Catherine and Aphrodite took their mother out to lunch and then the shops. They shopped for hours. The girls begged their mother to tell them what she got for Erik, but to no avail.
   Christine smiled at her daughters' pleas. It reminded her of when they were younger. It seemed so long ago, how young and innocent they were. Oh, what she would give to have them all—including herself—be young again.
   In seeing her children grow up, Christine was simultaneously happy and sad. It made her happy to see what wonderful individuals they all became, yet she was saddened at the fact that she was getting older.
    How many years did she have left with her children and husband? She was keenly aware of her illnesses. She was no longer the innocent girl of sixteen that she once was. She was older and much weaker now. For all she knew, she or Erik were going to die the next day. That prospect frightened her.

   "Mother?" Catherine summoned, gently placing her hand on Christine's shoulder. "Mother, are you alright?"

   "Yes, I'm quite alright, my dear," Christine replied. "I was just thinking. That's all."

   "What were you thinking about?" Aphrodite inquired.

   "I was remembering my youth and when I first met your father. I would give anything to relive that."

   Suddenly, the clock struck four o'clock and Catherine said, "Oh dear, look at the time. We must make haste in getting back to the opera house. We don't want to be late."

   "Late for what?" Christine asked.

   "All in time, Mother Dear. All in time," Aphrodite responded.

   The three left the shop and drove straight back to the opera house.
   Catherine and Aphrodite led Christine into her old dressing room. Catherine looked at her sister with a smile. She turned to her mother and using her best imitation French accent, said, "You did very well, my dear," she paused. She picked up a red rose, handed it to her mother, and continued, "He is pleased with you."

   Christine took the rose, but gave her daughters a look of confusion. "What's going on?"

   Instead of responding, Catherine and Aphrodite left the room.
   Christine didn't know whether to stay or follow. She knew that she could have just slid the mirror back and gone down to the catacombs, but something told her that maybe she shouldn't. Not yet, anyway.
   Outside the dressing room, Gustave had appeared and his sisters gave him a bouquet of flowers. Catherine asked, "Do you know your lines? We can't mess this up."

   "I've been practicing with Father for hours," Gustave replied. "I know every one of my lines by heart."

   With that, Gustave opened the door and found his mother sitting at her vanity mirror. "Little Lotte let her mind wander. Little Lotte thought, 'Am I fonder of dolls, or of goblins, or of shoes?'"

   Christine turned and smiled at her son. "Gustave. What's going-"

   "Or of riddles or of frocks?" Gustave continued.

   "Gustave, What on earth-" 

   "Or of chocolates?" 

   "Gustave Destler, What is the meaning of this? You are talking in riddles!"

   Gustave gave of a quite laugh. "All in time, Mother Dear. And now, we go to supper."

   Christine was finally understanding what was happening. They were reenacting the night she first met Erik and Gustave was playing the part of Raoul. She thought for a minute and said, "No, Gustave. The Angel of Music is very strict."

   "Well, I shan't keep you up late," Gustave said with a laugh. "You much change. I'll order my carriage. Two minutes, Little Lotte."

   "Gustave, wait!" Christine exclaimed.

   Gustave exited the room and locked the door behind him. "I did it," he said, sticking his tongue out at his sisters like a little child.

   "Really, Gustave! We aren't five. You are a man of forty-six! Act your age," Aphrodite chided.

   "Act your age," Gustave mimicked in a high-pitched voice and walked away briskly, before his sister could retort.

   "Oh!" Aphrodite exclaimed angrily.

   "Calm yourself, my sister. There is work yet to be done. We must make haste to finish. Father wants this to be perfect and I do not wish to disappoint him. Come," Catherine urged.

   Christine changed into the white gown she wore many years ago and waited. "If Erik is reenacting the night we first met, he should appear on the other side of that mirror at any time now," she thought.

   Just then, all the lights in the room flickered and went out and Erik's voice boomed, "Insolent boy! This slave of fashion, basking in your glory. Ignorant fool! This brave young suitor, sharing in my triumph."

   Christine remembered that night very well and sang the correct response. They sang back and forth to each other just as they had done before.

   Erik then sang in a more seductive tone, "I am your Angel of Music. Come to me, Angel of Music."

   Erik and Christine slid back the mirror together and the wife took her husband's hand. She began to sing, "In sleep he sang to me. In dreams he came..."

   When she finished, Erik took a deep breath and in his still booming voice sang back, "Sing once again with me our strange duet..."

   And like this, the shtick continued. It didn't cease until Christine held that famous final high note and they reached the main room where Apollo was playing Music of the Night.

   Erik complimented Christine saying, "Angel I hadn't any idea that you could still sing like that. Bravi, bravi, bravissimi!"

   "Thank you, Angel. I didn't know I could still sing like that either," Christine laughed. "Did you really prepare all of this for me?"

   "Of course I did. It was no trouble at all. It was quite entertaining actually. Please, come this way," Erik coaxed, leading his wife into the dining room.

   Christine gave an exclamation of delight when they reached the well-decorated room. "It's wonderful!"

   "Do you like it?"

   "Like it? I love it! Erik, it's perfect. Thank you."

   "Anything for you, Angel."

   The couple sat down and ate dinner and had a lovely time. It was all very romantic. Everything was perfect, down to the last detail.
   Apollo sat at the piano all night and played many familiar songs. It was a joy to Erik and Christine to hear their son play so well.
   After dinner, all the Destler children and grandchildren joined Erik and Christine to watch and see what they had gotten each other. Erik's gifts were always very well
thought out and romantic, and they were of great interest to the others.
   The husband gave his wife the little velvet box. She opened it, revealing the rose pendant. "Erik, it's..."

   "Just like your mother's?" Erik guessed with a knowing smile.

   "Yes. How did you know? How did you have it replicated?" Christine asked in astonishment.

   "I found the painting of your mother wearing it one day. I took it down to the jewelry store and showed the jewelry maker. He said that it would be easy to replicate. It cost a fortune, but it was worth it."

   "How ever were you about to afford this?"

   "Monsieur Andre's grandson, Louis André, still pays me my twenty thousand francs a month."

   "Does he? I was not aware. So, he really did take over as the opera house manager?"

   "That's another conversation for another time, Dear. Let us enjoy our night."

   Next, Christine handed Erik a rather large package. He openly it to reveal a new black cape and a fresh pair of leather gloves. "This is the silk one I was looking at a week ago, and these gloves...I..."

   "I know. You're welcome," she replied, kissing her husband.

   "Christine, I love you. Thank you for choosing me."

   "I love you too, Erik."

Author's Note: The picture above features the necklace Erik got for Christine.