So sorry for the delay folks, Laura and I have been tremendously busy… I've had rehearsals, school and work (I model, act and sing) and she's been terrifically busy with her schooling! We know exactly where this story is going so it's only a matter of scheduling the time to edit and post! We hope you enjoy this chapter. Fun stuff is coming up!
Chapter Five
"Damnit Mia, this is not something I care to discuss."
The pair stood firmly, each raising their voices more than they would have liked.
"No Grandma, you listen to me. I am so sick of being left out of this. Something obviously happened and you need to tell me and if not me, somebody, what is going on with you!" Mia took in her grandmother's confounded expression and could no longer hold her tears back. She continued, "Grandma, you're so unhappy… you're behavior is scaring me."
"Fine! I'll tell you." Clarisse shouted more than she had intended to.
Mia, now realizing she'd perhaps pushed her Grandmother too far, listened intently.
"He's having an affair…wi-with Claire." She finally confessed, turning her back immediately to Mia, bringing her hand to her forehead. "And," she continued slowly and sadly, "and she said they're in love."
After a moment Mia spoke. "Oh Grandma, I'm so sorry." The more Mia thought about it, the more she realized that for as long as she'd known Joe, she knew this was nothing he was capable of.
Mia continued gently. "Are you sure, Grandma? I mean do you really know for sure?"
---
An urgent pounding on the door brought Joe's workout to a halt. He grabbed a towel from the bed and wiped his face before he opened the door. There stood a livid Mia. Wasting no time, she pushed past Joe into the room and began shouting before Joe could even blink.
"Joe, what the hell do you think you're doing?" She didn't wait for his answer, as he looked at the sweaty towel in his hand in confusion. "I mean, what man in his right mind would want an intern floozy over the Queen of Genovia? And after all Grandma has done for you, you just go and throw..."
She was cut off mid-sentence by a hand clapped over her mouth and another hand firmly pushing her to sit on a nearby chair. Mia glared at Joe and gave a small huff through his hand. Satisfied that she would be quiet for a moment, he slowly pulled his hands away.
"Now...Your Highness...would you care to tell me what this is all about?"
"I think you know exactly what it's about!"
Exasperated, Joe tried again. "Well, let's pretend for a moment that I don't. Enlighten me."
---
Clarisse paced the living room of her suite in desperate wonderment of what Joseph and her granddaughter were talking about. She knew Mia was painstakingly enraged and that Joseph would probably hate Clarisse even more than he already must for involving Mia in their failed relationship.
A pang of guilt even hindered Clarisse for betraying the confidence of Claire. But at the same time, she knew that she and Joseph really had something special. Something they had planned on sharing for their remaining days. Or so she thought?
--
"Why are you acting like you don't know?" Mia asked, exasperated.
"Perhaps because you haven't slowed down long enough to tell me what it is exactly that you are blaming me for. Thus, I am quite unaware of your thoughts right now," Joseph said calmly before taking his seat in front of Mia. "Now, what is it you think I've done?"
--
Clarisse decided pacing in fear would accomplish nothing so she sat at her desk to write Joseph a letter. She wasn't sure she was even brave enough to deliver it, but nonetheless it was something to do.
Joseph,
My dearest, dearest Joseph… I am not entirely sure why I am writing this letter, for you must despise me by now…but I feel, out of respect for our relationship, I must be honest with you.
I know I've been completely wretched to you as of recently and that is because Claire informed me of your…relations. The moment she told me my heart broke instantly. As she told me that you've been sleeping together, I didn't believe it at first I wouldn't let myself but then I realized what an attractive a girl she really is and honestly Joseph, compared to the old woman you thought you wanted- I don't blame you for changing your mind. Especially since she seems to feel quite mutually about you.
Darling, I'm not going to fire you, but you shall be reassigned to Mia's head of Security. Oh Joseph, I wish you hadn't done this. I wish we could still be together and still marry. I wish I could be enough for you and please you…I wish you could still love me. My love, I would give everything up for you to merely hold me in your arms. I love you, Joseph. I've always loved you. I shall always love you.
All my love,
Clarisse
…And to think I was so damn excited to sign "Mrs. Clarisse Calvera" on my new stationary…it was going to be a surprise.
Clarisse slammed her pen on her freshly written letter and buried her soaked face in her arms, not physically capable of stopping.
--
"Joe, I thought you loved my grandmother." Mia looked at Joseph with pure disgust.
"Oh Mia, I love Clarisse more than I've ever loved anyone." Joseph noted Mia's disbelieving glare and panicked. "Mia, you must tell me what's going on. Is she doubting how I feel about her?"
"Joe, just stop! Grandma told me what you're doing." Mia folded her arms across her chest and turned around indignantly.
"What have I done?" Joseph stood abruptly, growing annoyed at his own confusion. "Mia, I mean no disrespect but if you do not tell me this instant, I will have no choice but to go to your grandmother herself for some sort of conclusion." Joseph shifted his eyes so he was no longer making eye contact with Mia; he distantly looked to the floor. "Your grandmother has been avoiding me and as far as I know, broke up with me last night. I've tried incessantly to put up a good face and prayed she was only having the jitters, as you put it. But damnit Mia, I'm miserable. I love her too damn much to let her go without a fight. I am undeniably crazy about her, Mia…" He sadly filled his air with lungs, "We were to be married…" Joseph collapsed in a chair and buried his face in his hands. "I love her so much. I can't lose her Mia, not now…not ever.
Mia, a bit taken back by Joseph's sudden emotions, stepped to him after a moment and sat beside him pulling him into a hug. Surprising himself, Joseph obliged. After a few moments of comforting Joseph, Mia pulled back looking into his eyes. She had had a revelation when she saw the intense and genuine sadness and hurt there.
'Joe would never cheat on Grandma!? What was I thinking? He's waited over forty-years to have her and now that he finally does- he wouldn't be stupid enough to screw it up!'
Mia began slowly, "Joe, you didn't really cheat on Grandma, did you?"
"What?!?!" Joseph stood in madness.
More to herself than Joe, she continued. "It's Claire…she likes you and she's jealous of Gra…" She shifted her gaze in contemplation. "Oh my God!"
"Amelia!" Mia focused her attention once again on Joe.
"I am going to ask once more. What-the-hell-is-going-on?!"
Mia realized that if she was in fact right and that Joe really had no idea what was going on… well, she would need to fill him in! "Claire told Grandma that you were sleeping together…and that you two were in love."
"Claire, the intern?" He continued furiously yet calmly when Mia nodded. "Excuse me, Mia, I have some business I must tend to." And he was out the door before Mia could breathe a word.
To be continued…
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