It's a couple weeks later, and a week before they all leave for Bora Bora.
This morning Clarisse has to attend a Church Fete, Olivia and Marla are attending it with her as well as a couple guards while Joseph and Shades sort out the new alarms on the Palace.
After getting showered and dressed Clarisse grabbed two pairs of shoes and walked back into the bedroom to find Joseph stood at his chest of drawers.
"Good morning," she smiled over at him then looked down at her shoes as he looked over at her "Did you sleep well?" she asked while moving and sat at her dressing table.
"I did, thank you." he smiled while walking over "Why do you have two pairs of shoes?" he asked while putting his arm over, placing his hand on the back of her chair while standing in front of her.
"Because I can't decide on what ones to wear," she said looking up at him.
"Oh well don't wear those ones," he said grabbing them with his hand and put them behind his back "They hurt your feet." he smiled moving his face inches from hers "And we don't want that, do we?" he asked.
"No," she smiled and kissed him "Thank you." she grinned while looking back down and slipped her shoes on as he stepped back and walked into her closet "I wish you could come with us today," she said turning and started doing her hair and make up.
"I know, but you know I'm not a big fan of these things, besides the alarms are being fitted today." he said coming out "I want to make sure they do it right so my family are safe at home and well protected." he smiled walking over and stood behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders.
"I know you do," she nodded while smiling at him in the mirror "Maybe when it's finished, we could go for lunch?" she asked turning in her seat and looked up at him.
"Yeah, I would like that." he smiled while leaning over "I will see you later ok?" he asked while wrapping his arms around her neck and kissed her.
"Ok." she smiled watching him walk over into the bathroom and shut the door.
She finished her hair and make up and grabbed her jacket, then headed downstairs to see the girls all ready to go.
"Wow, don't you both look smart?" she smiled at them "That's my suit isn't it?" she asked grabbing the opening of Olivia's jacket and pulled her closer to her.
"Yeah, sorry Mom." she smiled "I couldn't find my posh one, and well you wanted us to be fancy for this fete." she smiled.
"It's ok, it suits you better than me anyway," she smiled and looked at Marla "Love the jacket," she smiled.
"Thank you, it's the one you gave me for Christmas." Marla smiled.
"I thought so." Clarisse nodded "It suits you darling," she smiled "By the way, I wanted to ask you something?" Clarisse smirked while putting her hands on her hips "Not that I mind or anything, but have you sort of moved in here or something?" she asked with a laugh as the girls laughed "You haven't left for like 2 weeks," she smiled.
"I know, I'm sorry I keep meaning to leave but well.." Marla smirked.
"I kidnapped her Mom, I'm forcing her to stay." she smiled hugging her Mom "I know you don't mind." she kissed her cheek and stood back.
"Of course not, we have plenty of room." Clarisse smiled and put her arms around the girls shoulders as they walked over to the door "Lets get going or we will be late." she smiled as Olivia stepped forward and opened the door.
They headed out to the Church fete as Joseph, Shades and some of the other team sorted out the alarms. When they were done, they cleaned up the mess as Joseph and Shades started talking.
"So I never got a chance to talk to you before, we've both been really busy doing other things to actually chat for a while," Joseph said putting a couple things in the tool box and looked at him "You and Sasha huh?" he asked as Shades smirked over at him.
"Indeed," he nodded.
"Well she is a beautiful young lady, good for you." Joseph smirked while looking down.
"Thanks," he nodded while looking over at him.
"She looks so much like Clarisse did when she was her age," Joseph sighed contently going into a day dream as Shades looked over at him.
"Joe, Mate?" he said as Joe came too and looked at him "She still does," he smirked.
After a second he nodded "Yeah, you're right actually." Joseph laughed closing the tool box and walked over to him and said in hushed tones "She's my Niece, she's like another daughter to Clarisse and I Shades, and it's my job to protect her, right?" Joe asked as Shades nodded "Even though we are best mates, if you hurt her I will break you, do you understand?" he warned as Shades looked at him.
"Don't worry I would never do that," he smiled.
"Good, I'm pleased to hear that as I really don't wanna hurt my best pal!" he said patting his shoulder.
"I love her to much to do that, mate!" Shades exclaimed and lent in closer "In fact while we are on holiday, you know in Bora Bora?" he asked as Joseph nodded "I'm gonna take her on one of them cruise sunset thingys you and Clarisse went on and I'm gonna ask her to Marry Me." he grinned as Joseph's jaw fell.
"Well." he exclaimed then smiled "That's great." he said patting his arm "If I know my Sasha as well as I think I do, I know she will say yes." he smirked at him.
"Thanks," he said getting the ring from his pocket "Check it out," he smiled handing him the box.
"That's great mate," Joseph nodded handing him the box back.
"I wondered if she said, would you be my best man?" Shades asked.
"Really?" Joseph exclaimed as Shades nodded "Then yes I would love to." he smirked and gave him a man hug then stepped back.
