Sunday 1st January 2006.
...Continued.
"Listen, Liliana, I'm not here to talk about that or Victoria, so why you brought her up for when you have had nothing to do with her since Joseph found her, I don't know. I'm only here to tell you to leave my husband alone, if you don't I, myself will take action. Do I make myself clear?" Clarisse said as she looked her in the eyes.
"You can't stop me from seeing him, Clarisse," Liliana said and smirked at her, "just like you couldn't stop us last time, which resulted in us meeting and having sex in your house."
"What rubbish," Clarisse exclaimed as she shook her head and stood to her feet, "you are messing with the wrong people, Liliana."
"Ooo I'm scared," Liliana mocked as Clarisse made her way over to the door and looked back at her.
"You will be if you continue stalking my husband," Clarisse said as Gino walked over to her.
"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not stalking him, we want to be together," Liliana exclaimed as Clarisse and Gino walked out the door laughing.
"Are you okay?" Gino asked as they walked out of the police station moments later.
"Yes, I think so," nodded Clarisse. "Thank you for coming with me though, I don't think I could have done that if you hadn't been there."
"Oh anytime," Gino smiled, "though I hate to think what Joseph will say when he finds out."
"He doesn't have to find out," Clarisse said and looked up at him when she suddenly came over all dizzy and grabbed hold of his arm.
"Whoa," he exclaimed, grabbing hold of her waist to stop her from falling over. "Are you okay?"
"I don't know, I came over all dizzy," Clarisse answered while putting her other hand up onto her forehead.
"Have you eaten?" He asked and watched as she shook her head, "right, come on let's get you home and get some food in you."
"No no, I'll be fine," Clarisse said, trying to protest as Gino guided her towards his car. "Besides I need to get back to the hospital, or Joseph will worry."
"I will call when we get home and let him know you are running late, he'll understand," he said, unlocking the car and opened her door for her.
"Please just take me to the hospital, I want to see my husband," Clarisse said as she leaned back against the car and looked up at him, "please?"
"Not like this no, Clarisse, if you don't eat you'll end up fainting and being admitted to hospital yourself, which wouldn't do you or Joseph any good, would it?" He said, studying her face as she looked away, "come on, he's just had a heart attack and if you end up being admitted he'll be stressing and worrying over you, you know what he's like. Do you really want to do that to him?"
Looking down, Clarisse shook her head. "No."
"Come on then, let's get you home," he said softly and watched as she turned and climbed into the car. Closing her door, Gino walked around and climbed in the drivers seat, "I promise when we get home I'll call the hospital and let him know, okay?" He said as he put the key in the ignition and started the car.
"Thank you," she said while doing up her seatbelt.
Turning his head, Gino watched as she rested back against the seat and closed her eyes. "Anytime," he said and looked out the front window a moment before pulling out of the parking space and continuing on their way back to the house.
Later.
Walking into the kitchen to find Clarisse stood rinsing her plate at the sink, Gino smiled. "Feeling better now?" He asked as she turned to him.
"Yes, thank you," she said and turned back to the sink, "I'm feeling much better now I've eaten."
"Good," he said and poured himself a cup of coffee as she put her plate in the dishwasher and closed it up before turning back to him. "You have colour back in your face now too."
"I thought I would," she said while grabbing the tea towel from the hook and began drying her hands. "I remembered something I was meant to have asked you earlier, did you manage to change your flights?"
"Yes, we did," he nodded while leaning back against the counter, "well we cancelled tomorrow's flights and will rebook when we know what's happening, or when you've had enough of us," he said and watched as she laughed.
"As if we could ever have enough of you," she smiled as she hung the tea towel back up and turned to him while folding her arms. "I know Joseph would appreciate you staying, so you're welcome to stay for as long as you wish."
"Thanks," he said and smiled at her, "did you still want me to drop you at the hospital?"
"If you could?" She said, leaning back against the counter.
"Of course," he nodded and stood up straight, "give me a few minutes to run upstairs to get my wallet and I'll be with you."
"Sure, take your time," Clarisse smiled and watched as he walked out the kitchen door just as the doorbell rang. Walking over, Clarisse stood in the doorway as Gino answered the door and when she saw who it was, she gasped.
"Uh hello, I'm looking for Mrs Elizondo," said the lady at the door as she looked up at Gino.
"Yes, come in," nodded Gino, "I'll just get her for you."
"Victoria," Clarisse exclaimed as she made her way towards them and watched as they both turned to her. "What are you doing here?"
"I had to come," Victoria said as Clarisse embraced her in a hug a moment before pulling back and taking hold of her hands.
"You look so much more like your father in person," Clarisse said, looking into the younger ladies eyes.
"You think so?" Victoria asked.
