x Christmas Day - Continued x
After the ceremony everyone gathered back at the Elizondo Mansion for the Wedding reception.
"Aunt Beth." Bella smiled as she stood beside her and Clarisse "Would you mind if I steal Aunt Clarisse away from you for a few moments?" She asked.
"Of course you can, but please bring her back as we were having a great chat." Beth said smiling at her then at Clarisse.
"I will be back, don't worry." Clarisse said smiling as Bella reached down and took her hand. "Now Bella, what can I do for you?" She asked as Bella started leading her away.
"I just wanted to thank you for coming today," Bella said as she turned to her "And that growing up around you, I kind of saw you as the Mother figure every girl needs." She said softly while looking up into Clarisse's eyes "I never got a chance to know my Mom before she died, but I knew I could always turn to you if I ever needed that someone to talk too, growing up you made sure I knew that and I just wanted to thank you so much for that and for being there for me when I needed you."
"Oh sweetheart," Clarisse whispered as she stepped closer and hugged.
"I know I could of gone to Aunt Beth, but she lived in England when I was growing up, I saw you everyday and you always made me feel welcome." Bella added as they pulled apart "And thank you for being there for Daddy too." She said smiling.
"You're welcome." Clarisse smiled and pulled her into another hug.
"I love that you and Daddy are best friends." Bella giggled.
Meanwhile over at the table, Beth had been sitting next to Joe for the last two minutes, who was still unaware that she was there.
"Joe?" Beth said patting his arm to get his attention. Smiling as he turned his head to look at her "Finally." She exclaimed with a laugh.
"I'm sorry, have you been there long?" He asked while picking up his drink.
"A few moments yes." Beth said crossing her legs and looked at him as he sipped his drink.
"I'm sorry I was in a world of my own." He said looking at her while putting his drink down then looked back across the room at Bella and Clarisse as they posed for a photo "Isn't she beautiful?" He asked.
"They are both beautiful." Beth said smiling as he looked at her "Joe listen, I accidentally overheard what Mother said to you this morning..." She said and looked across at Bella and Clarisse as they stood talking and laughing with the groom, Charles.
"That was private." He said in a low voice.
"I know, but honestly Joe, I knew that something's been going on with you two... have done for a long time." She smiled.
"How?" He asked while turning slightly.
"Oh come on, it's been a long time since my big brother has had this.." She said pointing to his face "Smile on his face." She said looking towards Clarisse and Bella again "I know she makes you happy, and you her." She whispered while looking back at him.
"We do." He said nodding.
"Don't let Mother put you off, as I believe that she's the right woman for you." She smiled "You make a good couple, you're just perfect for each other." She smiled and sipped her drink.
"I'm just worried she's going to say No." He said looking towards the two most important women in his life.
"If she loves you as much as she shows and I believe she does, then she will say yes." She said looking at him "Because let's face it, not many people would travel all this way to give you, your Christmas present and then stay for your daughter's wedding." She grinned "Think about it Joe." She said standing and patted his shoulder as he nodded and looked back towards Clarisse and Bella.
"Thank you for staying for the wedding, Your Majesty." Gushed Charles "I know you've made Bella very happy by staying."
"Oh it's not a problem." Clarisse smiled while putting her arm around Bella's shoulders "I'm just glad I decided to come today or I would of missed it." She smiled at Bella then back at Charles "Just one thing though, if you hurt her..." She started, still smiling "I do know someone that you don't want to mess with." She finished and sipped her drink as Bella looked up at her.
"Daddy?" She said looking at Charles.
"Oh don't worry, he's already told me he will break me if I hurt Bella." Charles said.
"I wasn't talking about him." Clarisse answered and raised her eyebrow at him "She's the daughter I never had, if you mess with her you mess with the Royal Family." She whispered then stepped back with a smile.
"Got it." He answered and watched as she and Bella started laughing.
"I will leave you two love birds alone now." Clarisse smiled and kissed the side of Bella's head "Make sure you say goodbye before you leave later, okay?" She asked.
"I will, don't worry." Bella smiled and watched her walk away.
After having a wonderful Christmas feast, everyone began to mingle once again.
"Clarisse, when are you leaving?" Beth asked as she stood behind her and Joe, still sat at the table.
"Well I was thinking of leaving this evening." Clarisse said while turning slightly and looked up at her.
"Well.." Joe started as they both looked at him "As my Bella got married today I no longer have to stay until New Year, so how about you stay until tomorrow and then we can travel back together in the morning?" He smiled as Clarisse looked at him in surprise "You can have the bed while I sleep on the couch?" He offered with a twinkle in his eye as Clarisse lent towards the table to get her drink.
"Ha!" Beth exclaimed with a laugh and looked down at him as he looked up at her "Couch my a..."
"Beth!" Joseph interrupted as Clarisse looked at him in surprise.
"What's wrong?" Clarisse asked.
"Nothing." He smiled while shaking his head and looked up at Beth.
"What?" She asked with a shrug and walked away laughing.
"Finally we're alone." Joe said smiling at her.
"Yes we are." She nodded with a smile.
