Author's note: I'm sorry this hasn't been updated recently, but I've been finishing off the other story…but now I can focus on this one! This is a long chapter, and I hope its not too sweet…I hope you enjoy it! The love scene is a little racier than I have written before!
NB: The Princess Diaries belongs to Meg Cabot and Disney
Song Lyrics from 'The Way You Look Tonight' by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields
Song lyrics from 'Because You Loved Me', sung by Celine Dion; neither of these belong to me either!
Joseph opened his eyes and gazed at the ceiling for a moment, before realising that it was the day he had been waiting for…their first wedding anniversary! He turned, ready to pounce on his wife but, to his surprise, her side of the bed was empty, although she had left a message on her pillow:
"Happy Anniversary, Darling! To find me, you have to follow the trail…don't get lost!"
For a moment, he was a little disappointed that she wasn't there, but then chuckled- it was very rare the Clarisse did any impulsive or childish…and this was obviously one of those rare moments. He got out of bed and stretched as he reached for his bathrobe- in doing so, he spied a small red dot on the floor next to his feet…He bent down to pick it up, and was surprised to discover that it was a red rose petal! What on earth had that woman done now?
As he gazed at the rose petal, he glanced over and saw another one, followed by another…and, as he followed the petals, he realised that it was a trail from him to follow, as she had said in the note. He chuckled- this had Mia written all over it, although he was touched that Clarisse had used her precious roses to complete the task…
After throwing a bathrobe over the top of his pyjamas, he followed the trail towards the doorway but, instead of going through the main doors, they stopped in front of a wooden wall…Joseph was momentarily puzzled, but then realised that it was her secret passageway! He snuck through the hidden door, closing it behind him, and blinked in the dark- now, instead of rose petals, there were little glow-in-the-dark arrows on the wall, pointing him in the right direction. When the final arrow pointed upwards, he took it as a hint that he was meant to leave there.
As he opened the door, he was surprised to find himself outside his own former doorway. After checking that the coast was clear, he snuck out of the secret passageway, and knocked tentatively on the door….he was beginning to feel a little apprehensive…He knew that Clarisse wouldn't do anything over the top, but since Mia had been involved…
"Come in!" he heard her voice call cheerily, and he walked a little hesitantly into the room. After closing the door behind him, he looked around in surprise- Clarisse had set up a table for two on his small table, the scent of toast and bacon wafting towards him, while she was fiddling with the CD player in the corner but as soon as he came into the room, she turned around with a wide smile.
"Happy anniversary, darling!" she said with an adoring smile, and Joseph just stared at her in wonder- she looked absolutely beautiful with her smile and her sparkling eyes, but she looked stunning in a pale peach dressing gown. As she moved towards him, the dressing gown billowed out slightly to reveal a peach coloured nightgown, something he hadn't seen before, which showed off her slim, shapely legs and figure.
"Happy anniversary," he mumbled shyly, still in awe at how she looked as she smiled at him. "You look really beautiful…" he trailed off as he pulled her close into his arms and gave her a long, passionate kiss.
"I can see that you followed my trail easily," she said after a moment. "Mia suggested it, but I thought of the rose petals," she looked proud of herself, and Joseph was stunned.
"I can't believe that you would tear some of your rose petals up…for me…"
"Joseph, my love, the roses don't mean as much to me as you do…you and Mia are my entire world…and I don't know what I would do…" she trailed off, biting her lip as tears welled in her eyes, and Joe gave her a warm embrace, breathing in her sweet scent.
"I am honoured that you would do that for me…" he murmured, before he scooped her easily up into his arms.
"My, my, my…where are you taking me, Mr Bonnell?" Clarisse pretended to look surprised, but she was beaming at him happily. "I do believe that you have done this before…."
The wedding reception was over, and they had finally made their way up to Clarisse's suite…their suite, Clarisse corrected with a smile. Now that the excitement was over, the reality was finally beginning to sink in…they were married…she had dreamed about it for years, but now that it had happened, it was still unbelievable that they were at the place they had always dreamed about!
