From Heaven's Mind
Chapter Twenty
"Damn it, Christine!"
"I'm sorry, OK? But that cue is too fast!" Christine said angrily. James glared at her.
"We perform this opera in ten hours; I haven't got time for you to piss around!"
"I know when we're performing it and I'm not pissing around, I'm trying to get this cue right!"
Max and Rebecca exchanged a glance.
"And they couldn't have done all this fighting last week?"
"That wouldn't be any fun." Max said. "I'd better go and break them up. We can't have our angel prancing around with a black eye."
Rebecca laughed as he rushed off to prevent bloodshed. Christine glared at James as she returned to her spot.
"C'mon, Chris, It's going to be fine. Erik's going to be here in a few hours, Tom's coming out of hospital especially to see the show and Meg is going to see it as soon as she can. Not to mention your family coming down." Max assured her.
"I know, Max. I just… argh!"
She buried her face in her hands.
"It's getting to be too much. I'm terrified, what if I mess it up tonight?"
"You didn't before. You didn't for the critics."
"Yes, but this is different."
"How?"
"Because this is happening now!" Christine cried. "It's happening tonight!"
"Break for lunch, I want a full run through this afternoon!" James shouted.
Meg sipped at the hospital soup and winced at the heat. Tom, perched on the end of her bed, smiled.
"Too hot?"
"Yeah. I'm not really that hungry anyway." She admitted. "Mr Jordan is coming by later for more physiotherapy."
"Is he as good as he's supposed to be?"
"He is. I can't believe Erik did that…" She smiled. "He's going to get such a cuddling from me when I see him."
"Hey, I reserve all rights to Meggy-cuddles." Tom said. Meg laughed and stuck her tongue out.
"Now, now, learn to share. I'm very popular, you know."
Tom smiled.
"Yes, I know." He considered her for a moment and then got up, crossing to his bed as she tried to soup again. He dug around in the drawer and turned back, wincing as he lowered himself onto one knee.
"Tom… what are you doing? Get up, you'll hurt yourself." Meg said over the top of her soup.
"Meg, shut up."
She did so. Tom took a deep breath (as deep as you can with three broken ribs) and opened the ring box, showing it to her. Meg's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. Tom licked his lips and said quietly,
"You scared the hell out of me, Meg Grayson. I thought I'd lost you. I'm not about to give you another chance to do that, so say yes."
Meg couldn't speak. Tom smiled slightly.
"I mean, if you want to. If you're going to say no, just do it so we can get all awkward and pretend this didn't happen."
"Yes." Meg whispered. Tom blinked.
"Yes to the awkwardness or yes to the proposal?"
"To the proposal. Yes. I'll marry you." Meg smiled. Tom grinned.
"Good. Just checking."
With quite some effort, Tom struggled to his feet and took Meg's hand, slipping the ring on before sitting on the edge of the bed and kissing her. Meg buried her face in his shoulder.
"I love you." She said. Tom smiled, closing his eyes.
"I love you too, Meg."
They were silent for a moment and then Meg giggled. Tom looked down at her and she nodded at the door. Tom looked around and laughed. Christine, Max and Rebecca were all peering in through the window, grinning insanely.
"I can't believe he got down on one knee." Christine smiled. "How romantic."
"I know… of course, it would have been a lot more romantic if it hadn't been in a hospital room with both of them up to their eyes in plaster casts." Rebecca commented.
"Yes, but it's the principle of it. I mean, my proposal wasn't that romantic. He didn't even mean to do it. That's not to say it wasn't absolutely amazing, but… well, he went down on one knee!" Christine sighed.
Max looked at James.
"Is this one of those things we're supposed to be all dumb and manly about?"
"I think it may be. Let's get started, I know a lot of people have got family arriving today and they want to meet them before the start."
Christine took her place and stretched. She didn't go on until about twenty minutes into the opera so she waited in the wings, rereading her score until she heard her cue, just as Stuart finished his song. She began to sing, her voice carrying around the theatre and she moved onto the stage.
Max and James watched carefully, counting the beats to the cues, commenting on a particular note or line or piece of choreography. Even though most of their cast were in jeans, it was still a wonderfully touching piece. As the opera drew to a close, James called everyone in.
"OK, I want you all back here 6:30, 6 for Christine, Stuart and Rebecca. Until then, go and relax. You've earned it."
Nadir and Erik were sat in the living room when Christine got back. She ran through into the living room, threw herself out Erik and hugged him so tightly he was quite sure that a rib cracked.
