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“Well, I think it is safe to say that was the worst production I’ve been to,” Erik said with a quiet sigh as he descended the grand staircase of the opera house, his wife on his arm. His eyes flicked upward when they heard a loud crash of thunder from outside. “Oh, good, the rain hasn’t stopped. And to think, I was worried we had missed it.”
Christine let out a soft laugh at his deadpan expression. “I am certain it will not be that bad,” she said gently. “It is only a bit of rain.”
Erik sighed again, his sullen expression only breaking when he glanced over to her and he noticed her encouraging smile. “I suppose the evening could be worse. I have you. That is a gift in itself, most certainly.”
His companion’s cheeks reddened lightly at the compliment, watching her feet as walked, though a small smile graced her features. “That is very kind.”
“It’s the truth, Christine,” Erik insisted, his free hand coming to rest over hers. “I have married a lovely woman. Do let me compliment her. At least once in a while.” He gave a smile when she merely let out another of her soft laughs in reply.
Moving to take her hand instead, Erik led his wife out of the Palais Garnier foyer and out onto the rainy Parisian street. He picked up his pace, his wife running behind him as they quickly made their way over to the parking garage where they had kept their vehicle. It took them a moment to orient themselves and find the right section of the garage, but they soon found their car, the door to which Erik quickly opened for his wife.
“Here you are, Madame,” he said, a playful smile on his face as he bowed at the waist and waved her into the passenger’s seat.
Christine smiled at the gesture as she slid into the front seat, her damp skirt sticking slightly on the leather. “Thank you,” she said softly, pulling her skirt out of the way of the door. “Ever the gentleman.”
“I do try,” Erik replied as he shut the door, then hurried around to the driver’s side, sliding into his own seat. “I always endeavor to be a gentleman around you. I do hope, after our years together, you’ve learned that.”
“I have,” Christine assured, smiling at her husband as she watched him push the button to start the ignition. As he focused his attention on backing out of their tight parking space, she reached over to lower the air conditioning in favor of turning on the heat, the stormy weather having significantly cooled off the atmosphere. “I do hate it when the weather is like this.”
“As do I,” Erik said, putting the car back into drive and starting to drive towards the exit of the parking garage. Once he was driving, he reached over to turn on his wife’s seat warmer, giving her a quick smile as he did. “Unless I’m inside and reading. Only then will I deem this sort of weather acceptable.”
“I have to agree,” Christine replied with a small smile. “Inside with the two of us sat on the sofa with a blanket and a book. That sounds lovely right now.”
“It certainly does. Perhaps, when we get home tonight, we’ll have to arrange that,” Erik said softly “What would you say to that, my dear?”
“I think that would be lovely,” Christine said softly, giving him a smile.
Erik nodded and smiled back at her as he pulled their car out of the garage and onto the streets of Paris, the puddles on the road shimmering in the light of the streetlamps. “We’ll do that, then,” he said, only to chuckle softly. “As soon as we get the little one into bed.”
“Yes, that is a priority. I only hope she will fall asleep easily. Goodness knows she does not always.” Chrisitine sighed quietly as she thought about the potential of another late night spent up with their daughter, glancing out at the rain-soaked street. She could not do that yet again, it would drive her mad.
Leaning her head against the glass of her window, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Do we…have to go home straight away?”
“Whatever do you mean, my dear?” Erik asked. “What is it you would rather do?”
“Could we not go somewhere? It is late, to be sure, but there must be somewhere. Or we could simply drive.”
“I suppose we could. A drive may not be a bad idea. I’m sure my father won’t mind keeping Bella for a while longer.”
“I am sure he will not. He loves her very much,” Christine said with a smile. “They are sweet together.”
“They are,” Erik agreed, a matching smile on his face. “I don’t believe he expected to have grandchildren. Bella’s arrival was, surely, a very happy surprise for him.”
“I know it was. He could barely get to the hospital fast enough to meet her,” Christine replied, laughing quietly at the memory. “He was so very thrilled.”
Erik nodded, looking over at his wife as they stopped at a stoplight. “He was. That is why it’s so easy to get him to babysit.”
“Precisely.” Christine chuckled a bit, fondly shaking her head. “Gerard has been good to us, has he not?”
“He has. I’m very fortunate that he has been so supportive,” Erik said softly. “Though I believe he worries for me more than is healthy.”
“Perhaps he does,” Christine agreed, “but he is an attentive grandfather. Our Bella is fortunate to have him.”
