A/N: It's another party. We'll get back to focusing on our main characters soon.
Chapter Twenty-Five: Shower for Two
Saturday, May 23, 1987
"Nice neighborhood," the driver commented. "Lots of trees." It was the kind of small talk that his passengers could either respond to or comfortably ignore. These two ignored him. Red eye arrivals usually didn't talk much. Some dozed against the window, leaving marks on both the glass and their faces.
"They're probably still asleep," Natalie worried, looking out at the quiet street from the backseat. It was ten minutes to seven in the morning. What kind of lunatic would be up that early on a weekend? They passed a jogger, then slowed as the driver found the address he'd been given.
"They're expecting us," Linda reminded her daughter. Not only had the Micellis invited them to stay at the house, but Angela had also arranged a car service to pick them up. Linda fretted about whether to ring the doorbell or knock. After a nearly sleepless night on the full flight from Phoenix, both options were daunting.
The engine was cut, and the sedan's back door opened. Linda and Natalie stood on the sidewalk and gawked at the house while the driver retrieved their bags from the trunk. The jogger sprinted toward them, and they realized his face was familiar. Their old neighbor had this man's features, but not his open authenticity. Bobby Moretti was more guarded, even after a year of sharing a fence.
"Mornin'," Tony panted. "Welcome to Connecticut! Let me get those bags," he offered, dismissing the driver with a quiet "Have a nice day."
"Thank you," Linda murmured.
"Thanks," Natalie echoed.
"How was the flight?" he asked, leading them to the front door. He pulled a key out of his pocket and opened it.
"Rough," Natalie said with a grimace. Her mother simply nodded in agreement. She was swaying on her feet, staying conscious through willpower alone.
"Do you need coffee or sleep?" Tony asked once they were inside. "Jonathan's at his dad's, and I have his room made up for you. Angela was still out cold when I left. She had trouble sleeping last night."
"I'd love to lay down for a couple of hours," Linda begged.
"Say no more." He took both of their bags and led them upstairs to Jonathan's room. Although the three of them were quiet, Sam heard and crept out into the hall.
"These two need to get some rest, sweetheart," Tony warned, but Natalie was already lifting Sam in an enthusiastic hug.
"Nat can bunk with me," Sam told her dad.
"Is that ok, Mom?"
"Uh huh, it's fine," Linda shrugged. "I wouldn't mind stretching out."
The girls retreated into Sam's room while Tony got Linda situated. He poked his head back into the primary bedroom, where Angela was lying awake making long passes over her belly through her cotton nightgown. "They're getting some more rest," he told his wife.
"Come in here," she demanded. "Back in bed."
"I stink," he warned her.
"I'm used to it," she said with a lazy smirk.
He closed the door quietly, peeled off his sweats, and climbed under the covers. "Baby still kicking you in the ribs?" he asked, curling up on his side to face her.
"No, she's asleep right now. I was just a little itchy." It had become more and more difficult to get enough rest between the physical discomfort and the anxiety she experienced as her due date drew near.
"You should go back to sleep, too." He stroked her hair and hummed a lullaby as she closed her eyes and smiled contentedly. She imagined him shirtless and clean, rocking their baby, and singing her to sleep.
"Love you," she mumbled, resting her forehead on his sternum.
"I love you, too, Ange," he replied, feeling her exhale through his chest hair. He tugged the covers up around them and sank into her narcotic feminine scent. The only thing better would be holding their baby between them and pressing a kiss to her sweet little head.
Across the hall, the girls were too excited to actually get any rest. They sat cross-legged on Sam's bed and quietly caught up on all of the mundanities of their lives. "I'm so glad you're here," Sam said. "My friends from before are cool, but it's not the same. Marci and Bonnie don't get me anymore. Maybe they never did. They've always lived here and they've never worried about money."
"I missed you, too. It's no fun since you moved away," Natalie agreed. She didn't quite understand the social and class divides but feeling like a misfit was a universal experience.
"Nat, I've been thinking about the future." Sam pushed the pad of her index finger against her lips, almost as if to keep her interior thoughts from escaping her mouth.
"Yeah?" she yawned. "And?"
"I've been figuring out what I want to do and making plans for my life," she continued enigmatically.
