Saturday 1st March 2008.
After having breakfast and getting ready for her day, Clarisse made her way down the stairs and over to her front door. Unlocking it, she wrapped her knee length cardigan around her front and folded her arms to keep it closed as she made her way, while humming to herself, across the drive, and out the already open gates to retrieve the post from the box at the front of the property.
"Hello," smiled her neighbour as she walked along the path towards her with her dog, Maxi, and watched as Clarisse turned her head to look at her. "Beautiful morning, isn't it?"
"Good morning, Mrs Harris and yes, yes it is," Clarisse nodded with a smile and glanced up at the sky before looking back at her postbox as she closed it back up and turned to them.
"Hopefully it will stay that way," Mrs Harris smiled and watched as Clarisse bent over to make a fuss of her dog. "Spring is certainly in the air."
"It really is," Clarisse smiled, still stroking her dog. "You are a lovely dog, yes you are," Clarisse laughed as he tried to reach up and lick her face.
"How have you been?" Mrs Harris asked as Clarisse stood back up straight and looked at her, "I haven't seen Joseph about this last few days."
"No, he's actually in Italy," Clarisse said as she looked down at the letters in her hands before continuing, "his daughter is getting married soon and he had to go over for a suit fitting but is returning today."
"Oh that's nice," Mrs Harris smiled as Clarisse looked back up at her, "after everything you have both been through, I'm really glad that you can continue to be friends."
"Yes, me too," Clarisse nodded as she averted her gaze away momentarily when a florist delivery van pulled up in front of them.
"Mrs Elizondo," asked the driver as he climbed from the van.
"Yes, that's me," Clarisse said as she put her hand up to him.
"Perfect, I have a flower delivery for you," he said as he walked over to them and held out a clipboard to her, "I just need you to sign this, love."
"Of course," Clarisse said, tucking her post under her arm before taking the board from him and signed her name on the form. "There you go," she smiled and handed it back to him.
"Thank you, I'll just get the flowers," he smiled while taking the clipboard from her and disappeared around the back of the van.
"Ooh, from a secret admirer perhaps?" Mrs Harris smirked as she looked back at Clarisse.
"Oh they are probably from my..." she stopped, realising what she was about to say and shook her head, "actually they will be the flowers that I ordered for my sister." She said and looked at her neighbour.
"For your sister?" Mrs Harris asked and watched as Clarisse nodded.
"Yes, it's her birthday today," Clarisse smiled.
"But you had them delivered here?" Mrs Harris asked as she raised her eyebrow.
"Yes," Clarisse said, trying to think fast. "I had them delivered here to give to her later when I see her, because she's out this morning."
"Oh, I see," Mrs Harris nodded and looked back at the van as the driver appeared with the flower bouquet, "oh they are beautiful," she smiled and looked back at Clarisse.
"Yes they are," Clarisse smiled as the driver handed her the flowers, "thank you."
"No problem," he smiled and turned to walk back to the van, "have a great day."
"You too," Clarisse smiled and looked at her neighbour as the delivery driver got in the van and drove away.
"Well, I will let you get on," Mrs Harris smiled, "hope your sister likes the flowers."
"I'm sure she will, she loves flowers," Clarisse smiled, "see you soon Mrs Harris."
"You too," Mrs Harris nodded and started walking away.
Smiling, Clarisse made her way back inside and through into the kitchen. Placing the flowers and the post down on the countertop, she took the card from the flowers and opened it. "I can't wait to see you, love x" she read to herself and bit her bottom lip.
Reaching across the countertop she picked up the house phone and dialled Joseph's mobile number, putting the phone up to her ear she waited for him to answer while taking a seat on one of the kitchen stools.
"Well hello you," Joseph said as he soon as he answered, "I was just about to call you."
"You were?" Clarisse said in surprise and slumped back in the chair. "Is everything alright?"
"Not at the moment, no," he said with a shake of his head, "unfortunately the flight has been delayed for a couple hours, due to the bad weather here."
"Oh no," Clarisse exclaimed.
"There will be an update about one, so fingers crossed I can still get back in time for Isabella's party later."
"Yes, fingers crossed," she nodded and suddenly remembered about the suit fitting that he was in Italy for. "Oh yes, tell me how did the suit fitting go?"
"Yeah, it went well. They have changed what us men will be wearing though," he said and chuckled to himself at the thought.
