The song lyrics are 'Summer Rain' by Belinda Carlisle
The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!
BJ and Lynn were surprised and touched when Joe asked them out to dinner, but they readily accepted the invitation, and the four of them decided to go out the evening before Joe and Clarisse flew home, to a fancy restaurant 20 minutes away.
"I didn't know why you had to do this," BJ said as they drove to the restaurant that night. "Joseph never did anything when he stayed with us before… just came and went with no thank you…" BJ shot an amused look at his brother, who only laughed, before defending himself.
"I did not!" he protested hotly as, beside him, Clarisse chuckled quietly- somehow she couldn't imagine Joseph being rude to anyone… firm, maybe, but not rude…
"Alright, maybe he did thank us, but he NEVER took us out, so that's obviously your influence, Clarisse, so I'm impressed… but you don't need to impress us- you're already part of the Bonnell tribe!"
This time, it was Clarisse's turn to laugh, although blushing bright red at the same time.
"I was always told to show my appreciation to my hosts, wherever I stayed, and it's a habit I've managed to retain," Clarisse said sweetly.
When they arrived at the restaurant, BJ insisted Clarisse and Joe sit next to each other, saying with a mocking grin:
"We all know you play handsies (and probably footsies as well) under the table!" and Clarisse went red again at his words- she had hoped that they had never been that obvious. "Two years married, and you're still acting like newlyweds!"
"So what… it sounds like you're jealous!" Joe muttered as he held Clarisse's chair out for her, and BJ laughed as he and Lynn sat down opposite them.
"I don't think so… but I do have to agree with Mia…"
"About what?"
"That you two make a cute couple!" and BJ laughed even harder as Joe shuddered, knowing how he detested the expression, but Clarisse doubted it. He may have pretended to be annoyed every time teased them about being a 'cute couple', but she suspected that he didn't mind… all that mattered to him was that everyone considered them 'together', a couple, and it didn't matter what adjective was used to describe them.
After they were seated, the waiter had taken their order, and their drinks arrived shortly after, BJ looked thoughtfully at Clarisse. He was looking at her so long that she grew puzzled, and a little shy- she had always hated being stunned at, although she had grown used to it over the years- before she finally had to ask BJ:
"Why are you looking so thoughtfully at me, BJ?"
"Nothing… actually, I can't believe that my brother is FINALLY…" (Joseph and Clarisse exchanged a conspiratorial smile at the word 'finally'). "…Finally married to the former Queen of Genovia!"
"Thanks a lot!" Joe grinned, pretending to sound insulted. "You sound surprised that I actually managed to make a commitment to someone…. You know very well I was committed to someone long ago!"
"Really- who?" Clarisse quipped with a gentle smile, and Joseph gave her a tender look, before BJ interrupted the intimate moment.
"No, no… I was trying to say it's great to see that your relationship was and is so rock solid… even though you had to wait so long to make it official…" before Lynn interrupted him.
"What BJ's trying to say is that we're all glad you were finally able to get married, and it's clear you're very happy together."
"We are," Clarisse affirmed, reaching over and rubbing Joseph's shoulder happily. She wished she could show how happy she really was, but she couldn't- some things were meant to be private…
"But I would like to propose a toast to Clarisse anyway," BJ suddenly burst out, and Clarisse flushed. "Clarisse… I just want to thank you for making my brother so very happy," he looked at her seriously, and she was very touched. "I seriously doubted he would ever get married… and I did try my best to get him a girlfriend!"
"Yes he did… every time I came home to visit," Joseph smiled at the memory. "Sadly, he had no idea about what type…"
"But I soon realised what type you liked," BJ gave him a sly smile before turning back to Clarisse. "But he obviously chose the best, even though it took a long time for you two to get together, but I'm sure you were worth waiting for."
"She was," Joe affirmed, resting a hand on top of hers.
"So… to Clarisse!" BJ raised his glass to her, followed by Lynn and Joseph, while Clarisse sipped her wine, touched but embarrassed, and tried not to look uncomfortable, and BJ had to chuckle impishly at Joseph.
"Your wife really doesn't like compliments or toasts, does she?"
"No, she doesn't, but it doesn't stop me at all- in fact, I just give her more compliments… it's rather endearing to watch her go red…" he was teasing, but he looked over at Clarisse with a warm smile, and she didn't mind.
