Parenting Paul

Chapter 5: Surprises

After John had left, Paul walked outside and began making his way toward his favorite bar, when he noticed extremely bright flashes in the distance. "Ouch!!" Paul cried as he covered his eyes from the light, and heard footsteps running towards him. "Oh my god....I'm so sorry! Are you alright?" An angelic woman's voice asked calmly as Paul's eyes readjusted. "Yeah, it just caught me off guard....." Paul reassured her as she touched his face. "I apologize, I was trying to photograph the historical buildings around here......I didn't expect anyone to come into frame...." The lady explained as she pushed Paul's greasy hair out of his face. That was when they recognized each other, and their eyes sparkled with excitement and unexplainable emotion.

"Linda!?" Paul began to smile wide as she giggled at him, and her luxurious blonde hair blew in the wind. "Paul..my gosh...I'm terribly sorry....I hope that I didn't disturb your evening walk..." Linda apologized as Paul giggled. "It's alright....I'm just wondering....what are you doing here?" Paul asked enthusiastically as Linda chuckled awkwardly back. "I was at Buckingham Palace....the band called The Animals was playing for her Royal highness earlier tonight, but also in part....I'm back to see you.... I had so much fun on your friend's yacht...and my heart was aching to be with you again..... I couldn't bear to be across the ocean from you anymore......" Linda explained as Paul pulled her closer. "It appears that I came back not a moment too soon ....look at yourself...." Linda said as she touched his hair again. "You're a wreck, you poor thing...." She whispered as she gently touched his cheeks.

"The Beatles are breaking up.....I just.....I knew it was coming.....ever since Brian died....but now that it's actually happening..... it's just really hurting me..." Paul whispered as Linda nodded with sympathy. "There there.....how's about we get a few drinks ...and spend some time together....." Linda asked as Paul nodded, they wrapped their arms around each other and headed back to Paul's apartment. Back at the apartment, Paul and Linda made their way to Paul's bedroom, where they had found themself underneath the blankets. "Ugh....yes...yes....that's what I needed...."Paul grunted as Linda sighed. "What...." She said breathlessly with a grunt. "A real ...woman..." he grunted again as she sighed. "What....ugh....makes....me....a real...woman?" She asked as she tried to hide the fact she was giggling. "You're naturally beautiful, you care about other people, not materialistic bullshit..... and.......I still remember your lemon meringue buttercream pie you brought to the Sergeant Pepper's launch party...." Paul giggled with a grunt as Linda scoffed at him.

"My father and brother told me that bringing you all that homemade pie was a waste of time, and not professional business...." Linda whispered as Paul grunted again. "Well....I enjoy being able to participate in a waste of time.....as that pie was to die for....." he whispered as they both giggled. "Shut up.....come on, you don't...ugh ....mean that" Linda teased as he grunted and pushed himself into her. "I do....you play by your own logic.....spontaneous....not what the world expects.." Paul encouraged as he grunted again. "Y'know....I'd really love it if you'd met my daughter.....she needs....needs a father figure ....to encourage her to be able to express her own quirky ways of life...." Linda began as they both grunted again. "No one at home really encourages her to be herself other than me....and it's hard to raise a child on my own....y'know..." Linda grunted as Paul nodded. "I'd love to meet her....she sounds lovely...." Paul grunted as Linda moaned.

The next morning, birds were chirping near the window, which woke up Linda, who had fallen asleep in Paul's bed the previous night. Slowly, Linda turned her head back and her eyes shifted slightly to see Paul still sleeping with his arms wrapped around her. "You're a wonderful man ... James Paul..." she whispered as she stood up, walked to the kitchen and grabbed her purse which was sitting next to John's glasses that were accidentally left on the table. Linda then, headed to the bathroom, sat on the toilet and rummaged through her purse until she found a tiny plastic pen device. Then a few minutes passed, and Linda watched as the plastic device began to show two light red lines. "Shit..." Linda whispered with panic as she ran out of the bathroom back towards Paul's bedroom. Paul was still asleep, which made her sigh with relief as she rummaged through her purse again for a tiny notepad and pen to write a quick note. Softly, Linda placed the paper on the side of Paul's bed she had slept on, and then she slipped out to the hallway.

