Savor the Rewrite: Chapter 17 Better Off Wed pt 1
Things started to settled down after the the mystery of the swollen lips was solved. Angela immediately threw out all of the hard candies and refused to kiss Tony for seventy-two hours just to be on the safe side. By the seventy-third hour, Tony made sure they did a lot more than kiss for the next few hours.
Angela was officially done with her antibiotic and given a clean bill of health at her appointment the following week. She was officially twenty-two weeks pregnant and starting to feel it. The initial boost of energy that came at the beginning of the second trimester was starting to wane. She found herself needing to nap throughout the day, whether at her desk in the office or the small sofa in her study on the days she worked from home.
Tony was doing his best to voice his thoughts and feelings to Angela, to the point that, as usual, he went overboard and shared every little thing. She reasoned this was better than the alternative but finally let him know he didn't need to share everything with her.
One afternoon, Tony and Angela decided to spend the afternoon cuddled together on the sofa. Tony was intently reading one of their pregnancy books while Angela was flipping through the channels.
"Angela! It says here that this week we could start to feel the baby on the outside! Finally! I know you've been feeling the flutters and movements for weeks now but I'm finally going to get a chance to feel the baby! You hear that little one? You're big and strong enough now to be felt! Oh Angela I can't wait!" he gushed as he placed his hands all over her stomach followed by his head.
"Soon! Only eighteen more weeks until they get here! Oh look! The Knicks are on!" said Angela as she got engrossed in the game.
"Hey! Maybe if you drink something with a little sugar in it, it will wake them up and they will start kicking!" said Tony enthusiastically as he got up off the sofa and walked into the kitchen. He pulled out a pitcher of freshly made lemonade and poured them each a glass. He was putting the pitcher back in the fridge when Samantha walked through the back door.
"Hi Dad!" she said.
"Oh hi ya Sam!" said Tony
"Uh how's it going?" she asked nervously.
"Oh so much to do to get ready for the baby! We should be able to feel their kicks this week so I'm getting Angela a sugary drink!" he said as he headed back to the table.
"Okay well maybe now isn't a good time…" she started.
"No, no for what? For what? Have a seat…" he said as he motioned for her to sit down at the table as he grabbed a seat. He was looking through a baby book he had left on the table.
"Okay well umm…Hank and I have been seeing each other every day and uh… it's kinda getting serious…" she said.
"Oh that's great… who's Hank?" asked Tony.
"You remember him Dad? The guy my roommates set me up with at the Valentine's Day party!" she said enthusiastically.
"Oh yeah, yeah…" he said, half paying attention to her.
"Well you're going to be seeing a lot more of him, which is kinda what I wanted to talk to you about…" she said.
"Ahh I get it, I get it… you want me to cook a meal for him right? Something Italian… you know the way to a guy's heart is through his stomach…" he said.
"Then how did Angela hook you?" she laughed.
"Very funny… I guess I can whip up a meal. He'll be gone in three months or so and then I'll make another dinner for the next one…" he said.
"Believe me Dad he won't be…" she started to say when Tony interrupted.
"Okay, okay… tell me the menu and I'll start preparing…" he said as he went back to his book.
"Look Dad I just want tell you that…" she started when he interrupted again.
"Oh! I'm so glad you are here, you know why? I started planning the guest list and activities for the baby shower! I'll run them by you…" he said as he ran into the living room. Sam just shook her head as she got up to let Hank in the back door.
"Hi Honey!" she said as they kissed and embraced.
"So how did it go with your dad? Did you tell him?" asked Hank.
"Well I tried…" said Samantha.
"You didn't tell him we were moving in together did you…" said Hank.
"Look I tried to tell Dad but it wasn't the right time…" she said as Tony walked back in the kitchen.
"Tried to tell me what?" he asked.
"That… Ah this is Hank! Hank… Dad! Dad… Hank!" she said.
