Well, I was hoping for more reviews, but you did as I asked, so I will do as I said.
Thank you my beta, Mlle.Fox, for the editing of this chapter. I followed most of what her suggestions were.
MAN OF SORROWS
CHAPTER 5
Erik had once been virtually nightmare free. His sleep had been peaceful and productive; but there had not been a night since Loraine's death that he hadn't seen her face and heard her screams.
This night was no different from all the others…at first. The events leading up to her death haunted him still, but the image changed after that.
Instead of her charred, lifeless body, Erik saw her coming toward him – adorned in white robes and wearing a luminescent smile, beside her walked a beautiful little boy.
She was suddenly before him, full of life and vigor; the light that seemed to come from within her, cast its glow upon him.
"Erik, my love." Her voice was as lulling as he remembered and she sounded concerned.
"Loraine." He whispered with tears filling his eyes.
Erik pulled his eyes from the image of his wife and focused on the boy. His heart was pounding frantically in his chest as he whispered the name of his unborn son; the hope of the future that had died with Loraine.
"Jean-Marc…"
Jean-Marc lifted the most vivid blue eyes to Erik and held his gaze without flinching
Erik's eyes would not leave the features of the boy…a perfect, innocent, face – much like his mothers, but a great deal like his.
"It's okay, Daddy, Mommy and I are happy and we want you to be happy, too."
His voice was so beautiful and each word he spoke touched Erik's soul – his voice would forever be with him…a gift from the God Erik loved so much.
Erik squatted down in front of his son and reached out to touch him; wanting to hold him in his arms, if only for a brief moment.
The boy wrapped him in his arms and held the trembling figure of his earthly father, soothing his pain and his guilt.
Jean-Marc pulled back and put his palm to his father's heart. He looked deep into Erik's watery eyes and smiled, "No more guilt, Daddy…no more."
Lorraine smiled at his words, and warmed the cold that settled around Erik; her eyes held a joy he could not fathom, but wanted for himself.
"What happened to the man I loved?"
She seemed to peer into the depths of his soul, seeing the darkness that had become a part of him since her death, and the events that followed it.
"I can't be that man, ever again."
He could feel the smooth, soft touch of her hand against his cheek and his eyes closed at the sensation – her touch wasn't human any longer, but Erik craved it, nonetheless.
"It's okay, Erik…I'm okay…we're okay…" She pulled Jean-Marc to her side and hugged him to her, "...let us go."
His chin trembled, the tears pooled in the corners of his eyes, and then they spilled over onto his smooth cheek.
"I fear that if I let you go, I won't remember what it was like to be loved." Erik implored. "Don't ask this of me."
"You will know love again, Erik…in it's most simplistic and beautiful form."
She began to fade from his, but the love that she bathed him in remained within him.
"Loraine…" he implored, "…Jean-Marc…"
Their images became a memory, but one last echo of her voice was heard, "She's coming Erik…soon."
♫♫♫
Christine arrived home Thursday night after being at the school all day, getting her classroom ready. She had begun her lesson plans and felt eager about the coming year.
Her small, but spacious, apartment was furnished in light earth tones, accented in the color of early pumpkin. Autumn colors were her favorite and the apartment was perpetually adorned in fall colors.
Despite it all, Christine felt the dreaded cloud of loneliness looming over her. She had not been on a date in two years – not that anyone was interested – but she missed the companionship of having a man in her life.
Todd had been her last love interest – but he had been interested in her more as a friend than as a lover – he had decided to end their relationship, friendship and all.
She could not remember the last time she had kissed or been kissed. Men just didn't flock to her doorstep, begging the drab little friend of Meg Goldwyn to go out with them.
The phone rang and Christine knew who it was before she picked it up.
"Hello Meg."
"Hi there! How did your day go?"
"Fine – I am almost through with my classroom – I think it will look really artsy this year."
"By artsy, you mean colorful…right?"
Christine giggled into the phone, "Yes Meg…colorful is a good word to use."
"I really enjoyed having you at the photo session the other day…I think Evie Sybille enjoyed your company."
"Amazingly, I had a good time also…I enjoyed talking with her, which is rather unusual, considering I do not usually have anything in common with people like her."
Christine heard a loud sigh, "I'm 'people like her' and you and I get along famously…" Christine heard an amusing gasp, "…and what do you mean by, 'amazingly, I had a good time also'…do you not normally have a good time when you come with me?"
