For the second time in two days Tony was taken aback.
"Wait a minute! Did you just offer me a job?" Tony asked in shock.
"That I did."
"But, I told you yesterday. I already have one."
"Yes, I remember. And I know this is probably not what you were expecting when I invited you for lunch but the fact of the matter is I think no I know you would be a great fit in our staff."
"Well you're right I wasn't expecting this and I thank you for the vote of confidence. I'm just… well surprised."
Joan laughed. "Yes, I can see that. But Tony Elliot is right. You would be a great fit."
Tony smiled. "Thank you Joan. So just out of curiosity what would I be teaching? Public Speaking 101?" Tony laughed referring to Elliot's former class.
Elliot chuckled. "No, we already have a teacher for that class. Actually you would be teaching our advanced science class as well as coaching our baseball team. "
"Wow, ummm that is a great offer. But, it's not something I can just decide like that."
"Oh, I know you'll have to think about it and that is fine. We actually wouldn't need you until the next school year"
"So if I do accept your offer I'll be able to finish the year at Wells?"
"Yes, look Tony all I ask is that you give this a great deal of thought. I meant what I said. I think you would be a great fit in our staff."
"Thank you. And I assure I will give this serious consideration."
"Okay now that is settled, how about some lunch?" Joan asked.
"Sounds good." Elliot replied. The three of them stood up and made their way to the cafeteria.
################################################################
Angela had plumped and replumped the pillows at least a dozen times. She chastised herself for feeling so nervous. This was Tony. A man she had known for over twelve years. A man she was once engaged to. A man that had been her best friend for years. A man that she still cared about and well she might as well be honest with herself was still in love with and would always be.
The doorbell rang and she took a deep breath. "That must be him." she muttered to herself and walked over to the door, took a deep breath, and opened it.
"Hello Angela." Tony smiled.
"Hi, Tony. Please come on in." She stepped aside so he could enter.
"Thank you." He entered the house then turned towards her.
"UMMM please have a seat." She gestured toward the couch. He sat down and she sat down on the chair closest to the front door.
"So, can I offer you something to drink?"
"What? Oh, no. no thank you."
Angela looked at him. For some reason he seemed distracted.
"Tony?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay? You seem like you are a million a miles away."
Tony shook his head. "I am. Look, when I asked if I could come over today I wanted to talk to you about something else. And I still do. It's just that well something came up."
"Nothing serious?"
"Yes, it is serious. But not bad. Just surprising."
"Okay. So do you want to talk about it?"
Tony hesitated. In the past Angela would have been the first person he would have gone to for advice. But, things were different now. In all fairness he should discuss this with Teresa before anyone else. But, the truth of the matter was he needed and wanted Angela's input.. He missed talking with her and getting her advice on things.
"Yeah, actually I do. I mean if you don't mind?"
"Tony, I wouldn't have offered if I didn't." she smiled.
Tony smiled back. "No, you're right. You wouldn't have."
"So what is it?"
"Well, you know that I had lunch earlier with Joan and Elliot right?"
"I do. I take it that something happened?"
Tony nodded and took a deep breath. "Yeah, you could say that. The thing is Elliot is no longer a teacher. He's the new Dean."
"Really? Wow, that's great. But what does that have to do with anything?"
"Well he offered me a teaching and coaching position."
Angela's jaw dropped. She closed it and looked at Tony. "Wow, that's.. I mean…'
Tony chuckled. "That was the same reaction I had."
"So, what are you going to do?"
Tony stood up and started pacing back and forth from the couch to the front door.
"That's just it. I have no idea. I mean I have a great job at Wells. But, if I accept this job offer I will be back here with my family. I mean I would be able to watch Nicky grow up. Yeah, we have phones and planes but being here the past few days well it's been great. I loved the time I spent with him."
Angela smiled. "He is one terrific kid."
"That he is. He has way too much energy sometimes but he's a great kid."
"Too much energy? GEE I wonder where he gets that from?" Angela laughed.
