The Sound of Silence | Paul McCartney ✅

22

25th April 1963

I walked down the aisle, people turning to watch me on every row, all of them smiling and all of them here to watch me marry the love of my life, Paul McCartney. The man-in-question was at the altar, watching me walk towards him with John at his side as his best man and Ringo and George beside John as his groomsmen. My three bridesmaids were waiting on the opposite side from the men; Maureen and Cynthia.

"I do," Paul said as he took my hands in his own and promised to have me as his wife in sickness and in health, for better or for worst, for richer or for poorer.

I agreed, "I do." And we were pronounced man and wife.

I woke up feeling disorientated, what had that dream been about? But knowing what I had to do. I got up, wrapping my kimono around myself and went straight over to the phone in the living room. I dialled Brian Epstein's number. "Is Paul there?" I asked as soon as I got an answer.

"Who's calling?" It was his secretary, June, who I had not spent a lot of time talking with, though I knew her because Paul had mentioned that she dealt with all of Eppy's phone calls.

"Adaline Quinn."

"Just a moment, Miss Quinn."

A second later, Paul's voice came through the phone and I felt myself instantly relax. "Dolly?"

"Is it too late to take you up on your offer?"

I could almost hear the grin on his face as he replied, "'course not." He paused. "I'll send a car and Mo fer yer now."

"Paul?" He hummed in response. "I love you." It had slipped out, but I knew that I had planned to say it at one point, because it was true. We'd known each other for almost a month, and we were moving quickly, but already I knew that Paul McCartney was the one for me, and the one that I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with.

He breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm so glad you said that..." he paused, "I love you more."

He hung up and I squealed in delight. He loves me!

As promised, Maureen knocked at my door about twenty minutes later, a grin on her face. "You're coming!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms around me by way of greeting.

Laughing, I nodded. "I am!" I agreed.

"What're you wearing? Have you packed!?"

I shook my head. "Not completely yet, no."

"Come on!" She dragged me into the bedroom and began to throw my clothes into the open suitcase on the bed.

"Am I limited to the number of bags I can bring?"

She shook her head. "If we want it, we get it!" Mo then looked under my bed for another suitcase, bringing it out and stuffing my underwear and about seven pairs of shoes in there. "Anything else you want? We can buy things on the road too!"

I laughed at her enthusiasm and shook my head.

"Ad!? You here?!

"It's my brother!" I left Maureen in the bedroom and went to see Henry, who had walked into my flat despite the door being closed. Apparently, he knew where I kept my spare key. "What're you doing here?"

Jean was behind him. "Wanted to know if you wanted to come out -"

"Can't." I answered.

"Can't get the suitcase shut!" Maureen called out from the bedroom.

"Suitcase?" Jean and Henry echoed.

"Where're you going?" Jean asked.

"On tour."

"With Paul?" Jean asked. I nodded.

"Is that a good idea?" Henry asked in a sceptical tone of voice.

"Of course it is, Hen." My friend replied. I went into the bedroom to help Maureen and Jean and Henry followed me in.

"This is Maureen," I said, gesturing to the girl. "She's Ringo's girlfriend."

"Nice to meet you." Jean and Henry chorused.

"I still don't think this is a good idea -"

"I guess it's a good thing that I'm not asking for your permission then." I answered as I tried to help Mo zip up the suitcase.

"What're you going to do about work?"

"Fuck work."

"And Paul." Maureen added in a teasing, playful tone of voice.

I slapped Maureen's arm playfully, giggling. Jean and Maureen giggled too, though Henry did not look impressed in the slightest.

"See you in a few months -"

"Months?" Jean and Henry exclaimed.

"That's ages away!" Jean pointed out, sounding like a whiny child.

"Maybe you can come to a show a little sooner then," I relented, "but I won't be back for a while."

"But -"

"See you." I hugged them both and kissed Jean's cheek before I grabbed a suitcase and asked Maureen to take the other one. Henry sighed and took the suitcases from both of us, carrying them downstairs for us, grumbling all the while about losing his only sister to a Beatle.