AN: Thank you to those so kind as to review. There probably won't be any updates for a few days. Have a few projects that need to be attended to. Hope you all enjoy. : D
Chapter 24. When A Man Loves A Woman
"You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of Barley
You'll forget the sun in its jealous sky
As we walk in fields of gold," (1)
I sang as I typed my fantasy.
"So she took her love for to gaze a while
Upon the fields of Barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among the fields of gold." (1)
A night without Isabel. As hard as it would be for me to restrain from serenading my love to her all night long, I must find contentment in professing my love in words… in my writing… in my story…
Our story…
Our love story…
"Will you stay with me, will you be my love
Among the fields of Barley
We'll forget the sun in it's jealous sky
As we lie in fields of gold." (1)
Although the story did not allow for as much passion as that between Satine in me, there was no doubt that the love was there all along.
Would it stay?
"See the west wind move like a lover's soul
Upon the fields of Barley
Feel her body rise as you kiss her mouth
Among the fields of gold." (1)
Spinning a tale of love. Of bliss. Of ecstasy. Of reaching distant galaxies and defying gravity.
"I never make promises lightly
There may have been some that I've broken
But I swear in the days still left
We'll walk in fields of gold." (1)
I wanted to count each freckle upon her face. Memorize its location. Whisper dreams and hopes that would eventually come true. No longer empty promises that I knew, with Satine, would never be. In this love story, death would not claim the lovers before their love could even begin.
The completion to a love story…
Could this be happening to me?
"Many years have passed since those summer days
Among the Fields of Barley
See the children run as the sun goes down
Among the fields of gold." (1)
Love indeed lifts us up where we belong. How the words left my lips and came upon paper as if my heart were truly speaking.
Was it possible to be so enthralled in such an affair? Was it possible that in the span of half a year, I have allowed myself to fall for a woman who has changed so much?
No longer hidden behind a cloak…
Not nearly as much surprise when complimented…
Carrying herself with more confidence than contumaciousness…
"You'll remember me as the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in its jealous sky
That we walked in the fields of gold." (1)
"I see that you and Isabel are doing well again," Toulouse entered with a grin.
"According to whom, may I ask?"
"Who?" Toulouse laughed. "I do not need anyone to tell me of the matter. I know when two people are in love. When a man can spend hours writing endlessly about the feelings that this love has aroused. When a man can find such inspiration… such complete…"
"She is wonderful, Toulouse." I grinned, fighting the urge to run to the Moulin Rouge to see Isabel again. "I… I cannot think anymore. It is just like Satine, Toulouse. I can write. You can see that, of course. But… I cannot describe it. I… I never knew…"
"Never knew I could feel like this!" Toulouse sang with exclamation. (2)
"Yes! Yes!" I stood up, not minding when the typewriter came to a crash on the floor.
"You have not been drinking, have you?"
"What need have I?" I laughed. "Oh Toulouse, fortune is on my side, for once. I went inside the Moulin Rouge. I ate beside Ziddler. Nothing horrible occurred. Isabel is completely fine. This is all going to work out."
"Why are you not with her right now then? Does Ziddler know of your love?"
"Isabel is telling him tonight…"
"Are you sure?"
"I trust her, Toulouse."
"What about Gregory?"
"You know of him?"
"Yes, of course, you all are not the only ones to know of their engagement. It is the word around the streets."
"She is engaged, Christian."
"Isabel plans to break off the engagement tonight. She will come to me tomorrow. We'll be together."
"Do you truly believe it shall be that easy?"
"Yes."
"Christian," Toulouse stared at me long and hard in the eyes. "Think about it. Do you truly believe nothing horrible shall happen."
"It is a possibility," I admitted after a few moments of silence. "But one that I wish not to acknowledge or think about."
"I do not doubt Isabel's love Christian," Toulouse said. "But Gregory is Duke. He is of high power. He has money. In Paris, although it is the city of love, some still find other things greater. Ziddler knows of only one thing of worth to him, and that is exactly what Gregory has."
