Christmas Plans

CHAPTER 1

POV : Clarice

Clarice jolted awake at the sound of a baby crying. She rubbed her eyes before groggily getting out of bed. 
"Clarice! Shut that thing up!" She heard her mother's cruel words pierce through the walls. She picked up her baby. Her little Tamara. She cooed and rocked the baby until she fell asleep. She knew retaliation would come in the morning for her baby's midnight disturbance, but it would always be worth it. She kept the baby in her arms as she crawled back into bed. The cradle would do no good for the sleeping child if she needed something. Fighting back to sleep was always the hardest part of the midnight awakenings. Clarice would toss and turn for hours before finally falling back asleep, if she ever did. She wished sundials worked in the night hours. Then she would know the time. She sighed and rolled onto her side. Moving Tamara with her. She closed her eyes and hoped desperately that sleep would come. If she was ever going to reopen her flower shoppe she would need to be well rested. With her shoppe came an independence she hadn't had since Henry had left her; pregnant and with a lifelong disgrace her parents would never let go. But she loved it. She loved what he left her with. Because of him she had Tamara. With that thought in mind, she fell into a wistful sleep. 

She woke to a light tugging at her hair. Tamara was pulling at her mother's mid-length honey blonde ringlets. She smiled and kissed the cheek of her baby whilst sitting up. She pulled a robe over her night dress and walked out into the kitchen to make an herbal tea. She was pleasantly surprised to find her life long friend James sitting at the table sorting her parents herb jars. 
"Now that's all wrong," he murmured. "That is thyme not rosemary. And this is poisonous. I hope no one has consumed that." She laughed.
"You are such a nerd when it comes to this kind of thing." He swiftly looked up and smiled. 
"Good morning to you too, Clara. And, both you and Tamara have bed head." She tried to pat down and sooth her mess of hair and ran a few fingers through Tamara's brown curly head. 
"Are my parents up yet, Jamie?" She asked, a little apprehensively. He smiled sadly.
"They just left. They said they got a summons from The King." Clarice used this as an opening to make breakfast. Eggs and jelly covered bread. She smiled at all the fancy herbs thrown in. 
"Why do you always feel the need to make breakfast when you come. This is where I live. You are the guest. Also, apparently according to my parents, I need to be a better hostess." He rolled his eyes at this and got back to sorting the entire contents of the herb cabinet. She put Tamara in her chair and put little pieces of egg in front of her. She giggled with glee and dug in, missing her mouth many times. 
"Did you get any sleep last night?" James asked. She nodded while she took a bite of the flavorful eggs. 
"Is the shoppe still mine?" She urged. The same question she asked frequently. He nodded.
"Are just going to ignore the fact that The King requested for your parents?" She shook her head. 
"No, sorry. I'm just worried I wont be able to get my shoppe back." He smiled sadly. 
"It is still open for our usage. Also, I heard that he is inquiring about you." She started at this. "I mean you are of age. And you are quite pretty. Quite desirable for the young prince." She heard the pain in his voice. She knew he had a crush on the prince. She had no idea why. It wasn't that he was ugly or overly cruel, there was just something about him that made her question if she was even into men anymore. But then she'd see some attractive butcher or blacksmith and go back. 
"We don't even know if he is into women at all." She said, trying to be soothing. Something about being a mother made her want to protect all of the people close to her. He nodded even though she could tell this was a sensitive subject for him. She tried to change it by focusing on the herbs he had been sorting. 
"So what is this one then. If it is not basil?" He shook his head. Clearly exasperated. 
"It is mint! For heaven's sake! Have you learned nothing?" She burst out in a fit of very unladylike laughter. She heard Tamara let out a similar laugh and beamed. My baby, she thought. She rested her head in her hand and stared out the window while finishing her breakfast and listening to James go on and on about the differences between mint and basil. Almost content.

POV : Adrian

Adrian paced outside his father's office. Waiting to see if this Clarice Terren was a good fit or not. He nearly jumped out of his skin when her mother and father bounded through the doors with a broad smile on their faces. He ran into the room nearly knocking a maid over. 
"So?" He asked, apprehensively. His father, The King, turned to face him.
"She's a perfect fit." Adrian let out a breath. Finally, he thought. 
"Great, I'll ride to her home later for tea. We'll get everything sorted out then." The King nodded in approval. 
"Let's hope she doesn't disappoint." Adrian nodded and ran back out the doors. He ran to his favorite person in the world. The grumpy librarian. He barged in through the large double doors, hoping to scare her. He was disappointed when he found she hadn't even flinched. 
"Damn it, Mel! How do I scare you? How do I get you to get all weak in the knees or the hairs on your neck to stand up?" She briefly looked up from the book that held all of her attention. 
"You don't." She groaned and closed her book. Slamming it a little harder than necessary. 
"Are you alright?" He asked, not without a joking hint in his voice. She glared at him. 
"She just told her friend she liked his crush and now there is nothing but animosity towards the two of them. And on top of that the guy in question likes her AND him." She let out a frustrated noise that didn't translate into human. 
"Anyway, I have good news! I am meeting with Clarice Terren the village florist!" She nodded.
"Oh, her. Yeah, I know her. Well not know her specifically, but I know of her." He sat back into a chair and smiled. 
"I hope this will work out with her. I really need someone like her." She smiled.
"I know."

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter in Christmas Plans! If you like this please keep reading. I will be posting a new chapter every night - every other night. Thank you for reading!