"Angela! Where have you been?"
"Hello Mother. It's nice to see you too." Angela took off and hung her coat on the coat rack along with her purse. She walked over and sat down on the couch.
"If you must know, I went over to Andy's to tell him that I would marry him."
Mona nearly dropped the glass of iced tea she was holding.
"Angela! Oh please tell me you didn't!" She set the glass down on the coffee table and laid her head back on the cushions. She closed her eyes and groaned.
"Well I went over there and sat in the jag for about ten minutes. "
Mona opened her eyes and looked at her. "Did you go in?"
Angela shook her head. "I went over to Isabelle's instead."
Mona breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh thank God!" She sat back up and took a sip of her tea.
"So, I take it, she talked you out of it?"
"They both did. Well sort of."
"They both did? Oh you must mean Wendy. And what do you mean, sort of?"
"Wendy thought it was a great idea if I married Andy."
"She what?!" For once in her life Mona was at a loss for words.
"I was surprised too. But then she clarified and said that I shouldn't actually marry him. I should accept his proposal and start planning the wedding. Tony will get jealous and beg me to call it off."
"HMMMM You know what? That isn't a bad idea!"
"Mother be serious! I'm not going to do that to Andy. Or to Tony for that matter."
"So then why did you go over to Andy's in the first place?"
"Because I…You know what? It isn't important."
"Yes, it is. Now out with it! Why did you go over to Andy's? Why were you going to accept his proposal?"
Angela twisted her hands together.
"Angela Katherine Robinson Bower, this is your Mother speaking!"
Angela rolled her eyes.
"Well?!"
"Okay fine! I was going to accept because I don't want to be alone for the rest of my life. Tony is with Kathleen and it's obviously serious."
"So you just figured you would marry a man you don't love?"
"That's basically what Isabelle said."
"Thank God for Isabelle and Wendy!"
"So you can breathe easy now."
"I'll breathe easy when you and Tony stop this foolishness."
Angela just shook her head.
"Oh by the way you got some flowers from Dr. Doofus."
Angela sighed. "His name is Andy." She looked around the room. "Where are they?"
"In the kitchen."
"Let me guess? In the garbage?"
"No, Sam put them in a vase."
Angela got up and walked into the kitchen with Mona following right behind her.
"Oh they're beautiful!" She leaned in and inhaled their sweet aroma.
"Yes they are. But it's funny isn't it?"
Angela turned and looked at her. "What's funny?"
"Oh just that Andy is the second guy you have dated and he doesn't know that pink roses are your favorite. Do you see any pink roses?"
Angela shrugged. "Well no but.."
"BUT! Tony does know that pink roses are your favorite! He also knows your favorite color, movie, book…"
"Well we are best friends."
Mona sat down. "Sit down Angela."
Angela sighed but did as she was told.
"Do you remember when you came home from your date with what's his face?"
"It's Geoffrey!"
Mona waved her hand in the air. "Whatever! Do you remember?"
"Yes, what about it?"
"You told me that Tony said it was too bad the roses Geoffrey got you weren't pink."
"I remember."
"And that you asked him how he knew that pink roses were your favorite?"
"I know. He said that I mentioned it once."
"Yes, exactly. You only mentioned it once and he remembered. That certainly tells me a lot."
"It doesn't make any difference now. He's with Kathleen."
'Not for long if I have anything to say about it!' Mona thought.
Mona stood up. "Well okay then." She reached into her pocket and pulled the card out that had been with the flowers.
"Oh here's the card that came with the flowers." She laid it on the table.
"Should I even ask if you read it?"
"Of course I read it. I have to know what's going on don't I?!" With a shake of her head she exited out the back door.
###############################################################
"Kathleen! What is it?"
Kathleen untangled herself and went back into her apartment. Tony closed the door and followed her. They sat down on the couch.
"It's my aunt Janet."
"Your aunt Janet? Oh right. She's your Mother's sister."
Kathleen nodded. "Yeah, I was on the phone with my cousin Stephanie. Aunt Janet she…" She took a deep breath. "Oh Tony, she had a stroke last night!"
"What? Oh Kathleen I'm so sorry."
Kathleen sniffled and grabbed a few tissues from her end table.
"Yeah, I just can't believe it! I mean Aunt Janet has always looked out for me. And to think of her lying in a bed…"
"Is there anything I can do?"
Kathleen shook her head. "No. But I am going to fly there in a couple of days. I have a lot of sick days and two weeks of vacation so I have to call work and tell them."
"Okay. Do you need a ride to the airport?"
"What? Oh no. I was actually just on the phone with Linda. She said she would take me." She told him, referring to a fellow waitress.
"Okay."
Kathleen laid her head on his shoulder. "Thank you for being here Tony. I don't know what I would do without you."
It was at that moment that Tony realized he couldn't break up with her. Her heart was already broken.
And as much as he wanted and needed to end things with her he would be an absolute heel to break her heart any more.
######################################################
Tony arrived home and hung his coat on the coat rack. He walked over and sat down on the couch. He couldn't believe it. He had been all set to end things with Kathleen but after her news he knew there was no way he could. It would be like adding insult to injury. He knew how much her aunt Janet meant to her. So he had no choice but to keep things as they were.
"Tony! Thank goodness you're here!"
He turned and noticed Mona standing by the couch.
"Oh? Is something wrong?"
"YES something is wrong! We..no make that YOU have a huge problem!"
Tony sighed. "Okay what is it?"
"Angela."
"Angela?! What about Angela?! She's okay isn't she?" He felt himself beginning to panic.
"She's fine physically. But Tony she almost accepted Andy's proposal!"
Tony gulped. "She did?"
Mona sat down beside him. "Yes. But luckily she got cold feet and instead went over to Isabelle's. She and Wendy talked her out of it."
