Sweet Seduction
Chapter Twenty-Six: Wandering Child
A/N:Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I know many Phans of this story didn't like last chapter, but I put that miscarriage mainly because of Christine's age and health. Many of you were correct. Today, most 18 year olds would be capable of having a healthy pregnancy. But people in the 1800's weren't very big on hygiene and medicine and they didn't know as many sanitary methods and precautions to take as we do now with pregnant women.So, determined from some statistics, the chances of a first-time healthy pregnancy free of any type of miscarriage were pretty slim in those days. Plus, the character of Christine always seems to be very frail and delicate, and looking at how short her life was (by her date of death in the movie) I'm guessing she wasn't all that strong or healthy.
This is mainly just a cute, transitional chap, but I thouhgt you guys might find it amusing. And, on a more positive note, if I get nine more reviews, SS will have 200 reviews! That's a higher number of reviews than for any story I've ever written, so PLEASE review! And, the 200th reviewer gets another special shoutout, so PLEASE review! (Sorry for the long A/N, go ahead and read now)
Christine examined the emerald brooch in her hand carefully. It would go well with her dress, but it cost far too much. Erik would kill her if she spent that much on jewelry. Then again, she doubted Erik would really mind anything she did if she was happy again. It had been a month since her spring miscarriage and was now late June. She hadn't left the house for almost a week since she miscarried because she was so upset and she didn't want to hear any pities or consolations from people who didn't really mean them, didn't know how she empty she felt inside. She just stayed in bed, not bothering to freshen up or fix her hair, just reading, reading reading and trying uselessly to stop crying every time she thought about her baby. Eventually, Erik decided enough was enough and made her get dressed and come out with him to rehearsal, desperate for any excuse just to get Christine to leave their room. Outwardly, everything had just gone back to normal after that, but on the inside, Christine was still guilty and depressed. As a result, she really hadn't been very pleasant to be around ever since. Of course, now that she was no longer expecting, she could return to singing as normal and she did so, however bitter and cynical she was about it.
Now, she finally felt herself returning to normal again. Her monthly flowers had come and gone as usual, and she felt perfectly fine again. She hadn't let on how unhappy she still was to anyone, especially not to Erik. So, when he offered to take her out shopping on his day off to get some finery to wear with her new gown to the opera tonight, she had plastered a fake, forced smile on her face and agreed, thanking him lavishly for the little trinkets he got her. Erik had let her browse around by herself, since he'd amazingly gotten the hint she really wanted to be alone and went over to the cobbler's shop across the street to have the sole of his favorite shoes replaced.
Christine looked at the brooch in her hand as it caught the light, thinking bitterly Would our child have had eyes this gorgeous color, like Erik's, or my brown curls? Would it have been a boy or a girl? Would they have gotten my singing or shyness, or Erik's artistry or temper? Would-
At that moment, a tugging on her skirt made Christine look down. A little boy with golden hair and big blue eyes with dirty, ragged clothing and his thumb in his mouth was clutching onto Christine's skirt, quietly sniffing. Christine placed the brooch back in the display case and bent down to his eye level.
"Salut little one." she said, forcing herself to smile gently so she wouldn't frighten him "What is the matter?"
He sniffed again "I want my maman!" he cried loudly
Christine looked around. The store was almost empty except for a few gentlemen looking at watches and a dowdy saleslady. There didn't seem to be any mothers looking for their children in here.
She looked at the boy again "Are you lost?"
He nodded "I want my maman!" he screamed loudly, crying again
Christine gently ruffled his hair "I know, little one, it's okay. Where is your maman?"
"Shopping. For chicken" he said, quickly shoving his thumb back into his mouth
Christine nodded "Oh, so she is in a different store, non?"
He nodded
Christine smiled again "What is your name?"
"Luc" he whispered
"How do you do, Luc? My name is Christine." she said cheerfully as he blew his nose loudly into her skirt. She tried again "Luc, what is your last name?"
"St. Jolie"
"Well then, how old are you Luc?"
"Five. How old are you?"
She laughed"My goodness, you certainly are very curious, aren't you? And handsome for one so little"
"Maman says I look like my damn papa, but my sisters said I'm ugly"
"Oh, you have sisters?"
"Uh-huh. Veronique, Annette, and Emilie. But Veronique went away a long time ago 'cause Maman kicked her out 'cause she was in the family way and she got real big"
"That's nice." Christine said awkwardly. Wonderful she thought. She started to stand up when Luc began crying again. She sighed, bending back down "Luc, is your maman on this street? Is she shopping here?"
