Wait For It: Part Two
Death doesn't discriminate,
Between the sinners and the saints,
It takes and it takes and it takes;
And we keep living anyway
One Week Ago
"Who is Quinn Zaneth?"
Christine stormed out of the mansion, not even bothering to wake Charlotte. She was infuriated. If there was one thing she had learn from all those crime shows that took up most of her day, it's that a guilty person usually answers a question with another questions - just as Erik did when she asked him about Quinn Zaneth. He was defensive.
Christine kept replaying that moment over and over again on the drive to her old apartment. She had kept the lease on it, for situations just like these. She was really skeptical of getting back together with Erik, anyway.
She liked her tiny apartment, in any case. It was home.
Christine opened the apartment door, the swirl of old dust coming up around her, causing her to sneeze. She forgot to dust it before she left, she mused. Walking forward, she quickly scanned the hallway and everything was in its place. It's as if she had never left.
It was home, it was home, it was home.
The petite almost twenty six year old moved to her bedroom, setting her keys down on the nightstand. She felt an immediate rush of relief. She couldn't believe she was home. She was home. She was home.
She did feel awfully terrible about leaving Charlotte there, but Naomi offered to bring her first thing in the morning. Christine didn't want to wake her.
The baby was kicking excitedly. The baby could probably sense that this was home. The former ballerina placed her tiny hands on her protruding belly and rubbed it in concentric circles. It seemed to calm the small baby inside of her.
She couldn't help, but think of what to do next. Normally, she would prop down in front of the TV and watch cartoons with Charlotte until Charlotte fell asleep, but Charlotte wasn't there. Christine was at a loss.
'A Shower' Christine thought to herself. 'Or maybe a bath...' Christine pondered over the thought of a bath. She decided against it. Her belly wouldn't be fully covered by water and she would hate for her baby to feel left out of bath time. 'A shower it is.'
Christine stripped over her clothing, with some struggle to get her shoes off without Erik's help. She thought long and hard.
'Maybe showering with shoes on isn't all bad...' Christine looked down and sighed. She couldn't remember the last time she saw her feet. Sitting at the edge of the bed, Christine leaned down as far as possible and untied her shoes. She groaned. 'I wish Naomi were here...'
Christine sauntered over to the bathroom, the cold tile causing her to spook as her feet made contact with the floor. She glanced at herself in the mirror across from her. Christine's makeup was smudged beneath her waterline. She must've rubbed her eyes in the car and not noticed. Taking a deep breath, she turned the crank and patiently waited for the water to get hot. Her shower always took precisely six minutes to warm. After the first couple nights, she began timing it just right.
Christine stepped foot into the shower, the water cascading down her swollen body. It was more than calming to have her old life back; even if it was just going to be temporary.
Turning around, Christine let the hot water intertwine with her thick curls, the hair flattening and sticking to her back. She could've stood there forever, just letting the water fall perfectly to her shape.
Christine began washing herself, her hair first. It was always a pain to wash excessively curly hair, but she hadn't washed it in a couple days. Her face was engulfed by the steam, her eyes closed in pure serenity, the convex surface of her pregnant self covered in guava scented soap.
Oh, how she missed this apartment - as crappy as it was.
It was the only thing in her price range. She didn't get a huge paycheck from teaching a bunch of five and six year olds how to plié, but it was her passion. And if there was one thing Erik taught her, it was to follow her passion.
No matter where it might lead her.
Christine woke up the next morning, actually feeling well rested. She could hardly believe how energized she felt at almost eight months pregnant. The baby was certainly happy. Or, so Christine liked to think.
But first thing's first.
"Food..." Christine tiredly grumbled as she got out of bed. "I need food..."
Christine figured that all her food had gone bad. She groaned again.
Taking out her phone, she quickly found that Erik had called her several times, but she fell asleep pretty earlier to the TV. She always liked falling asleep with the TV on and something like FRIENDS playing in the background to lull her into a deep sleep.
"Erik..." Christine mumbled underneath her breath as she scrolled through all his text messages. "I better respond."
I'm fine. Please stop texting me. I will call you when I'm ready.
Send.
Christine stood up, making her way to her closet. She was going to go for a walk, but wasn't sure what to have for breakfast. She and the baby were starving though. Putting on some sweatpants and a baggy shirt from her college days, borrowed (stolen) from her cousin de Chagny, she headed out the door with her keys and purse.
She missed this part of town a lot. She didn't even realize how much she missed it until she found herself walking down its cracked sidewalks. It was like a movie.
Settle down, it'll all be clear.
Don't pay no mind to the demons,
They fill you with fear.
Christine hummed one of her favorite songs as she continued to walk. In all seriousness, the wave of nostalgia that encapsulated her was quite overwhelming. Maybe it was the hormones.
She finally decided upon a tiny diner on the corner. She couldn't tell the difference though; if she was more excited for food or the fact that this was her favorite diner. She decided on both. Yes, Both is good.
