Thank you everyone for taking time to read the last update and a bigger thank you to those who left me awesome reviews! You Rock! THANK YOU!
This chapter was wrote by me and my chum, Clarisse Elizondo ;) Thank you SO much for all your help! ;)
xXx
Several months later, It's the middle of July.
After getting showered and dressed Clarisse headed downstairs to get some coffee and breakfast before leaving for the Palace. Finding Rose and Lena in the kitchen she couldn't help but smile over at them.
"Good morning." She smiled and grabbed a cup.
"Morning Mom!" Lena smiled over at her.
"Where's your Father?" She asked while pouring some coffee and turned to them.
"He left a little while ago, he didn't say where he was going." Rose answered and looked at Lena before they both looked at the magazine on the table as Lena pointed to a picture and they both giggled.
"I see, okay." Clarisse said raising her eyebrow at them then took a couple sips of her coffee "What are you two doing today?" She asked and started sorting out herself some breakfast.
"Oh me and Lena are going shopping today, then we are heading to see Cara for the night." Rose said smiling over at her.
"Oh yes of course, well when you get there hug her for me." She smiled.
"We will, don't worry." Lena smiled.
"Thank you." Clarisse answered.
After having breakfast Clarisse headed to the Palace, sitting down with Charlotte and Ally to go over a few things before making a start on her paperwork. And after lunch she sat with Amelia and Pierre to go over a couple things before a meeting with Motaz, only half way through Joe appeared at the door.
"Hey Dad." Pierre exclaimed as Clarisse looked up.
"There you are..." She said smiling over at him "Where did you get to this morning?" She asked.
"Pierre, Amelia." He said looking at them as they looked back at him "Can you give me a few minute's with Clari, please?"
"Of course." Pierre answered and stood up as Clarisse took off her glasses.
"We will let you know when Motaz arrives." Amelia smiled and walked out with Pierre, pulling up the door behind them.
"What's wrong?" Clarisse asked while putting her glasses down.
"What's wrong? You tell me?" Joe said, never taking his eyes from her.
"Joseph I have no idea what you are talking about?" She said slightly irritated.
"Really? Okay Clari!" He said pacing the office floor.
"Joseph I do not have time for this, I have a meeting with Motaz shortly." She said while checking her watch and looked back up at him "Can we either continue with this later on, or please get to the point of this conversation!" She demanded.
"Fine." He said turning to look her in the eye "Are you sleeping with Shades?"
"I beg your pardon?" She said glaring at him from behind her desk as she slowly stood up "You can't be serious?"
"I'm very serious, I found you sleeping in his bed this morning and don't think I haven't noticed all the moments and touches the two of you have shared over the past several months." He said looking at her.
"How dare you walk into my office and accuse me of something so utterly ridiculous, he's like a son to us, and he's younger than Pierre and not to mention married to our daughter." She exclaimed while shaking her head "How ridiculous!" Her brow furrowed as her temper rose, pointing to the door "Get out! Get out now!" She demanded.
"Oh don't you worry, I was just leaving!" He said slamming her office door on the way out as she sank back into her chair still in disbelief at the accusation.
Leaving the Palace, Joe headed back to their house giving him time to think about what he had just said to Clarisse. Rubbing his face he entered the house and headed upstairs to their bedroom, grabbing a bag from the closet he threw several pairs of clothing in it before grabbing a pen and paper leaving a note for Clarisse on the bed.
Pulling herself together she managed to continue with her meeting with Motaz, which ran over time, causing her to miss dinner. After saying goodbye she made her way to the Palace kitchen, finding Pierre sat at the counter.
"Hello darling, have you seen your father?" She asked pouring herself some tea and walked over to him, sitting beside him at the counter.
"I saw him leaving in his car but that was earlier today, shortly after he stormed from your office." He said reaching over to touch her arm "Is everything alright mom?" He asked.
"Of course." She smiled over her cup at him and nodded before taking a sip of her tea.
"Mother?" Pierre said, watching her.
"Everything's ok sweetheart." She nodded and stood up "I'll see you in the morning?" She asked.
"I'll be waiting in your office." He smiled "Goodnight."
"Good night darling." She said walking out of the kitchen, and back to her office.
Clearing up her office before she sat in her chair, holding her head in her hands for a few moments before gathering up her things and headed back to the house. Pulling into the drive she noticed the house was dark and Joe's car wasn't there. Sitting still she left her hands on the steering wheel a few moments before turning the car off and unbuckled her belt.
