Chapter Thirteen: Abandon

At 6:20pm, there was a knock on the door. A tomato-red Jonathan walked in carrying a beach bag. Angela looked down the empty hall. "Where's your father?"

"They dropped me off at the front so they could get to dinner on time." Jonathan set his bag on the floor and started tugging at his shirt.

"You're so sunburned, honey," Angela remarked. She put her hand to his face and felt the heat radiating from his skin.

"The pool was so much fun, Mom. I didn't want to get out," Jonathan explained.

Tony came in from the bedroom. "I just talked to Sam, and…oh, Jonathan! You're burnt to a crisp, pal."

"It hurts all over, Tony. Is there anything you can do to fix it?"

Angela held her hand over her mouth. She was tearing up at the sight of her baby in pain.

"Come with me, kid. I'll do what I can." Tony led Jonathan to the bathroom and gave him an ibuprofen with a glass of water. He ran a cool shower and told Jonathan, "Don't scrub anything. Just wash gently and let the water run over you." When he was done, Tony patted his chest and back dry and applied aloe vera gel. "Put some on your legs, now. I'll go get your PJs."

Tony stepped into the living room, where Angela was finishing up a room service order. "He'll be fine. I think it's already starting to tan out."

"He didn't get that from me," she said. "What was Michael thinking, letting him go all day without sunblock?"

"I'm sorry, Angela. I put a bottle of SPF15 in his bag and told Michael when he picked him up at 9:30 this morning."

"It's not your fault, Tony. You just expected a father to care for his son," she said, shaking her head.

On Friday, Angela worked NYC hours, while Tony took Jonathan to the Natural History Museum and the California Museum of Science and Industry. By 3pm, she was able to meet Tony at the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits. The rehearsal dinner was a casual affair, so they took a taxi from the museum without changing.

Tony went directly to the bar. "What do you have that'll make me forget that I spent the last eight hours looking at bugs and fossils and telephone parts?" he asked. The bartender shrugged. "Make it a martini."

Angela found Michael and Heather. "Thank you for having Jonathan over for a pool day. You'll be happy to know the burns are only first degree," she sniped.

"I'm so sorry, Angela. I was in and out, and I thought Michael would take care of it."

"So did I," Angela said through a fake smile.

"Oh, Mom, Dad! I want you to meet Michael's son Jonathan and his mother, Angela." Heather called to a couple in their early 40s.

"Pam and Bernie," the woman said, shaking Angela's hand.

Heather's parents were quite taken with Jonathan. "Aren't you adorable?" Pam asked.

"Yeah," he confirmed.

"Oh, Heather. I'm so looking forward to having grandchildren someday," she mused.

Angela was offended on behalf of her son. "Well, Jonathan is going to be your step-grandson tomorrow," she interrupted.

"Oh yes, I'm sorry. I just meant it will be nice to have a grandbaby someday soon."

"We'll be trying right away, Mom," Heather promised.

Now Angela was stunned. Her mouth dropped open, and she felt someone tug her away by the upper arm. It was Michael. She looked up and asked "You're going to try for another baby? Right away? This one isn't even due for another five weeks."

He leaned over and whispered, "Please don't make a scene. I never told Heather that I was the one who got you pregnant."

"What the fuck, Michael?!" she cried. Tony heard her voice through the crowd and made his way over. He saw that Jonathan was perfectly content with Heather.

"I had just started seeing her exclusively when you told me, and I couldn't find the right opportunity to explain. Then I came over and found out you were with Tony." Michael tried to justify his deceit. "I told her you were engaged and that you were having a baby, and she made the leap that it was his."

"That's real messed up, man," Tony interjected. "Not that I mind anyone thinking Angela and I are having a baby together. Because we are." He took her nearest hand in both of his.

"I'm going to play nice tomorrow for Jonathan's sake, but after that, we are done. You don't want to take responsibility for this baby? Then your name won't be on the birth certificate. What you tell Heather is between the two of you," Angela declared.

"Fine." Michael rushed back to Heather's side.