"It's not my fault," Clarisse said calmly. "Vanity was never encouraged in the palace- I was never praised when I was Princess and Queen, so I accepted that as the norm… we looked perfect, but that was to be expected, and Rupert was never one to really compliment anyone… well, maybe not me…" she trailed off for a minute, the others feeling rather sad for her, before she smiled brightly.
"Thus, it may see rather vain to accept compliments… but I'm getting used to it…" she beamed over at her husband- she would never admit it, but she loved Joseph complimenting her- it showed that he adored her, and it boosted her self confidence…
"Joe was always a ladies man," BJ commented with a grin as their waiter arrived with the entrees and Joe grinned- his comment was very similar to what his mother had said when she finally found out about Clarisse…
***********************
It was a cold Christmas Eve, snow falling steadily outside as, inside, the Bonnell family gathered at Joseph and BJ's parents house for Christmas- and this year Joe was there too, as he had been given time off, at Clarisse's insistence.
"You've spent so many of your Christmases on duty, watching us, so I thought yo9u should spend some time with your own family- you deserve it," she had reasoned with a smile, seeing the stunned expression on Joseph's face- she really was serious about him having time off…
"I don't know…" he had hesitated, not very inclined to leave her alone with Rupert as they had been going through a rough patch, barely speaking to each other… but she was shaking her head definitely, knowing he was making excuses not to go away but, while she appreciated his loyalty to her, she also knew he deserved the break.
"No, you should go- I insist," she smiled, knowing his reasons. "The boys will be home, so I'll be fine…" before she had led him towards her closed study doors. Her hand was already on the door handle when he suddenly blurted out:
"But if you need me…" and she turned around, her hand dropping from the handle as she smiled at him.
"I know, I know- I've got your mobile phone number, and I've had it quite a while," she teased before she impulsively leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
"Have a wonderful Christmas, Joseph," she said with a sweet smile as he stared at her. He had started for a moment, startled at Clarisse's impulsive gesture- they hadn't yet kissed, but they both knew their feelings for each other were deep- before he lifted her hand to his lips, she giggling at the touch of his goatee on her skin, before he kissed it, his eyes still on hers.
"Merry Christmas, Clarisse," he replied softly, but the intense yet tender look in his eyes was making her feel hot and cold at the same time, her face on fire, her arms covered with goosebumps… and he could sense it. She hated being vulnerable around anyone, but she knew she could trust him- he liked her for herself, not her title…
000
He smiled again the memory as he sat at the kitchen table, watching his mother Alice, now in her early 70s, milling around the cosy kitchen, preparing for her annual Christmas Eve meal. Richard, his father, and BJ were watching television, while Lynn and their four children were in the house somewhere.
"It's so nice to have everyone here for the holidays," Alice said, turning to give him a warm smile before she retuned to stirring something on the stove, and Joe laughed as they heard BJ bellowing at the T.V.
"Did you want to take that last comment back?" Joe teased.
"Maybe," she looked pensive for a moment, before shaking her head with a smile. "No, I'm glad that everyone's here… especially you," she looked at him pointedly. "It's been a long time since you were last here for Christmas."
"I can't help it if I'm the Queen's Head of Security, and have to work," Joe said in an amused tone just as BJ came into the room in search of beer.
"Yes, my brother is a workaholic," BJ said flippantly as he reached into the fridge and retrieved two beers. "It's amazing that he was able to get here this year!" but he was only teasing.
"Stop that!" Alice scolded, gently slapping BJ on the shoulder as he passed, and she shook her head disbelievingly at her son's retreating back, chuckling, before she turned back to look at Joseph. "But I also do find it amazing that you managed to get some time off…" she trailed off, and he grinned- she was fishing for something…
"Actually, Her Majesty insisted that I take some time off," he looked down at the table, pushing a pencil so he could avoid his mother's gaze…
"That was very nice of her," Alice said lightly as she wiped down the bench. "By the way, how IS the royal family?"
"All are well- the boys will be home, and His Majesty's busier than ever…" "What about Her Majesty?" "She's well and busy..." but there was something in his voice that made his mother put down her cloth and look at him.
"But…?" she encouraged.
"But…she's not happy at the moment."
"How do you know that?" Alice sat down opposite, alert and he suddenly realised he had said more than he had meant to. "Joseph?" "I work for her, Mother, so I spend a great deal of time with her, and I can see that she's not happy… she doesn't need to say anything, but I can tell." "Does she talk to you?" Alice was surprised.
"Yes… we're friends," Joseph said simply.
