Unfaithful

A/N- Sorry for the delay on this one, plan to update it regularly. All lyrics are the property of their respective composers...not me


“Christine?”

Christine glanced up, looking for the source of who had called her name.

“Hey, it is you!”

“Oh my God, Meg…how are you?” Christine jumped from her chair and gave her friend a tight hug. “Sit…have some coffee. It’s been way to long.”

“Entirely too long.” Meg pulled out the adjacent chair and sat down. “You look great.”

“Thanks, so do you. When did you get back to New York?”

Meg looked sheepish. “Oh…about a year ago.”

“And you’ve called me how many times?” Christine teased.

“I know, I know, but…” She looked at the counter. “Hang on, they just called my order.”

Returning with her cup of espresso Meg continued on. “No, I have been busy- no, rephrase that-I have been swamped with work at the Manhattan Lyric since I got back from London.”

“Manhattan Lyric?”

“Oh, it’s a relatively new opera company- nothing like the Met. Smaller, lots of up and coming talent, performs the classics along with lots of new materials. I do mostly PR for them, and then of course whenever they need dancers…” she grinned.

“Sounds wonderful.” Christine suddenly realized how she thirsted for music news. “You’ve got to tell me all about it.”

An hour and several biscotti later, they finally rose from the table. “Meg, I am beyond jealous. It sounds amazing.”

“Jealous? Christine, you sound like you don’t have a thing.”

They headed to the door. “The truth, Meg? It feels that way. Everything we do, everywhere we go, most of the people we know... it all ties back to Raoul. I…” Christine broke off as she walked outside.

Meg followed and seeing the tears gathering in her friend’s eyes quickly enveloped her in a hug. “I didn’t know, Christine. Is there something I can do?”

Christine sniffled and tried to pull herself back together. “No Meg. I know how petty this must sound I’ve just…” She took a slow breath. “I’ve just got to find something to claim as my own.”

They started down the sidewalk. “Like what, Christine? Something with your music again?”

“Hmmph. I haven’t sang seriously since Julliard. I wouldn’t know where to start- I’ve spent the past six years being a trophy, not rehearsing arias. That would look great on a resume.”

“Wait!” Meg stopped excitedly. “I just remembered there is an opening for a position at the Lyric. Assistant to the director for the new production of Faust that’s going to open the fall season. I can put in a good word if you’re interested.”

“I don’t know…”

“Oh come on! What do you have to lose? You can come by tomorrow morning and drop a resume. I don’t know when interviews are going to start…probably fairly soon…” Meg seemed to be half talking to herself. “Anyway, you still could get your resume in.”

“Assistant to the director?” Christine laughed. “Meaning I make coffee, answer his phone, and polish his shoes?”

Meg grinned. “Hey you said you needed something!”

“True enough. Hell I don’t have anything to lose- why not?”

“That’s the Christine I remember.” Christine stopped as she realized they were in front of her apartment building. Meg gave it an appreciative glance and looked back at Christine in near disbelief. “Remind me again what you’re complaining about?”

Christine gave her a wry look. “I know Meg, but in all honesty I would trade with you in a heartbeat.”

“Hmpff. Might want to see my neighborhood first.”

“I would invite you up, but Raoul’s probably back and after this morning…I..”

“No ..you don’t have to explain anything to me.” Meg interjected quickly. “I’ve got to head home anyway and get some laundry done. Here-“ She opened her bag and scratched on a piece of paper. “This is my phone number, email address, and the address and phone number for the Lyric. Someone should be in the office by 9 tomorrow.”

Christine took the paper and enveloped Meg in another hug. “You don’t know what this means to me.”

“Oh yes I do…besides someone has to make the coffee.”

That brought smiles back to both their faces before saying their goodbyes. Christine waved as Meg headed on to the subway station.

Riding in the elevator, she read over the information on the paper and then clutched it again in her hand.

A chance….that’s all I need…a chance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sounds of Madame Butterfly filled the room as Christine typed away on her computer. She hummed along with the familiar lines, finally unable to resist joining the recording when Un Bel di began.

She stood from her chair, assumed proper singing posture, closed her eyes and imagined herself as Cio-Cio-San. Remembering the tragedy of the character, immersing herself in the hope of her lieutenant’s return, she sang with ever growing strength.

Un bel di vedremo One lovely day we’ll see

Levarsi un fil di fumo a thread of smoke rise

Dall’estramo confin del mare At the distant edge of the sea.

E poi la nave appare- And then the ship appears

Poi la nave Bianca entra nel porto The white ship enters harbor

Romba il suo saluto Thunders its salute.

Vedi? E venuto! You see? He’s come!

Io non gli scendo incontro. Io no I don't go to meet him No

Mi metto la sul cieglio del colle I place myself at the brow of the hill

E aspetto gran tempo e non mi pesa and wait a long time, but the

La lunga attesa wait does not oppress me.

E uscito dalla folla cittadina and coming out of the city’s crowd

Un uomo, un picciol punto A man, a tiny speck

S’avvia per la collina starts towards the hill.


Christine’s voice began to fill out, remembering its depth and timbres as she continued.

Chi sara? Chi sara Who will it be? Who?

E come sara guinto and when he arrives

Che dira? Che dira? What will he say? What?

Chiamera Butterfly dalla lontana He’ll call Butterfly from the distance

Io senza dar risposta me ne staro nas costa I’ll stay hidden, partly to tease him

Un po’ per celia and partly not to die

E un po’ per non morire al primo incontro at our first meeting.

Ed egli alquanto in pena chiamera And a little worried he will call

Piccina mogliettina olezzo di verbena Little wife, verbena blossom,

I nomi che mi dava al suo venire the names he gave me when he came here.

Tutto questo avverra, te lo prometto all this will happen I promise you.

Tienti la tua paura keep your fear to yourself

Io con sicura fede l’aspetto With certain faith I am waiting for him

She felt her heart pounding with the music, the rush as the orchestra swelled to fortississimo, and imagined the applause that followed the recording was for her. Christine opened her eyes, and saw the room with different eyes. She smiled and went back to her work.