They stood in the living room of Clarisse's suite, staring at each other awkwardly for a moment before Joseph finally walked over to her.
"Hi," he smiled at her a little shyly, feeling as nervous as a schoolboy, and she smiled at him, equally as shy.
"Hello," she replied, before Joe finally plucked up the courage to wind his arms around her. As he did so, he was aware that not only did he feel comfortable doing it, but he was about to embrace his wife…his wife!
"I was wondering when you were going to do that," Clarisse teased gently before their lips met for their first kiss since the Archbishop pronounced them husband and wife. This time it was different- they didn't have over two hundred pairs of eyes staring at them…and the kiss quickly deepened as they quickly rediscovered the connection that had always existed between them…
"So," Clarisse said huskily after a pause. "Where are we going to live?"
"I would have thought it would have been obvious," Joe said in surprise. "I wouldn't want you to live in the tiny room I lived in…besides, I'm looking forward to living in this luxury!" he kissed the tip of her nose, and she giggled happily.
"I have never seen your room, Joseph…why don't you show me now…and we can start packing your stuff to bring here!"
The hallways were, thankfully, empty as they silently walked, hand in hand, downstairs to Joseph's room.
"I have to warn you," he began as he unlocked the door. "It may seem rather bare compared to your suite…and messy…"
He slowly opened the door, and stood aside to let her in and, as he followed her in, he almost winced at the sight of the room. He hadn't thought to clean some of his breakfast things that morning, or make the bed in the adjacent room, and there were newspapers scattered all around the living room…he hadn't tidied up the past few days but, then again, he hadn't been in the mood to…
"I'm sorry that it's a mess," he said awkwardly as she turned on the spot, and looked around the room in wonder.
"Don't apologise, Joseph," she said, putting a gentle hand on his arm. "I think this is so cosy and cute…my suite often seems too big for one…" she trailed off as she wandered into the bedroom. To his relief, Joe realised that someone had changed the bed sheets while he had been out, and the bed had been neatly made…it must have been cleaning day…
"It's very basic- jus the bedroom, a small bathroom and a small wardrobe…luckily I don't have that many clothes," he joked as he walked towards his wardrobe to fetch his suitcase while Clarisse sat down on the bed.
"I often wondered where you went when you went off duty…but I mean it, this is really cosy!"
"Thank you for being so polite," Joseph walked over to her and took one of her hands in his. "But I know it's not much, compared to your suite…"
"Who cares now?" Clarisse shrugged. "You won't be living here anymore…you don't mind living in my suite, do you?" she looked at him anxiously, and he chuckled.
"It doesn't matter where we live, my love, just as long as I am with you."
"You are sweet," Clarisse said softly, stroking his face with her hand before he leaned forward to kiss her again.
As their kisses deepened, they became aware of the fact that there was nothing constraining them anymore…they were married…Joseph paused when he realised that her hands, which had been loosely draped around his shoulders, were now unbuttoning his white shirt under his jacket. She stopped when she realised that he was watching her, and she looked at him like a shy schoolgirl.
"I'm sorry," Clarisse said with a timid smile, beginning to pull away before he put his hands on top, preventing them from moving.
"Why are you sorry, darling?" he murmured, leaning forward to kiss her on the neck and taking a deep breath of her scent. He had always loved her scent…she smelled of vanilla and her specially made perfume…he had always found it intoxicating…and tonight was no different…
"It must seem that…I…" she blushed deeply, and Joseph thought it was sweet that she was embarrassed.
"Why should you be embarrassed? This is natural…and we are married…"
"I don't know," she said, toying with his shirt. "It's just that I never imagined that I would ever be this happy…or ever experience this joy…"
"But you are, and you will," he said, leaning over to kiss her again, and was pleased to notice that her hands were fiddling with his shirt again. With a casual move, he shrugged his jacket off, and tossed it to the floor.
