he asked.
Gianna held her breath not having a clue what Jordan was going to say. They were so wrapped up with what was going on with Marvin that they hadn’t even talked about their own future.
Jordan looked at her while he answered the question. “I’m not going anywhere. I love your daughter.”
Gianna got up and walked over to him, “I love you too Jordan.”
“But what about marriage? That’s really not an old fashion concept you know. People still do it today,” her father added.
“Dad, can we change the subject?” Gianna asked.
“Does it make you uncomfortable Jordan?”
“Not one bit,” he replied.
“You’re not helping,” she whispered.
Jordan turned to her father and said, “I promise you, that if Gianna and I decide to get married, you won’t need to hear it from anyone but us.”
“Good. Now don’t wait too long. Grandchildren while we’re still young would be nice,” her mother said.
Gianna rolled her eyes and placed her forehead on Jordan’s chest. Jordan thankfully changed the subject. “I was just about to take this lovely lady out for dinner. Would you like to join us?”
“We’d love to, thank you,” her mother said.
Her father asked, “You wouldn’t know any good Italian restaurants do you?”
“Actually we do,” Jordan said. “Have you ever been to Mama’s Place?”
Gianna wasn’t sure if going to Mama’s Place was going to help change the subject or was Mama Marciano going to team up with Mom Ionnetty and she and Jordan would end up being engaged before the night was over.
She looked up into Jordan’s smiling face and realized that wasn’t such a scary thought any longer. But if Jordan asked her, she wanted it to be for one reason only. Because he wanted to.
No matter what, it was nice for them to be out and not to be talking about Marvin.
14
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Jordan asked.
“I’m positive. Trust me, if I have learned anything, it’s that Marvin has only the power over me that I give him. Since everyone I care about knows the truth, what does it matter if I tell the rest of the world? Besides, maybe my doing this will help another young woman who might fall into the same trap,” Gianna said.
“When you said meet with Rhonda, I thought maybe a coffee shop, not on national television,” Jordan added.
“It’s kind of funny how that all worked out. When Mary-Lou suggested I email the NO MORE show, I thought she was joking. But really, what better place to take a stand?”
He reached out and touched her cheek. “Do you know how amazing you are? You’re fearless.”
Gianna chuckled. “Tell that to my stomach that keeps wanting to hurl.”
“Worried about Marvin?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Nope. The millions of people watching the show.”
“You don’t have to do this you know,” he said.
“Are you kidding me? I have to after your speech about how strong I am,” Gianna said in a joking tone.
“And you’re sure you don’t want me with you?”
Gianna looked up at him, “I thought you said you’d never do it?”
He had said that. At the time, he’d meant it. It was funny how one look in her beautiful eyes changed everything. It wasn’t all about what he wanted, but more about what she needed.
Trying to lighten the mood and her nerves he said, “I only said that so they didn’t put make-up on me.”
“Hmm. You looked great in the cowboy hat, but make-up? Maybe not,” she laughed. She kissed him lightly on the cheek and said, “They’re calling my name. Wish me luck.”
He said, “You don’t need it. You’re going to do great.”
As she walked way, he went to take his seat in the audience so he could watch with the others. It as no surprise that Rhonda and the others backed out at the last minute. But he was glad they had. He knew those other women would be all dramatic and the message Gianna was trying to put out would get lost.
Jordan sat and listened while they introduced Gianna. She gave her back story as to what had happened when she was nineteen. How she was afraid to come forward and tell people the truth, but that the lie was what held her back from ever really moving forward. They asked some detail questions about her personal life and he thought for sure Gianna was going to tell him it was none of his business. But instead she held her head up high and answered each one.
“And what is it you