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Chapter 3: Merry Christmas!
The first few weeks after Joseph left Clarisse couldn't stop thinking about him, gradually though with planning her upcoming spring wedding to Edward she soon managed to push him to the back of her mind, hardly ever thinking about him at all now.
After getting ready she sat at her dressing table to do her makeup before standing to find herself a pair of shoes. Finding the ones that would go with her outfit she lifted one foot from the floor to slip on the shoe, before doing the same with her other foot unaware that Edward was stood in the doorway of her closet, watching her.
"Today's the day?" He said and smiled as she slowly turned to him.
"Yes it is," She nodded and turned back to her scarf rack.
"We haven't had much of a chance to talk about it, with all the Christmas activities going on." He said and stepped closer as she found herself out a scarf. "But how do you feel about it?"
Raising her arms, she wrapped the scarf around her neck and looked over at him as he studied her face "Honestly?" She asked and watched as he nodded "Alright, honestly.." She began while looking down momentarily "I think we were stupid, and should have been more responsible. We should have been more careful, but if it turn's out that I am, then so be it... I mean, the thought of being a mother again at my age scares me, but I will deal with it if I am."
"I do agree with that, being careful I mean," He said while moving to stand in front of her. "But I do believe that you will make just as good a mother now as you did back when you had Pierre and Philippe." He said softly while wrapping his arms around her waist, holding her close as she looked up.
"We should have been more careful, Edward. I am too old to be a mother now."
"It will be okay you know, if you are then we will deal and cope with it together. I promise." He whispered and kissed her forehead.
"Thank you," She said and kissed him before stepping back. "I need to get on, I have several things I need to do before we finish for Christmas at lunchtime."
"Alright," Edward nodded and watched as she walked out her closet, without saying goodbye.
Making her way down to her office, where she ended up rushing around all morning, trying to get everything done before they stopped for Christmas and so her staff that were leaving today to be with their families could leave on time. It was Christmas Eve after all.
"Please Stacy," Clarisse exclaimed as she stood to her feet "Can you hurry and fax these over to the Prime Minister. These are very important and should have been already faxed."
"Of course, Your Majesty." Stacy said, rushing over to her as she quickly gathered up all the necessary paperwork for her before suddenly stopping and putting her hand up onto her forehead. "Your Majesty, are you okay?" She exclaimed and hurried to her side.
"Yes," She nodded and lowered her arm while looking at her young assistant. "I am fine, I think I got up to quickly." She said and looked at the phone as it started ringing. Grabbing the receiver she put it to her ear "Hello, Clarisse speaking." She exclaimed, and pointed to the pile of paperwork for her assistant before covering the end of the phone. "Can you please do that, Stacy." She said looking up at her.
"Of course," Stacy nodded and grabbed the paperwork, hurrying out the door and leaving her alone.
After several moments speaking on the phone Clarisse looked over at her office door, seeing a familiar person stood smiling at her. "Joseph?" She whispered, her eyes remaining on him as she put the phone down.
"Still rushing around I see," He smiled and stepped further into her office.
"Of course, don't I always?" She said, moving to stand behind her desk. "What.." She began with a small shake of her head "What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Well I was in the area, so I thought I would pop in and see everyone. Luckily everyone that remains are the people that I wanted to see, oh and..." He said while raising his hand up "I also wanted to drop your Christmas present in, I saw it and just knew I had to get it for you." He said, walking over to her desk as she watched.
"Oh Joseph, you shouldn't have got me anything." She exclaimed and looked at the bag as he placed it down in front of her.
"I know, but I wanted too." He smiled and stepped back.
"Well thank you, I'm afraid that I haven't got.."
"It's alright, honestly." Joseph interrupted. Smiling, he averted his gaze to the bag momentarily before looking back up into her eyes "Please open it, while I am here."
"But it isn't Christmas until tomorrow," She said softly, putting her hands together.
"I know, but I won't be here then." He smiled "I will be leaving soon."
