I could tell Pops was impressed by the way he leaned back in his chair. "Most people assume that men in my field aren't capable of much outside of assembly."
"And they would be wrong," Gianna replied. "But people often assume they understand a person based on their career and status until they take the time to explore the inner workings of what makes a person."
Oh shit—she was going there already. I wasn’t expecting it at all. My eyes flicked from my parents, and I could see that they had caught on too.
"I don’t ever want to be misunderstood or judged by my work—" she looked between them. "And because I've never been a woman to shy away from tough conversations, I won't now." She exhaled slowly. "I know Remy told you all what I do."
Mama exhaled slowly, her hands resting on her knee. Pops leaned forward more. The silence was thick.
"I know it's late and I kinda just busted into your home while you two were enjoying your evening," she continued. "But since I'm here—I want to put it in the air so that the next time we meet, we can really get to know one another without any feelings of awkwardness."
She turned to me, eyes holding mine for a minute as my heart started going crazy in my chest at her boldness and strength she had to have this conversation. Taking my hand, she placed it in her lap.
Eyes still holding mine she continued, "You two have raised an incredible, loving, gentle, patient and open-minded man. A man who sees past stigma's and biases and sees me. I care about him deeply."
My eyes misted over and I all could was smile at her.
She turned back to my parents. "If Remy is a testament to the kind of people you are, then I can't wait to get to know you both."
The room went quiet for a moment. Mama’s hand stilled on her knee, her eyes fixed on Gianna like she was taking her in all over again. Pops didn’t move either, his elbows resting on his thighs, his hands clasped together as he studied her closely.
I could feel my pulse in my ears. Gianna’s thumb brushed lightly over the back of my hand in her lap, soothing me even though she was the one who had just laid herself bare.
Mama was the first to speak. “Well…” she exhaled softly, shaking her head once as a small, almost disbelieving smile touched her lips. “You certainly don’t lack courage.”
Gianna let out a quiet breath. “No, ma’am. I don’t.”
Her eyes dropped briefly to our hands before lifting back to Gianna’s face. “I appreciate you saying it yourself instead of letting us form our own conclusions.”
Pops nodded slowly. “Takes a certain kind of woman to walk into somebody else’s home and stand in her truth like that,” he said. “Most people would’ve waited. Or avoided it altogether.”
Gianna sat up a little straighter. “Avoiding it wouldn’t change it. And I don’t want to build anything on miscommunication.”
Mama leaned back slightly, her fingers lacing together in her lap as she let out another slow breath. “I’m not going to sit here and pretend like I don’t have feelings about it,” she said honestly. “Because I do.”
My stomach knotted.
But Gianna didn’t flinch. She just nodded. “I respect that.”
Mama’s eyes softened. “But what I also see, is a woman who is self-aware, respectful, and kind. And that matters to me more than anything else."
Relief washed through me so fast it almost made me lightheaded.
"Besides, my grandson adores you. Can't stop talking about you.” She grinned nudging her softly. "Is it true you flipped off the swings?"
"Damn near," I cut in, looking at her.
Gianna laughed lightly. "I jumped off them," she corrected. "But I adore him too. He's the sweetest thing," she sighed fondly.
Pops glanced over at me briefly before looking back at Gianna. “My son doesn’t move lightly,” he said. “If he’s standing beside you like this, bringing you around, then that tells me something.”
Gianna’s grip on my hand tightened just slightly.
“And I trust my son and his choices,” Pops added simply.
I swallowed hard, blinking a few times as I looked down for a second before lifting my head again.
Mama leaned forward, placing her hand gently over Gianna’s where it rested on mine. “We’re not going to get everything figured out in one night,” she said softly. “But you’re welcome here. And we can take the time to learn each other the right way.”
