You Can Hug Me

Chapter 2

You Could Hug Me

“Come on, Nora.” Gently, Leon led her into the house, following Max and Diane. “Don’t worry, I was with you.”

But Nora felt very nervous, even though she knew she would have to face any risks associated with her contract marriage with Leon. Meeting Leon’s parents was just one of them.

“Come on. You had to be strong for two million dollars.” She encouraged herself in the mirror. That much money could be used to buy an apartment so she didn’t have to rent anymore, and it was still more than enough to apply to the fashion school she wanted.

That’s why, when she met Diane, she managed to return her greeting without stammering. Her nervousness was kept well below the surface, though she was sure Diane’s probing gaze could tell.

The important thing was that she didn’t embarrass herself. She half-expected Leon to be proud of her, because this charade was for him.

She followed Leon and the others into the quiet, cool house.

Everything looked artistic and gave off a warm vibe. It reminded Nora of her mother’s house in Bar Harbor, which had the same atmosphere. Perhaps there were similarities between Angela Carusso and Beth Williams.

If so then she would have an easier time winning Angela over.

“I told my parents I was bringing someone. I guess they thought I was coming with Gina.” Leon told her on the way over. “My mom said I didn’t need a report, because she already knew I wouldn’t come alone since I wasn’t very independent and bossy.”

Nora smiled, she chatted a lot with Gina while shopping for clothes. “I wished your mom knew that Gina was the one who was bossy.”

“So prepared yourself mentally, Nora. My mom would probably faint when she saw me bringing a beautiful girl to a family event, since it was my first time.”

However, Angela Carusso did not faint. When she saw Nora enter the living room with Leon, she hurriedly released Max’s embrace and walked over.

“Hello, Mama.” Leon kissed his mother’s cheek, while Angela’s eyes were glued to Nora, looking at her curiously. “I had to introduce someone to you all.”

Nora quietly looked around. Max and Diane sat on one of the couches, watching and waiting. Meanwhile, a man approached them. He was an older version of Max. His black hair was graying. His figure gave off the same impression as Leon. Authoritative, cold and serious.

“Did you bring a surprise for us, son?” he asked in his heavy voice.

“Yes, it was indeed a surprise.” Leon nodded, being calm, much to Nora’s amazement. “This was Nora. My wife.”

Diane’s shocked squeal was heard across the room. Meanwhile, her husband laughed. “Wow! What a brilliant surprise, Leon. Congratulations to you!”

‘Maybe now Angela would faint,’ Nora thought, looking forward to the moment. However, Angela’s only reaction was stunned.

She covered her gaping mouth with the palm of her hand, then sat down on the sofa with her face bright red from shock.

“Wait...explain it to me,” John said. “What did you mean?”

“It wasn’t a funny joke, Leon.” Diane said. “Miss Nora Williams was an endorser for one of Diego’s apartment projects.”

“Not anymore,” Leon said coldly. “Since you were planning to put her up for our project in Johannesburg.”

“Johannesburg?” Max said, dumbfounded. “You wanted to put Leon’s girl in South Africa?” He turned to his wife.

“I didn’t know they had a relationship!” snapped Diane exasperatedly.

Apparently, things were getting heated. Nora’s eyes searched the room for Diego, but he was nowhere to be seen. Diego had promised to defend them.

“I knew this came as a shock to you,” Leon said. “But we really were married. I could show you the documents. We got married in New York City because Nora lived there.”

“Leon, you couldn’t do this to us...” his mother complained. “You weren’t a child to be impulsive. We were Italian, we had to do it right. You had to get married in a church, I had to invite our extended family, relatives, friends....”

“Mama, the fact was we were married. Everything else wasn’t important.”

“How could you say that?” snapped Angela. “So,

what would they say about you suddenly being married?”

“Why should we care about them? People could only gossip.” Diego entered the room. His smile was wide and bright.

