Chapter 48: Spending Time Together

Angela couldn't stop herself from thinking back to those first few painful weeks after Tony and Kathleen started dating and she started dating Peter. She knew in her heart of hearts that the only reason she initially went out with Peter was so that she wouldn't be alone while Tony was off with Kathleen, which he was a lot. He seemed to be avoiding the house and her as much as possible. Not that she necessarily blamed him. After their heartfelt but painful talk in her study, they simply didn't know how to be around each other as friends anymore. It cut like a knife losing her best friend, but she had to have faith that somehow, they would find their way back to each other, although she was starting to realize that friends are probably all they would ever be.

So, she threw herself into dating Peter and then of course, the whole debacle with Christopher occurred. Looking back now, it still gave her some satisfaction how obvious it was that Tony was still carrying a torch for her with the way he dragged Kathleen out to spy on her and Christopher when they were at dinner one night. Why on earth Kathleen decided to stay with Tony after that incident was beyond her. Angela would have been humiliated if her date had taken her to dinner only to spy on another woman and would have ended it right then and there! But Kathleen continued to stick around, much to everyone else's chagrin.

Just like she had admitted to the kids a little while ago, she and Tony were acting like hormonal teenagers trying to one-up each other with their dates. Angela really had no interest in going to Greece with Christopher but seeing how much it affected Tony when she told him she was contemplating it gave her a small sense of satisfaction. And Tony seemed happy to flaunt his relationship with Kathleen in front of her as time went on. Catching them making out on the couch had been no picnic, but they had both made their choices and had to live with them. Angela did, however, hate finding out now that those decisions are what caused Sam and Jonathan to flee the house that summer.

"So, Mom, how did you end up going to New Mexico with Dad? Shouldn't it have been Kathleen who went along?" Katie asked softly, bringing Angela back to the present.

"No," Tony said quickly. "It had to be Angela. We were still a parenting team even though our relationship was not in the best place. I knew I needed her support to get your sister to come to her senses," Tony continued giving Sam a pointed look.

"Your dad is right. In spite of what was going on with us personally, we were still Sam's parents," Angela said gently. "And selfishly, I thought getting away from the house and Fairfield would be good for us."

"That was the same thought I had," Tony said, giving Angela a small smile. "I think we both knew, especially once Sam and Jonathan flew the coup, that we needed to figure out what our new normal was going to be so that we could remain friends."

"So then, what did happen in between you all trying to talk me out of staying in New Mexico to marry Matt?" Sam asked, raising her eyebrow.

Tony couldn't help but think about their plane ride to New Mexico. He was somewhat nervous since he and Angela hadn't really been around each other very much lately. And even with Jonathan and Mona along for the ride, he could tell that Angela was nervous too, with the way she kept stealing glances at him and then looking down at her hands as they waited for the plane to take off.

Tony wanted to tell Angela how glad he was that she had agreed to come along, but he didn't want to overstep their new boundaries, which seemed to include not telling each other what they were actually thinking or feeling. Instead, he and Angela managed to talk about the agency, how his classes were going, and other mundane things. But it was the first real conversation they'd had in weeks, so by the time the plane landed, they both felt like they had started to find their new normal.

But, that foundation was shaken slightly once they got to the dude ranch where Sam was working and met Matt, and he mistook Angela for Kathleen. However, that was soon forgotten as Tony and Angela worked together as a team that first night to persuade Sam to come home. And it had been a challenge. Tony knew though there was no one else he'd rather have by his side than Angela. Sam and Angela had become so close, and he knew how much Sam respected her opinion. Tony was grateful that they had built such a strong mother/daughter relationship in case something ever did happen that drove him and Angela completely apart.

Little by little, he and Angela started relaxing into this new version of their friendship, so much so that they found themselves alone on a sunset hike up to the butte the next night before they were supposed to meet up with everyone at the lodge for dinner.

"Oh Tony, it really is beautiful here," Angela said as they reached the summit after about half an hour of a somewhat strenuous hike. "I know you were kidding last night when you said you could see how Sam would want to build a life out here, but it really is exquisite."

Tony smiled because it had been a long time since he'd seen Angela so relaxed and really enjoying herself. He had to admit he was, too, and that he had really missed spending time with his best friend. He had almost forgotten how much he needed and wanted to be around her. She was still his rock and knew how to support him and keep him from going off the deep end when it came to Sam.

"It really is," he responded, echoing her sentiments.

"Why don't we sit and enjoy it for a few minutes?" he said, gesturing to the bench next to where they were standing.

"This has been nice. I've missed our friendship," Angela said softly but pointedly after they sat down.

Tony sighed before responding, "I have too, Angela. I know things are different, but I still need your friendship, maybe more than I even realized."

Angela nodded and looked out at the setting sun, so Tony wouldn't see the tears welling up in her eyes.

"Angela," Tony continued quietly. "I know I hurt you, and I'm so sorry. That was never my intention."

Turning her head to look into Tony's earnest face and dark eyes, Angela gave him a small smile before saying, "I know. Like I said before, I think this is just part of our journey. Who knows where the future will lead?"

"I just know I want you in my future," Tony said before he could stop himself. "Umm, I mean that, like with this weekend, when I needed your help with Sam."

"It's ok, Tony," Angela said, putting her hand on his arm. "I understand. We're both still figuring it all out."

"Thank you," Tony said, pulling her into a hug that quickly turned into something else as he couldn't resist placing a light kiss on her lips. Angela immediately opened her mouth to him, and soon his tongue was tasting and exploring until she came to her senses and jumped to her feet.

"Tony! No!" Angela almost shouted. "You can't have it both ways. You made your choice, and I've made mine. And this can't happen the way we let it in the past. We're friends, and I think it's becoming clear that's all we're ever going to be."

Tony immediately looked away and took a deep breath before saying, "You're right, Angela. I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. Our friendship is too important, and I shouldn't be doing anything that might risk it, especially now that we seem to be finding our footing again."

"Thank you, Tony," Angela said. "I think we should probably head back. The family will be wondering where we are."

"Dad, Dad, are you there?" Katie asked, snapping Tony back to the present. "So, nothing really happened in New Mexico?"

"I wouldn't say that. That trip gave us a chance to reestablish our friendship," Tony answered as he threw a quick look at Angela. The family definitely didn't need to know about what happened on the butte or how he spent the whole plane ride home second-guessing what he was doing with Kathleen. And he'd never forget the brief look of longing on Angela's face once they were home, and he finally admitted, "I want to tell you that I'm really glad you came along. It was nice spending time with you again."

"Well, at least you all were able to keep Sam from getting married," Jonathan said with a laugh. "Although only for about another year and a half," he continued before biting his tongue, realizing that he maybe shouldn't have made an indirect reference to Hank.

"Sam, I, I'm sorry," Jonathan said quickly. "I didn't mean. I mean…"

"Hey, it's ok. And it's the truth," Sam said, leaning over to squeeze Jonathan's arm. "It's good to be able to talk about Hank. I want everyone to be able to talk about him."

"So, what happened after New Mexico?" Katie asked, sensing a need to change the subject.

Tony smiled as he remembered that Angela went through another one of her "wild" phases once they got home…