CHAPTER 10 Impressions
Erik had managed for two days to keep his son home by asking the boy to play his latest composition. Gustave had been shocked into disbelief, but knowing it was a rare treat he had been able to stave off his desire to go see Lisa and sat at the piano with his father. Together they'd been able to complete a short piece that was beautifully haunting. It filled the man with the deep sense of Christine's presence in their son. It was as bitter sweet as ever, but the pain was tempered by the joy of connecting with Gustave.
They traveled together to the park, touring the attractions and actually taking a walk along the beach, to the awe of several late season sunbathers. But by Friday the boy was beyond anxious to make his way into the city. When he joined his father for their daily tea time, he had formulated a plan to counter any request for his company.
Erik could see the thoughts brewing in his son's eyes as he quietly sipped his tea. Like his mother, Gustave was not very good at trying to be covert. The thought caused an ache deep in his chest to flare. Time had not deadened the sharp sting of grief as he'd needed, and it was a torment that Erik wasn't sure he could continue to withstand. Had it not been for the love and commitment to his son, Erik would have long ago succumbed to a deep depression that would have eventually taken his life.
"So, I take it your quite anxious to visit your friends after just a two day absence." said the man. Gustave looked up from the biscuit he'd begun to nibble.
"Um… yes. It's a nice day out so I was considering it." He replied hesitantly, trying to disguise his excitement.
"I'll join you. I think perhaps it's time I was properly introduced, after all I am your father." Gustave nearly ejected tea out of his nose in surprise.
"But…" Gustave tried to come up with a retort, but came up dry. Erik looked across the small table gauging the level of horror that registered on his son's face at the prospect of his presentation.
"Is there a problem? I thought the invitation had been extended." Erik spoke in a very measured air of civility.
"Well yes it had, but I didn't expect… I mean… you're not usually very social." Gustave stumbled over his words, trying to express concern for Erik's sensibilities, but the look on his face betrayed the obvious feeling of apprehension.
Erik had come a long way since his days in Paris, and although he had no desire for the company of strangers, he no longer feared the malice of the outside world. He might have found his son's comments comical under other circumstances. Right now he felt as if he was fighting a very delicate battle for the boy's affection. Gustave was a very perceptive child, so he would have to pick his words carefully and be mindful of even his smallest actions.
"For your sake I can handle the mild discomfort of being friendly." He said with just the hint of a smirk on his lips. Gustave gave him a strained smile in return. The pair finished their refreshments and within a few minutes time they were on their way.
Erik didn't like the thought of sharing his son with anyone, indeed the idea made him profoundly jealous and afraid. He coveted his son's attention as closely as he had Christine's, but it had become increasingly obvious to him that there were things the boy needed that he had neither the knowledge nor insight to provide. Urging himself to think rationally and not emotionally about what was best for Gustave; Erik admitted only to himself the wisdom that his son's friendship with Lisa might be a good thing. But he would not concede defeat yet, and was going to make sure that this woman understood she would not be usurping any level of parental liberties on his son.
She was not his mother, and neither she nor any other could take Christine's place for either Gustave or Erik. Christine had been the one love of his tortured and wretched life, and there was no way he could ever imagine another person touching that part of his soul. That he had found the will and ability to love once was miraculous. It had been a feeling so deep and all-encompassing that the thought of knowing it anew was laughable to him, especially for a monster such as himself.
Much to his chagrin, it had come to Erik's attention that his position as the wealthy owner of such a lucrative establishment had attracted a certain kind of woman to seek him out. Thus far all had been wise enough to turn tail and run if they'd gotten even a glimpse of him. But he could imagine a brave few that still might try to insinuate themselves in the life of a rich and powerful man, and there would be no better way than through his only child.
Could Lisa be such a woman? Although he couldn't as yet identify proof of such pretense, he would keep it as a strong possibility, but one he could only test by witnessing her actions firsthand. People were very rarely exactly what they appeared to be. Except for those who were naïve or daft. Everyone in this miserable world was driven by some self-serving motive that was in the best interest of only themselves.
