Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you to my dear readers for your unwavering support and patience in this story. I hope this chapter was worth the wait. Consider this my holiday treat! May you all have a safe and blessed holiday season!
Chapter 27
Erik pulled my chair out for me,the metal awkwardly screeching on the concrete floor. Even without his trademark mask and elegant black clothes, he movements seemed as beautiful and fluid as ever. The way he walked or the way his fingers wrapped around the edges of a straight-backed chair, everything he did seemed to be set to music. He settled himself into a chair on the other side of the table, smiling at me again as his eyes met mine.
I took a moment just to look at him, trying to adjust to his mask less face. It did not bother me at all;my mom, being a nurse, raised her daughter to accept everyone for who they were. It was just odd. After being with him for many months, I had gotten used to his mask. But now as I watched him, I realized without the mask, he it made him a little less mysterious, easier to connect with. The elephant in the room was gone;there were no more secrets. The absence of a mask did not make me love him less.
"I love you." I told him once more; the simple words did not sound like enough.
"And I love you." Erik replied. Although he meant what he said, you could tell he had things on his mind. I had to remember that I was meeting the man I loved in a freaking police interrogation room, and he was clad in an orange jumpsuit. Not the most romantic environment in the world.
"What do we need to talk about?" I asked him, wanting to get down to business.
"I did have a visitor last night, very late last night." Erik said.
"Who was it?" I asked, a little taken aback. I assume that not many people, until recently, knew that Erik even existed in our little town.
Erik pulled a small piece of card stock out of his pocket and flicked it onto the the table. The small card read: Adrian Chandlen- Attorney at Law.
"Rory's father came to see you?" I asked, utterly confused at this point.
"Yes." Erik heaved a sigh. "He wants to be my defense lawyer."
"You've got to be kidding me. You're kidding me, right?" I said in disbelief.
"No, my dear. I am not." He answered seriously.
"You aren't letting him defend you, are you? Certainly you told him no…" I was getting a bit panicky.
"What choice did I have, Kirsten?! Adrian Chandlen is most successful defense attorney in the county. Do you want me to go to jail or not?" Erik's voice shook with rage.
This is the first time I had ever really seen Erik angry. Not only was he angry, he was frustrated, he was exhausted. "Of course, you're right." I admitted. "Forgive me." I reached my hand across the table to him.
"Do you trust me, Kirsten?" His slender fingers intertwined with mine.
"Of course I do, Erik. I trust you with my life." I sighed. "It's just I don't trust."
"Why not?" He seemed as if my trepidation was silly.
"Because he is the father of a young man who once held my affection. He also had a great dislike for you, if I remember correctly, ."
"Adrian said that he came to me at Rory's request, dear. Rory wanted me to be protected, because he knew you loved me. He knew that you would be destroyed if anything were to happen to me." Erik explained.
"How can you be sure Rory hasn't tainted his father's perception of you? I received several messages that say horrid things about you, and Rory hated you for a long time." Panic shaped a knot in my stomach
"Master Chandlen and I have made peace like honorable gentleman, I can assure you. I am paying Adrian to do his job, and I'm paying him well. If he is biased at all, it will be in our favor. Don't worry." He cupped my cheek with one large hand. "I promise you I have things under control. But you must do as I ask for this to go over well."
"I will do anything you ask." I promised, a little too eagerly.
"Would you be willing to testify on my behalf?" He asked.
"Absolutely Erik." I replied.
Erik heaved a sigh of relief and relaxed as much as he could in the stiff, upright chair. "Thank you. Kirsten Doyle, you are an angel sent from God Himself." He took both my hands in his and kissed my fingertips.
"Did you think I would say no? Erik, do you have that little faith in me?" I asked.
"No...no...it's not that. Adrian thinks that your testimony will be what allows me to be a free man or causes me to go to jail for who knows how many years."
"No pressure there…" I hung my head.
"That's enough lawyer talk for today. How is the woman I am madly in love with?" Erik tried to brighten the conversation.
"At the moment scared out of her wits, thanks for asking, love." I chuckled a little nervous.
"Never mind that, did you enjoy yourself last night?" His baby blue eyes shined.
"Oh yeah. Especially the part when my boyfriend was arrested by the police in front of the whole community." I couldn't help but be a little sarcastic
Erik ignored my gloomy retort."You sang beautifully." He said with triumph. "And you looked absolutely smashing.
"Erik Donovan, you're crazy." I teased, rolling my eyes. "Can I ask you something?"
"Certainly." He bowed his head a little.
I pulled the ring off my left hand finger and held it before him. "Erik, this ring is not the one we were using as a prop. Why do I have it?"
Erik took it gently from my fingers. "I used it for a few was incredibly crowded and I knew I would raise suspicion if I worked that closely among your peers. I am a lot taller than Danny and people would notice." (AN: The real Phantom in the show if y'all don't remember)
"Any other reasons?" I asked.
He looked at me for a moment, his eyes shining with love. "Yes. This was my mother's engagement ring. She bequeathed it to me upon her death. She told me to only use it when I have found the one my soul loves. It's safe to say that has happened." Erik grinned at me. "I knew that last night was going to end badly in some way shape or form so I knew I had to ask least give it to you, until I could ask properly."
"What are you saying?" My heart jumped in my throat.
Erik smiled at me and walked to my side. He knelt before me, the ring in his fingers. Tears shone in his eyes. "Kirsten Avery Doyle, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
I love writing these two! I hope you all loved it! Please review and feel free to PM me! Also please check out my recent RENT fanfiction! Blessings to you!
