Hope for All- Chapter 15
Back at the clinic…
"I had a feeling you had a good holiday season!" the doctor laughed. "I've already had to tell a couple this week they were expecting- tis' the season as they say!"
Both Angela and Tony couldn't help but turn a bright shade of red. They were a mixture of about ten different emotions ranging from excitement over the news to embarrassment at the doctor's realization about conception to anxiety over how they were going to explain the baby to the family. Cycling through all the emotions, they kept coming back to excitement, so much so it was getting difficult to stay seated.
"I have a question doctor. Last month when I was in the emergency room, the doctor said the infection could have damaged my fallopian tubes making it very difficult to conceive naturally or with insemination. I think that's in part why neither of us thought much about getting pregnant" said Angela.
"The body works in mysterious ways. It wasn't a guarantee either way the infection caused any damage. If it did, it might have only been one side and if you ovulated on the other side, pregnancy would be possible, or in your case a reality. Once you give birth, we can do more testing to see if there was any damage, but that would be up to you" said the doctor.
"Not for nothing, things are obviously working, you know, down there, if she's pregnant right?" said Tony.
Both Angela and the doctor couldn't help but laugh at Tony's comment. "Yes Tony, things do appear to be working. If you wanted more children and couldn't conceive again naturally, I'd recommend testing. Anyway, Angela are you still taking the prenatal vitamins?" asked the doctor.
"Yes, I've been taking them the past few months. Will you continue to monitor the pregnancy until the eighth week or do I go back to my regular obstetrician?" asked Angela.
"I'd like to see you for the next three or so weeks. We will do an exam at the seventh or eighth week along with a sonogram to make sure the fetus is developing normally. Assuming all looks good, we will close you out and transfer you to your doctor. Have you been experiencing any symptoms yet? Morning sickness, tender breasts, mood swings?" asked the doctor.
"We all had the stomach flu at the beginning of the month but I didn't get sick until last week. It was only for a day or two but since then I haven't felt 100%. I think that's been it so far, wouldn't you say Tony?" asked Angela.
Tony looked over at Angela and thought about her outburst to Mona and then with him last night. Mood swings. Definitely mood swings. He remembered them with Marie and knew better than to call her out on them now or in the future. "Yeah I'd say that's about right" he said, looking away before he would let on to his lie.
"Try some saltine crackers and some ginger ale if the morning sickness gets worse. Other than that, make sure you take time to rest and you can keep to your normal routine for the most part. The nurses will give you some basic pregnancy pamphlets on the way out. There are some recommendations and things to avoid food wise that maybe be different since the last time you were pregnant. Any questions?" said the doctor.
Both Tony and Angela looked at one another and shook their heads no. The doctor escorted them out to the lobby, where the nurse congratulated them and provided them with the pamphlets. They walked out hand in hand until they exited the building. Once outside, Tony pulled Angela into an embrace and a passionate kiss, expressing all his love and excitement over their baby. Eventually they pulled back and walked to the car.
"Angela… we're having a baby! A little piece of me and you is growing right here" he said as he placed his hand gently over her stomach. Tears began to pool in her eyes as she placed her hand on top of his.
"I know Tony- I still can't believe it. The thought honestly never crossed my mind I could be pregnant. What are the odds of going through fertility treatments and then getting pregnant naturally without even trying?" she asked rather rhetorically.
"My guess is probably pretty good. And remember, not for nothing, I am Italian you know! My guys got the job done the old fashioned way!" he said rather cocky, causing Angela to laugh loudly.
"Look at the ego on you! Hey little one, your daddy thinks he's mister macho right now but let's remind him how macho he is when he's changing diapers and singing nursery rhymes in a few months" she said as she rubbed her stomach.
"Eh oh, oh eh! Nothing is more macho than a guy taking care of his kids! And not to mention, their gorgeous, beautiful, sexy mother. You've got that glow they always talk about women having- I can't believe I didn't see it before Angela. I'm so thankful we said what we said to each other before we found out about the baby. I meant every word I said then, but now even more" he said with tears in his eyes.