"Well, well, Ms. Daaé. It's very nice to - Oh my, you're glowing!" Vera, Christine's favorite waitress, greeted her with open arms, pulling Christine into a tight hug. "What are you doing on this side of town, darling?"
"I'm staying back in my apartment for a couple of days. I needed some me-time... Well, us time." Christine laughed at herself, placing her hands around her belly. "How are things with you Miss Vera?"
Christine followed Vera over to her favorite booth listening to Vera, scooting in on the favored side, facing away from the sun.
"Where is little Charlotte? I haven't seen her in a quick minute." Vera gave Christine a place setting and some water with two lemons, just like Christine loved.
"She's with her nanny. I think she'll be dropped off in a little bit, would you like to see her?" Christine glanced at the menu, her eyes wandered to and fro the front and back. "I can ask Naomi to bring her here."
"Oh, my would I! Unless that would be interfering with-"
"I'm sure Charlotte would love to see her Auntie Vera, really." Christine paused, setting down her menu. "I think I'll have two eggs, sunny side up, a side of bacon, some hot cakes... And... Bring some hash-browns and fruit."
"Quite the appetite, I'm glad to see you eating again, my love... Would you like anything else?" Vera quickly wrote down Christine's order, gathering the menu between her manicured nails. They were acrylic.
"If you have any apple pie, I'd love to start my day off with that too." Christine flashed a huge smile, something she hadn't done in so long. "And, I'm eating for two now. This baby can eat, let me tell you."
Vera smiled back, nodding along. Once Vera had left and disappeared between the counter to help another customer, Christine took out her phone.
"Naomi?"
"Yes, hi! I'm sorry, we're coming right now." Naomi's tone was rushed, the voice of Charlotte in the background sizing up Christine's heart ten times.
"Take your time, please. But could you do me a favor, please?" Christine took a sip of water. Ice cold water.
"Yes, ma'am, what would you like for me to do?" Naomi ushered Charlotte out the door.
"Can you bring yourself and Char over to Starry's Diner, it's downtown." Christine took a deep breath.
"Of course, we'll be there in twenty - NO CHARLOTTE, DON'T EAT THAT - " Naomi hung up the phone, understandably so.
Ten minutes later, Christine's breakfast arrived. She was more excited to eat all the food more than anything.
"Two eggs, bacon, hot cakes, hash-browns, fruit, and one slice of apple pie." Vera repeated the ordered as she set down all the plates in front of Christine. "Anything else?"
"No, thank you." Christine smiled again as Vera left her to her own devices. Suddenly, the tiny bell above the diner's door rang and the small voice of no other than Charlotte Daaé filled the room.
"MOMMY!" Charlotte ran towards the table, scooting next to her mom. "You were not there when I woke up and daddy was gone too."
Christine's eyes widened, her lips pursing in anger. Naomi took a seat across from Christine. She looked exhausted.
"Go sit next to Naomi, please." Christine spoke softly, placing a quick kiss on her daughter's forehead. "You look awful."
Naomi managed to crack a smile. Her golden hair was thrown up into a loose bun, her eyes red from lack of sleep. Christine's heart swelled. She couldn't imagine what had happened last night.
Charlotte made her way over to Naomi's side of the booth.
"Why wasn't Erik there?" Christine asked, stuffing fruit into her mouth.
"He went to work very early, around five. I heard him rustling around the study." Naomi shrugged her shoulders. "He said he'll call me when he's ready for Charlotte."
"What?" Christine halted in her eating. "What do you mean?"
"He wanted her for the day." Naomi smiled. "I think he's taking her to the studio. I don't know, really."
"Hm, that's interesting. He didn't leave a note or anything?" Christine furrowed her eyebrows in curiosity.
"He sent me a text around seven, asking me if I could bring Charlotte around his work." Naomi took out her phone and searched through her messages. "Here." Showing her phone to Christine, Naomi leaned back.
Vera walked over to the table, kneeling down to eye level.
"Charlotte, my sweetest girl. I haven't seen you in so long, my my! How old are you now? 17? 21?" Vera smiled widely, bringing in Charlotte for a tight, long-needed hug.
"No! I'm five, almost six." Charlotte flashed an almost identical smile that her mother gives. That was something she definitely got from Christine.
"Oh, right, yes! Your birthday is in a couple weeks, isn't it?" Vera smiled again, grabbing Charlotte's hand. "Are you excited?"
"Yes, yes, Miss Vera. I am excited!" Charlotte excitedly clapped her hands. "And I'm going to be a big sister!"
Vera nodded along, happier than ever to see her favorite customer.
"Do you know if you're going to have a sister or brother?" Vera glanced at Christine, but the ballet teacher was busy eating.
"It's a baby!" Charlotte smiled widely, wrapping her arms around Vera. "I know it's a baby!"