"When a man loves a woman
Can't keep his mind on nothin' else
He'd trade the world
For a good thing he's found
If she is bad, he can't see it
She can do no wrong
Turn his back on his best friend
If he puts her down." (3)
I sang the truth of the matter until Toulouse decided he wanted his say as well.
"When a man loves a woman
Spend his very last dime
Trying to hold on to what he needs
He'd give up all his comforts
And sleep out in the rain
If she said that's the way
It out to be." (3)
"When a man loves a woman
I give you everything I've got
Trying to hold on
To your precious love
Baby please don't treat me bad." (3)
"When a man loves a woman
Deep down in his soul
She can bring him such misery
If she is playing him for a fool
He's the last one to know
Loving eyes can never see." (3)
"Yes, when a man loves a woman
I know exactly how he feels
'cause baby, baby, baby
I am a man
When a man loves a woman." (3)
"I hope Gregory is as heart-filled as I have heard," Toulouse remarked.
"I hope that Gregory is all that we have to worry about," I closed my eyes, silently praying that whatever occurred turned out alright.
"It's undeniable
that we should be together
It's unbelievable
How I used to say that I'd fall never
The basis you need to know
If you don't know just how I feel
Then let me show you now that I'm for real," (4)
Gregory sang to me when I joined him back in the Moulin Rouge. "You truly are wonderful, Isabel. Beyond words. Beyond anything."
"No more wonderful than you are," I replied, in all honesty. "I am nothing special."
"You are beautiful… ma belle." Gregory led me to my room, professing the same melody he sang when I met him.
"One, you're like a dream come true
Two, just wanna be with you
Three, girl it's plain to see
That you're the only one for me, and
Four, repeat steps one through three
Five, make you fall in love with me
If ever I believe my work is done
Then I start back at one…" (4)
"You shouldn't be here at this hour of the night," I said to silence him. "If people found out… if Ziddler were to walk in. If anyone were to walk in…"
"It's so incredible
The way things work themselves out
And all emotional
Once you know what it's all about hey
And undesirable
For us to be apart
Never would of made it very far
'Cause you know you got the keys to my heart
'Cause…" (4)
Guilt made my heart race, and I only wished to run out of the room. Gregory, feeling the acceleration of my heart, drew me closer to him and whispered his song in my ear.
"One, you're like a dream come true
Two, just wanna be with you
Three, girl it's plain to see
That you're the only one for me, and
Four, repeat steps one through three
Five, make you fall in love with me
If ever I believe my work is done
Then I start back at one." (4)
The shame. The guilt. The knowledge of what I needed to do.
His love. His promises. His complete trust in me.
I knew both sides of the matter… knew what I must do…
But could I do it?
"Say farewell to the dark night
I see the coming of the sun
I feel like a little child
Whose life has just begun
You came and breathed new life
Into this lonely heart of mine
You threw out the life line
Just in the nick of time…" (4)
"Gregory," I set my hands on his shoulders, wishing to take his mind off of his song to listen to me. "There is something that I must tell you."
"One, you're like a dream come true
Two, just wanna be with you
Three, girl it's plain to see
That you're the only one for me, and
Four, repeat steps one through three
Five, make you fall in love with me
If ever I believe my work is done
Then I start back at one…" (4)
His song at its end, he kissed me lightly on my lips, making me close my eyes at his sentiment. He placed a kiss on each cheek and then planted one on the center of my forehead, digging his fingers deep within my hair.
"You are everything I need," Gregory told me when I opened my eyes.
I did not deserve him…
"What did you have to say to me, ma belle."
It was my chance...
…to tell him the truth.
"You must go," I answered. "My Uncle might live in the Moulin Rouge, but there is a respectable hour for a man to be with a woman in the night."
"No need to cry, Isabel." Gregory wiped away my tears and kissed me once more. "Until we see each other tomorrow."
"Until then…"
I collapsed to my knees, knowing I only dug my hole deeper.
There was no denying now that I was related to Harold Ziddler.
I was becoming just as well with deception and lies as he.
1. Sting "Fields Of Gold"
2. Ewan McGregor & Nicole Kidman "Come What May"
3. Percy Sledge "When A Man Loves A Woman"
4. Brian McKnight "Back At One"