"Me too Tony, me too. And I want all of those things with you. But I think before anything else, we have to figure out how to tell the family. I figure this is all going to be a surprise for them, despite knowing the baby is something we were planning anyway. They will probably be happy we are together too, but how are we going to explain how this happened… naturally? Mother will have a field day for sure but the kids? We've worked so hard to set an example for them. I know it's a big reason why I've kept my feelings for you a secret for so long" she said.
"Yeah I know what you mean. I can almost hear Mona now "You should've tried that way first!" or something like that. The kids… I don't know how exactly they will take it, but at the end of the day, they were supportive of us trying to have a baby, so I know they will be excited. I think we tell them that this whole process brought us closer together over the past few months. We've been exploring our relationship and finally spoke out loud what we've known for years now, that we are in love with one another. And this baby is proof of our love" he said as he rubbed Angela's stomach.
"That was beautiful Tony" she said with tears now falling down her face. Tony quickly wiped them away.
"What if they want to know where we are going from here? Are we getting engaged and married before or after the baby? Will you move into my room? I mean it's obvious we have been… intimate, but do we wait until we are married? What are we going to tell people outside the family? Oh my goodness Tony, we thought the rumors were bad before, this is going to be ten times worse! What if…" Angela continued to anxiously ramble until Tony put a finger to her lips.
"Slow down there Angela! I know we have a lot to discuss and figure out, but it doesn't all need to be done today. First of all, I think we need to figure out what we want and don't want to say to the family tonight. Secondly, when we are both ready to start telling people, we tell them whatever we want and if there are rumors, so be it. We have each other and this new, wonderful little person out of our relationship and that's all that matters. And lastly, as for us, we both already said we want to get engaged and married, it's really just a question of when, which is probably the next big thing for us to discuss" he said as he tried to calm Angela's growing anxiety.
"You're right Tony. This is all so wonderful but overwhelming too. I've wanted this with you for so long, I just want to make sure everything goes smoothly, which I know isn't possible but the controlled, orderly part of me needs to have some form of control. How about we go home and we can talk some more?" she asked.
"I'm all about heading home right now, but talking isn't what is on my mind Angela…" he said seductively as he moved his hand from her stomach to her thigh.
"Tony! I think what's on your mind is why we need to talk…" she said with a laugh. "But I suppose there's time for both…" she said as she reached over and ran her hand through his hair. They came together for a moment, just looking at one another before entering into a deeply passionate kiss. Their kissing intensified as Tony leaned over the middle console so Angela didn't have to lean far. Their hands were all over each other, finding the overwhelming need to have as much close contact with each other as could possibly be managed in the confines of the car.
Reluctantly pulling apart after remembering they were very visible, parked in the jeep on a city street, Tony put the car in gear and headed home. The energy between them was at times so intense Tony had to refocus before he veered off the road. It was like all their restraint they had perfected over the past five years disappeared. The car was barely in the driveway in park before their hands were again all over each other, passionately kissing, groping and pulling at each other's clothes.
"I think we need to… to go into the house Tony" she said in between kisses. Tony pulled back quickly and practically leapt out of the car, leaving Angela sitting there confused. Before she could ponder what he was doing, Tony was at her side of the car opening the door, grabbing her hand to help her out of the car. Once they were both out of the car and by the front door, Tony fumbled with the keys and pushed open the door so hard it banged against the coat rack.
As soon as the door shut, they were back in each other's arms, engaged in what only could be described as making up for lost time. The house was empty as it was still early, but they decided to head upstairs just in case. Once upstairs and in Angela's room, any last shred of restraint fell away, along with most of their clothing.
Their lovemaking was beyond what they remembered. It was as though their expressions of love coupled with the news of the baby amplified their connection, their passion.
