They have been back in Genovia a couple weeks, it's nearly Christmas. Clarisse is for now still doing Royal meetings and paper work. And this last few day's shes been doing some thinking, after breakfast she got ready and headed downstairs, she told Charlotte that shes busy and will do the paper work when she returned later on then headed to the kitchen to grab some coffee and saw Joe talking with Helen in the kitchen.
"morning" she smiled walking over and poured herself some coffee "actually you two are just the two people I need to talk to" she said coming over and sat at the table
"ok shoot" Joe smiled
"well" she said looking at him "I was wondering if you was free today?" he nodded "good, would you be able to take me somewhere?"
"of course" he nodded "where would you like me to take you?"
"oh I will tell you later" she said then sipped her coffee then looked at Helen "and would you mind if I took Amelia with me? we will only be gone a couple hours"
"oh that's fine, I have to do some Christmas shopping anyway so that would be ok" Helen smiled "are you going somewhere nice?"
"I can't really say to much at the moment, but don't worry she will be safe with me" Clarisse smiled
"I know she will be" Helen nodded
"ok so when do you want to go?" asked Joe
"I have something I need to do first, so shall we say after Lunch?" she looked at Helen "is that ok?"
"of course, I will have her ready" she smiled
"great thank you" Clarisse smiled and looked at Joe "and I don't want to go in the limo, can you use the land rover?" Clarisse asked
"of course, no worries" he nodded
"great" she stood up "I will see you both later then" she smiled and headed out the room as Helen and Joe looked at each other.
She headed upstairs to gather somethings to take with her and thought about what she was going to say. And after lunch Joe brought the car up and put the car seat and pushchair in ready, then came in as Clarisse was coming down with Helen and Amelia.
"nearly ready?" he asked
"yes I am" she nodded "oh this needs to go in the car too Joe" she said handing it to him as they headed out to the car and Helen put Amelia in the car seat then stood back.
"ok hope you have a fun day wherever you are going" she said stepping back
"thanks, I will try" she nodded and shut the car door "see you later" Clarisse said and walked around to the other side of the car getting in the front next to Joe, she done her belt up and looked at Joe as he sat looking at her "what's wrong?"
"nothing" he shook his head "its just you never sit in the front" he said looking at her
"well today I am, that is ok, isn't it?" she asked getting a piece of paper from her bag
"of course" he nodded and looked back to make sure Amelia was ok then started the car
"this is where we need to go" she handed him the paper
he took the paper "Clarisse are you ok?" Joe asked getting a bit worried
she looked at him with a nod "yes, just a bit nervous but I am I will be fine once we get there" she said looking out her window
"and where is there?" he asked but she shook her head "ok"
They drove to the address in silence, he didn't want to push her. When they pulled onto the street he had a feeling he had been on it before.
"ok she said to park out the front of the house" she said looking at Joe as he looked for the number "Joe it's just along there, with the roses in the garden"
He pulled up outside the house and saw a red haired woman come out the door, they both undone their seat belts and got out the car. Clarisse walked around to get Amelia out as Joe got the bag and pushchair out the back.
She stepped away from the car, holding Amelia and pushed the door closed and turned to see the lady stood next to them "hello you" Clarisse smiled and half hugged her while kissing her cheek then stepped back "Joe you remember Harriet don't you?" she asked looking at him "my sister?"
He looked surprised and remembered "yes I do, Hello again Harriet"
"and to you" she smiled as he took her hand and kissed the back of it "ever the gentleman" she smiled and looked at Clarisse "Clari you never told me he was still in your life"
"of course, he always has been" she nodded as Harriet took Amelia's hand "where are they?" she asked feeling even more nervous
"well Dad had to go out shopping but Mom is in there, having a late lunch" she kissed her cheek "the front door is open" she pointed to the house "I will leave you to it, call me later ok?" she asked as Clarisse nodded
She watched as she walked away then she stood looking at the house for a second then started walking up the garden path still holding Amelia. They went into the hall and as Clarisse stood looking around the place, old memories flooding back Joe shut the door.
