When Love Begins

The Strange Melody

Christine POV:

We got to the hotel and got everything settled in. Gustave was in his room, and I was on the balcony, listening to Raoul rant and looking at the sea.

"What a dreadful town, what a vulgar place. What an awful mistake to have come here. To be on display, in that shameless way, for the crude common lower class scum here."

"Father dear, come play with me. Come and see this toy I've got." Gustave came out of his room holding a toy.

" What a snob at most, from our so-called host. Did he think sending freaks would be funny? Could the fool have thought, that our pride was bought by his filthy American money? What a fuss, what an out right slap in the face. It's an utter disgrace. I've got a mind to pack and go. Never you mind the debts we owe. Who would believe we've sunk this low?"

"Father please, come play with me!"

"Gustave! The answer is no!" Gustave sat down at the piano and started to play a song. Raoul took a drink and sighed.

"Must you play right now?"

"I think it's lovely, Father."

"What is it anyway?"

"I don't know. It was just here on the piano." He continued to play, and Raoul continued to drink. I walked over to Raoul and put a hand on his arm.

"Please lets not fight dear. I'm sure Mr. Hammerstein never intended a slight dear." He shook my hand off.

"We never should have accepted. It's your fault we came here."

"We need the money. That's all. That's why things haven't been right dear."

"Why doesn't it surprise me that I get the blame here?" He started to walk towards the balcony. I put a hand on his arm to stop him.

"Let's leave tonight dear. If that would serve to ease your troubled mind. Leave the hurt behind." I put my hand on his cheek, and he reached up to hold it. He seemed to realize that he was wrong, and sorry. For a moment, I saw a glimpse of the man I fell in  love with.

"Father please come over here and look at what they gave to me. Wind it up and father see. Look, it plays a melody!" Gustave started to wind up the toy and Raoul sat down behind him. He put his hand on Gustave's shoulder, as if thinking about something. The music started to play, and it was a tune I knew all to well. One that haunted all of my dreams. I sang along in my head. Order your fine horses now. Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes. Nothing can save you now, except perhaps Christine! 

"Raoul," I wanted to tell him that I thought we were for reasons unknown to us. He looked at me as if to answer, but there was suddenly a knock at the door. He answered it, and brought back a letter. He smiled and started to put on his overcoat. 

"What is it?" I asked.

"A note from Hammerstein. He wants to meet me in the hotel bar. Alone."

"Alone?"

"Well, he may lack business courtesy, but he sure does have a knack for picking a business randevú."

"Raoul," He started to walk out, but turned back to me.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just...don't drink anymore please." He rolled his eyes and walked out. I turned back to my son.