Mrs. Anthony Micelli- chapter 5
Tony stood up from the chair and walked into the living room. Angela had eaten some of the food he prepared and was laying down on the sofa. Her eyes were closed, both of her hands were placed delicately and protectively over her stomach. He couldn't help but look at her lovingly, knowing he had made the right choice. Something seemed different though, like she was lit from within despite still looking a slight shade of pale. All of a sudden it hit him like a ton of bricks- the weeks of fatigue, loss of appetite, looking pale, needing to talk to him, the placement of her hands over her stomach. It all finally made sense to him as he rushed over to her on the sofa. She opened her eyes and sat up. She somehow knew by the look on his face he knew.
"Angela! We need to talk now!" he said as he grabbed her hand.
"Tony… I know you are overwhelmed right now, confused about how you feel, which is completely understandable. This…" she said as she placed her other over her stomach, "doesn't change things. Whatever you choose, we will make it work. First and foremost, we've always been co-parents. It's one of the things we do best…" she said with a forced smile.
"Angela… before I realized… gosh I'm so slooooow sometimes…" he chuckled as he shook his head. "Before I realized it, I had made my decision. Marie was my first love, the mother of my child. She was my everything for as long as I could remember… until I met you… You came into my life when I needed it the most. You healed my heart, showed me it was okay to open up again, to love again. Marie is my past, but you are my future… and what an amazing future it's going to be too!" he said as he placed his hand over hers on her stomach. Tears of joy, of relief and of hope were now falling from both their eyes.
"You know… there is another thing we do best…" she said as she leaned over and placed a soft kiss on his lips. He couldn't contain himself as he deepened the kiss, gently pulling her towards his body.
Just then, the door opened and Samantha and Marie walked back in the door. Marie was the first to see them kissing, tears of pain and sadness forming in her eyes.
"Oh sorry guys… I forgot my wallet so we had to turn back" said Samantha.
Tony and Angela pulled apart, but Tony still kept his hand wrapped around her, gently rubbing circles on her back.
"Actually, I'm glad you came back. Sam, do you mind if I talk to your mom for a few minutes before you head out again?" asked Tony.
"Sure Dad. I need to call my boyfriend Hank and let him know I'll be late seeing him tonight. I'll be upstairs" she said as she started heading up to her room. Angela stood up, turning to Tony and placing a quick kiss on his lips. She too headed upstairs to her room to lay down.
"Marie… we need to talk. There's so much I want to say to you. To say today has been a rollercoaster is an understatement…"
"I know Tony. The fact we are sitting here right now having this conversation is more than I could ever have imagined. I've dreamt of this day for twelve long years. I know you are settled here with Angela, about to get married and start your brand new life together, but I have to say this… I still love you Tony. I've never stopped loving you. I know deep down inside you still love me too. I know before you were about to kiss me- don't deny that. There's still something there, I know it…" she said as she looked deep into his eyes.
"Before I answer that, before I can even think about what you said, there's something I gotta do for me. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I need to ask for your forgiveness…" he said as he looked up into her eyes.
"What? I'm the one who should be begging for your forgiveness after what happened…" she said.
"Marie… the day you died- or didn't die- I was in my hotel room on the road for an away game. One of the fans who was always causing trouble for the other guys, followed me up to my room. We had been celebrating our win and we all had a bit too much to drink. We all danced together before turning in for the night. Her name was Betty- Angela and I actually ran into her at an old timers game a few years ago. Anyway… she invited herself into my room. I tried to protest and make her leave, but she was persistent. Before I knew what has happening, she turned and grabbed me, planting a kiss on me. I didn't let it go on forever, but longer than I should have. I pushed her away and told her she had the wrong idea, I was happily married. She walked out and I shut the door. Just then, the phone rang. It was the police telling me you'd been in that horrible accident. Never thought I'd have the chance, but I'm so sorry my last actions before I found out about you were… unfaithful…" he said as tears fell down his face.
"Tony, you don't have to ask for forgiveness for anything. I love you. I'm in love with you Tony. Do you know you are as handsome as you were on the first day we met? Remember that first day?" she asked with a smile on her face.
"Mr. Torlincasi's third period American History class… boy that man hated me! I thought he'd never pass me and I'd ended up repeating the tenth grade for the rest of my life!" he said with a laugh.
"Our eyes met and I knew you were the only guy for me…" she said as she grabbed his hand.
"When the bell rang to switch classes, I told Bobby to distract my girlfriend at the time and I strutted up to you and I said 'May I walk to your next class?' And you said…" said Tony.
