"Well now that we have listened to a funny story, shall we do the speeches next?" Mia asked with a smile. "Then maybe afterwards you could cut the cake?"
"Sure, okay," Clarisse smiled and watched as her granddaughter got to her feet.
"Great, let's refill our drinks first then move over near the cake table where there's more room for us all to stand," Mia smiled as she grabbed the bottle of champagne from the ice bucket and began refilling everyone's glass as they all got to their feet.
"I didn't think you were drinking tonight?" Joseph teased a moment later as Mia poured herself a glass.
"I wasn't, but you can't do the speeches with a glass of lemonade," Mia smiled as she put the now empty bottle down on the coffee table and looked up at him and her grandmother as Charlotte grabbed another bottle of champagne and put it in the ice bucket ready for later. "And it's only one like grandma told me to do on special occasions this morning, I'm no way having more," she chuckled and watched as her grandmother raised her glass in acknowledgement.
"I would like to go first, if I may?" Pierre asked as everyone moved over near the cake table.
"Of course uncle Pierre," Mia nodded and everyone turned their attention to him as Joseph wrapped his arm around Clarisse's shoulders.
"Well, I would just like to say really that, um.. Philippe, he always knew that you two would end up together. For years, long before father died he knew." Pierre began as he watched his mother turn to her husband and slip her arm around his back, her champagne glass still in her other hand. "He used to continually tell me on the phone, or whenever we wrote to let each other know what was happening at that time, just how close you had become and how you would both smile when one of you entered the room. He said the smile was different. And I didn't believe him. I was shamefully never here so never witnessed it myself. But I didn't want to believe him, so I told him that he was a liar," he said before taking a pause while watching his mother rest her head against her husband's shoulder. "But I realise now just how right he was and had been all along, the smile is different, and I know in my heart that he would be so very happy right now, not only to know that he was right, of course, that was Philippe all over, he just had to be right on everything," he said and everyone laughed, "but he would also be happy knowing that you got married. And seeing you tonight and how happy you are, mother, makes me happy too," he smiled. "So on behalf of my brother and myself, here's to you both, and of course, welcome to the family, Joseph."
"Here here," Mia exclaimed while watching her uncle walk over to his mother and Joseph as she stepped back from him and turned to Pierre.
"I'm sorry mother, I regret so much not being here," Pierre said as he and his mother embraced in a hug, "but after father died, then we lost Philippe, I found it all too much."
"I know, sweetheart, and I understand," Clarisse said softly.
"But I promise you that I'll be visiting a lot more from now on," Pierre said as they pulled back enough to look at one another and his mother put her free hand up to briefly cup his face. "I gotta get to know Joseph on a stepfather level, instead of a bodyguard level after all," he said and glanced over his mother's shoulder at Joseph standing behind her and watched as he bowed his head in acknowledgement, before looking back at his mother. "I love you, mother."
"I love you too, sweetheart," Clarisse said as they embraced in another, longer, hug.
Pulling back a moment later, Pierre turned his head to the side. "Okay, who's next," he said and brushed a stray tear away before Clarisse put her hand up to cup his cheek once again.
"It'll be okay," she said softly, giving him a small nod.
"You did good," Joseph said, patting Pierre's back.
"Thanks," Pierre chuckled as he looked at them both and then around at all the others. "Who's next then?"
"I would like to go next," Charlotte asked as everyone looked at her. "If I may?"
"Absolutely," Mia smiled and looked at her grandmother as she brushed a couple of tears away. "Grandma, are you okay?"
"Uh-huh, yeah," Clarisse nodded as Joseph put his hand on her back, and began smoothing it up and down to comfort her. "It's just hearing Pierre talk about your father," she said before closing her eyes and shaking her head. The memory of a conversation she'd had with her son a week before he died came to the forefront of her mind.
Walking through her suite door, Clarisse was surprised to find her son sitting on the sofa watching television. "Good evening," Clarisse said as she closed the door behind herself and watched as he turned off the programme he had been watching and turned in his seat, his arm resting along the back of the sofa as he looked up at her. "Is there a reason why you are watching television in my suite and not your own?"
"Well yes, actually there is," Philippe smiled as he watched her walk around the sofa and sat in the seat on the opposite end to him on the sofa. "I came to make sure you were okay, you know like I have done every evening since father died, only you weren't here."