Grabbing her bag and paperwork she headed up to the house, opening the door she stepped in slowly "Is anyone here?" She called out.
Not getting a response she closed the door locking it behind her, and placed her purse, keys and papers on the desk in the foyer, and headed up the stairs making her way to their suite. Turning on the light switch, she headed over and closed the curtains before heading through to the bedroom. As she opened the door, the light from the suite lit up the room, where she saw the paper she had been dreading the moment Pierre had told her he left.
Walking over slowly to the bed, she turned on the lamp and took the note. Slowly pulling it from the envelope she sank on to the bed as a tear slipped down her face as she read the words "I hope you find this before you worry too much about my whereabouts. I'm sorry for what I said earlier I shouldn't have, I know I was wrong in both the situation and for saying it. I'm leaving for a while but I will be back, I'm sure you need time to think and you can do that better if I'm not around. I am sorry Clari Bear, I love you. Love Joseph." Looking up at the wall she wondered how it was possible that he could infuriate her and cause her heart to spill over with love all at the same time.
After trying to have something to eat and failing Clarisse locked up the house and headed back up to her suite, after getting into her pajamas she climbed into bed. Sitting in the darkness as she cried, while running everything over in her mind. Turning on the lamp just after midnight she grabbed the phone and dialed his cell to see if it was on, surprisingly it rang so she waited to see if he would answer.
"Hello?" Joseph answered, knowing it was Clarisse.
"Hello." Clarisse answered softly "Where are you?" She asked.
"I'm driving up to the cabin. I think we both need time to think and we seem to always do that better when we are apart for a couple days." He answered.
"Okay." Clarisse answered "I guess you're right." She said looking towards the end of the bed.
"Clarisse I am sorry, for whatever it's worth" He said softly.
"I know you are, and I'm sorry too for whatever I done that made you believe that there was something going on between me and Shades." Clarisse said.
"It wasn't your fault, it was entirely me. I let my imagination run wild and I made something out of nothing. I was missing you and didn't handle it well." Joseph answered.
Closing her eyes she let out a small sigh "I just really feel that you don't trust me, after all these years." She said putting her free hand up onto her forehead "I just can't believe you would jump to such accusations..." She said letting her arm fall down.
"I'm sorry I know I was wrong but when I walked into Shades' room and saw you asleep in his bed my mind went crazy Clari, I know it was nothing but in that moment all I could see was him hugging you, relying on you for support, and touching your back as he guided you through a crowd." His voice now barely a whisper "The way I used to do..." He said gripping the steering wheel "We both know that meant more than just your safety."
"What do you mean used to? You still do, and with you yes. It means so much more with you." She said while opening her eyes "I was there because of Emma, I know it would of probably been better if I had brought her across to the house last night but I didn't, I fell to sleep with her on the bed, I didn't mean to stay there all night. I'm sorry." She said softly.
"It's not your fault Clari Bear, I told you I overreacted and shouldn't have and I'm sorry. I just need time to get my head straight to figure out what's going on and where I still fit." Joe answered.
"Where you still fit? What does that mean Joseph?" She said rubbing her temples while moving back against the head board drawing her knees to her chest.
"It means I need to figure out my new role in not just your life but everyone's." He answered.
Taking a deep breath "Your role in my life hasn't changed Joseph." She whispered "You have and will always be the love of my life, my confidant, my rock, my husband. I need you Joseph like I need air to breath. That will NEVER change no matter what, please believe me." She pleaded, her heart breaking "And the children are growing up and now we have grandchildren and they need you to teach them all the wonderful things you taught our children." She said now sobbing into the phone.
"Clarisse I didn't mean to make you cry." Joe said softly.
"Well it's a little late for that as I barely held myself together long enough to make it back to the house after our son told me you had left." She cried.
"Clari, I'm so sorry...for everything." Joseph said.
"Come home Joseph, please." She asked.
"I can't Clarisse, not yet anyway." Joseph replied.
"When then?" Clarisse asked.
"I'm not sure, I need time. Just know that I love you." He replied.
"I love you too, please come home, we can talk about this properly." Clarisse begged.
"I have to go Clari, I'm at the cabin now. I love you." He said hanging up the phone before she could break his heart again by asking him to come home.
Sliding the phone slowly from her face as she heard the line disconnect "I love you too." She whispered.
Drawing her knees tighter to her chest, crying herself to sleep as her heart broke.
Falling onto the bed a short time later, Joe stared up at the ceiling through the darkness and cried, his heart also breaking.