Post Hit the Road Chad – Season 3
Ray Charles and his chauffeur were gone, but the emotion of the evening was still palpable. The endorphins from the music and dancing, the adrenaline from Sam and Angela's reconciliation, and the nostalgia of Tony's reminiscence with Ray continued to waft through the house hours after the inhabitants scattered to their individual spaces. So, when Angela came down the stairs at 11:45, she saw the family as they had been hours earlier, singing and dancing at the piano as Ray played hit after hit. Then she looked over and recalled Ray and Tony on the couch, swapping tall tales about their youth as they had been doing when she'd come down from tucking Jonathan into bed a few hours earlier. Superimposed over that companionable image, though, were the heartbreaking shadows of her angry exchange with Samantha earlier in the day. It was a regrettable scene she would carry with her for a long time.
But now, the living room was dark, save for a thread of light from the kitchen that called her like a beacon. She couldn't know for sure, but she'd bet her Jaguar she was going to find Tony behind the swinging door.
Neither seemed surprised to see the other when Angela peaked in. "Want some company?" she asked as she stepped into the room.
"Of course," Tony replied, pulling out the nearest chair and offering her the spoon and bowl of ice cream he was eating.
Not one to refuse Rocky Road, Angela accepted with thanks.
"What a day, huh?" Tony began, figuring she was as wired as he was.
"No kidding. I tried to sleep but just kept singing 'Hallelujah, I Love Her So' in my head."
"I can relate," he mumbled, almost inaudibly. She passed the ice cream back to him. It didn't occur to either one to get another spoon and bowl. He took a spoonful and then continued, "I can't believe I actually got to meet the Ray Charles and watch a private concert in my – your – living room."
"Our living room," she corrected.
He met her eyes and nodded, amazed as always at the complexities of their household dynamics.
As if reading his mind, she continued, "Speaking of ours," she began tentatively, "I'm not quite sure if I should thank you or apologize for what happened with Sam this afternoon."
He looked at her quizzically, "What do you mean?"
Angela put the ice cream aside and clasped her hands, studying them with focused intensity.
"It's just, in all the time you and Sam have been here, we never really discussed our role with each other's child. I mean, it's never really been a problem, and I want you to know I appreciated your support today, but I would also want to know if you thought I overstepped."
Tony covered her hands with his. "You didn't overstep."
She nodded, grateful to hear him say it. "But I could have – or I might in the future. Tonight made me realize how entwined our parenting has become, and maybe that's something we need to acknowledge, to make sure we're okay with it."
For a moment, Tony was tempted to dismiss her concerns as overreaction, but something told him to consider her words and feelings. It couldn't hurt to make sure they were on the same page. "We've always just figured things out as we went along. I know we had a few issues early on when Jonathan was getting into some trouble, but nothing since then, right?"
"Right," Angela readily agreed, "I think we've done a pretty good job, given our unorthodox situation." She paused, then decided she had to make her position clear. "Tony, Sam has become like a daughter to me." It was the first time she'd ever spoken the words aloud. "But I suspect, as she gets older, there will be more disagreements between us, and more times when I may have to make a decision she doesn't like."
"Jonathan and I will probably have similar moments," Tony reasoned.
Angela nodded but clarified. "True, but some things are different with teenage girls. And it's just important to me that you understand I know I'm not her mother, or stepmother, and I never want to undermine your role as her father."
Tony could hear the sincerity in her voice and was deeply touched by her self-awareness. "I don't care what your official role is in her life, there is no one I trust more than you to act in Sam's best interest – even when she might not like it."
"Thank you, Tony.," Angela said, wiping tears from her eyes. "I hope you know I feel the same about you and Jonathan."
"It's good to hear it," he conceded.
"Do you think this is something we should talk about with them – to explain all this?" Angela asked.
Tony considered her question. "Maybe," he reasoned, "if they know we're a united team – in a manner of speaking – they won't try to play us against each other."
"Like Jonathan did when he called me at work that time."
Tony nodded, "Exactly, except the stakes are going to get higher as they get older."
They both found themselves contemplating the formal addition of a new dimension to their relationship: co-parents.
"It's important that we support each other and give each other the benefit of the doubt," Tony paraphrased.
"Right," Angela agreed. "We've got two kids who need to know there are two parents in this house who are working together to raise them with integrity, cooperation …"
"... and love," Tony finished pointedly.
Their eyes locked and held as Angela nodded deliberately. "And love," she confirmed softly, wondering to herself if they were still talking about their children.
"So how about I make some waffles for breakfast tomorrow morning, and we sit them down for a little chat?" Tony suggested, "And we let them know we're in this together. Sound good, partner?"
"Sounds great," she confirmed, as the bonds of their family tightened once again.