"I can't believe it's finally here! And you're here too and Tom's coming tonight and Trisha and the others are going to be here soon and-"
He cut her off by kissing her. This proved to be most productive as she was giddily silent for some time afterward. Erik took the opportunity to sit her down.
"Christine, listen to me. Trisha and her family will be here in about fifteen minutes. Why don't you go and take a shower and relax for a bit? Try not to overexcite yourself; it will do nothing for you or the baby."
"OK." She kissed him quickly and skipped away. Nadir smiled.
"I think she might be just a little bit excited about this. But do correct me if I'm wrong."
When Christine got back downstairs twenty minutes later, she opened the door to the living room and was greeted by her family. Trisha and Jack, her aunt and uncle grinned at her from the sofa whilst her three cousins launched themselves at her for hugs which she readily gave.
"Tea?" Erik offered. She accepted, smiling happily.
"This is so cool! I can't wait to see you sing!" Melanie announced excitedly.
"Nicholas doesn't get to come." Kelly told Christine. "Cos he's just a baby."
Nicholas looked up from his spot on the floor and gabbled happily. Christine cooped him up.
"Aw, poor Nicky. We'll do something this weekend that he can join in with." She said, tickling him until he squealed.
"I don't know why you want a baby. They smell funny." Kelly said, in six-year-old logic. They all laughed and Christine hugged her cousin.
"You were a baby once and you smelt funny too."
"Didn't!"
"Did too!" Christine shot back. Kelly turned to look at her mother.
"Mum, tell her I didn't!"
"All babies smell sometimes, Kelly. Anyway, you were excited about having a baby cousin." Trisha reminded her.
Christine smiled, cuddling Nicholas. He was so soft and sweet and warm. It was very comforting to just hold him like this.
Erik watched her from his spot by the window, how easily she accepted the child into her arms. How easily she would become a mother, he thought. It was simple nature to her, to have a child. He wished he could feel so at ease about the situation.
It was 5:15 when Christine got to her feet.
"I'd better start getting ready. You're all OK with getting to the theatre?"
"I've informed Thompson to bring the limousine around." Erik assured her. She smiled and kissed him.
"Then I'll see you afterwards."
"Break a leg." Jack grinned. Christine laughed.
"I hope not! See you later."
"The first costume is in there. Get it on whilst I do Rebecca's hair." June said as Christine entered. She nodded and went into the dressing room, slipping the plain white slip on. She brushed her hair out as she waited for her turn in the make-up chair.
"Nervous?" Rebecca asked. Christine smiled.
"Surprisingly, no. But once I'm stood in the wings waiting to go in, I'll be wetting myself."
"I know how you feel." Rebecca laughed.
"Rebecca, you're done. Christine, sit." June said sharply, reaching for a foundation brush. Christine sat and watched as June applied makeup and arranged hair, fussing over details whilst Christine ran over the score in her mind.
There was a knock at the door.
"Delivery."
"Come in." June said. The door opened and a young man entered, placing two large bouquets on the desk. He then went out and returned with another bouquet and single red rose. Rebecca came out and smiled.
"Tell Erik he's getting predictable in his old age."
"I wouldn't have him any other way." Christine smiled, smelling the rose's sweet fragrance. The first two bouquets were from James and Max to each of them and the third bouquet was from Max to Rebecca. Christine smiled.
"Tell Max he's getting soppy."
"Tell him yourself." Rebecca laughed.
The opera began at 8 pm. At 7:40 Erik went to his private box. He had reserved a second box for Trisha, Jack, Kelly, Melanie, Tom and Nadir and they waved at him from across the theatre. He supposed he could have asked some of them to sit with him, but he never would. This evening was special and he wanted no distractions from it. Tonight he would allow himself to drown in Christine's voice, in this opera that she had worked so hard for.
He looked down at the programme in his hands. It was black and on the front were two wings that seemed to be glowing on the darkness of the cover. He read through the summary of the opera and then turned to the cast descriptions.
A black and white picture of Christine smiled up at him and he read the biography.
Christine Destler is rising star in the opera world. Born and raised in this very town, she performed her first opera at the New York Opera House at the age of twenty-three. She has worked closely with her husband, Erik Destler, well-known for his work in world-wide opera houses. Christine will be returning to New York after Des Yeux D'Ange where she will be working with her husband and starting a family.