Natalie collapsed in exaggerated frustration and stared up at the ceiling. "Just tell me what you have up your sleeve, Sam!"
"Alright. I found a prep school with an accelerated program that would get me a diploma in three years."
"Prep school? Where?" Natalie asked. East Coast kids were a different breed, she decided.
"Not too far from here. I could live in the dorms."
"That sounds expensive," Natalie pointed out pragmatically. She was used to being the more comfortable of the two, but her mom barely made ends meet as a single parent. "What do your parents have to say about it?"
"I haven't said anything to them yet. Angela lived away full-time for a couple of years in high school and graduated early, so I'm pretty sure she'll be in my court. My dad won't like it, but he's already so busy with school and the baby's going to need attention. It'll be easier for them when I'm away," she rationalized.
"Can you wait until the baby is born?"
"No, I have to get my application in by the end of the month if I want to start this Fall. Otherwise, I may as well go to Fairfield High."
"What about your friends? Are they applying, too?"
"Nat, my friends aren't smart. Marci already got rejected from the Montague Academy, and Bonnie thinks boarding schools are for construction workers."
"Oh." Natalie's eyes blinked closed for longer than she had intended and she fell silent.
Sam joined her old neighbor in laying back. She studied the texture in the white ceiling paint. "Where should we go to college, Nat?" she asked. There was no response. "Natalie?" She looked over and sighed. It was kind of her friend to make the cross-country trip just for a long weekend. She'd been on her best behavior for months, not wanting to give her mother any reason to refuse a visit. The same day mid-semester progress reports came out, a baby shower invitation showed up in the mail. It was kismet.
Mona was already busy in the kitchen when Sam arrived. "Good morning, good morning!" she sang. "I was wondering when someone would show up to help me."
"Is Ricky still at the hotel?" Sam asked, automatically going to the sink to wash up.
"He's having the time of his life," Mona confirmed. "You know it's every man's fantasy."
"Managing a hotel?" the teen asked skeptically.
"No, that's just my idiot brother. Every man dreams of being the hero to a beautiful woman in distress."
"I thought every man's fantasy was a vivacious redhead with killer gams," Sam giggled, elbowing Mona as she dried her hands.
The older woman put on a serious expression. "Male skulls are full of little pieces of colorful glass like kaleidoscopes," she annunciated. "It's a wonder they're able to function at all."
Sam laughed. "I'll keep that in mind. What are we making?"
"Cranberry-orange scones, lemon-lavender cookies, apricot tartlets, caprese skewers, watercress sandwiches, and prosciutto-fig chevre bites."
"No chocolate?"
"Your dad's got that covered. He made double fudge walnut brownies late last night."
"You're letting Dad be Mom's hero?"
"Bingo!"
The two worked diligently while the rest of the house slept in. Sam followed instructions without complaint, but Mona noticed that she was pensive. "So, who's the flavor of the month?" she asked, assuming boys were still top of mind. "Any dances or dates coming up?"
"I've been busy with school," Sam demurred.
"Prioritizing academics?!" Mona held her hands by her face in mock alarm, then put the back of her wrist to her granddaughter's forehead. "Are you unwell," she teased, "or have the pod people taken over?"
Sam shook her head and gave her a half-hearted chuckle. "No, boys my age are just so dumb and boring. Why bother?"
"What aren't you telling me, Samantha?" Mona regretted being away so long. "Do you have an older beau?"
"No," the teen said definitively. Something was weighing on her mind, and it was no use pretending otherwise. She'd have to share one of the secrets. The other was unconfirmed gossip, and Jonathan was expecting her to maintain his confidence. "I'll tell you, but you can't rat me out."
"Cross my heart and hope-ah to fly!" she said, putting on the Italian accent Tony used with his grandfather's signature phrase.
"OK." Sam took a big breath and let loose. "I'm applying to The Taft School. It's a three-year program, and then I can graduate and go to college early. The campus is only forty-five minutes away, so I was thinking I could stay on campus during the week and come home on the weekends—"
Mona interrupted. "When were you planning to talk to your parents about this?"
"Soon. Applications are due in a week."
