EPILOGUE
He wasn't that old, but getting up the stairs to their box at the Metropolitan Opera seemed like more of a trial every time. Had it been any other production the man would have just rather stayed at the mansion enjoying music in the privacy and comfort of his own home, but this was no ordinary performance.
Already the excited murmurs of the audience filled the large auditorium, overtaking even the shrill sounds of the orchestra as they tuned their instruments. Every seat was filled, from the front row to those farthest back in the mezzanine. From their box, the closest to the stage, Erik and Lisa could see that all the other boxes were also overflowing with as many patrons they could fit.
Once they were settled, Erik sat back in his chair with as confident an air of tranquility as he'd ever exuded; meanwhile his wife was practically vibrating with excitement. Looking over the boxes edge, a very improper thing for most people, but Lisa cared as much about propriety as she did for politics. When she was satisfied that the man charged with recording the concert was in place she settled back, waiting impatiently for the curtain.
Erik reached over and collected her gloved hand into his own, drawing her near giving her a lingering kiss. Like water on a fire, her twitching ceased and she devoted herself to his attention. After 20 years of marriage there was very little he didn't know about his beloved, both inside and out, or vice versa.
Some men might have grown bored with such familiarity, but for him it just showed how much more amazing this woman was with each passing day. But he had to admit that familiarity didn't mean predictability. It was an aspect of their lives that kept things fresh. The thought made him laugh into their kiss.
"Why are you laughing at me?" she asked, trying to sound irked.
"I'm not laughing at you, Mon Cher." He said, still chuckling.
"Well you're definitely not laughing with me since I didn't make a joke. So what do you find so amusing?" she said, pulling her hand free and crossing them on her lap. Erik turned in his seat and leaned toward her while placing his other arm around her shoulders.
"I was just thinking about all the things I could do to you in this box." He whispered silkily, causing goose pimples to sprout on the woman's skin. She responded by raising one eyebrow and giving her husband a scrutinizing stare. They liked this game, and she would have been happy to let him win, but not tonight.
"Well you'll just have to keep imagining. Last time you had thoughts like that the manager nearly had us arrested." She said, trying to sound scolding, but unable to hide the self-satisfied smirk the memory evoked. Her husband mirrored that same grin, feeling nonplussed about the comment.
"I wasn't the one moaning like a banshee in the middle of Shakespeare." He teased. The blush that blossomed on the woman's cheek was very pleasing to him.
"Look, I…" she started, but as the house lights began to dim Erik shushed her and turned his full attention to the stage and musicians pit.
When the conductor took his position, the entire auditorium gave him a thunderous applause, but none were louder than Erik's clapping. The Maestro below heard and looked up to see his proud parents. He gave them a knowing wink and set to work.
The music blossomed expertly under Gustave's masterful direction as the actors filled the stage and the opera began. It was a revival of an Old Italian drama that the management had imported along with a number of performers from the old world.
The company had fled the horrors of a pre-war Europe and had been given asylum. Among them was a famous soprano who'd been slated to open the production, but she'd become mysteriously sick. Now the young woman that had been the Met's understudy for 2 seasons was getting the chance to debut her talent. A talent many said that was the best kept secret on the NY stage.
As the ingénue's voice rose and fell with perfect clarity and exquisite beauty over the gathering. Bringing tears to the eyes of men and women alike, the young actress conveyed the femme fatale's longing and humiliation with such passion that even those who didn't speak a syllable of Italian could not escape the music's meaning.
When the last notes of the final aria were sung and the curtain fell, the audience gave what seemed like unending ovations. As the lead performers came out for the curtain call, the young prima donna received one last standing ovation from her adorers. Scores of brightly colored flowers were tossed onto the stage, but the only one that caught the young woman's notice was the single dark crimson rose that flew from the box closest to her from stage left.
She along with the conductor looked into the shadowed confines of the opera box to see the white porcelain mask that seemed to float in the darkness. They knew beneath it a man was smiling; a father, a teacher, a mentor and angel of music that had touched their lives with love and magic.
It wasn't on the program or announced on the bill. So when the conductor raised his baton once again to lead the orchestra everyone was surprised. There had been made a special agreement with the management, director and producers to allow a special treat. The young diva stepped forward as the other performers left the stage.
"Ladies and gentleman, it is my greatest delight to present for your pleasure an encore performance in recognition and honor of this theaters greatest contributor." She said.
Erik looked down on his children with confused eyes. A name had not been given for the benefactor or piece of music they were to be singing, but when he looked into Lisa's glowing eyes and the song began he knew exactly what was going on.
It was his song from so many years ago; his crowning achievement that he'd written for his lost angel. Christine had been the only one to ever sing that song, and only once. The memory had faded somewhat over time and as he'd gotten older, but his heart had always clung to it whenever he needed help.
As he heard his daughter say the words and fill the room with her voice, Erik thought he could feel Christine's presence wrapped around his family. It filled him with a new level of joy and happiness that he'd never imagined possible.