Alice paused for a moment, wondering whether she dared to ask him what she had been wondering about for a while, before she decided to have it out- she knew Joseph would appreciate that.
"Do you have feelings for her?"
There was another slight pause, Alice wondering whether she had gone too far, but Joseph was trying to decide what to say when… suddenly…
"What's going on?" Richard Bonnell asked as he strode into the kitchen. "Don't tell me you're grilling Joseph about his relationships?" he teased Alice. "Don't tell me Joe is finally ready to commit to someone?" he joked as he disappeared into the cupboard, emerging with a box of biscuits.
"Don't yo spoil your appetite!" Alice scolded gently as he passed, squeezing her shoulder.
"I won't… but Joe, don't you let your mother railroad you into confessing anything- she's convinced you're never going to get married!" before, laughing, he left the room.
"That man," Alice muttered, rolling her eyes, before she looked at Joe intently. "But now that that interruption is gone, you can answer my question!" she teased, not willing to le the subject go.
"Well…" he hesitated, still looking at the table, before looking at her. "Yes, I do…"
Alice considered this for a moment, before asking: "Do you know if she feels the same way?" in a much gentler tone, well aware that she was grilling him, but it was the first time he had admitted much about his personal relationships.
"Yes, I know she feels the same way," he said softly, pride shining in his eyes and, for a moment, joy coursed through Alice- her son had finally found love… before she realised something else… he was in love with the very married Queen of Genovia!
"It's lovely," Alice said carefully, weighing up her words. "But you do realise that a) she's Queen of Genovia; and b) she's also married?" He smiled at how his usually straight forward, blunt mother was choosing her words carefully, quite unlike her, so he decided to let her out of her misery and tell her the truth.
"Yes Mama, I know she's married and Queen of Genovia, but we're just friends…" he was still hoping to fob her off, although he knew it was impossible, as proved when she gave him a knowing look.
"Just friends?" she prodded gently, and he grinned.
"Alright, we're more than friends, although nothing has happened between us," he was quick to add when he saw her open her mouth. "Yes, I know it's impossible to marry her, but I've accepted that," he said with a shy smile.
"So you do know that the one you love may never be available?"
"Yes, and I've accepted that," Joe replied calmly. "She is the only one I want… Besides, isn't there a saying that it's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all?"
"Touché," Alice said with a smile, leaning over and patting his hand. "I'm just worried that you may never experience marriage… I just don't want you to be lonely- you have a big heart, and you deserve to be loved, and for it to be real." "It is real, and Clarisse…" Alice instantly noted the use of the Queen's name- it was serious. "Clarisse is the only one I want and I can honestly leave the rest." Alice smiled at him, pleased and happy that he had found 'the One', but she also had concerns.
"Just be very careful," she said seriously. "She is married to the King of Genovia, and he is the most powerful person in Genovia- he could make trouble for you… he could fire you."
"No he couldn't," Joe replied with a slightly smug smile. "She told him that she's the only one with the authority to fire me, and she won't be doing that." Alice sighed again- it certainly confirmed to her that Clarisse felt strongly about him- but she was still worried about Joseph, and the King's reaction, and Joe was quick to reassure her.
"Believe me, we are both aware of the dangers of our relationship, including the gossip that's already started up, but…" he suddenly turned coy, and Alice softened- she had never seen him this shy about anyone else, before he continued.
"But this is different- I really care about her, and I want to protect him… this is not as a bodyguard speaking, but as me… we may only ever be friends, though, and I'm happy about that."
"You were always such a ladies man," Alice said teasingly as she leaned over and stroked his cheek. "You always seemed to be dating, but we never met any of them…"
"That's because none of them seemed right."
"Then I'm happy that you've found your soul mate… I may still have some concerns, but you can't help who you love, so, if you're happy then I'm happy… I just wish we could meet her- from what you've said about her and what I've read about her, she sounds lovely…" "She is," Joe said with a proud smile. "She really is- you would love her."
**************************
"Our mother really was a smart cookie," BJ said with a smile as Clarisse discreetly dabbed at her eyes- she had never known, but she could well understand Alice's concerns. "She tried to get me to talk to him, ask a few questions, but I'm…"
"Not too tactful, but we all know that," Lynn joked at BJ rolled his eyes.
"Funny… but seriously, Clarisse," BJ said in a kind tone, looking at Clarisse solemnly. "I can say, with absolute certainty, that she would have loved you… anyone who managed to make Joey settle down (which is a miracle in itself)," he shot Joe an amused look before turning back to Clarisse. "… Is pretty special, and would have won her instant and lifelong approval!"
