Wow! I have many reviews on the last chapter – thank you. I hope you enjoy this one as well.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Erik or Christine. They are the wonderful creation of Mr. Leroux – but ALW gave them depth and humanity – as did Kay. I do not own any lyrics that are used; they will be credited at the end of the chapter in which they appear.

I do however; own the plot and any original characters, which appear from the dark caverns of my mind.

Character portraits:

Erik – Gerard Butler (There is no other – not for me!)

Christine - Scarlett Johansson (with violet eyes, and a little more of a mature look)

Meckenzie -Emma Karwandy (from Butterfly on a Wheel)

Vince - Pierce Brosnon (slightly shorter)

Karen -Bette Midler (only about ten year's younger, seven inches taller, and long, brown hair)

Ms. Jennison-Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny from the latest Bond movies)

Mr. Lynch - Bruce Davison (Senator Kelly from the first X-Men movie)

All other original characters, you can use your imagination.

Enjoy.

CHAPTER 7

Thursday turned out to be a very hectic but rewarding day for Christine. She had gone to the school where Meckenzie would be attending and asked if there were any positions available, she thought it would be great to work there and be around Meckenzie as much as possible.

At first, Mr. Lynch, the man in charge of hiring, was quite adamant about there being no positions available. He scrutinized Christine's resume very carefully. He seemed impressed, but not willing to make an offer.

It was not until Ms. Jennison walked in and spoke something to him in a whisper that he seemed to look at Christine in a different light.

"So, your daughter received a personal invitation from Mr. Trudeau? I have been here since the school opened its doors; that has never happened." He stated with admiration in his voice and eyes.

He once again picked up her resume and scanned it. When he looked back at Christine, he was smiling in a reserved, respectful manner, and his eyes had softened.

"Actually, we are short an admissions supervisor – since Miss Madge had to quit because of her health." He was talking into her resume again, but his eyes kept resting on her.

'She certainly does not fit the description Mr. Trudeau laid out for his female employees.' Mr. Lynch thought, 'But he did personally invite her daughter to the school, so he must know her.'

Christine almost leapt out of her skin. Surely, he wasn't considering her for a supervisor's position. She had no experience as a supervisor.

But, that was precisely what he did. He showed Christine the job description, went over the hours with her, and even showed her the office she would occupy. She filled out paperwork, provided identification and credentials, and did a typing test.

"What do you think, Ms. Daae, would you like to work here?" He asked.

Christine could hardly form words, so she just shook her head. She knew she could do the job and she would enjoy it.

"The pay starts at $40,000 a year, but there are annual increases and bonuses; Mr. Trudeau believes in paying his employees well and providing them with bonuses three times a year." Mr. Lynch quoted, with pride. He stood up, held out his hand, and shook Christine's hand firmly, "Pending your background check and drug test, welcome to the family, Ms. Daae, you start on Monday."

He handed her the papers for her drug test, gave her directions to the clinic administering it, and showed her to the door. She shook his hand again, and thanked him for the opportunity.

Christine retrieved Meckenzie from the learning library, where all the books were in Braille. She was actually carrying on a conversation with the other children; just as though she had always attended here. It made Christine push back tears of joy.

On the way to the clinic, Christine's thoughts were full of thanks to God for the new job she had obtained; the pay was $15,000 more per year than she had ever hoped to make and she would be working where Meckenzie attended school. Could it get any better?

She had finally gotten her spirituality where it belonged. Her parents had raised her correctly; she just had to find it for herself. Her church family had become very important to her over the past several weeks. They had prayed for her job situation and the situation with Meckenzie; prayer was her main defense against a world that pressed her on all sides.

That evening, she frantically fixed a pot roast, roasted potatoes and carrots, dinner rolls, a tossed salad with Ranch dressing, and chocolate cake for dessert. Thankfully, she had remembered to put the pot roast in the crock-pot before she had left, and it was almost done when she got home.

Her table was set and Meckenzie was playing softly on the piano when the doorbell rang.

"Hi there…." Christine realized she had no idea what his name was.

