Moving Forward chapter 5
They woke up the next morning, wrapped up in each other's arms. They had made love another three times throughout the night and undoubtedly slept through breakfast this morning from the bright light shining into the room.
"Morning sweetheart…" he said as he pulled her naked body closer to his own.
"Morning… I think we slept through breakfast…" she said with a smirk.
"Can you blame us? We barely slept…" he said with a wink as he found a particularly sensitive part of her neck, eliciting a slight moan.
"We… we really should get up and moving…" she said, very unconvincingly as he started kissing down her neck and down her chest.
"I'm up and ready Angela…" he said as he devoured her lips in a passionate kiss. They spent the next half an hour together, finding their love making even more incredible than either one of them could ever imagine. By 10:00am, they were showered and dressed as they headed downstairs.
"Good morning! Normally the kitchen is closed by now, but we had some extra food so we kept a plate for you all! Please enjoy!" said Shirley as she escorted them to the dining room table. It was set with fine china and a full centerpiece on display. Juice and coffee were provided as they sat down at the table.
"I was sure we were going to have to skip breakfast altogether and just get lunch!" laughed Angela.
"You and me both! Maybe they just say that so people don't end up coming down at noon expecting to be served!" chuckled Tony as he took a sip of the coffee. Shirley came with two plates of food, placing each down in front of them.
"Oh this is delicious Shirley! Thank you for saving us some of the food! We will make sure we are down earlier tomorrow morning" said Angela as Shirley refilled their drinks.
"My pleasure! You aren't our first engaged couple to sleep past the breakfast time!" she chuckled as she left them to their breakfast.
"I guess that bed has some miles on it!" laughed Tony as Angela playfully swatted his arm. They finished up their meal and decided to grab their belongings and explore the nearby town. They walked about a half a mile up the main street until they got to the center of the town. In the dark last night, they couldn't appreciate the beauty of the little town.
"Oh Tony! This place is so beautiful and quaint! It reminds me of one of those old time television shows- little mom and pop shops, even a Main Street!" she laughed as they walked hand in hand down the street.
"It really is nice here! How about we stop in that bookstore?" he said as he pointed to a little bookstore on the corner. They walked into the shop, Angela heading right for the classics section.
"Oh they have all my favorite authors! Austen, Brontë, Dickens! I just love the smell of older books- the musty aroma, the smooth feel of the leather covers, the old fashioned binding…" she said as she picked up a copy of Pride and Prejudice.
"All of our books back in Brooklyn were old! The ones that weren't falling apart usually got lost by the end of the semester. There was only one book I made sure never got lost" he said as he looked at some of the other books on the shelves.
"Which one was that?" she asked, genuinely curious about not only his book choice but about his younger days.
"The Outsiders. It came out when I was a sophomore in high school. I read that book half a dozen times that year. I think it was the first book I could relate to…" he said as he trailed off.
"I loved that book too! I read it the summer before college just for fun. I suppose it is pretty relatable…" she said as she put hand on his arm.
"The bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks meets a high society girl… I couldn't help thinking about Ingrid…" he said as his hand found her hip.
"Anthony did have a similar feeling to Ponyboy… I always pictured Anthony being the sensitive one in his group of friends yet still being the macho tough guy…" she said.
"Yeah… Anthony was definitely the sensitive one of the guys, especially once Marie came along. I got so much crap for it from the guys but it was all worth it to be with her…" he said, a smile crossing his face as he thought back to his early days with Marie.
"You know Tony… if you ever wanted to talk about your memories of Marie, I'd love to hear them. I can only imagine how hard it is to talk about her but if you wanted to, I'm all ears…" she said.
"You'd want to hear about Marie?" he asked as he looked at her in awe.
"Of course! She was such an important person in your life, in both your lives. I can't help but think she had something to do with you ending up at my door…" she said.
"You really are something Angela… I don't know what I did to deserve you…" he said as he wrapped his arms around her waist and placed a soft, slow kiss on her lips.