Tony stood flabbergasted on the other side of the door. Coffee was no longer necessary, as his blood pressure had shot up dramatically. He wanted to barge in and throw Sam over his shoulder. Better she be locked in her bedroom than off to some fancy dorm. Maybe Angela could talk some sense into her. No, that would have to wait. She was already dealing with enough stress, and today would bring Nana, Mrs. Rossini, and Frankie into her home, along with their neighbors from Arizona and Isabel's doctor friends. He crept back upstairs with a mission to temporarily forget what he'd just heard.
Angela awoke alone again, just as she had during Tony's morning jog. His protective presence allowed her to let her guard down and she depended on him as she had never dared to depend on anyone else. Remembering that they had house guests and a gathering planned, she got up and started the shower.
"Mind if I join you?" a voice called over the low roar of the spray.
"You're always welcome," she told her husband, concealing her ulterior motives. It was becoming extremely difficult to shave her own legs, and she couldn't stand wearing pantyhose over her swollen belly. "Is anyone else up?" she asked, raking her eyes down his solid form.
"Mona and Sam are baking. Linda and Natalie are still asleep. Why?"
Angela shrugged with a small hum of feigned indifference and entered the spray. "Come," she invited, making sure he got the message. If she was going to experience a forceful letdown like she had been lately, she preferred the shower to making a mess in her bra. Twenty minutes later, Tony was running a razor up her calf as she sat with a towel wrapped around her upper body. Their passionate interlude had successfully distracted him, and he didn't mind helping her with the more challenging parts of her routine.
Wendy arrived two hours before the party to decorate and set up the games, enlisting Linda and Natalie to assist with hanging banners. Once the bulk of the work was done, Wendy surveyed the space and consulted her task list. Diapers marked with numbers covered the coffee table. A basket of clothespins sat by the front door. Lengths of pink and blue ribbon were tucked into organza pouches. Angela's office held favors and prizes for later. Isabel arrived fifteen minutes early with Marci, who ran off with Natalie and Sam. Finally, flutes of pink lemonade and champagne were poured and placed on trays just before the party was to begin.
Tony made himself scarce, opting to work on a paper in the campus computer lab and prepare for his finals at the library. The ladies had everything under control, he reminded himself. Luckily, he happened to run into a classmate and take part in an impromptu study session.
Frankie was the first guest to arrive, a few minutes early. She carried a plastic baby bathtub full of miscellaneous health and hygiene items for Angela and a pre-packaged trio of onesies for Isabel, whom she had not yet met. The invitation clearly stated that gifts were not expected and Wendy had told her the same thing when she called to RSVP. Shopping in the baby department was enjoyable, though. It was a little preview of things to come in her own life. And there was part of her still seeking Angela's approval.
Jonathan barged in unannounced with his dad's girlfriend following behind him. "Oh! I didn't expect to see you today, darling," Angela said.
"I just wanted to give you a hug and tell you to have a nice party, Mom" he said sweetly. "Gotta go. Dad's taking me to the pet store for supplies." The boy was gone as quickly as he arrived. He never let on that he was really there to see Jenny, and not otherwise interested in sticking around.
Wendy rushed over to greet Frankie. "Welcome! I can take those gifts off your hands. Would you like a drink? It sounds like you've got a ride, and we have plenty of bubbly on hand," she offered, hoping to mitigate the awkwardness of the situation.
"No thanks. I'm cutting back," she said, consciously stopping herself from touching her midsection.
"We've also got lemonade," Wendy informed her. "Help yourself," she said, jerking her head toward the tray of pre-poured drinks. She deposited the gifts by the fireplace and scampered back to the door.
"It's good," Frankie said, nervously sipping the beverage. She congratulated and chatted with Isabel while Mona and Angela consulted about something to do with the food.
Jenny arrived next, greeting the familiar adults formally. "Dr. Ferguson, Mrs. Micelli, Mom," she said, nodding in turn. "Ms. Candino, it's a pleasure. I've heard so much about you." She practically curtsied.
Frankie was taken aback by the precocious girl. She was saved from thinking up an appropriate comeback by the lady of the house. "Sweetheart, could you go up to Sam's room and ask her and her friends to come down?" Angela requested. Jenny saluted in response. She was an odd kid alright, but she obviously had a good heart, just like Jonathan.