"I don't know. I saw a big dog and it barked at me and I got scared and ran away from it, and it chased me and when it stopped, Maman wasn't here anymore"
"Oh" Christine said, finally getting the whole story. Luc grasped her legs tightly "I don't like big dogs. But maman said if I was a bad boy today, I was going to get a spanking. I don't like spankings neither"
"I don't like them either Luc" Christine said, trying not to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. She just wished Luc's mother, Erik, someone would come along and help her. Luc kept going
"But I was very quiet and I was a good boy in the bakery, so I gots a lemon drop. Wanna see?" Luc asked, pulling a sticky, lint-covered yellow candy out of his pocket and putting it in Christine's hand. She tried not to groan and forced an admiring smile for Luc "That's wonderful, Luc, but I'm sure you want this candy much more than I, so why don't I put it back in your pocket, all right?"
He nodded and Christine put it back. She started to stand up again when Luc started crying again
"Don't go 'way from me Christine. I like you. You're a nice girl." he pouted.
Christine made herself smile again "Thank you." Fortunately, at that moment, a saleslady walked by and Christine motioned her over. She started to stand up when Luc cried again, so she was forced to gently pick Luc up, to his delight.
"Excuse me, Madame, but does anyone named St. Jolie shop here, or near here?" she asked
The woman sniffed "No, I have never heard anyone called by that name here, madame. Good day"
"Wait, could you-" And before Christine could say anything else, the woman disappeared to the employment only area.
Christine sighed, sitting down in a nearby chair with Luc on her lap. Perfect, just perfect. Alone in a jewelry store with a lost little boy, unhelpful employees and a snot and tear covered skirt. She sighed. The only thing to do now was wait and hope Luc's maman walked by the shop.
Luc snuggled against "What are we doing, Christine?"
She was momentarily stunned by the feel of this little one pressed against her, and it only made her heart ache worse."Well, why don't we wait and see if your maman stops by? Luc, I need you to help me. Just look out the window, and if you see your maman or anyone else you know, can you tell me the minute you see them?"
Luc nodded "Is this a game?"
"Sort of"
"Yay! I like games"
But, after about five minutes when only a few carriages and passerby went by, Luc began whining he was bored and fidgeting. Christine had an idea
"Luc, would you like to hear a story?"
"Yes, please. I like stories."
"Okay, but I'll only tell the story if you promise me something?"
"What's that?"
"We still have to keep playing our old game. You still need to look out the window and tell me if you see your maman, all right?"
"Okay"
And so, Christine told him the story of Little Lottie while they watched. Right when she finished, Erik entered the store, slinking away against the back wall and a shabbily dressed woman with two small girls trailing behind her came in the store. Luc looked up, jumping off Christine's lap
"Maman!" he cried, hugging her leg. Christine breathed a sigh of relief.
Instead of hugging him or exclaiming, the woman bent down and sharply slapped Luc's cheek "You little imbecile boy! I told you to stay put and look what you did! I had to spend the rest of the afternoon looking for you because you couldn't bother to do as you were told! Now your father and sisters can thank you tonight when we all have no supper to eat because the trip to town wasted the day away."
Luc's lower lip trembled a his sisters stayed behind their maman fearfully. Christine stood up "Um, pardon me, Madame St. Jolie, I presume?"
The woman's eyes widened when she saw Christine's expensive clothing
"Yes?"
"Luc found me in the store when he was lost. It's quite all right. He was very frightened and he didn't know where you went, so I let him stay here with me"
"She told me stories, Maman!" Luc burst in and his mother pushed him behind her roughly "You be quiet! You caused me enough trouble already!"
She looked at Christine and grasped her patched clothing in a clumsy curtsey "I am so sorry, Madame. My little fool of a boy cannot do as he is told to do. I am so sorry if he troubled you"
Christine shook her head "Oh no, there wasn't any trouble at all. He was quite amusing" she said, smiling.
The woman opened a threadbare pouch, and her trembling hand pressed three francs into Christine's hand
"I am so sorry for the trouble my boy caused, Madame..."
"Destler. Christine Destler"
The woman's eyes widened even further. Even as poor as she was, she had heard of the famous young opera star. She gave her the francs "I know it isn't much, Madame, but I hope you will accept it with my apology. It is all I have left"
Christine shook her head in shock "Oh no, Madame, I don't want any money. It was no trouble at all, really. Keep this"
The woman didn't need to be told twice, hastily shoving the coins back into her pouch. She nodded "Merci for finding my boy, Madame Destler. Merci"
Christine smiled "You're certainly welcome"
"Thank you again madame. Come on boy" she said, dragging Luc roughly by the ear out of the shop behind his sisters. He waved to Christine behind his mother's back and she smiled, waving back at him
Erik came up behind her, placing his hands over her eyes "Surprise" he whispered
She whirled around "Erik! How long were you in here?"
