Time After Time

Chapter 25: Do You Want to Know a Secret?

The home of the Hughes on 356 St. Pierre Road in Bel Air stood still and quiet that next day as Lauren roamed through the different rooms. It was days like these she cherished, nowadays, where she could listen to the distant sound of cars driving past the house and the birds chirping their song in the afternoon sun.

Though today was supposed to be The Beatles day off. However, they were whisked away by Brian to attend a party for Alan Livingston, the President of Capitol Records. Lauren wished she could have gone, but Brian informed her that she wasn't needed, as other American photographers for the papers would be at the event.

'I could have easily taken the photos to a newspaper, but whatever,' her jealous thoughts ran through her mind as she strolled into the living room, trying her best not to think of the person she missed the most.

Dean left the house yesterday night to return to his home in Malibu while Lacey's parents, Phillip and Susan had left for a surgeon conference that was out of state. The house was empty and Lauren wasn't sure she liked just how quiet and eerie the home was.

With the stillness, John lingered through her mind continuously, trying to push him to the back of her thoughts. John was nothing but sweet to her, especially when he once again snuck into her room last night just to be with her, to make her feel wanted and special. The love and relationship between them had grown since Vegas, and they still had another month left of this tour. She wasn't sure how much longer she could avoid his temptations.

However, the conversation with Susan, Phillip, and Dean didn't help and made her thoughts more conflicting. Lauren couldn't deny that she was very much in love with John, but damn, the timing was just not the greatest.

'Why couldn't time place me in a situation where John wasn't tied down?' Her eyebrows furrowed from her annoyed thoughts, until she spotted the black grand piano on the other end of the living room, just aching to be played.

A smile she couldn't hide instantly spread across her face the minute her fingers skimmed the shiny ebony exterior of the piano.

Lauren loved playing the piano, as it was the first instrument she learned to play and it always brought her so much joy. She could get lost for hours playing it. While she was married to Jason, she never had time to play it as he also didn't think it was a useful talent.

She sat on the black padded piano bench as her fingers stroked the beautiful ebony and ivory keys. Despite her wish to ignore her musical talent, John let that side of her shine once again. Although Lauren's mind was strictly set to photography, he always insisted on hearing her play with her beautiful voice.

Regardless of how great she was, she had to remind herself that she was still Lacey during this time, and Lacey didn't know how to play, or could even carry a tune. Paul was already suspicious, and she didn't need to give him anything else to question her about.

Lauren glanced at her watch and scanned around the room, ''They've only been gone two hours. I'm sure they'll be there the rest of the night,' she thought as her fingers gently pressed on a few keys, listening to the sound echo throughout the entire house.

After a half hour of playing a few different songs on the piano, she felt relieved as if a part of her true self was finally being released after so many years of being locked up. She poured her emotion into the delicacy of her playing as she sang along with a few different tunes. For once, Lauren was happy with how everything was in her life right now. She finally felt free, wanted, and loved and it was all because of John.

A warm smile glowed on Lauren's face as she began to play Adele's 'Make You Feel My Love', one of her favorite songs to play and sing. She began to sing her heart out, as if this was her ode to John and how she truly felt for him.