"Wow Tony… that was…" she started to say as she was at a loss for words.
"Out of this world, amazing, incredible, earth shattering… just to name a few" he said as he wrapped his arms around her body. His hand found her stomach and began rubbing gentle circles.
"I know we still have so much more to talk about and we will, but I don't think I can keep my eyes open much longer" she said sleepily.
"Shhh… you rest now. Remember, you're sleeping for two now!" he said as he grabbed the covers around them and pulled her gently into an embrace. It wasn't long until they both fell into a sound sleep.
Angela awoke a few hours later to an empty bed. For a moment, she thought it was all a dream. Disappointment overcame her until she looked around and saw some of Tony's clothing on the floor. A few moments later, Tony came in with a tray filled with their lunch and placed it next to Angela.
"I thought you'd be hungry when you woke up so I fixed us some lunch. I remembered to look at the pamphlet about what you can and cannot eat, so I knew what to include. I hope you like it Angela" he said.
"Oh Tony it looks delicious! I'm starving but I need to freshen up a bit" she said as she walked to the bathroom. A few minutes later, she walked back out in her pink bathrobe and sat down on the bed next to Tony. They started to eat in silence, both caught up in their own thoughts.
"You know Tony, I'm starting to get used to falling asleep in your arms. Those times you hold me as I fall asleep are the best sleeps I've gotten in a long time. Maybe… maybe we can start sharing a bedroom together?" she said quietly as she took another bite of her food.
"I'm not sure I could be away from you, well both of you, that long if I'm being honest. It's been hard enough these past few months as we've gotten closer being apart. Waking up next to you has felt so wonderful but also so… so normal, like we've been doing it forever. Remember when we woke up in Samantha's bed accidentally a few years ago?" he asked.
"How could I forget!" she laughed. "You're right though. It does feel right, it feels natural to wake up in your arms. I had that to some extent with Michael, at least in the beginning, but by the end of our relationship, or at least once Jonathan came along, that part ended. I've missed that intimacy" she said.
"I'd never let that happen Angela" he said as he moved closer to her on the bed. "If I have my way, I'll never let you go…" he said as he leaned in for a quick kiss.
Tony and Angela finished their lunch and decided to finish up some chores and work before the kids and Mona got home. They decided Tony would make a special dinner with some of the kids' favorites again. Tony decided separately to make Angela's favorite dessert, double fudge brownies. After dinner, they would tell the family about their relationship and then finally the baby.
Angela finished early and decided to help Tony with dinner. The kids were in the living room finishing up homework, when Mona walked through the back door.
"Hey Mona, what's up?" asked Samantha.
"My blood pressure that's what. I've had to… to actually do WORK today as my least favorite daughter played hooky again! Who does she think she is, me?" shouted Mona.
"Mom's in the kitchen helping Tony with dinner. She didn't look sick" said Jonathan.
"That's it! I'm going in there and give her a piece of my mind!"said Mona as she walked towards the kitchen.
"We're not missing this!" said Samantha as she and Jonathan were right behind Mona. Mona started to open the swinging door when she stopped, causing Samantha and Jonathan to bump into her back. She pulled the door back so all three could be hidden but still have a view into the kitchen.
Tony and Angela were at the kitchen counter by the sink. Angela was chopping up lettuce for the salad. Tony was right up against her side as he was cutting the Italian bread. Tony finished before Angela; he took one of his hands and placed it on her lower back, gently rubbing circles. He moved directly behind her and pulled her hair off her shoulders on the one side so her neck was exposed. He began kissing her neck as she continued to chop the lettuce. The intimate moment only last a few seconds, but three sets of prying eyes saw the whole interaction. They slowly closed the swinging door and backed up into the living room.
"Oh my god did you see that?" whispered Samantha. "It was just like the time we saw them kissing on the sofa!" said Jonathan.
"I knew something was going on! Oh boy do they have some explaining to do tonight! Making me actually work for weeks… no months, while they're acting like… like me!" said Mona.