"Tony, please get Jonathan. I want to go back to the hotel."

"Look, why don't we leave him here for dinner? I'll go with you to the hotel, and then I'll come back and pick him up," Tony suggested.

"I don't trust Michael," Angela responded. Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears.

"What about Heather's parents? They would watch out for him."

"Pam and Bernie? Alright. Just deal with it. I'm going to the bathroom."

Tony found Heather's parents. "Angela isn't feeling well, and I want to take her back to the hotel and get her settled. Could you keep an eye on Jonathan for us until I get back? I know the bride and groom will be busy mingling."

"Of course. I hope she feels better. She's lucky to have such a devoted partner during her pregnancy," Bernie gushed.

Tony bit his tongue and gave Jonathan a quick goodbye hug. "I'll be back in the blink of an eye, pal."

He found Angela in the dark hallway near the restrooms and took her to the taxi stand outside. She was subdued, but let Tony put his arms around her and rub circles on her back. She went to bed as soon as they returned to the hotel room. "I'll bring back something for you to eat, ok?" Tony offered as he left.

"Forget something, sir?" the hostess asked as Tony re-entered the restaurant.

"My son," he answered, making his way back to the banquet room. The buffet was still stocked, so he asked one of the waitstaff for a couple of to go boxes. Jonathan was sitting with Heather's parents recounting facts he had learned at the museums.

"Hey Jonathan, can you go say goodnight to your dad and Heather?" Tony directed. "I want to get back to your mom." The boy jumped up and ran across the room.

"Can I talk to you two about something?" Tony asked.

"Sure!" He sat in the chair Jonathan had just vacated.

"It's kind of not my place. But I'd never forgive myself if I let it go," he began. "Heather's so young. And I'm worried about her deciding to have a baby soon because…Michael hasn't been a good dad. Like not at all. Jonathan loves him, but that's because he's a great kid."

"What do you mean, he's not a good dad?" Pam asked.

"He's never around. Doesn't call. Misses birthdays, never sends Christmas gifts. Feeds him junk food. Lets him burn in the sun."

"Oh dear," she fretted.

"How long has Heather known Michael?" Tony asked, cautiously.

"About a year. She said they became official in April," Bernie answered.

"Well, that's interesting timing, because Michael and Angela finalized their divorce on April 30th. As of March, they were attempting to reconcile," Tony told them. "How are you with math?"

"Good enough to be suspicious," Bernie said. "Better than my daughter."

"Well, Angela and I didn't get together until the end of summer, so things are very clear to me."

"I see," said Pam. Her brow was furrowed, and she was looking at her husband for reassurance. Bernie just stared ahead blankly.

"Michael isn't going to get a chance to do to this baby girl what he's done to Jonathan, and I hope he doesn't do to Heather what he's done to Angela."

"I'm ready to go, Tony!" Jonathan called sweetly.

Tony got up and took a bag of food from the waiter who had been eavesdropping on the whole drama. He pressed a five into the man's palm and hissed "Not a word."

After Jonathan was in bed, Angela appeased Tony by eating a little pasta and fruit salad, along with two mini quiches. "Funny, bacon and eggs made you puke the morning after your birthday. Now you have no problem eating quiche Lorraine," Tony teased.

"Do you think we would have gotten together if I hadn't been pregnant?" Angela asked, chewing on her lower lip.

"Maybe not right away, but yes. I don't think it would have been possible for us to stay apart forever," Tony said gently. He reached over and stroked her chin, causing her to release her jaw.

"I don't know what to think. There have been too many good consequences to call it a mistake, but it tears me apart to know that Michael won't admit to this baby. I loved him, Tony," she insisted. "And I don't think he ever loved me the same way." Now she was anxiously rubbing her belly. A tear fell, darkening the long peach maternity t-shirt she was wearing as a nightgown.

"It's not because of anything you've done, Angela, or who you are. It's because he doesn't know how to love anyone the right way." Tony took a breath. "I'll never know how he manages to stay away from Jonathan. If anyone is lovable, it's that kid. Heather's parents were goners the second he started talking. I felt the same way when I met him."