"Please don't tell Clarisse," he said closing the box "Not yet anyway."
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." he grinned with a wink.
"Can you look after this for me, as even though I have managed to keep it secret for a while I am sure to lose it before long." Shades laughed.
"Good point," he said taking the box and put it in his pocket "It's safe with me, don't you worry." he smirked as Clarisse came in.
"Here you are." she smiled while walking over to them "Hey Shades, Sasha is looking for you." she smiled while putting her hand on Joseph's back.
"Thank you," he smiled and walked out, pushing the door up behind him.
"Did you manage to get it all done?" Clarisse asked while moving and stood messing with one of the tools.
"We did," he nodded watching her as she stood with a cheeky smirk "How was the fete?" he asked while moving and stood behind her.
"It was great, lovely weather for it." she smiled feeling him stepping closer to her "The girls loved it too," she smiled putting the tool down and turned around to face him "What are you up to?" she asked.
"Nothing," he smirked while wrapping his arms around her waist, under her jacket "I just wanted to hold my very very sexy wife." he smirked and kissed her couple times.
"What is that?" she asked looking down.
"I think by now Clari, baby, you should know what that is down there." Joseph smirked feeling her hands go down between them and felt the front of his pants "Oh Clari, at least wait till we are in our suite." he smirked at her.
"No it's not that, Joseph!" she exclaimed while playfully slapping his arm and slipped her other hand in his pocket "I know what that is, and it doesn't feel like this."she smirked "Believe me, I should know by now." she giggled.
"Oh," he suddenly remembered Shades ring and grabbed it from her hands, scaring her a little "You can't see that," he exclaimed as she stared at him.
"Why?" she asked going to grab it, but Joseph stepped back "Joseph?" she exclaimed while staring at him and noticed it was a ring box.
"I can't tell you," he said looking down at the box for just a second, as Clarisse quickly stepped forward and grabbed it, turning around and opened it "Clari," he said trying to get it back as she gasped.
"A ring?" she asked as he grabbed it and stepped back as she turned around "You bought me a ring?" she asked putting her hand on her chest.
"It's not for you," he said looking at her.
"What?" she exclaimed as her face fell "Who is it for then if its not for me?" she asked.
"I... I can't tell you," he said looking at her "It's not even mine though Clarisse," he stepped closer putting the box back in his pocket and put his other hand on her side.
"So let me get this right, it's not my ring?" she asked as he shook his head "And it's not your ring?" she asked, as again he shook his head "So if it's not your ring then why do you have it?" she exclaimed.
"I can't tell you, but I swear its not my ring Clari," he whispered as she pushed his hand away and started walking out "Clarisse?" he snapped but she carried on and slammed the door behind her.
He was about to follow her when his cell started ringing, he took the call and ended it in shock. He rushed out into the hall and grabbed his car keys as Clarisse stood in her office door watching him rush out the door. She turned and walked into her office, sitting at her desk where she stayed for the next hour until Joseph called.
Rushing onto the ward, she saw Joseph leaning against the wall down the corridor. With a sigh she rushed down to him and stood in front of him, as he remained leaning back with his eyes closed. She tilted her head a little and put her hand up cupping his cheek, slowly he opened his eyes and looked at her.
"Hey you," she whispered and stepped closer, while wrapping her arms around his shoulders "I got here as fast as I could." she whispered as he wrapped his arms around her waist "How is he?" she asked while lifting her head back and looked at him, their arms remaining around each other.
"He's resting, they can't do anything until the swelling goes down." he said looking at her.
"Ok," she nodded as he moved his hands onto her sides "How did he do it?" she asked.
"As far as I'm aware, he fell of the ladder." he sighed closing his eyes again.
"Oh," Clarisse said watching him and cupped his face with both her hands "He will be ok, Joe." she kissed him then smiled "He will be back on his feet soon enough, you'll see." she nodded as he looked at her.
"I know, it just scared me." he sighed.
"I know, it did me too." she nodded "He is your Son after all." she hugged him again then stepped back as the nurse came out.
"He's asking for you," she smiled at him.
"Ok," he nodded while taking hold of Clarisse's hand.
"You go in and see him, while I go down and let everyone know what's going on, ok?" she said as he looked at her.
"Ok," he whispered stepping closer, burying his face in the crook of her neck for a second then stepped back and followed the nurse.
Clarisse watched him then headed downstairs to call back home, after the call she came back in and called for the lift, when the doors opened she stepped on while checking her phone.
"Hold the lift," came a voice as Clarisse put her hand out to stop the doors from closing.
"Thank you," the lady smiled while rushing onto the lift.
"What floor?" Clarisse asked while looking at the buttons.
"Clarisse," the woman exclaimed as Clarisse turned around to look at her.
"Elizabeth," she said pressing the button as the doors closed they just stood staring at each other as the lift started to go up, then she turned her back to her and stood with her arms folded.
Seconds later, the lift stopped.
Both gasped and looked at each other again, in silence.
To Be Continued...