"Okay kids, we're trusting you to behave yourselves this weekend while we're gone." Tony informed Samantha and Jonathan who were sitting on the couch bored expressions on their faces. Ever since they got up Tony had been drilling the rules into them. It almost made them wish they had gone to school that day but they were off due to a teacher's conference.
"Gee Jonathan I guess the wild party we were planning on throwing is off."
"That's too bad." Jonathan sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Listen wise guys, I could have Mrs. Rossini come and stay with you. All weekend long you can play Yahtzee and parcheesi. "
Sam and Jonathan exchanged horrified looks.
"Okay fine! We promise we'll be on our best behavior. Right Jonathan?"
"Yeah, I promise."
"Okay. So you have the number to the cabin?'
"Yes."
"And you know the rules?"
"No parties!" Sam began.
"No kids over!" Jonathan continued.
"Don't spend all the time on the phone!" Sam went on.
"And most important of all?" Tony raised his eyebrows.
"Don't open the door to a man with an ax or chainsaw!" Sam and Jonathan said in unison.
"Okay. We'll be back sometime Sunday evening. Now here is some money in case you need it." He handed Sam some bills.
"OOH thanks!" Sam squealed.
"Samantha, that is for emergencies only!"
"Yeah, like getting a corn dog at the mall and pizza for dinner!" Sam grinned. She turned to Jonathan. "Cone on squirt, let's go get that corn dog. They got up from the couch.
"So what do you want on the pizza?" Sam asked.
"Let's get anchovies, mushrooms, and bologna." Jonathan said.
"You're disgusting." Sam made a face. "We're getting pepperoni with extra cheese."
"Oh no not extra cheese." Jonathan whined. They continued arguing and went into the kitchen.
Tony shook his head and went upstairs to see if Angela was ready to go, Max was coming to pick them up in about ten minutes.
"Yo Angela! Are you ready?" Tony asked, knocking on the door which was slightly open.
He heard her sigh. "Yeah, I guess."
He pushed the door open. "What's the matter?"
"I don't know if this is a good idea Tony. I mean Max is my client or I'm hoping he will be and we're basically mixing business with pleasure."
"Angela, don't look at it that way. Just look at it as the guy Mona is dating invited us to his cabin in Maine for the weekend. We can relax, take in a little nature, and maybe we can go fishing."
"Oh yeah. Hey, maybe I'll catch a fish!" Angela squealed.
"YOU?!" Tony doubled over with laughter.
"Hey it could happen!"
"Come on Angela. What do you think is going to happen? You're going to break some record or something?" He continued laughing, the tears running down his face.
Angela glared at him and picked up her suitcase. "Fine. I'll be downstairs." She left the room.
"Oh, come on Angela I was only kidding!" He shook his head and followed after her.
They went downstairs where Mona was waiting with her suitcase.
"Oh this is going to be so much fun!" Mona smiled. "Even with the two of you along."
"Gee thanks Mother."
"Oh cool it Angela. Look Max is going to be here any minute."
DING DONG!
"Hey I'm good!" Mona winked at them and went to answer the door. Sam and Jonathan came into the living room.
"Good, you're back." Tony said.
"Have a good time!" Sam told them and gave Tony a hug.
"And don't fall in the lake!" Jonathan said, giving Angela a hug.
"Gee thanks! We'll try not to." Tony scoffed.
"Hey there Tony! Hello Angela!" Max greeted them.
"Hi Max."
"Hello Max."
"So are we ready to go?"
"Yep, come on, let's blow this pop stand."
"Good, I had the local caretaker air out the house a few days ago and check all the appliances. Everything is ship shaped and ready to go!"
They all picked up their suitcases and followed Max out to his car.
Sam and Jonathan meanwhile gave each other a high five and turned on the tv to a rock music video channel.
ABOUT SIX HOURS LATER WITH FOUR REST STOPS DEMANDED BY ANGELA: TINY BLADDER TEE HEE!
They pulled up to Max's cabin which was a two story with a wrapped around porch. A crystal blue lake sat twenty feet away, its waves gently lapping.
"Wow Max, this is amazing!" Mona exclaimed as they took it in.
"Thanks. I consider this my home away from home." Max smiled at her. He opened his door. "Okay I'll show you all to your rooms and we can make dinner." He said, referring to the groceries they had picked up in a local grocery store about five miles from his cabin.
They all exited the car and Max popped the trunk and everyone grabbed their suitcase. They followed him inside and gasped when they looked around.
"WHOA!" Tony exclaimed.
"Max, this is really something." Angela told him.
They were standing in a huge living room with light wood floors and a huge bay window. The kitchen was adjoined with stainless steel appliances and a six person table.
"Okay, all the bedrooms are upstairs and they all come with their own bathroom." I'll let you pick out your rooms and I'll go and get the groceries." Max told them,'
"Okay, sounds good." Mona smiled. Max smiled back and gave her a quick peck on the lips. He turned around and walked back outside.
"I can't wait to see the upstairs." Tony laughed and picked up his suitcase. Angela and Mona picked theirs up too and they climbed the steps.
'Wow! This is just as big as downstairs!" Angela said, her eyes wide.
"Yeah, it is. Hey Mona, do you know how many bedrooms there are?"
"Yeah, six."
"Well let's check them out." They went through each room which all contained a queen size bed, a walk in closet, a night stand, and a dresser. The bathrooms came equipped with a double vanity, a walk in shower, and a claw foot tub. They each picked out their room and unpacked. After they were done they headed back downstairs where Max was putting the perishable groceries away.
