A Day In A Field Of Roses

A Daisy in a Field of Roses.

Diego Carusso was the definition of fun and lightheartedness. He was jovial, caring, and very sensitive to the things he found. His face looked more like Leon than Max. But he tended to be more talkative like Max.

Ever since he met Leon's wife, Diego couldn't shake the feeling in his chest. The woman was not what he had expected. There was a certain humility in her demeanor, a quietness that didn't match the glamorous image she carried as a celebrity. She seemed misplaced amidst the glitz and glamor of the star world, like a lone daisy in a field of roses.

Diego couldn't help but feel sympathy. Nora reminded him of something or someone he couldn't put his finger on. It was as if she had met him somewhere or at some forgotten time.

"Who is she?" His mind kept wondering even though he was sure she was the first woman he had ever met in his life when he opened the door of his brother's house.

“She looks like a small-town girl lost in the big city,” Diego muttered to himself, his brow furrowed in thought. “Looks nervous and lonely.”

A personality that contrasted with her wealthy background as the heiress to a diamond mine on the African continent.

Inevitably, Diego wondered what Nora was hiding behind that innocent face. He sensed something was up and was determined to uncover the truth.

Leon’s sudden marriage also raised big questions. His brother was not an impulsive person. Leon always acted with a cool head, thoughtful and measured.

“So, how did he suddenly marry a woman just like that?” he grumbled.

The only way he could think of was to pry information from his brother’s personal assistant.

He reached for his phone to call Gina. Gina’s voice sounded faint in the crowd in the background.

“Gina, I need to talk. Give me a time to meet. Please, say yes.”

“There’s no time,” Gina said matter-of-factly. It was her way of talking to Diego, and he never took offense. Sometimes he felt she treated him the same way she treated her children.

“Come on. This is important. I’ll treat you in a nice cafe.”

“I can’t, Diego. I’m taking my boss’s wife shopping.”

Diego’s eyes widened with interest. “Then I’ll join you. Send me your location!”

“You can’t do that, Diego. You’re the leader of the company. You can’t just walk away from work without thinking. What’s the point of you coming anyway? We’re shopping for clothes for Nora.”

That’s exactly what Diego sometimes did. Diane often grumbled that Diego’s lack of responsibility was because he was too coddled as a child.

“Of course I’m useful,” Diego snapped. “Nora hasn’t been in town long, and you’re both crime-prone women. Tell me, does Nora use Leon’s black card?”

“Yes...”

“Is she still as nervous and awkward as she was yesterday?”

“Well... that’s natural, right? She just got married and moved to a strange city...”

“I’ll accompany you to prevent her from accidentally losing the card.”

Gina laughed. She could immediately smell Diego’s subterfuge. “Alright, I’ll share our location with you.”

-------

Diego didn’t think the clothing Nora picked was really interesting. He had gone to and fro with them at upscale stores, and while Nora’s wardrobe selection was nice, it wasn’t nearly as fancy as he had imagined.

“No, not at all. Not this particular one.” In the dressing room, he reached for a dress that Nora was about to try on. “Give it a go. Try it on,” he switched the dress for a green one with a low neck.

Nora gave an eye-roll. “You always make me buy dresses I don’t like.”

Gina chastised him. “You’d better stay out of this, Mr. Diego.” The formal address emphasized her cautionary tone. “Mrs. Carusso can choose for herself.”

Diego gave a wry smirk. All members of the family were aware that Gina had never addressed Diane as “Mrs. Carusso.”

“I still haven’t found the perfect dress for dinner with your family this weekend.” Nora had a troubled expression. “Leon has never provided me with a more thorough description of your parents. I would hate to give the wrong impression.”

“Don’t worry about them...” Diego offered consolation. “Despite her outward strong exterior, my mother is really sensitive on the inside. She is an extremely typical Italian lady. Like she likes Diane, she’ll like you too. My father, on the other hand, will most likely be upset with Leon. But don’t worry, I’ll assist in convincing them.”

“Oh! About Max and Diane’s reaction.” Diego grinned. “Max probably won’t care as much as usual. While Diane... Well she’ll definitely be upset. I’ll give you the best advice to survive in my family: ignore Diane’s temper.

Diane didn’t say a word on the way to Max’s parents’ house. She was still upset with Max for almost making them late for their trip. Max’s plane from Singapore had been delayed for hours, leaving her worried that she would have to go alone without her husband.

“How long are you going to stay like a statue?” Max asked. His hands held the steering wheel. “It’s not my fault the plane was delayed, Diane.”

“I asked you to come home a day early,” Diane snapped. “We’ll disappoint your parents if I come without you.”

“Diane, they won’t be upset.” Max reached out one hand to grasp his wife’s. “They will understand that I can’t come.”

Diane’s annoyance had faded when they finally arrived at John and Angela Carusso’s house. The house was built in the Mediterranean style, had three floors and a beautiful garden in the spacious courtyard.

“Look, we’re here.” Max stopped the car. “I told you, everything will be fine. We made it just in time.”

Diane scowled. She got out of the car. Arguing with Max was like arguing with the wind. Max never really paid attention to her protests.

She was smoothing the wrinkled hem of her dress, while Max was already walking to the door first, when she heard the familiar sound of a car approaching.

Diane turned around and saw the figures getting out of the car. Leon and a woman. She was so startled that she stood transfixed.

“Diane, aren’t you coming?” Max called out to her from the veranda.

The two figures approached her. Leon’s smile seemed looser than usual. “Diane,” he greeted. “I thought you guys were here an hour ago.”

“Max’s plane was delayed,” Diane said. Then her eyes fell on Nora who was standing next to Leon. She seemed to be trying to hide her nervousness. “Hello, Miss Williams. I didn’t expect to see you here again.”

“Yes,” Nora said. “How are you, Diane? Nice to meet you again.”

Diane looked at Leon who looked calm. Suddenly she had a bad feeling. “Well, Leon... It was a surprise to have Miss Williams here.”

Leon just nodded. “Let’s go in,” he invited.

On the veranda, Max called out again. “Diane, why are you still standing there?”