"Alright," She nodded and looked back down at the bag. Pulling out a perfectly wrapped gift before unwrapping it. Finding a Christmas broach she gasped and placed her free hand on her chest. "It's beautiful, thank you so much."
"It's you, don't you think?" He asked, walking around to her as she lifted it careful from the box.
"Yes, it is." Clarisse nodded and looked up at him "Thank you so much, Joseph." She said softly as he took it from her hands, attaching it to her jumper as she studied his face.
"There," He smiled, admiring her "You look beautiful today," He smiled, stepping closer and kissed her cheek as she closed her eyes. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you too," She said and opened her eyes as he stepped back. "I have missed you, you know." She said softly.
Standing in the doorway, he watched how they looked at each other. He had watched him attach the broach, the kiss on her cheek and how she looked into his eyes. Clearing his throat a moment later while stepping forward, deciding enough was enough. "Clarisse, Joseph." He said as they both looked over at him.
"Edward," Joseph bowed his head towards him before looking back at Clarisse. "I best get going, it's a long trip back."
"Must you leave so soon, you have only just got here." Clarisse said, watching him.
"I must, it's a long drive back." He answered and glanced at Edward as he made his way over to them. "I will come back in the new year, we can catch up then?" He said and watched as Clarisse nodded.
"Yes, that sounds lovely." Clarisse smiled and watched as he made his way over to the door "Thank you again, and Merry Christmas."
Stopping, he smiled over at them as they stood watching him "Merry Christmas." He said and walked out, pulling up the door as he left.
"What did he want?" Edward asked, turning back to her.
"Oh he brought me this," She said and looked down at the broach "Isn't it lovely?" She asked, looking up at him.
"Yes, it's charming." Edward nodded and kissed her. "Have you heard from the doctor yet?" He asked, putting his arm around her back.
"Yes, I have." Clarisse nodded and looked up into his eyes "I'm not," She said and looked down while shaking her head.
"Okay," Edward nodded. "That's a shame."
"Yes it is," Clarisse said sadly. "In a way, I am kind of glad that I am not. I am too old to be a mother now, it would have been to much."
"I think personally you would have made a wonderful mother, just like I said earlier." Edward answered.
"Maybe, but I do think we need to be more careful from now on. We are adults, we can't be getting caught in the moment anymore." She said, looking up at him as he nodded slightly.
"I suppose," He said and shook his head "Anyway, I best get on." He said and kissed her cheek "See you in a bit."
"Yes you will," Clarisse said and watched as he walked out.
Stepping back behind her desk, Clarisse grabbed the bag that Joseph had brought her present in to find two cards inside. Pulling them out to find them with her name on both of them, sitting down she opened one to find it was an acceptance card for her and Edwards wedding and the other after she sat staring at it for a moment was an invite to his and Jasmine's summer wedding.
Reading the inside several times before she finally closed the card and looked at her engagement ring momentarily before averting her gaze to the bottle of perfume that Joseph gave her for her birthday, that still sat on her desk.
And a short time later they were finally done for Christmas, leaving her office Clarisse closed the door behind her for the last time that year. And as she began walking away, Philippe came jogging in through the main doors.
"Hey mother, have you seen Joe? He's just out saying goodbye to Pierre." He smiled, jogging past her. "Hurry and you might catch him."
"Yes," Clarisse nodded and watched as he passed before looking over at the door.
Slowly appearing on the top of the stairs of the Palace, she stood watching for a moment as he and her eldest son stood talking by the car. Wrapping her arms around her she began walking down, as Pierre began walking towards her and up to the Palace.
"I thought you had left already." She said, slowly walking over to him.
"I should have been, but ended up talking with the boys for longer than planned." Joseph answered, watching her as she stood in front of him.
"You know, it's not been the same here since you left." She said, looking at him as she turned and lent back against his car.
"I know, the boys have been telling me." Joseph nodded and looked around the Palace grounds. "I sure have missed this place, and would love to come back."
"Why don't you then?" Clarisse said, watching him as he looked back at her "You are welcome back anytime, you know that."
