Chapter 42: The Best Times of My Life

"Oh, this sounds juicy," Katie said, a big grin on her face. "Dad, you were the one that rescued Mom when she almost drowned, right?

"No; I wasn't," Tony said throwing a quick glance up to Angela as his thoughts took him back to that fateful weekend in Jamaica.

It had started out so promising. His relationship with Angela had never been stronger especially after the recent commitment they had made together when Tony was debating buying a new car. He had come so close but ultimately decided that he just couldn't swing it especially while still having three years of college tuition to pay for. Per usual though, Angela had stepped up and convinced him, in that adorable yet practical way she had, to let her split the car payments with him. He just couldn't say no, and even with it remaining unspoken between them, they both knew this was a commitment towards their future together.

It was no wonder then that he was very much looking forward to some alone time with her in Jamaica. After all, they'd had a wonderful time on their last vacation, in Mexico, once he'd convinced her to relax and have fun. Tony was definitely excited about getting to spend time with that version of Angela on this trip.

However, soon after they arrived, it became apparent that Angela was going to be in work mode for most of their time in Jamaica. Or so he thought until he got a good look at her client and Angela's reaction to him. Rationally, he knew that Angela wasn't interested in him, but the fact that she was spending so much time with Kyle, as well as the very toned Marine Director, time she could be spending with him, was enough to irk him and put him in a bad mood for most of the weekend. No more so than when Angela was rescued from almost drowning in the ocean, topless no less, and turned out she'd been skinny-dipping with other resort guests. Who was this version of Angela? She was like Mexico Angela on steroids!

After Tony called her out for her antics, he decided that the best course of action was to just keep his mouth shut and show her that he could have as much fun without her as she appeared to be having without him.

And then came their last night on the island and the talent competition. As much as Tony didn't want to be, he was totally captivated by her hot and sexy dance number. He couldn't believe that she actually flashed her panties at the audience. Bright orange no less!

He knew he'd never forget their conversation that followed his dance number (which definitely paled in comparison to the show Angela put on). He was grateful though that she'd followed him to the bench where he ended up nursing his sore knee. And, he was impressed that she remembered the story behind how he'd hurt it. They really did know each other well.

That recollection started to thaw the ice between them and what followed was one of the most profound discussions they'd ever had about their relationship. Tony had looked back, many times over the years, at this poignant conversation wondering what would have happened if he had followed his heart, instead of his head, and told Angela that he was ready for a relationship like she had volunteered to him. Forever in the back of his mind, would be the knowledge that if he had just gone with what his heart wanted, it would have completely altered the chain of events that unfolded in that 24-hour period in the spring of 1990.

He'd never forget though how he'd finally admitted that he'd thought about them getting married and how genuinely shocked but happy she seemed at the prospect. And it had touched his heart when she basically told him she loved him for who he was no matter where he ended up or how much money he made. Tony had to remind himself over the years that the 1989 college student version of himself was not ready for them to take that next step because he still had so many unanswered questions about his own future. He knew he had told Angela, back when he first made the decision to go to college, that he felt it gave him the direction he needed for him to feel more worthy of a relationship with her. But, he realized in Jamaica that it wasn't enough. And, he was so grateful to her for saying she was willing to wait for him to be ready. In that moment, he knew that there really was no one else for him; she was his endgame.

As the headhunter pointed out though, he was rapidly running out of time to declare a major, and he knew that he really needed a clear path forward before he could ever start a real relationship with Angela.

Tony shook his head and willed his thoughts back to their last night in Jamaica. He couldn't help but smirk to himself as he remembered the passionate kisses they had shared during their intense conversation. He then smiled ruefully as he recalled Angela telling him later that the kids and Mona actually witnessed what happened between them. At least they only saw that part, he thought to himself.

After they got up from the bench, under the ruse that they should head back to the villa the family was sharing, Tony pulled her towards a path that led to a secluded part of the beach.

"Tony, what are you doing?" Angela asked after allowing him to take her hand and pull her in the opposite direction of their villa.

"C'mon. I want to make up for the fact that we didn't get to spend much time together this weekend," Tony said with a wink.

Angela smiled as they walked hand-in-hand toward the ocean that was bathed in the glow of the full moon.

"It's so beautiful," Angela said with a sigh, after they had removed their shoes and were walking along the edge of the water still holding hands.

"It certainly is," Tony responded his eyes solely focused on her. "We may need to come back here some day to do it right," he said, an unmistakable glint in his eye.

Angela gave him a sideways glance before dropping her shoes on the beach and quickly running into the water; her already skintight dress clinging to her even more now that it was wet.

"Angela, what are you doing?" Tony asked shocked, but definitely turned on, while lamenting to himself that he rarely got to see this version of Angela at home.

"I might not need to be rescued right now, but it's lonely out here in the water all alone," she said an unmistakable pouty yet sexy tone in her voice.

"Why you little…" Tony said ripping off his shirt and throwing it on the beach, next to where he'd dropped his shoes, before running into the water to meet her.

Soon they were playfully splashing water at each other while giggling hysterically until Angela felt something brush against her leg under the water. She immediately launched herself at Tony, who caught her in a bear hug; their faces a few inches apart. Neither one of them could, or wanted to resist as they immediately started kissing passionately in the waist-deep water; their tongues intertwined while the gentle waves rolled over them. It was Angela who eventually pulled back, grabbing his hand and leading him back to the beach.

"This has been an eventful night," she said a playful smile on her lips as Tony gathered up his shirt and their shoes. "But, it's late and the kids, well mostly Mother, are going to wonder where we are."

Tony smiled and gave her one last peck on the lips before asking, "What are we going to do about being all wet? I can only imagine what Mona is going to say or accuse us of," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Well, she wouldn't be that off base, would she?" Angela countered with a wink. "I happen to know she had a date with one of the lifeguards tonight, so hopefully she's not back yet. And let's just hope Sam and Jonathan are asleep. It is almost midnight."

"Wait what?" Sam said, bringing Tony back to the present and the living room of the house.

"We got lucky," Tony said with a shrug and a wink. "You kids were asleep, thank god, when we got back."

"I swear," Sam said. "You all always seemed to get lucky by not getting caught over the years. Although, we really did think something was going to happen between you after we saw you making out on that bench in Jamaica. We should have known though that you would still find more excuses to not get together."

"Sam," Angela said with a shake of her head. "It wasn't excuses or at least it didn't seem like excuses to us. We were always trying to do what was right or what made the most sense at the time even if looking back now it doesn't seem like it."

"So, what happened next?" Jonathan asked sensing that things were starting to get a little uncomfortable.

Angela smiled as she recalled that it wasn't too long after Jamaica that she and Tony had ended up alone in Mrs. Rossini's apartment courtesy of Fiorello, that rotten cat…