Love Song to Simone

by E. S. Hart

  “Put your arms around my neck,” he instructed her as he leaned over.

  Simone found herself hesitating before doing as he instructed. She felt him carefully place his arms under her legs while taking great care with the right leg to ensure that he didn't ruin the splint or move the leg in any way. He lifted her up slowly and carefully into his arms.

  Simone found herself marveling not only at the man's strength but the gentle nature in which he handled the situation. She found herself up in his arms and looking directly into his eyes behind his mask.

  Jake looked at the woman he held in his arms. She was so beautiful he thought to himself. He found it hard not to lower his head and to kiss her but he knew she would definitely freak out if he did. He wasn't sure if he liked the fact that this woman stirred in him feelings that he had tried to suppress ever since he had decided to become a recluse. He put his mind back on the task at hand and proceeded to carry her over to the door to the bedroom to walk out of the room. He took her into the living room and placed her in a large, recliner chair in the room.

  Simone couldn't help but take in the room; it was quite nice she thought to herself. There was a nice comfortable-looking, beige sofa in the center of the room right beside a brick fireplace ahead of it. There was a small table with four chairs around it which could have been considered a sort of dining set. She noticed that the kitchen was off to the side and had oak cabinets and a light brown, granite counter top. The room just like the bedroom had a rustic feel with the log walls and the wooden floors. But, there was something against the picture window that really grabbed Simone's attention. There was a black, baby grand piano sitting there. She looked over at it in astonishment realizing that all the music she had been hearing and thinking had all been a dream hadn't been a dream at all. It must have been all along this man playing the piano.

  CHAPTER 6

  “So you've been playing the music that I've been hearing in my room,” Simone concluded as she looked over at Jake.

  “Yes, well like you said I need something to pass the time. Playing the piano for me is a good way to unwind and relax,” he admitted and hoped that she didn't figure out the mystery about his identity because of the music he had been playing.

  “Would you play for me now?” she asked while noticing Jake glancing down at his gloved hands.

  “I don't feel like playing right now,” he told her in a reluctant tone. “I prefer to play only in front of Max.”

  “But if what I have heard is any indicator of your talent you're quite good,” Simone told him. “You seem to know many of the pieces of the famous, pianist, Jacques Moreau.”' she stated, then noticed how Jake looking abruptly over at her.

  “You know who he is," he cornered. "I would have never taken you for the classical music type.” He surmised and felt a great unease at her revelation.

  “Actually, I have loved his music since I can remember, which was probably when he was at the height of his career,” she replied. “I know, silly right? I know most girls in their teens are more into the teen heartthrobs, but I found myself admiring a concert pianist and composer. He had such beautiful songs…then for some strange reason it was all over. He seemed to just disappear off the planet. So, how do you know his pieces?” she inquired.

  “Like you said he wrote beautiful music,” Jake commented in a brushed aside tone. “I also play the music of Mozart, Beethoven as well as other fine composers," he added and hoped that the subject of Jacques Moreau would finally end.

  “Yes, I have heard some of those pieces as well, although you seem to lean more towards the work of Moreau” she observed. "You are quite a gifted pianist. In fact, you seem to have a unique gift.” Simone really did think so. Whoever her would-be caretaker was this much she did know about him. He was extremely talented.

  “Could we please drop the subject,” Jake said raising his voice to her bluntly.

  Simone was taken somewhat aback by this. In all the time she had known him, even when she was yelling at him herself Jake hadn't raised his voice at her once. Yet, now that she was complimenting him on his rare talent he seemed to get defensive with her.

  Simone saw Jake walk over to the bookcase that was against the wall behind the piano area. She watched as he grabbed some of the books off the shelf.

  “These might help occupy your time while you're here," he stated as he walked back over and handed her a few of the books.

  “You seem to be a man full of surprises," Simone declared while looking at the books. "Jake you live such a simple life out here, yet you are a connoisseur of good music and also fine novels,” Simone countered as she continued to look down at the books to see that they were some great classics in literature.

  “Well, I'm glad the books meet with your approval. Now if you will excuse me I am going to go and clean your bedroom,” he told her as he proceeded to walk out of the living room followed by Max,

  Simone sat there looking down at the books and then back over at the piano. She started to find herself wondering about her host. This man seemed to live the life of a recluse, yet there were signs all over that he was far from one. The books, the piano, even the log cabin itself wasn't the average cabin in the mountains. It had at least two bedrooms, a spacious, nicely furnished living room, and from what she had witnessed so far at least two bathrooms. This place had to have taken money to build and furnish. She knew from conversations with Jake that he had money, he just wouldn't tell her from where. Her mind started to drift back to the piano and the beautiful music that Jake made while playing it. Jake was obviously an accomplished concert pianist; there was no denying that. Yet, when she had told him this, instead of being flattered he jumped down her throat more or less telling her to mind her own business. Why would he act in such a way? It then dawned on her as if the realization was staring at her in the face literally. He told her that his name was Jake, which she knew was a shorter nickname for the name Jacob which could be translated in the French language to Jacques. Oh dear, God, Simone thought to herself, could this man whom had saved her life and was now treating her actually be none other than Jacques Moreau himself?

