Acquiring Hearts

by S. Donahue

  “I’m forty with two kids. Nobody’s is going to want me.”

  “Are you serious? You’re gorgeous. Guys look at you all the time. I think you need to figure out your next steps. First things first, you need to get rid of Vinnie.”

  “Yeah, well he doesn’t go away so easily. After he does wrong, he always comes back to me crying. This time, I’m not taking him back. I’m done.”

  “I hope so.”

  “I am. He’s already gone.” Rachel paused, “Listen, I love you and I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart. I miss you so much.”

  “I love you too, Rach. I miss you too. We need to spend more time together. Lately it’s been crazy. I’m putting a dinner together at our house on Sunday to discuss the wedding. I would like you and the boys to be there.”

  “I would be honored.”

  “It’s only going to be Brad’s parents, Mommy and Daddy. Something small to start out with.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  “Thanks, I’ll call you later. I want to catch up on some work.”

  “Thanks for calling me.”

  When Gia hung up she turned toward her laptop and saw Brad standing in the doorway. He was smiling.

  “What?”

  “I’m so proud of you. I wasn’t eavesdropping. I came to look for you to see if you were ok. I actually caught the tail end of the conversation. You have such a good heart.”

  “Thanks, I try,” Gia said humbly.

  She walked over to him. He pulled her in his arms and kissed her.

  “Want to get back in bed with me?”

  “How can I resist when you look so hot in your boxer shorts. I have naughty thoughts going through my head, some that pertain to crushed ice, but shouldn’t we get some work done?”

  “There’s plenty of time for that. I need you right this second.”

  “Well, let’s get to it.”

  Gia decided to stay home for the remainder of the week. It pretty much consisted of working from home and making love to her incredible fiancé.

  The plans for the small dinner party for Sunday were confirmed, now they just had to share the news.

  Chapter Twenty

  The last thing in the world Gia expected on Sunday morning was to be throwing up. She thought it may have been a combination of nerves and morning sickness. She was extremely nervous to tell her family about the baby. She hoped it was nerves because she didn’t know if she could handle eight more months of this feeling.

  This dinner was also the first time their parents would meet. She knew there were huge differences between the two. Her family was a crazy bunch and Brad’s parents were more reserved.

  Mena, the cook, usually had Sunday’s off, but at breakfast on Saturday morning, she offered to help Gia with dinner preparations. Gia declined, but Brad felt maybe she should have taken Mena up on her offer. Being stubborn, she told Brad she could handle it herself.

  When Brad saw Gia’s condition that morning he thought they should cancel the dinner. Gia argued that she would be ok after she laid down for a while. He told Gia that he wanted to call Mena to come over and help out. He didn’t want Gia to end up back in the hospital. Gia was disappointed because she had the whole meal planned out. She was going to cook a full course Italian meal.

  Because Gia couldn’t eat certain foods due to her pregnancy, they had decided to inform Mena the week prior, that Gia was expecting a baby. When Brad called her to let her know Gia was sick, she understood completely. Brad told her he would pay her double time or whatever she wanted if she was willing to help out.

  Mena was an older woman around sixty years old. She had worked for Brad since he purchased the house seven years prior. Her kids were grown so she was able to come and go as she pleased. She had an apartment in the city and drove back and forth from work to home each day. Brad offered her the guest house to stay in but she refused. She said that he paid her generously and she didn’t want to take advantage of him.

  Brad was so grateful that she was able to come on such short notice. She even said she would prepare the meal with Gia’s guidance, just the way she wanted it.

  Gia met up with Mena in the kitchen at 10 am. Everyone was coming at three thirty. Appetizers would be served at four. They had a lot to work on.

  “Gia, you don’t look so well. I can handle this. Why don’t you write down the instructions for me and go lie down.”

  They had previously agreed to lose all formalities.

  “Mena, I’ll be ok. I promise.”

  “I don’t want Mr. Roberts to be upset.”

  “It’s fine. He’s not going to say anything. If I don’t feel well, I’ll say so and go lie down.”

  “Ok” Mena said as she looked at Gia with concern.

  “Where did you learn how to cook so well?” Gia asked trying to take Mena’s mind off of her sickness.

  “I went to cooking school many years ago. I also learned from watching my mother.”

  “Me, too.” Gia loved watching her mother cook. “Will you stay and have dinner with us instead of just serving it?”

  “Oh, no. That’s a private dinner. I’m just an employee of Mr. Roberts.”

  “Well, Mena, you’re staying and that’s where you’re wrong. You’re like family and don’t forget my sister is his employee too and she’s attending.”

