Love at All Costs
As always, all the credit goes to the writers, staff, crew and actors of WTB? This takes place in current times, with flashbacks.
July 2024
Angela pulled up to the all too familiar parking lot and found her usual spot. She looked over at the box of wrapped Italian pastries. A soft smile came to her face as she remembered the first time Tony took her into that bakery, not too long after they came to live with them. He made a point to tell her time and time again that they weren't Brooklyn quality, but would have to do.
Her smile soon faded as she realized she had to get out of the car and head in if she was going to get there on time. She picked up the box and her purse and headed up the concrete walkway. She made this trip so often, once a week for the past almost twenty years, she could walk it in her sleep. She entered the brick building and said hello to the guards, most of whom she knew by first name and vice versa.
"Hello Angela! Pastries again? Doesn't he get sick of them?" laughed the receptionist.
"If he does, he doesn't let on…" said Angela as she signed in and put her belongings onto the conveyor belt to be screened by security.
"Oh well… here you go! Have a good visit!" she said as she handed Angela her belongings. Angela walked down the hallway to the waiting room. She found a seat amongst the other visitors and pulled open her phone. She would have to put all her belongings into one of the small lockers so she quickly sent a text message to Samantha and Jonathan before putting her phone away.
After about ten minutes, the guards came in to escort the visitors to the lockers. Angela put all her stuff in the small locker except the box of pastries and updated printed out photographs of Samantha, Jonathan and their families. She quickly headed into the main room and found a seat at one of the tables. After a few minutes, the inmates were brought in. She quickly scanned the room until she found the set of brown eyes she was looking for.
"Tony!" she said as she stood up. Tony walked over to her, pulling her into a quick embrace before the guards could break them apart.
"Hi Angela… how are you doing?" asked Tony. He was far from the strong, well built man she knew from so many years ago. He was still lean and muscular, but the years spent in prison had aged him too quickly. His hair was a light, almost white, shade of grey and his clothes practically hung off of him.
"I'm fine sweetheart. How are you?" she asked.
"About the same… not much new around here. I got your letter this week and one from Jonathan and Samantha too. I'm so glad they take the time to still write to me…" he said sadly.
"Of course they would Tony! You're their father! They love you no matter what… here are some new photos! Jonathan's boys are almost as tall as he is! I don't know how they will be fifteen in a few months! Samantha said Nicholas is getting ready to start his Masters next semester. She also said Marie is deciding on a major. How are our grandkids so old?" she laughed.
"I have no idea Angela… and I've missed most of it being in here… boy does Marie look like Samantha…" he said as he wiped away tears from his eyes.
"And has her personality too! Especially when she was younger! Nicholas is a carbon copy of you- looks and personality too!" she chuckled.
"Poor kid…" said Tony.
"Stop that Tony! You're someone to be proud of, to admire despite what you think…" she said.
"Right Angela. There are hundreds of thousands of people lining up to be just like Tony Micelli… ex ball player, housekeeper, teacher… current inmate at Bridgeport Correctional Center…" he said sarcastically.
"Anyone would be proud to be you Tony! Never doubt that!" she said as she grabbed a hold of his hands.
"Proud of a murderer?" he said as he pulled back his hands.
"Proud of someone that protected his family! Proud of someone who risked his own life and selflessly defended everything he loves more than anything in this world! That's who I'm proud of and anyone else would be too!" she said as she took back his hands.
"What did I ever do to deserve you Angela?" he said as he wiped away his own tears.
"You knocked on my door almost forty years ago and found a way around all the walls I built up. You figured out a way to love me when I struggled to love myself. You love our family more than you love yourself and you did what you had to do to make sure our family was safe… that's what you did Tony and for that I will be forever thankful…" she said as she squeezed his hands.
"I love you Angela…" he said as he leaned over for a kiss.
"I love you too Tony…" she said as she smiled and kissed him right back.
September 2005
Tony came home from work, his first week back at school finally over. He loved teaching fourth grade at Samantha and Jonathan's old elementary school but by the end of the week, he was exhausted. He had been teaching there since that September after he got came back from Iowa. They had gotten married two weeks after he returned and spent the next twelve years in marital bliss. Once Samantha and Hank moved into their new house, Mona moved back into her apartment and Jonathan was settle in college followed by his own apartment in the city, they were officially empty nesters. They enjoyed visits from the family, but their newfound aloneness was something they both cherished deeply.
