Chapter 38

Lotte gently tapped on Meg's dressing room door before the show began. "Meg, can I ask you something?"

Meg smiled at the girl. "Of course, but could you maybe get Christine for me first?"

Lotte nodded. Ever since Meg had learned that she was expecting about six months ago, Christine took care of almost her every need when Mr. Johnson wasn't around. The baby would be in their lives in a little under two months, and most everyone, especially the dancers, couldn't wait because Meg's mood swings caused her to be very ill-tempered sometimes.

Meg had been promoted as the head choreographer since her mother had passed away. Christine had mentioned the idea to Erik in hopes that getting back to dancing would take her mind off of mourning. Erik only agreed because he had a difficult time denying Christine anything. Nevertheless, Meg had proven to be a wonderful choreographer and producer, so Erik couldn't really complain.

Lotte soon returned with Christine who dropped everything to go to Meg even though she was only half way in her make up. She was only completely in her dress because Lotte had zipped it as she was walking.

Meg whispered something in Christine's ear and timidly asked her if it was too much trouble.

Christine grinned and patted her friend's stomach. "Of course not! I'd do anything for my precious goddaughter."

Meg smirked. "You don't know it's a girl. What if it's a godson?"

She shrugged. "It's just a feeling, but if it is a little boy, we'll all love him just the same." With that, Christine went to Meg's wardrobe and went to pulling out various items.

Meg smiled and invited Lotte to sit down. "Now, what is it, dear? Have you been practicing your grand jetés like I asked?"

Lotte nodded.

"Good girl!"

Christine grumbled from the corner. "I always hated those. Of course, Meg could do them perfectly, and I always ended up falling flat on my backside."

Meg laughed recalling the memory, and Lotte looked at her stunned. "You were a dancer, Mrs. Destler?"

Christine rolled her eyes. "I would hardly say that. It was just a make-shift job while I was in vocal training."

Meg grunted. "Yeah, that's it. Now, what was it you wanted to ask me, Lotte?"

She sighed and looked over at Mrs. Destler. "Umm... That's alright. It can wait."

Meg raised an eyebrow. "You know you can ask either of us anything."

Lotte nodded. "Well, Gangle was telling me this story, and I was wondering if you were Mr. Destler's niece."

Meg shook her head and suddenly looked a little nervous. "No, I'm not."

Lotte shrugged. "Oh, I was just wondering."

"That's not what you're really wondering though is it?" Meg asked reading Lotte's expression.

She studied her hand that was resting in her lap and shook her head.

Meg put her hands on her hips. "Out with it, Lotte."

She squeezed her eyes shut and heaved a great sigh. "I want you to tell me everything you know about Mr. Y before he became the owner of Phantasma."

Meg leaned back in her seat quite intrigued that Lotte would ask such a thing. Christine, however, dropped something of Meg's and suddenly grew almost a sickly shade of green.

"What do you want to know?" Meg asked after a moment of silence.

Lotte shrugged. "Why did he even come to America in the first place? He was French wasn't he?"

Meg nodded. "He... He left because... well, he sort of..." She huffed in frustration. "Lotte, I'm not sure I can tell you this story. It would probably change your opinion of a few people."

"Is it really that bad?"

Christine sighed and sat across from them. "Lotte, may I be frank with you?"

She looked over Mrs. Destler worriedly. "Are you alright?"

She nodded and took Lotte's hand. "When Gustave returns home, we'll give you both the full story. We intended to tell him when he turned sixteen, but we just couldn't bring ourselves to do it. As far as what happened when he first came to this country, I don't even know that full story myself. You see, Lotte, Mr. Destler is very much a changed man, and he doesn't like to talk about the past. You'll understand when you hear."

Meg glanced at her old friend. "You mean, he never told you?"

"He told me he rejoined the gypsy circus until he met Gangle and bought the land."

"Anything else?" Meg asked quietly.

Christine knitted her eyebrows. "No. Is there something I should know?"

She heaved a great sigh. "Yes, but I'm absolutely positive this is between you and Erik. I will not and should not pry into this. You should know, however, you will probably be very upset he kept it from you."

Lotte suddenly felt like she was intruding. "I... umm... I will leave you two alone. Thank you for trying to answer my question. Good luck tonight, Mrs. Destler." She swiftly slipped out the door without another word and ran down the hall to the dressing room she shared with the other dancers.

Christine put her hands on her waist. "Meg, you can't just say something like that and then expect not to tell me."

She sighed. "I'm pretty sure you don't want to hear it from me."

"And just why not?"

"Because I said so!"

"Meg!"

"Chrissy!"

"Why won't you tell me?"

"Because this is between you and your husband that's why!"

"Well, it's obviously not just between my husband and I if you know about it! Why won't you tell me!"

"Because husbands are not supposed to just sleep around!" Meg shouted.

Christine jumped back with her hands covering her mouth, and Meg instantly regretted her choice of words.

"You lie!" Christine suddenly shouted with tears in her eyes.

"No," Meg whispered, "I'm afraid I don't."

"Erik would never do that," she said her voice breaking.

"It only happened once," she whispered. "It was right after he got out of the gypsy circus."

Christine felt her legs underneath her wobbling. She picked up the clothes from Meg's wardrobe off of the floor and threw them at her. "Do your own chores for once." She marched out of Meg's dressing room leaving the pretty blonde ballerina to deal with her own problems. She marched past her dressing room and through the theatre door. In her sudden despair, she ran without watching where she was going. She suddenly bumped into a strong chest and a strong pair of arms.

Erik gently laughed. "Slow down there, darling! Where are you going? My goodness, dear, you're crying! What happened?"

She hit his chest. "Don't you 'dear' and 'darling' me! How could you? You said I was your angel. I would be the only one you would ever love, and you lied! You lied to me as you've lied to everyone else you've ever even spoken to!"

He tried to calm her. "Christine, what on earth is this even about. Stop hitting me, please." He held her wrists.

She wriggled out of his grasp and jumped back. "You know good and well what this is about! You lied to me, Erik. You loved another woman, and you didn't even admit it to me."

He narrowed his eyes. "It's not what you think. Who told you anyways?"

She marched past him not even acknowledging his question. "Damn you!"

He fixed his jaw and watched her leave as he thought over who could have possibly known.

Suddenly it hit him, and he clenched his fists. "Meg..."