Chapter 10
One Month Later
Transitions
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Mrs. de Chagny and Mara stood hesitantly in the doorway, the family resemblance evident in their matching expressions, both looking fearful at what Christine had to say. Mara had come to New York to see Raoul every three or four weeks since Christine had been back from Toronto, and on a few occasions Mrs. de Chagny had accompanied her, but even so, Christine had dreaded having to call them last night when Raoul took a sudden turn for the worse.
"Mrs. de Chagny, Mara, come in." Christine stood aside and let them into the apartment. Mara immediately looked past her into the now empty den that had been used as Raoul's hospital room for the past two months. She turned back to Christine, the question evident in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry, but Raoul..." Christine couldn't get the words out and only shook her head sorrowfully as tears streamed down her face. She had known the end was getting close when she called Raoul's mother and sister, but she had thought they would at least get to spend a bit of time with him and be able to say goodbye before it happened.
Mara knew exactly what Christine was trying to tell her, and broke into the gulping sobs of a person unused to crying. Christine took her into her arms, and they clung to each other like sisters, crying until they had no more tears. Mrs. de Chagny watched them in embarrassed silence for a moment before moving past them into the living room.
"Which funeral home have you called?" Mrs. de Chagny asked. "I hope you haven't called the wrong one."
Mara rolled her eyes, and Christine returned a rueful smile as she answered. "I haven't called anyone yet, Mrs. de Chagny. The paramedics only left a couple of hours ago."
"Mother, let's take your things upstairs and get you settled before we start making arrangements," Mara interjected, picking up her mother's small suitcase. "I'll put on some coffee while you do that," Christine said. "And I've laid out fresh linens in the guest room for you."
"Thanks, Christine. I'll be back down in a bit to help you," Mara told her.
"Mara, are you coming?" Mrs. de Chagny called impatiently to her daughter. "There's much to be done and not a lot of time."
"Coming Mother," Mara replied. Turning to Christine she said, "Unfortunately, Philip is just like her, as you'll soon find out. And Father was even worse. Raoul was the nicest one in the family." Mara paused, sentiment coming unnaturally to her. "I'm really going to miss him."
The two days leading up to the funeral were a blur of phone calls, planning and of course, the arrival of Raoul's older brother, Philip. He flew in from Europe, along with his wife and youngest daughter, where he lived in order to oversee the family business holdings there.
The funeral was held at the massive Cathedral of St. John the Divine, at Raoul's mother's insistence, even though Raoul and Christine had attended the much smaller Church of the Transfiguration whenever they went to church. Christine had been surprised at the huge number of mourners in attendance; she had forgotten how important and powerful the de Chagny family was in the city. Even members of the press were there.
By the time of the actual service, Christine was numb with grief and exhaustion. She supposed she stood and kneeled at the appropriate places in the service, and she remembered that at least she hadn't embarrassed Raoul's patrician family with any plebeian sobs. She wondered if she would have been able to sing at the funeral without breaking down. She would have liked to have sung a final song for her fiancé, but no one had asked her, and she hadn't had the foresight to suggest it. Thankfully, there had been no graveside service as Raoul was laid to rest in the family mausoleum.
The morning after the service as Mara and her mother were preparing to leave, Christine overheard Mrs. de Chagny discussing her engagement ring. It had belonged to Raoul's great grandmother, although most likely it had never been used as an engagement ring.
"It's not right for her to keep that ring, Mara. It belonged to Grandmother Brittle." complained Mrs. de Chagny.
"I'm sure Christine will understand if you ask her for it back, Mother. She probably hasn't even thought about it the state she's in."
"I don't feel right asking for it. I wonder what the proper etiquette is in a situation like this. I know that an engagement ring technically belongs to the woman, but surely this is an extenuating circumstance since it's a family heirloom." Mrs. de Chagny rationalized.
The ring was a wide platinum band in an open vine design, set with a combination of marcasite and pavé diamonds. Christine loved it for its beauty as well as for its unconventional design. But after hearing their conversation, Christine removed the ring from her finger and handed it to Raoul's mother as she was leaving. At least Mrs. de Chagny had the grace to look embarrassed.
