All You Need Is Love

Are They Okay?

YEAR: 1980

"Mary, what do ye wanna do for yer 16th birthday?" I asked while making the kids breakfast.
"I'd like to go to New York," she repiled.
"No! France would be more fun!" Stella argued.
"No, I don't wanna go to France,"
"Ye don't wanna see where ye were born?" I asked while handing everyone breakfast.
"I was born in France?" she asked with a grin.
"Mhmm. The Beatles were tourin and I was nine months pregnant with ye, I went into labor, and 7 hours later, here ye were,"
"Where was I born mum?" Heather asked.
"New York," I lied.
"Mum, yer such a bad liar! Where was I born?" she chuckled.
"I'm not lyin!"
"Whatever," Heather ate her breakfast.
"Where was I born?" Stella asked.
"Liverpool,"
"What about us?" Beatrice and James asked symltaniously.
"Liverpool as well,"
"MUM WHERE WAS I BORN!" Heather demanded.
"I'LL TELL YE LATER! Now everyone eat breakfast, I'm gonna go wake yer father up,"
"Why does he always sleep late?" Mary asked.
"I dunno, he's been like this since we were 16,"
"Ye knew each other when ye were 16?" Mary chuckled.
"Yeah, we met when we were 15, well I was 14, but yeah, we were young,"
"Like Julian and I," Heather smiled. I finished pouring a cup of tea and turned to her.
"What do ye mean like ye and Julian?"
"Did I tell ye?" she gave me a nervously smile.
"Tell me what!"
"Julian and I are engaged," she quietly cheered.
"HEATHER YER 17!"
"AND IF MY MATH IS CORRECT YE GOT ENGAGED WHEN YE WERE 18!"
"FOR GOD SAKE JULIAN IS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL!"
"And he'll be out in 5 months!" she leaned back in her chair.
"YE GUYS WERE ONLY DATIN FOR 2 YEARS!"
"BUT WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER SINCE BIRTH!"
"NO YE HAVEN'T!"
"What do ye mean?"
"YER ADOPTED!" Everyone let out a gasp and turned to Heather. Heather stood up from the table, tears filling her eyes. She stormed out of the kitchen and headed for the garage. "Heather wait, I'm sorry," I grabbed her arm, but she pulled away.
"DON'T FUCKIN TOUCH ME!" she slammed the garage door, I heard her start her car and drive off.
"What is goin on?" Paul asked walking down the stairs. I ran over to him and began crying into the crook of his neck. "What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry Paul!"
"Why are ye sorry?" he pulled me off of him and made me look him in the eye.
"I accidentally told Heather she's adopted,"
"What! Where is she!"
"I dunno, she drove off,"
"Fuck!" Paul sprinted to the garage and started his car.
I walked back into the kitchen, all the kids had stopped eating.
"Happy birthday Mary," I dried my eyes, "I'll book us a flight for New York later today,"
"Thanks," she whispered.

Paul came back several hours later with Heather.

"Found her," he said pushing her into the living room.
"Where did ye go?" she didn't answer me, "Tell me!" I demanded.
"I went to Julian's!" she yelled back. I looked to Paul.
"Did ye know they're engaged?"
"Yer what!" Paul became angry.
"Yeah, it happened last week. It's not a big deal,"
"But-"
"Yer only 17... I know, mum already gave me the lecture,"
"Yer so young,"
"I know, but I love him. I invited him to New York,"
"Fine, he can come," I said, trying to compromise.
"THANK YE MUM!" she hugged me.
"But he buys his own plane ticket,"
"THANK YE! THANK YE! THANK YE!"
"Mhmm," I smiled as I rolled my eyes. She pulled away and laughed.
"So who's my birth mother?" Paul and I looked to each other, not wanting to tell her. "MUM!"
I took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes, "her name is Linda Eastman, she's an American,"
"What's she like?"
"I dunno, tall, blonde, crazy,"
"Okay then, bein adopted explains a lot," she chuckled.
"How so?" Paul and I said in unison.
"Well, everyone's short...and brunette,"
"Yeah, yeah, long legs, go pack for New York, we leave on the 7th,"
"Okay," she chuckled.
"I should call Jude, tell her she has to look after the house and Mar-" I stopped myself. "Sorry Paul, I didn't mean to bring her up,"
"It's alright, we're all still adjustin," his eyes watered. "I miss her Mich,"
"So do I," we sat in silence, "I'm gonna go call Jude," I whispered.
"Why? There's nothin to look after," I let out a sigh.
"Then let's go pack. C'mon," I grabbed his hand.
"Okay,"
As we began walking up the stairs Heather called us from her room.
"Mum! Can Julian stay here?"
"How long!"
"Just the 6th! Ye know, since we're leavin the 7th!"
"That's fine...he sleeps on the couch though!"
"THANK YE!"