Saturday 10th November 2007.
After getting ready for her day, Clarisse made her way downstairs and into the kitchen to find Joseph stood pouring a cup of tea. "Good morning," she smiled and walked over to the counter.
"Good morning," he smiled in return and held out the cup of tea for her as she stood opposite him at the counter, "I heard you moving about so I thought I would get you a cup ready."
"Oh thank you," she said and reached out above the counter with both hands to take the cup from him as their eyes met a long moment. Averting her gaze away, she looked down at her cup as she placed it down on the counter in front of her and cursed herself as her stomach fluttered with butterflies, something she hadn't felt for a long time after being angry with him since he walked out several weeks ago.
"Are you alright?" He asked in concern and watched as she looked back up at him.
"Oh yes, I'm fine," she nodded and smiled across at him. "Are you alright?"
"I'm okay too," he said and watched her a moment, "how did you sleep?"
"Well it took me a while to fall asleep, but once I did I slept quite well," Clarisse answered, "you?"
"The same as you," he said.
"Oh." She said, surprised.
"It must have been the chat we had last night," he said and watched as she nodded in agreement, "getting it all out in the open and finally talking about everything."
"I think that must be it," Clarisse said and nodded once again, "either that or the couch really wasn't that comfortable after all," she smiled as Joseph laughed.
"It wasn't that bad actually," he said a moment later and looked up at her with his gorgeous smile.
"Um," Clarisse began and looked down to try and remain composed as her tummy filled with butterflies once again. "What happens now?" She asked finally and looked back up at him.
"Well," he began as he moved around to stand beside her, "I have to fly back to Italy for an important meeting with Gino and the bank today and depending on how that goes I'll be coming back here tomorrow to find somewhere to stay so we can work on things between us, if that's what you still want that is?"
"Of course it is," she nodded and turned to face him, "I would let you stay here but I'm not ready for that yet."
"And I completely understand that," he said, taking hold of both her hands in his. "Do you want me to call you when I land?"
"Yes, of course," she nodded and looked up into his eyes, "when do you have to leave?" She asked and watched as Joseph checked the time on his watch.
"In a few minutes," he said and looked back up into her eyes, "Gino booked me on the eleven am flight so I can hopefully get back in time for the meeting."
"Ok," Clarisse nodded.
Standing in the hallway, Clarisse took a sip of her tea and watched as Joseph put on his coat and checked he had everything before looking up at her. "Keep me updated on Mia? And let her know I'm thinking of her?" He said as he walked over to her standing by the front door.
"I will, hopefully she will be home today," she said and smiled up at him as he went to step closer to kiss her cheek but stopped when they heard a key in the door. "Pierre's home."
"Hello, Pierre," Joseph smiled as the door opened and Pierre appeared.
"Oh, hello," Pierre exclaimed in surprise and looked at his mother as she giggled at his reaction.
"I better get going," Joseph said as they both looked back at him and watched as he stepped closer to Clarisse, "I will call you when I land."
"Ok, I look forward to it," Clarisse smiled and put her arm up around Joseph's shoulder as he stepped closer, placed his hand lovingly on her side and kissed her cheek.
"Speak to you later," he said and looked at Pierre, "bye Pierre."
"Yep, bye," Pierre said and put his hand up to him as he walked out of the door.
After closing the front door behind Joseph, Clarisse turned back to her son to find him stood smirking at her with his eyebrow raised, "it's not what you think." She said and began walking through the hallway towards the kitchen.
"I wasn't going to say anything," he exclaimed as he followed her, "just that it was a surprise to find him here that's all."
"Yes, well, after driving me to the hospital to be with Mia and staying with me to bring me home he ended up missing his flight so I offered him the sofa," Clarisse said and looked over her shoulder at him as they walked through into the kitchen.
"Oh yeah, she let me know that she was in hospital as she didn't want me to worry in case I see it on the news," he said and sat down at the kitchen table, "is she alright?"
"She just had a funny turn but shes okay, hopefully she will be home today," she answered, telling him what Mia had told her to tell him and sat down at the table opposite him.
"Alright," Pierre nodded, "I will pop over and see her later on."
"She will like that," Clarisse smiled, "I'm going over to spend some time with her this afternoon if you wanted to come with me?"
