Chapter 2: Home

Sam had made her way into the kitchen when she heard the front door open and a familiar voice call her name.

"Hi Dad," she said warmly as she pushed through the swinging door walking back into the living room (as much as Tony and Angela had wanted to modernize the space by creating an open concept between the kitchen and living room, the structural support of the house wouldn't allow for it; something that Sam was secretly grateful for because she was a little sentimental about keeping some things the same from when she was a child).

"Hi Baby," Tony said walking quickly over to his daughter engulfing her in a big hug. At 70 years old, Tony still cut a trim and handsome figure with his full head of hair (something he was still proud of!) now a distinguished shade of silver. "Are the kids at Hank's parents?"

"Yes. I didn't see any reason to bring them along until we'd made some decisions on how this is all going to work," Sam said in a sad and wistful voice. "Where are Angela and Katie?"

"Angela had to finish up a meeting for the Women's Employment Network charity event and is going to meet Katie at Grand Central and then they'll head out here," Tony said. Looking at his watch, he continued, "I'll run over to the station and pick them up in a bit."

Pulling the sheet off of the couch, a relatively new purchase in a muted grey tone, Tony sat down and patted the cushion next to him for Sam to sit.

Sitting down with a big sigh, Sam couldn't help it, the tears just started to flow. "Oh Dad, I've been looking forward to this but dreading it all at the same time," she said as she took some deep breaths to calm herself down. "I know this is for the best, and it's going to be so good for me and the kids to be so close to you, Angela, Katie and Jonathan as well as Hank's parents, but it still feels so surreal. Like we're just here for a visit, and Hank is back home in LA working."

"I know Sweetheart," Tony said putting his arm around her as she laid her head on his shoulder. His heart broke for his little girl as history was again repeating itself. First, it had been him losing his mother as a young boy and then, damn it, it had been Samantha as a young girl losing her mother to cancer and Tony becoming a single parent. Now, it was her two children losing their father and Sam becoming the single parent. The car accident that had taken Hank's life had occurred less than 2 miles from their house in Los Angeles.

The only silver lining to come out of the tragedy was Sam agreeing to transition from her position running the LA office of The Bower Agency to helping to now run the NY office and move back to Fairfield with her 7-year-old daughter Maria and 11-year-old son Matty. Tony and Angela had finally decided last year that as much as they loved their house on Oak Hills Drive, it was time to downsize, especially with Tony having just retired from teaching at nearby Fairfield University. Angela no longer had a hand in running the day-to-day business of the Bower Agency with her focus now on the many charitable causes she wanted to support.

They hadn't put the house up for sale mainly because Jonathan and his partner Tobin were still living in what would always be known as Mona's apartment. And Tony knew that deep down, he and Angela were still extremely attached to this house that had been one of the driving forces that had originally brought them together way back when. And now, with he and Angela safely ensconced in a beautiful condo in Brooklyn Heights overlooking lower Manhattan, the timing had worked out to ask Sam to move back with her kids.

Tony was really looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren, since he and Angela hadn't been able to make the trip out to LA very often in the last couple of years. When Mona was diagnosed with cancer, it was such a surprise, as it always seemed like she'd live forever. Angela and Tony had wanted to be there for her as much as they could, so they hardly ever left Fairfield the last two years. Tony also suspected that was another reason that Angela hadn't wanted to sell the house just yet; so many wonderful memories of the whole family here including Mona.

"Dad, are you sure you're ok with all of this?" Sam said bringing Tony back to the present. "I mean, I feel like it's a lot to ask with you having just retired."

Tony squeezed Sam's shoulder before saying with conviction, "Ay-oh-oh-ay, there's nothing I want more than to spend more time with my daughter and grandkids especially after the last couple of years. Losing Mona and now after losing Hank so unexpectedly, I think we all need to spend some time together as a family. Jonathan and Tobin are very excited to have you all here; Angela is already trying to figure out how she can get away from her commitments a little bit more, and Katie is over-the-moon with the chance to babysit her niece and nephew on a regular basis."

"Speaking of which," Tony said glancing at his watch, "Angela's and Katie's train will be at the station in a few minutes, so I need to run and grab them."

Sam nodded her head and smiled. She was so looking forward to seeing Angela and especially Katie; her baby sister that wasn't a baby anymore. What an unexpected gift she had been for their family…