Joe awakes the next morning to a knocking at the door. The knocking would not stop. He gets up, puts on his robe and walks to the door.
"Princess Mia. What's wrong?" He could see something wasn't right.
"Joe I've been everywhere. The garden, the kitchen, her office, her room, I checked the garden twice. I can't find her anywhere. I went to her room and-" Mia stopped suddenly as she saw her grandmother walking towards her, tying up her robe. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize, I'll go now." Mia left before Clarisse or Joe could get her back.
"I should go after her and explain all this." Clarisse said, as she was about to leave. Joe caught her before she left, "I love you." Clarisse smiled at her fiancé, "I love you too" and with that she left and set off to find Mia.
Mia was in the kitchen looking for something to eat while trying to calm down because of what happened a few moments ago. Clarisse entered and Mia stopped. She looked at her grandmother, but said nothing. Clarisse started the conversation, "Mia? Are you all right?" She was concerned because Mia was acting very weird. Although who could blame her, she thought.
"No Grandma, I'm not okay. I went to your room this morning to talk to you but you weren't there. So I checked to see if you were in the kitchen. You also were not there. I went searching for you everywhere. I even checked to see if the limos were here, thinking maybe you went to town. I checked the garden like three times. I couldn't find you anywhere. I was worried and that's when I went to Joe's room to see if he could help me look for you. And then... I saw you... and... I don't know..." "Mia I'm sorry, I-" her granddaughter cut her off. "No Grandma. I just got scared. I know you would tell me if you were going somewhere. I'm better now. Just needed to vent."
They were both silent for a moment after that. Clarisse broke the silence first, "Now, I bet you are wondering why I was in Joseph's room?" That got Mia's attention. She continued, "last night, during the ball..." her grandmother explained about the balcony and then when she snuck into Joe's room, his proposal, and her peaceful slumber in the arms of the man she loves. "...I didn't want you to find out like this. I had hoped to tell you when we were alone. Nobody knows but you. Joe and I don't want to tell anyone yet. We're not sure how the press is going to react." She stopped there. Mia was floored with the news. "SHUT UP! Grandma, that's great! Finally you two realized you guys were meant for each other. Don't look so surprised. I mean, yeah, to the normal person they wouldn't notice, but I have noticed it every time he looks at you. And when you think no one is looking, the look you give him is full of love and emotion."
Clarisse was amazed at how intelligent her granddaughter was. "Mia I can't believe you got all that from a stolen glance," they laughed while they started looking for some breakfast.
Joe got dressed and headed for the kitchen before he started his morning walk through of the consulate. He heard giggles from the kitchen and figured that Clarisse had calmed Mia down. As he walked in Mia gave him a look that said she knew his little secret.
"Good morning Princess...Clarisse," he smiled as he looked over at his fiancé.
"So, Joe, I hear you are quite a romantic man? What's your secret?" Mia just couldn't resist teasing him. At that Joe looked over at Clarisse with surprise and shock written across his face. He decided that instead of being angry he would play along with Mia.
"Oh, well, my secret is telling the woman that I am deeply in love with, that I want to spend the rest of my life with her." He walked over to Clarisse and kissed her on the cheek. Clarisse decided to kiss him back, but this time on the lips. Joe broke their gaze they were holding and said, "I'm sorry but I must make my rounds." He kissed Clarisse goodbye and Mia gave him a hug as he left. Mia had a really goofy look on her face and her grandmother couldn't help but notice it. "What?" She tried to sound stern at her granddaughter, but she couldn't help but laugh.
"Grandma you're in love! How does it feel? You look really happy, what all happened last night? Oh never mind I don't want to know that. I just want to know what it feels like to be in love?"
Her grandmother smiled before she stared talking, "Well, for me, being in love is the most wonderful feeling in the world. It's hard to explain. But I know I'm in love with Joseph." They chatted a while longer through breakfast about many subjects.
Clarisse had to get ready for her departure to Genovia. Mia would fly out at the end of her school year.
As Clarisse finished closing up her suitcase, Joe walked in, "Are you ready? Your plane leaves in an hour." "Yes, I'm ready." Joe picked up her two suitcases and carried them to the limo with Clarisse.
"Your Majesty," he offers his hand and he helps her into the limo before getting in himself. The driver took off toward the airport. Joe calls to the driver, "Driver, we need to discuss some security matters." And with that Joe pushed the button to close off the driver and them in the back. He looks at Clarisse, "Finally, we're alone." All Clarisse could do was smile before he covered her lips with his. Before they knew it they were at the airport and Clarisse had to leave Joe.
"I'll miss you my dear" she said as was getting ready to board the plane.
"Mia gets out of school in two weeks, so we'll see each other soon. Goodbye and have a safe flight." He had a funny grin on his face and Clarisse wondered about it.
"Joseph, why are looking at me like that? What are you up to?"
"Me? Up to something? Now why would you think that? Charlotte will meet you at the airport in Genovia and then take you home from there."
"Goodbye Joseph." She still thought he was up to something, the whole plane ride she kept trying to think about something else.
After her plane took off Joe called Charlotte, "Hello, Charlotte? Her plane just took off, is everything set at the palace? Good, I'll be in touch with you later. Goodbye."
To be continued...