x Christmas Day - Continued x
"Please Joseph?" Isabella asked again.
"What are you doing?" He asked stepping closer to her.
"Please, Joseph." She said looking up at him "I won't ask you again." She added and watched as he looked at Clarisse for a second then looked back at her.
"Very well." He said looking back at Clarisse "I will be inside if you need me." He whispered.
"Okay." Clarisse answered softly and watched him walk away. Clasping her hands together she took a deep breath and turned to face Isabella "What did you want to talk to me about?" She asked.
"Come sit with me, please?" Isabella requested and made her way over to the bench, sitting down she looked out as the lights lit up her gardens beautifully.
Sitting beside her Clarisse was unsure what to say, taking another deep breath she looked at Isabella as she began to speak.
"I know you know that I don't like you all that well." Isabella started while looking at Clarisse "How though I have no idea..."
"The maids know everything." Clarisse said looking out into the darkness for just a second before looking back at Isabella as she nodded slowly.
"Ahh I see..." She said looking away "Listen, I know we have never really got to know each other, and I don't really say this often..." She said looking back at her "But Bella told me what she told you earlier, and I just want to thank you.. you know for being there for her and my Joe."
"It's what friends do." Clarisse said looking at her.
"Indeed, and you've been a true friend to Joe for many many years." Isabella said "And was there for my Granddaughter as she grew up, I can't thank you enough." She said looking away "Honestly, I had no idea that all this happened until today." She said looking back at Clarisse as she looked at her.
"About what?" She asked.
"That you were there for Bella all those years, well still even now." Isabella answered "It warms my heart to know that she had you, someone to look up too, a Mother figure so to speak."
"Well I saw her as the daughter I never had, and Isabella?" Clarisse said as they looked back at each other "I was never trying to replace her Mother in anyway, I hope you understand that?"
"Oh I do." Isabella nodded and looked out at the gardens again.
After a few moments of silence, Isabella looked back at Clarisse.
"Do you love my son?" She asked, taking Clarisse by surprise.
"I beg your pardon?" Clarisse exclaimed.
"I think it was an easy question to answer?" Isabella answered "Like you, the maids know everything." Isabella answered and saw a small smile playing on Clarisse's lips "So, do you?"
"I'm going to be honest." Clarisse said looking at her "After Rupert died, I never thought I would find love again and I wasn't looking, it just sort of happened... my Mother kept telling me as I was growing up that, if you fall in love it can't be helped, don't try to stop it, let it happen and be happy." She said softly while looking away "I love Joseph very much Isabella, he makes me happy and smile."
"Okay..." Isabella answered as Clarisse looked back at her "I know he loves you too and so he should, you're an amazing person." She smiled while standing up "You have a good heart, I'm just surprised it took you both so long." She laughed while walking to the steps "Are you coming back inside?" She asked.
"I will be there in a little while." Clarisse answered, unsure of what just happened.
"Okay, I will see you inside then." Isabella smiled while stepping slowly down the steps and started walking away.
Taking a deep breath Clarisse ran over everything that just happened in her head, when moments later Joe appeared, bringing her from her thoughts.
"Are you okay?" He exclaimed as she stood up in front of him.
"I am." Clarisse said with a smile.
"What did she say?" He asked while taking her hands "You're freezing," He whispered while looking down at her hands.
"I am but it's okay." Clarisse answered while watching him look back up into her eyes "And she asked me if I loved you."
"She did?" He asked while slipping off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"She did." She smiled and slipped her arms through the sleeves "I told her I did, very much."
"Really?" He asked teasing her while stepping closer to her.
"You know I do." She smiled and closed her eyes as he pressed his lips to hers for a moment. Lifting his head they looked into each others eyes as he put his hand up, pushing her hair back behind her ear.
"Shall we go back inside now?" He asked, cupping her cheek as she nodded.
"I think we should." She smiled as he ran his hand down her arm, taking her hand in his.
"Come on then." He smiled and started leading her slowly down the path towards the house.
