hard time starting the conversation. He came to sit on the couch next to her.

"Mom, do you remember a long time ago ... remember when I set you and Tony up at Chez Rene and you wanted to know why?" Jonathan began.

Turning a light shade of crimson, Angela, said "Yes, why would you ask that now?" embarrassed at the memory of her eight-year-old son suggesting that she and Tony might decide to have sex one day. She turned her attention back to Jonathan's question.

"Well, remember what Tony said about not having to marry you to still be available for me to talk to?" Jonathan asked cautiously.

"Of course, I do, Jonathan. Tony's been there for you all these years just like he said he would be that night," Angela agreed.

"I know that … but," hesitating before going on. "I need to talk to Tony, and I'm not sure if I should call him or not," Jonathan blurted out slowly and with uncertainly.

"Oh, Jonathan, what happened between Tony and me doesn't change the relationship you have with Tony. You know he thinks of you like his own son ..." she reached out to rub Jonathan's arm to reassure him, and then tears started to well up in Angela's eyes realizing how much her decision to leave Iowa had deeply impacted her son. "Of course, you should call him if you need him, sweetheart." Angela firmly told Jonathan, hoping to alleviate any hesitation he might have about calling Tony.

"Are you sure it won't bother you?" Jonathan replied hoping to also lessen any hard feelings his mother might have in keeping their relationship close.

"Jonathan, again," Angela gently spoke," what happened with Tony and me doesn't change the relationship between the two of you. I want you to be as close to Tony as you were when he was here. Don't ever let my relationship with him affect your relationship." Angela added.

"Thanks, Mom," Jonathan spoke with relief in his voice.

Angela had an idea about what Jonathan wanted to talk to Tony about, but she didn't want to say anything. She felt that Jonathan should lead his relationship with Tony himself. After all, he was about to graduate high school.

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Knowing this was going to be a tough call and not wanting his Mom to hear what he was going to discuss with Tony, Jonathan went back upstairs to make his call.

Jonathan nervously picked up the phone and dialed Tony's apartment in Branford.

"Hello, Tony speaking." Tony answered with a lively energy in his voice, thinking it was one of his students calling about upcoming finals.

"Tony, it's Jonathan," he said quietly.

"Buddy, how are 'ya? Tony brightly replied, not expecting this call.

"Doing alright." Jonathan fibbed his answer. "How are you, Tony? Jonathan asked back.

The small talk was awkward with both of them proceeding carefully not wanting to push one or the other into saying something neither of them wanted to talk about. Jonathan missed Tony terribly. Then he launched into the reason for the call.

'Tony, I know you know that my graduation is coming up at the end of June," Jonathan began.

"Yeah, yeah, I do, Jonathan," Tony said, trying not to sound like he was worrying where this conversation was going.

"Tony, I know you know that I'm going to be valedictorian." Jonathan began.

"Of course, you'd be valedictorian." Your Mom and I are so proud of you. I'm sorry I didn't have much time to talk to you about the honor when you were here in April," Tony started trailing off into silence remembering how that weekend ended.

"Tony ... are you going to make it to my graduation?" Jonathan finally blurted out, relieved the question was finally out in the world.

Uncomfortable silence followed.

"Jonathan, I don't know ... I mean ... your Mom and I ..." Tony said treading carefully.

More silence.

"Tony, I know about you and my Mom, but what about us? I still remember you saying you'd be here for me if I needed you. Tony, I need you to be here for my graduation... My own father can't be here - he'll be in Africa in June." You've been more like a father to me than my own father for almost nine years. I can't picture my graduation without you," Jonathan pleaded his case.

...oh, Bud ... you're like a son to me, but …" Tony was painfully putting off a response.

"No buts, Tony ...," Jonathan, getting more confident, would not let Tony off the hook on this.

"Jonathan, let me think about it. Will you at least give me a few days to think about it?" Tony asked.

"Yeah, sure, Tony." Jonathan answered not being able to hide his frustration.

Jonathan hung up the phone, disappointed, knowing that Tony wasn't going to come back for his graduation, no matter that he said he'd think about it.

He went back into his room, shut the door, and worked some more on this graduation speech wishing things were different. Jonathan couldn't focus on anything, so he got off his desk chair and laid down on his bed, hands on his pillow behind his head, and stared at the ceiling wishing for a different outcome between his mother and Tony.

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Tony exhaled and took a deep breath still holding on to the phone handle he had just placed back on the cradle. He was relieved the call with Jonathan was over, but he was left so confused about what to do about Jonathan's graduation. He wanted so much to go – he loved Jonathan as much as he loved Samantha, and knew the role he had played in his growing up. Tony was so proud of Jonathan. How could he abandon him on such an important day, he thought to himself. He didn't want Jonathan to think he was another Michael. No, he'd worked too hard to build up the father-son relationship with Jonathan.

But … he just couldn't face Angela yet – it had only been a month-and-a-half since she walked out of their lives. He was still reeling over her walking out on them. Yes, she walked out on them – not giving them a long enough chance to work things out between them. In fact, she had left that same night, not even staying the night so they could talk through her decision to leave and his decision about the three-year contract. He was despondent over losing her, and yet he was so mad at her for walking out. She had told him that she wanted to be in Iowa to support his new job. She made the choice to take a leave from her job and her agency. He had no idea he was going to get that three-year contract. It shocked both of them.