Before this night was through, Erik would know exactly what this interloping woman wanted from them and thwart any attempts to claim any of his power, fame or fortune. His only regret in weeding her out would be Gustave's inevitable disappointment. Through his musings he watched his son shift nervously in the seat next to him. The closer they came to the neglected mansion, the more anxious the boy became.
"If it makes you so nervous to see these people, why do you insist on spending so much time there?" he teased Gustave.
"I'm not nervous about seeing Lisa, it's just…" He trailed off, rescinding what he was about to say.
"It's just me isn't it? You're anxious about me going there. So is this woman the kind of snob to abandon your friendship because you have a masked freak for a father?" he asked incredulously.
"No, of course not, and you're not a freak. I'm just not sure you two will get along. Lisa is very much a free spirit and you've always been so, well, reserved." Gustave had begun wringing his hands, in the same way his mother used to do, Erik realized with an anguished thought.
"I promise to be on my best behavior." Erik tried to reassure in spite of his condescending tone.
"I'm just not too sure what you're best behavior is." Gustave couldn't help chuckling at the mockingly wounded gesture his father made in response to his comment, holding his clasped hands over his heart as if he'd been punched.
"I'll have you know I can be quite charming when the situation calls for it." He said, smiling coyly at his son.
"I guess all I can do is hope for the best." The boy kept smiling as they pulled up to the mansions front gate. Showing Gustave that he seemed to be in enough of a good mood to joke allowed some of the boy's tension to ebb away. As soon as they were stopped, Gustave exited the coach and approached the buzzer. He took one quick moment to make sure that his father had joined him before pushing the button. It was only a few seconds later that a figure emerged from the foliage, but to Gustave's obvious disappointment it was the older colored woman and not the sylph who'd nearly gunned Erik down a few nights ago. She smiled broadly at Gustave as she approached, and only glanced briefly at the tall, thin man that accompanied him.
"Welcome back little one. We were almost afraid you'd forgotten us. And who is this fellow with you today?" she asked, sounding much more interested than her facial expression showed.
"Good evening Kara, this is my father. Mr.…um…" the boy stumbled.
"Destler madam, Erik Destler." as the iron gate creaked open to allow entrance, Erik shocked his son by gently taking Kara's hand and kissing her knuckles in much the same way he'd done upon first meeting her. Seeing the stark contrast of the white porcelain mask against the dark skin of her hand amused Gustave, Kara only raised one eyebrow as she watched Erik straighten.
"How nice to finally meet you sir." responded the woman before turning her attention fully to Gustave. "Now come along, Momma Aguilar has been anxious to hear your playing fill the house again." Neither she nor Gustave saw how Erik bristled at her words. The thought of his ingenious son playing for the entertainment of a group of ridiculous women like a pet made him seethe. "We can't wait till it's all finished. Lisa's almost done with the first canvas and is itching to start another."
"It's done; father and I spent all yesterday working on It." said Gustave.
The pair chatted away as they arrived at the front door and entered the foyer. Distracted with each other, Eric was the first to see, perched on the first floor landing, the strange woman he'd met in the darkness. She was dressed rather boyishly in paint splattered work overalls with her hair covered by a red head scarf. If it weren't for the ever sparking green eyes that floated in her oval face, he'd have thought this could in no way be the vixen that had once stood boldly before him wearing a very immodest negligee.
She saw him too, regarding him stoically before shifting to Gustave. Her face lit up to see the boy, and to Erik's immediate surprise and chagrin he felt a different type of jealousy encase him. How would it feel to have anyone react that way to him? Not even his angel had expressed such a simple joy at his presence, only fear tempered with excitement.
The woman descended the stairs gingerly and when Gustave saw her they shared an affectionate hug. Only after giving the boy her full attention in greeting did she force her eyes to acknowledge Erik's presence.
"And you must be Mr. Destler. Gustave has told me so much about you. I am pleased to finally have the pleasure of making your acquaintance. My name is Mrs. Lisa Angelic Aguilar Faolan." She raised her hand to him, but not in the typically demure way a woman would. Her hand was presented in the typical upright fashion for men to shake hands. Very American, he thought.
