"Your Majesty?" Olivia said kneeling down next to her.
"Olivia? Oh I tripped from the step."
"Let me help you up."
She helped her stand up and move to the bed. Quickly she grabbed a towel from her bathroom and wrapped it around her.
"Thank you."
Clarisse retreated to the comforts of her bathroom. She asked Olivia to arrange a hot bath for her and asked that she not be disturbed by anyone but Mia.
The hot water felt like heaven on her skin. Her entire body trembled as the chill burned out of her. She moaned with pleasure as the chills continued to create tiny bumps on her shoulders. She opened her eyes and saw a nervous Mia standing in the doorway.
"Grandma? Can I talk to you?"
"Of course Darling."
"I'm really sorry I came unannounced. I know I have a lot to learn and-"
"Mia say no more. It is all me and my stuff. I was cold and cruel and you didn't deserve that. Listen let me get out and dry off and I will meet you on the balcony for tea. Will you ask Olivia to bring some tea and sandwiches?"
"You got it." Mia said feeling the first bit of relief since her arrival.
A while later Clarisse joined Mia on the balcony extending from her room. The air was warm and comfortable. Not a cloud dared sneak across the sky. The balcony was one of Clarisse's favorite places because from there she could see Lake LaTreau, her kingdom, and the gardens complete with fountains. She loved fountains.
After she took in the view of the kingdom, she sat down across from Mia while Olivia poured the tea.
"Thank you Olivia. That will be all. You may take the rest of the afternoon off as I am not planning to do anything but talk with my granddaughter."
"As you wish your Majesty." She bowed and left the room.
"Now that we're alone tell me how is school so far?"
"Classes are harder and I have a class on public forum speaking, but thanks to you and Joe I-"
She stopped dead in her tracks after she said Joe's name. She had practiced all afternoon and yet with one sentence she slipped. It was a dreaded mistake when she saw the look on the queen's face.
"I'm sorry, Grandma."
"No no stop apologizing. His name is bound to come up eventually. I just have to work on my execution."
"What happened Grandma? Why did he leave?"
Clarisse, always fiercely protective of herself wanted desperately to hide the truth but the eyes of her son reflected from Mia's and she hadn't been able to talk about it since it occurred.
"Joseph wanted things to advance in our friendship. I knew that. I've known that for many years. I was afraid however, that people would think of me as insufficient or losing my edge or that somehow he would take priority and that I couldn't rule Genovia effectively. I was wrong of course but I didn't know it then. The night before I went to Scotland we had another discussion about us and frankly I was cold with him. I didn't have to go to Scotland, the Prime Minister has several people that could've done the tasks I performed. It was however, my escape. I didn't have to face him, or put him off. Duty called and I was safe again. He'd realize that he wouldn't be first in my life and that when I returned all would be as it was."
"But he left instead."
"Yes. I hadn't realized that in trying to keep myself sheltered that I would force him out. Never dreamed that he would leave. He never had before." She sighed deeply holding in her anguish. "And then I saw him that night."
Mia's eyes went wide.
"You saw him? What? Really?"
"Yes he's in a hospital in Venezia. I don't know all of the details except he drove his motorcycle off a cliff." She stood up and looked out over the kingdom again. "When I found out where he was I was almost relieved. He hadn't come home because he was hurt. I rushed to the hospital he was staying at, just wanting to say how much of a fool I'd been. I rushed through the doors of his room and he stood there just looking at me."
"Is he ok?"
"Nothing more than a broken arm. Not a scratch on him. But he was cold Mia. He said he didn't want me there. He wasn't sure if he was ever coming back. Threatened to leave if I returned to see him again. And I left him there wishing he'd come after me. He hates me now. I can't change that, and I don't know what to do."
She hadn't realized that she was crying. Mia walked over to her and held her grandmother tightly.
"I love him Amelia. I really do. I can't sleep anymore. I can't do anything that takes my mind from him. I thought being with him would be too much of a burden. Being without him is far worse."
"Grandma, remember when I liked that boy Josh Bryant in High School? I thought he was everything, handsome, funny, and popular. What I found out the hard way was that Josh was a jerk. I saw what I wanted to. Maybe it's the same way with Joe. Maybe outside these walls he's not the man you know. Maybe there's more to it."
"Obviously not. But I can't seem to get past him. And what's more is everyone thinks I'll fall apart so I am left to do nothing, to be alone. All I do is think of him."
"All right let's make some changes. Christmas is two weeks away. I want to decorate, trees, lights, candy canes, music all over the place. You can help Charlotte and I with that stuff. Then we can go to Sunnyvale next weekend and do our shopping. This is the first year I can be extravagant."
Clarisse hesitated then smiled, "Let's do it Darling."
"I have one more request and this is going to be tough but it's what you need. I want you to have lunch with me and Paul during the week."
"Who is Paul?"
"Dominic's friend. I want you to meet him so you won't feel awkward when he takes you to the Winter Ball on Christmas Eve."
"Absolutely not! Out of the question."
"Too late Grandma. I've already accepted his invitation on your behalf. He's nice, and sweet, intelligent and if I say so myself a great looking guy. In fact I thought he was Robert DeNiro when I met him."
"Robert who?"
"Oh, nevermind I'll show you later. Either way you need to show the people of Genovia that the queen isn't weak or in distress. You need a strong man on your arm and Paul is just that.
Clarisse sighed. She knew she wasn't going to squirm out of this. Finally she looked at her granddaughter.
"They better play a lot of Bing Crosby at the ball. I am not dancing to endless renditions of Frosty the Snowman!"
The smile on Mia's face was all the encouragement Clarisse needed.
The week seemed to pass quickly. The entire kingdom was full of holiday spirit. Lights of every color adorned the hallways. There were so many lights outside that the fire department rushed out to the palace one night fearing it was on fire. Inside Christmas trees were found in all the main rooms. Mia insisted on buying stockings for every employee in the palace and adding their names to it. This project kept Charlotte, Mia, Olivia, and Clarisse up to their necks in glitter and glue. When Clarisse was on the phone, Mia took the liberty of making one for Joseph. Miracles came in doubles on Christmas and Mia hoped for a triple.
Mia, Charlotte, and Clarisse left for Sunnyvale on Saturday morning. The hour-long ride was something that Mia had enjoyed every Christmas. The villagers loved to decorate their town and it was Clarisse's favorite place to shop.
"Oh I love this song!" Clarisse said as they sat in the local cafe drinking hot chocolate.
I saw Mommy kissing Santa Clause
Underneath the mistletoe last night
She didn't see me creep
Down the stairs to have a peak
She thought that I was tucked up
In my bedroom fast asleep
Then I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white
Oh what a laugh it would have been
If daddy had only seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night.
Charlotte and Mia laughed as Clarisse did her best to imitate Jimmy Boyd's voice.
"I thought White Christmas was your favorite Christmas song Grandma?"
"Oh it is because Bing well he's Bing and-" She suddenly blushed brightly.
"Ah so you have a thing for Bing! Wow Grandma, now I know why you start caressing the pillow when we watch White Christmas. That's hilarious."
Mia started laughing again till Charlotte stepped in.
"Just like you kissing the pillows when Matt Damon appears in Dogma."
Mia stopped laughing.
"Charlotte you were sworn to secrecy!" She laughed. "But we can't forget about your love affair with John Goodman in Arachnaphobia. Or as you call him The Bug Babe!"
By this point all the ladies were laughing hysterically. Had they paid attention, they would've known they were being watched from the outside window. He put the hat back on his head, started the motorcycle and road back to his quarters.