Repost, fixed boo-boos
It was a day that Karlie would never forget. They looked at the two houses that Erik had in mind to purchase, and the last one made an impression on both of them.
It was on the south end of the city, about two miles out. The grounds were articulate and well kept, and the current owners were going back to Europe after living in America for thirty years.
They gave Erik and Karlie a tour of the house, commenting on what a wonderful home this had been in which to raise their six children; which made Erik uncomfortable, he didn't want Karlie thinking he was pressuring her in any way by having her come with him to view the houses.
The house had six bedrooms, each with their own washroom; a dining hall, kitchen, parlor; a small, but well stocked library, conservatory, living room and study. A French scientist and his wife had built the house in 1815, so the color scheme and designs were French in detail and origin. The floors were laid with Italian marble and the rugs were Persian.
The only improvements Erik would make would be to the conservatory and he would build stables. He was interested in breeding horses and putting his innate ability with animals to good use; other than those two things, the house was perfect.
The quaint friendly atmosphere of the house drew Karlie in immediately. The color of the rooms and general warmth of the house appealed to her domestic side. There really wasn't anything about the house that she did not like – except the fact that she would not be living there with Erik.
The reality of him moving out of the opera house hurt deeper than she thought it would. She loved the idea of seeing him first thing in the morning when she got up and being able to walk down the hall at any given time and talking to him.
The only thing keeping her mind off that fact was the wire she had received from Allie. She was coming to spend a couple of days for the New Year celebration.
New Years in New Orleans was a spectacular event. There was a huge masquerade ball for the elite at the Bourbon Street Ball Room. Anyone who was someone got an invitation…Karlie had never been invited, but she loved reading about it in the paper and hearing about it from people on the streets.
She and Allie usually spent the day playing chess and Backgammon, reflecting back on the mistakes and achievements of the past year and then they would write down their New Years resolutions for the coming year, have a good cry, lots of laughs and then fall asleep on the roof of the opera house watching the fireworks.
She would be here on December 31, and stay through January 2. This time, Karlie intended to introduce her to Erik and give her all the juicy details about the man they had both crooned over.
She directed her attention back to Erik and watched him interact with the couple selling the house. He carried himself as royalty would and his mannerisms were noble and refined. The man was elegant and compelling in every way, and she easily admitted to herself that she adored him.
Erik caught her eyes on him and he smiled at her from the middle of the stairs where he was standing and talking to the couple.
"Are you two engaged?" The lady asked, noticing how they looked at each other.
Erik was surprised, but recovered quickly, "No, we are just starting the courting process." He said, honestly.
"Young man, I see how you look at each other," the woman remarked, "don't waste time with proprieties when there is so much of life yet to enjoy and experience."
Erik regarded the aged woman. She and her husband looked blissfully happy, and they had been married for over forty years.
"William and I had an arranged marriage; we only saw each other once before we entered into marriage." She beamed, that light reaching her eyes as she looked into the dancing eyes of her husband. "Now, six children, 23 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren later, I can honestly say I love him more now that I did on or wedding night."
Erik smiled down at the petite woman; she was as round as she was tall. He saw an eternal light burning in her that he wanted for himself, and was getting tired of waiting for it.
"How do you know when you have found the one you were meant to be with?" Erik asked, hoping he could learn from her wisdom.
"That look, that touch, that kiss…you'll know." She said, dreamily. "Does she know how you feel?"
Erik looked the woman in the eye to make sure she was addressing him; he saw a knowing smile on her face and twinkle in her eye.
"I'm not sure she could ever feel about me the way I feel about her." Erik admitted.
The woman smirked, put her spectacle to her eye, and looked Erik over, from head to toe. "Poppycock, what's there not to love about you, young man? You're built like a Greek god, you're more handsome than a man has a right to be, and you have more talent than I have seen in any one person…ever." She winked at him, and leaned in to whisper, "I know who you are and why you wear the mask, believe me…it only adds to your appeal; oh, and now that I have had the pleasure of meeting you, you are an awfully nice young man on top of all that."