"So did you find everything okay?"
"Yes, the rooms are beautiful." Angela said. Mona and Tony echoed her sentiment.
"Good. I'm glad you all like it. Now what would you like for dinner? We can have steak tonight or chicken? Or we can make some grilled cheese and tomato soup?"
"Actually grilled cheese sounds good." Mona said.
"Same here." Tony said.
"Yeah, it does sound good."
"Okay then." Max got a frying pan out from a cupboard and sprayed it with cooking spray. He turned on a burner and placed the pan on it.
"Hey Max, let me help." Tony said and went over to the refrigerator. He grabbed the butter and a package of cheese and placed them on the counter.
"Hey, I can help too!" Angela said and picked up the loaf of bread and got eight slices out.
"I don't know Angela. Do you really think you can handle buttering the bread?" Tony smirked
Angela glared at him. "Yes, I can handle it. Max, where are your knives?" she said shooting Tony a threatening look.
"It's in the drawer to the left of the dishwasher."
"Thank you Max."
She went over and grabbed a knife out of the drawer. She started buttering the bread while Max opened up the tomato soup and dumped it into a pot. He turned on another burner and waited for it to heat up. He placed the pot on it and then poured water into the empty can and mixed it with the soup and began stirring. Tony grabbed a knife and helped Angela butter the bread.
"Well I guess I better make myself useful." Mona said and began unwrapping the cheese slices.
Angela and Tony exchanged surprise glances. Mona was going to help out in the kitchen? She must really have strong feelings for Max.
They watched as Max and Mona flirted with each other and gave one another coy looks. When Max wasn't looking Angela winked at Mona and gave her the okay sign, a thumbs up, and an excited little dance. ( A/N: THIS IS THE BEST I COULD DO TO DESCRIBE WHAT ANGELA DID WHENEVER MONA LOOKED AT HER LOL) Mona just shook her head and went back to flirting with Max.
After dinner was over and the kitchen cleaned up they settled down to relax in the living room. The sun was just about to set and Max, not wanting to lose the opportunity, asked Mona if she wanted to take a walk in the woods with him.
"Sounds good! Okay you two behave yourselves!" Mona told Tony and Angela as she and Max headed outside.
"She told us to behave ourselves?!" Angela shook her head.
"Yep, she did. So do you think we should call the kids?"
Angela looked at the was a little past 9:00.
"Okay. "
They went over to the phone which was on a desk. Tony dialed the number and he put the phone between them.
RING RING
RING RING
"Hello?" Sam answered.
"Hey Sam, it's us. How is everything?"
"Everything is fine Dad. Oh by the way Mrs. Rossini is here."
"She is?"
"Yeah, she arrived a few hours ago. She said she didn't feel right with the two of us being here by ourselves."
"Actually I didn't either but I wanted to show that we trusted you.'
"I know Dad. But now we have to play Yahtzee." Sam shuddered.
Tony laughed. "Hey its not that bad."
"I guess. I'll get Jonathan." She covered the phone and yelled for Jonathan to come downstairs. Jonathan went into the kitchen and grabbed the extension.
"Hi Mom! Hi Tony!"
"Hi Honey!"
"So how's the cabin?" Sam asked.
"It's really something Sam." Tony told her.
"Yeah, it's two stories with six bedrooms and they all have their own bathroom." Angela said.
"And the living room and kitchen are huge and there is a beautiful wrapped around porch."
"Sounds amazing." Sam smiled,
"Yeah, it does." Jonathan agreed. "Is there a lake too?"
"Yes, there is. We're planning on going there tomorrow. Max has a couple of rowboats and we're going to do a little fishing." Tony told them.
"And who knows maybe I'll catch a fish." Angela said, giving Tony a dirty look. He grinned back at her.
"Yeah, maybe you will Angela." Sam said, her face lighting up in a smirk. Jonathan opened the kitchen door and rolled his eyes at Sam.
"Okay, we just wanted to call and make sure everything is okay." Tony said.
'We're fine Dad."
"Okay then we love you!" Tony and Angela said in unison.
"We love you too." Sam and Jonathan said.
"And tell Mrs. Rossini thanks!"
"I will."
They said their goodbyes and hung up.
Mrs. Rossini came down from upstairs carrying a Yahtzee game. "Okay kids who is ready for some Yahtzee?"
"We are." Sam and Jonathan said sighing knowing there wasn't anyway to get out of it.
"So Angela, would you like to sit outside on the porch?"
"Yeah, that sounds like a lovely idea. I'm going to go grab my sweater first."
"I can get it for you. I'll get mine too."
"Okay Thanks. I'll meet you out there."
Tony nodded and jogged up the steps and Angela went outside. There were two rocking chairs, a love seat, and a two person swing. She sat on the swing and waited for Tony. After a few minutes he came out and sat beside her. He was carrying their jackets along with a blanket.
"Here you go." He handed her her jacket and she slipped it on. He put on his too and sat down beside her. He placed the blanket over their knees.
"It's a beautiful night isn't it?" Angela asked, gazing at the stars.
"Yes, it is." Tony said but he was gazing at her. He quickly turned away so she wouldn't notice.
They sat in silence taking in the breathtaking views. After a while Angela felt her eyes growing heavy and she laid her head on Tony's shoulder. She started snoring softly. Tony eventually fell asleep too. The warmth of being close to Angela lulling him into a deep sleep.
And that was exactly how Max and Mona found them when they returned from their walk and tiptoed quietly past them.