Once she was finally alone again in their apartment, Christine wandered from room to room in a daze, thinking of all she had lost and wondering what she was going to do with herself. She realized that for all intents and purposes, she was now homeless. Raoul had told her that the apartment was in the company name and so was no longer hers, and she had given up the apartment in Toronto that Shadow had leased for her.
Raoul had also spoken of an inheritance, but Christine knew from what Philip had said that it would probably take months, if not longer, to probate Raoul's will. Other than her one letter of apology to Erik, she hadn't been in touch with him either during this time, nor had she heard from him, so she had no idea if she still had a future with Shadow Entertainment, or if she even wanted one now.
Christine was too worn out to dwell on any of that now. She didn't want to start crying again, afraid that if she started, she'd never stop. She finally stopped pacing and stretched out on the sofa where she drifted into a fitful sleep.
She was in the most beautiful light with opalescent colors swirling through the white brilliance. She could see a figure approaching her, and strained to make out who it was. Suddenly he was standing in front of her - Raoul, smiling and radiant.
"Christine, I just had to tell you one more time how much I love you," he said.
"Raoul, you're here," she said with wonder. "I love you too. I already miss you so much."
"I know you do," he said softly. "Christine, listen to me; there's something I need to say to you." He paused and Christine could feel his love for her emanating from him. "You must continue with your music, okay? Promise me that you will, Christine. And not just for me, but for yourself as well."
"I promise, Raoul." How did he know how torn she was about her future, she wondered.
"There's no need to grieve for me, Christine; I'm fine now. I want you to go on with your life and be happy."
The light seemed to dim after that, and she lost sight of him. But Christine was immensely comforted to have had one last chance to speak with her fiancé. When she awoke in the morning, she was stiff from having spent the night on the sofa, but she felt a calm resolve that certainly hadn't been there before and she knew she had Raoul to thank for it. And best of all, Christine now had the beginnings of a plan.
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Christine glanced at Erik's security monitor before ringing his doorbell. After working with him for two months, she was not the frightened supplicant she had been before. No, this time, she was going to try a different tack. She knew Erik had a sense of humor though he rarely showed it, so she planned to use humor and chutzpah to convince him to give her another chance at a contract.
It had taken Christine the better part of two weeks to get the nuts and bolts of her plan worked out. She'd had to pack up her possessions, although most of the furniture had either been bought by Raoul and thus stayed with the apartment, or antiques, which belonged to his family. A small moving van had easily moved the remainder of the items to Toronto for her, and she'd bought a few necessary pieces when she got there.
The most difficult task Christine had faced was finding a place to live from another state. But with the help of the internet and a very capable real estate agent, Christine had located a comfortable yet reasonably priced apartment. She did worry, if she let herself, that she was getting the cart before the horse by renting an apartment in Toronto before she talked to Erik, but she couldn't face a hotel room again, and then she'd have had to store her possessions. She had decided to proceed as if she already had the recording contract.
She looked up again and saw the camera move a bit to focus on her. She knew Erik was in there watching her; he rarely left the place. A doorstep audition had worked for her before, and she was going to make it work again. So without hesitation, Christine launched into Fanny Brice's I'm the Greatest Star from the show, Funny Girl:
Listen,
I've got thirty-six expressions--
Sweet as pie to tough as leather,
And that's six expressions more
Than all them Barrymores put together.
Instead of just kicking me
Why don't they give me a lift?
It must be a plot,
'Cause they're scared that I got
Such a gift--well, I'm miffed--'cause
I'm the greatest star--
I am by far, but no one knows it!
Wait, they're gonna hear a voice,
A silver flute--ah hah, ah hah--
They'll cheer each toot
(Yay! She's terrific!)
When I expose it!
Now, can't you see to look at me
That I'm a nach'ral Camille?
As Camille I just feel
I've so much to offer.
Kid, I know I'd be divine because
I'm a nach'ral cougher.
(coughs)
Teo took advantage of the break when Christine coughed to interrupt her performance. "Miss Davis..."
Christine held her hand up in the universal sign for 'stop' and plowed on.
Some ain't got it--not a lump,
I'm a great big clump of talent!