"Hello sweetheart!" said Angela as she came around the corner of her study. Since her business expanded a few years back, she took to working from home on Fridays so they could start their weekends early.
"How was your day?" he asked as he walked over to her, pulling her into an embrace and kissing her passionately.
"It was good! Putting the final touches on three new campaigns! Jack said the Boston office is really starting to take off! They landed four new campaigns this month, with two more coming in next week!" she said excitedly.
"That's wonderful sweetheart!" he said.
"So how was your day? Give that spelling bee today?" she asked as they headed into the kitchen.
"I did and they did great! They all really studied and did so well! The final two had to go back and forth eight times until we got a winner!" he said proudly as he began to get the pots and pans out to make their dinner.
"That's wonderful Tony! You really are making a difference in their lives…" she said as she took out the stuff for the salad.
"So I bought the ingredients to make shrimp scampi… sound good?" he asked.
"Sounds delicious! I'm going to start on the salad" she said.
Within the hour, the food was prepared and cooking on the stove. They both went to get changed into more comfortable clothes. As they headed back downstairs, the doorbell rang. Tony went to open it and in ran Nicholas, followed close behind by Samantha carrying Marie on her hip.
"Pa! Nanna! I missed you!" shouted Nicholas as he ran into Angela's arms. Samantha handed Marie to Tony as she closed the door.
"Hi my sweet boy! We missed you too! How was preschool today?" asked Angela as she brought Nicholas over to the sofa.
"It was great Nanna! I got to play on the swings and we got to paint! I painted a sun and a rainbow!" he said excitedly.
"That's wonderful Nicholas! We have all of your drawings from the summer still on the refrigerator!" said Angela.
"How's this little girl doing? Samantha she looks just like you! I can't believe how big she's gotten in two weeks!" said Tony as he made the baby giggle.
"They are both growing like weeds! I can barely keep them in clothes… and shoes, forget about it! Who knew a one and four year old could grow so fast!" laughed Samantha.
"Well then it's time for a Pa and Nanna shopping spree! I think a trip to the clothing store is in order followed by a stop at Toys R Us!" said Angela as Nicholas squealed in delight.
"And then ice cream afterwards!" said Tony with a smile.
"Trips to the toy store? Ice cream? Who are you two and what have you done with my parents?" asked Samantha with a laugh.
"C'mon these are our grandkids! It's our job to spoil them!" said Tony as he lifted Marie up in the air.
"Just don't overdo it okay? You know Hank doesn't like it when you spoil them too much…" said Samantha.
"So did you all eat dinner yet? There's plenty of food and we can make something for the kids" said Angela as she pulled out the toy bin under the coffee table for the kids.
"You wouldn't mind? We just came over to say hi but Hank is working late again and the thought of going home and having to cook something sounds less than appealing. Thank you…" she said.
"No need to thank us! We love having you guys around!" said Angela.
"Alright let me go get their dinner started! I'll make some chicken fingers and veggies to go with our rice" said Tony as he handed Marie to Angela and headed into the kitchen.
"So how's things going with you? Your maternity leave should be up soon now that this little one is a year now. You have plans to head back?" asked Angela as she took some toys for Marie to play with.
"Actually we have been talking and with the cost of daycare, I might just stay home with them longer until Marie can be in school…" she said sadly.
"Oh… I thought you were excited to head back to work. You do such amazing work with children and families! How many times you've been able to keep struggling families together…" said Angela.
"Social work was, well is, such difficult work but it was really rewarding too. It's just such a commitment outside of the home- late nights, some weekends. It's just not conducive to having two young kids unfortunately… I'll go back to it eventually…" said Samantha.
"Are you sure?" asked Angela.
"Yes… yes I'm sure" said Samantha after a longer pause than Angela thought was normal for such a big decision.
"Alright dinner is ready!" said Tony as he stuck his head in the living room. They all headed into the kitchen to eat dinner. They had expanded the kitchen table once the grandkids started to arrive and had a high chair and booster seats stored in the corner. They all enjoyed their company, catching up on work and school. After dinner, Samantha offered to clean up while Angela and Tony played with the kids in the living room. Soon, Samantha joined them with Tony's freshly made chocolate chip cookies.
