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A reluctant grin tugged at her hter is et that fro a kiss to Mah
"You, of course," her hed, then bent toin her mother’s ear that made her blush
Little Tony squirrandpa with his toys, looking for soinary car crashes Bella started fussing, and Gia’s mother took the baby froaze bounced back and forth between her parents, see to look for any other objections he could stop before they began Honestly, Gia couldn’t believe they weren’t ry In fact, they hadn’t really protested much at all Oh, they’d have words later, but she’d been sure the announcement would immediately cause World War III So far…no
Of course she was pleasantly surprised, but what the hell was that about?
A harried waitress canized that the blonde was new She smiled and asked for their order as Nick, the Delvecchio’s son, brought the bottle of red wine she’d asked for
"Thank goodness," Gia ave Jason a speculative stare
The second her glass was full, she took a long s and downed half Gia still couldn’t relax She kept waiting for the other shoe to drop
Dad opened his gifts with thanks and smiles aplenty He loved what she’d picked for him Wine flowed Food came Mila actually looked happy Little Tony sidled up to Jason and wanted to play cars with him Her husband was patient and attentive, and Gia watched, falling a little more in love with him every moment
By the ti Jason jokes Hers her in Jason’s arave hiirl eyed Jason with an avid brown stare, then placed her little hand on his chin with a giggle He grinned back
Gia breathed through a sting of tears He looked natural with children He ht have a ruthless bastard side, but he would also be a fierce protector ould move heaven and earth for his kids When Jason caressed Bella’s head, she also knew he’d be a giving but firm father--exactly like her own
As the waiter took their food away, Jason engaged Mila in conversation about the kids and their habits
Her mother rose from the table and kissed Dad, then turned to her with a pointed glance "Why don’t we go to the ladies’ roo exactly, and Gia knew the woht behind you"
Jason watched as she rose, his expression bolstering her Yes, she could handle whatever happened with her fa it up in her head to a terrible confrontation that siive her a shove She’d wanted to wait until she "knew" they would last to uarantee of forever It hadn’t been fair to him
She’d retted
As Gia and hercrowd to the restrooms, she felt Jason’s eyes still on her But when they disappeared into the ladies’ room, her mother turned to her immediately
"You’ve been married nearly a year and didn’t tell us?"
Gia winced Her entle enough not to put so her mom’s determination for information now
"I didn’t knohat to say"
Her ht the truth would upset us?"
She should have realized Mah her "I know he’s not Enzo"
"Honey…" Her"You don’t love Enzo the way you love Jason"
"Yeah I wanted to for your sake, but…"
"Don’t I know your dad and I put a lot of pressure on you in the past, but Tony’s death made us realize that no one is assured a tomorrow We want every day you spend in this life to be a happy one Enzo doesn’t love you the way Jason does"
Well, since her husband didn’t love her at all, according to him, she wasn’t exactly sure how to reply to her h year, Mama I cut Jason out of iven me, why he wants me back, why he chosesomeone doesn’t scare you at least a little, then they don’t really"He chose you because you’re beautiful and giving, because you’re selfless and smart What more could he want?"
"Someone like him Someone raised in his circles with all the es it buys Hell, sometimes when he takes me out, I’m embarrassed that I don’t knohich fork to use"
"You didn’t fall for someone raised in your circles Do you love him less because he’s not Italian or a cop or Catholic? Because he knohich utensil to use when?"
"No" When her ht you ood if your father and I didn’t approve?" Marooht" She loved Jason too ain "It’s what’s in my heart that matters"
"Exactly Does he make you happy?"
"Yes, but we have some unresolved issues between us"
"Then work them out That’s what people who stay married do Talk Be as honest as you can Share your fears Give hiriot the phone call about Tony, I just…broke away I knew the faave up your happiness for Mila and the kids Did you ever think that adding another er? That maybe he could help you and lessen the burden for everyone?"
"No" And she saw it so clearly now that sorrow and guilt weren’t clouding her "I didn’t really give him a chance I just assumed he wouldn’t want to be knee-deep in diapers and baby vo reality of Tony’s death and Mila’s problems"