Chapter Twenty Two
Gio
I watched her from the corner of my eye as I drove us into the heart of the Garden District to August. It wasn’t the kind of restaurant you took just anyone to. No, the ambiance lent itself to romantic dinners with that special someone. “You really do look beautiful tonight,Bella. I get the feeling you’re nervous. Why?”
“I’ll be completely honest with you, Gio. This is the first date I’ve been on since before Eli was born. After I had him, I didn’t have time to date. I was busting my ass to try to keep a roof over our heads while raising a child. Dating wasn’t even on my radar. By the time he was older, and didn’t need constant care, I’d decided I didn’t need a man in my life. There aren’t that many men who are interested in a ready-made family.”
“That,Tesoro, is because they are not men. They are boys pretending to be men. A man will not turn away from a woman simply because she has a child.” I reached over, took her hand in mine, and brought it to my lips. “I am honored to be the one you’ve chosen to take that leap with.”
Once we reached the restaurant I helped her out of the car and escorted her inside. “I’d like to know more about you, Carly.” The look she gave me made me smirk. “Is that so surprising?”
“To be honest, yes. I don’t get it, Gio. You obviously have money. You’re sexy as hell. You could have any woman you want. Why are you setting your sights on a single mother who has spent most of the last decade taking her clothes off for strangers just to keep a roof over her and her son’s head?”
“Is that really all you see yourself as,Bella? Just a stripper? Just a single mother? You are so much more than those two things. You’re smart, determined, beautiful, compassionate. You have a backbone of steel, you’re not afraid to stand your ground for what you believe is right, even if it would be easier to back down. You’re a fighter in every way that matters.”
“I didn’t even finish high school. How does that make me a fighter?”
“You did what you needed to do in order to support your son. That is what makes you a fighter. You were sixteen. Do you know how many children are in the foster care system because their mother was young and, instead of stepping up and doing what was needed, they gave their children away? Too many, Carly.”
“I could have never done that. My mother suggested it, when I told her I was pregnant. I refused. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. My mother raised me by herself because my worthless excuse for a father abandoned us when I was little. I saw how much she struggled to support us both. I was willing to face those struggles for my child. I knew he or she deserved that much.”
I watched as she shrugged her shoulders. She acted like what she’d done was nothing. She had no idea how admirable it was. “Do not treat it as though it’s nothing,Tesoro. You faced single parenthood head on and you’ve excelled at it. You’re a strong woman, Carly. Don’t ever doubt that about yourself.”
Our conversation continued through dinner. I learned that Carly grew up in the Lower 9thWard, one of the worst neighborhoods, crime wise, in New Orleans. I learned that all throughout her school years she’d gotten good grades, rarely getting below a B on anything. Had she finished high school and gone to college, she’d planned to major in graphic design and business so she could one day have her own graphic design company. The way she lit up about it, I wanted to help her reach that goal.
We were waiting on the server to return with my card when I broached the subject with her. “Why don’t you go back to school? You could get your GED and go to college,Bella.You could still have that dream.”
“Yeah, right. When, exactly, am supposed to have the time to do that? What with raising a child, helping him with his homework, and working at the club? No. It’s just not an option right now.”
“Bella, Bella, Bella. Those are all excuses. They have classes you can take online. You can do this. Think about it. Don’t dismiss it without giving it serious thought.”
“Fine. I’ll think about it.”
“Grazie. That is all I ask.”
“Here’s your card, Mr. Marchetti. I hope the meal was to your liking.”
Before I could answer there was the sound of breaking glass across from me and I looked to see Carly staring at me as if she’d seen a ghost. “Bella?”
