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“She stayed away all these years, and when she comes back, you chase her off again,” Mrs. G. said angrily.
This sounded like an argument they’d had before. “I wanted you to know how what you say affects her greatly. She wants your respect above anyone else’s.”
Mrs. G. sniffled.
“I’ve made mistakes, and I regret them. Even as I vow to do better by her, I fall back on our old way of interacting.”
“She’s strong-willed, but I love her for it.” I wouldn’t be challenged by a woman who didn’t act like Gia did. If I wasn’t sure about my feelings before today, I was solid in them now.
“I will do better by her. I will talk to her.”
“I hope you do. Your opinion matters.”
Mr. G. nodded. “Are you here to ask about something else?”
“Gia is my present and, hopefully, my future. But I have a few walls to climb before I can make her mine.”
“What do you plan to do with you living where you do? Her business is important to her.”
“We’ll work it out. One or both of us can work remotely from time to time.”
“What about marriage? Kids?”
“Gio, it’s too soon for all of that,” Mrs. G. chided him.
“I want all of that with her. If she’ll have me.” Was she just denying her feelings to protect herself, or was she not as into me as I was into her?
My life was filled with business opportunities and profit margins before Gia came into my life. Now I was worried about work-life balance and how we could see each other despite the geographical distance.
She loved my house. Was it too much to think we’d settle down there eventually? Fill it with our kids, who would inevitably fight and one-up each other? I could see it so clearly now, and it made me smile.
“You’re good for her.”
“I think so.” But it was all up to Gia at this point.
He patted my cheek. “I like you for my daughter.”
Did that mean I had his blessing? “Thank you, sir.”
I hugged Mrs. G. and shook Mr. G.’s hand. I needed to talk to Gia, but I had to figure out the best way to do it. She’d already had too much time to put emotional distance between us. I had to go about it the right way.
Twenty-One
GIA
Ipacked up my things, feeling drained. I should have gone home and gotten a good night’s sleep, but I knew I’d continue writing on my laptop as long as I could. I had this desire to get everything out on paper. It was motivating to think that I could help someone else by telling my story.
Maybe someone else didn’t have a supportive family or didn’t come from a family with money and was starting from nothing like I did. It was exhilarating to think I could make a difference in someone else’s life.
I opened the door to leave, only to find the girls standing outside with bags of stuff.
“Surprise!” Harper said as she came inside, the rest of the girls—Lily, Abby, Aria, Ireland, and Everly—following her.
“What is this?” I asked as I moved out of their way.
“We’re having aburn the rulesparty!” Harper exclaimed as she lifted the bags of supplies in her hands.
“A what?” I asked, confused as the girls quickly put down their bags and pulled out lights. They didn’t waste any time moving chairs to stand on so they could hang the strings of lights.
