Purposefully Coincidental ✓

75. Christmas

Josephine

Slowly taking a deep breath, then exhaling. I repeat this a few times before I get the courage to knock.

I'm standing before Leo's parents' front door, holding a box of handmade muffins.

I wanted to cancel today, make up some lame excuse about how I'm not feeling well. But I told Leo in the video yesterday that I'd be here. So I'm here. And I'm not backing out.

I'm not.

Quickly raising my hand and knocking before I lose the nerve, I wait before Aurora herself opens the door.

"Josie!" She grins at me. "Welcome, honey."

All the pep talks I gave myself this morning go down the drain when I hear the word 'honey.' My face crumbles and I instantly feel a tear gathering in the corner of my eyes.

Leo calls me that.

"Oh, sweetie." She coons, coming forward to wrap me in her arms. "It's okay. You can let it out."

I want to let it out, but I made a promise to myself yesterday that I wouldn't cry anymore. And especially not in front of Leo's mother.

I should be the one hugging her, not the other way around.

I will my emotions to stay locked and sniff as I lean out of her arms.

"Sorry." I give her an awkward chuckle. "Leo calls me 'honey' and ..."

"I know." She nods, opening the door wider for me to get in.

"I made these. As a thank you for inviting me." I hand her the muffins.

"Of course." Her smile is big, not an ounce of sadness present. "You're family."

I nod and follow her to where everyone is gathered. I'm engulfed in a lot of hugs from Leo's family, the biggest one from Izzy.

She's a great hugger.

Tentatively, I take a seat near the corner and Mateo sits next to me.

"Hello, beautiful Josie." He greets, a charming smile gracing his lips.

"Hi." I giggle.

"So what's the flavor of the muffins?" He asks.

"Cinnamon." I answer. It's Leo's favorite.

"My fave." He sighs. "Is it like a secret recipe, or are you willing to share it with me?"

"It is a secret recipe." I confirm. "But I'll make an exception for you."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you." He kisses the top of my head and my cheeks flame.

"Stop bugging her, idiota." An older woman says, approaching us. She's their Nonna. I briefly met her at Luca and Izzy's wedding but sadly, I couldn't talk to her much as it was a busy day.

"I'm not doing anything." Mateo defends, standing up and leaving us.

"[Stand up and give me a hug.]" She tells me in Italian when she's close. I do as I'm told and Izzy is now in the number three spot of best huggers after Nonna. Leo is in the first place, of course.

"[Ciao, Nonna.]" Sadly both of my Nonna's have passed away a few years back, and she makes me miss them.

"[How has my favorite grandchild's girl been doing?]"

We pull away, and she makes us sit down. "[I'm doing okay.]" I nod. "[Better each day.]"

She pats my leg; her smile warm. ""[I know it's hard. And know that none of us expected you to react a certain way. God knows each one of us handles it differently. But we're here for you for whatever you need.]"