When trust is questioned
Chapter 25
3 days later.
Angela is discharged from the hospital. The doctor gives her some important instructions. She gets the necessary medication to take home with her and is supposed to take it easy.
Her circulation is relatively stable again, but she is not yet supposed to work or walk long distances. And she has to go to her doctor regularly to have the suture checked.
It will be very difficult for her, Tony thinks, but together they will make it, he will support her in everything she needs.
Even in the very difficult times, Roger will soon be in court, they still have a long way to go.
They get in the car.
Tony helps Angela with the seat belt, he is super caring which Angela dislikes, she hates being dependent on someone anymore. "Tony's alright, I can do it on my own!" she says in a stern voice.
"I know, dear, but I still want to help you."
Angela just raises her eyebrows and shakes her head slightly.
Then they drive off.
They are silent for a while.
Tony looks over at her "Hey Ange, I'll make us some delicious linguini if you like..."Angela smiles "Ok very much, I'm already fed up with the hospital!"
"And maybe zabayone cream for dessert" He winks at her briefly from the side and then concentrates back on the street.
"Tony, that sounds wonderful, I'm looking forward to it," she says enthusiastically.
After a while, they arrive home, Angela carefully gets out of the car and Tony takes the suitcases out of the car.
As they walk through the front door, they are already happily and stormily surprised by Mona, Sam and Jonathan. Everyone hugs Angela in greeting, asks how she is doing and tells her how nice it is that she is finally back home.
"Oh thank you my dears, I'm also glad to finally be back here, I'm so sick of the hospital! But now I'm going upstairs and freshening up and changing." As she says this, she is already half a foot on the first step of the stairs, Tony follows her as he wants to bring the suitcases upstairs.
"My dears, please let Angela breathe a little, I'll come to the kitchen right away and cook something delicious for us."
Everyone looks at each other. Mona replies briskly to Tony, "Tony, that's so sweet of you, but I have an appointment in an hour, I'm sorry."
Sam also says something about it "Dad, that's great, but I still have some things to do, I've already eaten, I'm sorry", while she gives Tony a kiss on the cheek. "Angela, we'll see you tomorrow, nice that you're finally back," she calls after her. Angela smiles.
"Hey Mom, I'm sorry Tony, I've already eaten at Steve's, I'll go over right away, he's got a new video game called Mc Tarantula, that's insanely cool". Jonathan says and grabs his jacket and puts it on. "Bye Mom, I love you!" However, Angela is already upstairs and didn't hear what Jonathan said.
"It's OK buddy," Tony says to him and pats him on the shoulder. He has the feeling that everyone is in escape mode rather than the calm itself. Maybe because the situation is uncomfortable for them and they know that Angela still needs a lot of rest.
A few minutes later. Tony goes upstairs. He first puts his suitcase in his room and then he goes to Angela.
She has already put her clothes on her bed. She is standing in the bathroom, wearing her bathrobe, which is still open. She stands in front of the mirror and runs her fingers over the plaster. She looks sad.
Tony watches her for a moment, but then walks over to her seconds later. "Hey Ange," he says. Angela flinches, startles and turns around, closing her bathrobe at the same time.
He walks up to her and kisses her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He opens her bathrobe again and runs his fingers between her breasts down to her stomach, being very careful. "You're still beautiful". He embraces her body with his arms and kisses her tenderly. She puts her arms around his neck and kisses him back passionately.
They separate from each other after a while and he looks her up and down at her "really beautiful Angela".
Angela blushes.
"Tony, that's so sweet of you but..." But then she is interrupted by him: "No but! It is so. For me, you are and will always be the most beautiful woman! I'd love to help you bathe again, but you're not allowed to..." he says, a wide, charming grin across his face.
"Tony!" she says loudly and punches him on the upper arm.
"What?! I am very good as a special helper ," he grins cheekily.
Angela looks at him in amazement and questioning, but knows exactly what he means.
He pulls her back to him, "I love you!" he says.
"I love you too, Tony," she replies to him, satisfied and relaxed. All the tension of the last few days, the frustration and the sadness fall away from her at this moment. She hugs him again, "Tony, I'm so glad I have you, thank you!"
"Angela, you don't need to say thank you, that goes without saying, we're best friends and a couple after all, that's how it should be!" He gives her a kiss.
"I'm going to go down and make us some food." He pulls away from her and smiles at her, then walks out of the room and down to the kitchen.
A few minutes later, the phone rings. Tony approaches "yes hello, here at Bower...and Micelli?"