"Ah… that's right, that's right… Hank! How are you doing?" asked Tony as he shook Hank's hand. "Are you ready to have the time of your life playing all these baby games?" asked Tony as he handed her the list.
"It's… it's lovely Dad. We will all surely have the time of our lives…" said Samantha sarcastically.
"I think baby showers are very sweet" said Hank as he looked lovingly over at Samantha. Tony saw the lovey dovey look and walked in between the two.
"No men allowed!" he said as he went into the living room, bringing in Angela's drink.
"See? Now you understand why it's so hard to tell him about something like moving in together! Are you sure we are doing the right thing?" she asked.
"Oh you want to go over this again… hold on let me get comfortable…" said Hank as he sat down on one of the kitchen chairs. Samantha went over a whole list of reasons why moving in was too soon, but they came back to the decision that they loved each other and wanted to take this next big step.
"You feel better?" asked Hank.
"Oh yeah!" said Samantha.
"Should we tell your father now?" he asked hopeful.
"Oh no!" she said with a defeated voice. Just then, there was a knock at the back door. Samantha went to open it and in walked Al and Bonnie.
"Hi guys! What are you doing here?" asked Samantha.
"We were in the neighborhood…" said Al as he went to the fridge and took out some food.
"You live in the neighborhood! And apparently you're hungry!" laughed Samantha.
"Oh food! I'll take some!" said Hank as they sat down at the table.
"So Bonnie what's been going on? You and Al still going strong?" asked Samantha.
"You could say that…" said Bonnie as she showed off an engagement ring on her left hand.
"You're engaged? What? When? Why?" stuttered Samantha.
"Al asked me last night! We've gotten really close these past few months and we are in love!" she gushed as she sat on Al's lap.
"I'm making an honest woman outta ya!" said Al as he kissed Bonnie.
"But you're still so young! What are you going to do for money? Where are you going to live? What did your parents say?" asked Samantha as she collapsed into her chair.
"Well we told them yesterday. Actually I left a voicemail on their machine… but this morning after the screaming stopped, they accepted us!" she said.
"I can imagine! Oh my god… imagine how my dad would react if we were getting married now! He'd probably literally go through the roof!" laughed Samantha.
"So I was hoping I could count on you to be my maid of honor… we found this place in the woods by a lake. So quaint! Get married by a little old minister and his wife! We are going to see about going in a few weeks" she said.
"Yes! Of course I will! Just make sure it's not the weekend of Angela's baby shower! He'd never forgive me!" laughed Angela.
"Alright let's head to Brooklyn! I need to find Tiny and ask him to be my best man! Unless he's back in jail… then I'll check out the local bar and find someone!" said Al. Bonnie rolled her eyes, gave Samantha a quick hug and headed out the door.
"They seem nice! Hopefully your Dad will warm up to the idea of us moving in together, especially if he hears the two of them are getting married!" laughed Hank.
"Look, I just think the best way to handle this is to go in there and get him to like you! I mean then we can be honest…" she said as she took his hand and led him into the kitchen.
Angela was engrossed in the Knicks game, yelling at the television, drinking the lemonade Tony got her, while Tony was going in between trying to feel the baby move and reading the baby book. Mona walked in surveying the role reversals, commenting on how weird the place gets every day.
"Hi! I'm Hank!" he said as he introduced himself to Mona. He continued to try and win her over, complimenting her until Samantha stepped in.
"Yeah, yeah… don't waste it on her! She's easy!" she said.
"And proud of it!" laughed Mona. Samantha pushed Hank to sit in between Angela and Tony on the sofa.
"Mind if we join you? Angela, this is Hank!" said Samantha.
"Hello how are you? Are you a Knicks fan?" she asked, shaking his hand but her eyes never leaving the television.
"Well actually I'm more of a… live and breathe them!" said Hank when Samantha coughed to get him to lie to warm up to Angela.
"You know I never used to be into sports either until Tony turned me on to them!" said Angela.