He laughed, knowing her predicament, "Vince, my name is Vince…Trent." He put his hand in the small of Karen's back, "This is Karen Usher, my life partner."

Christine smiled brightly, "Hi, it's so good to meet you…please come in."

Christine knew what "life partner" meant; they had chosen to commit to each other without the security of marriage. Christine's upbringing did not allow her to approve of it, but it did not change who they were to her. She immediately liked Karen and felt a kindred spirit in her.

They entered the spacious apartment, noticing how clean and tidy it was. "This is a nice place, Christine; thank you for having us." Karen stated.

Christine came up to the older woman with apologetic eyes, "I'm sorry, if I had known he was with someone, I would not have been so forward."

Christine first impression of Karen was one of inner strength and beauty. She was a full-figured woman with a rounded, but attractive face and grey/blue eyes. She had long, brown hair with red highlights and a kind, giving smile that put Christine at ease.

Karen was not the sort of woman with whom Christine would have pictured Vince. He was a classically handsome man in his mid-forties – he could have had his pick of young, beautiful women – but he loved Karen deeply and she loved him, as was evidenced by the looks they shared; what a strange, but oddly, perfect couple they made.

Karen chuckled, "It's fine, dear…he's probably flattered."

Meckenzie came into the room, and immediately Karen rushed to her side. "Oh! What a perfect little angel you are!"

"Hello, I'm Meckenzie Rae Daae; it is a pleasure to meet you." The perfect little voice sang.

Karen could not get over how beautiful the child was, she did look just like her mother in miniature.

"Hi Meckenzie, I'm Karen, and I am so pleased to meet you."

Meckenzie curtsied and made her way to the kitchen to help her mother. Karen followed, amazed at how well she made her way around. If Karen hadn't known she was blind, she would have never guessed; the child never faltered with her steps.

After dinner, Christine and Karen cleaned up the dishes while Vince listened to Meckenzie play the piano and sing.

"She is a treasure, Christine…you are blessed." Karen murmured with tears in her eyes. "I was never able to have children."

Christine really liked this woman, she was gentle of spirit and kind, and she was no nonsense and easy to talk to.

"Why?" Christine asked, hoping it did not offend her.

"A riding accident when I was a teenager, the horse's hoof came down right on my womb; crushing it beyond repair…they had to do a complete hysterectomy immediately, I was only fourteen."

Christine felt the tears sting her own eyes, and gave into the urge to pull the older woman into her embrace.

"I'm so sorry." She consoled.

Karen pulled back from the embrace and smiled, "It's okay, love…I have adjusted. Now I get to admire beautiful children that others have been blessed with…your daughter is truly an angel."

Christine thanked her and they sat down at the table and continued to talk.

"I could see by the look on your face, that you find my arrangement with Vince to be a strange and sinful one." Karen remarked. "I understand your beliefs…I was raised in much the same manner.

"But life has a way of throwing us for a loop and all our good intentions get tossed to the wayside." She didn't look at Christine, she spoke to her folded hands.

"I have my reasons for not marrying Vince." Karen confessed. "I don't feel right tying him down to a woman who can never give him children…he's ten years younger than I am, attractive…he could be with any woman he wanted."

Karen paused and looked over at Vince as he sat beside Meckenzie on the piano bench. "He loves children…and for some bizarre reason, he loves me."

Christine smiled as she realized Meckenzie was enjoying the attention of a man; she had never been around a man who enjoyed her company before.

"If that were the only thing he wanted in his life, I am sure he would have left you long ago, Karen." Christine observed. "He finds in you something else that means entirely more to him than having children of his own."

Karen smiled warmly at that observation and nodded, "Yes, I have come to that conclusion, also." She murmured. "I understand that you heard 'that voice' over the radio and just had to meet the owner of it."

Christine blushed, knowing Karen probably thought she was honing in on her man, "Yes, that is true…it was so sensual and riveting." Christine confessed. "But Vince…" she chuckled slightly and smiled, "…Vince is more of a father figure than anything. I am really going to have to fight the feelings I get when I hear him on the radio."