Amused, he clasped her feminine paw into his much larger one squeezing just enough to make her feel the potential of his strength. To his surprise she gripped his hand back with much more force than he'd expected from a female. They released each other quickly, as if they'd touched the handle of a steaming teapot without protection and been burned.
"Well, momma would want to meet you right away. Follow me please." Lisa led the way to the east hall, followed by Gustave, Erik and Kara bringing up the rear. They entered the sitting room and were guided to the brightly lit corner wear an old woman sat. She greeted the boy with even more enthusiasm than Lisa had, before finding Erik's inscrutable figure among the ensemble.
"And who do we have here, wearing a mask no less." She produced smascrutinized Erik, marking his mask for just a moment before a wide smile broke across her face from ear to ear. "You must be Gustave's esteemed father, the fantastic Mister Y of Phantasma and Coney Island." Erik was as taken aback by her reaction as he'd been by the screams of those seeing his deformity for the first time. He had to rally himself quickly not to behave badly. The other two must not have divulged his first visit to the matron, or she certainly would not have been so welcoming.
"Destler madam, Erik Destler when away from business and in a social setting." He said, bending low to accept her hand and kiss her knuckles. Lisa's mother obviously had a much better sense of propriety than her daughter, he thought.
"Father, this is Mrs. Gloria Aguilar." said Gustave.
"A pleasure to meet you young man, and that, is it just for business or necessity?" she asked and gestured at the mask. Erik fumbled for just a moment to answer. Gustave, standing next to the lady, went wide eyed waiting for his father's response.
"A bit of both actually."
"I'm sorry if I offended you, but at my age there isn't enough time left to ignore the elephant in the room and not ask the really pertinent questions."
"Not at all, I admire your honesty." He said, giving her as gracious a grin as he could muster.
"Good, good, come and sit. Lisa dear would you please fetch us some refreshments. I hope you don't mind Russian tea?"
"I'm normally partial to Persian blends, but I'm rather fond of the Russian brews as well." Erik settled himself in a high backed chair next to the lady.
"I might have to try it. Given the current political state it's become sometimes difficult to sustain our supply, so we might have to convert."
"It's interesting that you follow international affairs." He remarked.
"You mean because we're women?" she asked.
"I mean because of your lifestyle. Gustave tells me you don't often leave this home." He recovered.
"Ah, yes. Our seclusion does make it cumbersome to keep in touch with the outside world, but we keep subscriptions to all the available periodicals and newspapers. And from our travels we've established correspondents around the globe who are always eager to keep us in the hop." She added with a playful wink. Erik had to admit to himself at that moment, he rather liked this woman. She was open, engaging, quick witted and enthusiastic in spite of her age.
"Interesting, have you any in Paris? I'd love to hear the latest gossip." He said, as he accepted a brimming cup of tea from Lisa. Although she didn't make eye contact while playing the part of dutiful daughter, he was intensely aware that she was hanging on every word.
"Indeed, we have a cousin of my late husbands who lives on the Rue De Rivoli. She is a very good girl who communicates regularly. In fact, just after we lost Armando and Charles we spent nearly two years there. From '93 to '95, if I recall correctly, wasn't it Lisa." She asked her daughter.
"Yes momma, just before coming to NY." Replied Lisa dryly, still going about her work of serving tea to everyone. Erik's hand paused midair at hearing the information. A dark shadow stirred in his mind.
"Really." He finished his sip of the tea, which he would have found delicious if not for the distraction of the conversation.
"Yes, in fact we had the honor of hearing Gustave's dear mother in her first performance and before the destruction of the Garnier." She remarked casually.
"Amazing how small the world is. So you are familiar with those horrific events?" he asked calmly, even though his mind was working furiously.
"Only the ridiculous drivel in the press about some phantom haunting the Opera house, certainly sensationalized for the public's consumption. Gustave tells us you were Mademoiselle Daae's teacher, perhaps you know more?" both Lisa and Gustave had gone slack jawed at the old woman's impertinence.
