Chapter 8: The Way We Were (Part III)
"Hey," Jonathan said, "Do you remember when Grandma got pinned?" He had all but forgotten about that memory until they started talking about the first few weeks that Sam and Tony had lived with them.
"What's getting pinned and what happened with Grandma?" Katie asked eagerly.
"Well, way back in the olden days otherwise known as before the 90s," Angela said with a laugh. "When a boy liked a girl and wanted to go steady, or I guess as you kids say now, be exclusive, he would give her a pin as a symbol of his love and to indicate that they were only dating each other."
"Grandma had some guy give her one of those when she was already a Grandmother?" Katie asked confused.
"Well, yes," Tony interjected. "But it was when she went back to college in the 80s and she started dating a guy who was a bit younger; ok, a lot younger, since he was also a student. He asked Mona to go to his fraternity's dance, and when they got back…"
"When they got back, Grandma wanted to show off the pin he had given her only nobody could find it," Jonathan said grinning. "Until I finally did on the back of the sweater Grandma was wearing!"
Katie looked confused while the rest of the family dissolved into laughter. "Oh, I get it," she finally said. "I forget sometimes that Grandma was a bit naughty."
"A bit naughty?" Tony snorted. "Mona was a legend in her own time."
"Tony!" Angela admonished. "She liked to have her fun, but she wasn't that bad."
The room grew silent until Sam finally said, "I half expect her to come waltzing into the living room ready to regale us with some story about a man she's dating or to say something derogatory, but in jest, to Angela."
"She was one of a kind," Angela said quietly her eyes full of tears. "I know we all miss her dearly."
Holding up her wine glass, Katie said, "I think she deserves a toast."
The family all raised their glasses as Tony cleared his throat and said, "To Mona, who knew that we were a family from the very beginning and who lived and loved fiercely her entire life. We will always love you and miss you."
"That was beautiful, Tony." Angela said giving her husband a peck on the cheek. "Thank you."
"It is pretty amazing that you and Mona happened to randomly meet that day," Sam said. "And that you actually took her seriously about becoming her daughter's housekeeper."
"Well, she was pretty persuasive, and it didn't hurt when she pulled out a photo of Angela and Jonathan."
"Very cute. Both of you" he said with a wink.
Continuing, he said, "So, this trip down memory lane reminded me of something that I don't even think Angela knows."
"Oooh, what?" Katie said clapping her hands.
"Yes, what?" Angela said turning her head to look at her husband a questioning look on her face.
"Do you remember the dinner you had catered in for, what was his name, Mitch? Mitchell?"
"Is that some guy Mom was dating?" Katie asked. She had to admit that she somewhat enjoyed hearing about some of the other people her parents had dated because it was so hard to imagine them with anybody but each other.
"Well, I wouldn't say we were dating. But, he was flying in from Boston. Tony had the night off, so I decided to cater in dinner, since as you all know, my culinary skills aren't the best. However, I will say Tony has definitely rubbed off on me over the years, and I've gotten better haven't I?"
"Ay-oh-oh-ay, you've become a great cook!" Tony exclaimed. "Don't sell yourself short."
"Anyway," he continued. "Angela's date's flight was delayed due to fog or something in Boston, and my date didn't end up working out, so after I sent the caterer home, we ended up with the catered meal, at least at first. And that is when I got your mom out on the basketball court for the first time as the meal was cooking."
"You sure were something shooting hoops in that sparkly backless red dress," Tony said nudging Angela with his shoulder. "But then Mitch showed up, so they ended up with the catered food."
"Wait," Katie said, "Dad, did you end up having to serve them dinner?"
Tony looked at Angela who had a pained look on her face before replying, "I did. I was the housekeeper. It was my job."
"However, the part I really remember and that I don't think I ever told you," he said gazing back at Angela, "is that after Mitch left and I was cleaning up the kitchen, I poured what remained of the wine into two glasses and almost brought them into the living room for us to drink."
"Tony, why didn't you?" Angela asked. "You know I was having much more fun talking and playing basketball with you then I had with Mitch once he showed up."
With a laugh, Tony said, "I know and that was the problem. I realized that night even with as different as we were, we could have a really good time together. And you were sexy as hell in that dress. I knew if we drank that wine together that it could maybe lead to something we would regret, and I distinctly remember the voice in my head reiterating what I had told you that first night we lived here."
"Oh, I remember that," Angela said smiling. "I believe it was 'You'd never catch me doing something dumb like sleeping with my employer' wasn't it?"
"Oh my god," Sam said dissolving into giggles. "Wow, you guys really had to make it complicated, didn't you?"
"That's just the start of the complications," Angela said sighing. "It wasn't too long after that when Michael showed back up."
"Yeah, Mom," Jonathan said, "About that, what were you thinking?"