Eric waited till the sun was up and shining through his window warming his unmasked face. He had forgotten what the sun's warmth felt like.
Slowly he got up walking down the stairs with the letter in his hand.
Banging of pots and pans sounded in the kitchen "good morning!" Marge bubbled scrambling some eggs. Eric cracked a smile.
"Would you like coffee or tea?" She questioned taking the eggs off the heat.
"Uh tea please." Eric answered shocked at the hospitality.
"Good morning!" William remarked whistling over to the table where Eric had sat himself down. "I'll introduce you to my employees and show you around the opera house." He added.
"Sounds good sir." Eric chirped his attitude being brought up by these spontaneously joyis people.
"We will finish breakfast and head out."
Eric nodded and sipped his tea.
"Oh I forgot! There are some cloths of our son's that should fit to. And some other stuff you may want."
Eric looked up in shock. "I couldn't do that."
"Don't worry they have been sitting in there for years." Marge chimed in while placing a plate for Eric in the table.
"Thank you." Eric replied slowly before getting up and going up the stairs.
"He looked completely astonished." Marge stated after she heard the room door close.
"I don't think he has ever been given anything in his life." William added looking up at the room.
Paris- Nadir's apartment
"He what!" Nadir hissed slaking is tea cup down in anger. Waking up Rosa, Christine glared at him drifting over to pick her up.
"I don't get it? Why did de Chagny come to you?" Nadir continued a little calmer.
Christine shrugged, "I don't know, but I think he wants to help find Eric."
Nadir threw his hands up, "Christine he is the reason Eric is missing he was in on everything that happened this last tearable month."
Christine nodded in agreement, "but something makes me believe him. I knew him my entire life that was not like him."
Nadir laughed, "Yes, you're to kind and forgiving at heart."
"Perhaps." Christine agreed.
"I'll speak to him, if that will make you feel better." Nadir assured.
Nadir got up to go find the boy. Meg burst in the house slamming the door into Nadir causing him to start cursing at her. "Oh I'm sorry Monsieur!" Meg gasped running to Christine.
"She is dead!" Meg announced sounding alarmed.
"Who is dead? You are making no sense."
Meg sat down breathing heavily, "Eric's mother, she was found dead in her home they think it was alcohol poisoning."
"Who told you?" Christine asked not sure what to think.
"Raoul."
Christine rested her head on her fist, "she was the only one who knew where he was." She cried.
"We will find him." Meg assured.
Eric searched through the cloths pulling out black trousers and a white shirt. He quickly pulled them in after washing up and shaving.
He grabbed a suit jacket and put it on. Everything fit perfectly. He was dressed just as he always did, he was back to himself.
"You clean up nicely." Marge smiled.
"Thank you." Eric replied embarrassed his unmasked cheek blushing. "I'd like to stop by the post office if you wouldn't mind." Eric said looking towards William.
The man nodded he headed over to the door.
They walked through the main entrance Eric was astounded at the opera house it was solid stone giving it a castle look. A red rug lined where they walked up a massive staircases to a breathtaking theater.
"As you see the production of Hannibal is on the way." William announced gleaming.
Eric had a major case of déjà vu going on he almost expected a dark figure to be lurking in the overhead beams.
"Lady's and gentlemen I would like to introduce you to Monsieur Eric Destler our new manager. He will also be helping direct and write the productions. I expect you to treat him with all the respect he deserves."
"Thank you," Eric smiled "I look forward to working with all of you." Eric was shaking God he was so nervous.
The group whispered to each other as the director approached Eric. "Any tips you have for the production I want to hear this is our first big show."
Eric shook the man's hand, "truth be told Monsieur I was very shocked to hear that you are putting on such a complex show it looks very well done so far."
The director thanked him, "John Samuels" he introduced. As soon as we finish rehearsal I will show you around.
Eric nodded in agreement and sat down to watch the run through.
The actors, singers, and dancers were quite talented. Eric picks out a few that looked like they didn't have enough voice instruction that he would have to talk to.
Eric was shown around the theater and introduced to the stage hands, and some of the lead cast. Eric felt all eyes on him knowing that they wondered about the mask, Eric decided that he couldn't let it bother him he had to gain their full support and respect.
Nadir's apartment 3 weeks later
Christine met almost daily with Raoul, Meg, and Nadir discussing the possible places Eric could be and going through Eric's mother's things trying desperately to find clues.
Nadir was still leery of the fop but he still gave him the shadow of the doubt. Meg on the other had had starting falling head over heals for him.
Nadir heard a knock on the door as the group talked about everything under the sun. "Could you give this to Miss Daae please." the delivery boy instructed, Nadir tipped the boy and close the door looking at the envelope. On it was the familiar elegant handwriting no it couldn't be.
Nadir almost ran back into the room. "A letter Christine." he stated trying not to get his hopes up.
Christine looked at the beautiful writing and gasped tearing it open.
She stared at the paper speechless tears forming. "Christine, are you ok?" Meg whispered.
"A letter from Eric." She cried happily, "He is alive and managing managing a Opera house in America as soon a he gets paid he will send for me!" Raoul and Meg hugged Christine telling her how happy they were for her.
"Christine, a ship leaves tonight." Raoul told her.
"I have no money Raoul."
"I will pay this is all my fault, go surprise him."
"Oh you are an angel!" She gleamed hugging him.
Raoul chuckled, "I don't know about that, Christine could you ever forgive me?"
Christine smiled, "I forgive you, it will take a while for me to fully trust you though." The boy nodded "Now get packing!"
Christine ran off squealing.
Ship Docks Manhattan-
Eric gripped his months pay as he waited in line, "Next." a man grumbled tiredly.
Eric leaned down peering into the window, "When Is the next ship to here from France?" The man mumbled to himself flipping through the schedules.
"Tonight and then the next passenger ship is in 4 weeks."
Eric sighed he couldn't wait that long "I'll take 2 for the next, are you sure there is nothing sooner."
The man shook his head handing the tickets to Eric.
Eric walked to the post office, "Hello Mister Destler!" A girls voice bubbled happily behind him.
Eric turned his head, "Hello Sara." He mumbled before licking the envelope with the boarding tickets and addressing it.
The little girl peered over his shoulder, "Who is Christine?" She asked innocently.
Eric groaned "Do you mind? God you ballerinas are so nosy." he hissed angrily.
the little blond looked down scuffing the floor with her toe in shame.
Eric sighed "I'm sorry." The girl looked back up, "Its ok! I told my big sister you probably had a girl, I mean what man with a french accent wouldn't." She giggled before skipping away.
Eric laughed to himself feeling his cheeks grow red. He never noticed what a joy people could be.
Ah this chapter made me so happy.