From Heaven's Mind
Chapter Sixteen
"You're what?" Trisha gasped.
"Pregnant."
"How long?"
"Four weeks."
"And you're only just telling me? My goodness, Christine, if you weren't my brother's only child, I would absolutely murder you!"
Christine rolled her eyes and flicked through a magazine as her aunt ranted. She was sat on the sofa at Jameson Street, waiting for Meg to get home with some food. After a good five minutes, Trisha paused for breath and Christine leapt in.
"The reason I didn't tell you before was that I only told Erik a few days ago."
"Fine."
"You're sulking aren't you, Trisha?"
"Of course not." Trisha replied sulkily. Christine laughed.
"How are the kids?"
"Oh, they're fine. Nicholas won't stop chattering now he's started talking at last." Christine smiled at the thought. Nicholas was only about eighteen months old but was a gorgeous little boy, adored by his sisters. Melanie was the older, at nine and Kelly was now six. Christine was relieved that her cousin Kelly was so very different from the other Kelly she knew.
"Give them my love. Let's try and get together for Christmas." She said.
"You wouldn't be able to stop us." Trisha promised. "And let me tell you, missy, if you ever keep anything like this from me again…"
And she was off again. Christine held the phone idly in one hand, flicking through television channels. Max came in. He glanced at the phone.
"Trisha?" He mouthed. Christine covered the mouthpiece before replying.
"Yeah." She paused to listen. "I don't think she'll be stopping any time soon."
"Want me to save you?" Max offered. Christine nodded and he took the phone. He dropped it against the floor and there was a break in Trisha's speech. He quickly picked it up again.
"Hi Trisha, its Max. Sorry, Christine had to go. Yeah, morning sickness, you know how it is. Sure, she'll be fine. OK, no problem. Talk to you soon. Bye."
He hung up and Christine hugged him.
"Oh dear God, thank you." She said. "I love her, but good god the woman can talk."
"You owe me big time, Destler." He winked. "Shouldn't you be practising? Only three weeks before the opening night!"
"Yes, I know. But I'm giving myself a well deserved night off." Christine said firmly. Max looked at her pointedly and she sighed. "Fine. I'll go and practise."
"Nah, I'm kidding. You've been working really hard."
"We're doing well; the show is going to be ready in time." Christine said. "But I'm not nervous yet."
"Just you wait." Max grinned. "I remember how hysterical you were before the first performance of Phantom."
"I was not hysterical."
"Were too."
She glared at him.
"Max, I'm not going to argue with you."
"Because you know I'll win."
"Oh!" She hit him with a cushion. "You're intolerable!"
"Yet adorable."
"Irritating!"
"But so very lovable!" He chuckled. Christine rolled her eyes and he cleared his throat. "Actually, Christine, I wanted to ask your advice about something."
"Sure, what is it?"
Max twisted himself on the sofa so he was sat facing her.
"I've got this friend and he's asked me for some advice and I don't know what to tell him, so I said I'd ask someone else."
"What?"
"Well… he just broke up with his girlfriend because he likes this other girl. But now he doesn't know whether that girl will like him and he's wondering if breaking up with his girlfriend was a mistake. Because he really likes this girl." Max said.
Christine eyed him.
"Who is she?"
"Who?" Max asked.
"The girl you like."
"No, not me. My friend." He said earnestly.
"Max, that was a pathetic attempt at secrecy. I know you're a better actor than that. Who's the girl you like? She must have been special to persuade you to split up with Cara." Christine said, looking at him closely. Max looked incredibly awkward.
"I'd… I'd rather not say. If it's all the same."
"Not a chance in hell. Spit it out."
Max looked at her for a moment and then shook his head.
"Advice first."
"It depends on the girl. You want to know how she'll react to it and I can't tell you if I don't even know who she is."
"Christine…" He pleaded but she remained stubborn. He groaned. "Fine… its… its Rebecca."
Christine blinked.
And then blinked again.
And then she opened her mouth, found nothing to say, and closed it again.
Max watched her nervously.
"Do you know what would be really great? If you'd stop staring at me as if I'd just announced that I was gay and in love with Erik and if you'd say something helpful."
"Wow, Max… I just… Rebecca?"
"I know. It's stupid. She won't want to go out with me."
"Don't be ridiculous. How do you know if you don't ask? You two hang out all the time, how do you know that she doesn't feel the same way?" Christine pointed out. Max shrugged miserably.
"Why would she?"
