Sunday 15th September 1968, continued.
That Night.
Sitting at the booth table, Clarisse sipped her drink then smiled across the table at Victoria and her husband, Marco, as they shared a kiss. Placing her glass down she looked away and prayed Joseph would arrive soon because even though that was her best friend, she was starting to feel a little bit awkward. As she sat staring at her glass a moment later, Marco and Victoria in their own world, her mind wondered back to the phone call she had with Rupert earlier in the day when she called to inform him that she was staying until tomorrow.
And now as she sat opposite the two love birds sharing yet another kiss, she looked down at her wedding ring. Rupert had begged her for another chance, and if she was honest with herself she missed the intimacy part of a relationship, and even though she can't trust Rupert fully like she did at the start of their marriage she wondered if she should give him that chance. But as she thought about it a little more, she got angry with herself for even thinking about it and grabbing her glass she downed what she had left of her drink before placing the glass back down with a sigh.
"Waiter!" She exclaimed and put her hand up, just as Joseph appeared "oh hello," she smiled, her mood changing completely.
"Hello," Joseph smiled at her then at his sister and Marco before sitting down beside Clarisse "I see they gave us the best booth, surprised they listened." He smiled and lent closer, kissing her cheek "you look great." He whispered in her ear and sat back, smiling.
"Yes they did, and thank you, you look great also." Clarisse whispered back and smiled, before looking up at the waiter as he appeared at their table. "Can I have another wine, please?" She smiled up at him then at Joseph "would you like a drink?"
"Yes, I'll have what she's having." Joseph smiled up at him, then at his sister and brother in law "and you better bring them another one too." He smiled back up at the waiter.
"Coming right up," the waiter smiled and walked away.
Turning, he looked at Clarisse "have they been like that for long?" He asked, smirking towards Victoria and Marco.
"Since we arrived," she nodded and reached her arm out in front of them, banging her hand on the table to get their attention. When they stopped and looked at her, she smiled "look who's here." She said and pointed to Joseph sitting beside her.
Seeing her brother sat there, Victoria smiled. "Hello, Joe, what took you so long?" She asked while turning to sit properly as Marco chuckled beside her.
"I know that you two are madly in love, but we have come out to dinner and to spend time together so surely you both can hold back on all the kissing until later?" Joseph smirked, teasing them as Victoria laughed while leaning closer to Marco.
"Busted!" Marco smirked "we are both sorry, forgive us." He smiled as the waiter appeared and began placing their drinks down on the table.
"Forgiven, and to answer your question. I had a bit of business to sort out, which reminds me," he said and turned to Clarisse "how are you getting on with your new bodyguard?"
"Oh, very well. Thank you for sending him." She smiled "he's doing a good job so far."
"I'm surprised that he didn't do the job himself," Victoria began as everyone looked at her "he did think about it for a while, but decided to send Charles instead."
"Oh that's a pity, I would have loved to have you as my bodyguard." Clarisse said, giving him a cheeky smile.
"Maybe in the future, but at the moment it's not possible not with the business definitely expanding next year." He smiled and sipped his drink as the others gasped.
"It is?" Victoria exclaimed.
"It most definitely is, that's what business I had to take care of before coming here." Joseph answered.
"Oh well that's good news, we must celebrate tonight." Victoria smiled.
"I agree." Marco smiled.
"Congratulations, well done you." Clarisse smiled as Joseph lent in closer, nudging her shoulder slightly with his as Victoria watched.
"And maybe, when it's all happened and things have settled down I can take over from Charles, if that's something you want?" Joseph smiled, looking into Clarisse's eyes as she looked up into his.
"I would like that." She smiled, nodding slightly.
"Great, I would too." Joseph smiled as Clarisse sipped her drink.
Suddenly remembering that they weren't alone, Clarisse turned back to Victoria and placed her glass back down on the table and smiled as Joseph cleared his throat "I don't think you ever told me where you both met?" She asked, clasping her hands together on her lap as Joseph sat back, relaxing beside her.
"Well I started working for Joe about six years ago," Marco smiled and looked at Victoria "and met this beautiful lady a year later."
"Aww, was it love at first sight?" Clarisse asked.
"Oh most definitely," Victoria smiled and lent in closer to kiss her husband as Clarisse and Joseph glanced at each other before the both of them picked up their glasses and took a sip of their drinks.
"Maybe we should think about ordering." Joseph exclaimed and grabbed the menu.
"Brilliant idea," Clarisse agreed and grabbed a menu too as Marco and Victoria started laughing.
"Sorry." Victoria smiled and also grabbed a menu.
After they ordered they sat talking more about how they met, and their new arrival Jasmine when all to soon the dinner arrived. Once enjoyed and finished they talked a bit about Clarisse's boys before they began talking about the old days. And after sharing another memory, they all sat laughing a moment when Joseph placed his hand on Clarisse's back while leaning closer to whisper in her ear, as she smiled and turned her head slightly. Smiling, Joseph sat back as Clarisse couldn't help but laugh. The whole thing caught by Victoria, who had been suspicious over their behaviour all evening.
Looking at Clarisse, Joseph smiled then looked at her sister and Marco "I'm going to go and get us another round of drinks."
"I'll give you a hand," Marco smiled and lent closer to Victoria to give her a kiss before standing up and walking away with Joseph.
"That's cute, and wonderful that you and Marco are very much in love." Clarisse sighed while resting her elbow on the table, with her arm up and her chin on her hand.
"Clarisse?"
"Hmmm," Clarisse answered, looking at her friend.
"I know it's none of my business, but is there something going on between you and Joseph?" Victoria asked and watched as Clarisse slowly sat up straight and stared at her momentarily before shaking her head and laughing a little.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" She asked and drank a little of her drink.
"Well for one, the way the both of you have been flirting with each other tonight, two the fact that you normally stay at a hotel when you visit but this time you're not, you are actually staying at Joseph's house. And three," hesitating, she looked down at her glass.
"And three?" Clarisse asked as Victoria looked back up at her.
"I know it's none of my business, but it's just after last time you visited you told me that things between you and Rupert haven't been ok for ages, and then today," she hesitated once again before continuing "I over heard you telling him on the phone that there was no you and him anymore. And please don't get me wrong, if there is something between you and Joseph I'll be over the moon as I have wanted you to get together since before you married Rupert, but I just wish you would have told me."
"There isn't anything to tell, there is nothing between Joseph and I, we are just good friends and I would rather not talk about Rupert tonight, please. We are meant to be out having fun, so could we talk about this another time?" Clarisse asked.
"Of course, I'm sorry," Victoria said while reaching out for her best friends hand "I just want you to be happy, you deserve to be happy."
"Thank you, and I am happy. I'm out with two of my oldest friends after all." Clarisse smiled, giving Victoria's hand a small squeeze as Joseph and Marco returned.
"Everything ok?" Joseph asked as he placed Clarisse's drink down in front of her.
Smiling, Clarisse sat back and picked up her glass "of course, I'm great." She said and smiled across at Victoria "a toast," she began as everyone else picked up their glasses "to our Jasmine, who gets more and more beautiful with every passing day, to you, my amazing friends and Jasmine's parents Victoria and Marco," smiling, she looked back at Joseph "and to you, for the expansion of your business. You have come a long way since coming here ten years ago, you both have," she said while glancing at Victoria "and I'm so proud of the both of you."
"To you both." Marco smiled and kissed Victoria as Joseph and Clarisse took a sip of their drink.
"Now let's enjoy the rest of the night, shall we?" Clarisse smiled.
"Yes, let's!" Smiled Victoria.