"Pa! My favorite! Did you make them just for me?" asked Nicholas as he took one from the plate.
"Of course I did! You and Nanna… I make sure I keep a full stock at all times!" laughed Tony as he gave a small cookie to Marie.
"And someone else is going to need to be added into the mix! Looks like another fan of Pa's cookies!" laughed Angela as she helped Marie eat the cookie. Just then, the doorbell rang and Sam stood up and went to the door. She opened the door to an irritated looking Hank.
"Oh Hank! I thought you were working late!" said Samantha as she leaned up to give him a kiss.
"I finished early and came home but didn't know where you were. Why didn't you call me or leave a note?" asked Hank.
"I figured you wouldn't I be back before we got home… and besides where else would I be but here?" she asked sarcastically.
"A little consideration is all I ask… are those cookies? I thought we talked about limiting their sweets…" he said with irritation.
"It's one cookie… they will be fine Hank!" said Tony.
"Alright think it's time to head home and get these guys in the bath and to bed! Thanks Dad and Angela for dinner!" said Samantha overly enthusiastically.
"Of course sweetheart! You all are welcome here anytime! We love having you all here" said Angela as she handed Marie to Samantha.
"No! I wanna stay!" shouted Nicholas.
"We have to go home Nicholas. C'mon and grab your stuff…" said Hank.
"No! I stay here!" he said as he began to cry.
"Nicholas now!" shouted Hank, causing Nicholas to stop crying, a look of fear on his face. Angela and Tony went over to Nicholas, trying to comfort him as they gave each other a worried look.
"Hank! Don't yell at him! Just head home and I will get them ready and meet you there…" said Samantha.
"I'm sorry Nicholas. Daddy's had a rough day at work. Okay I'll meet you at home. Goodnight Tony and Angela" he said as he walked out the door.
"Samantha! What was that?" asked Tony as Nicholas snuggled into Angela's lap.
"He's been really stressed at work. His boss has made him do overtime but without the extra pay. Since he was the last one hired at the television company, he has to pay his dues. He doesn't mean it Dad…" said Samantha as she grabbed the kids' bag and coats.
"He has no right to yell at him like that…" said Tony as Angela stood up and put her hand on his arm.
"Tony, why don't you take Marie out to the car and put her in the car seat" said Angela as she had Nicholas on her hip, cuddled into her side.
"But Angela…" he started to say as she cut him off.
"Please Tony…" she said, more of a request than a question. He nodded and took Marie out to the car.
"Thanks Angela. Dad doesn't get how he can just get frustrated and sometimes it gets taken out on those he loves. Hopefully soon his work will let up and things will be back to normal" said Samantha as she took Nicholas from Angela.
"Hopefully… why don't you and I take the kids to the library this weekend. There's a special children's fair going on that looks like fun!" said Angela.
"That sounds great! Let me just run it by Hank and I'll let you know…" said Samantha as she hugged and kissed her goodbye.
"You know you can always come and talk to me right? About anything…" said Angela as she pulled back from their hug.
"Yes I know… thanks Angela…" she said. Angela walked them out to the car and helped get them settled. Tony and Angela waved goodbye to them as they headed into the house.
"What was that Angela? I've never seen Hank like that before! That job must be really stressful" he said.
"Yes… it must be…" she said as she was deep in thought.
"What's wrong Angela?" he asked as he sat down next to her on the sofa.
"Nothing… I think… I just think we need to keep an eye on them. Something isn't sitting right with me…" she said.
"What do you mean?" asked Tony with worry and concern in his voice.
"Look it's nothing really. I just know what it's like to live with someone with a… temper. Hopefully it's just his job and once it becomes less stressful things will be fine…" she said.
"If Hank ever does to Samantha what Michael did to you, I'll kill him…" he said as he stood up in anger.
"Calm down Tony. Hank isn't Michael… we just need to keep an eye out, that's all. C'mon, help me clean up and we can make it an early night, find a good movie and relax on the sofa" she said as she took him by the hand and brought everything into the kitchen, trying her best to push away a nagging worry that was starting to fester deep down in her stomach.