Love at All Costs- chapter 3
trigger warning- mentions domestic violence*
August 2024
Angela pulled back into the parking lot of the Bridgeport Correctional Center and found her usual spot. It was pouring rain out so Angela had to make a mad dash inside; even with her umbrella, she was still soaked. She decided to forgo the pastries today and instead brought him some of Mrs. Rossini's veal parmesan. She kept it hot in a cooler bag so when she finally got to see him, it would be halfway edible.
She made it a point to go visit Mrs. Rossini every few months. She drove around the neighborhood, hoping to see places or faces that reminded her of Tony. Once, she ran into Ginger and Dennis. They were about to retire and move down to Florida to join Lynn and her husband. She went past Marty's Melody Room; over a decade ago it was turned into a depressing convenience store but her memories there with Tony always remained in her heart.
She went through the same routine with the guards and security, waiting patiently for them to let her in. The crowd was much smaller today due to the weather. Sometimes when it was less crowded, they allowed them to extend their visit an extra ten or fifteen minutes. She was hoping today was one of those days.
Soon she was let in and found her normal seat and table. There was a delay in letting the prisoners in, which always worried Angela. A handful of times during the first few years, Tony would come out with a fresh black eye, cuts and bruises and once a wrapped up wrist, his knuckles bloody and bruised. For once, she was happy he had experience boxing but now that he was older, her worry only amplified. After a few more minutes, they were all escorted into the room, Tony in the middle of the pack.
"Tony!" she practically shouted as he came over to her, giving her a quick hug.
"Hi sweetheart! I've missed you! Is… is that Mrs. Rossini's cooking I smell?" he said as she watched his eyes get large. If he was a cartoon character, his mouth would have hit the floor, his tongue unraveling a mile long.
"You can smell that and I haven't even taken it out of the bag!" she laughed as she took it out and handed him a plastic spoon, the only utensil she was allowed to bring in. He devoured the food in about two minutes, while she just looked on in amusement.
"Angela… I could smell her cooking miles away! Especially in this place! They wouldn't know good Italian food if it was flown in from Sicily!" he laughed.
"If I could hear that laugh everyday, I'd fly to Sicily myself! I'm glad you enjoyed the food. How are you doing?" she asked as she reached over for his hand.
"Not too bad. I met with my lawyers and they feel like I've got a good chance at parole in September. My parole hearing is September 15th and if it goes well, I could get out a few days later… can you imagine if they actually let me out?" he said with a half smile.
"Oh I've got our first day already planned! Taking you down to the beach, getting some ice cream to share, a romantic dinner and then coming home together for the first time in twenty years…" she said with a smile.
"I'd skip everything and just come home with you… maybe not leaving our bedroom for the next twenty years!" he said with a laugh. "But your plan sounds wonderful Angela…" he said as he placed a kiss on her knuckles.
"So we just have to continue to have patience…" she said.
"Patience is key… or so I've been told…" he said with a smirk.
"Even a fine wine needs to be aged before it's uncorked…" she said as she tried to stifle her laughter.
"Oh boy am I ready to be uncorked Angela!" he said as he started hysterically laughing.
"You and me both Tony! Cold showers only go so far!" she laughed.
"Let's just promise ourselves we won't end up in the lake again!" he said as he thought back to that disastrous night so many years ago.
"That I can promise you! We will be on solid ground from here on out…" she said as she leaned over for a quick kiss.
"Let's just hope parole comes through next month…" he said as he gave her hand a quick squeeze, losing himself in her deep brown eyes.
September 2005
Angela motioned for Jonathan to sit down at the table and take some deep breaths. The look of disbelief and anger was evident on his face. Tony grabbed the seat next to him as Angela sat down across from them both.
"What happened Jonathan?" asked Tony as his anger and worry grew with each passing moment.
"I… I pulled Nicholas aside and let him know that he could always talk to me about anything- things at school, at home… even things he might be scared to tell others. It took him a while but he finally told me Sam and Hank got into a big fight this morning. He was in his room when he heard them screaming. He came running out of his room and saw Hank push Sam against the China cabinet, knocking most of the dishes off the shelves. He said they argue a lot at home. He was so upset… it just broke my heart!" said Jonathan as he wiped away the tears in his eyes.