"It says here the baby has eyelashes and fingernails now!" gushed Tony as he showed Hank the image of the fetus in the book. They continued to talk until Angela mentioned one of the players not doing anything since his injury. Hank started discussing the medical jargon related to the injury and surgery, getting all of their attention.
"How'd you know that?" asked Tony.
"Actually Dad, Hank has taken a lot of courses in anatomy and physiology!" said Samantha.
"Well you kinda have to when you're premed…" said Hank.
"Premed? Oh! Hank… Hank right? It is Hank right? Premed huh? So you're interested in my daughter?" asked Tony as he turned off the television and gave him his undivided attention.
"Yes sir! Very interested!" said Hank.
"Mona! Get the doctor a drink!" said Tony.
"Why don't I just squat down and he can use me as a footstool…" quipped Mona.
"Wanna put your feet up there Hank?" asked Tony.
"No thanks!" said Hank, still not used to Tony's humor.
"Hank, have you applied to medical school?" asked Angela as she tried to make herself more comfortable.
"Here, let me help you! Yes I had to in my junior year. I've been accepted to a few places" said Hank as he helped Angela by putting some more pillows behind her back.
"Oh wow! That's great! Have we decided where we are going?" asked Tony very enthusiastically.
"Yes! The University of Connecticut!" said Hank.
"Alright! UConn!" shouted Tony as he patted him on the back.
"Do they have a medical school?" asked Angela, confused because she could have sworn they didn't have a medical school.
"I don't know. I'll be taking graduate courses in puppetry!" said Hank, equally enthusiastically as Tony. Samantha just flopped back on the sofa, knowing their chances of winning Tony over went straight out the window. Tony didn't initially understand, thinking it was a step forward to becoming a doctor, using puppets instead of real people so as not to get sued, until he realized he wasn't going to be a doctor.
"You're gonna spend the rest of your life with your hand up a puppet?" asked Tony.
"It's more than that! I never really liked medicine. Puppets were always my first love!" he said.
"Well I had a GI Joe I was fond of but I grew out of that!" shouted Tony as he stood up and started to walk away.
"Can one make a living at… puppeteering?" asked Angela, trying to save the conversation.
"Sure! Look at Shari Lewis and Jim Henson! Frank Oz!" said Hank.
"Nancy Reagan…" quipped Mona as Tony told her to stop.
"Dad look… Hank was just premed to make his parents happy. I mean aren't you the one who always says you should follow your heart?" asked Samantha.
"And I did! This wasn't a decision that I made lightly. Puppeteering is an underrated art form that takes years of study" said Hank.
"Where… at the Mortermir Snerd Academy?" asked Tony.
"Tony…" said Angela as she stood up, trying to stop him from saying anything worse.
"Howdy Doody U?" he asked sarcastically.
"Tony…" she tried again unsuccessfully.
"Well a lot of kids would kill for the opportunity that you are throwing away!" he shouted.
"Tony!" she finally shouted at him.
"What?" he shouted back at her.
"I… I umm… I could really go for some ice cream! I think the baby is really craving it! Maybe it will make them kick for you!" she said, knowing the last part would help change his mood, which of course it did.
"Okay! We have butter brickle stocked in the fridge! I'll go make you a bowl…" he said as he turned to go into the kitchen.
"No! I'm in the mood for a sundae! Mint chocolate chip with caramel and whipped cream! Rainbow sprinkles too! Could you go get me one? Please?" she asked as she rubbed her stomach for emphasis.
"Oh alright… I'll go get you some…" he said.
"Hank will go with you Dad! I could go for some ice cream too!" said Samantha as she pushed him towards Tony. Tony just opened the door for him and gave Angela and Sam a look as Hank walked through the door.
"After you Geppetto…" he said as he followed him and headed out the door. Angela waited until she heard the car start and pull out of the driveway. The ice cream place was only a few minutes away so she knew she didn't have a lot of time to get to the bottom of things.
