CHAPTER 34

When Kara could no longer stay awake, Erik took up her spot in a corner chair. His eyes were as glued to Lisa as hers were to her mother. Neither spoke or slept. She moved only once to use the bathroom. Erik was reminded of the early morning, before this disaster had struck them. Would there again be a time where she would want or need him?

In the morning Kara relieved him of his chore, though there was nowhere else he desired to be. They kept Gustave away, fearing an outburst towards him. But by the end of the second day of this routine, worry for Lisa's physical and mental health won out.

Erik risked using Gustave to try and get through Lisa's wall of grief; if he could not reach her than they would have to try and force her. The funeral was one day away. Without being told too, Lisa had already washed and dressed the corpse. She wore a fine sky-blue gown, cinched in by a corset with matching slippers and gloves. It was many decades out of style, but made her look that much younger. Her long silvery hair was brushed out set to flow as one long river down her body, and her hands were arranged to hold the lock in a restful posture.

Both Erik and Kara stood within and arms reach of the boy as he approached the devastated woman. She didn't acknowledge him even when he stood only inches away. They held their breath as Gustave raised his small hand and placed it on Lisa's shoulder.

"She looks beautiful, doesn't she." He said. Lisa's head turned slowly until she saw him, but otherwise she didn't react. "When my mother died she was still as lovely as ever too. I still remember that. I'm sure you'll want to remember too, that's why you want to look at her as long as you can. I wish I could go back and do the same too. She really does look beautiful." He finished.

Lisa looked at Gustave looking at Mrs. Aguilar for a long time, than she reached out and collected him to her. With her arms wrapped tightly around him, she buried her face into the crook of his neck and wept. Gustave held her in return, stroking the long mass of her soft hair.

Erik wasn't a painter to equal Lisa's talent, but the scene is one that would remain etched in his mind forever. When she finally released the boy, it looked like all the fatigue she'd been denying took hold and her eyelids hung heavily. It looked like she would pass out at any moment.

Knowing the moment had come, Erik moved forward and as carefully as he could, lifted Lisa into his arms and left the room. She didn't resist, but she didn't say anything either. She just laid her head on his shoulder, and by the time he pushed the doors to her room open she was fast asleep. He settled her into bed and undressed her.

He had only a brief moment to enjoy the sight of her physique before pulling the covers over her. He was going to leave her there, but when he straightened to depart he found her hand tightly gripping his own.

Erik removed his coat, vest and boots. He slowly lay down next to her, mimicking the position they'd awoken in a few days before, and collected her against him. It felt so wonderful to him, but he was guilty given the circumstances.

In only minutes Erik also surrendered to sleep. No one disturbed them, and while they rested the final arrangements for the service were completed and papers had been sent from the lawyer's office for Lisa to sign. Everything was hers now, though she wanted nothing more than having her mother back.

It was early morning when Lisa awoke. A thick fog was pushing in on the windows of her room. Someone had lit a fire in the brazier, so the room was comfortably warm. Lisa wasn't surprised to feel Erik's arms wrapped securely around her. One of his hands even reached up to cradle her right breast protectively.

The breath on the back of her neck was the biggest reminder of how intimately connected they now were. What had she done, and what had it cost her? Those same questions had been rattling in her head for the last 3 days, like bullets looking for a way out and leaving carnage in their wake.

As delicately as she could, Lisa withdrew from the warm cocoon of her lover's arms and the bed. When she made it to the bathroom she locked the door behind her and drew a hot bath. She sat in it for a long time, her mind so jumbled she was practically catatonic.

At some point there was a knock on the door. Lisa debated on whether or not she should respond, but whoever it was probably wouldn't go away.

"Come in." she said, barely audibly. Slowly the door creaked open and a figure stepped into the bathroom.

Erik had managed to withdraw to the guestroom when he awoke and realized Lisa was in the bathroom. As quickly as he could he relieved and refreshed himself, putting on a fresh suit and a small amount of cologne. He'd also seen to Gustave, and made sure the boy was ready for the day's events. Now he was standing in the bathroom gazing down at Lisa's unreadable face.