"Yes, I will go with you then," he said and watched as she took another sip of her tea. "So, if Joseph stayed here last night, on the sofa, does that mean you actually had a proper chance to talk?" He asked.
"We did, we had a long talk last night," Clarisse nodded.
"Oh good, I am pleased," he said and watched as she looked down at her cup, "and?"
"And... we are giving it another go, but taking things slowly," she said while looking back up at her son. "He's gone back to Italy today, but will return hopefully tomorrow and is going to find somewhere to stay so we can work on things between us."
"Oh that is great news," Pierre exclaimed, "I knew you didn't really want to divorce him so I am pleased you are giving him another chance. Hopefully he won't mess it up this time."
"I told him that this will be his last chance as I can't keep going through this, but I don't think he will do it again, not after what he told me last night," she said sadly, remembering part of their conversation the night before. "We got everything out in the open and have agreed to work on the issues together from now on."
"That's good, that's how it should be," Pierre said, "working through it together instead of walking away."
"That's what I told him," Clarisse's nodded, "but please keep it to yourself for the time being, we want to keep it a secret for as long as we possibly can."
"Oh don't worry, your secret is safe with me," Pierre smiled and watched as his mother smiled in return and picked up her cup to take a sip of her tea. "I am glad I caught you this morning actually, I need to talk to you about something."
"Oh really? Do I need to make us a fresh pot of tea?" Clarisse questioned and watched as he laughed nervously.
"Yeah, it might be needed," he nodded and watched as she turned her head slightly to the side while raising her eyebrow. "I promise it's nothing bad."
"You promise?" She asked.
"Yes, I promise," he nodded and smiled.
"Well I better make that pot of tea then," she said and smiled while standing to her feet.
"Now then," Clarisse said as she placed the tea tray down on the table and took a seat opposite her son, "what would you like to talk to me about?"
"Well I was wondering how you would feel if I moved back to Genovia?" He asked as he poured them a cup of tea each.
"Really?" She exclaimed in surprise, "you want to move back to Genovia?"
"I do," he nodded and put a spoonful of sugar in each cup before looking back up at her, "I have been thinking about it for a long time and I think it's time I start doing something about it."
"Well I would love it if you did move back home, yes, but what about your parish? It's your life and has been for such a long time." Clarisse said as she stirred her tea and looked up at him.
"It was my life, a great one at that and one that has served me well but I think it's time to hang up my robe and move on," Pierre said honestly and watched as his mother looked down at her cup a long moment before looking back up at him, "what is it?"
"There wouldn't happen to be a certain lady friend who might have influenced your decision, would there?" She asked and watched her son closely.
"How did you..." he said, trailing off.
"A mother knows these things, besides you have spent a lot of time sleeping on her couch lately," Clarisse smirked and picked up her cup. "I support your decision whatever you decide, but I don't want you to make the wrong decision over a woman, Pierre."
"I'm not, I have honestly been thinking about retiring from the church for a year or so now," he said as his mother sipped her tea.
"Ok, and what about this friend?" Clarisse asked as she placed her cup back down on the table and watched as Pierre looked down at his cup.
"Do you remember all those years ago when I gave up the throne to become a priest?" He asked and looked up at his mother as she nodded.
"I do," she nodded.
"Well, this is like that. I thought I would never fall in love, after all I was married to the church and have been for years but spending time with Laura and finding out how she felt about me made me realise that I had feelings for her too." Pierre said.
"And do you love her? I know you mentioned that you thought you would never fall in love, but do you really love her?" Clarisse asked and studied her sons face.
"Yes," he nodded and looked her in the eye, "I think I do."
"Then you have my full support," Clarisse said and smiled at him, "now tell me more about her."
"Well her name is Laura, she's a nurse and has two daughters," Pierre said proudly.
"Oh she does?" Clarisse said, noticing the change in her son when he talks about them. "And what are their names and how old are they?"
"The oldest is Rosie, she's eleven and a bookworm, and then there's Rebecca. She's eight and loves horse riding," he smiled.
"Well I can't wait to meet them all," Clarisse smiled, "maybe we can arrange an afternoon riding at the palace."
"They will like that," Pierre said and they both smiled at one another.