"But Joseph," she pulled away a second later, and looked at him with a seductive smile. "Why aren't you doing the same?"
"I'm…uh…"Joseph stuttered, not wanting to admit that he too was embarrassed and nervous. "I feel that I'm …taking unfair advantage…"
"You dear, sweet man," Clarisse smiled tenderly at him, brushing his face with her hand. "You have always been such a gentleman…but, like you said before, this is natural…Isn't this ridiculous," she chuckled, dropping his hand for a moment.
"We've spent so long denying our feelings that, now that we're able to admit them, we find it too difficult…but I do love you, Joseph…I wish I could tell you how much…"
"I love you too, Clarisse," he said softly, touching her cheek gently.
As his hand caressed her face, she reached over her shoulder and unzipped her dress, allowing it to fall to the floor, followed by her lace slip. She smiled as Joseph ran his eyes down her figure- she had always seemed to have a beautiful shape, but it was even better than he had ever imagined.
"It's going to be alright," she said softly, leaning into to kiss him again, quickly unbuttoning his shirt as she did so, and tossing it over her shoulder. Joseph, goose bumps appearing at the gentle touch of her fingers, gently caressed her smooth skin, marvelling at how soft and velvety it seemed…and accidentally knocked one of her straps off her shoulder. He looked at the fallen strap for a moment, and realised that it was the first time he had seen her like this……
Finally, he managed to unclip it and he tossed it across the room as his lips and hand roamed on her face, her neck, her shoulders …before moving back up to her face, as he felt her gentle caresses…
"I never…I never…thought I could feel…" she gasped when they broke apart for a moment. It had taken so little to release her feelings- she literally melted at his touch…but then again, she thought with a smile, she melted at the slightest look he gave her…But while Clarisse was delightfully ecstatic, she was also a little frightened at the intensity of her feelings. Joseph, sensing her fright, smiled- he didn't want to rush anything…he had waited so long to be with her, married to her, that he was more than willing to take it slowly…
"Clarisse…it's alright," he said gently, pulling her close to him. "It's alright to take it slowly…and I love you more for that…you are so beautiful," he said as he kissed her tenderly on the neck, and she turned to him, her eyes shining happily and adoringly.
"I am? Surely…"
"If you say you don't understand that, I'll be mad," he said jokingly, although he could never understand why Clarisse never realised, or accepted, that she was one of the most beautiful women in Genovia…Come to think of it, neither did Mia!
Clarisse relaxed against him before Joseph impulsively scooped her up into his arms, and gently laid her on his double bed, before lightly jumping up beside her. He gazed down at her for a moment, unable to believe that she was finally his wife.
"I love you, Joseph," she whispered, her eyes sparkling with tears.
"I love you too, Clarisse…always…" he replied equally as softly, before leaning down to kiss her again…
Some time later, Clarisse emerged from the bedroom, clad in one of Joseph's bathrobes, and began fiddling with the CD player again. Joe emerged from the bedroom in time to hear her mutter:
"Stupid CD player!"
He chuckled softly to himself as he snuck up behind her, and put an arm around her waist. She nearly jumped out of her skin before turning and giving him a kiss.
"Having trouble with the CD player, darling?" he leaned over her shoulder to look at the machine. He could see the problem…she hadn't pressed play on the CD player.
"No! I used to be Queen of Genovia and…" she began indignantly, before giving him a sheepish smile. "Yes…there's a song I want to play, but I don't know why it won't work!"
"Here," he said easily, pressing the play button and she gave him an exasperated look.
"I told Mia this wouldn't work, but she…Oh, this is the song I wanted you to listen to…" Joseph, while listening to the song, swept her into his arms as they gently swayed to the music.
"For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through it all
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cos you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand, I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by and I stood tall
I had your love, I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you.