"I know, I was taking a walk. I've had a long day and needed to clear my head," Clarisse said as she settled back against the cushions behind her and tucked her foot behind her ankle.
"Alone?" He asked and averted his gaze down to the single rose she was holding in her fingers.
"No, Joseph accompanied me," Clarisse said and let out a small sigh before turning her head to look at her son. His body still twisted around to face her, his arm still resting on the back of the sofa. "Like he always does."
"Ahh, should have known really," Philippe nodded with a smirk and looked away. "Great man Joseph, he's always taken such good care of you hasn't he?"
"It's what friends do, take care of each other," Clarisse said as she studied her son a moment, watched as he got to his feet and walked over to stand in front of the fireplace.
"Yes, it is," Philippe replied and slipped his hands into his pants pockets before turning his head to the side. "They give gifts too, don't they? Gifts like flowers." He said and turned to her still sitting on the sofa.
"He didn't give me this flower," she replied with a shake of her head and watched as her son laughed.
"Mother, I saw him from your balcony," Philippe laughed. "I saw you walking together, I saw him give you this rose, and, I saw him put his hand on your lower back. I see it all." He smirked. "It won't be long and you'll be together."
"I beg your pardon," Clarisse exclaimed and laughed. "Don't be so ridiculous."
"Me?" Philippe laughed. "Ridiculous?"
"Yes, you," Clarisse exclaimed as she got to her feet and put the rose down on the coffee table. "Your father hasn't been gone six months, I have no interest in being with anyone else. Especially not Joseph. He's just a friend and that's how it's going to stay."
"You can't stand there and tell me you and father loved each other that way? We all know you were only together because of duty," Philippe said matter-of-factly.
"Yes, the duty that I still have-,"
"What duty mother?" Philippe exclaimed, interrupting his mother. "A duty to our country? To the man who never loved you the way you should have been, the same man you never loved either. What about the duty to yourself?" He said and watched as she put her hands up to cover her face before speaking in a much softer tone. "Mother, it's time you put yourself first. Something father never did. And be with the man who is very much in love with you. And you him."
Gasping at her son's revelation, Clarisse lowered her hands from her face and looked across at him. "I think you should leave, it's late and I need to rest."
"Very well," Philippe nodded and made his way over to the door before turning back to her standing with her back to him and her arms folded. "You said I was being ridiculous for saying it won't be long before you two are together," he said and watched as she finally turned to him.
"Joseph and I will never be together, Philippe, and that's final," Clarisse said as Philippe laughed.
"You're being ridiculous for denying yourself the chance of being loved," Philippe laughed and opened the door to leave. "Give it time and I just know you will be together."
"He had told me too, that we would end up together," Clarisse said as she opened her eyes to look at her husband. "A week before he died."
"What?" Mia said softly as she moved closer to them and watched as her grandmother nodded.
"The night he told me, he had been stood out on my balcony, watching us walking together," she said as a couple more tears escaped her eyes. "He said he just knew, obviously I'd had no idea he had thought that for years then," she said as she looked up at her son. "But I had told him he was being ridiculous, we would never be together. As even though I knew how Joseph felt about me, had done for as long as I could remember, I had a duty. There was just no way we could be together."
"Here, Your Majesty," Charlotte said softly, offering her the tissue box and extending her free hand to her. "Let me take your drink too."
"Thank you," Clarisse said, reaching her hand out and pulling a couple of tissues from the box as Charlotte took her glass from her.
"What did Philippe say, when you told him that?" Pierre asked as his mother dabbed her eyes.
"He just laughed and told me that I was being ridiculous, and that given time we would be together," Clarisse said with a small shrug.
"Well he wasn't wrong, we did end up together," Joseph said, his hand still rubbing her back.
"That's Philippe all over, he just had to be right again, didn't he?" Pierre said as everyone laughed a little.
"It is," Clarisse said as she looked down at the tissue in her hands a moment before closing her eyes. Oh, how her heart ached for her son. She missed him dearly and longed to have him there. Celebrating this special time in their life with them.
"Do you want to take a break?" Joseph asked softly and watched as she opened her eyes and lifted her head to look at him.
"No," Clarisse said with a shake of her head before looking back to everyone else. "I'm fine, honestly. I might have to redo my makeup again once we have finished all the speeches," she said and looked to her assistant. "But for now, please Charlotte, continue."