"You're the kindest, most generous, loving man I've ever met… that's what! And you've got a cute butt too…" she said as her hands found the pockets of his jeans, giving a slight squeeze.
"Angela! Don't you dare turn me on in a bookstore! I'll never be able to read the classics ever again! Which will be a problem if I get into college…" he said as he reluctantly pulled back.
"Not if Tony, when… when you get into college. Gosh… all those young college girls are going to be drooling over you. I'm going to have to beat them off with a stick! Don't you go joining any fraternities Tony!" she laughed as they continued to walk down the aisles.
"Yeah… right. All the girls will just be lining up to date an ex-ball player, current housekeeper with a teenage daughter that could be their younger sister…" he said sarcastically.
"Oh they would be… trust me! So no frat parties unless you take me along as your chaperone!" she said with a laugh. They continued to walk through the bookstore; Angela picked up a few books, including The Outsiders and headed to the check out. Tony eyed a rare copy of Pride and Prejudice behind the counter and thought it would make a great gift for Angela. His heart sunk when he got close enough to read the price. He made a mental note if this whole college thing worked out and he actually had a job that paid more than a housekeeper's salary, he'd come back and get her a copy of the book.
They headed out of the store and kept exploring the town. They found a park at the end of the town square that overlooked a small lake. There were a few open benches along the shore as they sat down.
"This place is so beautiful! It's like right out of a novel or an old television show…" she said.
"Aunt Bea probably runs half the town!" he chuckled.
"I bet people come up here to get away from the busy city life. I wonder if people get married in that little church over there or in that gazebo at the edge of the lake" she said as she pointed to the small white church at the end of the street and then over to the wooden gazebo covered in ivy.
"I wouldn't be surprised. This would make a perfect spot to tie the knot…" he said as he absentmindedly started to run his fingers over her knuckles, stopping at her ring finger.
"Tony" "Angela" they both managed to say simultaneously, followed by nervous laughter.
"You go first…" he said.
"I know this relationship is still brand new between us, but where… where do you see us going?" she asked as she looked up at him.
"Other than back to Fairfield tomorrow morning…" he chuckled. "Well… I don't know Angela. For a while now, I've thought about where my life was going. I figured I wouldn't be your housekeeper forever but I never saw another pathway until we started talking about college. Maybe… maybe I could actually make something of myself. I don't know yet, but one thing has remained constant for a while now… I don't see a future without you in it…" he said as he gently moved some fallen hair from her face.
"I feel the same way Tony… I don't know where things may or may not take us, but I'm positive it's going to take us there together. I… I love you Tony. I love you with all my heart…" she said, tears forming in her eyes.
"I love you too Angela. I've loved you for a long time. I've been so afraid these last few years to ruin our friendship and our family that we've built that I've held back… but if loving you is going to ruin it, then I'm willing to…" he said as he leaned down and gave her a quick peck on the lips.
"Have you ever thought…" she said when he interrupted her.
"About us getting married?" he said as he finished her thought. He was doing that more and more these days to her astonishment.
"Yes… have you thought about us getting married?" she asked.
"I… well I…" he stuttered as he thought about whether or not he should give her the truth. "Yes, yes I have… ever since the Ferguson's wedding. How about you?" he asked.
"Really? I… I have too, ever since their wedding. You looked so handsome in your tuxedo. I kept having these visions of us being up there together, pledging our vows… kissing" she said as she leaned in for a kiss to make her point.
"So it looks like we are both on the same page with this one… it… it wouldn't matter to you to be marrying someone so outta your league it's not even funny, even if I wasn't your housekeeper?" he asked, starting to voice some of his biggest fears and insecurities.
"Oh Tony, I wouldn't care if you mowed lawns in Central Park! You are a provider to our family in about a million different ways that money can't buy or be measured. You are starting this whole new journey with college- the sky is the limit! The world is your oyster! Or any other cliche that fits!" she laughed.
"If the world is my oyster, I think I've found my pearl…" he said as he leaned down for another kiss. This one nearly left them breathless and at risk of indecent exposure.