"I can't, things between me and Jasmine have been so much better since I left.. I have moved on now, there isn't any going back." Joseph said and watched as Clarisse nodded.
"Yes, I saw the invite, thank you." Clarisse said and looked out into her gardens momentarily "But I don't think I can come."
"How come, I would love for you to be there. You are my best friend after all." He said, studying her as she slowly looked up at him. "Don't give me your answer now, wait a while and see how things go nearer the time."
Taking a deep breath, Clarisse stood back up straight and slowly turned sideways "Don't be a stranger, ok?" She said and looked at him.
Nodding, he stepped closer "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" He asked, looking into her eyes.
"There isn't anything wrong, it's getting late and you really should be going." She said, smiling a little "If you want to be back in time for Christmas then you best get on the road now." She said and kissed his cheek, before pulling her head back and looked into his eyes "Have a safe drive back and I will speak to you soon, Merry Christmas Mr Elizondo." She smiled and started walking away.
Shaking his head, he couldn't help but laugh a little as he watched her walk away before getting in his car.
Standing at the top of the steps, Clarisse lent over the wall and watched as he drove away a moment later. She had half expected him to run after her, telling her he would stay after all. And as she stepped back she felt a little disappointed, but knew it was for the best. His future lies with Jasmine and hers with Edward. It was time to move on, and put that man out of her mind forever.
That Night.
After midnight mass, Clarisse, Edward and the boys all returned to the Palace and to her suite where they all enjoyed a quiet drink together before calling it a day.
"Mother," Pierre said as he watched Edward sit down on the floor beside his mothers legs.
"Yes, Pierre?" She said, looking over at him.
"When you and Edward marry, are you going to have his last name as your name or just your pen name?" He asked, looking down at Edward as he looked up at her as she thought about it.
"Well I haven't really thought about it, but I guess I will have to keep Renaldi as my name and use Hardy as my pen name." Clarisse answered after a moment. "Why?" She asked and sipped her wine.
"Oh, I just wondered." Pierre smiled and stood to his feet. "Well I am going to call it a day, see you in the morning mother, Edward." He said and made his way over to the door.
"Wait up, I will come with you." Philippe said, jumping to his feet. "Goodnight, see you in the morning." He smiled over at his mother and Edward before following Pierre out the suite.
"I think I too am going to call it a day," Clarisse said while leaning forward and put her glass down on the coffee table. "It has been a long one after all."
"Yes it has," Edward said while moving to kneel in front of her "But open this present first, please?" He said, smiling as he held up a small box to her.
"Oh Edward, it's not Christmas morning yet." Clarisse said while looking down at the box a moment before looking back up into his eyes. "I will open it in the morning?"
"Please, I would like you to open it now." Edward said, half smiling.
"Oh if you wish," Clarisse said and took the present. "Thank you," She smiled and lent closer, kissing him before sitting back and opened the present. Finding a gold heart necklace, she smiled and looked back up at him "It's lovely, thank you so much." She said and looked back down at it. "I will wear it tomorrow." She smiled and kissed him "Thank you."
"It's alright, anything for you my dear." He smiled and stood to his feet as she placed the box on the coffee table beside her glass. "You know, I have been thinking a lot today."
"Oh yes, about what?" She asked and stood to her feet.
"First, dance with me?" He said while taking her hand as she nodded.
Slowly, as they began dancing Clarisse rested her head on his chest. "What was it you was thinking about?"
"Us?" He said and watched as she raised her head, looking into each others eyes. "For a short time I felt hopeful that you were pregnant, and I have been thinking about it."
"Me too," Clarisse said, studying his face. "Yes, if I am honest I was hopeful too, but when I discovered I wasn't it felt a relief. I'm too old to be mother again, those days are long gone for me now."
"You really aren't that old you know, we could try again." Edward said, giving her a smile "We could have our own baby, our own little family."
"Edward, I am too old to have another baby now." She answered, studying his face "If that is something you really want, to have a child then, maybe you should find someone else, someone that can give you what you want." She said, slowly stepping back.