Hope for All- chapter 41
Mona and Samantha brought up dinner for Angela and decided to all eat together in the bedroom. Samantha couldn't stop talking about going away with Bonnie's family and all the fun she was going to have. Angela promised her that Tony would take her shopping before the trip and take Mona along for help, probably support to convince Tony to buy her what she needed. Samantha offered to clean up and do the dishes while Angela and Mona talked.
"So how is the agency doing Mother? Are things running smoothly? Has Jack been working on those briefs I left him last week?" asked Angela.
"Everything is fine Angela. He's been leading the team while you've been gone… all four days you've been away… you need to relax Angela and trust the people you hired to do a good job… well maybe present company excluded…" smirked Mona.
"Mother! I know I need to delegate and I am. I just want to know how things are going that's all…" said Angela.
"And they are going well. I'll make sure you know if they aren't okay?" said Mona.
"Thank you Mother. Anyway… Tony said he had a surprise for me! Any ideas what it could be?" asked Angela.
"Beats me… he didn't tell me anything. Probably thinks I'd ruin the surprise… I mean ruin one little surprise party for you and the trust is gone!" said Mona.
"I can't imagine what it could be since I can't leave this room for who knows how long. So it's got to be something to do in the bedroom…" said Angela, oblivious to Mona's stifled laughter.
"Well the second thing it could be…" smirked Mona as Angela caught on to what she had just said.
"Mother! Get your mind out of the gutter! Besides, I'm afraid that ship has sailed until after these ones make their appearance and even then I'm sure it will be weeks or even months until we even think about it again…" said Angela with disappointment in her voice.
"Don't be so sure Angela. Wait until the doctor tells you one way or another. And besides… do you really think Tony's going to go months? I've seen the way he's looked at you all these years and especially since you two finally got together. He can't keep his hands off you and from the looks of it, it's mutual…." said Mona with a wink.
"We shall see I guess…" said Angela. A few moments later, Tony could be heard coming through the front door and up the stairs.
"Knock knock!" said Tony as he opened the door.
"Okay you two! Close your eyes!" said Tony. He stepped back into the hallway before peaking his head back into the room to make sure their eyes were closed. He stepped fully into the room and placed a huge box down on the dresser table.
"Okay open them!" he shouted as Angela and Mona both opened their eyes to see a brand new television still in the box.
"A new television?" asked Angela as she stared at the box, wondering how he managed to get it not only into the car but up the stairs.
"Yes! One for upstairs so you have something to do these next couple of months! I already called the cable company and they will be coming by tomorrow morning to install a line up here! What do you think?" asked Tony.
"That's so nice of you Tony! I love it!" said Angela as she wiped away some fallen tears. He came to sit down next to her on the bed and gave her a quick kiss.
"So after these two kids make an appearance… what are the chances of this bad boy finding a new home over at my place? I could use a television in my bedroom…" said Mona.
"Fat chance Mona! I figure with midnight feedings and diaper changes, this tv will get used quite a bit! Until then, it will keep you busy during the day and we can cuddle up at night and watch movies" he said.
"Sounds delightful! Thank you sweetheart!" said Angela as she leaned over and gave him another kiss.
"Alright enough you too! See Angela… nothing to worry about… okay I'm off to my date… don't wait up…" said Mona as she headed out of the room.
"Worry about what Angela? Is everything okay? Are you okay?" asked Tony with some panic in his voice.
"I'm fine Tony… really it's nothing…" Angela said unconvincingly.
"That doesn't sound like nothing. What's going on?" asked Tony.
"We were just talking about what the surprise could be and Mother's mind of course went into the gutter. We got to talking… well she started talking about us being… intimate. I figure with everything that's happened thats probably off the table now and probably will be for a while after they are here. I can't imagine us even thinking about it for a while…" she started as Tony stopped her mid sentence.
"Eh oh, oh eh! If the doctor says we can't, then we can't. As for afterwards, I'm going be counting down the days Angela! The minutes! I don't care how tired we are!" he said with a laugh, causing her to laugh too.
"Well we shall see… hopefully the baby weight will come off quickly. It took about six months with Jonathan but I was younger then so I'm hoping by this time next year to at least feel as much like my old self as possible" she said, the self image issues coming back to the surface.
"Look sweetheart… I don't want you to worry about that right now. You just keep doing what you are doing, keeping these kids growing big and strong. We will worry about the rest of it when the time comes. Until then, just focus on these two little ones…" he said as he rubbed her belly.
"Thank you Tony… you always make me feel beautiful even when I don't…" she said.
"That's my job! To remind you just how absolutely beautiful you are at all times…" he said as he curled into her, spending the rest of the night in each other's arms.
The next few days went by uneventfully. By the next morning, the television was up and running, giving Angela something else to do. She convinced Tony to give her her briefcase to get some work done, just as long as she didn't overdo it. By the end of the week, she was never more excited for a doctor's appointment, the only chance she would have to leave the house.
"Alright Angela… just take your time down the stairs. Stop if you have to…" said Tony, his overprotectiveness at an all time high.
"Tony I can walk down the stairs just fine but if you don't get out of my way, I'm going to trip over you!" she said with more than a bit of frustration in her voice.
"I just want to make sure you're okay that's all. If you need me I want to be right there" said Tony as they finally made it to the living room.
"I know Tony… and thank you" she said, knowing his guilt from last week was still very present.