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cos you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cos you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
After the song finished, there was a long silence and Clarisse couldn't help but look at him anxiously. She was surprised to see him looking out into the distance, a dreamy smile on his face, and a tender look in his eyes.
"Joseph?" she whispered softly, touching his cheek. "Is there something wrong?"
"No…nothing," Joe came back from his daydream at the sound of her voice, and smiled at her adoringly. "I just never imagined that you felt that way about me…I thought, for a long time, that you were still in love with Rupert."
"Joseph…I was never in love with Rupert- an arranged marriage is hardly conducive to love…although we did become fond of each other, it was never like this…You are the first man I really fell in love with, and you will be the last…" she finished, tears sparkling in her eyes as Joseph, overcome by her confession and the song, pulled her close for another long kiss.
"Anyway," Clarisse continued. "It's time for breakfast, although your entrance before…" she gave him a coy smile. "Did interrupt my plans somewhat…are you hungry?"
"A little," Joseph admitted, holding onto Clarisse for a moment longer before she gently escaped his grasp to walk over to the table. He started laughing when she turned, wearing an apron over his bathrobe, and holding a tray of food.
"Please sit down, sir," she said formally, and he followed her order, before she placed the tray in front of him.
"Well, the toast is cold," she said, gently touching the toast. "As is the bacon…"
"I don't care," Joe said, pulling her down onto his lap, and she laughed. "All that matters is that I'm here with you."
"You're easily pleased," Clarisse teased as she sat down opposite him, and began pouring two cups of tea.
"So, what are we going to do the rest of the day?" he asked as he munched on a piece of bacon, before taking a sip of his tea.
"You'll just have to wait and see," Clarisse said mysteriously. "But we will have to go and get changed…"
"I hope I get you all to myself today…I know Mia's away, but I don't really want anyone visiting…"
"They won't," Clarisse said calmly. "I've told Charlotte that we're not to be disturbed all day…oh, and I locked our suite doors before I left this morning, so no one will be able to get in anyway."
Joe watched her calmly eat her breakfast, and laughed.
"I can see both Mia and I have rubbed off on you…only under our influence would you tell people we don't want to be disturbed, and lock the doors!"
After breakfast they piled all the dishes up so they could collect them later and, after a furtive look up and down the hallway, snuck out of Joe's former room, back through the secret passageway to their suite.
"Who thought of the glow in the dark arrows?" Joseph asked as he led Clarisse back towards the suite.
"I did," Clarisse replied as they emerged in their suite, and Joe shut the door behind her. "Mia thought of something a little cheekier, but I thought this was fine…oh, what's this?" She walked over to the main door, and picked up a small envelope that had obviously been slipped under the door.
She opened the envelope and, as she read the small note, a warm and glowing smile appeared on her face.
"What is it?" he asked curiously, walking over to read over her shoulder, but she handed him the piece of paper to read himself.
"A telegram from Mia and Nicholas," she said with a smile, before walking towards the window while Joe read:
Dear Grandma and Joe
Happy first wedding anniversary! We hope you have a wonderful, peaceful day together! Here's to many more happy years together! You both deserve all the happiness in the world- and you found it with each other!
Love Mia and Nicholas
"She's a very thoughtful girl," Joe managed to say as he put the telegram on her desk, as Clarisse watched him with a smile.
"That got to you almost as much as my song did, didn't it?" she said in a soft voice, and he only nodded. He had known that their first wedding anniversary would be special, but he hadn't realised how much Mia had come to consider him a member of her family.
"Anyway, come over here and look out the window…."
"What am I supposed to be looking at? I'm sure it's really boring looking out the window," he joked, trying to hide his emotions, but he hadn't fooled Clarisse.
"Wait and see," Clarisse said as he leaned over her shoulder…and saw a black and white golf cart sitting out on the gravel driveway.
"What on earth is that?"
