It had now been one month since Scarlett showed up on the porch. Her tummy was beginning to protrude and Erik knew it wouldn't be long before Christine began to ask questions. Every night Erik would feed Arietta bottle on the couch while holding Scarlett in his other arm with his hand stroking her stomach. He talked to the child every night even when Scarlett was asleep.
On Christmas Eve, Erik and Scarlett knew they had to finally she the news with the de Chagny's. Christine was asking far too many questions about the recent couple. So that night, Gustave, Raoul, and Christine came over.
While they were eating dinner, Erik cleared his throat, "So, Scarlett and I have an announcement."
"What's that?" Raoul asked.
"We are getting married and expecting a child."
"What!" Christine slammed a fist into the table.
"Chrissy, stop," Raoul said softly, "Congratulations, sir."
"Thank you, Raoul."
"No! Can you not control your sexual desires? First, you impregnate my friend and then less than a year after she dies, you impregnate another young fool!"
"Stop," Scarlett said through tears.
"You are silent, little toad!" Christine screeched.
"No, Erik, we have to tell them what really happened. I can't let them think that you're a pig."
"You can't ever speak of his conversation again..." Erik said.
"Fine! I'm listening," Christine said.
Scarlett told her story in gory detail that caused both Raoul and Erik to blush. Christine remained silent until the end and then cried, "I'm so sorry I treated you the way I did."
Raoul had tears in his eyes as he reached across the table and shook Erik's hand. "You're one hell of a man, Erik."
"I won't let another child go through what I did. No child will ever feel as unloved as I did. I won't sit by and watch it."
"This miracle will never know," Christine said and grabbed Scarlett's hand, "Us moms will stick together."
Gustave reached for Erik and Erik gladly welcomed the young boy onto his lap. While he was holding Arietta in his other arm, Gustave snuggled into his chest.
"Oh! Raoul, get the camera! Just look how precious!" Christine cooed.
Raoul hurried to find the clunky apparatus that took these new fangled home photographs. He snapped a picture nearly blinding Erik. "Dear God," he blinked a few times. The dysfunctional family laughed and then continued celebrating Christmas preparing for a quiet wedding ceremony the next day.
YOU ARE READING
Healing a Broken Soul
أدب الهواةWhat happened to the Phantom after the lair? Where did he go? What did he do? Well, he finds his way to NYC with Meg and Madame Giry only to continually face sadness and rejection that is until he opens his heart to the one who has always been there...
