Sometimes you have to push out of your comfort zone, just ask The Real Housewives of New Jersey. On the Sunday, July 31, episode, many of the women found themselves spreading their wings and branching into new, unfamiliar territory. For mom-turned-business owner, Melissa Gorga, this meant the grand opening of her boutique, Envy. For Teresa Giudice, it meant putting her experience in prison in a book. And for Jacqueline Laurita and Chris, it meant putting their financial future at risk in a new venture. As is to be expected, some of these projects got off to better starts than others.
Joe Gorga Is Green With Envy
Melissa’s husband, Joe, was definitely feeling envy, but not in the way his wife had hoped. He continued to complain as Melissa spent an increasing amount of time away from the house and kids to prepare her boutique for its grand opening.
“I don’t think Joe thinks I can do this,” she said to the camera. When Joe called Melissa to come home from the shop because he had a problem at work and needed her to take care of the kids, she told him he was being “insulting” and that he needed to “man up.” That went over about as well as you’d expect.
Melissa argued that seeing Joe succeed as an entrepreneur is what gave her the guts to go for it on her own as well and he only had himself to blame. Joe argued that her working “wasn’t part of the deal” when they got married. “The queen can have her job because it’s over,” Joe declared. (It didn’t seem like “the queen” wanted her job back, but that wasn’t really the point.)
Teresa Turns the Tables
Meanwhile, Teresa began making plans for earning money while her husband, Joe Giudice, was in prison — which would be happening very soon. First up on her agenda was writing and recording her book, Turning the Tables, which recounted her experience going to jail herself. Teresa broke down in tears as she read a passage about how she’d feared her youngest daughter wouldn’t recognize her when she got home. With some encouragement from the production crew, however, Teresa made it through her reading and headed to a meeting with her book publisher to check out the cover (which featured a photo of herself in a Herve Leger-style bandage dress).
For the most part, Teresa reasoned that being in jail was actually a good experience. She noted that it made her realize that people who are incarcerated aren’t necessarily bad — they’re just people like her who had made mistakes. She also reported that Joe appreciated her contributions around the house more now that he had been the sole parent for nearly a year.
Siggy Confronts Teresa
On the way to her book recording session, Teresa chatted with her lawyer about the rumor that Joe had cheated and that she was leaving him. “We are together. We are happily married. It’s nonsense,” she quipped.
Newbie housewife Siggy Flicker wasn’t so sure it was nonsense, however, and asked Jacqueline about those same rumors during a lunch date. Siggy said she was going to ask Teresa directly what was going on in her marriage and Jacqueline advised her to maybe “ease into it” rather than go for the jugular.
Later, when Siggy met up with Teresa for some rock climbing, she ignored Jacqueline’s advice and asked Teresa about the rumors (though, to be fair, she couched it as “Where do the tabloids get this stuff?” rather than “Are you leaving your husband?”).
Shockingly, Teresa didn’t flip out on Siggy the way she had flipped out on Jacqueline in the past. Instead, she took it in stride with what amounted to a shrug. Siggy replied by assuring Teresa she could always come to her to “get an opinion that doesn’t have an ulterior motive.”
Dolores Catania then arrived and the rock climbing commenced (though it was mainly their daughters doing the actual climbing while the women sat around chatting). “Today feels normal and it feels really good,” Teresa said to the camera with a smile.
Chris and Jacqueline Make a Big Bet on Little Kernel
Like the Giudices, the Lauritas had found themselves in a tight spot financially over the last few years. While they had tried to sell their enormous house, they hadn’t succeeded yet and things were still very shaky in terms of cash flow. Still, Chris remained optimistic, reassuring Jacqueline that within 24 months they would have “a completely different life.” (That was supposed to be reassuring.)
Part of that new life hinged on the success of Chris’ latest business venture, Little Kernel popcorn. In addition to a moneymaking enterprise, he hoped to use proceeds to give back to the autism community, since it is a cause close to their hearts. (Though Jacqueline has reported their son is doing much better.)
Envy is the Name of the Game
Despite her husband’s mixed emotions, Melissa plowed full steam ahead toward Envy’s opening night. Jacqueline and her daughter Ashlee showed up for the happy occasion along with Teresa and her daughter Gia, and Siggy.
Siggy wasted no time reporting to Jacqueline that Teresa hadn’t gotten the least bit upset when she’d asked about the rumors. “She said that she was appreciative that I at least came to her,” Siggy said with a smile. Jacqueline was clearly shocked, but didn’t have much to say in response and was clearly wary of fanning the potential fire. Ashlee did chime in (when Siggy wasn’t in earshot) that Teresa wasn’t acting like a “true friend.” Jacqueline also didn’t have much to say to that.
Kathy Wakile, her sister Rosie, Dolores, and Jacqueline’s husband, Chris, also dropped by to toast Melissa’s big night. (Joe Giudice missed the party because he was at his grandmother’s birthday dinner, but Teresa said that was OK because Joe wasn’t that into women’s fashion anyway. Fair enough.) Chris found Teresa and told her that he and Jacqueline really missed hanging out with them as a couple. Teresa was polite, but wasn’t exactly chomping at the bit to make plans with them just yet.
The high point of the night for Melissa was when Joe, seemingly touched by seeing the results of his wife’s hard work, admitted she was “the best wife a man could have.” There’s no doubt that was music to her ears — but only time will tell how long he feels that way.
After the party, Teresa tried to rope her husband into trying yoga but ended up in having a frank discussion with him loosely related to the rumors that had been flying about his cheating. “You know, if you cheated on me, no forgiving,” she said. “You know that, right?” Joe looked a little stunned but said he got it.
Tell Us: Do you think there’s any truth to the rumors about Joe and Teresa’s marriage?
The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs on Bravo Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.