"Yeah, yeah. I know." He sat back down. "So what do you think?"
"I think…. It is a good opportunity. And like you said you would be back here with your family."
Tony nodded. "You know it's so ironic."
"What is?"
"Well, back when we were together I would have killed for this job. Well not literally of course." They both laughed. "But, as you know things didn't work out like that. And now I'm living in Iowa engaged to Teresa and I have a chance to have a job in the area."
"And if you did take Elliot's offer Teresa would have to move here with you."
"Yeah, I mean she would have to give up her whole life."
Angela looked down and then back up. "So, I take it she doesn't know about all of this?"
"No, she doesn't. And yes I know I should have talked to her first. But, the thing is I really missed talking with you."
"Me too. But, I think you should go over to Sam's and discuss this with her. This affects her just as much as it does you."
"You're right it does. But, there was something else I wanted to talk to you about."
"Tony, I think whatever it is can wait. You need to go talk this over with Teresa."
Tony sighed. "Yeah, you're right. Raincheck?'
"Raincheck." They both stood up and walked over to the front door.
"Thank you Angela. It's nice to know we can still talk about things"
"Well, Tony, we did say we are important to one another."
"And we always will be."
"And the thing is I don't ever want to lose our friendship."
"Neither do I. I mean we have been through a lot together."
Angela smiled. "That we have."
"Yeah, the hardest part was probably raising Mona." he laughed in an awkward attempt to lighten the moment.
"Oh please I'm still raising her!" Angela rolled her eyes.
Tony chuckled then turned towards the door. He turned back around and with a slight hesitation kissed her on the cheek.
"Thanks again Angela. As always it was good to see you."
"You too." she replied, her voice slightly cracking.
He noticed but didn't say anything. He nodded at her then opened the door and walked out.
Angela walked over to the door and leaned against it. Tears filled her eyes and trickled down her cheeks.
"Goodbye Tony."
What Angela wasn't aware of was that Tony was leaning against the door on the other side, his own eyes filled with tears.
TEN MINUTES LATER:
Tony pulled into Sam and Hank's driveway and shut off the engine. He got out and entered with the spare key Sam had given him.
"Hi Honey!"
"Hi Teresa." He looked around. "Where is everyone?"
"Oh they're over at Joe and Fran's for dinner. So it's just you and me!"
"What? Oh yeah okay."
"Tony? Is something wrong?"
"No, not wrong exactly. But, there is something we need to talk about."
"Okay, what is it?"
"Well, let;s sit down first." He walked over to the couch and sat down.
"Sit down? Tony this sounds serious. What is going on?" she asked, her voice rising in panic.
Tony sighed. "Teresa, something happened today at lunch with my former professors."
"Okay what?"
"Well Elliot told me that he was no longer a professor. He's the new Dean."
"Oh, okay. But what does that have to do with anything?"
"Well he offered me a teaching job and baseball coaching position."
"But, Tony, you already have that at Wells."
"Yes, I know. And it is a great job. But the thing is if I accepted this job offer I would be back here with my family. But, I also know it would mean you would have to give up your life there and move here with me."
Teresa sighed and walked over to the couch and sat down next to him.
"Look, I know this is a lot to take in."
"You got that right."
"And the thing is when I talked this over with Angela earlier…"
"You did what?!" Teresa cut him off.
"When I talked this over with Angela."
Teresa stood up and glared at him. "Hold on a second Tony! You discussed this with Angela, your former fiance before discussing it with me, your current fiance?!"
Tony gulped. "Well yes, I did. But, I've always talked to her about things."
"If you were talking about Nicky that would have been one thing. If you had discussed this with Sam before me I would have understood. But…" she trailed off and took a deep breath. "I just can't believe you would discuss something this important with your ex before you did with me."
"Look, I'm sorry."
"Save it. I have a headache. I'm going to go lie down."
"Do you want me to bring you anything?"
"No, Tony. I want you to leave me alone."
Tony nodded and watched her walk down the hall to the spare bedroom.
The slam of the door echoed throughout the house.