"What do you mean they have changed it?" Clarisse asked, wondering what on earth he was talking about.
"Well, Beppe's grandparents are Scottish, so to honour them the groomsmen, me, Enzo and the pageboys will all be wearing kilts," he said and listened down the phone as Clarisse started laughing. "It's true, and really not funny," he teased.
"No of course it's not funny," Clarisse laughed and tried her best to compose herself. "I'm so sorry."
"It's alright, I'm only teasing you," he smiled, "I laughed too when they told me, we all did, but it's really not that bad. Different, but not bad."
"Thinking about it, I think you would look incredibly handsome in a kilt," Clarisse smiled as she leant forward, resting her elbows on the countertop. "I can't actually wait to see you in one now."
"Oh really?" He smirked and sat back in the chair.
"Yes, really," Clarisse smiled and tilted her head to the side, "I may have trouble keeping my hands off you though."
"Oh well now as much as I would enjoy that, I'm afraid you will have too, at least until we are back in our hotel room at the end of the night," he smirked at the thought.
"I will try my best," Clarisse said and smiled.
"Hmm, I'm sure you will," he laughed. "Anyway, was there anything wrong?"
"No, why?" She asked.
"Because you called me?"
"Oh yes, I did didn't I? Well it was only to thank you for the beautiful flowers that came just a short while ago," Clarisse said while looking down at the card.
"Flowers? I didn't send you any flowers," he said in surprise.
"Are you sure?" Clarisse said and looked up at the flowers.
"Yes, I'm positive," he answered. "Pierre didn't order them for Laura did he?"
"No, he couldn't have as it had my name on the front of the envelope."
"Ok, and what did the card say?" Joseph asked.
"It says, I can't wait to see you, love," Clarisse said, reading the card out to him.
"Oh, maybe they are from Bethany or something," Joseph said, trying to think who else they could be from.
"Oh yeah, maybe," Clarisse nodded, "I will call and ask her in a bit."
"Alright, well I'm going to get going as I know you'll be going out soon and will need to get ready," Joseph said.
"Okay, but promise that you will keep me updated on the flight," Clarisse said.
"I promise," he nodded to himself. "I love you."
"I love you too, goodbye," Clarisse smiled and hung up the phone.
Looking back at the flowers, she wondered who they could be from when a thought popped in her head. Shaking her head at the thought, she made another call, hoping her suspicions were wrong.
Late Morning.
Pulling up in her sisters drive, she beeped her horn twice and smiled when Isabella appeared in the doorway and made her way down to her car a moment later. "Hello," Isabella smiled as she opened the passenger door.
"Hello birthday girl," Clarisse smiled as Peter appeared in Isabella's front doorway, "are you okay?"
"Yes, quick question," Isabella smiled, "Peter wondered if he could come along to lunch with us?"
"Of course," Clarisse nodded and looked up at the house to see him stood near the door as Isabella motioned for him to come over to the car before climbing into the passenger seat. "Hello Peter," Clarisse said a moment later as he climbed in the backseat and shut his door.
"Hello and good morning," he smiled while buckling up his seatbelt, "thank you for letting me join you ladies."
"It's okay," Clarisse smiled and looked at Isabella, "are we ready to go?" She asked and watched as Isabella nodded. "Peter?" Clarisse said as she looked at him in the rear view mirror.
"Yep," Peter nodded and smiled at her in the mirror.
"Then let's go," Clarisse smiled and began carefully reversing from the drive.
"Oh, thank you for my lovely flowers this morning," Isabella smiled as they pulled away from her drive.
"You're welcome, I'm glad you liked them," Clarisse smiled, her focus remaining on the road.
"I always do from you," Isabella smiled at her big sister, "you have great taste when it comes to flowers."
"Thanks," Clarisse laughed.
"Talking of flowers, this is a lovely bouquet on the backseat here," Peter said from the backseat and watched as Isabella turned in her seat to have a look.
"Oh, they are lovely," Isabella nodded and looked back at her sister, "are they from the usual person?"
"No, I have no idea who they are from," Clarisse said with a shake of her head.
"Did they come with a card?" Isabella asked and watched as Clarisse nodded.
"Yeah, it said that they couldn't wait to see me but didn't leave a name," Clarisse said with a shrug.
"And they were definitely for you?" Isabella asked.
