I do not own any of the characters from The Phantom of the Opera, I'm really starting to get cranky over this!
ToryD
Broken Sparrow
Chapter 7
Christine had just finished drying her hair when she heard a knock at the door. Glancing at her watch, she saw that it was only 7:45, her brow furrowed, puzzled as to who it could be, as it was not quite time for Madam Giry's arrival to escort her to dinner.
Meg waited anxiously outside of Christine's room. As the door opened, Meg, being her irrepressible self, entered the suite without a formal invitation. "Hi, I'm Meg, Marie's daughter. Yuck! Is that what you're wearing to dinner?" Meg asked, stunned as she looked at Christine's plain gray sweater teamed with old lady polyester black pants. "Tell me that those old lady pants are not yours!" she exclaimed as she pointed to the pants that Christine was currently wearing.
Christine stood in shocked silence, staring at the strange girl who had insulted her current ensemble. While she agreed with the girl that the clothing that the police had provided was not the most stylish in nature, she was still grateful to have them, as her own clothing was as of yet unavailable to her. "No, the Philadelphia police were kind enough to supply me with some clothing, until I can access my own," Christine informed the girl quietly.
Meg heaved a deep sigh, grabbing Christine by the hand she led the girl towards the suite's door, "Come on, we still have a few minutes to get you into something presentable."
Christine had no choice but to follow the pretty blond girl.
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Nadir watched his longtime friend pace the length of the foyer, knowing that Erik was anxiously awaiting Christine's arrival. Nadir sat back in a wingback chair, watching his friend as one might view a tennis match; step, step, step, lookup the staircase, pause, turn….. step, step, step lookup the staircase, pause, turn etc. Deciding to amuse himself at his friend's expense Nadir asked, "Erik is something wrong?"
Erik stopped his pacing to glare at his friend. "No!"
Nadir continued to observe his friends agitated state as Erik resumed his pacing. After a few more minutes passed, he carefully adopted a look of concern on his face and said, "You don't seem to be your normal calm self this evening."
"I'm fine," Erik replied through clenched teeth.
Nadir hid his amused chuckle as a though it were a small cough, "It is only 7:45 Erik, she wont be down for a few more minutes. Come with me my friend," he said at last taking pity on his friend. "I think you could use a drink," he said as he placed an arm around Erik's shoulder to lead him towards the study.
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Christine stood before Meg, awaiting the other woman's verdict on this, the fourth outfit that she had tried on in the last seven minutes.
Meg cocked her head to the right as she surveyed her handiwork. She had the distinct feeling that Christine was not aware of how truly beautiful she was. The blue of the sweater that she had chosen was the perfect shade to bring out Christine's beautiful blue eyes. "Yes, I do believe that this will do." She said, more to herself than to Christine.
Christine heaved a relieved sigh, as the hard to please Meg was, at long last satisfied. Christine turned to view her reflection in the full-length mirror; she had to admit that Meg was right about the "old lady pants" to use her words. The icy blue v-necked sweater that Meg had matched with cream wool slacks, were a vast improvement on the police issued clothing.
Christine turned her gaze towards the other woman, "Meg, thank you for letting me borrow a few of your things."
"Well I couldn't let you go around looking like a bingo playing old hag could I?" Meg exclaimed passionately.
Christine laughed delightedly at the descriptive comment from her new friend.
Meg reached out and linked her arm through Christine's, "Well we better get downstairs; I don't want to hear my mother's lecture on punctuality again," she said as she lead Christine towards the door.
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Nadir and Erik were just entering the foyer as Meg and Christine descended the staircase. Erik's breath caught in his chest as he looked up into Christine's beautiful eyes.
Christine was laughing at Meg's commentary on the latest gossip regarding two of Hollywood's most famous celebrities. As she reached the last step, she became aware that Erik was awaiting her presence. "Good evening Erik," she greeted him warmly.
Erik took her hand in his, as he now regarded as his absolute right, he kissed the back of her hand tenderly. "You look beautiful," he complimented her in a soft voice.
"Thank you, but I must admit that all of the credit must go to Meg," she informed him with a gentle smile.
As he tucked Christine's hand into the crook of his arm, Erik turned towards Meg, "Then I am forever in your debt, Margaretta."
Meg put her hand on her slim hips, looking up from her 5'4 frame into Erik's blue-green gaze, her own brown eyes shooting sparks of anger towards him, "You don't know the half of it! I need James first thing in the morning, Erik. Christine and I need to go shopping. I don't know how you could let her go around in those horrible clothes. Really, you of all people Erik!"
Erik had a stunned look upon his half-masked face as he received the berating from the petite blond.
