Moving on...

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MAN OF SORROWS

CHAPTER 24

Christine sat in stunned silence. What could she say that would make what she had heard any easier to accept?

"I perceived the fact that she had died…but this…" her words were pulled from her throat with choked force. "…and a baby…"

She wept with piercing agony, not caring that Evie could see how much the story had affected her.

"The months that followed were filled with bouts of deep despair and depression. Erik had to face the truth about the man he had loved as a father…and watch as Monsignor Neville was exposed as the murdering mastermind that he was."

Evie had risen from her seat and was pacing the floor, much like Erik did when he was revealing things he had locked inside or when something bothered him immensely.

"He could have so easily embraced the darkness that called to him…and disappeared inside it."

Evie remembered the nights of horrific nightmares and sleepwalking that Erik had endured - the memories sent shivers up her spine.

She came back to the couch and sat down beside Christine.

"But he never did…instead; he reverted inside himself and hid behind the technology that would allow him to do his work from a computer desk. He designed the masks that he wears and hid, still another part of himself, behind them."

Christine looked deep into Evie's green eyes and saw the love she had for her brother…a deep, protective love that she honored and cherished.

"What happened to the Monsignor?" Christine finally asked, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

"Well, as I'm sure you know, Vatican City is a nation in and of itself; once the Pope was made aware of the shady acts of Neville, his life was over, so to speak. Italian law governs such crimes and he was no exception…the church had turned its back on him."

Evie knew they had abolished the death penalty, but she wished it back in Neville's case.

"He was found guilty; of course, there was no getting out of it after his two accomplices told what they knew. Two days before he was to be sentenced, he committed suicide."

Christine couldn't help but think that he got what he deserved.

"That was three years ago…ever since then, Erik has lived in a shell – half the man he used to be and half someone else…" She smiled at the young woman beside her and a tear made its way down her creamy cheek, "…it's only been since you entered his life that he has started to live again."

Christine frowned slightly, but finally smiled when Evie brushed her fingers softly across her forehead to move her hair out of her eyes.

"Why did he feel the need to go to Rome, Evie…I miss him so much?"

"I know you do…and all I know is that he is putting some closure between him and events of the past…he wants to move past it and explore what he feels for you."

Christine thought about what she had said and knew that it made sense for Erik to want to do that…after all that he had been through he needed time to sort things out.

"I've never met anyone like him…he's the perfect combination of refined gentleman, sexy rogue, and stunning intellectual..." Christine stated, "…I've never seen anyone so unpretentious and yet so magnetic."

"Unpretentious you say…" Evie chuckled lightly, "…a few weeks ago he told me that he was reading the paper…something that he loves to do over breakfast - when he spied a story in the community page that sparked his interest. He didn't go into a great deal of detail, he just told me that he had anonymously donated enough money to finance some art class that was being forced out of some school because of budget cuts."

Evie continued to chuckle, but Christine felt her heart melt in her chest.

It had been Erik that had donated the money to keep her class alive…he had been the anonymous benefactor. He hadn't even known her at the time; all they had shared was a ride a home.

"It was my class he saved." Christine whispered.

She stood up and moved over to the piano. She pictured his graceful fingers flirting with the keys and his long legs folded over the bench; everywhere she looked, she saw him.

Evie didn't move from the couch; but instead, allowed Christine to reason things through.

He donated the money to save my class and didn't even bat an eyelash…" she looked over at Evie and the wonder in her eyes was immeasurable, "…just how wealthy is he?"

Evie let out a comical scoff, "Erik makes his money from million dollar interior design jobs."

If Christine hadn't been surprised before, she certainly was now.

"Interior design?"

Evie smiled and laughed softly, "Mostly hotels from around the world; Genea Interiors is the name of his business…I'm sure you've heard of it."

Indeed, she had; Genea Interiors had burst onto the scene four years ago and its stock had been steadily increasing with each passing day.

Christine had to sit down for a minute and take in all that she had learned. She had assumed Erik was comfortable in his financial security, but she had never thought he was a millionaire.

"He doesn't act like he has money…I mean - he just seems so down to earth."

"He is." Evie agreed. "However, he has seen what money and power do to people…our parents being his first examples and the Monsignor being the final…."

Evie came to stand beside Christine; they shared a look and then Evie continued.

"Erik has never let money rule him, and he never will."

Christine couldn't resist asking the next question.

"Genea…where does that derive from?"

"a. r. G. E. N. E. A. u." Evie chuckled as she spelled out the name much like a teacher would do. "He didn't want to use the entire last name, so he picked the middle."

"Sounds logical."

"Yes, well…Erik is a very logical man, among other things."

Silence settled in for a few minutes; both women were lost in thought concerning the same enigmatic man.

"It's been difficult these past few years…trying to get Erik to realize that he was still a very attractive man."

Evie was wiping unseen spots off her fingernails, completely avoiding eye contact for the time being.

"He is so centered on the mask and the scars that it hides that he often misses the adoring glances that the women give him..." she chuckled lightly, "…in fact, I don't think he cares."

Christine sighed and the corners of her mouth turned up in a dreamy smile, "He is very attractive…in many ways."

She glanced up to find Evie had finally looked at her.

"I'm so glad you realize that."

"I don't care what lies beneath that mask…it doesn't change the wonderful man that he is."

Evie breathed deeply and closed her eyes with resigned pleasure, "Spoken like a woman in love."

TBC