“She is, yes,” Erik replied with a nod. As the stoplight turned green, he paused for a moment to consider their route, then pressed the gas and turned left—the opposite direction of his father’s house. “But I think I will take you up on your request to drive for a while. It’ll be quite nice, I think. Peaceful in the rain.”
“I think so too,” Christine replied softly, only to smirk slightly when a thought occurred to her. “That is, at least, unless we go a bit faster.”
Erik quirked a brow as he briefly glanced over at her. “Are you asking me to speed, Christine Carriere?” he asked.
“I believe that I am,” his wife replied with a soft laugh. “Your thoughts?”
“On the fact that you’re asking me to break the law a bit? All in the name of us trying to enjoy this rainy evening and a chance to feel young again?” Erik queried before a toothy grin spread across his face. “I love it.”
Christine giggled quietly, holding on to the ceiling handle as her husband pressed his foot on the accelerator.
* * *
Erik brought his car to a stop just outside of his father’s house, making sure it was parked as perfectly as possible before turning it off. With a content sigh, he turned to his wife and smiled, then started to laugh quietly as he reflected on the carefree ride they had just embarked on. “That, my dear, was likely the most ridiculous thing you and I have done in some time. At least that I can think of,” he said.
“I am definitely in agreement with that statement,” Christine replied with a laugh, unbuckling her seatbelt. “I must admit that it was fun, though.”
“It was, yes,” Erik said, reaching out to grasp her arm before she could move so that he could lean over and kiss her, confident that they were shielded from prying eyes by the darkness of the moonless night.
Christine savored the kiss for a few moments before she broke away, giving him a smile. “Thank you for tonight, my love.”
“It was my pleasure. I only wish that the opera had been better,” Erik said with a soft chuckle. “That was a disappointment.”
“Perhaps you will have to write them a letter with some corrections, as you used to do before we got married,” Christine said with a chuckle. “Perhaps they have missed your assistance.”
“It certainly seems as though they have. Night and day, they complain about me, but suffer when I’m finally gone. Serves them right, frankly,” Erik replied with a huff.
“They likely are glad to be rid of their anonymous critic, though they do seem to require your help,” Christine agreed as she got out of the vehicle, starting down the front walk of her father-in-law’s home.
“Seem? They do require my help, tonight was a mess,” Erik chuckled as he followed her lead, exiting the vehicle and locking it before he hurried to join his wife.
“No more unrequested critiquing, Erik. We have discussed this many a time,” Christine chided softly as she reached out to knock gently on the door.
“Yes, my dear, I remember,” Erik said with a quiet laugh. “I am still sending a letter, though, that was ridiculous.”
“Seeing as though I am not talking you out of this, fine.” Christine shook her head. “Stubborn man.”
Erik couldn’t help but smile at his wife, amused by her annoyance, and he pressed a soft kiss to her temple. A moment later, he turned towards the door when it opened to reveal his father in front of them, a diaper bag on one arm while the other held Erik and Christine’s young daughter, Belladova, against his chest.
“Hello Father,” Erik said softly, smiling at the older man. “How was your evening?”
“Surprisingly calm, considering how fussy this little one can be,” Gerard said with a bit of a laugh. “Now, where were you two? You should have returned an hour and a half ago.”
“We went for a drive after the opera. We lost track of time,” Erik said, his smile turning a bit sheepish as he wrapped an arm around Christine’s waist. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s alright. As long as the two of you had fun. And besides, it gave me a little extra time with Bella,” Gerard said with a smile as he passed the diaper bag to Christine, then set his now free hand over his granddaughter's back and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Goodnight, my sweet. Be good for Mama and Papa, alright?”
“I hope she’ll take those words to heart,” Erik said with a soft chuckle as he stepped forward to carefully take his daughter into his arms, kissing her forehead as he moved to cradle her against his chest. “Hello, my darling.”
Bella stared up at her father for a moment, smiling at him, though the expression quickly faded in favor of a yawn as she stretched her chubby little arms.
“Oh, how sweet,” Christine said with a quiet laugh.
“Someone’s sleepy, hm?” Erik asked, one hand moving to cradle his daughter’s head as she leaned it against his shoulder, her face tucked in the crook of his neck. “Go to sleep, then, my little love.”
“I don’t think you’ll have any trouble with that,” Gerard said with a quiet laugh. “Take her home, you two.”
“We will,” Christine said with a smile as she stepped forward to kiss her father-in-law’s cheek. “Thank you again, Papa. Rest well.”
“And you too, my dear,” Gerard replied with a smile, watching by the door for his family to get into their car and drive away before he stepped back inside and closed the door behind himself.