Free SharingGianna by Lacey Thorn Page A

was
going to be okay. But I was too scared to call. I thought God was punishing me
for getting pregnant outside of marriage. I was terrified and I was alone. So
alone.”
    “Gianna—” Her mother tried to speak.
    “No!” Gianna yelled. “You’ll listen to me this time. I
needed you but I was too ashamed to call you. When I finally came home you
slapped me and called me a whore. Then you told me to leave your house and
never come back. I begged you to listen to me, but you wouldn’t. You always did
think the worst of me. I should have expected it. You’ll be happy to know that
God punished me for my sins, Mamma.”
    “God doesn’t punish, Gianna.”
    “But he does, Mamma.” She nodded, beyond caring as she
openly cried. “The ectopic pregnancy was just the beginning. The doctor told me
that after seeing my uterus, he noticed scarring from endometriosis. I didn’t
even know I had endometriosis. I thought the pain I had with my menstrual cycle
was normal. I had no idea it was a sign of something more serious and that lack
of knowledge cost me everything. The doctor who saved my life told me it was
unlikely that I’d ever be able to carry a baby to full term.”
    “Oh, Gianna.”
    “It’s too late for your concern, Mamma. The girl needed it.
The woman learned to survive without it.” She walked over to the statue of
Jesus with his arms wide open as if to embrace all the unborn children. “Nine
years ago I made a rash decision and had my remaining tube tied to make sure
there would never be a chance for me to get pregnant. I’d just earned my first
major ad and that’s how I spent my bonus.” She turned around and looked her
mother in the eyes. “I was alone then too.
    “It was only a few years ago that I spoke with a friend and
found out that the doctor might have been wrong. Women with endometriosis can
have kids. It didn’t cause my ectopic pregnancy. Those can and do happen to
anyone. But none of that matters now. I took that choice away with my decision.”
    Gianna regained control of her emotions. The tears were dry
on her cheeks while her mother’s face was wet with moisture. “I’m coming back
home. I need to be here. I want to see my brothers, Pops and Bella. I’ll try to
limit the times that we’re forced to be in the same room. But I’m done paying
for something that I had no control over. I don’t need you to tell me things
will be okay anymore.”
    Her mother sobbed and Gianna hardened her heart and turned
away. She was startled to see her father and Dante just inside the garden,
standing by the door with Tony and Gabe. Her father looked devastated. She
wanted to go to him but she couldn’t. She had just enough strength left to walk
away. She hoped.
    Dante looked just as devastated as her father. Tony took a
step toward her, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close.
    “Lean on me,” he whispered and she bit her lip to hold a
fresh wave of tears back. His offer of comfort and support had her control over
her emotions ready to snap.
    Gabe held the door open and took her hand as she and Tony
stepped through.
    One foot in front of the other. One foot in front of the
other. She kept repeating that mantra in her head as they walked out of the
building and headed toward the parking lot and Gabe’s truck. Gabe held the
passenger door open while Tony helped her inside. Tony slid in after her and
pulled her into his chest.
    “I’m okay,” she whispered.
    “The hell you are,” Gabe snarled as he slammed his door shut
and started the truck.
    “Not here,” she begged. “I need to get away. Can we just
drive? I just need to get away.”
    Gabe blew out a harsh breath and nodded. He reached over to
touch her cheek. “Anything you want.”
    She nodded against Tony’s chest. She slipped one hand over
and joined her fingers with Gabe’s as he drove them away from the hospital and
what had just happened. She wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to put enough
distance between