Secrets & Lies

Chapter Thirty-Three

The next couple of days went by quickly as Astrid prepared for the wedding of her eldest son.  He had been in and out taking care of his own business and had completed two more photo shoots that he claimed where exhausting, but in general didn't seem like work.  One person dresses you, another fixes your hair and then you stand or sit at the photographers whim and smile or brood at the camera.  It's not heart surgery, but Gia tried to remember to be sympathetic. 

Gia had been feeling a little better for the last thirty-six hours or so with no dizziness or feelings of weakness.  Lars loved to cook and made wonderful meals that really did help with the nausea as he said they would.  It was no wonder Astrid loved being pregnant and was about to have an eighth child.  Gia had lunch with Jack the day before the wedding and it was almost like being at home again.  They talked about all the fun they had as children growing up in their neighborhood and all the trouble they had gotten into and even more things they had gotten away with. Gia's main purpose for wanting to meet with Jack was to find out why he decided on becoming a priest.

"Jack, will you tell me why you decided to be a priest?" Gia asked

"Why does it matter so much for you to know?" He asked.

"That is what you always do.  You ask me another question instead of answering the one I want to know."

"Why is it so important to you?"  He asked

"See you did it again."  Gia said and they both laughed, "Don't you feel as if you missed out on falling in love and having a family?"  Gia asked.

"I did fall in love." He stated giving her quite the shock.  Gia didn't even know what to say.

"Who was she, do I know her?"

"It doesn't matter."  Jack said.

"Did she know you loved her?"

"I tried to tell her many times but it never seemed like the right time." He said sadly.

"What happened to her?"  Gia asked.

"She ended up going to school and moving on with her life and I joined the seminary and now I am here in Denmark half way around the world with a friend from my old neighborhood." Jack answered with a smile.

"I'm glad I ran into you Jack." Gia said honestly.

"I am too Gia." He said grabbing a hold of her hand and squeezing it gently.  They finished lunch and walked back to the church.  Gia gave Jack a little kiss on the cheek and thanked him for lunch.  Tonight she would be going to the Hotel D'Angleterre for the rehearsal and the following day her wedding to Alex would be held.

Gia had just finished packing her things to get ready for the transfer to the Hotel D'Angleterre  knowing she wouldn't be coming back to this house after the wedding, "Alex will you be staying at the hotel with me?" Gia asked looking over at Alex who was sitting in his comfy chair watching.

"I'll be at the hotel, but I'm not supposed to stay in the same room with you tonight." He explained.

"I don't want to stay in a hotel room all by myself." Gia whined.

"I'm not real happy about not being with you either." He replied looking up at her.  Gia walked across the room and Alex pulled her down into his lap so they could kiss.  The tip of his tongue on her neck sent waves of excitement through her loins.  Alex was still worried about how this was all going to work out.  He hadn't spent much time with Gia the last few days, mostly trying to stay out of the way and not wanting to start any arguments between them.  It made Alex wonder if this was going to be their entire life together, him not wanting to start an argument with Gia, or would they eventually settle in and be happy.  Alex wondered if maybe Gia just needed more time to adjust to her new circumstances and that fact that she was pregnant.  Things had been fine for them when they were in London and at school, but since they found out about the baby things had been very tense.