Who's the Boss Now?
The house on 3344 Oak Hills Drive had changed very little over the past few decades. Small remodels here and there, with upgrades to the furniture as the family grew over the years but it still retained it's charm. The living room now had boxes stacked with everything from clothing to kitchen appliances to old memorabilia. Tony walked in from the kitchen with another box labeled pots and pans. He put the box down next to the others as Angela walked down the stairs carrying an open box.
"Angela! Here let me help you!" he said as he ran over to her and grabbed the box.
"Thank you sweetheart! Tony… how is this still in our closet? I told you to throw it away years, no decades ago!" laughed Angela as she pulled out a faded, light pink bathrobe out of the box.
"How could I throw that away Angela? That bathrobe is where it all started almost… oh my gosh Angela… almost forty years ago! How is it possible we have been together for forty years?" he said.
"I know Tony… it's hard to believe I opened the door to you forty years ago this September and this June we will be married thirty one years. It seems like yesterday you came back from Iowa…" said Angela wistfully. Tony took the bathrobe from her and opened it up, allowing her to put it on.
"Still fits!" she laughed as she tied the belt.
"There's only one time in our life that you didn't fit into that bathrobe Angela and that was right after I got back from Iowa… well for about nine months after that…" he chuckled.
"Never in my wildest dreams that morning did I except to not only see you at my front door steps, dressed in that tuxedo… then convincing me to elope that night and then getting pregnant that same night…" she said as she thought back to that wonderful night.
"Me either Angela but I wouldn't have changed a thing… I think AJ and Katie would agree too!" he said with a chuckle.
"I still can't believe all four of our kids will be here for dinner tonight. I don't think they've all been together since the funeral. I just hope Jonathan will be alright…" she said as she wiped away some tears that had fallen.
"Our son will be okay eventually. I've been checking in on him every few days. It's a bond I never wanted to have with him…" he said sadly.
"Oh Tony thank you. I've been checking in with Sam too. Divorce is never easy, especially when there are kids involved. I'm so thankful we can do this for them" she said. Just then, the doorbell rang, Angela heading over to see who was at the door. She opened the door to Samantha, her eleven year old daughter Annmarie and fifteen year old son Nicholas.
"Sweethearts! How are you?" she said as she opened the door, pulling her grandchildren into a hug. They came into the living room as Angela gave Samantha a hug.
"Nicky boy! How are you? Look how much you've grown! You're almost taller than me!" he said as he gave his grandson a hug.
"Hey Grandpa… I'm okay" he said as he moved his way into the living room and took a seat on the sofa.
"Annmarie! How's my star softball player? I can't wait to see you again in your next game! A chip off the old Micelli block!" beamed Tony with pride.
"I struck out seven batters in yesterday's game!" said Annmarie.
"That's my girl!" shouted Tony.
"Angela… do you always open the door to a Micelli wearing that pink bathrobe?" laughed Samantha as she put her bags down.
"Not all Micelli's, just the special ones…" said Angela as she put her arm around Samantha's shoulder and started to walk towards the sofa. They were interrupted by the doorbell ringing.
"What is this Grand Central Station?" said Tony sarcastically. Angela just rolled her eyes and went back to open the door. Jonathan and his eight year old daughter Toni stood at the front door.
"Jonathan! Toni! You guys are early! Come in!" she said as she hugged them both. Tony came over and hugged them both as well, holding onto Jonathan a little longer.
"Our flight got in early so we decided to come by early. The moving van won't be here until tomorrow morning so we will be living out of suitcases until then!" he said as he put his hand on his daughter's shoulder.
"Grandma! Grandpa! I lost another tooth on the plane! Do you think the tooth fairy will know where to find me?" asked Toni.
"Of course sweetheart! After dinner, we will make sure to write the tooth fairy a letter to let her know!" said Angela.
"What's with you two knocking at the door? This has and will always be your home! Just act like Katie and AJ… they barge in here all the time!" laughed Tony.
"Sam and I learned shortly after you two got back together to always knock…" snickered Jonathan.
"Yeah… that's not an imagine either of us needs… again!" laughed Samantha.
"Ewww gross Mom!" shouted Nicholas.
"Wait, I don't get it?" asked Toni very innocently.
"They mean sex…" said Annmarie matter of factly.
"Annmarie Francesca Thomopolous! Enough!" yelled Samantha.
"What? She asked!" shouted Annmarie.
"Oh she is one hundred percent your daughter!" laughed Angela as Tony just shook his head.
"Yes that apple didn't fall far from the Micelli tree! And I'm afraid she's somehow gotten Mona's genes in there too!" laughed Samantha.