"Hey!" Joe protested with a slight smile. "You make it sound as though I was a playboy who NEVER wanted to settle down!"
"Well, you certainly took your time before finally getting married!" BJ replied, and Joe was about to retort back that he had waited a long time before marrying himself, but Clarisse came to his rescue.
"Don't worry, darling," Clarisse said reassuringly, resting her hand on top of Joseph's. "You were just waiting for the perfect woman!" she added smartly as Lynn laughed, and BJ looked sceptical.
"The perfect woman? I don't think she exists… ow!" he added as Lynn gave him a slap on the arm, before changing the subject as their main meals arrived.
"This really has been a good night," BJ said after dessert as he sat back in his chair. "I'm going to have to go on a diet after this!"
"What took you so long to realise that?" Joseph teased gently, and BJ pretended to look insulted, before he noticed that other couples were on the dance floor, and stood up, smiling at Clarisse.
"Would you care to dance with your only brother in law?"
"I would love to," Clarisse replied with a smile, after a swift look at Joseph. "I've only been dancing with members of parliament or my husband lately, so…"
"Be prepared for the master of the dance!" BJ joked before he led Clarisse out on the floor. Joe and Lynn watched them for a moment before Joe turned to his sister in law with a smile.
"Shall we join them?"
"Definitely," Lynn replied with a smile.
After one dance, Joe manoeuvred Lynn over to where BJ and Clarisse were dancing. "May we cut in?" he inquired.
"Of course," Clarisse smiled as she stepped away from BJ for Lynn, and Joseph quickly swept his wife up in his arms.
"It's about time I dance with you," he murmured and she laughed.
"I don't know why you're complaining- we always dance together at any parties we go to," she teased.
"I'm not complaining, I'm just commenting… besides, we very rarely have many opportunities to dance…"
"As we rarely go out," Clarisse added with a laugh.
"Exactly, and I do love dancing with you… it's an intimate way of being together in public..." and Clarisse only smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder.
She had always loved dancing with him too… not only because it was a way of being close to Joseph when they were still keeping their relationship quiet, but she always felt safe in his arms… not to mention the fact that he was a natural dancer…
"They are such a lovely couple," Lynn commented as she and BJ watched them. "They are so devoted to each other…"
"It's been that way for a long time," BJ said wisely. "My mother may have had concerns, but I always knew Joe would never have committed to anyone until he knew it was right… obviously Clarisse was right for him… now they're making up for last time!"
Meanwhile, Clarisse suddenly remembered Joseph's story about his conversation with his mother, and she looked at him.
"Were you ever going to tell me about your mother?" she asked, and he smiled.
"Sometime… did it upset you?" he was concerned- he had seen her tears.
"No, no… I just felt I understood her concerns- at the time, I was married, possibly for the foreseeable future, and you could have missed out on marriage because of me… it must have worried your mother a great deal," she said a little guiltily.
"It did, but I told her that it was you or no one, and she came to accept it… Mother was always a reasonable person… But look at me now- married nearly two years to my soul mate! I knew I would win in the end!" he laughed, and she joined in, before giving him a sly look.
"I notice you never told your brother about who called you on Boxing Day…"
"I figured it wasn't his business… but I suspect he knew who it was anyway…"
*************************
It was the day after Christmas, and the family spent it quietly, both BJ and Richard still recovering from the celebrating they had done the previous day. Joseph, who hadn't partaken as much as they had, wasn't particularly sympathetic to their plight.
"Serves you right for eating too much," he teased as he sat down opposite his suffering brother with a plate of trifle, secretly enjoying paying him out.
"You can really be a pain sometimes, you know that?" BJ groaned when he saw the plate and Joe couldn't help but laugh. "Just you wait until you get in a sticky spot, and I'm going to get you big time!"
"I'd like to see you try," Joe retorted before his mobile began ringing.
"Who would be calling YOU on Boxing Day?" BJ asked churlishly as Joe stood up.
"I don't know," he shrugged, hiding a smile (he had already seen the number), before leaving the room, and answering the phone as he headed upstairs. "Hello you."
"Hello Joseph… how did you know it was me?" Clarisse sounded surprised on her end as she stretched out on the couch in front of her open fireplace, a cushion under her head.
"Two things told me it was you… One, I'm psychic and two…"
"You saw my name on your caller identification," Clarisse concluded, feeling a little foolish.
