An Annulled Annulment

If it Quacks Like a Duck

Reaching the car, Angela tried to regain her composure wondering how it was that her mother could always be so perceptive to all things sex related. How could she face her in the office today, she wondered? How could she warn Tony before Mona somehow got a hold of him? There was no way out of this situation! Her mother knew and it was only a matter of time before she confronted them both or worse yet, found out about their other little secret.

Okay, she thought, they could possibly explain the sex part; they got caught in the moment, they finally gave into years of built-up sexual tension, they finally admitted they loved each other. Ya, it was okay, she would be thrilled for them and maybe give them the time and space they needed to adjust to it all without any more pressure. But them not annulling their marriage, now that was another issue all together. That changed the whole dynamic of their family, that was a huge deal. Tony didn't want anyone to know till they could be properly engaged and married. This was not good. This part couldn't be explained.

She began to hyperventilate, sitting in the car, as all these thoughts raced through her mind. "I gotta go, I gotta get out of her," she said to herself! "Calm down Angela, get a hold of yourself," she shook her head, "There is no way she'll find out about the non-annulled, annulment. It's impossible!"

Finally convincing herself to go on into the city and meet with Mr. Hamilton, her fake morning meeting she had to at least make an effort to make real, Angela proceeded into Manhattan and her uncertain day.

Satisfied and proud of the shock she gave her daughter with her morning revelation, Mona floated into the office ready to face the day and get the details of her daughter's unconfirmed rendezvous. Checking her messages, she was disappointed to find one from Angela stating she wouldn't be in, with a phony excuse of meeting clients all day.

Ha, good excuse, she thought, "You can't hide from me forever!" She whispered to herself. "I'll catch you my pretty," she laughed," And your little lover boy too!"

Hours ticked by as Mona fielded call after call for Angela, making excuse after excuse as to why she wasn't in the office or available, "I'm sorry, Mr. Charles, Angela is in a meeting. I'm sorry Mr. Henry, Angela is out of the office today. I'm sorry Mrs. Reed, Angela is on an international call and will be a while." On and on all day, call after call, Mona fielded each with one with a different message until the one call she didn't expect rang through about a quarter to four.

"Bower Agency, can I help you?"

"Angela Bower please?"

"I'm sorry, Ms. Bower isn't in at the moment, can I take a message?"

"Yes, this is Ms. Foster with the Internal Revenue Services, please have Ms. Bower return my call immediately."

"Oh hi, Ms. Foster, this is Mona Robinson, Angela's mother, we met the other day, anything I can help you with? Did everything get taken care regarding their little situation?" She snickered.

"Hello Ms. Robinson, no, I'm afraid not. It appears that Ms. Bower and Mr. Micelli did not file the paperwork to annul their marriage as they said they were going to, so I need to speak to them immediately so I can update my investigation and find out what their intentions are with their tax bill. Need I remind them that interest and penalties are being accrued every day until this is resolved." She spat.

Trying to process what the snooty IRS agent had just divulged, Mona questioned, "Did you say that they didn't file for an annulment?"

"That's correct!"

"Well, well, the plot thickens," she whispered.

"Pardon me?" Ms. Foster questioned.

"Oh, never mind, never mind!" Mona quickly retorted. "Say, Ms. Foster, why don't you come by the house later this afternoon, I'm sure we can get this all situated and straighten out!"