When Mrs. Rossini entered the house, she immediately made her way to the kitchen to assist, much to Mona's annoyance. Dr. Williams and Dr. Fitzhugh got there next and started in on the champagne as soon as they set their gifts down. Veronica met the other party guests and nursed one glass, hesitant about drinking in front of her boss. She had only accepted a permanent role at Ballantine and Micelli a few days earlier.
Bonnie's arrival set off another round of girly giggles. Natalie was struck by how sweet and naive she was. Bonnie and Marci weren't the hardened New Yorkers the visiting teen was expecting. All four did their best to include Jenny and avoid saying anything inappropriate in front of the younger girl.
Christy and Nana were the last to show. "I'm sorry we're late," Christy told her cousin, even though it was their grandmother's fault.
"Please have a refreshment," Wendy offered. The champagne wasn't moving nearly as fast as she had predicted.
"No thank you. I'm driving," Christy said in a near monotone.
"Oh, you're the bride!" Wendy remembered. "How are you liking married life?"
Nana interrupted. "Is it any good?"
"Huh?" Wendy asked, startled by the question. For a moment, she thought Mrs. Reynolds was inquiring about the honeymoon activities. Christy didn't say a word. She wasn't accustomed to anyone taking an interest in her.
"Is the champagne any good?" Nana repeated slowly. "Please don't tell me it's demi-sec. Or are you passing off sparkling wine?"
"Um, it's real champagne. From France. Brut," Wendy said defensively. Geoffrey had plucked the bottles from his family's cellar, failing to mention their high value. His girlfriend's two best friends expanding their families was as special an occasion as he could envision. Almost. A unique bottle was set aside for his engagement.
Mona picked up two flutes and shoved one into her mother's hand. "I'd ask if you were a mean drunk, but I doubt you could be any worse than you are sober. Cheers."
The party was controlled chaos from beginning to end. Mrs. Rossini pinched the cheeks of every young girl and touched Angela and Isabel's bellies freely. It may have given her an advantage when it came to the ribbon game. She cut her blue ribbon just half an inch shy of Isabel's girth and her pink ribbon to almost exactly Angela's measurement, easily winning that game and a set of beautiful blank notecards. Dr. Williams scored a nice pen for second place after a stealthy hug for each of the expectant mothers.
Bonnie was a savant at recognizing which candy bar was melted onto each diaper. She held up the specimens in turn and named the attributes that gave rise to every correct answer. "Don't feel weird about sniffing the diapers!" she coached the ladies shamelessly.
"Your prize," Wendy said, turning over a small box with a flourish.
"Ooh, a baby-powder-scented candle? Darn! Here you go, Mrs. Reynolds," she said, offering a small item to the older woman. "I have to get to the Landons' to babysit. Darn, I did it again!" Throughout the gathering, clothespins had changed hands every time someone uttered the word "baby." Nana declined to play at first, but, like Bonnie, the other guests voluntarily relinquished their clothespins until eighty percent of the supply was clipped onto the hem of her sweater.
"I'm calling it," Wendy announced, retrieving the last prize.
"Bye Bonnie!" the party guests sang out in a staggered chorus.
"Bye everyone!" Bonnie responded cheerfully. Wendy put a small gift bag in front of Nana and waited for her to look inside.
"A baby-bottle bottle opener keychain?" Nana scoffed at the item. "What am I supposed to do with this?" she asked, tossing it on the table.
"I'll take it if you don't want it," Frankie offered.
Angela glanced over, momentarily jealous of this beautiful, trim woman who had a thriving career, understood sports, and reportedly drank beer from the bottle. Of course, Michael was madly in love with Frankie. Of course, he was willing to grow roots for her. No, that wasn't fair. He had changed his lifestyle for Jonathan, and this stable relationship was merely a pleasant side effect. Angela reminded herself that she was happy, too, much happier than she had ever been with Michael, even when he was more attentive. She was still jealous about the beer, though. Eight months without a drink will do that.
"I have one more gift for each of my best friends," Wendy announced. She had obtained permission for the stunt she was about to pull on behalf of Angela and Isabel. The guests murmured in surprise, thinking all of the presents were already opened. Wendy handed a rolled up fleece blanket in pink to Angela and one in blue to Isabel. The women simultaneously opened the baby blankets to reveal personalization. "Thank you all for coming out to celebrate Callista Nicole Micelli and Timothy Doyle Ferguson!"
