“Sunny Heights”
Weybridge, Surrey
December 23, 1965
Cynthia*
A lot had happened in the ten months that had passed since last seeing John. Newly engaged, Cynthia and Andrew were in the midst of planning their move to Southampton where Andrew would be moving his practice and where he hoped they would start their family. They would marry in London this coming April and then make the move in early May. It would break her heart to leave the gallery and everything she worked so hard for, but she told herself that this was right, the logical next step. She had turned twenty-six in September and most of her friends were already married with children. It was time. Though she often still thought of John, she reminded herself of all the terrible things he said to her, how he made her feel that morning. Andrew would never hurt her like that.
Now she was on her way to Rich and Mo’s new house in Weybridge, Surrey - just down the road from John’s home. As she drove up the tree-lined, winding road she remembered the last time she was there, coming home from John’s the morning after they slept together, how she sobbed into her hands and lied to Les, telling him she had just received some bad news and had to get back to London immediately. Heartbroken, embarassed - completely humiliated. How many women had come before her?
She shook her head and glanced down to her left hand on the steering wheel. She smiled at her engagement ring as it shined in the afternoon sun and hoped John would be there tonight at the holiday party to see that she had, in fact, moved on. “You may not want me anymore, but someone does,” she mumbled to herself.
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“Hiya Cyn! Happy Christmas.” Mo smiled and gave her a warm hug once she arrived. “Everyone’s just back in the sitting room at the moment. Richie’s making drinks. What can we get you then?” She asked as they headed back to where everyone was.
“Is John here yet?”
“Yes. He was early for a change believe it or not.”
“In that case, I’ll probably do a rum and coke.”
“Try to be nice to him, Cyn. Julie left him only last week. He’s feeling quite rough.”
“That’s too bad.”
“By the way…” She smiled knowingly to her friend, eyeing the enormous rock Cyn’s left hand. “Congratulations again…”
Cyn followed Mo into the sitting room and politely nodded to their guests. “Hello everyone,” she smiled, “Happy Christmas.”
“Cyn, how are you?” Paul McCartney stood up from his sit on the couch and came over to her, planting a kiss on her cheek. “So sorry I missed you at the wedding. I was away on holiday.”
“I’m fine Paul. It’s so wonderful to see you. How are you?”
“Mo mentioned you recently got engaged. Congratulations luv. Where’s the lucky fellow?”
“He’s working,” She half laughed, “as usual.”
“Oh, right. Well, come have a drink and sit down so we can catch up properly.”
“I’ve got it…” said John, who had come up behind her with her rum and coke. “I asked Mo what you were havin’.”
“Thank you.” She said tersely, taking her drink and turning back to Paul. “I’d love that. Shall we?”