"So he put his hands on her, he is cheating on her right in front of the whole world to see… who does he think he is?" shouted Tony.
"Tony we have to do something before it gets any worse but we have to have a plan first and most of all we have to stay calm…" said Angela.
"Stay calm? Stay calm! I'll stay calm when he's in jail! Or I have my bare hands around his neck! Then I'll stay calm Angela!" he shouted.
"We have to Tony! We can't betray Nicholas' trust and Samantha's not ready to tell us yet. We have to figure out a way to protect them because this is only going to get worse… trust me…" she said as her eyes turned downwards, not wanting to make contact with either of them.
"Okay… let's figure this out. Maybe Jonathan can speak to Samantha when she comes to get the kids. We can take them out somewhere if you want the space to yourselves" said Tony.
"I think that's a good idea… she should be back soon. Marie needs to take a nap after lunch so maybe we can take them for a walk to the park" said Angela.
"I'll do my best…" said Jonathan as Luis brought the kids in from inside.
"I'm hungry!" said Nicholas as he jumped into Angela's lap.
"Well we need to eat lunch then! After lunch, how about we take a walk to the park?" asked Tony.
"Yes! We can go on the swings and then Pa can go on the slide with me! Remember last time you got stuck! That was so funny!" he giggled, helping to break the serious tension in the room.
"Eh oh, oh eh! I wasn't stuck! I was just… taking the slow way down!" he laughed.
"You were stuck there Pa! You called my name seven times to try and help you down!" laughed Angela.
"You have your memories, I have mine! Either way let's eat!" he said as he plated the kids' food. They all had a nice, relaxing lunch, enjoying each other's company. After lunch, Angela took Marie to get changed and ready for her hopeful nap in the stroller. She packed her diaper bag and headed back downstairs. Tony had gotten Nicholas ready as they were waiting not so patiently by the front door.
"C'mon Nanna! Let's hit it! Let's move it! Let's do it!" said Nicholas as he mimicked Tony's words he had heard so many times before. Both Angela and Tony were almost doubled over laughing.
"You really do have your own mini me!" laughed Angela as she put Marie in the stroller. Tony made her a bottle and gave it to her as her eyes already started closing.
"Alright let's head out!" said Tony as they all headed out the door. Marie was asleep by the time they got to the park. They enjoyed pushing him on the swings and chasing him around the playground. Marie woke up about fifteen minutes before they were leaving so she got some time on the swings and slides. This time, Nicholas was asleep in the stroller on the way home, while Marie was wide awake. They headed into the house to find Samantha, Jonathan and Luis sitting on the sofa, all of their eyes red from crying.
"Is everyone okay?" asked Angela as she moved Marie from one hip to the other. Nicholas started to stir as he woke up. Tony picked him up, cuddling him and slowly rubbing his back.
"Yes Mom… I think we all need to talk. Maybe Luis can take the kids into one of the bedrooms upstairs and put on a movie" said Jonathan.
"That sounds like a great idea! Why don't you bring them into our bedroom and pick out a movie? There's a whole Disney collection up there to choose from…" said Angela as she handed Marie to Luis.
"Okay thanks Mom. C'mon Nicholas! Let's see what we can find!" said Luis as he tried to take his hand. Nicholas had a worried look on his face as he buried his face into Tony's neck.
"It's okay Nicholas! I'll come up in a little while and we can watch the rest of the movie together! I've missed you baby!" said Samantha as she walked over to them. Nicholas reached out to Samantha, practically leaping into her arms.
"I guess you missed me too! Is that a blowup castle I see outside? How much fun was that to go on?" she asked him as she rubbed his back.
"It was so much fun! Today has been the best day ever!" smiled Nicholas.
"I bet it was! You have the best family that's for sure! Okay let me talk with Nanna, Pa and Uncle Jon…" she said as she gave him a kiss and hug as he ran up the stairs with Luis and Marie.
"Thanks everyone for making today such a great day for them… especially after how it started…" said Samantha as she collapsed back on the sofa. Angela came to sit down next to her as Tony took the side chair near the door.
