Sorry for the long delay, life keeps getting in the way of my writing. Though I'd like to write all the time, my family always comes first. I will try to update when I can, it may take a long while again but I will get around to it at some point.
Thank you all so much for reading, following and leaving reviews.
I really appreciate the support.
x-X-x-X-x
Saturday 14th September 1963.
Awaking early the following morning Clarisse opened her eyes and prayed that it had all been just a horrible dream, but as the moments ticked by she realised it wasn't a dream and that her best friend had been telling the truth all a long. Her husband had been having an affair with Sofia, someone she called a friend and who had once dated Joseph when they were teenagers, and it had been going on since before she and Rupert had married 5 years ago. She felt utterly betrayed by the man she loved, and completely stupid for not trusting and believing her best friend.
Turning onto her back she stared blankly up at the ceiling for a long moment before climbing from the bed and getting dressed. Making her way out onto the landing a short while later, she closed the door up behind her and turned to make her way to the top of the stairs but hearing the faint sound of Pierre laughing she stopped and turned her head towards her parents suite at the back of the house. As she reached the door she realised that it was ajar and that the laughter had in fact come from outside. Walking over to the window, she looked down into the gardens to see her sister running around after Pierre and she found herself smiling.
As she watched Isabella wrap her arms around her son and twirl him around in the air as he squealed out in excitement she realised that no matter what was happening he could always make her smile. Whether it be a bad day, or a day when she's sick he, without fail could make her smile and feel so much better. And this was one of those times. He had no idea what was going on between his parents, she had tried to explain when she returned yesterday evening but he's far to young to fully understand. All he knows is that a bad thing had happened and that for the time being they will be staying at Nana and Grandpa's.
Feeling a tickle on her cheek she reached her hand up and brushed the stray tear away before she even realised that she was crying. Looking down she gently placed her hand on her tummy and closed her eyes. Just twenty four hours ago she was happy, it was her fifth wedding anniversary and she was getting ready to head to the Royal Lodge to spend the weekend with her husband to celebrate and to share the news that they are having another baby. But now she stood heartbroken in her parents bedroom as her son played happily out in the garden with her sister.
After having a little cry as she watched her son playing happily with Isabella she composed herself and started making her way downstairs, only after a couple steps she stopped when she heard her parents talking in the kitchen. Leaving one hand on the banister she lowered herself to sit on one of the steps, and as she sat listening to their conversation she wrapped her arms around her knees and closed her eyes.
"I want to kill that man, how dare he hurt my little girl like that!" Her father, Philippe exclaimed as he placed his teacup down on the table and sat down.
"I know you do, we all do, but that really wouldn't do any good." Her mother, Beatrice answered while watching her husband as he shook his head.
"I knew something like this would happen, his father was just the same. She should have married that Joseph, none of this would have happened then." Philippe said frustratedly. "I know he would have never treated her this way!"
"I know, I had hoped that they would have gotten together too, we all did." Beatrice answered.
"He loved her with all his heart, and the only one who couldn't see it was Clarisse." Philippe said with a small shake of his head.
"She knew, Victoria had told her in the hope she would end things with Rupert." Beatrice explained as Philippe looked up at her. "But she didn't love him in return, only as friends." She sighed.
"He was perfect for her," Philippe said and let out a long sigh.
"Well what's done is done, I just hope now that she will leave him. He doesn't deserve her," Beatrice said and noticed Clarisse stood in the doorway.
"You are right, Victoria told me several weeks before the wedding in the hope I would leave Rupert for him, but I didn't love him back. Then Joseph told me the night before the wedding, and also told me about Rupert's affair." Clarisse said as she moved to sit down next to her mother. "That's why he left, because I didn't believe him. I believed he was lying and was only telling me so I would dump him. But I loved Rupert and at that time I believed it was a lie, and that Rupert would never do anything like that to me. After we married I had doubts and did suspect that he was having an affair but then I found out I was pregnant with Pierre and those thoughts soon disappeared. And up until yesterday morning, when I caught them together, I still believed it to be a lie." She said sadly as she looked down at her hands clasped together on the table in front of her.
"Oh sweetheart," her mother whispered as she reached her hands out, placing them on top of Clarisse's hands.
"I hate that I didn't believe him, I chose the man I barely knew over the man I had known all my life because of love and because of it I lost my best friend. I feel so stupid." Clarisse exclaimed and slumped back while looking up at her father.
"Are you going to tell Joseph, now that you know the truth? And before the papers find out?" Her father asked then watched as she shook her head.
"I can't," Clarisse began as she looked at her mother sitting beside her a moment before looking back at her father "and I know the sensible thing to do would be to leave him, but I can't do that either."
"Because of Pierre?" Her father asked.
"Yes," she nodded then looked down at her hands "but not only that," she added and closed her eyes.
Seeing a couple tears rolling down her cheeks, her mother knew. "You can't leave him now because you're pregnant." She asked softly as her husband looked at her then back to Clarisse as she opened her eyes and nodded.
"I found out several days ago," she whispered through her tears as her mother wrapped her arms around her daughters shoulders.
"Oh sweetheart," her mother said gently "me and your father are here for you."
Watching his daughter crying in the arms of her mother, Philippe's heart broke. Standing to his feet, he slowly made his way around to them and wrapped his arms around them both. "Me and your mother will always be here for you, no matter what. But if he does it again, I will kill him."
x-x-x
Later that day.
Coming into the foyer, Rupert couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Clarisse stood by the door holding onto Pierre's hand as he stood beside her.
"Hello my son," Rupert said as he put his arms out to him and crouched down.
"Go to Daddy," Clarisse said while looking down at Pierre as he looked up at her. And with that she let go of his hand and watched as ran over to him.
"Hello Daddy," exclaimed Pierre as Rupert wrapped his arms around him and lifted him of the floor "I missed you."
"I missed you too." Rupert replied and looked at his face a moment before kissing his cheek and putting him back down on his feet. "Why don't you go on up to the playroom while I just talk to mummy a minute and I will be right up, well, that's if you and mummy are staying?" He said and looked over at Clarisse as she stood with her hands clasped together.
"For now," Clarisse answered and nodded a little as Pierre smiled and started making his way up the stairs "be careful, please Pierre."
"I will," Pierre answered and disappeared out of sight.
"Now, before you think my coming back means I have forgiven you, you will be mistaken." Clarisse said while looking at Rupert as he turned to look at her "for now I will be sleeping in Pierre's room with him until one of the guest rooms is ready for me to have as my room."
"I understand, and please can I say how sor,"
"I don't want to hear it, I trusted you and you broke me. I can never trust you again." Clarisse interrupted as he watched on "I didn't come back for you, or me, I came back for Pierre and," she paused as Rupert raised his brow "and for the baby that I'm carrying,"
"You're pregnant?" He asked softly, tears filling his eyes as she looked down.
"Yes, I found out several days ago. I had planned on telling you yesterday," she answered while looking back up at him then watched as he fell to his knees, crying. "You may want to destroy your family life Rupert, but I don't. Pierre and our unborn baby need their father and I really don't want to be the one to take you from them." She said, almost crying herself.