"Yes," she nodded, "my name was on the envelope."
"Ahh," Isabella nodded while trying to think. "Couldn't you call the shop where they come from to see who ordered them?"
"That's a good idea, I never thought of that," Clarisse said.
"They wouldn't be able to tell you, customer privacy protection and all that," Peter said from the backseat.
"Oh yeah, forgot about that," Isabella said and looked out her door window a moment before looking back at her sister as she spoke.
"Well because I don't know who they are from, and because you know what I'm like I wondered if you wanted them?" Clarisse said as she glanced at her sister before looking back at the road.
"Of course, hate to see them going to waste," Isabella smiled, "whoa, deja vu."
"What do you mean?" Clarisse asked as she glanced up in the rear view mirror then looked back at the road.
"You used to do the same thing years ago, whenever you were sent flowers from people you didn't like, know, or sometimes even from Rupert when you were mad at him, you would give them to me," Isabella smirked at her as they came to a stop at a set of traffic lights.
"Oh yes, I did didn't I," Clarisse said after a moment thinking about it and laughed as she looked at her sister, "I had forgot all about that."
"Me too," Isabella laughed and watched as Clarisse looked back at the road, waiting for the lights to change.
After ordering their lunch, and while Peter went to the loo Clarisse slipped on her glasses and got her mobile out of her bag, taking a moment to check to see if she had any messages from Joseph.
"Is everything okay?" Isabella asked and took a sip of her drink as Clarisse looked up at her over the top of her glasses.
"Yes, I was just checking to see if I had any messages from Joseph. His flight was delayed earlier due to the weather, so we are hoping he will still make it for your party later," Clarisse said while putting her phone back in her handbag and put her glasses on the top of her head.
"Oh, and anything?" Isabella asked and watched as Clarisse shook her head while picking up her glass. "Fingers crossed he will be okay and will make it back in time."
"Me too," Clarisse said and took a sip of her drink. "Anyway, how are you coping with today so far?" She asked while placing her glass back down on the table and rested her arms on the table in front of her.
"It's been okay, just glad I have you, my Bea, Charlie, and Peter," she said, looking up at Peter as he returned to the table and sat down as she looked back at her sister. "I'm not sure I would have got through today if I didn't have you."
"I know darling," Clarisse said softly while putting one of her hands across the table and onto her sisters arm, "I'm just glad that we can all be here for you."
"Me too," Isabella nodded, "Mia didn't mind me asking if I could have a little party at the palace, did she?"
"Of course not, she was honoured that you wanted it there and was all to happy to help," Clarisse smiled.
"Great, I have been so worried that it would be a problem," Isabella said.
"Please don't, it's absolutely fine," Clarisse said and gave her a small smile, "honestly."
"Thank you," Isabella nodded.
"Anytime," Clarisse smiled and looked at Peter as he took a sip of his drink, "so Peter, I haven't seen you for a while, how have you been?"
"I have been good, thank you," he smiled while placing his glass back down and looked up at her, "what about you?"
"I have been good too," Clarisse smiled, "been busy helping Pierre pack up his belongings, ready to move into his own place in the next couple weeks."
"Oh yes, Isabella was telling me about that," he smiled, "what an exciting time for him."
"Yes, definitely," Clarisse nodded, "I will miss having him around, but I take comfort in the fact that he is living back in Genovia after all these years. And that he has finally found someone to love," she smiled.
"Oh, well that's good," Peter smiled and watched as she took another sip of her drink. "You know, it's good seeing a smile back on your face too, especially after everything that's happened between you and Joseph."
"Oh well thank you," Clarisse smiled and placed the glass back down.
"That's because she's been doing a lot more 'riding' lately," Isabella smirked as they both looked at her.
"Isabella," Clarisse exclaimed in surprise.
"It relaxes her, you see," Isabella smiled as she looked from her sister to Peter.
"Oh really?" Peter laughed, "where is that, back at the palace?"
"Yes," Clarisse nodded, "I still have several horses there, but I can only ride a couple of them now. The stable hands, and other members of staff, or even sometimes Nicholas takes them out for me."
"I used to own horses too, what breeds do you have?" Peter asked.
"I have two friesians, among several others," smiled Clarisse.
"Oh friesians are beautiful," Peter said and watched as Clarisse nodded.
"They are," Isabella smiled and nudged her sisters arm, "don't forget you have a stallion that you like to ride too."