  CHAPTER 7

  It all seemed to add up, Simone thought to herself. It would explain why he played the piano so beautifully, but at the same token, it didn't make any sense. Why would Jacques Moreau a man of such extraordinary talent be held up here in the middle of nowhere? She started to think back to what had become of the great maestro. The last report the public had heard about was that he had chosen to enlist in the army to go into battle after the attacks on American soil on September 11, 2001. Yet, it had still stunned, Simone and no doubt many others that he had chosen to put his promising career on hold to take part in the war effort. That was the last information anyone received on Jacques Moreau. She never knew what became of him after that. Some had even speculated that he had been killed in combat, even though nothing was ever reported. But then there was that mask and those gloves, what was he hiding, she wondered? If he was the famed composer why not go public? Why not let everyone know he was alive? Simone told herself it couldn't be him even if the signs seemed to point in that direction. Someone like Jacques Moreau wouldn't cut himself off from the world, would they?

  Simone's thoughts were interrupted when she saw Jake coming back into the room followed by Max. Max obediently went over to where Simone sat putting his head in her lap which was an indicator to her that the dog wanted her to pet his head. Simone smiled a little as she started to do so. She turned her attention back over to Jake and couldn't help but look over at him as if studying his profile. He seemed to have the same towering height that Jacques Moreau had that she could remember. He also had the same dark hair. In the past, she had seen Moreau perform on talk shows back in the day so she knew all too well what the man looked like. It also dawned on her that he had the same eyes of the man in all of the dreams she had recently; it had been Jacques Moreau. Coincidence, maybe she thought, he had been her music idol, she had to
admit. This man whoever he was did know the maestro's music quite well. That might explain why she found herself dreaming of a man she hadn't thought of in years.

  “Is something wrong, Simone?” Jake asked her. “You seem to be studying me more intensely than usual,” he observed and felt, even more; unease with the way she seemed to be surveying him.

  “No, I was just thinking that's all,” she told him. What else could she say to this man, oh, by the way, could you remove that mask so I could see if you are actually Jacques Moreau? She saw how he had lost his cool when she had just brought up his extraordinary talent for playing the piano. If she brought this up no telling how he would respond.

  “What were you thinking about?” he inquired with great interest.

  “I was just thinking that I would like you to reconsider. I mean, I would very much like to hear you play the piano and not from the bedroom but here in the living room,” she stated with urgency while making up a cover story which wasn't too far from the truth. She did very much want to hear him play while she was in the same room. Simone saw him look over at her while wondering if he would turn her down flat again.

  “Very well," he replied in defeat, knowing this woman wasn't about to give up on him playing the piano anytime soon. "After dinner, I will consider playing the piano for you,” he told her and he observed how she smiled over at him. “That is provided you shut your eyes when I ask you to and not open them till I tell you to before and after I finish playing,” he instructed as he glanced down at his gloved hands yet again.

  Simone couldn't figure out why he wanted her to do such a thing but found herself nodding in agreement.

  ≈

  Later that evening after dinner had finished, Jake built a fire in the fireplace that seemed to add certain warmth, along with a euphoric atmosphere to the room. Simone also noticed for perhaps the first time the kerosene lamps in the room. Jake may have had some source of electricity, but apparently, he tended to use it sparingly. Not that she was complaining about that, somehow the lamps seem to only add to the overall feeling in the room by adding a soft lighting. She saw Jake walk over to the piano from where she sat in the recliner chair across the room.

  "Now shut your eyes and don't open them till you hear the music start to play,” he instructed and he watched as Simone did as she was told.

  A few minutes seemed to pass before Simone heard the music from the piano playing. She opened her eyes and found that when she looked over in the direction of the piano she didn't really see much of Jake's body sitting behind it playing. She noticed that the piece he had chosen to play was a piece from Mozart. It was a beautiful song, no doubt about that, but she had to wonder if he was deliberately avoiding the pieces by Jacques Moreau since they had a conversation about the famed composer earlier. Maybe she was making more out of this than need be. She had asked the man to play for her, not to play something by Jacques Moreau, she told herself. The next piece he played for her was the "Blue Danube Waltz" by Strauss. The man certainly knew his music and she could have sat there all night listening to him play.

  He stopped playing and looked over at her. He could see her eyes drooping down and knew that it was time for her to go to bed and get some rest.

  “Why did you stop?” she asked while her eyes opened back up widely.