Erik smiled and closed the programme, checking his watch. Ten minutes. He was curious to see how well Rebecca Griffins performed. He had not heard her sing since The Phantom of the Opera and wanted to see if she had changed much. He passed the time by watching the gathering crowds. The opera house was packed to bursting with opera fans, newcomers and those who were simply curious.
Finally the lights dimmed and the first strains of music began. Erik leaned forward as the overture played. After a few moments the curtains rose to reveal a crowd of people, moving in dance, weaving in and out of each other as they sang of the engagement of Roberto and Caroline. It was a light, cheerful song of young love blooming and the hopes of the future.
Suddenly the stage darkened and two spotlights appeared, falling onto figures at opposite ends of the stage. Stuart and Rebecca watched each other for several beats until they began the slow walk towards each other. They were still some way off when they stopped and began to sing. The song was called The First Time and Erik smiled. They were good. He was usually the last one to admit this, but it was true. They were both stiff and proper, acting as if they were truly meeting for the first time, only able to behave as society commanded.
The story moved on, past the engagement arrangements to Stuart's solo, Hand of Fate. Roberto prays in a cemetery, praying for guidance of what he must do, whether or not to marry Caroline. His song faded away and the scene went into darkness. For several moments nothing happened and then an inhumanly beautiful sound flooded the room.
Erik closed his eyes, smiling. He knew that sound. That voice that seemed to pour golden light into a darkened room. A single spot of light appeared at the back of the stage. Every eye in the theatre went to it as it grew, twisting and changing shape until it revealed the outline of a woman. Erik leaned forward, his breath catching his throat as the figure of his wife moved into the silver light.
I see you
I see you always
From Angel's Eyes
The sound was so pure and sweet that Erik felt tears prick at his eyes. He blinked them back and watched intently as her song ended and Roberto turned to see his angel for the first time.
Erik knew the feeling.
The opera seemed to fly past unbearably quickly. The lessons in love that Arietta gave to Roberto, the ball, the wedding where Roberto ran from the altar. They returned once more to the cemetery where Roberto confronted Arietta.
With a final announcement of love, Arietta stepped back from Roberto. He fell to his knees and Erik watched closely. They had decided against using a harness in the end but Christine had never mentioned what would happen.
That silver light came down again, a thin beam of light that flooded Christine. And then Erik blinked, trying to discern what he was seeing. A shadow was floating softly up to the ceiling and Christine had vanished altogether. A wondrous sigh went up from the gathered audience
Roberto sobbed his last song and Erik found himself affected by the pure sorrow that emanated from the stage as Roberto ended his own life. Moments later Caroline, still clad in her wedding down, ran in and stopped dead at the sight of her lifeless fiancé. She fell to her knees, gathering him into her arms and there was silence.
And then slowly, softly, a sweet song began once again. The Lament of an Angel, one of Christine's favourite parts. Erik closed his eyes, allowing himself to sink into the song once more. He had heard her practise this a thousand times and even mouthed along with the final part.
I've known you always
I'll watch you always
And I've always see you
See you From Angel's Eyes!
A quavering, sweet note the curtains slowly closed and the music faded away. For several moments there was complete silence in the theatre. And then someone began to applaud. It took less than a minute for the entire theatre to be on its feet, screaming, applauding, cheering. And Erik was among them.
Christine finally emerged from backstage. She'd waited until the crowds had cleared slightly before going out in search of her family. They were waiting in the Entrance Hall and Melanie flew at her, hugging her tightly.
"Christine, it was wonderful!"
"It was superb." Nadir agreed, grinning madly.
"Let's talk about it at home, I think we could all use a drink." Tom suggested. They all nodded and moved out into the night.
Christine hung back, waiting. Erik stared down at her and she asked, almost nervously.
"What did you think?"
"Christine…" he began and then stopped Christine bit her lip.
Erik smiled.
"It was perfect."
"Really?" Her face lit up.
"Yes. Really." He said. Christine put her arms around him and buried her face in his neck. For a moment neither of them moved.
"Thank you." She whispered. "It means so much to me that you liked it."
"You're welcome." He murmured. "Come on. They're waiting for us."
A/N: I am quite pleased with this chapter. I was dreading writing the opera part, but I think it worked OK.
This chapter is fondly dedicated to my new pal Feri-san.
And here, as promised is the link to IheartPOTO's fantastic Fanart.
www . deviantart . com / view / 23404922 /
Remove the spaces and you're all set! Thank you all for the wonderful reviews, they mean the world to me!
Lotsa luv 'n' huggles
Katie