"So tell me Mona. What's the deal with those two?" Max asked as he filled the tea kettle with water for some tea.

Mona sat down at the table and laughed. "Oh so you've noticed.'

"It's hard not to. I know Tony is her housekeeper but they act like a married couple. "

"Yeah, bickering and embarrassing me all the way up here.' Mona rolled her eyes.

Max laughed. The drive up had been entertaining. When they weren't bickering they were playing silly road games and singing songs. Mona had sat up in the passenger seat shaking her head.

"Yeah, especially when Angela kept insisting she would catch a fish and Tony kept laughing at her." Max said taking the tea kettle off the burner and making their tea.

'Sugar, lemon, honey?"

"Honey please."

Max fixed their tea and sat down beside her.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"But, I have to agree with Tony. There is no way Angela will ever catch a fish."

"Why do you say that?"

"Look Max I love my daughter and when it comes to her business she is a firecracker. But, she is also the biggest klutz."

"Well, I guess we'll see tomorrow."

"I guess. "

"Hey, do you like to bowl?"

"I do and so does Tony. Why?"

"Well I have a bowling alley here and I thought it would be fun if we could all play."

"Mona nearly spit out her tea. "You have a bowling alley here?"

'Yeah downstairs."

Mona laughed until the tears were streaming down her cheeks.

"Well I guess it's a date." Mona she got herself under control.

"Yeah, hey maybe we could play in teams."

"Sounds good. As long as I'm not on Angela's team."

"She doesn't like bowling?"

"She has never bowled a day in her life."

"So then the two of us against the two of them?"

"Sounds good to me!"

They finished their tea and rinsed out their mugs and put them in the dishwasher and headed up stairs to bed. Max left on a lamp for Tony and Angela in case they woke up and decided to come in. But he knew the soothing rhythm of the swing along with the cool night air and the sounds of nature would most likely keep them sleeping out there the whole night.

Out on the porch Tony was slowly awakening his nose breathing in the sweet scent of Angela's peaches and cream body lotion. Her head was on his shoulder and he could hear her quietly breathing. He didn't want to wake her but he knew if he didn't they would both be uncomfortable the next day. But the truth was he didn't really want to. He was enjoying the quietness with only the crickets chirping and the frogs croaking as their lullaby. He gathered up the blanket that was on their laps and placed it higher so it covered just below their chins. He closed his eyes and sighed. This reminded him of the time when they spent the night on the billboard when he was raising money to get people to read. That had been one of the most peaceful nights of his life. And all he wanted was to have another night like that. After all, he probably wouldn't get another night like this for a long time.

Angela opened her eyes and looked around. She momentarily forgot where she was but then remembered she was on a swing on Max's porch. Her head was on Tony's shoulder and she could feel his chest rising and falling with each breath he took. She raised her head and looked at him. His face looked peaceful and serene. She knew she should wake him so they could both go to their beds and be more comfortable but she honestly didn't want to. The stillness of the night was too good to give up. It was like the night they spent together on the billboard. Of course that hadn't been planned just like now but she knew she probably wouldn't have this opportunity to be with him like this for a long time.

So by mutual silent agreement they didn't wake each other up and instead spent the rest of the night blissfully sleeping.

THE NEXT MORNING

Mona woke up and climbed out of bed. She went to the bathroom and combed her hair and brushed her teeth. She put her robe on and made her way downstairs where Max was at the counter mixing up a batch of pancakes.

"Good morning!" Max greeted her.

"Good morning!"

"How did you sleep?"

"Wonderful. It's so peaceful here."

Max nodded. "It is. Would you like some coffee?"

'Sure."

Max poured her a cup and got out the milk and sugar for her.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Mona fixed her coffee the way she liked and took a sip.

"Are Tony and Angela up yet?"

"I haven't seen them."

" I'm surprised that Tony isn't up yet. He's always an early riser."

"That may be true but as you said it is peaceful here and this is a little vacation for him so maybe he decided to sleep in."

"Yeah, I guess."

"So do you like blueberries in your pancakes or would you prefer them plain?"

Tony opened his eyes and groaned. His neck had a crick in it and he rubbed it with his hand. He knew they should have gone inside and to their bedrooms last night but he had been so comfortable and felt so at peace he had chosen not to. He looked down at Angela who was still fast asleep. He knew he would have to wake her. They couldn't stay here all day after all.

"Angela! Yo Angela! Wake Up!"

Angela opened her eyes and looked around. She yawned and stretched.

"Tony?"

"Yeah?"

"Did we sleep here the whole night?"

"It looks like it."

They both laughed nervously and moved away from each other. Tony stood up and extended his hand to her.

"Well I guess we better get inside." Angela said.