"That, darling, is the first part of your present…I thought you needed a cart to lug your golf clubs around…and," she pulled something from a shelf and handed it to him. He looked at it- it was a number plate, with the inscription 'NO1MAN' on it. He gave Clarisse a puzzled look.
"That can go on your cart, although it's not necessary…I just thought that it was nice touch, considering you are my number one man, formerly a security man, and now my husband," she said, before leaning in to kiss him.
"I…I don't know what to say…this is too much…" Joseph stuttered.
"It's not too much, my love…in fact, it's too little," Clarisse said as she led him, by the hand, over to the couch, and sat down together. "This is only the tip of what I owe you over the years…."
She was going to continue, but he stopped her by putting his lips on hers.
"You don't owe me a thing…everything I have done for you over the years has been an honour and a privilege," he said huskily after they kissed. "But this…I…thank you, darling," before he kissed her again.
"Anyhow," she said, rummaging in the side cabinet beside the couch, and bringing out a rectangle parcel. "This is also for you…."
Joseph, although he knew he should unwrap it carefully, ripped the paper off and gasped- it was a first edition of a book he had been waiting to be released!
"This isn't due out until the end of the month!" he gasped, and she chuckled delightedly.
"I know a few people who were more than happy to help me…including the author…I'm already arranging a private dinner with him for next week!"
She was chuckling at the stunned look on his face- she was so happy that she had been able to make some of his wishes come true…although the first wedding anniversary was, traditionally, paper, she couldn't resist doing more, and Mia had completely agreed with her.
"Do you want a break before I give you the last part of your gift?" she teased gently, before he put the book aside and looked at her with tears in his eyes, before pulling her into his arms for a long hug.
"Thank you so much, darling…I don't know….all I can say is," he turned to humour to cover the tumult of emotions her gifts had given him. "I hope your last present doesn't top these, otherwise, I'm going to have to rethink tonight!"
She handed him a small pile of papers, and he looked at them for a moment, before looking at her questioningly.
"These are the letters I wrote to you…but never sent…just at particular times…The first one is the most recent…" she pointed to the top letter. "It was the night I turned you down….
"My darling Joseph,
This is hardest letter I have ever had to write, even more so since you will probably never read this, choosing to throw it into the bin. I have been sitting in the kitchen for over an hour, going over what happened in my mind, but it just made me even sadder than when it happened… I have dreamed, so many times, of the day when you would propose, and that I would be able to say yes…I wanted to tonight, so desperately…There's nothing I want more to be married to you, the love of my life.
However, we both know that there is currently a lot at stake- Mia needs to marry the Duke of Kennilworth before she can succeed me onto the throne, and there are the added complications of Viscount Mabrey and the Von Trokans.
I know you must be wondering why I can't put my own happiness before the country- and I do, deep down, I do!- but I've had duty drummed into me my entire life, and I can't say yes until I know that Mia is secure and happy. Even you must know that Mia's happiness should be a primary concern- she is my last link to Phillipe, and my only grandchild. Mia needs my support, just I have always needed yours, not only as a monarch but, more importantly, as a grandmother.
I know there are no excuses for what happened, but I wanted you to know that I didn't make this decision lightly…my heart was telling me to marry you, but my head (as it usually does) prevailed on me not to make that decision…even though I wanted to, with all my heart.
I don't know whether this letter will make any difference to your feelings, but I never meant to hurt you- EVER. You are much too important to me! I love you, Joseph- I always have and I always will, and I'm asking you…this may seem too presumptuous after my answer tonight…but I'm begging you not to give up on us…I just need to make sure Mia is safe…
Love,
Your Clarisse.
(For I will never be anyone else's- except yours)"
"The second one is…." She looked coy for a moment, blushing, and Joe gently touched her hand, and she squeezed it in reply.
"When we had our first dance in the rain…and the kiss…of course, I never planned on you seeing these letters…but it was such a wonderful moment…the day I realised that my feelings were much more than friendship….I had known, for a long time, that I loved you, but I wasn't sure how you felt, and I didn't want to rock the boat."