"are you ok?" he whispered putting his hand on her back as she turned to him with a nod
"Harriet" came a voice "I was going to ask you something" both Clarisse and Joe looked as a woman came into the hall and was taken aback to see two strangers in the hall "what do you think..." she stopped when she recognized Clarisse and her smile "Clarisse?" she asked
Clarisse nodded "hi Mom" she said handing Amelia to Joe
"is it really you?" she asked walking over to her
"it's really me" Clarisse nodded as her Mom looked at her for a few seconds and started crying "oh please don't cry, you will set me of" she whispered as they stood hugging, after a moment they pulled apart "and you remember Joe?" she asked looking at Joe
"of course I do" she nodded and smiled at him "hello Joe"
"hello Julia" Joe smiled
"come on, lets go get some coffee" she smiled taking hold of Clarisse's arm and led them into the kitchen.
She made the coffee and tea and everyone sat around the kitchen table.
"and who is this little angel" Julia asked taking Amelia's hand then looked at Clarisse "not yours, is she? as she looks a little like you" she said looking back at Amelia
Clarisse laughed a little "no actually, this is Amelia, she's your Great Granddaughter"
Julia gasped and looked at her "really? Pierre had a baby?"
"no actually" she said taking a deep breath as they both looked at her "she's Philippe's" she whispered
"oh I'm sorry" she looked at Clarisse "I heard about what happened, we was there, you no?" she nodded as Clarisse looked at her
"I know, but with that and some other stuff going on I couldn't handle facing you and dad" Clarisse said
"we understood" she put her hand on Clarisse's
"Joe" Clarisse said turning to him "why don't you take Amelia out into the gardens" he gave her a questioning look "I will be fine, I promise" she nodded
"ok" he said standing up and took Amelia out into the garden
"we are sorry for what we did to you Clarisse" Julia whispered "we had heard some stuff from Harriet and regretted it ever since"
"don't be sorry, if it wasn't for that and him I wouldn't have two beautiful sons or Amelia" Clarisse answered back
"didn't you just not long ago celebrate 25 years of marriage?" she asked "I saw it in the paper"
Clarisse nodded "yes we did" she looked at her
"what's wrong?" Julia asked
"there is no us anymore" Clarisse answered
"oh Clarisse" she squeezed her hand "what happened?"
She sat and explained everything to her what happened, she even had a little cry. Then she got out a couple photos albums for them to keep and they sat going through the pictures with Joe sat beside her and Amelia asleep in her pram.
"Clarisse can I ask you something?" her mother asked pouring them some more tea
"sure" she smiled feeling Joe's hand on her back she gave him a quick glance then looked back at her mom
she looked at Joe then back at Clarisse "are you two" she waved her hand a little "together, so to speak"
"is it really that obvious?" Clarisse asked surprised
"well here it is" she smiled at them both "I know he was your first love and everything, so it kind of gives it away a little" Julia chuckled
"well ok, we are an item so to speak" she smiled at her mom "but keeping it a secret for now, seeing though I am still married to the King of your country"
"oh I won't say anything" she smiled "I am glad that you are together now though, he clearly makes you happy and over the years I have seen many pictures of you with that King and you are not happy at all" she looked at Joe "you are definitely doing something right with my daughter" Julia smirked
"mom, please" Clarisse blushed as Joe laughed
"how long do you have to stay married for?" she asked
"I am not sure, I haven't really give it a thought just enjoying my life at the moment" Clarisse replied feeling Joe rubbing her back
"ok, well in that case" she smiled watching as Clarisse looked back at Joe "be careful" Clarisse looked back at her
"what do you mean?" she asked
"you no" she said waving her hand a little "if it hasn't happened already, make sure you remain being careful" she smirked as Joe looked at Clarisse
Clarisse looked at Joe then back at her mom "if it hasn't happened already? what?" she asked feeling a bit confused
"a mother can sense these things" she smiled just as the door opened "ahh Phil" Julia smiled standing up as he looked at Joe then Clarisse
"Hello Dad" Clarisse said looking at him
He looked at Julia for a second then walked out, pulling up the door behind him. Clarisse turned to her mom then looked at Joe as she ran out after him.