"So, what do you say?" Joe asked while looking at her as she sipped some of her champagne then nodded.
"Yes, that sounds like a good plan." She answered with a smile while putting her glass back down as Joe put his arm along the back of her chair "Though I don't have a change of clothes with me, as really I did only come to give you your present." She said smiling while putting her arms down, placing both her hands on the front of her knee as she crossed her legs.
"It's okay I will talk to Beth, I'm sure she has something that you can borrow." He said smiling while running the tips of his fingers in a lazy circle over her back.
"And what will I wear to bed?" She asked with a cheeky smile while looking at him.
"Well I have a spare tshirt you could wear." He said smiling as she laughed "What? I'm being serious."
"I know you are." She said several seconds later "But okay, that sounds good." She smiled.
"Good." He smiled at her lovingly as she looked towards Bella for a moment.
Looking back at Joseph several moments later as he sipped his own drink "The wedding was beautiful." She smiled and watched him put his glass back down "She looked absolutely beautiful." She added.
Grinning like any proud father would be on their daughters wedding day "She is beautiful isn't she?" He smiled as Clarisse leaned slightly into him "Thank you for staying." He grinned, loving how close she was.
"Oh well, thank you for asking me to stay." She smiled and picked up her glass "I just can't believe Bella is old enough to be married." She added and sipped her drink.
"Neither can I, she's grown up so fast." He said looking towards Bella for a moment as Clarisse put her glass back down and looked at him "By the way, I wanted to ask you, what were you talking about earlier?" He asked.
"Oh I can't tell you that, what us women talk about Joe, stay's between us." Clarisse said smiling as he took hold of her hand, pulling it into his lap.
"I'm glad you came, it meant a lot to Bella and to me." He whispered.
"Well as of right now, there's no place I'd rather be." Clarisse said smiling at him as he smiled and looked down.
After a few moments Bella appeared behind them as they sat talking.
"Well hello sweetheart." Joe exclaimed while pulling back from Clarisse.
"Hello Daddy," She smiled down at him as she put her hands on Clarisse's shoulders "It's time for our Father Daughter dance." She grinned.
"Already?" He asked while standing up "I will be right there."
"Okay." Bella smiled and walked off as Clarisse looked up at him.
"I will be back." Joe said smiling down at her.
"Okay, I will be here." She smiled "Save the last dance for me?" She asked.
"I will, don't worry." He whispered in her ear "I love you." He whispered, pulling his head back to see her biting her bottom lip.
"I love you too." She whispered, studying his face as her heart began racing.
After the dance Joe mingled a little with Charles and his family and then headed back over to Beth and Clarisse, who were stood talking by the table.
"Clarisse, can I borrow you for a few moments?" He asked.
"Again?" Beth exclaimed then started laughing "Of course you can." She smiled at Clarisse.
"Sorry, I will come find you soon." She smiled and began following Joe "Where are we going?" She asked.
"I need to show you something." He said taking her hand as they left the hall and entered into the gardens.
Looking up Clarisse stopped when she saw the garden all lit up nicely and everything covered in snow "Wow." She exclaimed while looking around.
"Amazing isn't it?" He asked looking back at her.
"Oh it is, it's so beautiful." She said as they began walking along the snow covered path.
"I thought you might like it." He smiled as he led her through the gardens.
Coming to a beautiful Victorian style gazebo, where once stood under it Joe turned to face her.
"Dance with me?" He whispered pulling her closer and wrapped his arm around her waist as she put her arm up around his shoulder.
"I would love too." She smiled up at him as he kept hold of her other hand in his, holding it down at their sides.
And there under the snow covered gazebo, to the soft Christmas music that could be heard from the house, they shared a slow dance. Joe couldn't help but smile as Clarisse rested her head on his shoulder.
"You know all I really want for Christmas..." Joe whispered as Clarisse lifted her head, looking deep into his eyes "Is you." He added with a small smile "I love you with all my heart Clarisse, always have and always will." He said as they stopped moving.
"You have me." She whispered while putting her hand up, cupping his cheek as he wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her close "I love you too." She whispered and brushed her lips softly against his as he ran his hands up her back.
"Clarisse?" He whispered as he rested his forehead against hers moments later.
"Hmm." She answered, getting lost in his gaze.
"It's snowing." He whispered and watched with a smile as she lifted her head to look out into the gardens.
Looking back at him a moment later with a smile "Beautiful." She smiled and watched as he lowered his head, pressing his lips to hers.
Moments later they both looked at each other after hearing what they thought was the sound of someone clearing their throat. Hearing a small cough just seconds later they looked to see Joe's Mother, Isabella, stood looking at them.
Nodding as they quickly stepped apart "I just wondered if I could have a word?" She said slowly stepping up the two steps to stand under the gazebo with them.
"Of course, I will leave you two alone." Clarisse answered and gathered up the skirt of her dress a little, to walk away.
"It's you I want a word with actually." Isabella said looking at her as she suddenly stopped and looked back at her "Joe.." She said looking at him "Would you mind leaving us, please?" She asked.
"Mother?" Joseph said while looking at her.