"Yes, I do," Clarisse nodded, "oh, I'm sorry," she said and looked up at Gino, "Gino, this is Victoria, Joseph's daughter. And Victoria," she said and looked back at her, "this is Gino, your fathers best friend."
"It's nice to finally put a face to a name," Gino smiled as he extended his hand out for hers.
"Yes, like wise," Victoria smiled while taking and shaking his hand. "Dad explained that you own a restaurant together."
"Yes, we do," smiled Gino, "you'll have to come for dinner there one day."
"Oh I plan too," Victoria smiled as Gino bowed his head.
"Great," he smiled, "I think now though I'll disappear and let you two talk," he said and looked at Clarisse.
"Thank you," Clarisse smiled and watched as he turned away from them.
"I hope you don't mind me just turning up like this?" Victoria asked as Clarisse looked back at her.
"Oh no, of course not. You're welcome anytime," she smiled and gestured for her to follow her. "Come on, let's go into the living room."
"Thanks," Victoria smiled and followed her into the living room. "How is dad?"
"Oh, he's doing much better and I know he'll be pleased to see you," Clarisse nodded as she lead her around to the sofa.
"I hope so, I'm just a bit worried it'll be a shock to him," she said as they both sat down and looked at one another.
"Oh no, he'll be fine," Clarisse nodded and smiled, "can I get you some tea? Coffee?"
"No, I'm okay thank you," Victoria said and looked around the room.
"Did you have a nice Christmas?" Clarisse asked, tucking one foot behind her ankle.
"Yes we did, my little girl loved it," Victoria said as she looked down at her hands.
"You have a little girl?" Clarisse asked and watched as she nodded. "Joseph never said."
"That's because he doesn't know," Victoria said and looked back up at her. "I know that must sound cruel that I never told him, but because I wasn't sure if being in each other's life's was going to work I didn't want to put him in my daughters life for her to get used to having him around only to take it away from her, does that make sense?"
"It makes perfect sense," Clarisse nodded, "I would do the same if it was me."
"But when I got your message, letting me know that he'd had a heart attack and from how scared I felt about losing him, when I have only just found him I realised that if he got through this he would always be in my life, no matter what." She said sadly.
"That's good to hear, because I know he wants to be in your life, as long as you'll allow," Clarisse said softly and reached out her hand, placing it down on Victoria's.
"Always, I can't lose him now, not when we have just found each other," Victoria said tearfully.
Moving closer, Clarisse wrapped her arm around her shoulders, "you're not going to lose him, not for a long time."
"Thank you," Victoria said softly.
"Now, why don't you tell me about your little girl?" Clarisse asked and watched as she lifted her head to look up at her.
"Well her name is Alysse, and she'll be three at the end of the month," Victoria said.
"Alysse is a lovely name," Clarisse said and watched as she went into her handbag.
"Yes," nodded Victoria as she pulled out a photo and passed it to her.
"Oh, she looks just like you," Clarisse said, looking down at the photo.
"She is, she's a mini me," Victoria smiled.
"I know your dad is going to be besotted with her," Clarisse said and passed her the photo back.
"I think so too, and I don't mind that because he missed out on me growing up," Victoria said as Clarisse nodded. "But how am I going to tell him that he has a granddaughter?"
"Just tell him, I think he'll be fine, over the moon in fact," Clarisse said, "and I know he'll understand why you never told him in the first place."
"You think?" Victoria asked.
"I don't think, I know," Clarisse said and smiled. "How long are you here for?" She asked.
"A few days, maybe more," Victoria said as she put the photo back in her handbag and looked back up at Clarisse. "Beppe, my fiancé, took time off work to come with me."
"Oh, and Alysse?" Clarisse asked as Victoria nodded.
"Yes, she's at the hotel with her daddy about ten minutes away from here." Victoria said, "and I am hoping that, if dads up to it that they can meet while we are here."
"He'll love that," Clarisse smiled.
Walking into her husbands hospital room, Clarisse smiled and put her coat over the back of the chair and moved closer to the bed as he opened his eyes. "Good afternoon," she said and kissed him, "sorry it took me so long to come back, it's been a busy day."
"It's okay," he smiled, "you're here now."
"Yes I am," she nodded, "how are you feeling?"
"Alright now I've had a sleep," he said.
"That's good, because you have a visitor," Clarisse said as she stepped away from the bed.
"Who is it, Mia? Pierre said that she was going to pop in," Joseph said as he watched her walk over to the door.
"No, it's not Mia," Clarisse said and opened the door, "you can come in now."
Looking at the door, Joseph stared in shock as Victoria appeared. "Hello dad," she said softly.
"Victoria," he said, tears filling his eyes.
"I'll leave you two too talk," Clarisse said as she put her hand on Victoria's arm. "I'll be outside if you need me."
"Thank you," Victoria said as she looked at her then back at her dad.