"I think I've done enough exploring of this town for a bit… how about we head back to the place to… relax…" he said as he gave her one last kiss.
"You don't have to ask me twice… Anthony…" she said with a smirk as they got up and headed back, walking slightly faster than they had on the trip there.
Back at the hotel, Mona was planning out just how to make them pay for not only most likely lying to her about whatever was going on between Tony and Angela but for leaving her with the kids for a whole weekend. Both kids seemed to have lost their minds being away from their parents. Jonathan was like a bull in a china shop, running up and down the hallways. She came in to tuck them both in last night to find they had ordered over a hundred dollars worth of desserts from room service.
As both kids were still sleeping off their sugar comas, Mona decided to do a little detective work. She was able to find Carmela's phone number and put step one of her plan in action.
"What?" yelled Mrs. Rossini as she answered the phone.
"I see your phone greetings are about as pleasant as your actual company Carmela…" quipped Mona.
"Oh Mona! Sorry! I was thinking it was Joey! That lowlife son of mine owes me money and has been avoiding me like the plague!" she yelled.
"Smart guy…" she said under her breath.
"So why are you calling me this early on a Saturday? Oh no… what's wrong? Is it Tony? Did something happen? Tell me!" she shouted.
"Calm down Carmela! Tony is fine! I… I wanted to know where you got that bottle of alcohol for Angela for her birthday a few years back. I was thinking of getting it for her again" she said. Mona figured it was a win-win scenario- Angela hated that type of alcohol so if she got it again she'd get to pay doubly for this little scheme she was pulling off with Tony.
"Of course! I can send a bottle back with Tony the next time he's in Brooklyn. Speaking of… tell that lousy bum he needs to come visit me soon! It's been ages!" said Mrs. Rossini.
"Oh don't you worry… I plan on reading him the riot act…" said Mona with a satisfied smile as she hung up the phone.
After another two rounds of losing themselves as friends, Angela and Tony fell asleep for a few hours. They woke up curled into one another.
"I'm getting way too comfortable waking up in your arms Tony…" she said as she kissed the muscles on his chest.
"You and me both! I think I need to spend some more time in Brooklyn!" he chuckled as his hand gently stroked her hair.
"So what should we do? It's almost four… we could do an early dinner. I made reservations at the restaurant right by the waterfront for eight but I could see about changing it" she said.
"Nah… keep it for then. Maybe we can get some snacks and drinks. Even go for another walk while it's still light out…" he said.
"Sounds wonderful!" she said as she got up and started to get to get dressed. She stopped midway, feeling a set of eyes staring up at her from the bed.
"Can I help you?" she said as she paused, watching the desire in his eyes.
"Well you either have to get back in this bed or change in the bathroom… I'm hoping you choose the first…" he said with a smirk as his eyes roamed over her half naked body.
"You really are Italian…" she said as she walked back over to the bed. An hour later, they were finally changed and headed back out the door. They decided to go for a walk along a nearby trail. Angela had bought a new camera for herself a few months ago and decided to bring it along the trail.
"Let's get some photos Tony! The lighting is so pretty right now!" she said as she made Tony stand by the trees. He took some of her as the sun began to set. They stopped an elderly couple who was walking down the path and asked to get some photos of the two of them.
"You two make a wonderful couple! How long have you been married?" asked the woman as her husband handed back over the camera.
"We're actually engaged but we've known each other for almost four years" said Angela as she grabbed onto his arm.
"Oh how wonderful! I hope you have a lifetime of love and happiness! And of course the pitter patter of little feet!" said the woman as her husband just shook his head, pulling her back down the path.
"Geeze… everyone loves to plan your life for ya! I mean what if we didn't want more kids! Or couldn't have 'em?" he asked as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"I know! It's such a rude question to ask…but since it's out there and we've already talked about marriage, have you thought about having more kids?" she asked as they headed back down the path.
"Well, Marie and I always wanted a big family. She had this idea of us having like four of five kids! After Samantha, she revised that number to two or three! She's didn't have the easiest pregnancy, horrible morning sickness, swollen feet and overall feeling miserable for nine months! We waited until Sam was four before we started thinking about another but by then, she started to get sick. So… how about you?" he asked.