Once the door was shut, she made her way to Paul's rotary phone and dialed on it. "London's Hilton Luxury Hotel, this is Jillian!" The phone said happily as Linda turned toward the hallway, to make sure that Paul had not woken up. "Hello there, I need to speak to room 33...." Linda said softly, trying to keep calm. She listened to the phone trilling, as she waited, she bit her lip, and sighed. "Lee Eastman, here?" A man asked with confusion on the other end. "Dad....it's Linda...." Linda soon answered as she heard the sound of a young girl laughing in the background. "Linda....where are you? We're gonna miss our flight back to New York...." Lee asked as Linda took a deep breath, and turned to the hallway again. "I know...I'm sorry, I...um...must've lost track of time...." She began as she looked forward again. "You can say that again, now where were you? You cannot expect me to be in charge of Heather until the wee hours...." Lee scolded as Linda sighed. "Yes, I know, I was with Paul, such a broken heart, I can't imagine his position, losing everything he's known the last several years..." Linda explained with compassion as Lee sighed with annoyance.

"That's none of your concern, you have a young girl here who needs her mother....." Lee reprimanded Linda as she rolled her eyes. "Dad.....I think that it's time for Heather to meet Paul....he is very lonely, and I think it's time to make this reality for her." Linda said much to her father's discontent. "How do you wanna go about that Lin?" Her father asked as she sighed and looked down the hallway, and listened to Paul's snoring projecting back to her. "Linda!" Lee snapped as Linda looked back towards the phone. "Just bring her where I am......I'll introduce them to each other.....here and now...." Linda said with fear as Lee sighed. "Alright....give me the address."

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While Linda spoke to the phone, she heard a knock on the door, which caused Martha, the old English sheep dog, to bark hysterically. "Shh!!" Linda panicked as she hung up the phone, and walked towards Martha to calm her. Meanwhile at the Hilton Luxury Hotel, Lee stood by the phone listening to the beeping tone in confusion as Heather walked up. "Stupid contraptions!" He grumped as Heather shyly pulled his coat. "Heather Louise, you know better than to interrupt phone calls....." he scolded as she looked down in shame. "The phone is beeping, it means mama's stopped it..." Heather corrected as Lee sighed and hung up the phone. "We'll gather your satchel and coat.....and let's get to Cavendish Avenue..." Lee ordered as Heather ran off to the beige twin bed her flower backpack sat on.

Back at Paul's apartment, Linda was kneeling by Paul's dog Martha, when she heard another knock on the front door, which made Martha bark again. "Shh..it's okay Martha..." Linda said sweetly as she made her way to open it. Standing in the doorway was Yoko Ono with her long black hair and her large white silky sun hat covering her face. "Hi, can I help you?" Linda asked shyly as Yoko looked up to be able to see her.. "I came here to pick up John's glasses, he left them here.....is Paul awake?" Yoko asked as Linda watched nervously. "Oh...I see...no, he's still asleep, but I can grab them for you....if you'd like..." Linda offered as Yoko pushed her way inside. "Nonsense....." Yoko said as she walked through the apartment. "Well.....um would you like some coffee? I don't think Paul's gonna mind if you have a cup....." Linda offered as Yoko turned to her. "I'm not here for coffee..." Yoko began bitterly, making Linda turn to her with perplexity. "I'm here to pick up John's glasses, he left them here...." Yoko finished as Linda nodded. "I see....I know....but, would you like some coffee?" Linda asked again. "No!" Yoko finally snapped, which prompted Martha to bark again.

"Alright, got it.....I'll leave you to it then, I should be going anyways.....I'm a photographer, I have lots of assignments for the New York music scene that I need to get done." Linda said anxiously as she patted Martha on the top of her head, grabbed her purse and slipped out the door as Martha continued to bark and growl. "MARTHA SHUT UP!!" Paul soon scolded from the back of the hallway, as he began to walk towards the kitchen. He then ruffled his hair as Yoko stood watching him. "Your dog is obnoxious...." Yoko scoffed as Paul rolled his eyes with irritation as he made his way to the coffee pot. "Someone around here should be allowed to object about you stepping into a business you shouldn't have control over" Paul began as he poured himself a cup of coffee. "And my own apartment..." Paul whispered under his breath, but Yoko didn't acknowledge him as she finally grabbed John's glasses off the table, and put them into her left coat pocket.