Hope for All- chapter 4
Angela decided to end her work week on a early note and packed up her belongings to catch an early train. She barely slept last night after coming home from the informational session. Her emotions were high and her brain just wouldn't shut off. Jonathan was headed off to a Cub Scout camping weekend and Samantha was spending the night at Bonnie's. She assumed her mother had plans for the evening as she hadn't yet come back from her lunch break two hours ago. She could think of nothing better than coming home and relaxing in a nice hot bubble bath. Well, she could think of something, or rather someone, equally as nice and relaxing. As her thoughts started to wander, her daydreaming was interrupted by the phone ringing.
"Hello this is the Bower Agency, Angela Bower speaking" said Angela. "Hi Angela. I just wanted to see what time you'd be home for dinner. It's just us tonight, as I'm guessing Mona won't be home, and I wanted to figure out dinner" said Tony.
"Actually I'm packing up as we speak. I'm hoping to catch the early train and get an early start to the weekend. What did you have in mind for dinner?" said Angela.
"Well I was thinking of making a lasagna or maybe a meatloaf or maybe… linguine alle vongole?" said Tony. "Oh Tony! That's my favorite! Is that too much trouble? Especially for just you and I?" asked Angela.
"No trouble at all Angela! It's been a hectic week and it will be good to unwind a bit. When you get home, you should take a bath while I finish cooking, then we will eat and maybe watch an old movie. How does that sound?" asked Tony.
"It sounds perfect. I'll be home soon" said Angela as she hung up the phone. "How does he always know what I need?" thought Angela as she smiled to herself, packing up her belongings as she walked out of the office.
Tony was in the kitchen chopping up the lettuce for the salad and checking on the timer for the brownies baking in the oven, when he heard Angela come through the front door. He put the finishing touches to the salad and turned off the oven before heading into the living room.
"Hi Angela! I just finished the salad and dessert is cooling off! I'll start dinner in about an hour or so, which gives you plenty of time to relax!" said Tony.
"Thank you Tony. I will definitely take you up on it" said Angela.
Just then, Samantha and Jonathan came barreling down the stairs. "Hi Mom! I'm all packed for my camping trip! Steven's dad is going to pick me up…" Jonathan started when he was interrupted by a car honking outside. "Now!" laughed Jonathan.
"See you later dweeb. Don't you dare bring back anything that slithers!" said Samantha.
"Samantha!" shouted Tony. "Have a great time buddy! Don't do anything I wouldn't have!" Tony laughed.
"Bye my sweetheart! Please be careful and listen to Steven's dad!" Angela said as she hugged and kissed Jonathan goodbye.
"Alright I will be at Bonnie's until Sunday night. I know I know- no boys, no drinking, no sneaking out after her parents have gone to bed to see her new cute neighbor who moved in two doors down…" Samantha started until Angela came up behind her and put her hands on her shoulders.
"Samantha!" yelled Tony. "I'm just kidding Dad. He lives four doors down!" Samantha laughed and quickly kissed Tony before running out the front door.
While still laughing over Samantha's departure, Angela said "Since there's still time before dinner, I think I will take you up on that bubble bath… I mean your idea of taking a bath. It will be nice to relax!"
"Good! Take your time- dinner will be ready in about an hour" said Tony as he walked back into the kitchen.
Dinner went by with the ease and flow that both Tony and Angela had become accustomed to over the past few years. School and work updates were shared as well as any news with the kids.
"Tony, you outdid yourself with that meal! Between the bubble bath and that delicious meal, I couldn't be more relaxed if I tried! You really do know how to spoil me!" laughed Angela.
"If you only knew…" Tony started until he realized he said his thoughts out loud. "I umm I mean I am glad you're relaxed! Like I said earlier, it's been a full on couple of weeks. I've made a batch of brownies. How about we take them into the living room with a bottle of wine and put on a good movie?"
"That sounds wonderful Tony. I'll grab the wine and glasses and meet you in the living room. I'll see if I can find a good movie" said Angela.