With the party's end telegraphed, guests began saying goodbye. Isabel drove away with Marci and her mildly intoxicated physician friends, promising to come back for her gifts the next day. Frankie excused herself to call Michael for a ride home. Mona was busy in the kitchen wrapping up leftovers and avoiding her mother, but it was hardly a sensitive personal conversation. When Frankie hung up, the redhead pounced. "When are you due?" she asked, casually popping a cherry tomato into her mouth.
"Due for what?" Frankie responded with the cool demeanor she'd honed in the courtroom.
"Due to give my grandson another sibling," Mona replied, not mincing words. "How did Michael take it when he found out?"
Frankie sighed. She'd heard her boyfriend's former mother-in-law was highly attuned to the relationships of people around her. "I'm due December tenth. It wasn't a surprise," she said stridently. "We both want this child. Michael is very happy, and so am I."
"Congratulations," Mona said sincerely. Although Frankie was overselling the story, it rang true.
"Just out of curiosity, how did you know?" Frankie always sought constructive criticism. She needed to know her 'tells' to improve her negotiation and litigation skills.
"You didn't have any champagne or prosciutto. Besides, you're glowing."
"I am?" A shy smile began to spread across her face.
Mrs. Rossini burst into the kitchen sensing gossip. "Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Mona complained as Frankie excused herself to the powder room, feeling a wave of nausea.
"I wanted to stick around to see Jonathan," Mrs. Rossini said defensively. "What happened to your fiancé? He come to his senses and run?"
"He's in the city helping my brother manage his new hotel," Mona explained. "We're still going strong, unlike the kind of people who languish in a loveless marriage for decades." The jab wasn't intended to cause real damage.
Mrs. Rossini gasped. "Joe loves me. He does! He just has a weakness for other women," she said mournfully, exiting to the living room. Mona decided to leave the sore spot alone instead of following her.
Wendy and her crew took down the decorations in record time. Christy and Jenny joined Linda, Natalie, and Sam, joking and horsing around while they dismantled the party. Angela sat and chatted with Nana, suspecting that she wouldn't be visiting again any time soon.
When Michael arrived, Jonathan was subjected to cheek pinches and a smothering embrace from Mrs. Rossini. Michael greeted his former grandmother-in-law from afar. "Nana, it's been a few years."
"I see you've had no trouble replacing your latest ex-wife. The new girl seems sturdy and bright. Are you sure you can handle her?"
"Judgmental as ever. When are you going home?" Michael kept his tone cordial and glanced at Jonathan, who was chatting with Christy.
"Tomorrow, first thing in the morning. I've had my fill of America." In truth, Nana felt that her three children and two grown granddaughters had had enough of her. Archie was the first to give up. He'd joined her for breakfast the morning after the wedding and then drove back to Maine. Cornelius and Angela had carved out time during the week, but they were both busy at their respective businesses. A dinner with Christy and Lyle seemed more promising. Ultimately, though, they were so wrapped up in each other that they hardly looked her way. And with Claire, a mutual grudge made any further interaction a non-starter.
"Familiarity breeds contempt," Michael responded. Like his own parents, Nana only cared for her relations when they fell into line. He had far more respect for Mona's oppositional attitude, which was rooted in concern for others. In his peripheral vision, he caught Frankie leaving the powder room. "Jonathan, say goodbye," he said.
The boy hugged Christy warmly, then stood in front of his great grandmother. "Can we come see you sometime?" he asked.
"Perhaps," Nana said noncommittally. She wouldn't mind a visit from Jonathan and Angela but had no interest in spending time with the other family members.
"Thank you for including me," Frankie said to Wendy. She gave Angela a tentative hug. "I enjoyed meeting all your friends."
"We should be going, too," Wendy said. "Jenny? Where'd you go?" she called.
Mona and Jenny came in from the kitchen and said their goodbyes to Nana and Jonathan, respectively.
Later that night, Ricky and Tony made dinner while the ladies watched Splash together. Angela and Linda anchored the couch, while Natalie and Sam flanked Mona and Libby in between. The family resumed their Tom Hanks double feature after eating together. The men sat in opposing chairs and propped their feet up while the ladies got comfortable on the couch. One-by-one, each of them fell asleep during the first hour of Nothing in Common. It had been a long day.