"So spill it kid… what's the deal with this guy? He seems really nice and it doesn't hurt he's good looking…" said Mona.
"So you really like him?" asked Samantha.
"What's not to like? He's cute, he's bright, he's got a great sense of humor…" said Angela.
"Yeah that part about being a puppeteer was hilarious!" laughed Mona, until Samantha gave her a look. "Hey! I like him too!" said Mona.
"Yeah he's terrific isn't he? I think that we are really good for each other…" said Samantha as she trailed off at the end, a dreamy look in her eye that was only caught by Angela.
"Oh I've got to go pick up Jonathan. Ah Angela… may I borrow your Jag?" asked Mona.
"Why… so you can drive by the gym and pretend you're a talent agent again?" asked Angela.
"Hey! Over half of those guys ended up on film…" said Mona as she walked out the door.
"This time don't forget Jonathan!" she shouted after her, knowing it was a fifty-fifty chance of her coming home with her son.
"Oh I hope Hank and Dad are getting along okay!" said Samantha as she got up and looked out the front window to see if they were back yet.
"Wait a minute… this one's really serious isn't it?" asked Angela as Samantha nodded. "Just how serious?" asked Angela as Samantha sat back down next to her on the sofa. Angela grabbed a hold of her hands, hoping it wasn't what she thought it might mean.
"Well, we are getting very serious and we decided to take the next step in our relationship. We… we decide to move in together…" said Samantha, holding back her excitement until she could gauge Angela's reaction.
"Oh thank god! I thought you were going to say you decided to get married!" said Angela as she let out a sigh of relief.
"Married? No way! We are both still in school! He's going to be graduating and going to graduate school next year. I've still got two more years and then I'm thinking about grad school too! If we live together and it keeps getting serious, I could see us getting married down the line…" she said.
"Where are you going to live together?" asked Angela.
"Well, remember last year when I moved off campus to that house? It's available again and there's two spots available! It's only for this semester and the summer one until he goes to UConn. We will have to figure out something else by then, but this feels right now!" she said.
"Are you sure? It hasn't been that long you have been together…" said Angela.
"Yes! It just feels right! I… I really feel like he might be the one! I've never felt like this before…" she said.
"Alright then… if you think it's the right move. What are you going to tell your father?" asked Angela as a vision of Tony having a nervous breakdown when he heard the news floating around her mind.
"I don't know! He overreacts so much! I was hoping maybe to try and wait until after the baby is born and he's too distracted and sleep deprived to notice but that's months away. Any ideas?" asked Samantha.
"Just be honest and direct with him… and make sure Hank isn't in a vulnerable position like in front of his car…" said Angela. About ten minutes later, Hank and Tony walked through the front door with the ice cream. They were mid argument over Sesame Street characters, Tony arguing over Bert and Ernie's stardom.
"So how did it go?" asked Sam, hoping it wasn't a disaster in the fifteen minutes they were gone.
"Hank's a vanilla only guy…" said Tony as he rolled his eyes. He handed Angela her sundae as he took out his own and started to eat. "That sundae better get this little one moving!" he said as he rubbed her belly.
"So Hank… you and Tony will be graduating together! Can't believe it's only a couple of months until graduation! Your parents must be excited" said Angela.
"Yes they are but… they don't exactly know I've decided not to go to med school and go into puppeteering" he said.
"Good luck with that one Hank my boy…" said Tony as he slapped him on the back. "Just be open and honest with them. I'm sure they'll understand…" he said with a snort.
"Being open and honest is important. So is having two parents who are kind and understanding when their adult children decide to do something they potentially disagree with…" said Angela.
"That's right! That's why I love the relationship Sam and I have! She can tell me anything!" said Tony as he finished his sundae.
"Well Dad… there's something I do need to talk to you about… see the thing is Hank and I are going to move in together…" said Samantha, wincing at the last part as she was anticipating the explosion from Tony.
"Ow! Brain freeze!" yelled Tony as he grabbed on to his head.