"Long enough to see that you had...quite the interesting afternoon"
She smiled "You could say that"
Erik looked at her bright, perky brown eyes, alive with happiness and he saw for the first time that she was really smiling. He hadn't seen her look this happy in a long time. He watched her handling that little boy and couldn't help but envy her amazing nurturing qualities. She was so gentle and caring with children, even if they weren't her own, and she always knew to handle different situations that arose with younger children. He, on the other hand, wouldn't have had any idea what to do with a lost, little crying child clinging to him. He knew how much Christine still wanted children, even though the doctor warned them both how dangerous it could be, and suddenly Erik felt horrible. He wanted so badly to give Christine a child again, to see that rosy glow in her cheeks when she was expecting and see her really happy again. He wished he could just give her child after child that they could both love and care for. Erik sighed. That wouldn't be happening anytime recently, but maybe in a few years, when Christine was older and healthier and stronger, they could try again...
He cleared his throat, forcing himself back to the present. "So, did you find a brooch?"
She groaned "Well, you can see how I spent most of the afternoon, but I think I found the perfect one. Come see" She lead him over to the case where she'd placed the brooch. He let out a low whistle "Wow, that's uh...that's quite beautiful"
She sighed "You didn't notice the price tag yet"
He looked and coughed sharply "Well, that looks... fitting for something of that...quality"
She laughed "Erik, it's a piece of jewelry. I can go without it. Come on, let's-"
"Christine, if you want to wear it tonight, then buy it" he blurted out, aware it cost a fortune and strangely, he didn't care. He walked outside the store and waited while Christine found a salesperson and waited to pay. He sighed. He had made up his mind he was definitely telling her about Don Juan today, but now he just wanted to prolong doing it a bit longer. She was so happy already, and hopefully, his news would make her happier.
He hoped.
Christine came out of the store, her curls bouncing as she walked and came up to Erik. He gave an inward groan. Now or never
"Christine, I have some news to tell you"
She remained silent, looking at him
"All those months when I was in my study working and you were angry, I was secretly re-writing Don Juan. I showed it to Georges recently and he finally approved it. The opera's putting on Don Juan for the Autumn season opener, rehearsals start next week and I wanted to know if you'd like to play Aminta"
She gasped "Oh Erik, are you serious?"
He nodded
She threw her arms around his neck, kissing him "Oh, yes, I'd love to! When did Georges approve it?"
"Last month"
She broke away from him, looking at him sharply "Why did you wait until now to tell me?"
"Well, I was afraid something would go wrong and I didn't want to raise your hopes for nothing. But now I can barely wait for it to begin. They're really putting on my opera!"
"That's great Erik" Christine said a bit forcefully, her attention focused on a man walking down the opposite street. He looked exactly like...no, that couldn't be him. He was locked away. It can't be him. Not again. Not Raoul
She forced her attention back to Erik "...and Christine, you'll be fabulous in it, even more beautiful than last time. I never actually told you this before, but I wrote Aminta specifically for your voice."
She smiled "That's rather...flattering, I suppose"
He looked at her odd expression, mildly concerned "Christine, is something wrong?"
She forced her attention back towards Erik, shaking her head " No, nothing at all. What were you saying?"
He looked at her a little strangely and then continued "I was saying that I wrote Aminta specifically for your voice. And, I just know you'll do spectacular in it, darling, but would you like to rehearse a little tomorrow?"
She smiled at him seductively "That depends. Are you going to be my Don Juan?" she asked, running her fingers through his hair
He gave an inward groan. Here came the hard part
"Well, no"
She dropped her hands, looking at him "No! What do you mean, no! You're not going to play Don Juan?"
"No, Christine, I'm not. I'm just conducting, as always"
"But, I thought, you and I were going to... didn't you just...?" she trailed off, confused. He kissed her hand gently before nervously re- buttoning his vest.
"Christine, you're playing Aminta, but not to my Don Juan. I can't perform again. It's too soon, and some people might recognize my voice and then we'd both be in trouble. I'm still not a legally free man if anyone ever finds out who (or what) I used to be"
"But, Erik, how could it be more dangerous than last time? Raoul's not that, there's no stupid plan" Well, hopefully there won't be
"I am truly sorry, Christine. I wish I could, but I can't. I just can't sing Don Juan again, but I'll still be conducting and right there with you."
She sighed "I suppose that will be well enough. I just really wish you'd reconsider. It would be the first time your opera would be performed the entire way through, and so much more romantic if you were playing my Don Juan again" she said pouting.
He trailed a line of soft kisses down her neck as he helped her up into the street carriage, whispering in her ear "Well, mon chere, no one said I cannot be your Don Juan tonight"
She grinned "Touche, Monsieur Destler"
He chuckled to himself before getting in the carriage.
Don Juan triumphs once again.