"Isabella," Clarisse said as a blush crept over her cheeks.
"What," Isabella shrugged and laughed at her sisters reaction.
"You know what," Clarisse said in hushed tones as she pointed her finger at her, her embarrassment soon fading when she saw how happy her sister was. It was like she was back to her normal self, something she hadn't seen since Charles passed away. Nodding, she looked back at Peter, "but yes, I have a stallion too. I don't ride him as much as I used to, because of his age."
"Oh, I see," Peter smirked and looked from Isabella to Clarisse. "I would love to see them sometime, if I can?"
"Of course," Clarisse nodded as the waiter brought their order over. "We can certainly arrange that." She smiled.
"Great, I can't wait," Peter smiled.
Later That Evening.
Placing her glass on the table, Mia watched her grandmother as she smoothed her hands down the back of her skirt and took a seat beside her. "Any luck?" She asked.
"No, he's still not answering," Clarisse said while picking up her glass, "I called Vicki to see what the weather was like now, and explained that I hadn't heard anything from her father for a couple hours."
"And what did she say?" Mia asked as Clarisse took a sip of her drink.
"She said that the weather had settled down and the airports were open again, but like me she hasn't heard anything from him either," Clarisse answered and placed her glass back down before looking at her granddaughter.
"Well maybe he managed to get a flight but didn't have time to let you know?" Mia said and watched as her grandmother looked out at the other guests, "please try not to worry."
"It's hard not to when you don't know what's going on, or where he is," Clarisse said while looking back at her, "I think I'm going to go for a walk, if anyone needs me I'll be in the rose garden."
"Alright," Mia nodded as Clarisse stood up and slipped her cashmere wrap around her shoulders before picking up her glass.
"Is everything alright?" Nicholas asked as he leant closer to Mia and watched as she turned her head to look at him.
"Not really," Mia said sadly and watched as her grandmother disappeared out the door before looking back at her husband, "she hasn't heard anything from Joseph for a few hours and is getting worried, we both are."
"I'm sure he'll turn up soon," Nicholas said as Mia nodded.
"Knowing him he will, yes," Mia said while looking down as he took hold of her hand in his, "but it doesn't stop the worrying, does it?"
"No, suppose not," Nicholas said as Mia looked back at him.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Coming from her daydream, Clarisse turned to where the voice came from and was surprised to find Peter stood with one foot up on one of the gazebo steps. "Oh hello Peter," she said and turned back to how she was stood.
"Beautiful evening isn't it?" He said while stepping up the other step and slowly moved to stand beside her.
"It certainly is," Clarisse nodded and turned her head slightly to look out across the darkness of the palace grounds, "this used to be my favourite thinking spot, ha, still is I suppose." She said, nodding her head slightly as she looked up at the starry night sky.
"Yes, you can certainly see a fair bit from here, and all those stars," he said, watching her as she remained looking up at the night sky, "is pretty remarkable."
"You could say that again," Clarisse nodded and looked down at her glass as she raised it to her lips and took a sip.
"Is there something wrong?" Peter asked, concerned, "it's just you don't seem your usual cheery self this evening."
"Am I not?" Clarisse said and turned to face him, "no, I suppose I'm not."
"What's wrong?" He said and stepped closer to her as she looked up at him, "tell me? Maybe I can help."
"Here you are," pipped up Joseph as he stepped up the two steps of the gazebo and watched as they both turned to him.
"Joseph, you're here at last," Clarisse said in surprise as Peter looked at her, then back at Joseph.
"Yes, I told you I would make it," he smiled as he walked over to them, "didn't I?"
"Yes, you did," Clarisse nodded and looked up at him as he looked at Peter and held out his hand to him.
"Hello again, Peter," Joseph smiled as they shook hands.
"Yes, hello," Peter said as Joseph pulled his hand back, "well I best get back to the party. See you back inside?" He said, looking from Joseph to Clarisse.
"Yes, you will," she nodded.
"See you inside," Joseph said and turned his head to watch him as he stepped down the steps and disappeared along the path before looking back at Clarisse as she stood looking up at him. "Do you know what I think?" He said and moved to stand in front of her while putting his arms out either side of her and placed his hands on the gazebo balustrade.
"I don't know, what do you think?" She asked while tilting her head and looked up into his eyes.
