Hey everyone I'm back again with a sequel to Their First Day where we continue to follow Joseph and Clarisse's journey as husband and wife. They'll face the ups and downs, the highs and lows and the trials and tribulations of life together. But will it all go smoothly for them, or will it all go wrong?
Hope you all enjoy it and I would really love if you could let me know your thoughts once you have finished reading the chapter :) it's always much appreciated.
Thank you x
Standing in the balcony doorway, Joseph slipped his hands into his pants pockets and watched his beloved wife staring out at the palace garden for a long moment. The last week, since they said their I do's, have been so blissful, spending as much time together as they possibly could and learning so much more about one another each day, but this last day or so she had become unusually quiet. He knew why, of course, what with Mia's coronation today he knew she had a lot on her mind, to think about, so he wasn't overly worried, he just hoped she knew he was there for her if she needed him.
"Clarisse, my love," he said softly as he made his way over to her and watched as she turned her head to the side. "You have been stood out here for the last hour nursing that now very cold cup of tea. Why don't you come back in?"
"I will in a minute," she said and turned to look back out at the palace garden before closing her eyes as he stepped behind her, so her back was pressed against his front, and snaked his arms around her waist, his hands coming to rest together against her abdomen. "I'm sorry I've been so quiet these last couple of days."
"You don't have to apologise, you know I understand," he said and kissed the top of her shoulder as she lowered a hand from her cup of tea and pressed it against his. Interlocking her fingers with his. "I am here though if you want to talk about anything."
"I know you are, thank you, my love," she replied and let out a small, somewhat sad, sigh as she placed her teacup down on the balustrade in front of them. "I just don't know why I'm feeling this way, today's the day I'm finally let free and we get to start the next chapter in our lives together. I should be happy. I should be jumping for joy."
"I know, but you have been in this role for forty-plus years now, and during that time you have been through so, so much. Some happy, joyous moments, and some very sad, hard moments. You're bound to have mixed feelings about what lay ahead, but I bet once Mia is crowned Queen later today and that moment has passed you will feel so much better. You'll finally feel free."
"You're right," Clarisse nodded and reached her free hand up to cup his face as he rested his chin on her shoulder. "I'm just overthinking everything. I know I am."
"Yes you are, my love," Joseph said softly and turned his face to kiss her hand before tipping his head forward to kiss her cheek as she put her hand down to join her other hand on his pressed against her abdomen.
After a moment's silence, Clarisse turned in her husband's embrace and put her arm's up around his shoulders as she buried her face under his chin. "I wish Philippe was here," she said tearfully. Breaking the silence.
"I know my love, I know," Joseph said softly and pulled back a little, urging her to look up at him. "I know this is a poignant day for you, with all that's happened this last week, and all your emotions are running high, but he's here with us in spirit. Remember that."
"I know he is," she nodded and looked down between them before closing her eyes as Joseph put his hands up to frame her face in them and lifted her face to his. Opening her eyes, she looked up into his eyes and blinked away her tears.
"I'll be there with you too, every step of the way I promise," he said, brushing her tears away with his thumbs before pressing his lips to hers for the briefest of moments.
"Thank you," she whispered and put her hands up onto his wrists as she reached up to kiss him one more time before putting her arms around his waist and turning her head, resting it against his chest while holding him close. Listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat, the same heartbeat, she realised long ago, that could calm the storm within her whenever she needed it to. "I love you."
"I love you too," he said softly and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, holding her close as she began to relax in his arms.
"Grandma," Mia called out from the suite several moments later. "Are you here?"
"It's Mia, is it time for our last walk-through rehearsal already," Clarisse said as she pulled back from her husband and checked the time on her watch before shaking her head, "no it's not. It's not for another half hour."
"Grandma?" Mia called out again.
"She can't see me like this," Clarisse said quietly as she brushed her hands over her wet cheeks, thankful she wasn't wearing makeup yet this morning, and looked up into her husband's eyes.