"Exactly," he replied as he stepped into the guest room where he was staying, and closed the door behind him. "So… how are you?"
"I'm fine… just stretched out in front of the fire," she said happily, trying to sound lazy and contented, but he could hear the loneliness in her voice.
"Where are the boys and Rupert?"
"Out hunting with a few friends- they'll be back at nightfall… what about you?" "My poor brother and father over indulged yesterday, so they are trying to recover today, but I'm fine…" Clarisse laughed at the unsympathetic tone in his voice.
"You're usually so sympathetic to me when I'm ill, Joseph, so why can't you do the same for your own brother?"
"You can't help it when you're sick," he protested. "BJ's malady is simply from over indulgence, but I'm sure he and Dad will be back eating and drinking by tonight… my mother always makes Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day mainly food days- the more we eat, the better!"
"It sounds wonderful," Clarisse sounded wistful, and Joe again wished that it could have been possible for her to have had dinner with his family.
"It's not all that great," he said hurriedly, and she chuckled.
"You don't need to make me feel better, Joseph- I can imagine your family's Christmas would be different to mine."
"How was yours?" Joseph suddenly asked.
"Quiet- the boys were here and we did the usual… spent the day together, attended church, dinner, the usual…" Clarisse said matter of factly, but they both knew it wasn't the type of Christmas she had ever wanted.
There was an awkward pause on Clarisse's end, before she said, albeit reluctantly.
"Well, I suppose I had better let you get off the phone so you can spend some time with your family…" before Joe interrupted her.
"No, you don't have to do that… in fact, I'm not going to let you," he joked as he sat down and leaned against the bed head. "I've seen my family quite a lot in the past few days, and they're driving me crazy, so I'm more than happy to talk to you…"
***********************
"Did anyone realise that you spent nearly two hours on the phone to me?" she teased as they walked back to their table, where BJ and Lynn were already seated.
"No, and I wouldn't have told anyway, even though BJ, if he had been feeling better, wouldn't have let it go!"
"Hey, I have a great idea!" BJ cried when they sat down. "It's not too late, so why don't we go next door for a night cap? You've treated us to dinner, so we can treat you to some nightcaps."
"That sounds like fun," Clarisse said simply, and Joe nodded in agreement.
"Might as well…yes, it does sound like fun!"
However, he was ready to back out on the whole idea when they stepped into the bar 'next door', and it turned out to be a nightclub- an almost packed nightclub.
"What on earth are we doing here?" he practically shouted into BJ's ear as they stood in the doorway, and BJ grinned at him.
"Just thought we'd try something new… we'd better try and find a table."
Clarisse was curiously looking around as she walked between Joseph and BJ- she had never been in a nightclub like this, and she knew why… it was loud and noisy, and completely packed… a place Joseph would never take her to, or let her go into…
She caught the eye of a middle aged man with a black beard, and she was shocked when he winked at her… did that man just hit on her, or tried to?
"Here we are!" BJ finally stopped at a table, and Clarisse hastily sat down between Lynn and Joseph. "I'll go and get some drinks…Joe, did you want to help?"
While the men made their way to the bar, Clarisse couldn't stop looking around- she was sure that they were probably the oldest people there, but it was so surreal… Mia had described them so well, but she could now realise it…
Her eyes stopped on the stage in the corner, where the DJ was playing songs… and she realised that it was the same DJ that had been at the pub when they had been staying with James and Charlie… and he was doing karaoke again, as person after person stood on the stage and sang out to the crowd…
"I have yet another great idea!" BJ shouted when he and Joseph returned, and sat down. "Why don't we all have a go at this… karaoke is such fun!"
"No way," Joe shook his head immediately. "I don't sing, and I don't sing in public."
"I have to agree with Joe," Lynn added, shaking her head. "Singing for me is only in the shower, nowhere else."
"Oh," BJ looked disappointed, before turning his wheedling look to Clarisse. "What about you, Clarisse?"
Joe grinned to himself- BJ didn't know that she had done it several times in the past, but he wasn't quite sure she would do it now.
"I don't think so," Clarisse said slowly. "I don't do karaoke all that often… and this place…" she looked around. "What if someone throws something at me?"
"Surely you couldn't be as bad as all that… and they won't throw anything at you, there are bouncers everywhere…"
"I still don't know," Clarisse said, still unsure.