  “It's getting late and you need your rest,” he told her. “So please shut your eyes again and don't open them till I tell you to,” he instructed once again.

  "Oh, that again," Simone replied while wondering what was truly up with this man. Simone did as he had instructed and shut her eyes. She found that this time it took a bit longer for him to tell her to open them. She heard the distinct sound of the keyboard cover to the piano shutting as she continued to keep her eyes shut. She so badly wanted to open her eyes and see what he was obviously trying to hide from her but right at that very moment, she didn't want him to lose his trust in her in doing such a thing.

  “You may open your eyes now,” Jake told her.

  Simone opened them to see that Jake was now standing in front of the recliner chair. He leaned over her. “Put your arms around me again,” he instructed and he watched as she did so. He gently lifted her up again and proceeded to carry her back into the bedroom he had given her.

  “I loved listening to you play tonight,” she told him as he gently placed her onto the bed. She watched as he made sure that her leg was properly positioned before proceeding to pull the blankets over her.

  “Thank you,” he told her with an uplifted tone of voice.

  Simone could tell by his voice that he seemed to appreciate her compliment. “I hope you will play for me again,” she stated with encouragement.

  “I will play for you every night from now on, that is till you are well enough to leave,” he promised her. “But you must remember to always do as I tell you when it comes to shutting your eyes when instructed to do so," he stated bluntly.

  Simone wanted to ask him what was the reason she had to do this but she didn't want him to take back his offer so she just nodded her head. Yes, she thought, whoever this man was he definitely was strange. And if what she suspected of him as being Jacques Moreau, she definitely wanted to know why he was hiding behind a mask and in a secluded cabin off the beaten path.

  CHAPTER 8

  Mel Richmond rushed into his office and saw the woman sitting behind the reception area. He walked over to his secretary in a flustered way.

  The receptionist looked up at him.

  “I take it you were again mobbed by reporters who want answers about Simone's whereabouts,” she stated and watched him nod.

  “Yes, and what they fail to realize is we want answers just as well. It's now been a little over a month, Julie and still no sign of Simone at all. I am starting to really get frantic here in finding her; not just because of the fact that she is a valuable commodity in the music industry, but because I truly cared about that young woman. I would hate to think she met with foul play,” he stated with great worry etched in his voice.

  “We are all worried, Mel. By the way, Sergeant Porter called and said that they are still running into dead ends in finding her. But he felt under the circumstances with the press, along with the public breathing down his neck for answers that he should keep you updated none-the-less.”

  “Yeah, well he's not the only one feeling the heat from all directions. If only we had the answers that everyone wants.”

  ≈

  Simone found that her life had become somewhat of a pattern since her leg was still not completely healed. She had begun going through physical therapy to regain some of her mobility by exercising her left leg and by working on her upper body strength. Jake had reassured her that her right leg had been healing well and was definitely on the mend. Simone found herself again wondering about this man and who he really was. Maybe he wasn't Jacques Moreau, after all, given the amount of medical knowledge that he seemed to have and the way he took care of her she didn't think that the great maestro had such knowledge. Yet, his genius on the piano had her again wondering again about Jacques Moreau. She wanted so badly to just ask him who he really was but still feared what his reaction to that question would be.

  ≈

  One night, Simone sat in her customary, recliner chair listening to Jake play the piano. She glanced over at Max; the dog seemed quite content lying near the fireplace listening as well. When Jake stopped playing Simone shut her eyes as she was now accustom to doing without even being told.

  “You may open your eyes now,” he told her.

  Simone did as she was told and again found herself looking up at Jake as he hovered over her. “I guess the concert is over for tonight,” she stated a bit disappointed.

  “Perhaps soon you could join me in a few of the pieces that have actual words to them. You have the most beautiful of voices,” he told her and he saw how she looked up at him with a smile.

  “I forgot you were familiar with my music,” she stated.

 
“Thanks to this radio I have, I've heard you sing quite often,” he stated, indicating to the clock radio on the end table nearby.

  “I wonder if I will have that career to go back to, though,” Simone told him in a somewhat solemn tone.

  “Why wouldn't you?” he asked in a very curious manner.

  “Well, the music industry can be pretty fickle if you are gone for long periods of time without leaving a lasting mark. You tend to be forgotten or thrown over for the next big craze that comes in the door.”

  “The world never forgets real talent, Simone, as you said those who leave a lasting mark are never forgotten and are always welcomed back. You have real talent never doubt that,” he reassured her. He looked over at the fire that seemed to be dying down. He knew that it needed to be stoked; otherwise they could lose the warmth inside the cabin. He took one of the fireplace pokers and started to stoke the fire, however, he wasn't paying attention as to where his other hand was located and touched a hot smoldering ember. He felt the pain go searing through his black, leather glove. “Ouch,” he stated as he grabbed hold of his hand.