"Michael wasn't thrilled about Jonathan, let alone having anymore. I think that's a big reason I threw myself into my work- avoiding thinking about what I couldn't have. I would have loved to have given Jonathan a sibling though… well in a way I did when you moved in with Samantha…" she said.
"That's true… I think of Jonathan like he's my son. So in a way we both kinda got what we wanted…" he said, a touch of sadness in his voice.
"I bet we'd make beautiful babies… if we ever had the opportunity that is…" she said as she held onto his arm a little tighter.
"That we would, that we would…" he said as they headed back towards the bed and breakfast. They picked up a bottle of wine and some cheese and crackers to snack on in the room before showering and getting ready for dinner. Tony called to check on the kids just before heading out.
"It sounds like we are gonna get hell when we get back tomorrow! I could hear the kids screaming in the background, jumping on the bed… yet Mona sounded eerily calm and composed on the phone. Something's up…" he said.
"Oh that can't be good… you don't think she suspects something do you?" she asked, panic in her voice.
"No way! She thinks you're at a work thing and I'm in Brooklyn! She's probably planning on pawning them off on a staff for the night so she can go on a date…" he said.
"Oh you're right Tony! It's got to be that! So… how do I look?" she asked as she turned around and walked towards him. She was wearing long sleeve, backless navy blue dress with a low cut front. She had decided to put her hair into an updo, with some loose curls falling to the side of her face.
"You look beautiful Angela! I hope dinner doesn't last too long… dessert will be waiting back here…" he said with a smirk, causing her to laugh.
"You clean up pretty well yourself, if I do say so myself…" she said as her eyes looked him up and down, taking in his dark gray suit, white collared shirt and matching tie.
"Shall we?" he asked as he helped her into her shawl and headed out the door. They arrived a few minutes early for their reservation and were seated by the window overlooking the water. The waiter came and took their drink and food order, coming back out a short while later with their drinks.
"Here's to us… may this be the start of many more wonderful times together…" she said.
"Here's to the most beautiful, sexy, smart, funny and sophisticated woman I've ever met…" he said as they clinked glasses. The waiter brought out their appetizers followed by their main courses a short while later. They both enjoyed each other's company and were soon ready to head out.
"There's an old fashioned ice cream parlor that's still open! You up for a scoop or two?" she asked.
"I think I could find room!" he chuckled as they walked over, placing their order. Angela got two scoops of butter brickle in a cone while Tony got two scoops of mini chocolate chip. They walked back over to the waterfront and sat down on one of the benches.
"Hmmm… this is delicious! Here try some!" she said as she tried to hand him her cone.
"I've got a better idea…" he said as he leaned in and captured her lips with his own.
"My new favorite flavor…" he said as he gave her another kiss.
"Is it bad I don't want to leave tomorrow? I feel like I could stay up here with you forever…" she said as she went back to her ice cream.
"I know Angela… I have no idea how I'm going to go back to pretending we are just friends or worse just employee and employer! Now that I know what I've been missing these past few years, I feel like I'm not going to be able to sleep!" he laughed.
"Maybe we should think about starting to tell the family. I'm sure they will be over the moon we finally took Jonathan's advice and had sex anyway…" she laughed.
"Do you think he had any idea what he was saying back then?" he asked as he finished his ice cream.
"I sure hope not! But then again, he's Mona Robinson's grandson so…" she said as she rolled her eyes.
"Well either way, I think they will be happy about it but I kinda like the sneaking around part. Maybe let's hold off a few more weeks. We have the fair in Brooklyn in two weeks that we promised Mrs. Rossini we would help out. Maybe we can test the waters there with a dance and see how hard eyes roll and mouths drop!" he laughed.
"Hmmm… dancing in your arms sounds wonderful. It's my favorite thing to do with you… well second favorite thing…" she said with a wink.
"Speaking of… round two of dessert awaits us…" he said as he stood up and led her back to the room.