"You stay out here while I go and see what she wants?" Joseph said and Clarisse nodded.
"Thank you," Clarisse said and watched as he gave her a small, yet reassuring, smile while putting his hand up to briefly cup her cheek before making his way over to the balcony doors.
Stepping through the doors, Joseph smiled over at Pierre and Lilly standing by the main door to the suite, before looking over at Mia as she made her way across the room towards the bedroom doors. "Good morning Mia," he said and watched as she turned her head, glancing over her shoulder at him in surprise.
"Oh hey grandpa," Mia smiled as she stopped and turned to him. "Is Grandma here?"
"Yes she is, she's out on the balcony," Joseph nodded as Mia started walking over to him still standing by the door, "she just needs a moment or two to herself."
"What's wrong?" Pierre asked as he took a step forward, concerned for his mother as Mia kissed Joseph's cheek. "Is she okay?"
"Yes, of course. It's just her emotions are running a bit high what with everything that's going on," Joseph nodded and slipped his hands into his pants pockets.
"That's understandable, a lot has happened," Pierre said and watched as Joseph nodded in agreement. "I can imagine it would be a whirlwind of emotions for her."
"Yes it is, but she'll be okay once the day is over with I'm sure," Joseph said and looked to Mia standing next to him. "I know you wanted your grandma, but is there anything that I might be able to help with?" He asked.
"Well we have a little something for her, well both of you actually, but should we perhaps come back later? Give her a bit of time," Mia asked as she clasped her hands together in front of her.
"No, I'm here," Clarisse said as she entered the suite through the balcony doors and watched as everyone turned to her. "You didn't need to get us anything though, sweetheart."
"I know, but we wanted to," Mia said as she stepped closer to her grandmother and kissed her cheek. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, of course," Clarisse nodded and looked up at Pierre as he made his way over to her. "Good morning, darling."
"Good morning, mother," Pierre said and slipped an arm around her back as he stood to her side. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I am," Clarisse nodded as he kissed her cheek. "Now, what is it you wanted to give us?" She asked while looking at her granddaughter.
"Well first, please both of you take a seat," Mia smiled and gestured to the sofa as Lilly walked over to her and handed her a bag.
"Okay," Clarisse said as she glanced at Joseph extending his arm for her to lead the way before walking over to the sofa and taking a seat.
"So okay, do you remember when we were all here for your little wedding reception last week?" Mia asked as she, Lilly and Pierre all moved to stand on the other side of the coffee table opposite them.
"Yes," Joseph nodded while taking a seat on the sofa beside Clarisse and putting his hand out onto her knee. Smiling as she slipped her arm under his and placed her hands on top of his.
"After something you both said, it got me thinking," Mia smiled as she looked down at the bag in her hand and pulled out an A4-size envelope. "Anyway, this is for you," she smiled and extended her arm out across the coffee table to them.
"What is it?" Clarisse asked as Joseph reached his free hand out for it.
"Open it and see," Mia smiled and watched her grandparents look at one another before looking down at the envelope as Joseph began to open it.
Pulling out the papers from inside the envelope, both Joseph and Clarisse gasped in surprise. "This email is to confirm a take off slot has been booked for Genovia One tomorrow at noon. For two passengers. Mr and Mrs Elizondo. Heading from Genovia to Puerto Rico. And a booked return journey for two weeks time." Joseph read out before he, and Clarisse, looked up at Mia in shock as she stood smirking at them.
"And with the help of Lilly doing a little digging for me, aka asking you questions about your last trip there and finding out the name of the place you stayed, the one you talked about at the reception grandpa, we have managed to book you into the same place," Mia smiled and gestured to the papers as Joseph looked back down at them in his hand and lifted the first page to see the booking confirmation email. "And thanks to Charlotte and Shades, I have managed to speak to your sister, Valentina, in Puerto Rico and have arranged for her husband to meet you at the airport with a car for you. And she tells me that everyone is really excited to see you, grandpa, and to meet you, grandma."
