Clarisse still found it odd to roll over in the middle of the night and be in someone's arms. Because it was Joseph, however, it was always easier and she was getting better about not being so nervous. This particular night Joseph had gone to bed far earlier than Clarisse and when she walked into the bedroom he was fast asleep and snoring gently with the blankets down around his waist. Clarisse smiled as she pulled the blankets up to cover Joseph. She was used to him snoring now, though she had trouble with it at first, even though Rupert used to snore.
Clarisse entered the closet and changed into her pyjamas. She walked back into the bedroom and saw Joseph curled into the fluffy duvet. She hated to fling the covers back and get into bed; it would let the cold air in and would probably wake Joseph up. Clarisse considered staying on the settee, but then decided she would be in as much trouble if she did that as she would if she woke Joseph up. Clarisse padded silently, in bare feet, across the room and jumped into bed. As predicted she managed to wake Joseph up just as she pulled the covers up and sunk into her pillow.
"Where have you been?" Joseph asked as he rolled over to face Clarisse. "I was expecting you to be in bed hours ago."
"I had some paperwork to finish. It took me longer than I thought it was going to." Clarisse said this as she slipped her arm around Joseph's waist and placed a kiss on his cheek. "I'm sorry I woke you up. Go back to sleep, Joseph, I'll see you in the morning."
"Can't we talk for a minute? I've hardly seen you all day. You've been so busy planning Mia's wedding that I've hardly seen you for a whole week." Joseph reached out and pulled Clarisse very close to him.
Clarisse yawned into Joseph's chest as he spoke. "What do you want to talk about? Why do you want to talk now? It's two in the morning and I'm tired. We'll talk over breakfast tomorrow." Clarisse laid her head in the crook of Joseph's arm and tried to go to sleep. The sound of Joseph's heart beating always helped her sleep.
Joseph smiled as Clarisse fell asleep. She looked so angelic. He could hardly be angry with her. He smoothed her hair back off her face and sank down into the bed with his chin on the top of Clarisse's head. Clarisse rolled over carefully in her sleep and Joseph's hand came to rest on her stomach.