"Oh. "
"OH?! All you have to say is OH?!"
"Well okay. I am relieved that she isn't going to marry Andy."
"YES! We are finally getting somewhere!"
"Yeah, that's why I was away this afternoon. I went to Brooklyn to talk to Mrs. Rossini."
"And? What did she say? What did you say?"
"I told her that I made a horrible mistake getting involved with Kathleen."
Mona pumped a fist in the air. "HALLELUJAH! He finally sees the light!"
"Yeah, and Mrs. Rossini basically said it was about time I figured it out."
"Well it's a miracle because we actually agree on something. "
Tony chuckled.
"So then what happened?"
"She told me we both know who I do belong with."
"And?"
"I guess you're going to make me say it aren't you?"
Mona nodded.
"Okay fine. I belong with Angela. I love Angela. "
Mona held her hand to her chest. "OH MY GOD! You finally said it!"
Tony nodded. "Yeah, I did, Mona, do you remember that dream I had about Angela marrying Andy?"
"Oh yeah. Your stupid alarm went off just as Angela asked you if you really wanted her to marry Andy."
"Yeah, but when I had the dream again there was more."
"Okay? Come on Bub, don't keep me in suspense!"
"I told her that I didn't want her marrying Andy or any man. "
"And?!"
"And then we kissed."
"Oh this is getting better and better!"
"Yeah, but then Kathleen and Andy showed up."
"Oh great!"
"Yeah. Angela and I both tried to let them down easily but they weren't having it. Andy picked Angela up and threw her over his shoulder. He walked away from us with Angela screaming for me to help her. "
"Oh dear."
"Yeah and Kathleen dragged me away and told me I was coming with her. I can still hear her screaming my name. " He shuddered . 'It was awful Mona. I screamed for her and that's when I woke up."
"Okay, that sounds horrible. But at least you have seen the light."
"I did. I went to Kathleen's to end things."
Mona clapped her hands together. "Oh this is the best news I have heard in ages!"
"I changed my mind."
"You what?! Tony? What the hell are you telling me?"
Tony held his hand up. "Hold on Mona. There's more."
"Okay. Spill it!"
"When I got to Kathleen's she told me she had some news."
"Some news?" 'Oh no! Please don't tell me she is pregnant! If she is, Tony will have no choice but to marry her.!'
"It's her aunt Janet.
"Her aunt Janet?"
"Yeah, she had a stroke and Kathleen is beside herself."
"Oh. That's awful."
"Yeah, and I knew I couldn't end things with her. "
Mona nodded. "Yeah, it would be like adding insult to injury.
"That was my thought."
'So what now?"
"I don't know. I mean I can't very well tell Angela how I feel if I'm still with Kathleen. "
"No, I guess you can't." She stood up and sighed. "I understand why you decided not to end things with Kathleen for now."
'Thanks Mone."
"Good night."
"Good night."
############################################
A FEW DAYS LATER:
RING! RING!
"Hello?"
"Hi Dad!"
"Sam? Hi honey!"
Sam laughed. "You sound surprised."
Tony sat down at the table. "I am. It feels like we haven't talked in a while."
Sam sighed. "I've been thinking the same thing. So I thought I would call you up for a little father-daughter get together."
"That sounds great! Where do you have in mind?"
"Africa."
"Africa?"
"Yeah, you remember when Mona and I went there a few years ago?"
"Oh that's right. When Max and Jesse.. Oh right."
"You can say it Dad. When Max and Jesse dumped us."
"Yeah. So you want to meet there?"
"Yes, this Saturday. Is that okay?"
"Sounds good to me!"
"I'll meet you at 8:00."
"That sounds good honey."
"Okay,. Bye Dad!"
"Bye Sam!"
################################################
THE BOWER AGENCY.
Mona tapped her pencil against her desk. Sam was planning on calling Tony to invite him to join her at Africa. Now all she had to do was tell Angela that a client wanted to have drinks there.
Angela came out of her office. "Oh Mother, here are those files." She placed them on her desk.
"Angela by the way. Ms. Carter called earlier and she wants to have drinks with you to discuss her campaign."
"Okay. Did she say where and when?"
"Yeah. This Saturday at 8:00. At Africa."
"Africa?"
"Yeah, that club Sam and I went to a few years ago."
"Oh.. yeah."
"I know. When Sam and I were dumped!"
Angela cringed. "Sorry Mother."
"Eh that's all water under the bridge."
"Okay. So Saturday night at 8:00?"
"Yep. Saturday at 8:00!"
######################################
Angela walked into Africa and over to the Hostess stand.
"Hello. How may I help you?"
"Yes. My name is Angela Bower and I am meeting Miss Jill Carter for drinks."
Curtis-the owner- came over.
"Ah yes Ms. Bower. I am Curtis the owner. If you would please follow me?" He grabbed two menus.
"Very well."
Angela followed him though the club until they arrived at a private room.
"Here we are. Please have a seat."
"Thank you."
He pulled her chair out for her.
"May I get you something to drink while you wait?"
"A glass of chardonnay please."
"Very well." He left and was back in a few minutes with her drink.
"I'll go and see if your dinner companion has arrived yet."
"Thank you."
He nodded at her and left the room. He walked up to the front of the club where he spotted his hostess talking to a good looking dark haired man.
'That must be Tony.'
"Hello! Mr. Micelli?"
"Yes. I am." He held his hand out and they shook hands.
"Welcome to Africa! I am Curtis the owner. Your dinner companion is already here. If you would follow me?"
They walked through the club until they arrived at the private room.
Tony walked in expecting to see Sam.
Instead he walked in and saw…
"Angela?"
Angela was taken aback.
"Tony?"
They stared at each other like they had years earlier when Jonathan had set them up for Valentine's Day.