"Grandma's genes? Is it too late to change the living arrangements?" chuckled Jonathan.
"Very funny you two! Why don't you help your parents out and grab one or two of those boxes. The trailer is all hooked up to the jeep. This time it's actually attached!" laughed Tony. He stopped his laughter quickly when he saw the pained look on Samantha's face.
"I'm sorry sweetheart. I shouldn't have said anything…" said Tony.
"It's fine Dad. People get divorced everyday in this country. You can mention his name and even talk about him" said Samantha.
"Alright… Grandpa baked some of his famous triple chocolate fudge brownies before he packed away the rest of the kitchen sets. Who's in the mood for some?" asked Angela as she tried to change the subject.
"Mom! It's only eleven in the morning!" said Jonathan as he shook his head.
"What? All my grandkids are here under one roof? I'm going to spoil them!" she said as she took them into the kitchen, Tony following behind.
"So this is really happening… Angela and Dad moving to a condo and the five of us under one roof. It… it doesn't seem real…" said Samantha as she sat down on the sofa. Jonathan came around and sat down next to her on the sofa.
"It doesn't seem real. This house without them in it… I thought it was weird when Grandma moved out of her apartment and into the assisted living before she passed away…" he said.
"I guess it's just going to take some getting used to…" she said.
"In case I haven't said it… thanks Sam. You've really been there for me since Mark died. I… I don't know how I would have gotten through the past four months without you…" said Jonathan.
"Hey… you were there for me last year when my marriage fell apart. That's what siblings do for one another. I'm so glad we have this chance to be there for each other and for our kids. It's hard on us but it's the hardest on them… Annmarie has been doing okay but Nicholas… he has really taken it hard. I'm lucky if I get five words out of him a day…" said Sam.
"Does Hank still contact them?" he asked.
"Only when I text him. He's busy with his new fiancé Jessica… It's one thing to treat me like garbage, but his own kids? I don't get it and it angers me to no end the damage he's doing to them" she said as she wiped away the tears in her eyes.
"He has no right to treat you like garbage either! You deserve better than that… you all do!" he said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Just then, Tony and Angela walked back in through the swinging doors.
"Awww! Angela! Look at them! It only took thirty some odd years for them to start acting like brother and sister!" laughed Tony.
"We act like brother and sister all the time! Practically since we moved in here! The dweeb was annoying then but has definitely mellowed in his old age!" laughed Samantha.
"It would be nice if I could say the same for you! I'm pretty sure you'd still refuse to be seen in public with me if I crossed you!" he laughed.
"Probably dweeb!" laughed Samantha.
"Alright you two! Your dad and I really need to get these last boxes packed so we can head over to our new place. We will be back tonight for dinner, hopefully giving you enough time to get settled in here" said Angela.
"AJ and Katie will be coming over for dinner too. AJ said Sarah will get off of work early and join us too. Katie's new boyfriend of the week may come too… speaking of someone who inherited Mona's genes… that girl will never settle down!" said Tony as he just shook his head.
"I thought the best one she dated was the guy she brought last year to AJ and Sarah's wedding. He seemed the most normal out of the recent ones…" said Angela.
"Alright everyone! Let's get you packed! I want to get Toni settled in the girls' room before dinner" said Jonathan as he got off the sofa and grabbed a box. They all grabbed the boxes and within a few minutes the trailer was packed. Angela and Tony said their goodbyes and headed to their new place. Jonathan and Samantha headed back into the kitchen, where the kids were still finishing their snack.
"Alright everyone! Finish up your snacks and then we have unpacking to do!" said Jonathan.
"Do I really have to share my room?" whined Annmarie.
"Yes you do… we've been over this…" said Samantha with a stern voice and glare.
"Think of all the fun you two are going to have sharing a room! I wish I could have shared a room when I was younger!" said Jonathan.
"I can't imagine you and Mom sharing a room! That would have been hilarious!" laughed Annmarie.
"Mom would have driven you crazy Uncle Jon. She does everyone else…" said Nicholas.
"Alright let's get moving shall we… Nicholas go help the girls bring their suitcases upstairs. Uncle Jon and I will unpack everything from the cars. C'mon let's go everyone!" said Samantha as the kids begrudgingly walked into the living room. Samantha and Jonathan just gave each other a look and a shrug as they headed in after the kids.
By late afternoon, everyone was unpacked and set up in their rooms. Samantha moved into Angela and Tony's room while Jonathan moved into Tony's old room. The girls took over Samantha's old room, while Nicholas took Jonathan's room. They all collapsed on the sofa, exhausted but satisfied they had done everything they could until the moving trucks arrived tomorrow.