After a few moments of walking Clarisse noticed that they weren't heading towards the doors they came out off earlier.
"Where are we going?" She asked, causing Joe to look back at her.
"I'm not ready to go back yet, I want a few more private moments alone with you before we go back into the party." He said smiling, continuing to lead her around the side of the house.
"Okay." Clarisse answered, her heart skipping a beat as he gave her hand a small squeeze.
Reaching the right spot Joe stopped and turned to face Clarisse as he gently pulled on her arm, getting her to stand between him and the wall. Smiling he stepped closer while letting go of her hand.
"Have I told you lately how beautiful you look in the moonlight?" He whispered while putting his hand up, cupping her cheek.
"You did a couple nights ago." Clarisse smiled as she lent back against the wall "But I don't mind hearing it again."
"Good, because I will tell you every time that lovely moon is out." He smiled and lowered his head, pressing his lips gently to hers. Watching as she slowly closed her eyes and tilted her head slightly.
After a few moments Joe lifted his head, smiling down at her as she put one of her hands on his chest while biting her bottom lip.
"I love you so much Clarisse..." He started as she looked up at him, smiling.
"Marry me." He whispered.
"I love you too." She answered back.
"What?" Clarisse exclaimed looking up at him in surprise "Did you just ask me to Marry you?" She questioned.
"Yes." He said with a nod while taking her hand, bringing it up to his lips "I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He said placing a soft kiss to the palm of her hand, never taking his eyes from hers.
"Joseph, I..." She said watching him get down on one knee in front of her, holding onto both her hands "Oh my..." She whispered with a small laugh as her heart began to race faster, her tummy filling with butterflies.
"Yes I know that we would need to keep it a secret, I accept that." He said looking up at her "And I don't have a ring right now, but tomorrow I can get one... I just want to be with you, I want to love you and spend the rest of my life with you." He said kissing both her hands before looking up at her.
Looking down at him she studied his face for several seconds "Please stand, we can't have you hurting your knee now, can we?" She requested with a smile.
"Okay." He answered while standing back in front of her, putting both his hands up to cup her face as they looked into each others eyes.
Taking a deep breath Clarisse found herself nodding "Yes.." She smiled.
"Really?" He asked in surprise and watched as she stepped forward, pressing her lips to his as she put her arms up, locking them around his neck.
"Yes, really." She whispered against his lips just seconds later before deepening the kiss once again as he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close.
Rejoining the party a short time later, Joe's Mother, Isabella watched as they began to mingle with the other guests together. For the next hour she watched as they smiled lovingly at each other, when they thought no one was watching. She watched as they laughed together and even danced together. She watched how they moved together, knowing her Son must be truly in love with her to smile the way he has been tonight.
Seeing an opportunity to get him alone as Clarisse walked off with Bella, Isabella made her way over to him talking with Beth and her husband.
"May I see you a moment, please?" Isabella whispered as she stood beside him.
"Can't it wait?" He asked and watched her shake her head "Okay." He said putting his drink down.
"Thank you." She smiled and started leading him out of the room.
Following her through to the living room, his mind filling with things to what she wanted to talk about. Closing the door behind them he turned to her as she turned back to him.
"This is much better, much more private." She smiled stepping closer "I've been watching you for the last hour or so." She said.
"Why?" He asked, feeling slightly confused.
"I just have, I love to see you happy and smiling again." She answered "And I want you to have this." She added while looking down as she opened her hand, her palm facing up with his Grandmothers ring laying in the middle "She would want you to give it to her." She added while looking up at him "And I know she would very much approve, as do I." She smiled as their eyes met.
"You approve?" He asked and looked back at her hand while taking the ring "What made you change your mind?" He asked.
"Oh I don't know... I just want you to be happy and she clearly makes you happy." She smiled while putting her hand up to cup his cheek "Ask her Joe, I know she will say yes."
"I already did." He answered as she slowly lowered her hand.
"And?" She asked studying his face.
"And she said yes." He smiled and watched as she smiled back before stepping closer to hug him.