"I wouldn't have it any other way…" she smiled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Oh those damn eyes… I still hadn't seen in anyone else's what I see in yours… until I met Angela. She helped me realize I could open up my heart again, knock down that wall that formed around my heart the day you died. We've spent these past seven years building this family and falling in love in the process. Marie… you were my first real love, the woman I expected to spend the rest of my life with but you are my past. Angela is my present and future. I still care about you and a part of me always will- you're Samantha's mother and I hope and pray you two will reconnect. She's been so blessed to have Angela in her life these past seven years to see her through all of life's ups and downs but I know she missed you terribly. We both did…" he said as he looked up to see tears falling down her face. He wiped them away and left his hand on her cheek.
"Oh Tony…" she said as she fell into his arms. Tony embraced her back, wrapping his arms around her tightly. He could feel her arms around his back, he could smell her perfume. He was lost momentarily in all the sensations when Marie pulled back, still half way in an embrace.
"Tony… you can't deny the attraction is still there, even after all these years. Don't try and tell me different… I love you Tony!" she said as she leaned forward and pulled him towards her, placing a passionate kiss on his lips. He was momentarily frozen in place, not kissing her back, but not pulling back either. Finally, it was just too much for him and he pulled back, just in time to see a devastated Angela on the stairs, her hand over her mouth and tears streaming down her face. She spun around fast, running back up the stairs.
"Angela!" Tony screamed as he tried to go after her but couldn't seem to move. "Angela!" he screamed again, but no sound came out.
"Angela!" Tony screamed once more, sweat dripping down his face as he shot up in bed. He was disoriented as he looked around. He wasn't in the living room any longer but rather in a familiar bedroom. He looked down at his hands and grabbed the wedding ring on his left finger. He let out a big sigh of relief as he looked over at the other side of the bed.
Angela was slowly pulling herself up to a sitting position, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"Tony… are you okay? What's wrong?" she said with a yawn.
"I had the dream again.." he said as he tried to get his breathing under control.
"The Marie one?" she asked as she started to rub his back. All he could do was nod in agreement.
"This time it took place the time right after we got engaged. We were planning the wedding and I got a message from a secret admirer. She was in the witness protection program this time too. Oh Angela, it was horrible having to choose between the two of you" he said as he ran his hands through his hair.
"I know sweetheart. I can only imagine the pain you'd be in if it actually happened but remember… it was only a dream" she said.
"I know but it feels so real… at least this time I got to hug her…" he said softly.
Just then, there was a soft knock at the door and Mona and Jonathan came inside their bedroom.
"We heard a scream. Is everyone okay? Mom are you alright?" asked Jonathan.
"Yes sweetheart I'm fine. Tony had his Marie dream again. We're both okay" she said as she readjusted herself in bed.
"Hey Tony… were they in the dream too?" asked Jonathan.
"Oh yes and as crazy about you as ever" laughed Tony.
"That's crazy to think they'd be fighting over me…" he started.
"You chose Drew again…" said Tony.
"Yes!" shouted Jonathan as Angela and Mona laughed.
"Okay if everything is alright, I'm going to bed… just getting back from a hot date… see you all in the morning… I expect breakfast the way I like it Tony" said Mona as she and Jonathan walked out of the bedroom.
"It makes sense Tony that you'd have that dream now. It always seems to happen around the time you are going through big changes. You had that dream almost every night we were apart in Iowa for those two horrible months. Then you had it when we got re-engaged and then the night before our wedding. I think it's just your brain trying to work things out" she said.
"Yes I think you're right. And the biggest change of our lives is about to happen this week…" he said with a big smile as he pulled down the comforter to reveal a very pregnant Angela. He smiled as he put his hands on her bump, feeling the baby kick and move inside.
"Hopefully sooner rather than later… I just can't wait to meet this little one!" she said as she placed her hands on top of his own.
"Well since I'm up, I better make good use of my time and head to the bathroom now. This little one loves to use my bladder as a punching bag!" she laughed as she managed to stand up and waddled into the bathroom. Tony laid back down in the bed, twisting his wedding band around his finger.
"It was so good to hug you Marie. I really do miss you so much. If you could keep watching over all of us, especially the next few days, it would be greatly appreciated. I love you" he said as he looked up and blew a kiss upwards. Just then, Angela waddled back into the room and with Tony's help got comfortable back in bed. He pulled her as close to him as possible and placed a passionate kiss on her lips.
"Goodnight Mr. Micelli…" she said as they pulled away from their kiss.
"Goodnight Mrs. Micelli…" he said as he cuddled into her, both falling back into a peaceful sleep.