"The funeral is in 2 hours. Mrs. Aguilar has already been placed the coffin that was delivered yesterday and she's displayed in the foyer. I can help you get ready." He wanted keep his voice as free as emotion as possible. Erik didn't think that most people saw this as dismissive because he hadn't had the thought to care about other people's feelings before. Now, he just didn't want his own emotions to bother Lisa.

Did she even want his help? Lisa wasn't sure what she wanted or should do, but as long as a task had been placed before her she would go along with it. She raised her hand out of the tub to beckon his assistance. Erik moved forward enough to accept it and pulled to make her exit easy.

Lisa stood dripping onto the tile for a moment before the air chilled her skin. Erik had been slow to realize it, but when it dawned on him he moved quickly to retrieve the nearby towel and hold it open for her. She stepped into it and he closed it around her. The motion had been enough to bring them close.

Lisa looked up into Erik's face, but for the first time she mostly saw the stark white porcelain staring back more than the flesh and bone half. She felt like it was mocking her, judging her for having given in.

She turned away, unable to handle it's gossamer gaze, and moved to the bedroom with Erik in tow. A black gown had been laid out, along with all the regular underclothes. Lisa looked at them as if they were rags, but she managed to dry off and start putting on each layer.

Erik was uncomfortable, but he stepped forward to assist her in lacing the corset and getting into the dress. When that was done, Kara arrived and took up the task of brushing and styling Lisa's hair. Erik left them to their work to check on Gustave again.

The boy was in the foyer with Dr. Gilles and a small group of guests that included his own trio of attendants. Erik joined them, and even managed to make small talk with the priest while they waited.

When Kara and Lisa appeared on the landing and started coming down the stairs everyone went quiet. It didn't get past Erik how the moment resembled the night of the concert, but the recognition made him angry for some reason. Could there be no peace for him and the lives he touched? He looked down to his son, whose face barely held back tears.

The day outside was ambiguously bright and warm for a late autumn. The prayers had been said, condolences whispered and farewells made. When the doors to the family mausoleum had been shut and bolted only Lisa, Kara, Erik and Gustave remained.

The boy held Lisa's hand, and she gripped it like she needed him for support standing. Lisa's midnight veil wasn't enough to hide the wealth of grief etched on her face. It was like a mask hiding the suffering within. She turned unhurriedly to speak.

"Gustave, go ahead of us. I need to speak with your father a moment." She said. The boy was clearly annoyed to be dismissed, but he wasn't about to argue and moved on towards the carriage where Dr. Gangle and the others waited. Erik waited for her to begin.

"Erik, I need you to do something for me." She said calmly.

"Of course." He replied without reluctance.

"I need time to gather my thoughts and put my mother's affairs in order. Please, take Gustave and go back to Long Island. When I am settled I'll send word to you both." It wasn't an odd request, but it immediately made Erik uneasy. He wanted her to need him, needed to be beside her, but here she was dismissing him like a servant whose contract was up.

Erik tried to find some sign of reluctance in her eyes, or any sign that hinted she wanted him to protest, but her expression was resolute. After a moment he reached out and collected her gloved hand. He brought it to his lips and gave it long, lingering kiss that was meant to convey his longing to be with her, but when he looked at her again there was no change.

Without another word Erik walked away. He didn't look back until he was standing with Gustave to board the carriage. Both Lisa and her friend were gone, leaving a gaping hole in the world. Erik told his son what she'd said to him, and he had the same thoughts.

Gustave had thought long and hard about everything that had happened over the past few months. Like anyone dealing with both new and old grief, he searched for patterns and a reason. In the end, he'd come upon what he considered a very simple epiphany.

If Lisa had never discovered them, they would undoubtedly be in a very different and dark place, and then she and Kara wouldn't have anyone to look after them during this difficult time. It had to be fate, and believing that not only gave him comfort, but it bolstered his faith that everything would work out. If he'd been raised to believe in such things like Lisa did, Gustave was almost sure a pair of ghostly arms was reaching out from the nether to hold him, and whisper in his ear that in the end, they would all be together.