Thanks to Squish, Prying and Jayro for their encouragement and suggestions.
RECONCILED
Chapt 1
Dusk was falling in the cemetery, making the day gloomier than it already was. So to the mood of the finely dressed elderly gentleman who carefully stands in the gravel drive with the wind blowing leaves and twigs around his polished shoes. His eyes look down at the music box he'd just placed on the step of the monument.
Raoul quickly glances up, confused and a little frightened. Out of the corner of his eye he notices the signature black ribboned rose, the insignia of the Phantom. Tied to the ribbon is Christine's ring, the one Raoul had given to her so many painful years ago. The tribute is placed just off to the side of Christine's monument, a startling reminder of the tragedy they all shared. Straining to look into the distance he sees movement to the far right wall near Gustave's mausoleum. "Who is the shape in the shadow? Can it be that Erik is still alive? Of course, why not? Mme Giry was looking spry for her age at the auction. I know she has continued close contact with Erik and Christine through the years. She and he must have come to Paris together, but why? To buy a music box with too many memories, but why not? Hadn't Erik created it, as Christine had told me so long ago. Maybe because Erik wanted to revisit where it all began . . . " All these questions were running through Raoul's mind.
As Erik meets Raoul's gaze, he thinks back a couple years on what Christine asked of him while she lay dying. If Mme Giry and his eldest son hadn't held him to his promise to Christine, Erik may have made excuses not to carry it through. Erik knew that if he was going to make contact with his cousin one more time, then he would need both, his son, Erik, and Mme Giry's assistance.
Erik's son, the young Vicomte, continued to keep contact with the aunt and uncle at least once a year, until the Comte and Comtess were reported as missing passengers on the Titanic and assumed lost. Their only child, young Erik's second cousin, Raoul, always seemed to be gone. Sadly, no relationship was formed there over the years.
In truth, Raoul couldn't bear to look upon the children of Erik and Christine; children that could have, should have been his.
Mme Giry could obtain only sketchy news of Raoul over the past two years. He'd become a recluse and it seemed to show in his health, but there appeared to be a change in his attitude that was reflected in his cataract ridden eyes.
Now it was up to the senior Erik to try one more time to make amends, if only for the promise to his beloved Christine. The decision to step forward from behind the statue, Erik wavered . . .