"What time are Grandma and Grandpa coming back?" asked Toni. Just then, Tony and Angela came in through the front door.
"Grandma! Grandpa! Come see our new room! It looks so cool!" shouted Toni.
"How about we see about dinner first and then we head up there?" asked Angela.
"But I want to show you now!" shouted Toni.
"Antonia Katherine Bower! We do not shout in this house. We will go up there later" said Jonathan as Toni began to cry.
"But… I want… to go… now!" she said in between sobs as Angela came over and pulled her into her lap.
"How about you help Grandpa with dinner? He's making your favorite!" said Angela.
"Veal parmesan?" asked Toni as her crying subsided.
"Would I make anything else for you? And I made lasagna for Annmarie and my special meatballs for Nicky! Something for everyone!" said Tony.
"I'm a vegetarian now Grandpa…" said Nicholas as Samantha just rolled her eyes.
"Since when?" asked Tony in complete disbelief.
"A month now. The cattle and meat industry is killing our environment. I for one would like to breath fresh air by the time I'm thirty…" said Nicholas.
"Well there's salad and pasta I guess…" said Angela.
"Which is perfect! Thank you guys for cooking tonight. We all appreciate it" said Samantha.
Both Tony and Toni headed into the kitchen to start dinner. Nicholas got a phone call and headed back to his room. Annmarie decided to head out to the backyard to shoot some hoops before dinner. Jonathan headed into the kitchen after a few minutes, leaving Angela and Samantha to talk.
"How are you doing sweetheart? I know the first year after divorce brings so many challenges" said Angela.
"It's been tough. Nicholas is taking it the worst. He is blaming me for the divorce… like I went out and spent the last two years of our marriage cheating…" said Samantha.
"Well he doesn't know that… you both have done a great job at keeping the reasons why you're divorced private. The downside of that is that he has probably formed some false story in his head as to what happened. Jonathan did that in the beginning when Michael first moved out. He idolized Michael and was so defiant until you and your dad came along. Nicholas just needs some time to heal and figure things out" said Angela.
"I hope so… it's hard enough on me trying to heal and figure things out when my focus has been on making sure the kids are alright" said Samantha.
"I know sweetheart and they will be. I think this move will be good for everyone" said Angela.
Meanwhile in the kitchen, Tony was putting the final touches on dinner. Toni loved helping Tony in the kitchen but soon lost interest and ran back into the living room, leaving Jonathan and Tony alone to talk.
"So how have you been holding up?" asked Tony.
"The truth?" asked Jonathan. Tony just nodded his head and sat next to him at the kitchen table.
"Some days it's all I can do to get out of bed. I miss Mark so much it literally hurts. It's only been a few months but the pain just doesn't let up. Toni is the only thing that keeps me going…" he said as he wiped away some tears that had fallen.
"When Marie died, I… I just shut down. I had just recovered from my shoulder surgery when she died. I could barely physically do everything I needed to let alone handle it emotionally. Samantha probably doesn't remember this but for about a month I sent her to stay with Mrs. Rossini. I came to visit when I could and took her out on the weekends but I just couldn't deal. Finally one day, my dad came over. I was about three or four beers into a nice pity party. He grabbed my sorry ass and knocked some sense into me. He told me Marie had died but I hadn't so why was I acting like it? He… he had a way of telling it like it was… from that point on, things started to change. I was able to get the job at the fish market and moved Samantha back home. A few years later, we moved up here… I still missed Marie, heck I still do even after all these years, but I knew I had to start moving again. You're already doing that Jonathan and I couldn't be prouder of you…" he said as he put his arm around Jonathan's shoulder and pulled him into an embrace.
"Thanks Tony. I hate that you get how I feel but it's also nice to have someone to talk to who understands…" he said.
"I'll always be there for you Jonathan…" said Tony. Just then they heard more voices in the living room. They both headed inside to see AJ, Sarah and Katie sitting in the living room.
"Hey everyone! How's my Katie face doing?" asked Tony as he came and hugged his youngest daughter. She was the spitting image of Angela, with the exception of bright auburn hair.
"Hi Dad! I'm good! Busy at work at the agency! I just signed two new clients! That's five this month! The Bower Agency is having its best year! A chip off the old block, right Mom?" said Katie.
"Of course sweetheart! I knew once I retired, I left it in great hands!" said Angela.
"It better be! Mom dragged us there our entire childhood! Or at least until I was old enough to refuse!" laughed AJ. He was a spitting imagine of Tony but only with dirty blond hair.