"Because you're awesome. You're always telling me so." She teased.
Max grinned.
"Yeah, I know. OK, so what do I do? Do I ask her out?"
"I'm not sure. Do you want me to see how she feels first?" Christine asked.
"Would you? I mean, be subtle. Don't be blaringly obvious." He said anxiously. Christine rolled her eyes.
"Fine. I won't wear my 'Max loves Rebecca, ask me how' badge to work tomorrow."
"Now you're just abusing sarcasm."
"I do my best."
The front door flew open and a drenched Meg came in. The heavy rain had not stopped for two days now. She dumped the food bags and pulled the wet hair from her face miserably.
"Bloody English weather! It's STILL raining!"
"Raining? In England! I'm appalled." Christine said. Meg laughed.
"OK, I deserved that. Come on, help me get this stuff into the kitchen and I'll start cooking."
"Good, I'm starving." Max said, rubbing his stomach dramatically.
"And I'm eating for two. Make mine a double portion!" Christine called. Meg eyed her.
"You're going to get so chubby."
"I can just blame it on the pregnancy." Christine said.
"Yes, I can just blame it on her pregnancy." Max agreed. They both looked at him and he shrugged.
Operation Find-Out-If-Rebecca-Secretly-Likes-Max went into operation at lunchtime the next day, a Thursday. Christine glanced at her watch.
"Hey Rebecca, are you coming to the café?"
"Yeah, I need some caffeine stat." She smiled. "Coming Max? Stuart?"
"No, we're busy." Max said quickly, pulling Stuart away. Christine and Rebecca stared after them.
"Odd." Rebecca commented. "Oh well, their loss."
They walked to the café and sat at a table with sandwiches and drinks. Christine looked at Rebecca.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Are you seeing anyone?" Rebecca shook her head.
"No. I mean, I've been on a few dates lately, but it's not really working out. Why?"
"You're going to think this is so weird but… I think you and Max should go out."
Rebecca started to choke on her coffee. Christine waited patiently until the spluttering had stopped and Rebecca stared at her.
"What?"
"I think you should go out. You'd make such a good couple."
"But... he's Max."
"Yes, so?"
"So, he's Max. Why would he go out with me?" Rebecca said, flushing pink. Christine smiled.
"If he asked you, would you say yes?"
"I don't know."
"You would, wouldn't you?" Christine said knowingly. Rebecca looked awkward.
"Well… I suppose so. But what if it didn't work out and it got all awkward? And he wouldn't ask me anyway, he just broke up with Cara."
"OK, I was just asking. I think you'd make a great couple is all." Christine said. Rebecca laughed.
"Pregnancy makes people crazy, doesn't it?"
"No, I've always been insane."
"I've noticed." Rebecca said wryly.
"Go for it." Christine muttered to Max the next morning. She didn't want to say it straight away, not when Rebecca might have overheard, so she'd waited until the next day.
"What?"
"Ask Rebecca out. She'll say yes."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, now go!" Christine hissed, pushing him. He scurried away and Stuart joined her.
"What was all that about?"
"Just doing a little matchmaking. Ready for your dramatic death?"
They were going to rehearse the final scene that day, with Roberto's suicide. Stuart grinned.
"Couldn't be readier."
"Good." Christine said, raring to go. She felt so energetic, it was odd. She was never this lively first thing in the morning.
"You're in a good mood."
"It's Friday. TGIF and all that." Christine replied. Stuart smiled.
"Couldn't agree more. I need this weekend."
"Got any plans?"
"Relaxing with Tessa. We're goin to see a film and then I'm taking her out to dinner." Stuart said, referring to his girlfriend. They'd been together for four years now and were still going strong.
"Weekend plans can wait. We've got a lot to get through today." James said, joining them. "We go on in three weeks and in two we've got a group of critics coming in to see a full dress rehearsal. We've got to be perfect."
"Have a little faith, James. Nothing is going to go wrong." Christine smiled.
"I wish I had your confidence. Unfortunately I don't. Get rehearsing." James chuckled.
Christine nodded and then caught James' arm.
"Actually, I wanted to tell you something."
"What is it?" James said, looking at her closely. She smiled
"I'm having a baby."
He stared at her.
"A baby?"
"Yes. But don't worry. It's not due for a very long time. I've let June know and she's fixed up all my costumes so they'll be able to let out as I grow, but without showing too much. It won't change anything; I just wanted to let you know." Christine said quickly. James blinked.
