Okay, I'll manage one more chapter…that will have mature material; the wedding night…oh my!
Thanks for your kind participation!
CHAPTER 35
Erik returned to his home and acknowledged his new staff. He had hired them all on recommendations from Demi and Roland. The head housekeeper was a middle-aged German woman named Marta, the butler was an equally middle-aged man named Horace; there was the chef, an Italian gentleman named Carman. Two young housekeepers; girls that Erik hoped would meet with Karlie's approval. The head stableman, William and his assistant, Eugene, were the last staff to be hired, and Erik made sure that everyone understood that Karlie would be the one to answer to if things were not up to standard. They would be meeting her tomorrow night – after the wedding.
He headed up to the master bedroom, imagining how it would be to finally have someone to return home to every day and hold in his arms every night. He had never thought to have the opportunity to be as happy as he felt at this moment, but he had been granted the chance. He looked to the heavens and acknowledged the Being Whose presence he had reluctantly been aware of all his life, but Whose guidance and will he had avoided. His eyes closed in a silent prayer of thanks for the blessings he had been granted recently and the steps he had been led down that had led him to Karlie.
Erik took one more look at his suit for tomorrow night, and finding everything in order, he put on his sleeping pants and slid into bed. He doubted he would get very much sleep; his mind was on Karlie and the events that would occur tomorrow night. A wave of anxiety washed over him as he thought about his role as a husband. He and Karlie had reached a passionate crossroad and the next step both terrified and excited him.
Would he be able to ultimately make her happy? He had never experienced the touch of a woman until Karlie came along. Christine had given him his first kiss, but Karlie had made his body come alive. He had never felt the rush of desire that raced through his body when Christine had touched him, only when Karlie had. Even now, with thoughts of his wedding night dancing around in his head, his body was hardening in anticipation.
He closed his thoughts off and dwelt on his music, he knew that "The Magic Flute" would be a great success, especially with the people he had in charge of it. He had worked hard with all the lead singers and chorus singers to make the perfect balance and the voices blended well together. One thing he could not tolerate at the Populaire was the fact that Carlotta's voice was so much more domineering than the others in chorus pieces where she was supposed to blend with the other voices.
Erik drifted to sleep with the music floating around in his head and the voices lulling him into a dreamless haven of rest.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The following morning, Karlie awoke to the sound of pounding on her door. She had slept very little because Erik was in every dream she had; Erik in his outfit from the New Years Celebration, Erik in his half open shirt and black, form-fitting pants; Erik in absolutely nothing…her smile stayed on her face as she drifted in and out of sleep.
He had come so far in the six months he had been here. Karlie would like to take some of the credit for that transformation, but the truth was, Demi deserved a great deal of it. If it hadn't been for her, Erik would have never had the inclination to approach Karlie in the first place. Demi had shown him that his deformity meant squat, especially to someone who knew him for the man that he was.
She looked to the heavens and thought of her mother and father, knowing that they would have loved and approved of Erik in every way. Her father would have admired his musical abilities and natural talents; as well as his learned and applied intelligence. Her mother would have loved his quirky sense of humor, beautiful green eyes, and breathtaking good looks. She would have been as charmed by Erik as Karlie was.
Tonight, he would be hers for all eternity.
"Karlie…open the door, I know yur in there, now open up." Allie said through the door.
Karlie smiled at the insistent nature of her best friend. Allie would see to it that everything was perfect for tonight, Karlie was sure of that.
She opened the door to an irritated looking Allie, followed by Audrey, Demi, and Meg.
"Come on, girlfriend, we still have so much ta do." Allie insisted, "We have to go see the baker about a cake…an' then…" her eyes lit up with joy, "…we have to go to the hair dresser and git yur hair an' nails done!"
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
By the time the morning had flown by, Karlie was ready for a break. She had taken about two hours to pick out the cake. A simple, but elegant cake, not too large, that had lilies on it. Karlie loved lilies and was so happy to know that the baker could decorate the cake with lilies. The cake was white and the lilies were blue and yellow.
They had lunch, laughed for about 2 hours, and then headed for the church. Allie made sure that all the flowers she had ordered were delivered on time and precisely placed where she wanted them. The photographer was commissioned and stood poised and ready to do the event justice.
"Allie, you spent too much money on this…I just wanted a simple wedding." Karlie stated while her eyes admired the details that Allie had paid attention to.
"Would you please stop whinin' girl!" Allie teased, "It's my money…and I'll dang sure do with it what pleases me!" She leaned in and put an arm around Karlie, "'sides…yur gorgeous man already offered to pay me back." She gave a shrug of her petite shoulders, "I adamantly refused."
Demi, Audrey, and Meg were in charge of food, and had approached the manager of "Le Chardés" about catering for the night. He was more than willing to accommodate them and they ordered enough food for the hundred or so people that Allie said would be coming.
They all ended up back at Demi's, where the dress and all its accessories was awaiting its beautiful occupant.
"Oh Karlie…you look ravishing. I have never seen a more beautiful bride!" Audrey cried. Meg shook her head in approval, although tinges of jealousy still shot through her. Erik and Karlie were beautiful together, and Meg found herself regretting that she had not made a move on Erik in France, before he had left to change his life. She just wondered if things would have turned out differently.
Audrey, Meg, Demi, Michael, and Roland all rode to the church in the same carriage. There was a great deal of nervous chatter going on, but everyone seemed to be anticipating the coming nuptials.
Karlie and Allie rode in another carriage. "I have to admit, Allie…I'm a bit nervous about tonight…especially the part where Erik and I…" Karlie could not even finish the sentence.
Allie looked at her friend with serious eyes, and then broke out in a huge grin. "Nervous 'bout what, 'xactly?" She asked.
"I don't know." Karlie hung her head in shame, "I just want everything to be perfect…I want to be able to please him."
Allie smiled genuinely, knowing her friend was musing over something that did not matter, "Of course you'll please him…" Allie whispered, "…he has less experience with these thangs than you do…and that's not sayin' much."
Karlie shook her head, "I know…I know."
Allie pulled back and winked with a devilish grin on her beautiful face, "Jus' remember, Hon…" Allie began, "…don't do nothin' I wouldn't do."
Karlie rolled her eyes and smiled, "Oh…that means everythin' is pretty much a 'go' then, ha?"
The two friends laughed again, as the carriage pulled up in front of the church. Karlie was shocked to see the number of people present at the church. She eyed Allie suspiciously.
"How did you manage this?" she asked, in shock.
Allie looked innocent, but finally replied, "It's amazing what one, strategically placed ad in the Monday morning paper can do."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The stage was set and all the players were in their places. The heavenly music began and Erik, dressed in a full evening wear, but all white; stood in front of the sanctuary filled with over one hundred people, few of whom he knew. He had never been so nervous in all his life. Michael was beside him, dressed in a gray tuxedo, and beside him stood Beau, a last minute request by Erik.
Demi had walked down the isle already, a request by Karlie as a bride's matron, and then Allie had come down as the maid of honor. The music increased in volume and the stanza's became longer and drawn out. Erik lifted his eyes to the back of the church and held his breath.
To be continued…