"But I can't just leave tomorrow Mia, it's too soon," Clarisse exclaimed as she shook her head and looked up at her granddaughter. "We weren't going to go until you were settled, so there is no way I'm going tomorrow."
"I know you weren't, but I'll be fine, honestly," Mia smiled, "both Lilly and uncle Pierre have agreed to stay here to help if I need it, I also have Charlotte, who knows quite a bit, and I have a phone if I need to call and speak to you at any point, which I won't because you'll be on honeymoon and god knows what I'd be interrupting if I did," she winked and laughed as her grandparent's looked at one another with smirks on their faces. "So please grandma, grandpa, go tomorrow and enjoy your honeymoon, because you both deserve it."
"Yes you do," Pierre smiled, agreeing with his niece, as both Clarisse and Joseph looked up at him.
"Oh, and this is for you, grandma, because I wasn't sure if you had any swimwear or not already, or what type you prefer, I got you a selection," Mia smiled as she held the bag out across the coffee table to her grandmother. "There are a couple of pairs of swim shorts in there for you to grandpa."
"Oh, Mia, I don't know what to say," Clarisse said as she peered inside the bag before looking back up at her granddaughter.
"Say you will send us a postcard," Mia laughed as her grandmother got to her feet and walked around the coffee table to her.
"Oh, we will, of course," Clarisse exclaimed and embraced her granddaughter in a long hug. "Thank you, sweetheart."
"You're welcome grandma," Mia smiled and they pulled apart. "There's a sarong or two in there too, just in case. And plenty of suncream."
"Yes, we are definitely going to need that," Joseph said as he looked up from the paperwork in his hands and got to his feet while placing it down on the coffee table.
"You better get packing," Pierre smiled as his mother moved to hug him. "Especially since you don't have much time."
"Oh we will be, once the coronation is over," Clarisse nodded as she stepped back and turned to Lilly. "You too, young lady." She smiled as she extended her arms out to her granddaughters best friend. "Thank you, to you too."
"You're welcome Your Majesty," Lilly smiled as Clarisse embraced her in a hug.
"I think it's about time you started calling me by my name, don't you?" Clarisse smiled and pulled back as Lilly nodded in agreement.
"This is really wonderful, I'm actually speechless," Joseph said as Mia moved to stand in front of him, to give him a hug. "Thank you, everyone."
"You're welcome grandpa," Mia smiled as they stepped apart and turned back to everyone. "I hope you have the best time."
"And you take plenty of pictures," Pierre said as he turned to his mother standing beside Lilly with her arm around her back.
"Oh we will most definitely," Joseph nodded and smiled across at Clarisse.
"Right, well, we will leave you to it now," Mia smiled and watched her grandmother move to stand beside her husband standing next to the coffee table. "I'll see you shortly at the final walk-through, grandma."
"Yes you will," Clarisse smiled and nodded as Mia, Pierre and Lilly all made their way to the door to leave. "Thanks again, everyone."
"You're welcome," Mia smiled back at them and walked out of the suite with her uncle and best friend following close behind.
"Well that was a lovely surprise," Joseph said as he turned to face Clarisse.
"Yes, it was," Clarisse nodded as she turned to face her husband, "but do you think Mia will be alright if I did leave tomorrow?"
"Absolutely," Joseph nodded as he stepped closer to her and placed his hands on her sides. "She's already told you she's got plenty of help, and she will call us if she needs to. And I'm sure Motaz will be more than happy to help her too, if she really needed it."
"I know, but it's so soon after her coronation," Clarisse said as she snaked her arms up around her husband's neck and looked up into his eyes. "I feel bad leaving her."
"I know, but I think she's got what it takes, she's shown you that, especially over the last five weeks," Joseph said and wrapped his arms around her waist. Holding her close.
"You're right," Clarisse nodded and reached up to kiss him as she moved a hand to the back of his head before gazing up into his eyes once again. "I guess we are going on honeymoon tomorrow then."
"I guess we are, yes," Joseph said and laughed.