Teresa Giudicegot vulnerable on Wednesday’sReal Housewives of New Jersey, as she considered the prospect of finding love afterJoe Giudice.
In a candid conversation with costarsMelissa Gorga, Dolores Catania,Margaret Josephs, Jackie Goldschneider and Jennifer Aydin,theTurning the Tablesauthorrecalled some emotional things Joe had told her in the past.
“He says the craziest things to me,” Teresa, 47, said. “Like, ‘Imagine we get divorced. Who would want you? You’ve got a lot of baggage.’ Like, I have four kids.”
His words resonated with Teresa, who admitted she felt that Joe was “kind of right.”
“I kind of do believe it,” she said.
Teresa’s fellow New Jersey Housewives were not having that, quickly rallying around her and offering her support.
“No, he’s not [right]. Don’t ever believe it. He’s saying it because he’s insecure,” said Melissa, who is married to Teresa’s brother, Joe Gorga. “He’s nuts. You’re a hot piece of ass!”
“He’ll eat those words,” added Catania. “Joe talks out of his ass, too. I know he doesn’t mean what he’s saying. I know he doesn’t mean that.”
Their kind words cheered Teresa up. “I was about to cry, but you guys are making me laugh,” she said. “I don’t want to cry anymore.”
Paul Zimmerman/Getty
Moments before, Joe had called Teresa, joking with Catania — while on speakerphone — about the possibility of her setting Teresa up with someone else.
“My wife is always complaining about me,” Joe said. “So I was like, ‘You know what, Dolores found a doctor.’ I go, ‘Why don’t you ask Dolores’ boyfriend to find my wife maybe a doctor and then me and her can have a relationship like you and [your ex-husband]?’ I think that’ll work out good!”
“I’m just trying to make you happy,” he told Teresa.
That didn’t sit well with her. “Oh you’re trying to make me happy!” she said, sarcastically. “So even if I marry a doctor you’re still gonna take care of me?”
“Maybe you can take care of me then?” he said.
Later, after the call, Teresa admitted that if she and Joe didn’t have children together, she wouldn’t be waiting for him.
Teresa Giudice, Joe Giudice and their daughters.Joe Giudice/ Instagram
At the time Wednesday’sRHONJscene went down, Joe was living in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement while he fought to appeal a judge’s deportation order.
The Giuidce patriarch has been living apart from Teresa and their children — daughtersGia, 19, Gabriella, 16,Milania, 15, andAudriana, 11 — since he reported to prison for mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud in March 2016.
He had hoped to go home but was deported, havingnever obtained American citizenshipafter moving to the U.S. as a young child. Two deportation appeals have been denied so far. A third is still pending.
Teresa has said that living in ICE has been challenging for Joe, the tough conditions often impacting his mood.
“Am I okay? I’m going on 38 months in this crap!” Joe himself said, during a tense phone call to Teresa that aired in a NovemberRHONJepisode. “They want to separate us now, we’re married 20 years. We got four kids, alright? They want to destroy four kids. I’m here now and I’m getting deported and that’s all there is to it. It’s over.”
“I don’t see anybody in here walking out. They’re all getting deported,” Joe added. “I’m over it. I’d rather be out and see you while I can than be sitting in this friggin’ junk hole. At this point, I don’t care where the hell I go. … I’m going to fight it out a little while later, and then I’m done. That’s it.”
The Giudice family.Joe Giudice/Instagram
Since then, Joe has been granted a request to live out his final appeal decision in his native Italy.
Teresa skipped out on the holiday visit, with PEOPLE announcing exclusively in December thatthe two had agreed to separate after 20 years of marriage.
A source told PEOPLE the pair aren’t divorcing just yet, and are instead remaining focused on their children during their time apart.
The Real Housewives of New Jerseyairs Wednesdays (8 p.m. ET) on Bravo.
source: people.com