"A baby… well, congratulations."
"Thanks James. Are you angry?"
"No, of course not. Surprised, but not angry." He smiled. "But don't think I'll be going easy on you, just because you're pregnant."
"Work me as hard as you want. I'm ready for it." Christine said firmly. James laughed and she went to warm up.
Erik put up the umbrella and waited in the doorway to the theatre, waiting for Christine to finish. He had only been waiting for a few minutes in the torrential downpour when he heard voices and flow of dancers, singers and technicians flooded past, eager to start their weekend. He stood back in the shadows, waiting, listening to them chatter about weekend plans, who was going out with who, what had happened in some soap drama, whether or not they had locked the lighting room door and a thousand other unimportant things that make up conversation.
A couple of minutes later, he saw Christine, Max, Rebecca, Stuart, June and James in the entrance hall, animatedly discussing something. Erik smiled at the cheerful look on her face as she laughed with her friends, tossing her hair back, putting forward her opinion with a thoughtful expression. How he loved her when she was so concentrated, he thought. She seemed to shine just that little bit more than usual when her passion showed. He moved closer, listening to their conversation through the half open door, wondering what it was that had captured her attention.
James spoke to Christine and she laughed, shaking her head and he heard her say, "You can't possibly think that'll work! It'd take a genius to pull that off and, no offence James, I don't think we can do it without making it look tacky."
"But if we find a way to make it work, would you be up for it?" James pressed. She rolled her eyes.
"I'll say yes, but only if it doesn't look like something out of a pantomime. I don't want people shouting it's behind you!"
"Christine, you have no faith in me!"
"No, I don't. Again, no offence intended." She winked. Max snorted and she elbowed him. "Stop it, you couldn't do it either."
Christine glanced at the door and caught sight of Erik. She signalled for him to enter and he did, crossing to her. She kissed him happily.
"Why on earth were you standing out in the rain?" She asked with a smile.
"Because it's so refreshing." He said dryly. Christine laughed and wiped his face dry.
"You're soaked. If you get sick I will personally murder you. Not that you'd ever admit that you were sick. How was the flight?"
"Terrible, as usual."
"Aw, he's so optimistic." Max grinned. Erik lifted an eyebrow and Christine smiled. Erik wrapped his hand around hers, signalling to leave. Christine looked around at her co-workers.
"Have a great weekend, everybody. James, let me know about the ending, OK?"
"Don't think I will. You don't think I'm a genius." James said, in a falsely-offended voice, placing a hand to his chest dramatically. Christine rolled her eyes, slipping her arm around Erik's waist and leaning into him without even seeming to realise that she was doing it.
"James, it will look so ridiculous."
"I don't think it will!" He insisted. "I think it'll look good!"
"Erik, what do you think? At the end of the opera, the angel ascends to heaven right before Stuart does himself in. James wants to use a harness and lift Christine up into the flies, but she's not convinced it'll work. What is your professional opinion?" Max said, looking at Erik.
There was a moment of silence and the room seemed to drop a few degrees in temperature. Erik's eyes flicked to James, who held his gaze with something like ice-cold curiosity.
"I wouldn't dream of interfering in someone else's work." He said after a moment. Nobody spoke and then Max nudged Christine in the side.
"Get me a knife. There's some serious tension to be cut here."
"Shut up Max. See everyone on Monday. Have a great weekend." Christine said in an over-cheerful voice. Erik turned away and they left. Christine noted that his grip on her hand had tightened momentarily before relaxing again.
Once they were sat in the car on their way back to Rochdale Avenue, Christine looked sideways at Erik.
"OK, what was that about?" Erik didn't reply for a moment and then said quietly,
"It doesn't matter."
"Erik…"
"Wait until we're back at the house." He said, glancing at her before turning his attention back to the road. Christine frowned but didn't push him.
She'd waited a long time to hear this. And she would wait another half hour whilst he worked up to it. If that was even what he was going to discuss. Christine knew now that if she asked him to tell her, he would. But she didn't want to ask him. She wanted him to tell her because he was willing to.
Time for the secrets to end.
A/N: Well, well, look here. A cliff-hanger. It's not as if I've ever done that before. But I figured I've made you wait pretty long for the James Pewter plot to come out so next chapter you'll get a glimpse of what it's all about. But never fear because our favourite little blonde American who needs an attitude adjustment will return. Because you all love her so much, lol.
More soon, hopefully.
Lotsa luv 'n' huggles
Katie