"Hello Mister Micelli, this is the police station, we wanted to let you know that in two weeks the hearings of Mr. Stanton will be, you will still get mail from the court, if you haven't already received it..."
Tony looks at the small table next to the door with a stack of letters on it.
"Ok, thank you very much for the information, I'll check right away if the letter has already arrived here"
After a few minutes of exchanging information, Tony says goodbye and hangs up the phone. Then he goes over to the small table and picks up the stack of letters, he looks at each one and reads the senders, and sure enough, there is one from the United States District Court- District of Connecticut. He puts the other letters aside and opens the letter from the court immediately. He reads it in his mind. It contains the exact date of the hearing. Angela is summoned as a witness and is a Misses Strauss. Both of them are to testify as witnesses/victims. Mr. Stanton is represented by his lawyer, Scott Howard.
Tony reads quietly to himself, in time Angela comes down the stairs and stands behind him, she is curious what he has in his hand and lets it be so highly concentrated.
She gets wide-eyed and takes the letter out of his hand to read it carefully herself.
Tony looks at her questioningly and sympathetically, stroking her back with one hand.
"Ok...we need to contact my lawyer John Newman..." That's the only thing she can say right now. Everything comes back up to her. All thoughts of the past, of what happened, have become present again. Her stomach feels queasy. And it comes up to her. Angela puts her hand in front of her mouth, she feels sick and quickly runs upstairs to the bathroom.
"Angela!" Tony hurries after her.
In the bathroom, Angela sits next to the toilet, breathing in and out deeply. Tony takes a washcloth, rinses it with cold water, and places it on her forehead.
"Hey...everything will be fine, he'll get his just punishment! We can do it."
She looks down worriedly, then into Tony's eyes. "I don't know...I don't want to see him again Tony...what he did to me- how am I supposed to forget that so quickly? What if he doesn't go to jail after all? What do I do then?" Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes. Tony gives her a piece of toilet paper to wipe away her tears.
"Everything will be fine, believe me! There is another woman who testifies. You're not alone. It may be just as difficult for her as it is for you!"
She nods at him "yes you're right, she must feel the same way as I do..." Tears flow down her cheek.
Tony looks at her worriedly.
"Are you still sick Angela?" he asks her sympathetically.
"No, it's okay again..."
"Come on, get up from the cold floor" Tony helps her up. She sits down on the toilet lid.
"Would you like to rest a little and I'll bring the tea to your bed, we can eat together later?" He asks her.
"No, it's alright, it's okay... I'll come to the kitchen with you."
He nods at her.
They both slowly walk down to the kitchen, Angela sits down at the table. Tony prepares the linguini during this time.
Two weeks until the trial...two weeks...and what if he doesn't go to jail? I have to testify before him, I have to repeat everything that happened... I can't do that... What if they ask awkward questions...
Angela's thoughts are haunting her mind.
... When will I finally come to rest...
After about half an hour, the food is ready. Tony serves it on two plates, he goes to the table and puts the plate in front of Angela and hands her the cutlery.
"Thanks Tony, that looks delicious".
"Thank you Angela," he says and begins to eat.
Angela also takes a bite...after a short while she pokes around in her food staring at the plate.
"Don't you like it?" he asks her immediately.
Angela looks at him, "Tony... That's not it."
"Ok... You've only eaten a small bite, then what is it? Are you worried about the court date? Believe me, Roger gets his just punishment!"
Angela sighs loudly. She gets up and takes a glass from the cupboard, she goes to the water dispenser and pours herself something. She stops at the window and pauses for a moment, "Imagine the guy is running around freely outside again, Tony, what then? What should I do then? Hiding here in the house for fear that he won't hurt me here, for revenge?"
Tony gets up, walks over to her and holds her by the upper arms to calm her down, "Angela, no, you mustn't even think like that! I told you he's going to be behind bars and that we can do it together, then it will be like that!"
"Tony, I'll never have my peace, if he's not in jail! I'm going crazy!" she says and pushes Tony away slightly, but he won't let that happen and pulls her close to him to calm her down even more. "Angela, I'm here! He'll never hurt you again, I'll make sure of that!"
Angela shakes her head, "What should I say to the court? I have to tell them everything Tony, everything! I don't want to have to go through this again!"
"I know, but you can't do it without a statement, come on I'll make you some tea, maybe you'd like to eat a little later. You have to eat!" he says, taking her hand and gently pulling Angela back to the table. She sits down again.
Tony puts the tea water on.