'RHONJ' : Teresa Prays 'Every Day' for Ex Joe's Return to the U.S. and Knows He Will 'Always Be in My Life'
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Teresa's Italian-born ex Joe Giudice was deported in 2019 following a 41-month prison stint for fraud that also landed her in federal detention — and away from their family — for nearly a year
Teresa Giudice has no hard feelings for her ex-husband, Joe Giudice.
At her daughters' bridesmaid dress fittings during Tuesday night's episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Teresa opened up about her ex and wanting him to eventually make his return to the United States.
The moment happened as her daughters — Gia, 21, Gabriella, 19, Milania, 17, and Audriana, 13, — were trying on their blush-colored bridesmaid dresses for Teresa's upcoming wedding to Luis "Louie" Ruelas.
Joe, 50, then FaceTimed Gia, who asked if it was okay to answer and show "dad our dresses." Teresa, 50, approved before the exes had a short conversation.
"Joe, I'm gonna keep praying every day that I hope one day you can come back here," Teresa told him, getting emotional.
"Thank you, Tre," Joe said over the phone. "I'm glad that you's are happy, and that things are going the way they are, and I appreciate everything that you're doing over there for my kids because, you know, I can't be there, and everybody deserves to be happy and as long as you's are happy, that's all that matters."
Related:Joe Giudice Starts Legal Process to Return to U.S., 'Won't Stop' Trying to Reunite with Daughters
Teresa was moved to tears by her ex's well wishes. In a confessional, she elaborated further on the meaningful conversation.
"Joe wishing me happiness just shows how far we've come," she explained. "I'm so proud of how we've continued our relationship, stayed connected. And I know that makes our daughters happy. He's always gonna be in my life."
"I grew up with your dad," Teresa later added to the girls, before telling Joe, "So, I only want the best for you."
Joe and Teresa both took turns serving time after they were indicted on federal fraud charges in 2013. After serving 41 months in prison, Joe was deported to his native Italy in 2019, even though he lived his whole life in the United States.
The couple subsequently split and have been divorced since 2020. Joe currently lives in the Bahamas, where his daughters take turns visiting him.
Later in the episode, Teresa's brother Joe Gorga and his wife Melissa experienced a sweet moment with their daughter Antonia, as well, after gifting her a surprise present for her 17th birthday.
"What is that?" Joe, 43, asked, playing coy, as his mother-in-law Donna drove Antonia's brand new car up the driveway to the house.
Antonia started to cry right away after seeing her Nonnie and the gift her father bought for her.
"With all the hate and negativity that's going on with Teresa and Louie, I'm starting to learn that it's about my children now, it's about me, to be happy," Joe said in a confessional. "Love, happiness, that's what life is about."
Related:RHONJ: Teresa Admits Excluding Melissa's Family from Her Wedding to Louie Was 'Not an Oversight'
Prior to Donna's arrival with the new car, Melissa, 44, had been debriefing Joe on the Ireland trip, noting that she's now in a place (after Teresa dragged Antonia's name into an argument) where she "won't even argue with [Teresa] anymore."
"I don't want you to prove yourself anymore," Joe agreed.
Melissa then explained that she does plan to attend Teresa's surprise bridal shower because she's trying to keep the "peace" until after Teresa's wedding so that she, Joe and the kids can go to the wedding "for the normalcy of a family member getting married."
"We'll be at the wedding. We're there for her, we're happy for her, and then it's like, I am done. I want off the ride. I am done," Melissa said to Joe.
However, tensions between the in-laws remained high — and it was made especially evident when Louie called Teresa while she was on her way to her surprise bridal shower.
Teresa put him on speakerphone, only for him to reveal in front of Milania and Audriana, who were also in the car, that he wanted to exclude Melissa and Joe from a celebratory pre-wedding dinner.
After listing off nearly all of their mutual friends and their dates, Louie said, "Except Melissa and Joe, I'm not inviting them."
Teresa fumbled with her phone and quickly took him off speakerphone before telling her husband-to-be: "You know the camera's on, we're filming, right?"
"Oh sh–t… okay," Louie said.
In an attempt to mend the slip-up, Teresa told him, "You have to invite them. You can't just invite some and not the others."
Related:RHONJ: Melissa Gorga Hits Back at Louie Ruelas' Claim She's an 'Insecure Woman' amid Family Drama
But, after arriving at her surprise shower, Teresa made a show of thanking certain people by name for coming — including Louie's sisters — and not Melissa.
"I mean, could she just not say, 'I'm just so happy my sister-in-law's here and that we're moving on in a good way?'" Margaret Josephs asked in a confessional. "It feels very intentional and if I was Melissa, I would feel like I'm not very wanted."
In a confessional, Melissa said of Teresa: "Her new sister-in-laws seem lovely. I'm happy for her, I want that for her too. I just don't understand why she feels like it's them or me. To me, she just was like, 'Ha, I replaced you guys. I have someone to call family, so bye!'"
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The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
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