A/N: Okay, I'm apologizing ahead of time for the shortness of this chapter. But you guys aren't TOO mad at me, are ya? I mean, I'm updating often, so you know you'll only have to wait another day for the next chapter! I'm trying to find good places to break my chapters, so I'll tend to have a short one, then a long one. Oh, well, enough about that. On with the story! Thanks for reading, and drop me a line!

Chapter Twenty

Erik and Father Michel walked out of the Laurent house in silence. How did he know that I was her teacher? I don't remember telling him that, Erik thought to himself. The two men were greeted at once by a messenger bearing a letter for Erik. He took the letter, scowling all the while. Erik was brooding, and the old priest knew it. "Erik, we never did get to have much of a visit…would you mind terribly if I took you up on your offer to stay for a while?" He smiled at him, attempting to lighten his mood.

Erik frowned. "I am not sure that I would be very good company at this time, Father."

"Nonsense!" He paused for several seconds, thinking. "Erik…would you consider us to be…friends?" Father Michel shot an uneasy glance at Erik. "I…I mean, I would hope that we would be able to speak honestly about some things, my boy."

Erik cast a sideways glance at the old priest. He half-smiled and said, "No, Father, I would not consider us to be friends." He watched as Father Michel's countenance fell. He chuckled to himself and continued, "We are family now, remember?" He stopped walking and looked directly at the old priest.

Father Michel smiled. "Yes, my dear boy. You are correct." He tenderly laid a hand on Erik's shoulder. "Now…let's go into the house and we can talk for a bit before I leave, shall we?"

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Erik put a kettle on for tea (as neither one of them had consumed theirs earlier) and the two men sat at the kitchen table in silence for a few moments—Erik being lost in thought and Father Michel simply attempting to think of a proper way to phrase his question.

The priest finally spoke. "So…am I correct in assuming that Mademoiselle Daae is the woman whom you spoke of…the woman from the Populaire?" He had a concerned look on his face.

Erik groaned. "Father, please, can we discuss something else?"

"My boy, I can see how she has affected you. I am concerned…I think you really should talk about this."

"I do not know why she is here! I…I knew that the Laurents were to have a house guest, but how was I to know…" he sighed in frustration, shaking his head. "My life would be so much simpler right now if she hadn't come here."

Father Michel smiled at him. "Erik, life is never simple. Remember how we spoke about God being in control of your life? There must be some reason why He has brought her here. Perhaps you should…speak to her," he suggested cautiously.

"I already have," Erik answered coldly. "And that did no good, except…"

"Except what?"

"Except for the fact that she told me she has forgiven me for the wrong I did to her."

Father Michel was surprised. "She actually told you that she forgave you? And yet you sit here acting as though this was the worst thing that could have happened to you?"

"Father, the problem is that I still feel…" he paused, searching for the right words. "I do not know how I can forgive her."

There was a short silence. "It may take time, my boy…and prayer. You must make a conscious decision to forgive her. Unless…you do not truly wish to forgive her."

"Of course I wish to forgive her! Why wouldn't I?" Erik was indignant.

"Perhaps because you are afraid." Erik raised an eyebrow at him. "Now, now, Erik, hear me out before you object. I believe you are afraid that if you stop being angry with her for what she did, that your anger will be replaced by…a deep love."

Erik looked at the old priest with sadness in his eyes. "I have not stopped loving her, Father. But she does not love me. She left me for her fiancé. And perhaps it is better that way," he spoke with a disheartened expression.

"She does love you."

"What? How could you possibly know that?"

Because she has told me herself, he thought. Father Michel tried to look innocent. "I saw it this afternoon. Both of you can barely stand to be in the same room with one another without your hearts breaking in two."

Erik stared at the priest. "Her heart breaks because I told her that I will not be party to her unfaithfulness. She told me…she told me that she wanted to spend time with me…to learn how she truly felt for me. Today, I refused her."

"And why did you do this, my boy?"

Erik narrowed his eyes. "If she truly loved me, she would be with me! She would have chosen me! She would not have come seeking to use me to soothe her loneliness while her fiancé is out of town!"

Father Michel nodded. "I believe I understand. Here is the problem, Erik: neither of you has been completely honest with the other. Perhaps she did not choose you because...because of something you yourself did." He tried not to reveal too much to Erik in order to protect Christine's privacy. "And...you are too guarded."

"I have no choice but to guard myself against her! When she is in the same room with me, I…I cannot think! I can only feel! I feel love and anger toward her at the same time! Father, I want to forgive her…but I do not know how to accomplish this! Help me, please," he held out his palms, fingers spread, in an imploring gesture.

Father Michel could see that Erik was in great pain. His own eyes beginning to moisten, he said softly, "Let us pray together, my boy. The Lord will give you an answer, and He will help you to forgive." Father Michel laid his hands on Erik's shoulders, and Erik bowed his head, closing his eyes to attempt to hold back his tears. He was unsuccessful, and his breathing became ragged as Father Michel prayed aloud. A sob finally escaped him, and Erik reached his left hand up to his shoulder, covering the old priest's hand. They prayed together for several minutes until the dam broke, and Erik was sobbing freely now, at last allowing the pain and unforgiveness to be washed away. "In Christ's name we pray, Amen," Father Michel finished, and Erik raised his head and looked at the priest with watery eyes. "Thank you," he choked out.

"Everything will be alright, my boy. Everything will be alright."

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Erik walked Father Michel to the door to say goodbye. They had talked, drank some tea, and talked some more. "Erik, you are sure that you won't come to confession? After all, it's what good Catholics do," he smiled.

"Father, I told you before, I will not confess to any man...not even you," he chuckled. "God knows my sins…I will go directly to Him. After all, He apparently knows my name," he laughed. Father Michel laughed as well, having been brought up to speed on Erik's encounters with the voice of the Holy Spirit. "And as for being a good Catholic…well, I am afraid that I am not used to such manmade rules, Father…but I shall attempt to walk with God in the best way I know how." He looked thoughtfully at the priest.

"Well, then you best read the Word, my boy," Father Michel chuckled. "And pray. And of course, I am here whenever you need me. I hope I shall see you again soon."

"You will, Father. And thank you again," Erik shook the old man's hand warmly.

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I need to get out of here, Christine thought mournfully, as she brushed out her long hair, smoothing it down as best she could. She wrapped her hair into a chignon and secured it. She had changed into a long skirt and a billowy white blouse with a low, rounded neckline. It felt so good to get out of her corset. She was glad that Helene had come along with her to help her tend to her needs. She already felt uncomfortable in the house…having some strange maid in her room would have made things that much worse. She had been hoping to get to the stables since she had arrived at the Laurent estate, but had never seemed to make it there to ride. Helene had refused to even go near a horse all week, and it frustrated Christine. Now is as good a time as any, and I may not get this chance again, she thought, wrapping her blue shawl around her shoulders and heading downstairs alone. Without even asking for permission, she was walking out the back of the house toward the stables, attempting to clear her mind of thoughts of the disastrous afternoon tea.

A/N: To poetzproblem: Wow, another review from you! Gosh, you're spoiling me! LOL Don't worry…in a while, these two will both recognize the changes in each other. "These things do happen"…just not overnight! I appreciate your encouragement, as always!

To ForeverPhantoms: Yay! A new reader/reviewer! I'm so glad you like the story. Your concerns are noted…and you don't need to worry. We're on the same wavelength! -wink-

To Hayley Macrae: I hate keeping you in suspense, but hey, at least I update quickly, right? Hee hee. Thanks for reviewing again!