Chapter 58: Will You Marry Me? (I)

Angela sighed as her thoughts returned to that turbulent time in their relationship when Tony proposed. The weekend had started off so promising, especially since she had been so worried about him after his friend Joey's death. It was obvious that Tony was going through something. Whether it was a midlife crisis or just his way of dealing with Joey's passing, it had Angela bewildered in how to be there for him, which is all she wanted to do, both as his girlfriend and his best friend.

Then Tony had come home and practically begged the family to take the ski trip they had talked about for years but never actually gone on. Angela was so thrilled to see him excited about something that it didn't take much for her to convince everyone else to come along. And at first, it seemed to be the perfect anecdote to heal a hurting Tony. Angela remembered their first few days at the resort so clearly…

She had been able to secure a large condo for the family with four bedrooms and three bathrooms plus a large living area with a balcony, stone fireplace, kitchen, and a second fireplace in the master suite. When Sam questioned why four bedrooms, when in the past, they'd only needed three, Angela responded that while Sam and Mona enjoyed being roommates, she felt that Jonathan, now that he was a teenager, deserved his own space, as did Tony. Sam seemed to accept that answer, although she raised an eyebrow about her dad still needing his own space. Angela though would never forget Tony's response when he got her alone for a few minutes while they were all packing to leave.

"Jonathan needs his own space?" Tony questioned with a smirk on his face when he and Angela were alone in her bedroom.

"Well, he is a teenager," Angela answered as a blush crept across her cheeks. "I mean, what teenage boy wants to share a room with anyone?"

"Uh huh, Angela," Tony said as the smirk turned into a smile. "Ay-oh-oh-ay, I know what you're doing, and I'm all in. If we both have our own rooms, then no one will be the wiser should I somehow find myself sneaking into your room at night."

"Tony, what would make you think that's the real reason?" Angela asked, feigning shock, as she reached for him to place a lingering kiss on his lips.

And that's precisely what happened the first couple of nights of their trip. They arrived at the resort in time for a late dinner the first night, and afterward, Angela and Tony found themselves alone in the condo's living room, curled up on the couch in front of the fire. Sam had gone to her room to watch TV, Jonathan had retired to his room to continue studying for the exam he had next week, and Mona was, of course, down in the bar making "friends" with several of the male ski instructors.

"This is so nice and cozy," Angela said as she snuggled deeper into Tony's embrace and took a sip from one of the glasses of wine Tony had poured for them. "I'm glad you suggested we do this. I think we all needed a little break from our day-to-day lives."

"It is," Tony agreed as he pulled Angela in a little closer and took his own sip of wine. "I'm sorry that I've been acting so crazy ever since Joey…I guess it made me realize that I'm not that young anymore and that things can happen so unexpectedly. But having your support, as well as the family's, has meant so much and helped me realize that you can't dwell on what might happen. You have to go out and live life, and I'm so lucky to be living it with you," he said before leaning over to place a searing kiss on Angela's lips.

"Tony," Angela said, a bit out of breath after their kiss finally ended. "As someone who is two years older than you, I will not let you say that we're old! I feel younger now than I have in years, and that has a lot to do with you and your insistence that I go out and experience life more. And I'm also so glad to be living life with you too."

Before she could get another word out, Tony's lips were on hers, and soon they were reclined on the sofa, with Tony kissing her nearly senseless.

"Tony, Tony," Angela said breathlessly as she gave him a little push, so she could sit up. "I definitely want to continue this, but with Sam and Jonathan liable to pop out of their rooms at any time and even Mother possibly coming back soon, I think it's time we put our little 'sleeping arrangement' plan into action," she said before pecking him on the lips and then rising and sashaying into her room with one more glance over her shoulder at Tony.

Tony had never gotten ready for bed so fast in his life, wanting to take advantage of the fact that no one else in the family was currently paying attention to what he and Angela were doing. In record time, he had brushed his teeth and donned the same pair of striped pajamas he'd worn on their train trip to Washington, DC. It was just a little too chilly for only an undershirt and sweatpants, even though he knew that look drove Angela crazy with desire.

"Angela," he sighed as he entered the master suite. She had changed in record time as well, in addition to lighting a fire in the fireplace. Tony couldn't help but admire her in her black teddy (the new one he had bought for her after the unfortunate incident with the washing machine last year) as the flames from the fireplace gave her and the room a soft golden glow.

"Come here," Angela beckoned as she drew back the covers and patted the empty side of the bed.

Tony didn't need to be told twice, and before long, they were making love as quietly as possible, which they had almost perfected into an art, ever since Jonathan's return from music camp a few weeks ago.

"Angela," Sam said, bringing her back to the present day at 3344 Oak Hills Drive. "I guess I've always wanted to ask whether you wish that Dad hadn't proposed on that trip? I mean, knowing now why you initially turned him down, I think I get it, but I've just always wondered if you wish it had never unfolded the way it did."

Angela sighed and glanced down at Tony, who was looking back at her with curiosity. In all their years together, she didn't think this particular question had ever come up between them.

"Well, Sam," she began as she tried to formulate an honest response…