Sticky Notes- I thank you everyone for the reviews. I have already written a lot of this story on paper so you won't have to wait long for it to unfold. My goal is show the friendship of Joe and Clarisse and people living with the burden of royalty but to examine them as people….They will do some uncharacteristic things but I hope you will find them fun and enjoyable…..Onyx
Joe and Spock returned home to fire up the grill on the large deck in the back. He loved to barbeque and did it often during the spring and summer. Spock made no objections.
When Joseph started work at the palace he was only seventeen. He was given a suite in the palace not far from Clarisse's office. Ten years later, King Rupert presented Joseph with five acres of land south of the palace, across the brook as gratitude for exemplary service to the crown. Secretly, Joe knew that Rupert wanted him away from Clarisse when he was off duty. He couldn't blame the king. Clarisse was twenty-eight, gentle and refined but the chemistry between them even then was rebellious.
However much he regretted being separated from the object of his affection, he was grateful for a place of his own. Dominic, who was Joe's lifelong best friend from New York City, was all too eager to help build up the cottage. It consisted of three bedrooms, an enormous kitchen because Joseph loved cooking almost as much as Clarisse, a large den with an office and a cellar that he kept his exercise equipment in. The back deck was added a year later. From the deck he could see the town of Mertz and the ocean. It was as close to heaven as Joe could describe. Three years previous, he and Dom built a natural spring pool fifty feet from the house.
He cooked two big steaks on the grill, along with a baked potato and sugar peas over the fire. He prayed for the meal put in an extra thank you to God for his encounter with Clarisse, and he and Spock chomped at their steaks.
After he'd washed the dishes, he turned the laptop on and jumped to myspace. A new message had come from Strawberry Sunset.
Have you seen the movie Bringing Up Baby? I think Cary and Kate Hepburn are hilarious in that movie. You're correct, To Catch a Thief is in my top three favorites. Thank you for adding me as a friend too. I was looking over your pictures. You are a rather handsome fellow. Puerto Rican, am I correct? Do you get compared to Patrick Stewart at all? I think he's gorgeous as well. Speaking of gorgeous, I was drooling over your 1967 Mustang. Do you still have it? I think those questions should keep you busy. My name is Grace and it's nice to have someone to talk to. There are a lot of creeps on the internet. So far you look safe. TTYL
He laughed at the note and felt as if he'd found a nice new friend. He went to her page and read about her interests in music. She liked everything from Merle Haggard to The Eagles. She was fifty-four, which was a year older than he was. He current amount of friends were 33 and he hadn't yet made the top of the list. He clicked back to her message and clicked on reply.
Bringing Up Baby, wow I haven't seen that movie in years. I am more a fan of the movie Notorious myself. I will re-watch that and get back to you. Handsome? I was going for dashing. LOL I'm only kidding. My granddaughter's friend referred to me as Shaft. (I guess you'd have to understand her humor) You are absolutely right. I was born in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico and lived there until I was almost seventeen. I then moved here to Genovia to apprentice architecture. I've been here ever since. I've learned nine different trades and speak two and a half languages. I say half because I understand French but have a hard time speaking it. Patrick Stewart, funny you should mention him. Something you might've missed on my page is my love of Star Trek. It's funny when you're bald you either get compared to Patrick, Kojack or Ben Kinglsey. I'm just leaning toward bowling ball shiny. I no longer have my Mustang or as I called her "Clara" ironically enough I drove her off a cliff. I was more agile in those days. I see you're from Brooklyn. My best friend Dominic is from the Bronx. He's not blood but he's as close to it as my other brothers. He owns a restaurant in Philligran (a small town in Genovia) called the Dancing Meatball. The neon sign outside is a picture of a gangster firing a tommy gun at a meatball. I'll send you a picture next time I'm down there. Nice to talk with you. By the way may I recommend the movie "Notorious?" Its another great Hitchcock flick. TTYL
Joe sent the message and shut down his PC after checking his watch. It was close to 6:15 so he had time for a shower.