"You wouldn't have rocked the boat, Clarisse- my feelings were rather obvious from the moment we met, but I worked hard to keep them from you…I had great respect for Rupert, as a King," he added, not mentioning that he had been disgusted at his behaviour as a husband.
"But, I have to admit, that day is my favourite memory of us…until our wedding that is," he added hastily as she raised an eyebrow, before bursting into laughter.
"Me too…"
Clarisse stared out the window into the darkened garden, and listened to the faint sound of rain hitting the ground outside her window. It had been raining all day, and she had enjoyed seeing how green the grass was after the rain, but she longed to be able to go outside and run through the wet grass…but the fact that she had an upcoming meeting with Charlotte, not to mention that she usually had to have at least 4 men protecting her when she went outside, prevented her.
She sighed heavily, and turned back to the huge pile of paperwork that was waiting to be read and signed.
"I might as well get started," she murmured softly to herself, reaching for the first pile of papers.
"Are you talking to yourself now?" she heard a familiar voice from the doorway, and she looked up to see Joseph, an amused look on his face, walking toward her. "I never thought you would talk to yourself, Clarisse."
"I didn't mean to," she protested, setting down her pen, glad for the distraction. "It's just that it's been raining all day, and I've been stuck inside…"
"And that's bad because…?"
"Joseph," she looked at him with a slightly annoyed look on her face. "I'm not as prim and proper as everyone seems to think I am…I love going out in the rain…the wet grass underneath my bare feet…the rain pouring down my face…the smell…"
Joe smiled at her description, and then was suddenly struck with an idea, standing up quickly, much to Clarisse's confusion.
"Give me ten minutes, and you can go out into the rain," he said with a smile, and she looked at his retreating back in astonishment.
"I wasn't serious…I've got all this work to do…"
He stopped in the doorway, and turned to look at her with a broad grin.
"You should have thought about that before you enticed me to go outside…oh…and don't wear any shoes!"
Ten minutes later, he walked into the room and was slightly surprised to see her patiently sitting on the couch, her work long since forgotten on the table, in a casual outfit and wearing no shoes. He had imagined trying to drag her away from her work, but he had forgotten that she had been working all day…
"I take it you don't want an umbrella?" she asked a little flirtatiously as she walked towards him.
"No," Joe said almost as flirtatious. "That would just defeat the purpose of this trip…Let's go!"
The hallways were empty, so Joe felt comfortable enough to take her hand in his, and give it a gentle squeeze. She returned the squeeze, and was surprised that she was excited about their little excursion…only Joe could make her feel like this! She had some feelings of reservation, however, when they got to the doorway, and she peered out to see water pouring down the stairs and the driveway.
"I think I might back out…" she began hesitantly as Joe looked over at her with a teasing look.
"I don't think so…you wanted to do this!"
They walked carefully down the stairs before Clarisse, suddenly invigorated by the rain that was pouring down on her, began to run as Joe, still holding her hand, struggled to keep up. She pulled away after a moment, and sped ahead.
"Oh Joseph!" she called over her shoulder as she ran down to her beloved rose garden. This is wonderful! I love doing this!"
"Do you mind slowing down a little?" he called back, and she looked back to see him wince slightly, and she stopped instantly.
"Oh Joseph, how thoughtless of me! I forgot about your knees…I am sorry," she said with a repentant look on her face as, taking him by the hand, she led him over to the nearby gazebo. "Are you alright?" she asked, and he only laughed.
"It wasn't my knees I was worried about this time, Clarisse…I had a stitch in my side! You're quite active for…"
"For someone who doesn't seem to exercise," Clarisse finished his sentence with a smile. "Or maybe you meant a woman in her mid years?"
"No, I would never say that…!" Joe protested before he saw the wide grin on her face. They sat in silence for a few moments, hand in hand, watching the rain drench the many blooming plants in the garden, and soak into the earth.
