Chapter 63

After the papers were signed and I took care of a few of my own documents, I scurried back to the lair where I found Erik asleep at the organ. Leave it to him to fall asleep in such a precarious place.

Not wanting to startle him, I quietly slid into the kitchen where I put a pot of water on for some tea. As the water was heating up, I wondered about the events that had just occurred. I was now the owner and manager of the Opera Populaire. How much wilder could this get?! But there was also the fact of the anonymous donor. It had to have been Erik or Rose, but Erik never said anything about Andre and Firmin wanting to sell. So had it been Rose?

I got so lost in thought that I didn't hear the resident Opera Ghost awake and join me in the kitchen, getting himself a glass of water. "How was your meeting?"

I jumped and whirled towards him. Once my brain recognized there was no threat, my heart rate slowed. "It was interesting, to say the least. Why didn't you tell me the managers were selling the opera house?"

Water spewed from his mouth in shock. I was in shock, as well. I was not expecting a reaction like that. "Are you okay?"

He grabbed a cloth napkin and dabbed at his mouth. "I am alright. I was just shocked at the news."

"You mean you didn't know? I would've thought you would have overheard them discussing it."

Erik shook his adamantly. "I certainly did not. And I have been slacking on my eavesdropping. Someone has been keeping my time occupied."

I chuckled at his playful comment. "I'm being serious, Erik. They're selling it…to me, apparently."

A moment of silence passed between us before Erik spoke. "I'm sorry, I seem to have something in my ear. I could have sworn you said that the managers were selling the opera house to you."

"No, no. No peanut butter in your ear. They're giving it to me."

Erik staggered back until his back hit the kitchen counter. "Wait. Selling and giving are two different things. Which one is it?"

I explained to him how someone gave the money for the opera house. "That's how I ended up with it. The papers are signed and everything."

"I still can't believe it. How on earth did this come about? I mean, I know that Andre and Firmin were wearing down. But what made them think of you?"

Something didn't sit right with that comment. "Are you saying that I would not be good enough to run the opera house?"

"That is not what I was implying, not at all. I just thought that they would find another buyer of stature to take over. You know them – they would do anything to bring in more money."

Erik was right. Why just hand it over to me if they were breaking even on the whole thing. I thought they were all for profit. But maybe the stress was taking a worse toll than I thought it was. They were up in their years…

"Here," he said, taking my hand in his. "How about you have a seat and I finish the tea for you."

I reluctantly sat down, leaving the tea task to my fiancé…my fiancé!

"Erik, marry me."

He chuckled. "We're already engaged. You're a little late to be proposing."

I shook my head. "No, I mean right now. As soon as we can."

"Why the sudden rush, my love?" Erik asked, a look of concern crossing his face.

"I have multiple reasons, the first and foremost being I love you and I want to be married to you."

Erik turned from the pot to look at me. "I would love nothing more than to take you to the closest priest. But I thought you would want an actual wedding with the dress and the decorations and the – "

"Those are all superficial things! The only thing that matters is us being together."

He sighed as he walked my way and kneeled in front of me, again taking my hands in his. "Let us go about it like this: we wait a fortnight. That will give us time to tell our friends and find a priest willing to marry us so quickly. Will this work?"

"Not really," I mumbled. "But I guess I can wait two weeks. It'll be the longest two weeks of my life, though, I'll tell you that."

Erik laughed at my response. "You said that about preparing for your first performance, mon amour. I promise, it will fly by."

0-0

It did not, in fact, fly by.

It seemed as if a year had passed by time the first week was through. How was I going to make it yet another week?

"Why don't you want an actual wedding?"

I sighed at Meg's questioning when I had finally told her, Antoinette, and Christine what we were planning to do. Erik was telling Nadir, much to his chagrin. But I wanted him there – he was growing on me.

"It all seems so superficial to me. Not to discredit anything Christine is planning, but ceremonies like that just aren't for me. I would much rather be married quickly and with my closest friends by my side."

"And you know we will be there for the both of you, Mandy," Antoinette said. "I do not know why you are moving at such a fast pace, however it is not for me to understand."

I smiled at her. "Thank you, Antoinette."

Christine seemed confused as well, but smiled nonetheless. "I agree. It is your marriage, proceed however you see fit. I only hope that you will be a bridesmaid for my own wedding."

I gasped in mock offense. "You mean I can't be the maid of honor?"

"No, that's my job." Meg interjected, a playful smile on her face.

After a few good laughs, we said our goodbyes as Christine and Meg were leaving the opera house to do a bit of pre-wedding shopping. Antoinette, however, stayed behind. "I sense there is something you would like to speak with me about."

Very astute… "Actually, there is. I want to talk to you about Erik's future."