Erik and Christine: Loves Secret (A Phantom of the Opera Story)

Chapter 21

The next day, Christine is in the library reading. A servant enters the room, walks towards her and says, "Excuse me Miss Daae. There's a note for you from your fiancé." She raises her eyebrow at him; confused to why Raoul has written her a letter. Christine lightly takes the letter from the servant, opens it and reads it. The servant leaves the room as soon as Christine begins to read the message.

"My little Lotte,

I hate to tell you in this way, but I didn't want to wake you up. Darling that I'm going to be staying out of town for two weeks on business plus I need to find the right outfit for our wedding day/ I know I promised that I would go with you to your cousin's wedding, but I can't make it. I know I promised that I would spend as much time with you as possible and I will, but I want what's best for us. Besides my father is there and it will be great that you two can catch up. I promise, as soon as I get back I will do whatever you want to do. I love you so much.

Love,

Raoul"

Christine takes the letter, squeezes the paper and shuts her eyes as she takes a deep breath. In her mind, she says, "Oh Raoul. You broke your promise...again."

Later that night at dinner, Christine and Raoul's father Ralph are talking about life, interests, and memories that were shared in this house. "How's dinner?" Christine politely asked.

"Wonderful!" Ralph replied.

"Good."

Ralph and Christine look at their food for a moment then, Ralph takes his napkin and asks, "So did you get a letter from Raoul today?" Christine pauses from eating for a moment as she is confused about how his father knows about the letter. She is also conflicted on she should say if he asks what his son wrote to her. Christine wipes her lips with her napkin, puts it down and replied, "Yes, I did."

"What did it say? No, let me guess. "I have to go out to town on business" and all that," said Ralph. Christine blinked several times as she is astonished that he knew somehow that was what Raoul wrote to her. "Yes...it did. Why did you - "

"Yes. I'm not surprised. That happened a lot when I was his age. But I must have passed it down to him when he was young. I mean that's what happened to me when my father would travel on business. But then again Raoul also left because he was angry when I would tell him to not worry about life. As like he did last night when I told him that I got married again," Ralph implied.

"You are married now?" Christine asked.

"Yes. I have been for two years now."

"Oh, congratulations! I wish I would have known."

"I wanted to tell you both, but I figured it would have been best if I told Raoul first."

"And it didn't go well did it?" Christine asked.

"No, it did not," Ralph replied. By the look on his face, Christine knew that Raoul did overreact and didn't take the news very well. Knowing that Raoul did not like the idea of someone taking over his mother's place. Ralph looks away then stands up and says, "If you don't mind, I need to rest."

"Of course. Besides I have to write to my cousin," Christine remarked. Ralph smiles, walks and stands in front of her. "Perhaps we can talk more about this tomorrow?" He implies.

"Yes sir," Christine replied as she smiles and turns to him.

Ralph tilts his head down and says, "Good night Christine."

"Good night."

Ralph leaves the room. As he leaves, Christine looks at the candle flame and thinks to herself about what Raoul's father said. After dinner, Christine went back into her bedroom and paced in her room and thought thoroughly about writing to her cousin or not about the issue. Finally, she decided to write to her.