"If you do it, I'll do it too," BJ said with a grin, before his look turned slightly wicked. "But I bet fifty dollars that you won't do it…"
Clarisse looked slightly surprised at BJ's tone, and she looked quickly over at Joseph…. He didn't say anything, but the look in his eyes told her that he would support her, whatever she did….. She still wasn't sure, but the look on BJ's face suddenly galvanised her into action and, after swallowing almost half of her drink, she stood up with a determined look.
"Done… and make it one hundred dollars."
She made her way through the crowd to the stage, and the DJ grinned at her as she stepped up- he recognised her from the last time, and Clarisse felt slightly less nervous as she selected a song she vaguely recognised…
"Well, well, well… ladies and gentlemen, we have someone who has already done this once, a couple of years ago, and did it quite well… and now's she back again for more! Ladies and gentlemen, it's my great pleasure to introduce… Clarisse Bonnell!"
There was a slight pause as the crowd went silent, and the music began to play… Clarisse felt a little scared, but she was there now….
Whispering our goodbyes, waiting for a train
I was dancing with my baby in the summer rain
I can hear him saying nothing will change
Come dance with me baby in the summer rain
I remember the rain on our skin
And his kisses hotter than the Santa Ana winds
Whispering our goodbyes, waiting for a train
I was dancing with my baby in the summer rain
I remember laughing till we almost cried
There at the station that night
I remember looking in his eyes
0
Oh my love it's you that I dream of
Oh my love, since that day
Somewhere in my heart I'm always dancing with you in the summer rain
Doesn't matter what I do now
Doesn't matter what I say
Somewhere in my heart I'm always dancing with you in the summer rain
While the crowd had been quiet when she first started, they were starting to get into the spirit, and they began to cheer, shout and clap their hands as she continued singing. She could see that BJ was stunned, his mouth open, and Lynn was cheering and clapping as well, but she kept her eyes on Joseph… who was smiling proudly at her.
I can hear the whistle, military train
I was dancing with my baby, in the summer rain
I can hear him saying Ooh love is strange
Come dance with me baby, in the summer rain
I remember the rain pouring down
And we poured our hearts out as the train pulled out
I can see my baby waving from the train
It was the last time that I saw him in the summer rain
0
Oh my love it's you that I dream of
Oh my love, since that day
Somewhere in my heart I'm always dancing with you in the summer rain
Doesn't matter what I do now
Doesn't matter what I say
Somewhere in my heart I'm always dancing with you in the summer rain
0
Every time I see the lightening
Every time I hear the thunder
Every time I close the window
When this happens in summer
Oh the night is so inviting
I can feel that you are so close
I can feel you when the wind blows
Blows right through my heart
0
Oh my love it's you that I dream of
Oh my love, since that day
Somewhere in my heart I'm always dancing with you in the summer rain
Every night and every day now
Though I know you've gone anyway
Somewhere in my heart I'm always dancing with you in the summer rain
0
Oh my love it's you that I dream of
Oh my love, since that day
Somewhere in my heart I'm always dancing with you in the summer rain
Doesn't matter what I do now
Doesn't matter what I say
Somewhere in my heart I'm always dancing with you in the summer rain
As soon as she stopped singing, there was a small silence, then the crowd went wild, standing up and whistling, screaming and cheering as Clarisse stood on the stage, feeling embarrassed, but yet on top of the world…
When she finally arrived back at the table, BJ's mouth was still hanging open as Joseph stood up to kiss her on the cheek, and Lynn grinned at her.
"Well, I've lived up to my end of the bargain," Clarisse said with a cunning smile as she sat back in her chair again. "Now it's your turn."
"Well…. I…. I…" BJ looked flustered, suddenly unsure himself about the karaoke, and Joe felt gleeful- his wife had one upped his prankster of a brother, and he couldn't be any prouder of her. "I don't know what I could sing… if I could do it…"
"You know, you don't have to do it," Clarisse said, her smile softening slightly, and BJ looked relieved.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," he said quickly as he pulled out his wallet. "Here's your money," he said, slipping two notes across the table, and Clarisse didn't hesitate to slide them back over to him, much to his surprise.
"I don't need them, BJ… that was a lot of fun…. But I don't think I will be doing it again for sometime," she said with an affectionate smile at Joseph, who squeezed her hand under the table, before leaning over and whispering in her ear:
"I don't think he'll be doing that again for a long time…. Betting you to do something he's not going to do is a lesson he had to learn the hard way…" and she chuckled in return…