Thank you for all your most wonderful reviews. I enjoyed reading them so much and am deeply touched how well you have received this story. As I said before, a promise is a promise and so it's 6/15 and a new chapter is up!
I own nothing…. But I write anyway.
Dear Raoul,
I am deeply saddened that our relationship has come down to this. Your letter was correct, we both have suffered in our marriage. I have blamed myself for a long time, but I need to forgive myself and leave the hurt behind, if I am ever going to have a future. A future I want more than anything.
I know I could have been a better wife to you, one who could have loved you for yourself. That's why I know now more than ever that we both need different things. I think if you found what truly made you happy, you could be a better person. The kind of person you want to be.
I am not angry at you for leaving. You did me a great favor by forcing me to stop pretending and hiding what it is that I really want. However, now that I know what that is, I refuse to wait for it any longer. Life is too precious to waste any of the time we have been granted.
I request that you come back to Phantasma, so we can plan to move on with our lives, apart. I will not ask anything of you except for a divorce and custody of Gustave. I will never keep you from him but we all know he is better off with me.
Yours in regret,
Christine
Christine sealed up the note and went to mail it herself, not trusting anyone else to decide her fate.
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Two days later….
Erik paced in front of the train station. He looked at his watch for what must have been the fiftieth time in the last five minutes. He then looked out from the platform, hoping to see Christine. He was distracted and didn't see Dr. Gangle with the train tickets.
"What the…. Oh." He looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry Gangle. I didn't see you there."
"So, I noticed. Relax, Erik. She will be here." He handed him the tickets and watched Erik place them in his suit pocket.
"I'm not worried about that. This is a big opportunity for her. She wouldn't miss it." His eyes kept searching the platform for her.
Gangle touched his shoulder. "Erik, it will be alright."
"She said that no matter what happens, she wants to be with me." He said it to help reassure himself.
"That's right."
Erik looked at Gangle. "I should be able to offer her the exact same opportunities as Hammerstein. If it weren't for this…." He pointed to his face. "I'd be able to give her everything." He shook his head in frustration. "It's not right."
"That depends on how one defines the meaning of everything. You need to take the lady at her word. Remember, she needs you to trust in her, as you are asking her to trust you."
Erik nodded. "I know."
Gangle shook his head, seeing the fear in his friend's eyes. "Besides, I am sure your little surprise for her will make her see that you two can have it all and on your own terms."
Erik smoothed his hair with his hands. "Or she will think I'm a complete fool when everyone laughs at me."
"Trust me, Mr. Y. No one is going to laugh." He then saw Christine running towards the station. "I better get going."
"Hmm?"
"I would think you may want to be alone with the lady." He motioned for Erik to look a few feet away from him.
Erik saw Christine and swallowed hard. His mouth was so dry. She never looked more radiant. "Angel, over here!"
Her eyes lit up the moment she saw him.
"Angel!" She kissed his cheek and then the back of his ear. "I'm sorry. I wanted to go over the song once more before we were off and then I wanted to see Ms. Fleck before she took Gustave…."
"It's alright. I knew you would come." He gave a look to Gangle.
Gangle coughed.
"Oh Dr. Gangle, hello. Are you coming with us?"
"No Ms. Daae. I have strict orders to stay put and keep the park running."
Erik looked over at him when he said, "There is no one I would trust more."
Dr. Gangle bowed. "Good luck, Madame. Good bye, Mr. Y. Safe journey."
Christine grabbed Erik by his lapels and kissed him right on the lips as soon as Gangle was out of sight.
"Christine?!"
"I know, I hate doing it with your mask on, but I would regret not doing it all. It took all my resistance to not do it in front of Dr. Gangle!"
Erik chuckled. "Next time, Gangle be damned, do it anyway."
"You still need to tell me how you two got so close."
He kissed her hand. "After the audition, my dear. Right now, we have much more important things to think about."
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Erik arranged for a private room. It wasn't very big and there wasn't a piano, but he and Christine were able to move about and practice her song choice, acapella. When she sang the final note, she saw Erik open his eyes and waited for her Maestro's approval.
"Perfect."
She beamed at him. "That's what I was working on." She exhaled a deep breath. "Let's hope Mr. Hammerstein agrees with you."
"He is not a fool, my dear. He will certainly agree." He then smiled weakly.
"What is it?"
"Are you sure?"
"Erik, how many times do I have to tell you? Without you, there is no deal. Now, you said you would let me do this on my own."
Erik looked confused. "Yes, but I thought…."
"You thought what? You won't influence him."
"But I thought you still wanted me there."
"Erik, you will be there with me. Right in here." She pointed to her heart.
"You don't want me to hear you?"
"I need to know that Hammerstein is hearing me for me. And I want him to know that I speak for myself."
"But I thought I was your manager?"
"Because I chose you to be. I will not have anyone making my life choices for me but me. Hammerstein will negotiate with me or not at all."
Erik sat down and twiddled his thumbs. Christine tried very hard not to laugh but he looked so cute all flustered and defeated. It was a look she rarely saw on him.
"Erik?"
He crossed his legs. "Alright. I'll wait. I suppose I could take care of some business while I am in the city. And of course, there is your surprise tonight."
Her eyes widened. "My surprise?"
"Yes." He said a little too smugly.
"You…You didn't mention any surprise. Are we not returning to Phantasma after the audition?"
He merely stood up and said, "No."
"Erik, where are we going?"
"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise any longer."
"But Gustave…."
"I told him."
"What?!"
He was more than alright with it. Especially since he will have a night of Ms. Fleck and Squelch all to himself. Lord help them all." He chuckled.
"But I only brought a dress for the audition."
"That's right. You did."
"Erik…."
"I have handled everything, Christine. As a helpful manager, proud tutor and enamored suitor."
"You're just going to let me sit here and think of nothing except where my angel is taking me? You can't do that! It will play havoc with my concentration. Not fair, Maestro!"
"You're right."
"Good. Now tell me…."
"Your Maestro would never do that. Yet, you have banished him from the audition. Therefore, it is the playful, suitor Erik that is here. And he is far too in love to let anything ruin his lady love's surprise." He winked. "Good one, no?"
"Erik!" She threw a pillow that was on the couch at him. "You can't…."
He caught it. "I can, and I will." He then came over and took her hands and kissed them. "I positively detest staying away from you, but I will do so to please you."
"I positively detest knowing you are keeping a wicked secret from me…. But I will allow it, as it is important for you to surprise me." She looked into his eyes. "They are especially lovely right now, you know."
"What?"
"Your eyes. My most favorite color."
He took his mask off. "I know you are a little cross with me, but do you think we could…."
"It's absolutely necessary!"
She flew into his arms and they kissed passionately for the remainder of the train ride.