"Before we go accusing them of something we don't know officially they are up to, let's see if they end up telling us first. Okay guys?" said Samantha.
"You're right Sam. I mean I don't like it and I plan on having some fun with this until they spill it, but you are right. Dinner should be ready soon, so let the waiting begin!" said Mona.
After a few minutes, Tony came through the swinging door and called everyone for dinner. They opted to eat in the dining room, which had eyebrows raised and smirks on their faces as Tony and Angela brought out the food, blissfully unaware of the family's behavior.
"So what's the occasion for us to be eating in the dining room? It's not Sunday or a holiday I'm not aware of, unless you count covering for my daughter as a holiday, which seems to be occurring more and more these days…" quipped Mona with a smirk.
"Eh oh, oh eh! We don't need a special reason to eat in here! Just wanted a change of scenery is all!" said Tony.
"Mother, thank you for covering for me these past few months. With all of these appointments, I know I haven't been around as much as I should be and I appreciate it. Well, I'm starving! Let's eat shall we?" she said.
The family ate dinner without any more interruptions from Mona. As they finished their meal, Tony and Angela gave each other a quick glance, signaling the start of their news. They agreed earlier that Tony would be the one to let them know about their relationship but Angela would break the news about the baby. Tony pulled his chair closer to Angela before he began to speak to the family.
"So, I wasn't exactly truthful earlier when I said there wasn't a special occasion we were celebrating. There is something Angela and I need to talk to you all about. You see, over the past few months, since Angela and I decided to work with the clinic, we have gotten… closer. We both realized things were changing in our relationship, but it wasn't until today that we let each other know how we feel about one another. I love Angela" he said as he looked over at Angela.
"So?" said Samantha. "Your point?" said Mona.
"No, you don't understand. I love Angela. Angela and I are in love, together" said Tony.
"Oh my god! That's wonderful! It's about time! Here we thought you were fooling around! I'm not so upset for you ditching work now that I know you've had a good reason!" quipped Mona.
"Mother! It's not like that! I've had appointments and testing to do that kept me away from work, you know that!" she said.
"So does this mean you are getting married?" asked Jonathan.
Tony and Angela looked at each other again and reached out to hold hands. "Nothing has been officially decided yet, but yes we will get married. I want her to make me the happiest guy in the world by becoming my wife. So yes, we will get engaged and get married" he said as he leaned in to kiss Angela. Once he pulled back from their kiss, they nodded and Angela began to speak.
"It was wonderful to finally speak our true feelings to one another. We actually had a really great conversation in the car before my appointment at the clinic. We decided that we wanted to put the treatments on hold for now and focus on us as a couple. We still want a baby very much, but we thought it would be best to put it off for a few months. So we went in for the appointment and met with the doctor, telling him our decision. He was very understanding as this happens from time to time. He reviewed my bloodwork from a few days ago and told us the results would have prevented us from doing any more procedures" said Angela as she looked at Tony and then the rest of the family.
Samantha, Jonathan and Mona all had on the same worried look Tony and Angela had on their faces earlier today. Angela and Tony both laughed as Angela continued to talk.
"Relax everyone! The reason I couldn't move forward with any more procedures is… is because I'm already pregnant. We are having a baby!" she practically shouted.
The three faces looking back at them were overcome with shock, their mouths hanging open and their eyes popping.
"What did you say? You're pregnant? Wait, did the procedure work last month? I thought you said it failed?" asked Samantha.
"It did fail…" said Angela, not knowing how to explain their intimate relationship to the family.
Mona was the first to come to the realization of what Angela was trying to say.
"Well, well, well… so you two have been busy! Let's see… if I do the math right, that was some New Year's Eve! Way to go Tony! I see you both finally figured out there was another way to have a baby, a better way, a much more fun and entertaining way…" said Mona as she was interrupted by Tony and Angela shouting her name.
