Chapter Eight: Memories

Digging through the mountain of clothes on the floor Christine gave a disgusted sigh and collapsed on the bed. She had been looking for a suitable outfit for the last hour and had yet to find anything that would make her feel feminine. She was sure there were no more clothes in the closet, all of them managing to make their way onto the floor in her journey to find the 'perfect outfit'. Perhaps if she had been told the day prior she might have been able to come up with something, but this was so last minute!

"Oh, don't complain, Chris, you know you want to go!" she scolded herself. Throwing her arm over her eyes she took several long, deep breaths. That morning Mrs. Landress had come in for her usual and had invited Christine to dinner that night. She, of course, had warmly accepted, caring about the woman far too much to even contemplate saying no. Before Mrs. Landress had left the bakery, she had thrown over her shoulder the fact that Erik would be coming to dinner as well. Christine had been so surprised she had not seen the twinkle in the old woman's eyes.

As soon as she had gotten home she had ransacked her room, trying desperately to find something flattering only to come up empty handed. Christine repeatedly told herself not to worry about this, she was being ridiculous.

What Erik saw was what he was going to get.

xXx

Growling angrily Erik adjusted his mask and smoothed his hands down his dress shirt and trousers. For the first time in his life he was at a complete loss as to what he should wear. He had put on one of his best suites and then realized that it would be too much for a small, intimate dinner. He had tried several other outfits, but none seemed to fit the mood he was in.

He had gone into town in order to buy some groceries and had run into Mrs. Landress. They had talked for a few minutes before she had invited him for dinner at her home. Erik had been touched that she would ask him, and had agreed wholeheartedly. Once he had said he would go Mrs. Landress mentioned the fact that Christine would be going. Erik had felt a thrill go over him and had not been able to explain why.

Finally as satisfied as he planned on getting, Erik went into his kitchen and grabbed a bottle of wine.

Tonight promised to be rather interesting.

xXx

"There you are, Christine! I had thought that perhaps you weren't going to come!"

Christine smiled and hugged Mrs. Landress close, thanking her for inviting her. The old woman shook her head.

"Do not be silly, you know you are the only person in this town that I think of as family!"

With that she ushered Christine in. She was led down a hallway full of family portraits and a very 'home' feeling washed over Christine. She loved this house because it always made her feel like she had when she was a kid with her dad. A feeling she had missed.

"Make yourself at home in the living room while I finish up dinner, dear."

"Do you need any help, Mrs. Landress?" she asked. The woman shook her head and smiled.

"No, you go and sit, you are on your feet constantly and you deserve a break."

Smiling Christine made her way into the living room, her thoughts full of what she was going to say to Erik when she saw him. The last time she had seen him had been at her house after watching that scary movie. That was two days ago and he had not come into the bakery. She had begun to worry about him and prayed that she had not done something to offend him.

Christine grunted very unladylike when she ran into something hard and hit the floor, landing ungracefully on her rear. She heard another loud thump and slowly brought her gaze to what she had run into.

"Oh, God..." she groaned, putting a hand to her face. Erik sat in front of her, grinning despite the fact that she had-for the second time-knocked him off of his feet. Standing he helped her up.

"This is the second time I have swept you off your feet," he said devilishly. Christine smiled and shook her head, feeling her cheeks flame. Being so clumsy was not a very good way to woo a guy.

Wait.

Woo? Did she just think that? Christine blushed an even deeper shade of red and could not quite meet Erik's gaze. There would be no wooing! Erik offered her a seat and she sat down beside him.

"Where have you been, Erik? I have not seen you in the bakery for two days," she said, trying to start a conversation. Erik had trouble focusing. Christine had opted to wear dark blue jeans with a sequin design on the back pockets, tan high heels and a matching sweater. Erik liked the way everything flattered her body but didn't blantantly expose everything. He liked when he had to guess what she looked like beneath it all, it made it much more fun.

"Erik?"

Shaking his head he realized he had not answered her question.

"I have been working on my house for the last couple of days and lost track of the time," he said, almost apologetically. Christine nodded. It got rather quiet and she did not know what to say. She just could not tell him that she missed him those two days!

"How is Jack?" Erik wondered. She met his gaze and smiled.

"Don't start," she warned.

"Start what?"

"I know you don't like him," she replied. He shrugged.

"A just conclusion."

Christine shook her head.

"He is a good man."

"I cannot argue," he replied. Christine frowned slightly. It didn't make sense for Erik to agree that Jack was a good guy but still not like him. Why didn't he like him? She glanced at him and he grinned, telling her clearly that he was not going to tell her anything.