"Hey, if Mama allows you, I can take you over to the counter. Mikey just made some cupcakes, they're fresh out of the oven. I might not see you for your birthday and I'd like to give you a treat." Vera stood to her feet, looking at Christine again, then back to Charlotte.
"Of course, but remember your manners, Char." Christine wiped her mouth.
Charlotte grabbed Vera's hand and then they both disappeared behind the counter. Christine's heart was full.
After finishing her meal, and giving Naomi her slice of pie (apple pie is Naomi's favorite), the two women sat silently across from each other. Charlotte was still with Vera, she was in good hands. Naomi, though, remained quiet and unwavering. Her gaze was distracted, fixed on something outside. Christine couldn't figure out what was so interesting, but she thought nothing of it.
She only wished she wasn't in this position. She hated liars and Erik was surely lying to her.
As always.
"Erik... He's..." Naomi sighed, her hands shaking from how nervous she was.
"He's what, Naomi? Hey, you can tell me anything, love. I promised I won't tell him that we spoke. It's confidential, this conversation." In all honesty. Christine was terrified of the answer. Part of her wished she never asked, but the other part of her is yearning desperately for the answer. She was torn.
"He's been seeing Bailey. You know, his ex fiancée?" Naomi pressed her lips together, avoiding eye contact. "I heard him talking to her a few times on the phone. And Quinn, that's the least of his problems right now... It's just... I phoned in to listen and..."
"And what?" Christine's heart was beating too fast. She could barely see straight. "And what, Naomi?"
This was it, this was everything she feared piled up into one menacing sentence.
"He has a kid with her. His son, it's a boy. It's about, I want to say ten..." Naomi fiddled with her thumbs.
"What? You must be mistaken. Bailey cheated on him with some ass from her Zumba class..." Christine's voice was breaking. "How can this be?"
"Well, I mean... She thought it wasn't Erik's, and that's why he left... But she had taken a paternity test after swabbing some DNA off of a cup he used... and She was mistaken, they have a son. They must've slept together... And then she slept with that Zumba guy not short after... And she must've gotten all jumbled..." Naomi was in tears. Christine remained silently to herself.
Gathering up enough strength, Christine stood up and exhaled.
"I have to go."
Naomi's blurred eyes looked up just in time to see a gathering of brown curls running away from the kitchen.
Christine needed out, out of the mansion, out of Erik's life, just for a little, or a lot. She couldn't decide...
Everything was so blurry, her head foggy.
Christine managed to make it to the garage, taking whichever car was closest. She couldn't stand it.
The whirling of emotions, overwhelming her.
She probably shouldn't be driving.
BRR. BRR. BRR. BRR.
Christine fumbled through her purse, her phone ringing and vibrating.
"Hello?" Christine spoke quickly.
"Christine...?" An unfamiliar voice spoke back to her.
"Yes, this is she. May I ask who is calling?" Christine put the phone on speaker.
"My name is Pietra, I'm a doctor at the local general hospital. There's been an accident. Can you come in?" Pietra's accent was thick. Christine's heart halted.
"Y-Yes... Who... Who w-was in the accident?" Christine immediately pulled a U and headed towards the hospital.
"You were listed as her next of kin. It's Meg. Your sister."
Christine had been in contact with Meg. They would text message each other, send letters too. Meg even stopped by every time Charlotte had a birthday. If it weren't for Meg and her mother, Christine probably wouldn't be alive. After being adopted from foster care, she and Meg became inseparable.
Christine was sure she wasn't breathing.
"I'll be there as soon as I can, thanks Doctor."
PRESENT DAY
Christine sat in the dark of the study.
She went back home to the mansion after the funeral. She didn't want to be alone.
"Christine, I'm..." Erik's sullen voice entered the room. Christine didn't even turn to look at him.
"I know." Christine mustered enough breath to respond. "Please go, Erik."
Since she had found out about Erik and Bailey, Erik had been on Christine's hit list. Christine even told Naomi to take Charlotte to her old apartment, because she knew the fight was going to be a big one with Erik.
He didn't have any excuses.
"He's my son."
Those words repeated over and over again in Christine's ear.
She couldn't believe it.
She couldn't believe any of this.
Meg passed away shortly after Christine had arrived to the hospital. The accident was so bad that Meg would've bled out anyway. There was no hope for her.
Christine had passed the news on to Raoul, gathering up a small group of family to say goodbye at the hospital. Erik didn't show up, he was nowhere to be found.
It's not like Christine would have wanted to see him anyway. He has a whole other family she didn't know about for all this time. She didn't know what to do with that information.
All she could do was sit, sit and sit. Just waiting for the baby to arrive. She still had a month.
She wanted the baby out now. She was tired of being pregnant. She was tired of not seeing her feet. She was tired.
She wanted to sleep, but every time she tried, she couldn't stay asleep. Memories of her and Meg would flood her mind, and she would become restless.
She wished for nothing more than death.
Death after all, would not betray her.
No, it would not.
PART ONE OF
ROOM 211
COMPLETE