"Very funny! I don't hear you complaining at your law office… getting all that experience in the corporate world has definitely benefited you I'm sure!" said Angela.
"He talks a tough game but I can't tell you how often he talks about how much he learned from you Angela. You too Tony…" said Sarah.
"Well at least one of our kids followed in my footsteps, Professor Bower!" said Tony as he wrapped his arm around Jonathan.
"Sam did too in a way… social work is in the helping field. All those children and families she has helped… too bad Mom and Dad didn't send AJ to you… could have avoided all those rebellious years of our youth!" laughed Katie as AJ threw a pillow at her head, missing her completely.
"Didn't inherit Dad's athletic abilities either I see…" said Katie.
"Enough you two! I'm having flashbacks to your childhood!" said Tony.
"I think dinner is ready! I think we should get the kids ready" said Jonathan. He headed upstairs and called the kids down for dinner. They all headed into the dining room, the only space that could hold their large family. Tony and Angela brought out the food and sat down. Tony grabbed his glass and stood up to make a toast.
"I can't tell you how happy it makes me to have everyone under one roof again. Almost forty years ago, Angela and I took a big chance on one another, taking a blind leap of faith that our two families could work out. It was a big risk that ended up with the biggest of rewards. This house is where our family started, where it grew and where it continues to thrive. I can't wait for this next chapter to start for all of us… here's to our family!" said Tony as the family raised their glasses and toasted one another.
They all enjoyed each other's company and the meal. Even Nicholas was socializing and enjoyed the food. Once it was time to clean up, Samantha, Jonathan, Katie and AJ volunteered to clean up while Tony, Angela and the kids got the dessert ready. Tony had managed to bake a triple chocolate cake with homemade buttercream frosting. They were all completely stuffed by the time they finished eating in the living room. As promised, Angela and Tony were shown the girls' room. Even Nicholas gave them a tour of his room.
"Alright everyone! I think it's time Tony and I headed home. If you need anything, we are only a few miles away" she said as she started hugging everyone. Tony followed suit and soon they were ready to leave. Just as they were about to head out the front door, the doorbell rang. Confused as to who it could be at this time of the night, Tony slowly opened the front door.
"Yo Tony! How's it goin'? Any chance you've got a spare room for me to stay? My wife kicked me out… again! Go figure…" said Al as the family all looked at one another, Samantha and Jonathan shaking their heads.
"Hi Al! We are pretty full right now but maybe you could stay in Mona's old apartment. It should be in good condition after AJ and Sarah moved out last year" said Samantha.
"Alright! I guarantee you won't even know I'm here… I sleep like a baby here! It will only be for a few days…" said Al as he pulled in two suitcases, one bag and a pillow.
"On that note… have a good night!" laughed Tony as he and Angela headed out for the night.
"Here's the key Al. I'll see about getting you some clean sheets but you can start up" said Samantha.
"Anyone have an extra pair of earplugs?" joked Jonathan as he recalled to the group the very loud screaming, sleepless night they all suffered the last time Al stayed the night.
"Bunnies? Really? Were they being murdered?" laughed Sarah.
"I don't know and I don't want to know! I'm just glad he got that apartment finally! No thanks to Dad!" laughed Samantha.
"Well on that note… I think we better head out. Hope you all sleep tonight!" said Sarah.
"If you guys need anything, just let us know" said AJ as he hugged Samantha and Jonathan.
"We might be your very younger siblings, but we are still here for you… always" said Katie as she too hugged them and headed out the door leaving Samantha and Jonathan alone in the living room.
"Well it's just us again…" said Jonathan as he started to clean up the dessert dishes.
"I'm exhausted Jonathan.. just leave those dishes and we will get them in the morning. We've got another big day of unpacking and getting used to this new normal" said Samantha.
"Leave a mess? Tony just twitched and he doesn't know why! You go up to bed and I'll finish up around here. I'm not his son, but I've got too much of Tony's influence in me to leave this place a mess! I used to drive Mark crazy having to clean up the whole house before we could go to bed. I just couldn't leave a mess…" he said.
"I know what you mean… Hank would leave everything a mess. For the first half of our marriage, I cleaned up after him all the time. Then the kids came, I had no energy left and just kinda… gave up…" she said.
"You head up to bed Sam. I've got this…" he said as he put his arm around her and gave her a quick side hug before taking the plates and cups into the kitchen. Samantha stood there for a moment and looked up at the stairs. The thought of laying in the bed, cuddled under the covers was almost too strong to resist. Thinking of all the firsts, the changes, the new starts in all of their lives, Samantha turned around and headed into the kitchen to start their brand new life.