Chapter 17: Good Morning
"Angela, Angela," Tony said softly leaning over to plant a soft kiss on his wife's cheek. "C'mon, sweetheart. It's time to wake up."
"Mmm….," Angela said opening her eyes slowly. "Do we have to get up? It's so nice and cozy here with you."
With a smile, Tony said, "Well, we don't have to but considering neither of us is wearing anything under this sheet and one of the kids could pop over anytime, we probably should."
"You're right, you're right," Angela said reaching up to pull Tony's head down to hers for a good morning kiss. Then she sat up, swung her legs over the side of the mattress, stood up and gathered her clothes from the floor.
Tony had quickly pulled his clothes back on before doing a couple of stretches. "Ugh, sleeping on an air mattress reminds me that I am not young anymore!"
"Ha, ha," Angela said swatting his bicep. "You'll always be two years younger than me!"
"And don't you forget it," he answered pulling her to him for another good morning kiss.
With a final peck on her lips, Tony reluctantly stepped back and walked over to the table behind the couch to grab his car keys. "I'm going to go get all of us some breakfast. I'm sure it won't be too long before the kids are up, since it's already almost 9."
After Tony left, Angela did a couple of stretches as well to loosen herself up. Tony was right; they were getting too old for air mattresses, but she thought, smiling to herself, at least they weren't too old to take advantage of spending the night, alone, in their house one more time.
Just then, she heard the back door open and close followed by Sam's voice calling for her and Tony.
"In here, honey," she answered as she hurriedly stripped the blanket, sheets and pillowcases off the mattress and balled them up so that they were ready to be washed.
"Good morning, how'd you sleep?" Sam asked as she gave Angela a hug.
"As well as can be expected, but we made do," Angela said with the hint of a blush creeping into her cheeks. "Your dad just ran out to grab us all some breakfast. How about you?"
"Like a rock. I think I really needed it. It's been so exhausting and stressful getting everything ready for the move and making sure the kids are ok through all of it."
"Oh sweetheart," Angela said as they walked around the end of the couch and sat down. "I wish I could take the pain away. I really do, but we're so happy to have you and Maria and Matty home. It's going to be so good for all of us, and your dad is so excited that he's going to be able to spend a lot of time here helping you with the kids. Me as well as much as I can."
"Are you sure, Angela? I mean, he just retired, and I'm sure you all had plans that didn't include being built-in babysitters for your grandchildren."
"Sam, I promise you that right now, there's nothing else we'd rather be doing. We're a family, and we support each other no matter what. Everything will work out. And after the last couple of years, we want to really get to know our grandchildren again. They've grown a lot while we were here taking care of Mother."
"I know, and I'm so sorry that we weren't able to get back to visit more. I miss Mona so much, so I can only imagine how hard it's been for you," Sam said choking up.
Patting Sam's hand, Angela took a deep breath before saying, "Thank you sweetheart. I miss her terribly, but all I have to do is remember all of the good times we had over the years, and I feel better. I know she would be so happy that the family is finally back together."
Just then, Jonathan and Katie came through the swinging door chatting and laughing.
"Good morning, sweethearts," Angela said getting up to envelop them both in a hug. "Did you sleep ok?"
"Totally," Katie said. "And I'm famished. Is Dad out picking up some breakfast I hope?"
"Of course," Angela answered. "He should be back shortly."
Just then, they all heard the back door close followed by Tony's "Come and get it!"
Soon they were all gathered around the kitchen table eating with Sam and Katie sharing a chair so that they all could fit.
"So, I had a few thoughts about today," Tony said in between bites. "I think we all want to shower and change clothes and probably pick up a few more things if we're going to spend the night here again tonight. I think Angela and I will drive back to Brooklyn and then head back. We can pick up some groceries so that we can make dinner tonight. I'll just need to borrow some of your pots and pans and things, Jonathan, if that's ok?"
"Of course, Tony. I think that sounds great. I need to head into the gallery for a few hours before Tobin gets home later this afternoon. But I'm all in favor of slumber party part two tonight," Jonathan said with a grin.
"Same here," Sam echoed. "I'll go spend some time with Matty and Maria, pack up a few more things, and come back over. I know you all are anxious to see them, but I think I need one more 'grown-up night' after the past couple of months."
"Count me in!" Katie said. "Dad, you can drop me at the station here in Fairfield, and I'll take the train back to my place in Manhattan. No need for you and Mom to drive all that way and then to Brooklyn Heights."
"Are you sure, sweetheart?" Tony asked. "We really don't mind."
"Yep; the train will be faster, and I'll probably beat you both back out here," Katie said with a grin. "And, you know how impatient I get sitting in traffic!"
"Ok, then," Tony said with a clap of his hands. "Sounds like a plan."
A short time later, Tony and Angela were headed back towards Brooklyn in Tony's Jeep. They sat in companionable silence each thinking back over the discussion from last night and all the memories it had stirred up.
Finally, Angela broke the silence, asking softly, "Tony, you said something last night about how we both knew there were opportunities when we could have admitted our feelings much earlier than we did. I'm not sure we've actually ever discussed those specifics although it's definitely true. But, when were you thinking of specifically?"
Taking a deep breath, Tony glanced over at Angela…