Chapt 4
Raoul tottered a bit from the shock of seeing the man he'd tried to avoid all these many years. Raoul's resolution was to set things right before he died. This was not exactly how he expected it to happen at Christine's grave, but as in past experience things are not always within one's capacity to control.
The nurse and driver noticed Raoul weaving as he stood there and rushed forward to assist before he would fall. As each took an arm, Erik stopped in mid-step just as he was a yard behind the marker. Raoul turned to his driver and quietly told him to get his chair while the nurse stayed behind for support. As Raoul's voice was very weak, he whispered to the nurse, please ask the gentleman to join me in my car." Erik nodded acceptance and proceeded around Christine's monument, bent to pick up the rose from the step and waited for the driver to get Raoul back safely into his chair. The driver looked at Erik for a brief moment, not displaying any sign of what he was thinking. After the driver situated Raoul comfortably, Erik bent forward to hand the rose to Raoul. Raoul looked up at Erik then down to his hands, removed his right glove as he had done at the auction when taking the music box, and extended his hand to take the rose from Erik.
In this one act, both knew where words were not necessary, that their reconciliation had begun . . .