"Did I mess up, Tony? Are my children destined to suffer because of my choices?" Angela asked. "Even Samantha was traumatized because I decided to let Michael back into my life." The tears were falling freely now.

"She'll be ok. All of them will. I promise." He held her as she cried out her frustration. When the well was dry, they lay side by side, just looking into each other's eyes. He stroked her hair. "I love you," he reminded her. "And I love you, baby girl," he said, kissing her belly.

"Tony, I know we haven't talked much about our wedding, but I want to do it soon. Before the baby comes," Angela ventured.

"I'll marry you tonight. We can go to Vegas," he joked.

She laughed. "I know you're not kidding. But let's get through this weekend and then plan something simple. I need Mother and Sam to be there."

"Whatever you want," he conceded, leaning over to kiss her. The moment grew heated, and soon, she was straddling him and praying that he had locked the door. Her t-shirt lay in a ball on the floor.

On Saturday, Angela was feeling much better. They called home and faced a barrage of weird questions about colors and animals, then took Jonathan to Santa Monica pier. His sunburn had indeed tanned out in record time, thanks to Tony's interventions. Still, both of them slathered him in sun cream to avoid further damage.

Tony was relieved that Angela was doing better. He imagined all the stress she was dealing with was no good for the baby. He didn't know if the Bower wedding would still happen after his discussion with Heather's parents the night before. His conscience was clean, though. Heather was a genuinely nice person without the life experience to avoid potential heartbreak. He wondered what Angela had been like at that age. Book smart and driven, but otherwise, probably a lot like Heather. She was still open-hearted to a fault, until she was forced to put up a defense.

After lunch, they returned to the hotel room and took turns showering. Angela put on her new dress and pinned her hair in an updo. Tony put on his suit pants and undershirt, then helped Jonathan into his rented tuxedo. As Tony shaved, Jonathan sat on the counter and vented his fears about the ceremony. Tony reassured him that it was normal to be anxious, and that everything would be alright. He hoped his words were true.

Once the three were fully dressed, they went down to the ceremony site. Jonathan made it down the aisle and handed over the ring without incident. He stood on a chair at the reception and delivered a short speech about how happy he was that his dad, from whom he learned a love of reptiles and other creatures, was married to someone as nice as Heather. And he ate two slices of wedding cake, along with three glasses of sparkling apple cider.

Angela and Tony got one dance in before Jonathan started to feel queasy. "Our next dance is going to be at our own wedding," Tony promised her.

Later, Michael stopped by their suite. "Jonathan asleep?" he asked.

"Out like a light," Tony replied.

"Good. I wanted to talk to you two." Michael sunk into the couch and stared at the ceiling, taking a deep breath. Tony and Angela looked at each other in surprise and sat on one end of the couch.

"I've been thinking. I'm not a good father. The thing is, I never worried about Jonathan, because Angela is a fantastic mother. And Tony, Jonathan tells me how much he admires you. I can tell he feels safe and loved when you're around. He talks about Sam constantly, too, how kind and funny and capable she is. That's how I know you're a terrific father."

Angela was on the defense. "Yes, he is. Now what do you want?"

"I want to sever my parental rights," Michael said. "But only if I can still have a relationship with Jonathan. I'd be better as a friend than I've been as a father."

"And your daughter?" Angela asked.

He shrugged. "I never wanted another baby with you, and I have no interest in being part of her life."

Angela felt the sting of rejection and hugged her belly. "Just so you know, we're planning to get married very soon. Tony's name can go on the birth certificate. And I hope to adopt Samantha."

"And I want to adopt Jonathan," Tony said. "We won't object to you seeing him as long as you're good to him, right Angela?"

"Of course."

Michael led Angela and Tony to the door. "This might sound shitty, but it's nice to start my marriage with a clean slate." He shook their hands and disappeared into the hallway.

"Such an asshole," Angela muttered sadly, shaking her head.

Tony was smiling ear to ear, despite the tears in his eyes. He pumped his fist and said "Alright! Jonathan is really going to be my son!"