AN: Since I get to spend a Friday night at home, for once, without any engagements to keep me occupied, I thought I'd write another chapter. Enjoy.
Chapter 30. Rehearsals Of The Most Amiable Nature
"Did you have an eventful day?" Gregory inquired as we sat in the carriage on a trip around Paris. "How was rehearsal?"
"It was alright," I sighed, remembering Christian's words.
That… is acting.
"The play is beautiful though, Gregory. Magical."
"I heard that the lead is your old voice instructor," Gregory stared at me with adoration. "But you no longer are in need ofassistance in your voice. It is beyond instruction now. You have reached perfection."
"Of course not," I retorted. "I was just no longer in need of his… services."
"Why not?"
"Just…" I closed my eyes, wishing I had not went out of my way to put myself in such a position. "I was so busy with the engagement. I wished to spend more time with you. I thought it would hurt you to be apart."
"How selfish of me, though." Gregory shook his head. "No, Isabel. I cannot have you do this. You shall have your voice instructor back. You need not have to send him away on account of me."
But I already had…
"It is alright now," I promised, looking down at my hand and the diamonds that glistened upon my new ring. "My voice is fine, as you can see… or rather… hear."
"When this play is over," Gregory leaned in, his lips brushing my ear. "We can be married."
"Married…" I breathed the word that should give me joy, but only brought sadness.
"I love you," Gregory rested his head on my shoulder. "I am so glad that life is allowing me to love once again. How fortunate… how blessed… am I…"
"Never knew I could feel like this…" I mumbled, looking out the window and wishing I were anywhere but here.
"So Bella and Christopher continue with their affair," Christian recapped the previous scene to me as I sat on my bed, wishing only to grab him and drag him beside me. "They are as in love as two people could possibly be, and her husband remains oblivious to the entire matter. However, there is another man of equally high power who notices something between Bella and Christopher. He follows them in his maddened thoughts to find them professing their love once more in Bella's lover's home."
"I like a man who's crazy about me
I like a man who can live without me, too
That's what I like about you
I like a man who will lay down beside me
I like a man who will stand up to me, too
That's what I like about you." (1)
Christian hesitated when I first began to sing. A few minutes of silent came when I finished, until he finally pulled me to my feet, and followed with his lines.
"Lying here with you
Listening to the rain
Smiling just to see the smile upon your face
These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive
These are the moments I'll remember all my life
I found all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more
Looking in your eyes
Seeing all I need
Everything you are is everything to me
These are the moments
I know heaven must exist
These are the moments I know all I need is this
I have all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more." (2)
I shuddered when he reached for my hands and our fingers entwined. How it hurt to continue with this, singing with the true love that we felt, yet declaring it only to be an act.
It was tortuous.
"I don't want a man to be my twin
Under my thumb, under my skin
Don't want a man like a shadow on the ground
With nothin' else to do but follow me around." (1)
"I could not ask for more than this time together
I could not ask for more than this time with you
Every prayer has been answered
Every dream I have's come true
And right here in this moment is right where I'm meant to be
Here with you here with me." (2)
When he brought our hands against his cheek and closed his eyes, it took all of my energy and effort to remain where I was, having to be content with singing these lines and playing the role of some love-struck lover to Christian when, in reality, I was a love-struck lover to Christian.
"I like a man who will cry on my shoulder
Who don't mind if I cry sometimes, too
That's what I like about you
I like a man who can make it happen
Who can get me laughin'
When my whole world breaks in two
That's what I like about you." (1)
Even when he began to sing again, his eyes remained closed, a smile playing across his face in pure rapture.
"These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive
These are the moments I'll remember all my life
I've got all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more." (2)
Unable to have Christian in control any longer, for fear I would turn towards insanity, I released my hands, and rested them behind his neck. I looked up into his eyes and grinned, although I was unsure if it was because I was glad to finally be in his arms or because he had such a dumbfounded look on his face that he could not help appearing love-struck before my eyes.
"You can be soft, honey, you can be strong
Maybe that's the reason we get along
Ev'rything you do, you do just right
You're tender in love, tough in a fight." (1)
"I could not ask for more than this time together
I could not ask for more than this time with you
Every prayer has been answered
Every dream I have's come true
And right here in this moment is right where I'm meant to be
Here with you here with me." (2)
"I like a man who will lay down beside me
Stand up to me, cry on my shoulder
Crazy about me, can live without me, too
That's what I like about
Can't live my life without
That's what I like about you." (1)
Sizing the opportunity when I lowered my eyes, he pulled me onto my bed. With him on top of me, I only grinned in welcoming. Christian laughed and kissed me hard, roaming across my face, as if he could not get enough of me.
"Isabel… I…" Christian stopped, realizing he had lost control of himself, and he sat up, propped on his elbows as he looked down at me. "No. We can't."
"Yes, we can." I pressed, looking at him in the eyes, trying to show him that nothing had ended between us. "I love you."
"I could not ask for more than the love you give me
'Cause it's all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more
I could not ask for more." (2)
Christian cupped my face, his eyes lingering on my eyes as he moved in to kiss me tenderly on my lips.
I, however, took over the situation with the fire that had been sitting in the ashes, waiting to be rekindled once more.
1. Trisha Yearwood "That's What I Like About You"
2. Edwin McCain "I Could Not Ask For More"