She then turned her anger towards Nadir, "And you!" she said as she poked her finger into his chest. "How can you justify handing out those old lady clothes to someone as pretty as Christine?" She then inhaled a shocked breath, bringing her hand to her chest, "Oh my god, please tell me that is not how they dress in Philadelphia?" she asked with wide eyes.
Nadir absently rubbed the sore spot on his chest where Meg had viciously poked him. "No, Meg. Philadelphia is not the sticks you know!"
Christine looked on as a spectator, choosing wisely not to take part in this absurd conversation, she knew that in this, perhaps the most ridicules moment of her life, that she and Meg were destined to be life long friends.
Marie broke into the strange conversation at not a moment too soon, "Dinner is served," she informed the group with a puzzled expression on her face, as she witnessed a multitude of bizarre expressions on the occupants of the room.
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After dinner, Nadir and Meg retired to Erik's study to discuss the next day's shopping excursion, as well as the necessary security plans.
Erik escorted Christine out into the garden, his fingers entwined with hers. Christine sighed and looked up to the beautiful star filled night. "Oh Erik, how lucky you are to have such beauty surrounding you," she stated.
Erik, unbeknownst to her, looked upon her with eyes filled with wonder. "Yes I am truly the most fortunate of men to be surrounded by such beauty," he said with such reverence.
Erik reaching out towards one of his gardener's prized rose bushes, selecting a perfect red rose in which to gift to the beautiful woman at his side.
Christine smiled sweetly at the stunning rose, "Thank you," she said softly as she leaned up to kiss his cheek. Erik enfolded her into his arms. As she rested her head on his strong chest, she marveled at the fact that while she had only known this man for a short time, she felt an overwhelming connection to him. As if, they were destined to meet.
Erik closed his eyes and savored the feel of Christine in his arms. While his mind still cautioned him to tread carefully where this young woman was concerned, his heart sang out in joy at her mere presence in his life. He was amazed that his life could change in such a short period of time. From his carefully constructed self imposed solitary life, that now seemed abhorrent to him, to this new overwhelming need to share his life with the beautiful woman he now held in his arms.
Erik felt Christine shiver at the cold breeze that stirred the October night. "Your cold," Erik said as he gently rubbed the arms. "We best return, I don't want you to catch a chill," he said as he led her towards the house.
As they entered the house, Marie informed them that Nadir was requesting their presence in the study.
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Nadir sat back in Erik's leather chair, a look of concern on his dark face. He had avoided this for as long as he could. He sighed deeply, thinking about all that Christine had endured, and all that she had yet to endure. How he hated to be associated with any of her pain.
Erik and Christine entered the study hand and hand, seemingly to be at ease in each other's company. "Nadir, Marie said you wanted to talk with us?" Erik inquired of his friend.
"Yes, I need to discuss a few items with Christine." Nadir said in a quiet tone.
Erik lead Christine to the sofa that they had occupied earlier that day. Once she was settled comfortably, he took his place at her side.
"Do you have more questions for me Detective Kahn?" Christine asked him in a quiet voice.
Nadir smiled warmly at her, "Christine, may I ask you to please call me Nadir, I feel as though we have been through more in our short time together than most have experienced in a lifetime."
Christine's returned his smile, "I'd like that very much."
Nadir closed his eyes briefly, as if to gather his courage in order to proceed to the topic he would give his right arm not to have to address to the gentle young woman seated across from him. "Christine, I have had word from the medical examiner, they have released the remains of your parents and sister. They need to know what your wishes are in this matter."
The only sound that could be heard in the room was the sound of Erik's antique clock, which was keeping perfect time, seemingly absurd, as the rest of the room seemed to stop abruptly at that point in time.
Erik's took a minute to recover himself as he looked towards Christine's anguished face. How he wished he could take her pain as his own. Damn Nadir for not warning him of his intention to have this conversation with Christine.
Christine once again felt as if her world had caved in around her. Feelings of loss, pain, grief, fear and shame engulfed her. God forgive her, the shame was the worst of all to endure. She felt shame in that she had actually laughed out loud today, as she would never again hear her sister's laughter. She felt shame in that she had taken time to admire the beauty of the star-filled sky, as her father, a lover of astronomy would never get to admire again. She felt shame in that she had received a beautiful rose, not unlike the roses that her father had given her mother, a rose the likes of which her mother would never again receive.
Closing her eye's she allowed her grief to fill her being, Oh God! Help me get through this, please allow me some measure of strength to endure this pain. Please give me the courage to give my family some peace. As she ended her silent pray she felt Erik's hand gently grasp hers, she opened her eye's to look into his blue-green eye's that reflected such tenderness that she realized that God had indeed answered her prayer. Erik was her strength. Erik was her courage. He was her very own Angel.
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