Laugh!
They'll bend in half.
(Did you ever hear the story about the traveling salesman?)
Teo was close to losing his inscrutable expression to a grin as Christine had delivered that last line with a heavy Brooklyn accent. He tried once again to tell her she was wasting her time here. "Miss Davis, please listen to me. Mr. Remondet...." That was as far as he got as she continued to sing over him, convinced that it was Mr. Remondet himself who was listening to her.
A thousand jokes:
Stick around for the jokes,
A thousand faces. I reiterate,
When you're gifted,
Then you're gifted,
These are facts--I got no axe to grind.
Hey, what are they--blind?
In all of the world so far
I'm the greatest star!
Who is the pip with piz-azz?
Who is all ginger and jazz?
Who is as glamorous as?
Who's an American Beauty rose
With an American Beauty nose,
And ten American Beaty toes,
Eyes on the target, and wham--
One shot, one gun shot and bam!
Hey, Mr. Ziegfeld, here I am!
I'm the greatest star,
I am by far,
But no one knows it!
That's why I was born--
I'll blow my horn
Till someone blows it!
I'll light up like a light
Right up like a light
I'll flicker, then flare up
All the world's gonna stare up
Lookin' down
You'll never see me--
Try the sky,
'Cause that'll be me.
I can make 'em cry,
I can make 'em sigh,
Someday they'll clamor
For my dram-er.
Have you guessed yet,
Who's the best yet?
If you ain't I'll tell you one more time.
You bet your last dime
In all of the world so far
I'm the greatest, greatest star!
Even Teo was impressed at Christine's ability to hold the last note. At least he had gotten it all on tape; Mr. Remondet would undoubtedly enjoy her performance. It might even make him laugh, although that might be going a bit far. "Ahem, are you finished now, Miss Davis?" Teo asked at what seemed to be the conclusion of her song.
"Hello, Teo. Yes, I'm finished. Erik, may I please come in? I've got a lot I'd like to talk to you about if I may."
The door opened and Teo stood in front of her. "I have been trying to tell you, Miss Davis. Mr. Remondet is not at home."
Christine knew better than to believe Teo. Erik paid Teo to say he wasn't at home. "Teo, I know he's in there watching the moniter. Please may I go in and speak with him?"
"Miss Davis, really, he is not here. He left yesterday."
Christine was stunned. She had gone through all of that and he wasn't even here? "Where did he go," she asked. "And did he say when he would be back?"
Even though Teo knew Mr. Remondet had gone to New York City, probably looking for Miss Davis, although he hadn't said so, Teo also knew it would cost him at least his job and possibly his life if he ever revealed Mr. Remondet's location to anyone without Mr. Remondet's express permission.
Christine watched as the shuttered expression descended over Teo's face, and she knew she wasn't going to get any information out of him. Teo bowed slightly and stepped back to close the door. "I will tell Mr. Remondet you were here. Good bye, Miss Davis."
Christine returned home, entirely deflated. She had really psyched herself up for her performance for Erik, and now she wasn't sure what she should do next, whether to go back every day until she found him at home, call him like a normal person would do, or simply wait to see if he called her. She wished she could call Raoul and talk to him about her setback, and ask his advice. The reality of his permanent absence from her life depressed her even further; she was glad she had bought some wine yesterday, now she only hoped that she could remember where she had put the cork screw.
Author's Note: I haven't thanked you wonderful readers in a while, and I'd be remiss if I didn't let you all know how great I think you are! I'm thrilled that so many people are reading this story. And umm, you know, if you'd care to leave a note, a very small note would be fine, that makes me deliriously happy. Erik sends roses to all who have faithfully reviewed.
I did a lot of research to find an engagement ring for Christine that both looked like an heirloom, yet didn't look like a traditional engagement ring. If you remember earlier in the story, Erik sees her constantly fiddling with "a silver ring, but definitely not an engagement ring". It was important that Christine told him about her engagement, not that he found it out from seeing a ring. So here it is:
www dot davidclayjewelers dot com slash ?idProduct=47
Replace the words dot and slash with the actual symbols and remove the spaces.
