After the Fire

Chapter 10

Amelie laid on one side of the bed with Fifi curled up in her arms, and Erik had his arm wrapped protectively around the both of them. 

Amelie woke up first and saw how they were sleeping. Her heart leapt for a moment. As much as she and Erik butted heads, it was hard to deny that she had feelings for him, especially after the Christmas gifts.

Erik woke next and looked over at Amelie. He had been tipsy when they all went to bed, so he worried that he had overstepped. However, Amelie's eyes met his and moved closer to him, careful not to wake Fifi.

"Aunt Amelie?" Fifi said quietly.

"Shhh... it's early."

"I got my Christmas wish, Auntie Amelie."

"What was your wish?"

"I wished to have a family again."

Erik kissed the top of Fifi's head.

Amelie smiled, "I'm glad you got your wish. Rest a little longer, Fifi."

They laid silently for awhile longer in and out of sleep. Erik stared at the ceiling wide awake. This is bad. Very bad. I'm falling in love with her... something I promised myself I would never do again... I can't. It will ruin our relationship and my chances to be around Fifi. But does she have feelings for me too? Is it possible?

Erik tried to push his feelings away so he could just enjoy the moment. A moment that made him feel like a normal man with a wife and a child.

Later on that day, Erik had made up his mind that he was going to try pushing his boundaries with Amelie and see how she reacted to his gestures. If she reacted poorly, he would stop immediately. If she seemed open to his affection, he would pursue it.

That evening Erik sat in the sitting room waiting for Amelie to come back downstairs. His leg was aching. He had overdone it playing with Fifi that afternoon. Amelie came in just as he was groaning and readjusting.

"Oh no! That leg bothering you again?"

He nodded.

"Did I help any the last time I stretched you out?"

"Actually, yes believe it or not... Would you..."

"Say no more." Amelie sat down on the floor, removed his shoe, and began stretching and massaging his right leg. Finally, she sighed, "How's that?"

"Much better..."

They sat silently for a few minutes. Erik broke the silence by asking Amelie to join him on the couch. She complied.

"Erik, would you teach Fifi music?"

"Of course. Thank you for asking me."

"I'm sure it'll be a slow pace, but her father was musically talented, so I'm sure she has something in her."

"She will be wonderful. She's a wonderful little girl."

"That's because of my sister... Anyhow, I think I liked that church so I'll start taking her there on Sunday's. If you'd like to come, you can."

"I wouldn't want to be an embarrassment to you."

"Erik... you're not. You would never be an embarrassment to me. As a matter of fact, they're going to be asking where my husband is anyway," she smiled.

Erik looked over at Amelie, "Only if you're sure."

"I'm positive."

An uncomfortable silence hung over the room. Erik broke it by saying, "Amelie?"

"What's on your mind?"

"Never mind. I seemed to have forgotten."

Amelie reached for his hand and squeezed it, "Well, if you think of it, I'm here." She stared deeply into his eyes, "I'm always here."

A few tears slipped out of Erik's eyes and he tried to wipe them away quickly. His mind began to race and he began to panic that he was embarrassing himself and making a scene.

"I should go to bed," he mumbled.

"Erik, don't..."

"Amelie, I..."

"Oh stop, you foolish man..." Amelie took his face in her hands and brought his lips closer to hers. Before she could kiss him, he turned his head away.

"I can't. I can't do this again," he struggled to stand up and hobbled off to his room closing the door behind him.

Amelie dropped her head into her hands. I'm not Christine and I never will be. She's what he wants... Not me. Amelie began to cry. Why can't he realize that I care deeply for him? Why is that so hard to believe?

Amelie dragged herself up to her room and cried herself to sleep.