"Our pleasure sweetheart… I have a feeling something is going on. Are you okay?" asked Angela as she wrapped her arm around Samantha's shoulder.
"So I know Jonathan told you what Nicholas said… he really doesn't mean it. It's just his job is so stressful. Once he moves up in the company I think the stress will lessen and things will get better…" she said.
"Was… was he at work today Samantha?" asked Tony as he tried hard to keep his anger under control.
"Yes he is… he is supposed to be working until late this afternoon. Why?" asked Samantha.
"Because we saw him today at the mall with… with a female coworker…" said Tony, his tone on the word female could not hide his distain.
"Oh…" said Samantha. Her look told them all what they already knew.
"Oh sweetheart… how long has it been going on?" asked Angela.
"Ha! This time or all the times before hand? This one that I know about has been for about two months I'd say. It's… it's been going on for years I suspect…" she said.
"Why didn't you tell us Samantha? When I get my hands on him Samantha…" started Tony.
"That's why Dad! I didn't want to get you all worked up… I thought he'd stop… I thought I'd be enough for him…" she said as the tears started coming back.
"You are enough Samantha, more than enough! I'm worried about this fight you two had… are you okay? Is this the first time he's been physical with you?" asked Angela as her motherly protective nature was coming out.
"This is the first time Nicholas saw it… our worst fights are usually after the kids have gone to bed. He… he just got so mad over nothing this morning! The china is all destroyed… I know it was Mona's set… I'm so sorry Angela!" she said as was full on crying.
"Don't worry about that! It was her mother's set and I'm sure she's always hated it anyway… the question is are you alright?" asked Angela.
"I'm fine…" she said unconvincingly.
"You've been wincing in pain since you got here! You're back is definitely not okay!" said Jonathan.
"Who are you Jessica Fletcher? I said I'm fine! Look I shouldn't have even told you anything! I'm fine! Things will be good again once he gets home. Let's just forget about everything…" she said as she stood up. The doorbell rang just as she was going to head upstairs. She opened the door to Hank holding a dozen red roses.
"Hank! What… what are you doing here?" she asked.
"I figured you might be here after I saw Tony and Angela with the kids earlier. They had a sale on flowers today so I thought of you…" he said as he handed her the roses.
"Thank you Hank!" she said as they embraced in a hug.
"How about we go home? I can make your favorite dinner- chicken parmesan! Then maybe after the kids are in bed, we can watch a movie- your choice!" he said a little too enthusiastically.
"That sounds wonderful! Okay I'll go get the kids ready and we will head home!" she said as she headed up the stairs.
"Hi everyone! I hope your shopping trip went well…" he said with a fake smile that the three of them wanted to wipe off his face.
"Oh it went well alright! Hank I…" started Tony as he stood up and started to head right at Hank. Angela and Jonathan both stood up and intervened before anything could be said or done.
"Tony, calm down! Listen Hank, we know about the situation, the whole situation. I think you both need to speak to someone, like a therapist. What happened this morning cannot ever happen again… for your sake, Samantha's and especially your children. They deserve better…" said Angela.
"Thanks for that Angela… I'll keep that in mind… tell Samantha I'll meet her at home…" he said with stifled irritation as he headed back out the door.
"Angela! We should have done something more! Like knocked all his teeth out!" shouted Tony.
"Then we are no better than him Tony! We have to tread carefully. I… I probably said too much as it is… we can't risk isolating them" she said. Just then, Mona came in, a fresh tan, a Hawaiian lei around her neck and a satisfied smile on her face.
"Hello family! Was that Hank I saw peeling out of the driveway like it was the Indy 500?" she asked as sat down on the sofa.
"I guess you're back from your Hawaiian vacation. Yes that was Hank Grandma…" said Jonathan with anger in his voice.
"Oh dear… why do I feel like I've missed something big around here…" she said just as Samantha, Luis and the kids came down the stairs.
"Hi Mona! Welcome back! Where's Hank?" she asked as she grabbed the kids' bags.