William had been listening and shaking his head the whole time, the love for his wife seeping from every pore in his body. Erik wanted to know this kind of love; the kind of love that make life worth the living.
Erik told the older couple that he would have his accountant secure the funds and have his lawyer draw up the papers, and he would be back in two days to finalize the sale. He had enjoyed the visit as much as the search.
Erik called the cab over and helped Karlie in. It was time for him to purchase his own carriage, driver, and steeds to go from place to place; he was getting tired of hiring a cab.
He sat down on the opposite side of Karlie and took his outer coat off; the day had actually gotten pleasantly warm, despite it being the end of December.
"Do you like the house, Karlie?" Erik ask, wanting to hear her opinion.
She looked at him and smiled, not sure why he wanted to know her opinion, but she was happy to give it, "Yes Erik, it is the most beautiful house I have ever seen."
Erik smiled, liking her approval, "Good, then you will have to come and spend a great deal of time there." He stated.
Erik dropped his eyes and felt his heart picking up speed in his chest, he was about to ask Karlie out for an evening, and he was afraid of her rejection; even though his heart told him she would not reject him; in his head, there was a different voice.
"Karlie…" he took her hand an moved her across the carriage to sit beside him, "…I received an invitation for two to the New Years Eve Masquerade Party at the Bourban Street Ball Room," Erik held her hand gently in his and did not make eye contact, "would you agree to be my date for the evening?"
There, he had asked and she hadn't screeched in horror, laughed in his face, or any such thing; in fact, she was smiling.
She leapt into his lap and hugged him so hard he could feel the buttons on his shirt pressing into his skin.
"Oh Erik…I would love to go…I have always wanted to go and have never been invited…never knew anyone who got invited." She was a blubbering idiot, and she knew it, but she was so excited, "Thank you!" She said, reigning kisses all over his face and hugging him.
"Well," Erik said after she recovered, "I'm going to have to come up with new like that every day, just to make you react like that every day." He said with a grin.
He looked down at her smiling features and could not resist cupping her face in his hand, gently pushing the hair from her face, and tucking it behind her ear. She moved closer to him until her lips were a hairs breadth away from his; and then Erik moved the rest of the way.
He gently caressed his lips against hers, feeling her gently invite him to go deeper. He eased her mouth open and tangled her tongue with his. She moaned into his mouth and pressed harder against him.
He could feel the urgency building in his body and in her kiss. She was eager to consummate this relationship, as was Erik; but he knew they would regret it if they did; he had waited all these years, he could wait some more.
Erik eased away from the kiss and pulled her to him for a sensuous hug. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of him as his hand caressed the small of her back…she could never get tired of the feel of him.
"I love how you feel in my arms, Karlie…I never want to let you go." Erik whispered in her ear.
She pulled back and with tears in her eyes, replied, "Then don't"
He smiled down at her and held her like that until they arrived back at Demi's house. They were greeted at the door by Demi and Michael, and everyone was anxious to hear about the house.
That conversation took about two hours; Erik informed Demi that he needed the cash for the house and that he needed the services of a lawyer. Demi said she would take care of everything…and Erik knew that she would.
Erik excused himself and said that he needed to go back to the opera house for the night. He would need an early start in the morning, procuring items for his new house and for building the stables.
Karlie did not want him to go, and walked him outside to the waiting carriage.
"It makes my heart sing that you say you will miss me, Karlie." Erik commented. "You'll only be a door down from me."
Karlie smiled and adjusted his tie, "By the way, Allie is coming into town in two days; will you come with me to pick her up at the train station?" she asked.
"Allie? Is she the woman from the café…when I overheard you talking about some man you were interested in?" Erik inquired, jealousy showing in his tone.
"The one and only…" Karlie replied; and then, with a rascally smile, she added, "that's Allie…oh…and Erik…the man we were talking about that day…was you." She said as he sat down in the carriage.
He looked up at her last phrase and Karlie just waved her hand as the door shut and the carriage pulled off.
To Be Continued…