"I love being out here in this weather," Clarisse sighed happily, unaware that Joe had stood up and was facing her.
"Would you care to dance?" he offered her his hand, and she looked at him happily but slightly surprised.
"Yes…but we don't have any music!"
"Yes we do," Joe said, pointing behind her, and she turned to see one of the palace's portable CD players sitting unobtrusively in the corner. She turned back and looked at him with a delighted smile.
"You clever man!" as she waited for him to turn the music on. As the song began playing, he took her into his arms, and she smiled at him, happily unaware of how beautiful she looked, even soaking wet.
"You're a wonderful dancer," she murmured as they began to gently sway to the music. "That's why I always loved dancing with you at those balls…all the other men were so clumsy or so awed to be in my presence…"
"No…after working for you for 20 years, my awe factor has diminished to almost nil…I know almost everything there is to know about you…" he joked, and she playfully slapped him on the arm. She paused for a moment, her head cocked to the side as she listened to the lyrics of the song.
"Oh, I think I recognize this song…I love this song!"
"I know," he murmured softly into her hair, and she just stared at him with her deep blue eyes, both touched and astonished.
"With each word your tenderness grows
Tearing my fear apart
And that smile that wrinkles your nose
Touches my foolish heart
Lovely
Never, never change
Keep that breathless charm
Won't you please arrange it 'cause I love you
Just the way you look tonight"
"Clarisse…" he began huskily, softly touching her face with his hand as she continued to look at him, a tiny tear running down the side of her face. "I…I…I don't know how you would feel about this…"
"I love you," she interrupted him with a shy smile, and he just stared at her for a moment in amazement. "I always have."
"I love you too," Joseph said with a tremour in his voice, before he plucked up the courage to lean forward and, cupping one hand on her cheek, kissed her.
"I can see why that one would rate highly as a memory," Joseph said after a moment, before he kissed Clarisse again. "But…why were you crying that night?"
"Oh that," Clarisse said with a wave, settling back into his arms. "I was just overwhelmed by that song…it's always been my favourite…but I thought, that night, that you were giving me a message…."
"I was," Joseph said seriously. "I thought I was taking a big risk doing that, but you surprised me in the end…."
"Yes…." She replied with a dreamy smile as Joseph stared down at the last piece of paper in his hand.
"So what is the significance of this letter?"
"That, my love, is one…oh, you'll have to read it to find out!" Clarisse, blushing a little, turned her face away and pretended to be absorbed in looking at Joseph's new book.
"My darling Joseph,
I never imagined I would be writing this letter, on our first wedding anniversary, but…it has happened, and I can't believe how blissfully happy I am with you…Actually, I've always been blissfully happy around you, it's just that marriage has seemingly enhanced it even more.
I fell in love with you almost by accident, but I now realise that it was no accident- since everything that has happened, I have come to believe that we have always been meant for each other…it just look us 25 years to realise that!
I have been happier with you in the past 12 months than I was with Rupert, in almost 40 years of marriage. He never understood me- we were friends, parents and King and Queen, but there was nothing there that has been in every day of our life together. You make me laugh so much, and I feel proud to attend events on your arm…I don't want to ever imagine what would have happened if Mia had encouraged me that day!
You are the love of my life, Joseph Peter Bonnell, and I am so grateful to have you in my life…as my husband!
All my love, always
Clarisse"
Joe swallowed heavily several times, and noticed that Clarisse was looking at him out of the corner of her eyes nervously.
"Well?" she almost whispered, before he almost yanked her into his arms and kissed her long and passionately.
"I will always love you, my love," he said softly when they broke apart, before he stood up and scooped her up into his arms again. "Thank you for all of this….."
"No, thank you," Clarisse murmured softly as he walked towards their bedroom. "Does this mean you're going to have a difficult time topping this?" she teased gently in the doorway, before he kissed her again and walked over the threshold.