"Are you sure?" Charlotte asked and averted her gaze to Joseph as he kissed Clarisse's shoulder, letting his mouth linger there a moment as Clarisse rested her head against his.
"Of course," Clarisse said as she lifted her head and nodded. "Just remember what you do know, and not to give any secrets away," she said and they all laughed.
"I won't," Charlotte smiled. "And okay, I just want to say that it was such an honour that you both trusted me with your secret and how glad I am that you, two of my dearest friends, are now free to live their happily ever after together. Openly. Congratulations to you both!"
"Thank you, Charlotte," Clarisse smiled as she stepped closer to her and hugged her. "Thank you for helping and keeping everything a secret."
"I'd happily do it all again if I had to," Charlotte smiled as they stepped apart and Joseph stepped closer to her.
"Oh, we don't doubt that," Joseph smiled and leant closer to kiss Charlotte's cheek. "We will never forget what you did for us," he whispered before pulling back. "We will be forever grateful."
"Always," Clarisse smiled.
"Okay, I'll go next then you and grandpa can say something if you would like to," Mia smiled as everyone looked at her. "Unless Lilly or Nick would like to say something?"
"I'll say a few words," Nick nodded as everyone looked at him. "I have only got to really know you both personally this last few weeks, but I feel in this short time like I've known you my whole life," he smiled. "And your generosity in helping me today and letting me stay here when you didn't have to is overwhelming. You are both amazing people, who are very clearly made for one another. Congratulations on your surprise marriage yesterday and best wishes for a fun-filled future together."
"Thank you, Nick, I'll never be bored, that's for sure," Joseph smiled, as everyone laughed, and glanced a moment at Clarisse standing beside him before looking back at Nicholas and extended his hand out to him. "We do need to have a chat at some point though," he said in a quieter voice as he shook his hand.
"Do we?" Nicholas asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, on a personal matter," Joseph said and averted his gaze to Mia before looking back to Nicholas.
"Oh grandpa," Mia said and covered her eyes with her hand.
"Leave the poor lad alone," Clarisse chuckled as everyone looked at her.
"What?" Joseph said with a shrug of his shoulders. "Just because I'm retired now, doesn't mean I'm going to stop being protective over those who mean the world to me."
"Aww thanks, grandpa," Mia said as she stepped closer to him and gave him a hug. "That means a lot."
"You're welcome," Joseph said, kissing her cheek as they stepped apart and turned to Clarisse. "I can't help it if I'm protective. I always have been, and I always will be."
"I know," Clarisse said as she put her hand up onto his jaw while reaching to whisper in his ear. "That's one of the things I love about you, how protective you have always been."
Smiling, Joseph watched as she pulled back to look up into his eyes. "I love you," he whispered and gave her a quick kiss.
"I love you too," Clarisse smiled and patted his chest before turning to her granddaughter.
"Okay, Lilly?" Mia said and smiled as everyone looked at her. "Would you like to say something?"
"Absolutely, you guys rock and to be honest it's about time you two got together officially," Lilly smiled as Joseph wrapped his arm around Clarisse's shoulders, pulling her close as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "And I'm glad to have been here to witness it myself, because honestly if I hadn't been and Mia had called to tell me I wouldn't have believed her," she said and everyone laughed.
"I know, I still can't believe it myself," Joseph said and turned his head to look at Clarisse as she looked up at him.
"You best believe it," she smiled and reached up to kiss him. Not once, but twice.
"Hey, whoa, wait a minute," Mia exclaimed and watched as they both turned their heads to look at her. "Don't be getting all mushy yet you two, I still have to say something."
"Okay, our apologies Mia," Joseph smirked as Clarisse closed her eyes and buried her face under his chin. Suddenly feeling a little embarrassed.
"It's fine, you're forgiven," Mia smirked as she turned her head to the side slightly, her gaze remaining on them a moment before looking to her best friend as everyone laughed. "Lilly have you finished, or do you have more to say?"
"Just congratulations," Lilly smiled and nodded. "Now you can do your speech."
"Thank you," Mia said as she pulled out a folded piece of paper from her trouser's pocket. "I've been working on this most of the afternoon, well in-between making plans for this party of course, but yeah. I hope it makes sense, and I'll try not to speak too fast or ramble like I tend to do. A lot."
"You'll be fine, darling," Clarisse smiled, still snuggled in her husband's embrace.
Thoughts? Please do let me know what you all think :) it's much appreciated.
Thank you x