"Mona, why would you ask me a question like that?!"

"It's just a question." Mona shrugged.

"Well what do you expect me to say? That I hope that they don't get along and they end up fighting over me? We're not in high school. Angela and Teresa are both grown women. I don't want or expect either one of them to act like some juvenile."

"I'm not saying I do either but wouldn't you find it just a little bit strange if they became good friends? Especially since you're still in love with Angela."

Tony took a deep breath and counted to ten. "Mona, I am not in love with Angela. We broke up, remember? I love Teresa and I am marrying her."

"MMM HMM."

"What do you mean MMM HMM?!" Tony asked, his voice rising.

"Oh nothing. Except you being in denial."

"I am not in denial!"

Mona's voice softened. "Tony, I saw how you were looking at Angela at Nicky's party. You were saying: "I love you!" with your eyes. Okay so maybe you do care about Teresa. But you're in love with Angela. You have been for years. And the only reason you're marrying Teresa is because you're still angry at Angela for leaving you. And yeah I don't blame you a bit but don't you think this has gone on far too long?"

Tony leaned his head back against the chair. She was right he had been angry that Angela had left him. But that was all in the past and he had met another woman and was planning on marrying her. Everyone needed to move ahead.

"Mona, look I know you've always wanted us to be together but it's never going to happen. We tried, we really did but it just wasn't meant to be."

"It could have been. If you would have come home from Iowa!"

Tony sat back up and looked at Mona. "I had a great job there. I have a great job there. I mean why would I leave it?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe something called LOVE?!"

"She left me! Remember?"

"I know. And it was one of the hardest and most painful things she has ever done. It killed her Tony. Killed her! She was devastated. And yet you stayed in Iowa. You chose your job over her. And yes she did the same with hers. But remember she was well established in her career and she had her employees to consider. Also remember you had both agreed to one year. Only one year and you chose the three year contract over her and your relationship. I never thought I would say or even think this in a million years but you reacted just like Michael would have."

"AY OH OH AY! I am nothing like him!"

"You're wrong Tony. Grandma's right. You are just like him."

###################################################

Angela was taken aback by her question. Not that she should have been.. It was a fair question and if the tables were turned she would have been curious as well.

"Angela, look I don't mean to pry but I have to admit I have always been curious. "

"No, no it's okay. I mean I get it. And it's a valid question." She took a deep breath. "But how about we get out of here and go to the park? It's a beautiful day."

"Okay. sounds good."

Angela signaled to Renata who came over with their check. After paying -with a huge tip for Renata since she liked her so much- Angela and Teresa got into Angela's jaguar and she drove them over to Fairfield Park. They sat down on one of the benches overlooking the baseball field. The irony was not lost on either of them.

"Okay, so you want to know why I left Tony."

"Yeah, I do. I mean I thought you were in love. It just seems weird to me. I'm not judging you or anything but I just have never understood why?"

"You're right we were in love." 'Well I still am.' she thought quietly. She cleared her throat and continued: " When he first got the job offer it was only supposed to be for one year. Just one year for him to build up his resume and then he was supposed to come home. Well back to Connecticut. But when Dr Graham said he was going to tear up that contract and offer him a new one for three years that's when I saw it."

"Saw what? The contract?"

"No, the joy in his eyes. He was so excited. So happy. I knew right then and there he needed to stay. I also knew that I needed to come back here. I tried to be a housewife. But, it just wasn't me. I felt lost without my work. I thought when I first moved out to Iowa to live with him it was just what I needed. I told him I wanted to get away from all the pressures and the deadlines. But then my Mother tricked me into admitting how much I missed my old life."

"How did she do that?"

"She pretended that one of our biggest clients was threatening to walk. And I fell for it. I immediately started planning on ways to get him back. And that's when she said that she had made it all up. She told me that I couldn't fool her. And she was right. I have never been able to fool her. And then that's when I knew I couldn't stay there any longer. I didn't feel like myself anymore. I knew I needed to leave. And I thought at the time Tony was coming home with me. But, when Dr Graham offered him that new contract… well that was when things went south. "

"How so?"

"Well like I said Tony was so overjoyed about the new contract. But he saw how upset and nervous I was so he offered to come back. But the thing was I couldn't let him do that. I couldn't let him give up his dream job. And I told him that I didn't want him to resent me. I didn't want him to resent giving up a job that he loved. "

"So you left and came back here and he stayed in Iowa."

Angela nodded. "Yes, and now here we are."

Teresa looked at the ground then back at Angela. "Thank you for telling me. I know it probably wasn't easy."

"No, it wasn't. But, you do have a right to know what caused our break up."

Teresa smiled softly. "So shall we go?"

Angela smiled back. "How about we stay for a little while longer? It's such a beautiful day."

"Okay."

############################################

Mona and Tony both turned toward Jonathan who had just entered through the kitchen.

"Jonathan, what are you doing here?"

""UMMM it's my Mother's house?!" Jonathan said a little sarcastically sitting down in the other chair. "And like I said Grandma is right you are just like my Dad. "

Tony shook his head in exasperation. "I am nothing like him. How could you even say something like that?"

"Because like him you chose your job over my Mom. You could have come back at any time. But, you didn't. "

"Face it Tony, You could have come back home and looked for jobs in the area. "

"Look what's done is done. We can't go back. We can only go forward. And Angela and I are slowly rebuilding our friendship."

"Friendship? HA! You're in love with her Tony!"

"Mona, I've told you. I love Teresa and we are getting married."

"Ah, I see, So once again you are going to hide behind another woman?"

"Hide behind another woman? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Kathleen." Mona said simply.

"Kath.." Tony shook his head. "Oh come on! That's ridiculous!'

"Is it Tony?" Jonathan asked. "Wasn't the whole reason you dated her was because you couldn't admit you loved my Mom?"

"The boy is right." Mona said, sending her grandson a wink. "And now you're doing the same with Teresa."

"Look, I."

"I found them!" Nicky said excitedly as he raced down the stairs. Claire followed him with his toys in her arms.

"Whoa buddy! Slow down!" Tony gently scolded him.

"Sorry Grandpa. He looked over and saw Jonathan sitting in the other chair. "Uncle Jonathan!" He ran over to him.

"Hey Nicky!" They gave each other a big hug.

"Me and Grandpa are going to the park. Do you want to come Uncle Jonathan?"

"Sure, it sounds like fun."

Nicky turned to Mona and Claire. "Do you want to come too Nana Mona and Auntie Claire?"

"Oh honey I would love to. But, I have a lot of work to do."

"Oh come on, it's a beautiful day. Take a few hours off and enjoy it." Mona chided her.

"Please!" Nicky begged.

"Okay, I'll go. But just for a few hours."

"You're a party animal Claire." Mona chuckled as she got up.

"Okay, okay. Let's go." Tony said standing up as well. "Nicky, get your toys. We'll meet you at the park in about ten minutes."

"Bye!" Nicky yelled as he gathered up his toys and followed Tony out the door.

"Well come on you two. Let's go. Maybe I'll meet a cute single guy."

"Just don't embarrass me Grandma!" Jonathan jokingly groaned.

"I make no promises, kid!"