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Her father seemed to like that answer. A little smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “Good.”
“Happy birthday.” Jason set the present on the table between them.
Gia watched the exchange, stunned. Her father hadn’t growled or thundered? She turned to her mother, keenly aware of the woman’s confused stare. She also looked a bit hurt.
“I didn’t marry him to upset you,” Gia vowed.
With a tilt of her head, the older woman acknowledged that truth. “He’s not Italian.”
“Men of other nationalities can be equally wonderful,” she pointed out.
Mama looked at her husband of thirty-two years. “Perhaps. I might be a little biased.”
“I’m not Catholic, either, ma’am,” Jason jumped in, sending her mother a reassuring expression and placing his hand over hers. “But I assure you that I’ll always take care of your daughter and any children we have for as long as she’ll let me.” He smiled. “I’ll probably do it even when she fights me kicking and screaming.”
A reluctant grin tugged at her mother’s lips—and broke the ice. “Which she will. My daughter is more than a little stubborn.”
“And who does she get that from?” her father teased, pressing a kiss to Mama’s forehead and dropping a hand to her thigh.
“You, of course,” her mother quipped.
Her father laughed, then bent to murmur something in her mother’s ear that made her blush.
Little Tony squirmed off her lap and ran around to his grandpa with his toys, looking for someone willing to join in the fantastic imaginary car crashes. Bella started fussing, and Gia’s mother took the baby from Mila with a fond smile.
Jason’s gaze bounced back and forth between her parents, seeming to look for any other objections he could stop before they began. Honestly, Gia couldn’t believe they weren’t more shocked or angry. 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 came over a few minutes later, and Gia immediately recognized 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 muttered as Nick poured the wine and gave Jason a speculative stare.
The second her glass was full, she took a long swallow 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. Gia watched, falling a little more in love with him every moment.
By the time they finished the food, her father was telling Jason jokes. Her mother patted his shoulder with a welcoming smile. Bella woke, and Mila stood, placing her in Jason’s arms. He blinked and sputtered a bit, but her sister-in-law gave him instructions on holding her properly. The girl 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 might have a ruthless bastard side, but he would also be a fierce protector who would 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’ room?”
Mama wasn’t asking exactly, and Gia knew the woman must have questions.
“I’m right behind you.”
Jason watched as she rose, his expression bolstering her. Yes, she could handle whatever happened with her family. Gia had put off this introduction, building it up in her head to a terrible confrontation that simply hadn’t materialized. He’d been right to give her a shove. She’d wanted to wait until she “knew” they would last to make him an official part of the family, but no couple had a guarantee of forever. It hadn’t been fair to him.
She’d made more than one decision about her marriage she now regretted.
As Gia and her mother left the table and wended through the growing crowd 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 mother rarely beat around the bush, but she was usually gentle enough not to put someone on the spot. No mistaking her mom’s determination for information now.
