Christine stared at the Raoul who was kneeling before her in utter shock. Her mouth was hanging open in a most unladylike way and her eyes were so wide that they could have passed for saucers. She shook her head and then directed her eyes back to her boyfriend.
"Sorry?"
Raoul's eyes didn't leave hers. His blond hair almost sparkled in the candlelight. His expression was so patient, so tender that Christine was afraid of something she may say to cause it to disappear.
"I said," he repeated slowly "Will you marry me?"
Christine closed her eyes and fought back the tears that had formed in her eyes.
"You're asking…?" she asked softly.
"Yes."
"To marry me?"
"Yes"
Christine opened her eyes and met Raoul's. She was shocked to find that his face was now desperate. His confidence was slipping drastically and he could now see the possibility of rejection. Christine on the other hand was failing to comprehend anything that he was saying to her.
"Don't you think it's a little soon Raoul?"
"Soon?" he asked softly his voice becoming more and more desperate "We've been dating for years, and were friends even before that."
Christine paused to think about it and she realized that he was right. She had known Raoul most of her life. He had always been there to help her, to laugh with her, to love her. Why did she feel so uneasy about it?
"You're right. You are….You're right Raoul….of course you are…I just….I don't….I….I can't even think I…." Christine stuttered helplessly, running a shaky hand through her mass of brown curls.
Raoul made a move to stand "If you don't want…"
"No." she said softly. "No Raoul, I do. I do…want to…I do want to marry you….I just…I just wasn't expecting you to…"
Raoul's face crept with a small smile "Are you accepting my proposal then?"
Christine took a deep breath and nodded, letting her own face break out into a large smile.
"Yes," she said finally "I think I am."
Raoul smiled and let out a small laugh and resumed his position on the floor. She laughed and held out her hand. Raoul could hardly contain his boyish elation as he slipped the large diamond onto her finger.
Christine admired it as he stood and laid a kiss on her forehead.
"I love you." He breathed into her hair.
Christine smiled and closed her eyes. She tried to envision what her life would be like with Raoul. She could see the exact home they would have, the exact car and job. He would come home from the office and give her a hug and kiss on the hand. She would smile and they would laugh and she would be happy.
Yes, she had no doubts in her mind about the life she would lead with Raoul.
Everything would be perfect.
"You wait here," Raoul said as they left the theatre "I'll bring the car around."
Christine nodded, quite grateful for the fact. She had had a little too much wine and she didn't think she could make it all the way to the car park without collapsing. Raoul gave her a soft kiss before walking off into the darkness.
Christine stood alone and stared off after him. She began to hum the Chopin piece that she had been learning earlier that day. She had almost perfected it. Almost. There were just a few notes in the third bar that she always mixed up.
Christine let her mind wander away from the tedious task of mastering the composition and began to think of her father. How he had always played instruments to her until she fell asleep and how he would talk of how one day she would have a lovely family to share the love of music too. If only her father was there!
She remembered one distinct memory in particular when she was 5. Her father had been sitting on the edge of her bed and sang to her the most beautiful song she had ever heard. It was a popular ballad piece written for a musical. She had absolutely fallen in love with it.
Christine closed her eyes and tried to remember the melody in her head. She began to hum out a few notes in effort to match it and the lyrics began to return to her.
She opened her mouth to sing as Raoul seemed to be taking longer then she had thought with the car. She suspected that he probably forget where it was.
"Think of me, Think of me fondly when we've said goodbye"
Yes! That had been it. Christine looked around the empty streets to make sure that no one would hear her before she allowed herself to sing. Slowly her voice grew in confidence and she was in a flight of breathtaking song.
Suddenly she stopped as she felt the presence of someone else from the side in the darkness.
"Hello?" she asked timidly, fearing that they had heard her.
The figure stepped out of the shadows and Christine found herself staring at a white mask.
"I'm sorry if I bothered you with my singing…" she stammered weakly, her face becoming a shade of light pink.
"You did no such thing," he said
Christine was shocked to find how utterly hypnotizing his voice was.
"Well, I'm glad…." She said meekly "I heard you playing in the restaurant."
"And what did you think?"
"I think you are the most talented musician that I have ever heard."
A faint smirk crossed across his lips "Are you into music?"
"Oh very much so. I play many instruments…."
"And sing." He added
"And sing."
"Well I am glad that you found my playing to be enjoyable."
"Enjoyable isn't the word! It was….phenomenal"
His piercing green eyes bore into hers for a long moment. Christine felt her breathing deepen and her heart to accelerate. Her palms became dreadfully sweaty and she prayed that Raoul would show up with the car to break the intensity.
"What is your name?" he said finally.
"Christine…" she said softly "My name is Christine…Christine Davis."
"CHRISTINE!"
She turned her head to see Raoul waving at her from the car window. Christine smiled at him and then turned to face the mysterious masked man once more.
"I have to go. It was nice talking to you."
He only offered her a small nod in return. Christine hesitated for a moment before running to the car and jumping in the front seat.
The masked man's eyes followed the car until it was out of sight.
"A pleasure indeed, Miss Davis."