  “That’s different, but I like your spunk.”

  “No, it’s not. I insist that if you’re cooking this meal you’re staying.”

  “You’re a sweet girl. Mr. Roberts is a lucky guy. He needed someone like you in his life.”

  “Awe, thanks! I’m sweet as long as I’m not in the courtroom, then My inner bitch comes out.”

  They both laughed and worked on the meal together.

  The doorbell rang at three thirty precisely. She knew it had to be her mother. She was always on time. Brad and Gia walked to the front door.

  Brad grabbed Gia’s hand. “Here we go. I’ll be by your side the whole time. We’ll stick to the plan. We will tell everyone after dinner, but before dessert.

  “Okay”

  When they opened the door, her mother and father were standing with tons of pastry boxes, bowls and casserole dishes.

  “Mom, I told you not to bring anything. What is all of this?”

  “I brought some salads, vegetable casseroles and pastries.”

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “Come in. Make yourself at home. There are appetizers in the dining room,” Brad said invitingly.

  Gia’s mom responded, “Thanks Brad. Your home is very nice.”

  She turned and whispered to Gia. “He has good taste.”

  “Mom, you better behave.”

  “I always do?”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  As soon as they reached the living room, the doorbell rang again. “You need a butler,” Donato joked. Bradley laughed. He and Gia walked to the door to answer it. It was Rachel and the boys.

  “Hi, Aunt Gia, Hi, Uncle Brad.” Jason and Jeffrey shouted. “Aunt Gia, is this your house now?”

  “Uh...”

  “Yes it is,” Brad answered for her.

  Gia never thought about that question. She did have her own house as well. Brad saw the look on face. He grabbed her hand and winked.

  Rachel hugged Gia and whispered she was sorry in her ear.

  “Let’s just forget about that today.”

  “Thanks.”

  Before Brad shut the door, he saw his parents walking up the driveway.

  “Hey, how are you?” He hugged them. He was very happy, unlike how he was usually around them.

  “Come in. There’s plenty of food. I want to introduce you to Gia’s family.” He ushered them to the dining room and introductions were made.

  Brad gave everyone a tour of the house. When the boys saw the game room, they were mesmerized. They didn’t want to leave.

  “This is amazing. Mom, can we stay in here? Do we have to have dinner with ev
eryone?”

  “Yes, you do. It’s rude. Aunt Gia prepared a nice meal for us,” Rachel scolded.

  “It’s ok, they don’t have to eat with us,” Brad said. It’s all adults anyway. Play with whatever you want.”

  “Make sure you don’t break anything!” Carlotta chimed in.

  “Ok, grandma.”

  The adults made their way back to the dining room. Mena announced that the first course would be ready in about ten minutes.

  Everyone was standing around.

  Gia whispered to Brad, “Why don’t you talk to your mother, now? Go on the deck with her.”

  “Seriously? Right now?”

  “Yes. I’ll keep everyone else busy. My dad and Patrick are in some other conversation anyway.”

  “I guess you’re right.”

  Brad tapped his mom on the shoulder. She was talking with Rachel. He excused himself and asked his mom if he could speak with her on the deck for a moment.

  “Is everything ok?”

  “Yes. I just want to talk about a charity project.’

  Joanna looked at him perplexed and followed him to the deck. “What’s going on? I know it’s not about a charity project.”

  “I didn’t know what to say and I want to speak with you about some things.”

  “Sure.”

  “I just want to say I’m sorry and I love you very much. I don’t want you to think otherwise because of the way I have acted over the years.”

  “Bradley, I would never think that. I know you’ve been having a difficult time with your father’s death. I’m just so happy that you found Gia. She has opened up your spirit. Helped you move on, I hope.”

  “She’s just so great and helps me get through the tough times I have. I’ve had some anger and resentment that I have directed at you because of scenarios that I made up in my head. Gia has helped me to see that I’m overreacting. I understand, now, why you did the things you did. You were only looking out for my best interests. It took me a long time to see it but I want to thank you.”

  “I know you wanted to become a doctor. I really wanted that for you too. I also didn’t want to see you lose everything that your father worked so hard for. I’m not a business person. I could never have ran that business the way you do. I want you to know I loved your father very much and I still do but I had to move on when I met Patrick. I realized that your father would have wanted me to move on- go live my life. That’s what I held on to. You have that chance now with Gia. Don’t let your past hold you back anymore. It’s time for you to live again. Your father’s not here any longer, but you are.”