As a little girl his daughter Gloria Christine Destler, had often commented that she had two angels that watched over and played with her. It took only one look of understanding between him and Lisa to know who the elegant woman and the handsome sailor were.
Now here she was, bringing a lost part of his soul back to life for one night. Erik sat stock still as the song ended and the gallery erupted in applause even more thunderous than their first ovation. It seemed to last half the night as Gloria and Gustave gave bow after bow to their adoring fans. Heaven on earth; someway and somehow it had found them. No, he did not deserve it, but the many lives entangled with his did, and it was only because of their love that he was a part of it.
As the young woman disappeared into the wings and the orchestra pit was emptied, Erik and Lisa waited in the box holding each other. A short time later there was a delicate knock and the door opened cautiously, just in case the lovers inside were up to their old games.
"Mama, Papa, can we come in." asked Gloria tentatively.
"Of course Mi Amor." exclaimed Lisa, rising to embrace her children.
"Did you like it Papa, was it good enough?" she asked the man.
"It was pure perfection my dear." He said opening his arms wide to accept the young ladies hug, but instead she plopped down in his lap like a little girl.
"And did you like the song, was it alright that I sang it? Gustave said you would like it." She asked.
"Yes mon petit, it was the greatest gift you could have ever given me a part from you smile." He replied, touching her warm cheek with his long fingers. Gloria responded with a wide grin then reached up and unceremoniously removed the white porcelain mask before planting adoring kisses on her father's beloved face.
"I really do hate when you wear that thing. It gives me the shivers, and you're much to handsome a man to need it anyway." She said as she cuddled close to her father's chest. Lisa and Gustave just laughed at the familiar sight. If ever there was a real life representation of daddy's little girl, this was certainly it.
"And did you see little Marguerite in the chorus line? Do you think Madam Giry will be ok with her performing as such a young age?" she asked.
"Meg gave her permission so that was good enough. Though I'm sure she's disappointed her mother and grandmother couldn't make it for her debut, especially with Garret off to fight in Europe."
"A little I think, but she said they would have made her more nervous anyway." remarked Gloria before jumping up to peer over the Opera boxes ledge.
"Looking for anybody in particular sis." said Gustave teasingly, because he knew full well whom she searched for. Gloria turned back to her family with an incredulous stare.
"I hope you don't mean that petulant violinist?" asked Erik annoyingly.
"I somehow doubt he'll be running up to congratulate you while your father's here." commented Lisa, repressing a snicker. Gloria raised and lowered her hands dramatically to express her frustration.
"What do you expect when father scares the daylights out of any man that shows any interest in me?" she said sulkily, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Which is my duty as your father; one that I plan on doing till the day I die." Erik said, feeling very proud of himself.
"At which point I take over." added Gustave.
"You, if it were up to you I'd die an old maid." She said before thinking. Instantly they were all reminded of a recent loss. After a few unguarded moments Lisa spoke up.
"Kara would have loved to be here. She was always so proud of her." It was hard to hold back the tears of grief for all of them. Gloria ambled over to her mother and plopped down just as comfortably in her lap as she had in her fathers and hugging her close as they both shed silent tears for the loss of a great friend.
"Well, I think it's time you two met one last time with your adoring public so that we can have dinner." Lisa said, dislodging her daughter and getting up to leave.
"Do you really think they adored me? Do you think there will be people out there waiting for my autograph?" said Gloria. No one answered, but they all laughed heartily at the glamorous way she began strutting out the door and down the ramp with her family in tow.
"I'll see you in the car, and keep an eye on her." Erik said to Gustave as he turned away from the ramp to the stairs that led to an alley where Gangle waited. Lisa was right behind him.
"Don't you want to witness Gloria posing for all those pictures and drowning in flowers." He asked his wife.
"That part means a lot more to her than to me. I don't think I could be any prouder as it is, of both of them." She said.
"Yes, if only Christine was here." Erik remarked, a wistful look in his eye. The two of them disappeared into the stairwell and were soon stepping into their chauffeured automobile. But before they could pull out Lisa asked Gangle to give them a few moments of privacy. She looked at her husband, once again removing the mask he'd put back in place.
"Do you regret your life with me?" she asked suddenly. Erik stared back, surprised at such a question.
"Of course not; how can I regret a miracle." He replied.
"I… I'm sorry… that I'm not her." She said sadly. Erik was taken aback. Lisa had never before expressed any level of resentment about his angel, but now he read a kind of guilty shame in her words.
"Should I be sorry for not being Charles?" he asked, wiping a tear that had rolled down her cheek.
"Never, it's just that…" she started, but could not finish as fresh tears erupted from her eyes.
"Hear me. I will always love Christine, just as I know you will always love Charles, but I stopped being haunted by what might have been the moment I found you. It doesn't help either of us waste time looking back or even looking forward to an unknown future. We have each other right here and right now and that is heaven on earth."
"Wow. Who'd have thought you'd turn out to be the optimist." She joked, leaning forward to kiss him. In no time at all they were lost in each other; it nearly an hour later when they collected the children from the theater entrance.