Tony shook his head as he walked around his apartment. He hadn't noticed her slow descent into depression and how much she missed her life in Connecticut. He was blissfully unaware about any of it since he was so happy teaching and coaching the baseball team. He'd never had a job in his life like this before, and he was deliriously happy. He had never had the opportunity to spend so much time alone with Angela either since there had always been family around back home. Even though they'd get interrupted by school stuff, their nights were their own, and they had made the most of the privacy they had. Oh, how he missed Angela at night. He was so lonely – a loneliness he had not felt since Marie died leaving him alone with a young daughter wondering what their lives would be without her.

He'd talked to Samantha since Angela left, and Samantha had filled him in as best she could. But he could tell Samantha wasn't giving him a complete story. And he didn't feel it was his place to ask for more information.

He sat down on the couch to grade some papers and turned on the radio. It was becoming more difficult to listen to music because so much of it reminded him of Angela. He missed them dancing together wrapped in each other's arms, holding her. For so many years, their dancing was all he got to be close to Angela. Well, that and some bursts of passion that suddenly caught the both of them in a moment until they went back to their status quo. Just as he was thinking this, Barry Manilow's, Weekend in New England came on. Tony sat back to listen. He'd given up listening to Country music since Angela had left – there were too many whiny songs about love that his mind couldn't handle at the moment. So instead, he listened to this song, which didn't help much either.

Last night I waved goodbye now it seems years
I'm back in the city where nothing is clear
But thoughts of me holding you bringing us near
And tell me when will our eyes meet when can I touch you
When will this strong yearning end

And when will I hold you again

Time in New England took me away to long rocky beaches you by the bay

We started a story whose end must now wait

And tell me when will our eyes meet when can I touch you
When will this strong yearning end
And when will I hold you again

I feel the change comin'

I feel the wind blow

I feel brave and daring
I feel my blood flow

With you I could bring out all the love that I have
With you there's a heaven
So earth ain't so bad
And tell me when will our eyes meet when can I touch you

When will this strong yearning end
And when will I hold you again again

As he sat there with the papers, he thought about missing what would've been their first anniversary and then Angela's birthday. He had thought about sending her pink roses but then thought better of it.

He still had no idea how they'd get past this break-up. They were supposed to be best friends, but he had no idea how to have a best friend relationship with Angela now. It was just too painful.

Tony turned off the radio and turned on the TV to a channel playing an old movie. He turned his attention to what was on and realized Christmas in Connecticut was playing. As he watched Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan decorating the Christmas tree in the movie, he shook his head not believing how all of these stations were rubbing in his loss. He couldn't think of why this Christmas movie was playing during Memorial Day weekend. It reminded him of all the times he and Angela watched this film together after the kids had gone to bed all those Christmas days they spent together. He put his head against the couch pillows and let his mind wander back to THAT night in April.

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"What do you mean she left?" Candy and Samantha spoke at the same time when Tony arrived back for the victory party and saw that Angela wasn't with him.

"She left for Connecticut Tony repeated. She came back to this apartment before the three of you came back, packed her suitcase, got Mona and Jonathan, and left." Tony said panicking, knowing there was going to be consequences for what had transpired between Angela and him.

"What?" Samantha exclaimed, not believing what she was hearing. He could hear a gasp coming from Hank who was coming out of the kitchen with a platter of food. The disbelief was unanimous.

"She saw that I was excited about the three-year contract and didn't want me to give up my dream job, so she left. She told me this is where I was meant to be. She told me she was starting to resent being away from home and we weren't going to be able to make this work."

Tony added speaking rapidly in disbelief.

"Oh, Dad! I'm so sorry! What can I do? Sam inquired trying to comfort her father.

"I don't know, Sam. I'm numb. Right now we have to host the team and their families. I can't think about it now." Tony ignored his feelings for the benefit of Wells.

For several hours, Samantha, Hank, and Candy watched Tony as he worked the party for his victorious team. He looked like he was in a daze the entire evening. When people asked where Angela was, he lied and told them she wasn't feeling well and was laying down in their bedroom. The real story could wait until the next day. He didn't want to ruin anyone's night after the baseball team's win earlier. Tony was always sacrificing his own feelings and needs for others, and this horrible night turned out to be one of those times.

After the party ended, everyone helped to clean up the apartment. Then Candy left telling Tony she'd see him the next day.

Sam told her father that she and Hank would stay on to make sure he was okay. Tony told them they didn't have to, but Sam and Hank insisted finally gaining Tony's approval. He quietly thanked them happy to have his baby near.

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Tony's mind settled back on the present glad to have moved his thoughts away from that shocking night. He'd spent hours thinking about that night and the weeks after since then.

It was finals time along with the time to prepare for summer semester, so he had to refocus his energies away from Angela and towards his students. Well, at least during the day. At night it was all Angela. How he missed her soothing voice and gentle touches.

The call from Jonathan shook him out of his grieving comfort, and forced him into thinking about what he didn't want to think about. What was he going to tell Jonathan?

The End – Chapter 7 of The Room, Unslept In – What About Graduation?

Chapter 8 coming soon….