  Brad’s eyes were tearing. His mother was right. He needed to let go and move on. He hugged his mother.

  “I love you, Mom. Thanks for always being there for me.”

  “I love you too, Bradley. I’m always here for you, no matter what. Let’s go inside before people start wondering what’s going on.”

  The first course, which consisted of salad and penne pasta in a vodka sauce, was being served when they entered the dining room. Brad hired two servers and a dishwasher because he knew his future mother in law and future wife would want to do all the work. He wanted them to enjoy themselves.

  The meal was progressing nicely and the conversations were flowing. Everyone seemed to be getting along.

  After the main entrée of Chicken Parmesan was finished and the dishes were all cleared, Gia looked at Brad. She decided it was time to tell the family what was going on.

  “We invited everyone here to talk about the wedding. Before we begin, there’s something I want to do first.”

  Brad looked confused. He had no idea what she was planning on doing.

  Gia looked at Rachel and handed her a card. Inside there was a note and a picture of both of them. At the end, it said I have something to ask.

  Rachel was crying from reading the note. “What do you have to ask me?”

  “Will you be my maid of honor?”

  “Yes, of course I will. You better not have picked anyone else!”

  Gia ran over and they hugged each other. They were both crying because they knew they could never stay mad at each other for long. Gia went back to Brad’s side at the other end of the table.

  “You amaze me more and more every day,” Brad said in a low voice.

  “We’ve decided to have the wedding sooner,” Gia announced.

  “When?” Everyone was throwing questions out in the open.

  “Isn’t it going to be November 19th? I’m confused,” Joanna said. “I thought…” She stopped herself because she wasn’t sure what Brad knew and what was going on.

  “I’ll explain everything.”

  “Brad knows about the party in November. We decided to turn it into a wedding instead. Invitations haven’t gone out yet therefore, no one knows about the party yet. I ordered the wedding invitations and we just need to plan all the wedding details.”

  Gia’s dad decided to interrupt her and ask the burning question. “Why are you rushing the wedding, princess. You just got engaged like a month ago. Don’t get me wrong, we love Brad, but maybe you should wait a little longer.”

  “Daddy, it doesn’t matter if it’s today, tomorrow or three years from now. We love each other and we decided it should be sooner rather than later.”

  “Ok, as long as you’re ready.”

  Brad was waiting for her to tell them about the baby, but she didn’t say anything. He figured she was probably nervous so he opened his mouth.

  “There is also something else.” Everyone looked at him waiting for him to speak. He thought Gia would speak on cue but she didn’t.

  I guess I have to do it. Here goes nothing.

  “Gia’s pregnant,” he blurted out.

  She looked at him, her eyes wide with shock at the burst of news. To Gia’s surprise everyone was happy and excited.

  “Oh My God. My baby’s pregnant!” Carlotta screamed excitedly. “How far along are you?”

  “I’m about six weeks along. I’m going to the doctor next week.”

  Brad had the servers bring out bottles of champagne and everyone celebrated the news. They all made plans to meet up and start discussing the wedding plans.

  Gia couldn’t believe everything was falling into place.

  This should be an interesting couple of months.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Time flew by so fast. Tomorrow was the big day. Everything was set to go. Of course it didn’t happen without issues. What wedding would be complete without a couple mishaps, especially when you have only two months to plan?

  With the short notice, everyone pitched in to help out with all the details, especially since the court-date for Tom’s assault on Gia came up in the middle of the planning. Tom was sentenced to five years in prison. Gia felt relieved. She had been on edge a little bit knowing he was still out there.

  Gia was spending the night at her parent’s house. She didn’t want to see Brad before the wedding, since it was bad luck. That’s all she needed in her life. Rachel was also sleeping over, so it would be like old times when they were growing up.

  “Rach, I want to thank you for everything that you have done for me the past couple months. I really appreciate it.”

  “Stop, you’re my sister. I love you.”

  “I know. I love you too, but you went above and beyond. The party that you threw for us last week at your house with all our family and friends meant so much to us.

  “Anytime.”

  “So who’s this guy you are talking to?”

  “No one you know!”

  “Really, are you bringing him to the wedding?”

  “I don’t want to jinx it. No, I’m not bringing him to the wedding. I haven’t even gone out with him yet. I have to get the Vinnie situation under control first. He’s still stalking me and begging me to take him back.”

  “Please don’t. You don’t think he’ll show up at the wedding do you?”

  “I hope not. I don’t want to start s
omething with someone else and have Vinnie ruin it for me. He’s crazy.”

  “I know. Who are you texting?”

  “No one”