Christine rolled her eyes and smirked into the phone, "You know I don't, I told you so."
"Oh…right."
There was a moment of silence and then Christine could hear the smile in Meg's voice.
"She was pretty awesome, wasn't she?"
"She was nothing like I expected her to be, that's for sure."
Christine had expected Evie Sybille to be snobbish and withdrawn, just as every other designer Christine had had the misfortune of meeting; however, she had been pleasantly surprised.
"When does school start back?" Meg asked; wanting to engage Christine in a conversation focused on her.
"September fourth, right after Labor Day."
"Are you ready…I remember you telling me that you were going to have more students this year – something about them opening the class to freshmen - did I hear correctly?"
"Yes you did, I'm impressed."
Christine's teasing tone chaffed Meg's conscience just a tiny bit. There had been several times in the past, when Christine had told Meg something and then she forgot it – making Christine believe that Meg seldom listened to what she was saying. This was, of course, ludicrous.
"Christine, you know I listen to you, I just have so much going on at once that I can't organize my thoughts very well – I'm not gifted in that area, like you are; I can't multitask as efficiently as you can."
"Meg, you are so full of it…you know that?" Christine teased, "You know you could remember things better if you tried…besides, this is exactly why I bought that electronic organizer – you are supposed to use it!"
Meg was laughing and Christine was smiling, "I know…I'll try and do better...are you ready for tomorrow night?"
Christine was once again impressed with Meg's attentiveness, "I am glad to hear that you remembered the gallery."
"Of course I did, I can't forget my best friend – not again – she may have me shot at sunrise."
Christine giggled her response, "I sure will…hey listen, I have to go check the mail…I'll see you tomorrow night at 6:30 for dinner at Connelly's."
"Yep…see ya."
Christine hung up the phone, retrieved her keys, and went to check her mail.
♫♫♫
For Christine, Friday could not come soon enough; by the time it did, her stress level had hit an all-time high, for she had just gotten out of the school board meeting.
They had decided to reduce her budget this year, despite increasing her class size. This, of course, caused her to have to work twice as hard with half as much.
It made no sense.
However, nothing was going to put a damper on her evening. Meg was coming by to pick her up in a few minutes and Christine was working hard to calm her nerves.
She had gone to great lengths to prepare for this night; she even wore her hair down – a rare thing since her father had passed away – it was how he had preferred it.
The only dress that she owned would have to do. She had worn it one other time – when she had actually talked Todd into going to the opera one night.
She wore a spot of makeup to bring out her mossy green eyes, even though they were partially hidden behind her glasses; she added shine and color to her full lips; Meg would probably faint from the sight of it all.
Her average, 5"6' frame was a little top heavy – in her opinion; her hips seemed full and rounded; "child bearing hips", as Aunt Mae had called them. Her waist was slender, her legs long – despite her lack of height, and she had dainty feet and hands.
Oh well, it's the best it's going to get. Christine stared at her reflection with an ounce of disgust, and then turned and walked out of her room.
Meg rang the street buzzer as Christine was heading down the hallway. It took her a few seconds to answer.
"Hey."
"Hey, Chrissy, it's me."
"I knew that…come on up."
She pushed the buzzer and held it for a couple of seconds, hoping that Meg was headed up.
When Meg arrived at the door, Christine had to swallow the envious lump in her throat. She never failed to look stunning.
Just once, could she get a pimple before a big evening…just once? Christine asked silently, hoping her smirk was hidden.
"Christine! You look wonderful!" Meg exclaimed.
"Compared to you, I look like a circus clown." Christine teased.
Meg scoffed and gave her friend a big hug.
"I love the way you left your hair down…you have the most beautiful color I have ever seen – and you don't even have to use a box to maintain it…."
Christine put a hand to the deep copper colored waves of her hair – she had always despised it – but Meg always complimented her on it.
"…and you're wearing make-up – my, my – are we planning on meeting someone special tonight?"
Christine stared at her reflection in the mirror as Meg placed her hands on her shoulders.
"Do you really think there is someone special out there for me?" Christine asked, barely above a whisper.
Meg could see the doubt resting in Christine's eyes. She gave her a slight squeeze and leaned into her ear.
"Yes Christine…and he will be all you ever wanted him to be."
Christine smiled and patted Meg's hand, "He better be…or I won't even look twice."
TBC