"Alright, you two, dinner is served!"

Both stood when they heard Mrs. Landress call and Erik escorted Christine into the dinning room.

"Oh, all of this looks so wonderful!" Christine praised, gazing down at the spagetti and meatball feast before them. Mrs. Landress smiled and told them both to sit down. Erik noticed that the old woman had placed him right next to Christine, with so little space their elbows were touching. Oh, yes, the woman was definately up to something.

They made small talk throughout dinner and it became apparent to Erik that Christine and Mrs. Landress were very close, and he loved watching the way Christine laughed and smiled to Mrs. Landress' jokes.

"Oh, Erik, I almost forgot!" Mrs. Landress exclaimed, throwing her napkin down and standing. "There was something I wanted to show you!"

Christine watched with curious eyes as the woman she thought of as a grandma went into the living room.

"What do you think she wants to show me?" Erik asked. Christine fake shuddered.

"I could only imagine!"

"Here we are..."

"Oh, no..."

Erik smirked when he heard Christine groan, dropping her head in her hands. Mrs. Landress was carrying with her two heavy books. Erik stood and relieved her of the burden.

"Mrs. Landress, no!" Christine pleaded. When Erik sat down she tried to pull them away from him, but Erik held firm. Whatever was in these books Christine definately did not want him to see.

"Oh, hush, Chrissy, there is nothing wrong in showing him!" Mrs. Landress admonished. Erik opened the first volume and found that it was not a book, but a photo album. He was greeted with the sight of a little baby, with thick ringlets and huge hazel eyes. He glanced at Christine.

"Is that you?"

She nodded mutely. Intrigued, Erik turned back to the pictures. There were pictures of Christine from the time she was a very small baby up until now.

"How did you get all these, Mrs. Landress?" he asked. She smiled.

"I used to babysit Chrissy every once and awhile. She was a beautiful baby, and I loved taking pictures!"

Erik laughed when he saw a picture of Christine at around five years old with a pair of scissors in her hands, obviously trying to cut her hair. Christine was beyond embarrassed as this man looked at naked pictures of her in a swimming pool when she was little, mud covering her face, whip cream in her hair, it was a real mess, and extremely embarrassing.

"She was just like one of the boys, always loved making a mess," Mrs. Landress said fondly. "As tough as a boy, too."

Christine knew that the woman meant well, but the dreaded photo album was not something you showed to a man as good looking as Erik Bontecou.

"You were a cute kid," he said, grinning at her. She hit him in the arm. She turned away from him and glared at Mrs. Landress. The sound of turning pages halted and Christine turned to see him gazing down at a picture intently.

"My parents and me," she whispered. He glanced at her and nodded. He could see the bond she shared with the two people that created her and he longed for a bond of that magnitude.

When he reaced the second photo album Christine managed to pull it away from him.

"Not that one," she said adamently, and Erik could see the stern look hidden behind her smile. He wondered what was contained in that photo album that she did not want him to see. What about her past could be that dreaded that she did not want to share it with him?

It seemed some things were too painful to dredge back up.

xXx

"Thanks again for walking me home, Erik, that was very nice of you," Christine said, meeting the gaze of the masked man who stood on her doorstep. He nodded.

"Of course. Tonight was fun," he said. Christine smiled and nodded. Fun but embarrassing.

"Yes, it was...are you coming to the bakery tomorrow?" she asked. Erik gazed at her for a moment. For just a brief moment it sounded like she really wanted him to go to her shop tomorrow. Was she attracted to him? He would like to think so, seeing as he was very attracted to her. They stood staring at eachother for a long time, neither of them saying anything to the other. Her eyes roamed over his face and he would have given anything to know what she was thinking.

"Christine..."

Her breath caught.

"Yes?"

He didn't say anything, just glanced at her lips. What he wouldn't give to kiss her at that moment! He did not know if he imagined it or not, but it seemed like she had leaned forward slightly. He followed lead, until he could feel her breath against his face. Her eyes closed as Erik leaned in for that final fraction of an inch.

"Christine! There you are!"

Both yanked away from eachother the moment Christine's door opened and Jack stood in front of them. Erik could not help his glare and Christine blushed in embarrassment. She had been close to doing the one thing she told herself she wouldn't allow. Not since...him. She was suddenly very grateful for Jack's interruption.

"You should come inside, sweetheart, it is getting rather chilly out here," Jack suggested. Christine nodded and glanced at Erik one last time.

"Thanks for walking me home," she murmured. He nodded. Jack ushered her into the house before turning back to Erik. The cowboy grinned at the masked man charmingly.

"Have a nice night, Slick."