After the shower he changed into a pair of denim cutoffs, leaving his chest bare. He place his favorite black Harley Davidson baseball cap turned backward, on his head grabbed his Dr. Pepper (specially imported from the U.S.) and the phone and went out back to sit on the lounge chair on the deck. The phone rang in his hand.
"You're three minutes late tonight." He said.
"I'm sorry, I was on the phone with Mia and she was even more chatty as usual, if that's possible. She was talking about some called Xbox and a game with a guitar."
"Ah yes. I have that game as well. Very addictive."
"Well she was all excited and I couldn't get her to stop. Anyway how was your dinner?"
"Best steak in Genovia. You missed out…again. Spock is so full he won't even come outside with me. Lazy mutt." He laughed.
"You spoil him."
"He's never had dog food a day in his life. If he starts on kibble than so do I. He watches daddy very closely."
She laughed at his teasing manner.
"Are you in your pajamas yet?" He asked changing the subject.
"Indeed."
"All right. My bet tonight is on the purple satin with the golden monogram on it."
"Correct!" She said triumphantly.
"Really? I am on a winning streak. I guessed last night and the night before correctly too."
"You are my head of security. I half wonder if you can see me from there."
"Or you could very well be lying to me."
"I could but I'm not."
"Care to prove it?" He challenged.
"Are you coming over to see for yourself?"
"Not likely. Spock would not approve of me keeping late hours at the palace. And even if I did, not a good idea, both of us in pajamas could be dangerous."
"What do you propose?"
"Send me a picture with your new cell phone."
"You know how inept I am at these things."
"I knew you'd say that. Check your email I sent you the instructions. I'm hanging up now. When I get the picture I will call you back."
He laughed knowing she'd gone pale at his suggestion. He was patient with her and was determined to help her learn technology.
Ten minutes later a message came on his phone from "My Love" This was the name he called her in his phone list. Her picture revealed the pajamas and a shy smile. He took one of himself with a thumbs up and sent it back. He ran inside for another soda and got comfortable again before re-dialing her.
"What is that on your shoulder?" She asked immediately.
"A tattoo."
"You have a tattoo?"
"I have three."
"Three?"
"Yes the one on my shoulder is a black wolf growling fiercely with red eyes. She is protecting her cubs. The second is on my back. It's an eagle dressed in biker gear with a black Harley shirt and a bandana. The third is on my right chest muscle."
"Why didn't you describe that one?"
"Too personal."
"Is it vulgar?"
"There is nothing on my body that is vulgar, Clarisse."
"Then why is it so personal? Is it an old girlfriend's name?"
"Not exactly. Leave it alone I'm not going to tell you. He laughed. There is only one way to see it and when you want to come over I'll kick Spock off your side of the bed."
He hadn't meant sex. All he had wanted was to hold her. But no less he could feel her blush through the phone.
"I-I-I…"
"I'm sorry Clarisse. I wish you could trust me."
"Trust was never the problem Joseph. I'm the Queen of Genovia. I can't just pretend to be someone else for the sake of sleeping with you."
"Do you really think that I'm that shallow? Would I deny that I want to hold you in my arms all night? Of course not! You're the most beautiful woman in the world. And you have the heart and soul to match it. I want to see that part of your soul that you don't share with anyone."
"And what would the people of Genovia say?"
"Last time I looked, there were no movie cameras setup in my house. And I think this country would be happy to see you smile."
"I do smile."
"No the Queen of Genovia smiles. My Clarisse hasn't smiled since her son died."
"You try losing a son, see how well you do."
"I did."
"What?"
"You forget that I knew those boys all their life. You and King Rupert might have produced them but I loved them. They were like my sons."
"I'm sorry Joseph. You are right. My boys adored you and even now Pierre asks about you. And now you are good to Amelia. I guess it's me who isn't ready."
"Yes I know. I'm not trying to push you. I'm being selfish and I'm sorry."
"On the contrary, you are the most unselfish man I know."
"Thank you. With that I'm going to bed. Goodnight Darling Clarisse."
"Sweet dreams."
"Only if you are in them. Goodnight."
If he only knew how often Clarisse fought off the urge to run to him. For now she had to take the lonely silence of her royal throne.