"I think that Peter might have a thing for you," he said and watched as she laughed.
"Don't be so silly," she said while shaking her head when a sudden thought popped into her head. Looking to where Peter had just gone, she wondered if he could have been the one who had sent her the valentines card and the flowers today. But trying to push it to the back of her mind she looked back up at Joseph and smiled. "Anyway," she said and turned to place her glass on the balustrade before turning back to him, "where have you been? I have been trying to call you."
"I know, I'm sorry," he said, and let go of the balustrade to wrap his arms around her waist, "Mia told me that you have been worried, and I honestly didn't mean to worry you it's just a flight opportunity came up so I took it. All I wanted was to get back to you and hold you in my arms, that's all I could think about, was holding your gorgeous body in my arms," he whispered and buried his face in the crook of her neck as she snaked her arms around his shoulders.
"Hmm well, I'm just glad that you are here and that you are okay," she said and watched as he lifted his head a moment later.
"Me too," he said softly and kissed her as she closed her eyes.
Later That Night.
Arriving back at Clarisse's later that night, Joseph made sure the front door was locked before following her upstairs and into her suite a moment later. Hearing her singing faintly from the bathroom he took a seat on the edge of her bed and slipped off his shoes with a smile when he heard a car speeding up the street. Looking up at the bay windows, he stood to his feet and walked over to have a look outside.
Coming from her bathroom moments later, Clarisse stood and watched as Joseph stood looking out the window. "What is it?" She asked and watched as he turned to look at her.
"Oh just some idiot speeding up the road," he said and looked back out of the window before stepping back and letting the netting fall down.
"Oh," she said and gestured to the curtains, "do you mind closing them while I get changed?"
"Of course," he smiled and watched as she smiled back and walked into her closet. After closing the curtains he walked back over to the bed and began undoing his shirt buttons.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I was talking to Mrs Harris this morning," Clarisse called from her closet as she undressed.
"Oh that was nice for you," he teased as he removed his pants and climbed into the bed to wait for her to return. "What did she have to say?"
"Not much, she asked about you though," she smiled to herself, imagining him raising his eyebrow at what she had said as she slipped into something a bit more comfortable. "But she has absolutely no idea that we are back together."
"Oh really?" He laughed and looked up as she came back into her bedroom and flicked off her closet light switch as she passed through the doorway before letting her robe fall open, revealing her new thigh length satin slip underneath. Tilting his head, he looked at the foot of the bed as he started to feel aroused.
"Yes, I was actually quite surprised," she said and let her robe fall from her shoulders before putting it over the bottom of the bed. "Especially with how much you stay here," she laughed and climbed in the bed beside him. "Anyway enough about that, I think it was a good night tonight."
"Yes it was," he nodded, still staring at the bottom of the bed. "Isabella certainly enjoyed herself."
"She did and that was the main thing," Clarisse nodded and watched him a moment. "Joseph?"
"Hmm," he said and finally turned his head to look at her.
But she said nothing, she simply adjusted her body and moved to straddle him under the bedsheets as they fell down around her waist. Arching her back, she placed her hands on his hairy chest and took his lips in a hungry kiss as his hands grasped her sides in surprise.
"Mmm, what's this," Joseph gasped between her kisses and looked up at her as she paused to look down into his eyes.
"I have wanted to do that ever since you told me this morning that you would be wearing a kilt for Vicki's wedding," she said and averted her gaze down to her fingers toying with his sexy chest hair. "I find the thought of you wearing a kilt quite erotic," she smiled and kissed him a couple more times as she smoothed her hands up onto the sides of his neck and he smoothed his hands from her sides, to her back as the material from her satin slip gathered up under his grasp.
"Do you now?" He whispered against her lips as they paused for breath, their eyes remaining locked with one another's. Biting her bottom lip, she nodded and kissed him once again before laughing out in surprise as he rolled them over so he was on top.
Trailing kisses down her jawline and nipping at her neck, Joseph gently rested his body down on hers and pressed her body deliciously into the mattress as he did. Smoothing her hands up and down his back, Clarisse brought her legs up and rested her inner thighs against his hips as she whispered seductively in his ear. "Make love to me like how you used too."
Raising his head, he looked down into her eyes and brushed her hair back from her face as he smiled, "as you wish."
Anyone still around? Just wondering where all my amazing reviewers have disappeared too?
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