"Yeah." Tony opened the door and motioned for her to go ahead of him. Angela walked in and saw Mona and Max eating pancakes and drinking coffee.

Mona and Max exchanged a look when they saw Tony and Angela come in together.

"Well, good morning!" Mona grinned.

"Morning." Tony said.

"Good morning Mother. Max."

"Good morning. I made pancakes if you're interested."

"That sounds good. But I'm going to go wash up first." Angela said.

"Yeah, me too." Tony said.

Once they were out of earshot Mona pumped her fist in the air.

'Well I'll be darned. They spent the night together out on the porch." She smirked.

Max laughed. "Well I can understand how it happened. It is very comfortable out there."

"Oh there is more to it than that."

"Yeah. I can see that." Max laughed.

Upstairs Tony and Angela went into their respective rooms still not believing they had spent the night together on Max's porch. Tony went into the bathroom and stripped off his clothes and grabbed a washcloth and a couple of towels from under the sink. He grabbed his shower gel and shampoo from on top of the counter and turned the shower on. After a few minutes he stepped in and let the water run down his body. He squeezed some gel into the washcloth and began washing his body. As he did his mind kept racing.

Why hadn't he just woken Angela up?

He didn't know why. Or did he? She was his boss and best friend but he couldn't deny he was attracted to her and had feelings for her that went far beyond their professional relationship and friendship. And the truth was he had felt so content with her head on his shoulder just like he had when they spent the night on the billboard. He ran the washcloth down his body remembering the sweet scent of Angela's peaches and cream body lotion. The combination of how sweet she smelled and how soft she felt in his arms was both terrifying and alluring. He groaned and quickly washed and rinsed his hair. He turned the water off and stepped out and grabbed the towel he had left on the counter. He dried himself off with one towel and then wrapped it around his waist and then proceeded to dry his hair with the other. He quickly ran a comb through it and then went back to his bedroom and put on fresh clothes. He sat down on the bed and put on his shoes and socks.

'Okay Pal. You need to stop thinking these thoughts about Angela. She is your boss and your friend. Last night was last night and it is over.'

He sighed. He knew that was easier said than done. Ever since he had seen her naked stepping out of her bathtub, kissing her on her birthday, finding out she was the first girl he kissed, telling her that he loved her while being wheeled into surgery… there was so much that had happened since he first arrived on her doorstep. He got up and opened and closed his door. His gaze wandered to Angela's room and wondered what she was thinking about.

Angela wasn't having an easy time either. The logical part of her knew she should have woken Tony up so they could have gone inside to bed. But she had been so comfortable being near him. She took her clothes off and grabbed her loofah and shower gel and a few towels and turned the water on.. She stepped into it after a few minutes and proceeded to wash herself all the while being overwhelmed by memories of their night together.

Why hadn't she just woken Tony up?

She really didn't know why. Or did she? He was her housekeeper and friend but she couldn't deny she had feelings for him. That she loved him. That she was in love with him. She sighed as she remembered going to Dr. Bellows after finding out that Frankie had proposed to Tony. She had been so scared. It was like someone had ripped her heart out of her chest. She had to talk to someone and so she looked through the phone book and decided to make an appointment to see Dr. Bellows. And she was good. She got her to admit that she loved Tony. And she was going to tell him but before she could Sam had burst in all excited over the fact that Elvis had a legitimate reason for not calling her. And then Tony told her that he wasn't going to marry Frankie because he didn't love her

"And uh love is important."

She shivered when she remembered the look in his eyes and the tone in his voice when he said it. It was kind of like he was telling her that he loved her but wasn't ready to admit it yet. Did it make sense? Maybe. Maybe not. All she knew was that she had felt so relieved that she wasn't going to lose him. She washed and rinsed her hair and then turned the water off. She stepped out and dried the excess moisture from her body.. She slathered on her peaches and cream body lotion. And then dried her hair with her hair dryer and combed it out and put it up in a ponytail. She went into her bedroom and put on clean clothes. She sat down on her bed and put on her shoes and socks.

'Angela, you have to remember Tony is your housekeeper and friend.'

But she knew he was so much more than that. Ever since she had opened her front door and saw him standing there with his big cheery smile her life had never been the same. She shook her head and stood up. She opened and closed her door and found Tony standing next to his door.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"So uh. How did you sleep?" He asked softly.

"Good. How about you?"

"Like a baby."

She smiled. 'Yeah, it was peaceful out there.

He nodded. "Yeah. Look I know I should have woken you up but I was just so.."

"Comfortable?'

"Yeah."

"Me too."

"Okay. So then how about we go and have some pancakes?"

"Sounds good."

He motioned for her to go ahead of him. As she passed by him her peaches and cream body lotion tickled his nostrils. . He swallowed hard and proceeded to follow her down the stairs.