"Wait I don't get it?" said Jonathan innocently.
"They finally took your advice Jonathan and had sex anyway…" said Mona with a laugh.
"Mother!" "Mona!"
"Ewww gross! I don't want to picture that!" said Samantha.
"Listen…we don't need to go into the specifics of our intimate relationship. Yes, this baby was conceived the old fashioned way and that's all anyone needs to know. This baby, whether conceived naturally or otherwise, is a part of all of us and proof of our love" he said as he placed his hand lovingly over Angela's stomach. Angela smiled at Tony's words, tears forming in her eyes as she placed her own hand over Tony's.
"We weren't planning on this and we were just as surprised this morning to find out about this baby as you all are now, but we are so very happy about this and once the shock wears off, we hope you all will too" said Angela as the tears could no longer be held back.
"Oh Angela, of course we are happy! A baby! Just make sure he or she doesn't call me Grandma too often alright?" said Mona.
"Finally I'll be the older one now and get to boss someone else around! It's about time!" said Jonathan.
"Oh this is so exciting you guys! I can't wait to tell Bonnie!" said Samantha.
"So it's still really early on. We don't want anyone else knowing about the baby until I'm further along. When we are ready to tell people, we will let you know. If you want to tell people about us as a couple, feel free to do so. We don't want to hide us anymore" she said as she leaned into Tony for a kiss.
"Are you two going to be all mushy and gross?" said Jonathan with a disgusted look on his face.
"You're so immature dweeb! Isn't this what we all finally wanted? To see them express their love for one another?" questioned Samantha.
"I guess. Just don't do it all the time alright?" he practically pleaded.
"I make no promises Jonathan!" laughed Tony.
"So when are you due Angela?" asked Samantha.
"We still have to meet with the doctor for an exam in the next few weeks but sometime at the end of September" said Angela.
Tony brought out dessert, to Angela's surprise and delight. The family continued to talk about the baby- arguing over if it will be a boy or a girl, who he or she will look like and potential names. Samantha could only come up with famous people's names, Jonathan with his friend's names and Mona with her own.
Tony and Angela smiled as they watched the family grow more and more excited about the baby.
Once dessert was over and the family went their separate ways for the night, Tony and Angela, both exhausted from the days excitement, walked up to bed together. No one seemed to blink an eye when they walked into Angela's bedroom and shut the door.
They both got ready for bed. Tony left to go get his pajamas as Angela finished getting ready. She stopped in front of her mirror and turned so her profile was in view. She placed one hand low on her abdomen and the other higher, pulling tight her nightgown. Her stomach was still flat, so there wasn't a bump.
Like she had done before, she grabbed one of her decorative pillows and placed it underneath her nightgown and placed her hands over the bump. Tony was standing in the doorway, watching her with a smile. Unlike last time, he wasn't frozen in place. He did what he wanted to do that first time he saw her that day and walked over to her, standing behind Angela. He too placed his hands on the bump.
"I never told you this Angela, but I saw you do this before, right before we started working with the clinic" he said.
"You did? How? When?" she asked him as she looked up at him.
"That day you told us about the clinic. When you got home from work to get changed, I was bringing up your laundry and I was about to knock to come in but the door was opened a bit. I didn't mean to spy on you, but once I saw you standing there looking pregnant, I couldn't move, even though all I wanted was to come in and have my way with you right then and there! It was like a lightbulb went off in my mind. It was the moment I knew I wanted this with you" he said as he leaned down for a kiss.
"Oh Tony!" she said as she started to cry. "I was thinking of you then too. I was picturing carrying our baby and it made me feel so happy. I can't believe this is really happening. And the family is just as excited as we are about our baby. Our baby- a little bit of you and me" she said as she removed the pillow and placed her hand on her own stomach.
"See Angela… I knew they'd be okay with it. I knew this would happen for us. We just had to have faith, had to have hope" he said as he embraced her in his arms and kissed her gently on the lips.