"Ok I will start the car- I've packed water and snacks. Just wait here" he said as he went out the front door to start the car. He came back in a few minutes later and helped her out the door. Late July in Connecticut was normally not too humid but the past few days or so had been breaking records with the humidity. Angela felt like she had run a marathon by the time she sat in the car.
"This heat and humidity is ridiculous! I feel like I need a shower already! It really needs to be September already!" she shouted.
"I know sweetheart…" he said as Angela cut him off.
"No Tony you don't know! I'm miserable right now! I can't go anywhere but to a doctor's appointment, I can only use one hand, I feel absolutely huge and unattractive and now this humidity is making it all ten times worse!" she shouted, releasing pent up emotions from the last few days. Tony let her get it all out before reaching out for her hand. He knew better than to say anything until she spoke again so he just did his best to support her without words.
"I'm sorry Tony… I didn't realize how this has all impacted me I guess. I was really looking forward to the fresh air and now that's gone out the window…" she said as she wiped away some tears that had fallen.
"You have every right to feel that way sweetheart. Hopefully the humidity breaks soon and maybe we can figure something out to get you some more fresh air…" he said as he leaned over and brushed the hair off of her face. She simply nodded in agreement as Tony pulled out of the driveway. Soon, they were in the waiting room of her doctor's office. After a few minutes, they were called back into the exam room.
"Hi Angela! So your vitals all look very good! I heard about your fall last week! How are you doing?" asked the nurse as she recorded her information.
"A bit stir crazy but otherwise I'm good. My arm doesn't hurt thankfully" she said.
"That's good! I can imagine that was quite a scare for all of you! Okay the doctor will be in shortly" said the nurse as she left the room.
Tony helped Angela get on the table for the exam. It wouldn't be a sonogram today since she had a few at the hospital. Tony was trying to make Angela as comfortable as possible when the doctor came in.
"Hi Angela! I heard about your accident. I'm glad you are alright. There doesn't seem to be any long term effects- your vitals are good so let's hear their heartbeats" said the doctor as he put the doppler wand on her stomach, finding each heartbeat. Baby A's heartbeat sounded loudly in the room, nice and strong, followed by Baby B's heartbeat, also strong and in the normal range. Both Tony and Angela let out sighs of relief. The doctor took some additional measurements of her stomach and then helped her sit up.
"Everything looks good but I want to do a repeat stress test for the babies next week, just to make sure things are looking good. Assuming everything checks out okay, I will lessen the bed rest but activities need to be kept to a bare minimum until thirty six weeks. If they can stay in until then, I think we can lift most of the restrictions. Any questions?" he asked.
"I've been trying to do a little bit of work here and there, nothing too time consuming. Is that still alright?" asked Angela.
"Since your blood pressure looks good, I'd say that's fine. We can reassess each week" he said.
"Umm… would it ummm… be right to assume that… that sex is off the table until after they are born?" asked Tony as he stumbled over his words.
"For now I'm afraid yes but we can reevaluate at thirty six weeks. Alright you two, we will see you back next week" said the doctor as he walked out of the room.
Tony helped Angela down off the table and to the receptionist to schedule the appointment. Soon they were in the car and on their way. Angela was distracted thinking about the stress test and didn't realize right away they weren't heading in the direction of home.
"Tony? Where are we going? I might have pregnancy brain but I think I remember the way home…" said Angela.
"I think we both deserve a quick pit stop before heading home, wouldn't you say…" said Tony as he reached over and grabbed her hand. Soon they were down by the local beach. Tony pulled into a parking spot looking over the ocean, right next to an old fashion ice cream shop.
"So what would you like? Butter brickle ice cream? A shake or float? Sundae? Whatever you want…" said Tony.
"Two scoops of butter brickle with whipped cream, hot fudge and sprinkles! Don't forget the cherry!" she said with a renewed sense of excitement in her voice.
"Coming right up!" he said as he got out of the car and headed inside. After about ten minutes, he came back outside with their ice cream and handed Angela her sundae. They spent the next few minutes enjoying their ice cream and the beautiful view of the ocean. There was even a light ocean breeze coming through the car windows.
"Oh Tony this was wonderful. I really needed this! I didn't realize just how badly I was experiencing cabin fever. First, those weeks on bed rest for the blood pressure and now this… I've never been good at relaxing and staying in one place. This is a bigger challenge than I anticipated…" said Angela.
"I know sweetheart. I can only imagine how difficult it is but the doctor said hopefully by next week you might be able to do a little more… we just have to take it week by week, day by day… and you let me know what I can do to help make things better!" said Tony.
"Oh Tony… you are already doing everything and then some! I'll be okay I promise. I just didn't realize how much it was impacting me until today. I can make it a few more weeks if it means these little ones get here safely…" she said as she rubbed her belly.
"Just think Angela… eight weeks until we get to meet them! You ever stop to think what they will look like?" asked Tony.
"When we first started this whole thing with the clinic and you wanted to do this with me, I had this vision of a tiny baby with olive skin, big brown eyes and dark brown hair. Once we found out I was pregnant with the twins, I think I always pictured one and one. An adorable little boy who looks mostly like you but with a hint of Jonathan in there too…." said Angela.
"And an adorable little girl who would be the spitting image of you, with a touch of Samantha in there too…" he said as the smile on his face grew.
"Well… regardless of what they look like, they will be two very loved little babies… they already are…" she said as she too smiled at the thought.
"Let's go home Angela…" he said as pulled out of the parking spot and headed home.