Smiling, Clarisse watched as Victoria moved over to the bed and took hold of Joseph's hand before walking out, leaving them too talk. Closing the door behind her, she looked up at Pierre as he stood looking at her with his hands in his pants pockets.
"So, that's my stepsister?" Pierre asked as Clarisse folded her arms.
"Yes, she is," she said, nodding slightly as she slowly moved closer to him.
"I can see why you said before that a DNA test wouldn't be needed," he said and they both took a seat.
"Yep, and her daughter looks just like her too," Clarisse said, nodding.
"She has a child?" Pierre said and looked at his mother.
"Yes, she does." nodded Clarisse, "only found out today."
"Oh, did dad know?" Pierre asked.
"Nope, but he's about to find out." Clarisse said and they both looked at one another.
"Hey grandma," Mia smiled as she and Nicholas made their way towards her and Pierre.
"What are you doing here?" Clarisse asked as both she and Pierre stood to their feet.
"Um... I'm here to see grandpa, why else would I be here?" Mia said with a chuckle and watched as Pierre and her grandmother looked at one another.
"You need to tell her, she's going to find out sooner or later anyway," Pierre said.
"Tell me what?" Mia asked and watched as they both looked back at her, "what aren't you telling me?"
"You can't go in yet, because there's someone else in with him right now," Clarisse said.
"Alright, who?" Mia asked.
"His daughter," Clarisse said and watched as her granddaughters jaw fell open.
"What?" Mia exclaimed in surprise, "he has a daughter?"
"Yes, but keep your voice down," Clarisse said as she stepped closer to her, "it's a long story, but a story I will explain another time. But I will say that the only reason we didn't tell you before was because we wasn't sure if it would work out between them."
"Oh it's fine, I'm used to having surprises sprung on me," Mia said and shrugged her shoulders, "especially from you and that husband of yours." She said teasingly. "Besides, I already know," she said and watched as her grandmothers face fell.
"You do?" Clarisse asked.
"Yes, grandpa told me on Christmas Day when I questioned him about the Christmas card she sent," Mia smiled.
"Oh, okay," Clarisse said as she studied her granddaughters face, "he never said."
"Well no, you have both been busy with one another since," Mia smirked as Pierre laughed in the background.
Slowly turning, Clarisse looked at her son and watched as he suddenly stopped laughing and stood straight faced. "Sorry," he smirked.
"Anyway," Clarisse said and turned back to her granddaughter, "you're not mad, are you?"
"No, of course not," Mia smiled as she hugged her grandmother, "I'm actually quite happy for him, it's just a shame that he had her with that woman and that it took so long for him to find out about her."
"I know, but they're in each other's life's now and always will be," Clarisse said as they stepped apart.
"That's good news," Mia smiled.
That Evening.
After dropping Victoria back at the hotel, Clarisse headed home to have a bath, to try and relax a bit after everything that had happened throughout the day before returning to the hospital to spend the night with Joseph. But as she walked back into the bedroom while tying the sash of her robe, she was about to get a nasty shock. Because, standing in the doorway was someone she didn't expect to see.
"How did you get in?" She asked, trying to remain calm and watched as he held up a set of keys.
"Your sister had a spare set, or did you forget?" Smirked Jaures as he put them back in his pocket. "What was the idea of giving Isabella my address?"
"For her to see, for herself because she wouldn't believe me, that you and your wife are still pretty much together," Clarisse said, holding her robe together to cover her chest and neck.
"So that gave you the right to give out my address, did it?" He snapped.
"Oh," she laughed, "so it's alright for you to sleep with her, but it's not alright for her to know where you live?"
"You do realise that you are going to pay for that," he snarled and watched as she glanced at her mobile resting on her bedside table.
"I'm not going to pay for anything," she said and hurried forward, managing to grab her mobile before he reached her.
"I don't think so," he snapped, grabbing hold of her and knocking the phone out of her hand as she screamed. "Shh," he said, pinning her down on her bed and covered her mouth with his hand. "Do as I say, and you won't get hurt."
"No," she screamed, managing to push his hand away. "I will never do as you tell me, what has happened has been your own fault. You deserved it!" She snapped as she looked up at him before fighting to pull her arms free.
"Quite feisty, aren't you," he snapped while trying to grab her arms.
"What the," Gino exclaimed as he suddenly appeared in the doorway. "Get off her," he shouted as he hurried forward and grabbed hold of him, dragging him from Clarisse as Elly came hurrying through the door.
"Oh my god," she exclaimed and hurried over to the bed, helping Clarisse to her feet. "Are you okay?" She asked.
"What do you think you were doing," Gino exclaimed as he pinned Jaures against the wall.
"Getting pay back," Jaures answered and watched as Gino raised his fist.
"Gino, no!" Clarisse exclaimed, "he's not worth it."