"Grab onto the inside of your palm and squeeze. It helps relieve brain freeze" said Hank.
"Thanks Hank! Now what was that you said? It sounded like you said you two were moving in together!" he said as he rubbed his temples.
"We did Dad…" said Samantha.
"No… no… no! You're too young! You're not moving in together! Absolutely not!" shouted Tony.
"Tony… take a deep breath…" said Angela.
"No Angela! They are too young to move in together! I forbid it!" shouted Tony. Angela cringed at Tony's words.
"Tony relax! It's not like they are getting married! They just want to live together" she said. She regretted even bringing up the word marriage as Tony's eyes got very wide at the mention of his little girl and marriage in the same sentence.
"Married? Ha! Talk about a mistake! You are absolutely not getting married and not moving in together and that's final!" said Tony.
"I wasn't asking for your permission! I'm eighteen now and can and will make my own decisions whether you like it or not! And you're one to talk hypocrite! You and mom were my age when you got married! And you and Angela have lived together for seven years before getting married!" she shouted as Mona and Jonathan walked in the door.
"What's going on here?" asked Mona.
"Samantha and Hank think they are moving in together!" shouted Tony.
"So you're gonna shack up? Way to go Hank!" laughed Jonathan until Angela stood up and directed him to the kitchen.
"So they are moving in together. Who cares? It's not like they are getting married…" said Mona as she sat down on the side chair and started eating Angela's untouched sundae.
"I can't believe you Dad!" shouted Samantha just as the phone rang. Jonathan picked it up from the kitchen.
"Sam, it's for you…" said Jonathan as she took the phone from him in the kitchen, dragging Hank in there with them.
"Tony you have to relax! It's really not that big of a deal if they move in together. She's got a good head on her shoulders and it seems like Hank does too. They are not going to do something irresponsible like get pregnant…" said Angela.
"Yeah like you two did…" chuckled Mona.
"Mother! Why don't you eat my ice cream in the other room…" she said as she turned back to Tony.
"Pregnant… my Samantha… oh god I didn't even think about that!" he said as his face turned white.
"She's not Tony! She's not pregnant, not getting married, not dropping out of school! She simply wants to move in with her steady boyfriend, that's all! It's really not that bad" said Angela.
"I… I guess you're right. It could be worse!" said Tony as he sat down on the sofa.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Samantha got on the phone. She could barely get a word in during the conversation.
"Bonnie! Slow down! What happened? Oh no… they freaked out that badly? Yeah I know a thing or two about parents overreacting… wait what? Tonight? Bonnie it's too soon! I… I… okay, okay! Yes I'll be there… what's the address? Little Chapel of Love? Alright see you then…" she said as she hung up.
"Bonnie's parents had a change of heart and totally freaked out on them! They decided to elope tonight! We have to try and stop them!" she said to Hank as they went back into the living room, leaving the paper she wrote the address on in the kitchen.
"Look Sam… I thought about it and it's okay. I give you permission to move in with Hank…" said Tony.
"Permission? Permission! I don't need your permission! I can move in with Hank… heck I can go and marry Hank if I wanted to! I don't need your permission!" shouted Samantha as she and Hank stormed out of the house.
"What? I said it was okay didn't I?" asked Tony as Angela gave him a look and just shook his head.
"Oh Tony… how can someone so good looking and smart be so dumb sometimes… well since the Knicks game is probably over and Mother ate my ice cream, I'm starving! Can you get me some more lemonade and maybe some cheese and crackers?" she asked.
"Sure sweetheart. Then we can get back to trying to get this little one to start kicking!" smiled Tony as he rubbed her belly and headed into the kitchen. He was gone no more than a minute when Angela heard a scream, followed by Tony running back into the living room.
"Oh my god Angela! She's getting married! She wrote down the chapel and the address! Samantha and Hank are eloping!" he shouted as he collapsed on the sofa.
To be continued…