"Momma," Lisa gasped "I don't think that is any of your business. Please, I'm sure you've embarrassed both our guest enough. Even I'm horrified at your brazenness. Gustave has told us his father is a very private man and I'm sure he doesn't appreciate your prying."
"Oh, I'm sorry dear. My apologies Mr. Destler, at my age the mind tends to run away with itself. And please, don't get upset with Gustave. He only let slip a few minor details. If a little tit for tat is in order, there are plenty of juicy secrets in our family that I'm more than willing to volunteer. After all, I'll be dead soon and my daughter certainly won't pass them on. For instance, I myself had a love affair for 20 years with the son of my employer before the bastard died. At which time we married, and that was Lisa's father. When Lisa fell in love with her Charles, we practically had to bolt her door to keep her from sneaking into his bed." This time it was Lisa who was caught with a mouthful of tea, but she couldn't hold back spraying the liquid all over the floor as her mother divulged such intimate things. A gruesome silence fell upon everyone, until one of them burst into great, huge bouts of laughter. Erik laughed in a way he'd never before in his life, and soon everyone joined him.
Erik knew he'd been wrong. Lisa inherited every bit of her impropriety from this woman. As the hilarity died away, a kind of companionable warmth settled on the party.
"I appreciate your candidness Mrs. Aguilar. It certainly is entertaining." He chanced a glance to Lisa, who was patting a napkin to the floor where the tea had been spat. Thankfully after that, the subject was changed to talk of Coney Island and Phantasma. They chatted easily until dusk fell and Kara announced that dinner was almost ready.
"Perhaps Gustave and I should be going so that you can enjoy your meal." He said, standing to bid them goodbye.
"Nonsense, of course you'll be joining us. Once you've tasted Kara's cooking I'm sure you'll agree she is the finest chef in the tristate area." Erik was about to again decline, but then he caught sight of Gustave's expectant face. The boy was obviously not ready to go. In all his life the only people Erik had ever shared a meal with were his jailer, if you can consider tossing scraps into a cage sharing, and Gustave. He was not eager to break tradition now, especially since the mask made it difficult to eat, but he was practically incapable of denying his son anything and nodded his consent.
"Wonderful, perhaps Gustave can go help Kara set the table. Lisa, why don't you give Mr. Destler a quick tour of the house? If you don't mind I'm going to take a few minutes to freshen up." She said, rising slowly with Gustave's help. Lisa sighed deeply at her mother's instructions.
"Yes momma. Gustave, you know the way. Mr. Destler, if you'll follow me." They all exited the sitting room together and went as far as the kitchen to deliver the boy. Mrs. Aguilar disappeared into a washroom directly across from the sitting room while Lisa and Erik proceeded to the foyer in silence. Lacking an iota of the enthusiasm of her mother, she took him through the first floor rooms. He marked the very lived in looking library with books overflowing the shelves and piles of newspapers littering most surfaces, and a small music room with a small spinet tucked into a corner. She skipped the studio where they had their first encounter a few days before. Erik said nothing as she led him up the central stair to the second floor landing and showed him other compartments in the east and west wings. It wasn't until she opened the doors in the north hall that he was compelled to speak. The last rays of sun were filling the room with light, making the golden floors and walls shimmer. The piano in the corner gleamed pearly white in the wash of sunlight. Erik's eyes fixed upon the instrument, and instinctively he imagined the sounds it could produce to fill the room.
"Like father like son." Lisa said under her breath.
"I beg your pardon." Erik said annoyed at having his revelry broken.
"Gustave had the same reaction. I nearly had to drag him away before he pounced on it. I can understand how it calls to you though, like the way a blank canvas calls me." She said.
"I'm not sure that is an accurate comparison."
"That's really too bad. Perhaps Gustave gets his intuitiveness from his mother." Erik's back straightened as he turned slowly to regard Lisa. He took one long calculated step towards her. His demeanor was hostile in spite of his stillness.
"You seem to think you know quite a lot about my son."
"I know only what I see and feel, and it's enough for me to trust my heart."
"Just like a woman, to allow feeling and sentiment to drive them and not see the real dangers around them."
