Destined

Chapter 23 * Giovanna

I arrive at the restaurant, "reservation in the name of John Garret" I say to the hostess, "this way, Mr.Garret is already here".

I follow her as she leads me to a private room, I get inside the room, and John and a woman I believe is my grandmother get up, she opens her arms, we embrace and sobs tear through my throat, "don't cry sweetie" grandma says patting my back.

John clears his throat, and I smile through tears "Are you crying?" he looks away "Of course not" I chuckle.

"Giovanna, meet your grandmother, Maya Garret," John says "Mom, meet your granddaughter". We sit down, me next to Grandma, side by side, holding hands.

"First let's start by saying I'm sorry for your loss and that I'm sad I didn't get a chance to meet your brother," Grandma says, tears filling her eyes, "and I'm sorry for your father if had left your grandfather, Joe, sooner maybe he wouldn't be like he his".

"No grandma, if that were the case Uncle John would have gone the same path", John inhales "Di—did you just call me uncle?" I smile at him "Yes, I did, that's what you are" I turn back to Grandma "So no, you can't blame yourself for the choices Jared made for himself if that were the case me and Noah would have gone the same path as him but we chose differently" I shake my head to prevent, the tears I have burned my eyes, from falling "in part we are a product of our environment but what we choose to do determines our character".

"Oh lord, you're such a bright young woman" " Grandma tells me, "my mom and Nana were great influences" She smiles sadly "I wish I could have been part of that," Grandma says.

"You still can, I'm not going anywhere any time soon neither will you and I still have a great deal of learning to do", she pats my hand.

We order, I tell her a little bit about my life, Kai, and my friends, I talk about Noah, and for the first time since he passed, I feel good talking about my brother.

We finish eating and John settles the tab as we walk back into busy, New York, streets Grandma grabs my hand "Baby girl, I know we've only met today but listen to this old lady's advice" she caresses my cheek and I lean towards the warmth of her hand, "from what I could see you don't allow yourself to feel happy because you feel guilty you get to experience love, friendship, happiness and your brother doesn't" my vision gets blurry from the tears burning my eyes, "but baby do you think he would be happy seeing his sister avoid and isolate herself" I shake my head "so live your life to the fullest for the both of you".

We hug and say our goodbyes, I tell my Uncle John that, is so weird to address him that way, but at the same time it feels right, that I will meet him back in his office tomorrow, he says he has something important to discuss with me.