He stood next to Leon and put his arm around his brother’s shoulders. “Leon had found his true love and married her. Wasn’t that what you wanted all along? And my new sister-in-law was a good woman. She deserved your blessing. Your grumbling would make her feel bad.”

“Diego was right, Angela.” John finally spoke up.

“She was innocent. Our careless son brought her into our family in a careless way.” John turned to Nora and gave her a reassuring smile. “Welcome to our family, Nora. I was glad, however, that you were willing to marry my most stubborn son. We would talk more about your marriage after dinner. I was starving now.” John turned to Angela. “Come on, darling,” he coaxed. “Wasn’t today our wedding anniversary?”

“You were always like that,” Angela complained.

“You were no different from Leon.”

However, in the end they all went to the dining room. The large table was already set with tableware and candles lit.

They chose their seats and as arranged, they were all perfectly positioned. John sat at the head of the table, Angela was at the far left, while to her right was Max. Diane of course sat next to Max. Meanwhile, Leon sat next to his mother, and Nora sat between herself and Diego.

Someone appeared. Nora recognized her. It was Jane, who asked if the food could be served.

“Yes,” Angela said. “Please bring everything here.”

Dish after dish was served and they began to eat. The tension in the room was still palpable. Diane was still pouting, her annoyance evident in the way she took her food. Max tried to engage her in conversation to break the ice, but his efforts were to no avail.

Meanwhile, Angela remained silent, while her eyes stared occasionally at Leon next to her. It was as if she was eager to pry into her son’s mind to find out the reason for his sudden marriage. Her husband tried to steer her towards a safe topic, but just like Max, he failed.

On the other hand, Nora felt like everyone was watching her and it made her nervous control almost fall apart. However, she stoically refused to show her weakness and tried to smile politely and answer politely whenever she was asked.

Finally, after dessert was served, Leon signaled to Nora that it was time for them to leave.

“You usually stayed for a cup of coffee, dear.”

Angela looked disappointed. “And I hadn’t had a chance to chat with Nora yet.” The look on her face wasn’t as tense as before. Apparently her annoyance had been overcome by her curiosity about her new daughter-in-law. “Would you like to come over again, Nora?” She asked Nora. “I apologized if I made you feel uncomfortable. John was right, however, you were part of this family now.”

“It’s okay I understood your surprise. It was my pleasure to invite you over anytime.”

“Nora would have more free time for a while,” Leon said. At the dinner table, they had discussed Nora’s work a little. “Mama, you could take Nora to lunch.”

“Of course.” Angela’s eyes lit up. “It was a good idea. How about a three-way lunch. Diane could come along.”

“Sure,” Diane said lazily. “It would be my pleasure.”

“Hey, what about me?” Diego asked enviously. “Did I have to find a wife so she could join you?”

“Get one then.” Max replied. “As if you’d have any luck.”

When she was finally able to leave the house, Nora breathed a sigh of relief. She was grateful that the tension of the dinner had finally melted away.

She turned to Leon who was walking next to her towards the exit and couldn’t help but sympathize with him. Although he looked calm, he must also have been feeling the pressure of his family’s disapproval.

Outside, the night air was dry and cool as they stepped into Leon’s car. Nora’s hand reached out, grabbed Leon’s hand and clasped it.

Leon turned his head. And before he could speak, Nora was already ahead of him. “Yes, you could hug me...”

Leon embraced her body, bringing her to his warm chest. “Thank you,” he said. That was all he could say.

Sophie canceled her departure to Washington D.C. at the last second before boarding, due to a problem in her office. She learned from her father to prioritize company obligations over personal matters.

So, she called Angela to let her know she wasn't coming.

In her office, while going through the chaotic documents on her desk, she imagined her uncle, aunt and cousins being disappointed that she couldn't come. She was very sorry about that.

However, she didn't know that none of them remembered her, as they were more interested in Nora, Leon's wife.

Sophie was also still very curious about her. So, when Nando knocked on the door and came in, she told him to book a new plane ticket to Washington D.C. for a departure date in the next two days.