Turkeys for all! Okay, just a chapter…but hope it will stuff you for a while. Remember, I gobble up all your reviews!
Even after the eventful and exhausting day, I still had trouble sleeping. I decided sleep was futile and gingerly slipped out of the bed, being careful not to wake Christine who had fallen asleep beside me.
In my baggage I found the deed to a house I had designed and owned in Paris. I was planning on selling it should the financial need arise, but now decided to offer it to Christine as a home. It was on the outskirts of Paris, secluded in the countryside near a wood. It was not a very big house but could be just the thing for our new start.
My eyes wandered to her sleeping form on the bed. She was so small and petite, child-like really, what was she doing with a man like me? She deserved all the beautiful things in this world, and yet chose me and my cursed ugliness above all else. This girl, this woman, was now my wife to cherish the rest of our days.
My breath caught in my throat for not the first time that day. Carelessly, I dropped the deed, and it fell to the ground in a clatter, startling Christine. "Erik?" she asked. "What are you doing awake?"
"I was looking at something, go back to sleep, my love," I said quietly and repacked my baggage.
"At this hour?" she replied inquisitively. "What?"
Having put everything away, I sat down next to her on the bed. "I have a home for us."
She sat up quickly. "Really! Already?"
"Yes, it is one of my designs that I had not sold yet. I hope you will find it suitable."
"I cannot wait to see it. Is it near the Opera?" she asked.
"We can reach it by carriage," I answered. "We will, of course, have a music room so we may rehearse until you are ready for the stage."
"Of course," she agreed. It felt so good to see the stars shine in her eyes again, but it was late and she truly needed sleep.
"We will talk more later, please sleep, my love," I said. She pouted then asked me to sing to her, so I arranged myself next to her and began a lullaby. Before either of us knew it, my angel had fallen peacefully asleep in my lap, and I soon followed into slumber.
The morning arrived all too soon for the two of us, but we prepared ourselves for the journey to Paris with a new sense of purpose. I had yet to grow accustom to the bright sunlight, my wife on the other hand seemed to drink in each and every golden ray. Perhaps one day I too could enjoy the sunshine, for now I was quite pleased just watching Christine aglow.
"Are you staring at me, Monsieur?" she asked coquettishly as I helped her into the carriage. I looked down guiltily as I stepped behind her.
"Only if you wish it so, Madame," I responded. She laughed and offered me her hand, which I brought to my lips gratefully.
"My only wish is for this dream not to end," Christine replied. "You make me feel so safe, so loved. I want to stay in the safety of your arms forever."
"I will do whatever I can to keep it that way," I promised her solemnly. The train ride to Paris was mercifully uneventful, and it was not long before we were hailing a cab to drive us to our new home and new life.