Chapter Four: The Parent Trap
On their twelfth day in the motel, Agent Miller showed the adults their job assignments while the kids sprawled out in the other room reading the library books he had procured for them. Bobby Moretti would be a warehouse supervisor at a hardware supply distribution center. Jess Moretti would be a budget analyst for a school district. Cassie Walsh was going to help with the housework and care for Jen and Chris.
"I don't get a job?" Mona whined. "I just finished my degree. Or almost finished. I couldn't turn in my term paper because I'm dead," she grumbled.
"You have no work experience," Agent Miller explained. "It makes more sense to have you take on the caregiver role."
"I'm only earning twenty thousand dollars a year?" Angela cried. She was used to a salary of at least ten times that amount.
"You can't be an executive anymore. It's too high-profile. Perhaps you can get promoted into middle management."
"But how are we supposed to live on that?" she asked.
"I'll be making thirty-eight," Tony said gently. It was utterly disorienting, but he was about to be the breadwinner of the family.
"Now, Jess, you will be working a nine-to-five. Bobby's hours are more variable. That annual projection is based on a significant amount of evening and weekend work."
"I see," she said. "What about housing?"
"It's not final yet, but we have an offer in on a five-bedroom, four-bath house in a large suburb. You'll rent it from a shell company that we set up. And yes, there is a separate entrance and en-suite for Cassie."
"Alright, nothing to argue with," Mona said, speaking for everyone. They had no choice but to accept their new roles. After Agent Miller left, she grabbed three of the deli sandwiches and retired to the other room with the kids. "You two need to talk," she said to Angela and Tony.
"So, Bobby, you're going to be supporting us?" Angela confirmed.
"No, Jess, we're going to be working together to run this family, just like we always have," Tony argued.
Tears sprung to her eyes. "I don't know if I can do this," she said.
"What, depend on your partner?" he asked.
"Yeah. And what if we're stuck in this new life forever?"
"It wouldn't be the worst thing Sam and I have gone through," Tony said, looking away.
"I'm sorry. That was insensitive of me," Angela admitted.
"You're not stuck forever, honey. You can always divorce me, and I'll have to pay alimony," he said, stroking her cheek.
"I think that's the first time you've sounded natural calling me honey."
"I didn't think about it." He dropped his gaze to her lips. They had tried to practice kissing each day, but every repetition felt artificial after the ease of their midnight bathroom chat. She circled his waist and waited for him to act. When he finally did close the gap, the kiss was more effortless than ever before. He touched her upper lip with his tongue, and she followed his example, sweeping across his lower lip.
"We're getting better at this. Maybe I can sleep over tonight," she said. It wasn't a playful request. They only had a few more nights in the motel before they would be moving on.
"That's a good idea."
That night, after Jonathan fell asleep in the next bed, they sat up and talked some more. "Bobby, if we did get divorced, do you think we would have joint custody of the kids?" Angela asked.
"Of course. It's not like we could split them up," Tony responded.
"They did in The Parent Trap," she protested.
"This isn't a movie, Jess."
"Tony, they're not our kids. It would be completely reasonable for you to take Samantha."
"Angela, I don't want to take her away from you. She's already lost her real mother."
"I don't want to take Jonathan away from you, either. He loves you."
"Why are we talking about this, anyway? We might get to go home at some point. And even if we don't, I don't want to split up." Tony had begun to see their situation as an opportunity, though the guilt was overwhelming at times. He hated that Angela had been robbed of her life, her work, her identity, but it would give him a chance to meet her on even ground.
Angela's heart fluttered. She didn't want to split up, either. "We should get some sleep," she said, sliding down in bed. He mirrored her movements.
"Good night, Jess."
"Good night, Bobby."
They lay side by side staring up at the ceiling for at least ten minutes.
"Bobby? Are you still awake?" Angela asked without looking over at Tony.
"Yes, honey."
"What are we going to do about sex? If this situation lasts a while, I mean."
"We can figure that out later, Jess," he said. He didn't want to pressure her into anything.
"I don't want you to cheat on me," she said, turning on her side.
He turned to face her. "No, of course not. I wouldn't be able to take it if I knew you were with some other guy," he said, feeling a possessiveness he wasn't free to express in actions.
Angela's voice shook as she reminded Tony, "We should kiss goodnight."
"Sorry, I forgot," he lied. They had never kissed in bed before, and the taboo was difficult to shake. He had been hoping to postpone their next smooch until they were standing up, fully clothed.
"If you don't want to, it's fine," she said, burying the hurt of rejection and turning on her back.
"It's not that," he said, sliding closer. He planted one on the corner of her mouth. "I want to. All the time," he slurred. Her body thrummed with anticipation, but there was no follow up. When she looked over, he was asleep with his firm chest against her arm and his chin on her shoulder. She turned away, breaking contact before she could rest. In the morning, he had snuggled himself closer, spooning her with an arm over her chest and his hand around her shoulder.