Tony quickly cleaned up dinner and plated the brownies. Giving the kitchen one final inspection, he walked into the living room with dessert. "Here you go Angela! What movie did you find?" said Tony.
"Casablanca is about to start! Does that sound good 'Anthony?' laughed Angela. Tony's face began to turn a bright shade of red as he was transported back to that night years ago at Jonathan's camp with his Ingrid. A smile crossed Angela's face as she watched Tony become lost in his thoughts. "I guess I chose the right movie" thought Angela.
Snapping out of his daydreams, Tony opened up the bottle of wine and poured each of them a glass of wine. He moved the plate of brownies closer to Angela and handed her a glass of wine. He chose to sit a bit closer to her than he normally would when it was just the two of them. Sensing this, Angela shifted a bit closer to him as well until their arms were just about touching.
As the movie continued, Angela and Tony both happily consumed the brownies and the wine, Tony topping off their glasses more than once until the bottle was empty. By the time the movie was over, Angela was curled into Tony's side, with his arm wrapped around Angela. Neither wanted to move from their spots, but as the credits began to run, both realized their perfect little bubble needed to burst and return back to their respective roles.
"Tony?" "Angela?" they both started at the same time, laughing as they started to untangle themselves.
"I love that movie. I could watch it over and over again. Tonight was the perfect night Tony, thank you" said Angela.
As she leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek, as she had been coming more and more accustomed to doing lately, Tony turned his head so that her lips landed not on his cheek, but rather on his own lips. Both were momentarily frozen in place by the gentle kiss, staring into each other's eyes. Whether it was the heightened emotions of the past few weeks, the brief thought that they were alone in the house or the consumed bottle of wine, Tony broke the spell and angled himself so all he had to do was move mere inches to kiss Angela. He raised both his hands to gently caress her face as he leaned in and began kissing her. While slow at first, emotions eventually took over and the kisses became more passionate. Angela's hands found Tony's hair as she moved closer to him, her arms wrapped around his neck.
Time might as well have ceased to existed for all they cared at that moment. Moments turned into minutes, until they lost all sense of time. Finally, Tony began to regain some sense of self control and began to try and pull his lips away from hers.
"Angela… Angela…" Tony said breathlessly in between kisses. "Hmm…?" is all Angela could muster. "Angela, we need to talk" said Tony.
Those words were like being doused with cold water. Angela began to pull away, that wall coming back, the one she spent years building to keep up the facade of being so self assured and to protect herself from being hurt again. The passionate light in her eyes dimmed, a subtle change that Tony recognized all too well.
Grabbing her hands in his, Tony tried to bring that light back to her eyes. "Angela, that was amazing. I could keep doing that all night, but we need to talk about this" said Tony.
"Look Tony, like you said earlier, it's been an emotional few weeks. We let those emotions get the best of us for a few moments. It doesn't have to mean anything…" Angela said, trailing off quietly on the last part.
"Eh oh, oh eh! Angela, that's not what I'm saying. Heck, I don't even know what I am saying. I don't know what this means, but I was kinda hoping we could figure it out… together? You, and by extension me and this family, are about to start this life changing process of expanding this family. We are already partners as parents with Sam and Jonathan. It may not be the best time to explore something more, but I'm hoping one day we could…" said Tony.
"Oh Tony" Angela started, tears forming in her eyes. "I think we need to let things evolve naturally, not rush into anything. Having you here to support me through this has truly meant the world to me. We do make a great parenting team and if and when I have a baby, I know we will continue to make a great team."
"The best", said Tony as he placed a soft kiss on her hand. Angela stood up and started to bring the empty plate and glasses into the kitchen, when Tony stopped her.
"Angela, I've got this. You head upstairs and relax before bed. How about I make us a nice big breakfast tomorrow morning? Anything you want!" said Tony.
Angela smiled at Tony as she turned to walk up the stairs. "Sounds perfect Tony. Sweet dreams" said Angela.
"Not as sweet as you", whispered Tony as he turned and walked to the kitchen.