"Just remember, dear…things are not always as they seem." Karen advised, with a strange glimmer in her eyes. "How about you, what are you looking for in the man that will sweep you off your feet?"

Christine furrowed her brow and gave Karen a strange look. She finally shrugged her shoulders and relaxed.

"I am not sure love is meant for me." She admitted. "I married my ex when I was nineteen, he was eight years older than me, rich, well-known in the music industry – he was perfect for an up and coming opera star.

"For two years, our lives were perfect…he doted on me, managed my career, coached my vocals…but then he started having an affair; and than 'an affair' turned into several affairs.

"After Meckenzie was born, he grew more distant and could not handle that she wasn't 'perfect'. He refused to touch her or play with her…he finally just ended it."

Karen was shocked that a man with such a beautiful wife and daughter would throw it all away.

"After the divorce, he black listed me on every stage in the United States and from every worthy vocal coach…he ruined my career.

"Meckenzie had multiple surgeries which eventually ate up my savings and I had to rely on my skills as a receptionist to provide for us…it's been tough.

"But through it all, I have been blessed…the past few weeks have been full of wonder and answered prayers." Christine breathed, "I feel that this is just the beginning.

"All I ever wanted was for Meckenzie to have a chance to grow and succeed in the area's she excelled at…piano and vocals….but I also knew that I could not afford to send her to a private school which catered to the blind."

Karen reached over and took her hand, "That's where Vince came in, isn't it?"

Christine shook her head and smiled at this matronly woman. "He literally saved my life and that of my daughter...he was a gift from God."

Karen smiled and chuckled, "Believe me, child, he didn't do it alone; in fact, he was a little reluctant…and you will find out why in time."

Christine was baffled, but didn't question what she had said.

"Since Raoul left and we divorced, I have had three disastrous relationships. All three of them only had sex on the brain; but the third one couldn't stand my daughter." She shook her head and scoffed.

Christine leaned in and whispered so that Vince and Meckenzie could not hear her, "Why do men always think with the wrong head?"

They both giggled at that thought, knowing there was no definitive answer to that question.

"Not all of them are like that, my dear." Karen assured her.

"All the ones I attract are." Christine commented.

"Well then, you haven't met the right man." Karen stated.

Christine realized she had never answered Karen's earlier question.

"You asked me what kind of man would sweep me off my feet…" She whispered, "I want a man who makes my blood race through my veins with just a glimpse of his eyes, I want a man who's intelligent and witty; I want a man who loves so deeply, it hurts." She looked at Karen and winked, "I want a man with a little bit of mystery and darkness…a bit of a bad boy."

Karen understood that, most women wanted a man with a roguish side, "What about looks…how should he look?" Karen asked.

"Looks aren't a top priority, but if he is handsome and well-built, plus has all those other attributes…I'll never let him out of my sight." Christine said with a devilish grin.

Karen smiled at Christine and knew she had to shine a little light on the events that were transpiring around her; as a woman, she needed to give Christine some advantage.

"My dear, I want you to know that there is another force behind the events in you life." Karen began, "Vince is not the voice behind the 'The Phantom'…I will not give him up…yet…I have a feeling you will figure it out on your own."

Christine's face was one of surprise and intrigue. If Vince was not the owner of that voice – then who was?

"Thank you, Karen…is the voice enhanced, as I was told it was?" Christine inquired.

Karen shook her head no, but refused to elaborate any further. "I must remain loyal to Vince and to the wishes of the other man involved, but I had to let you know that much."

Christine smiled in understanding. They got up from the table and moved toward the man and little girl. It was time to leave.

"By the way, I start my new job on Monday." Christine announced as she walked them to the door.

"Really?" Vince asked. "Where?"

"Trudeau's School of the Performing Arts." Christine said, proudly. "I'm to be the new Admissions Supervisor."

Vince felt his chest constrict and breathing was becoming difficult. Karen knew his problem and quickly ushered him away, thanking Christine for the meal and the conversation.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

After they left, Christine put Meckenzie to bed and watched a movie. She would have loved to have someone to share the movie with, but being alone was where she was…for now.

TBC