"He… he said he'd meet you all at home… can I speak to you for a minute before you leave? Jonathan, Mother and Luis can put them in your car" said Angela.
"Grandma Mona! How was your trip? Did you get to swim in the ocean?" asked Nicholas as he ran to give her a hug.
"Oh yes I did! I got to swim with turtles and dolphins and a cute lifeguard named Chuck…" she said as all the adults yelled her name.
"C'mon kid… let's get out of here before I get in more trouble!" laughed Mona as they all headed out the front door.
"Samantha… look, I know what you are going through. I went through it with Michael. You both need help if it's going to work. Without professional help, it's only going to get worse. Please, if you ever feel like you or the kids are in danger, call or just come here. This is still your home and you are still our daughter" said Angela.
"I'll do you one better. If he ever lays a hand on you again Samantha, he will be eating all his meals from a straw! The puppet will be speaking for him for a month! And if he lays a hand on those kids…" he said as the vein in his forehead looked like it was about to explode.
"He'd never hurt them Dad! This won't happen again! He knows better and won't do it again. It will be alright I promise…" she said as she hugged them both.
"We love you sweetheart…" said Angela as they all walked her out to the car.
"Goodbye my sweethearts! We hope you had a great day!" said Angela as she kissed each of the grandchildren goodbye.
"It was the best day ever! Love you too!" said Nicholas.
"Love you too Nickster!" said Tony as he gave them each a kiss too. They all watched Samantha pull out of the driveway and head home.
"So is someone going to tell me what the hell is going on around here?" said Mona.
"Come inside and we will tell you all about it…" said Angela as they headed inside. By the time they all filled her in with what was happening, Mona could barely contain her anger.
"That creep! If I get my hands on him, he will be a permanent falsetto! How could he do that to her? And why is she heading back to him?" asked Mona.
"Because she thinks he won't do it again. That he won't ever hurt the kids. That it won't get any worse and he's going to change this time… believe me I know all the lies you tell yourself…" she said.
"I know you do dear… so what's the plan?" she asked.
"Go over there and rearrange his face?" asked Tony as the vein continued to throb.
"We keep a very close eye on things and support them all as best as we can. That's all we can do right now…" said Angela.
"I don't like this at all Angela! I'm just supposed to sit back and wait for the next time? The next time he cheats? The next time he puts his hands on her? I can't do that!" he shouted.
"Tony… my good friend is a lawyer who often takes on domestic violence cases. How about I call her and see what advice they can give us? Maybe there are some supports we can have in place if and when she needs them" said Luis.
"That's a great idea Luis! Maybe we can have a conference call with her and get as much legal help and advice as we can" said Angela.
"Okay…" said Tony reluctantly. Luis and Jonathan headed home shortly after, making promises to keep in touch and keep each other in the loop with any updates. Tony made the three of them dinner, although no one was particularly hungry. Tony and Angela decided to turn in early, trying to unwind from their day. They put in a movie as they curled into one another on the sofa. Tony had poured them each a glass of wine as the opening credits of the movie played. Neither of them made it past the first ten minutes as they fell sound asleep in each other's arms. Both were startled awake by a loud knocking at the front door. Tony looked over at the clock and saw that it was just past ten.
"Who could that be at this hour?" asked Tony as he stood up and headed to the door. He grabbed his baseball bat just in case as he opened up the door. The vision of a bloodied Samantha holding both crying kids made him drop the bat.
"Oh my god Samantha!" shouted Angela as she took Marie from her; she tried to take Nicholas but he was clinging to Samantha for dear life. She hobbled into the house, past Tony who was still frozen watching the scene unfold in front of him. Finally, he snapped out of if and helped Samantha sit down.
"Tony, call Mother and tell her to come over. Go grab some washcloths and an ice pack" said Angela as she managed to coax Nicholas into her lap. Tony ran into the kitchen and was soon back with what Angela had told him to get. He picked up the phone and called Mona, his voice cracking with emotion as he told Mona to come over.
"Sweetheart, what happened?" said Tony as he sat down on the other side of Samantha. Mona ran in through the back door, a look of horror on her face as she took in the scene around her.
"Hank…" was all she could say as she burst out crying.