"And how typical of a man to ignore the obvious truths around them and be oblivious to the sentiments of others, especially those who care for them." He knew she was referring to Gustave. Anger started to bubble in Erik's gut at the implication of her statement. He already felt the emotional strain on the boy that he was helpless to alleviate with his very limited understanding of the human heart, and for this stranger to somehow hit the mark of that failing made him feel as exposed as a wounded cat.
"I recommend you keep your assumptions to yourself about my family and spend more time trying to master your own." He intended the quip to cut deep, instead a smile lifted the corners of her mouth, making her entire face animate in a way that made Erik's stomach flutter.
"I think I prefer my mother as she is. After all, she made you laugh, something of a rare occurrence I'd wager."
"There can be no question where you get your manners."
"I thought it best not to tell momma of your first visit. As you see, she doesn't hold back her opinions and would probably have scolded you like a disobedient pup. I'm surprised you came though. I rather expected you to forbid Gustave ever to return here, and certainly didn't expect for you to appear at our door." The smile was gone as she spoke, replaced by a disdainful tone.
"I considered it, and am not really convinced it's a good idea to allow him to continue his visits." Erik's manner had shifted and his voice had gone flat and unfeeling.
"It's your prerogative, but I hope you won't allow your own prejudice to sway you." She said, with a definite air of scorn about her.
"My 'prejudices' having nothing to do with the issue, but I am no fool." He was losing patience, and began to feel more antagonistic.
"I wouldn't call a man capable of breaking into another's home foolish, maybe idiotic though."
"You have no idea what I am capable of, so I recommend you take better care then to taunt me."
"You underestimate me. I have a very good idea of what you're capable of." Lisa tried to turn away and exit into the hallway, but Erik caught her wrist and held her in place.
"What could you possibly know?" Erik's voice, though too low to carry, had become harsh and threatening. He towered over her, bearing down upon her with all the malice he could muster through his stance and demeanor. But she stood strong against it, refusing to be brought to heal like a horse that'd been broken. In one quick movement Lisa yanked her arm from Erik's grip. She kept her own voice low, but piercing.
"It's all in your eyes. I think you're essentially a good man, and I can see what Gustave sees. But there is a dangerous fire in you. Genius and obsessiveness; you're jealously possessive of what you feel entitled to, and have killed to defend it. And I dare say you are still quite capable of murder. You're insightful, observant and creative like Gustave. You are also volatile and ferociously guard the things important to you. You feel threatened easily and are suspicious of everyone and everything around you. Traits I'm sure you've developed out of necessity. But for all your strengths, you are a man living in pain and fear." She punctuated the last statement like and accusation. Erik was floored and fought not to show it. Had it not been for the imminent interruption he might have succumb to the impulse of wrapping his fingers around the woman's throat. They both heard the sounds of shoes climbing the steps as they stood nose to nose.
Over Lisa's head Erik saw Gustave and Kara come into view. Not wanting to disturb the boy, Erik took a step back and consciously relaxed his body. It was an amazing transformation in the eyes of Lisa who witnessed it. She too reworked her appearance as she turned to greet the new arrivals.
"I'm sorry to cut the tour short, but dinner is served. Momma Aguilar is already seated in the dining room." announced Kara. Not wanting to give the advantage to Lisa, Erik approached her and offered his arm as if to escort her to dinner. Lisa held back the sneer that threatened and accepted it. Although the pair was too distracted by their animosity to notice, Kara saw the look they exchanged as their bodies came in contact. The quartet left the ballroom and headed to the dining room. Each took their seats, Erik and Gustave to Mrs. Aguilar's right, Lisa and Kara to the left. The conversation continued in much the same manner as it had before between Erik, Gustave and the matron. Lisa remained a quiet observer, speaking only occasionally to balk at her mother's brazenness.
When the meal was over, and the empty desert dishes had been taken away, Mrs. Aguilar tried to persuade her guests to linger, but the day's excitement had taken its toll and it was clear she needed rest. Conceding her exhaustion in the end, she extended the invitation of another evening and bid them good night. To what was Erik's obvious horror, she pulled him down into a warmhearted hug as she did with Gustave.