Parenting Paul

Chapter 21: Housekeeper Knows Best

"Good morning Rose...." Paul answered sullenly as Rose smiled at him sweetly. "My my....you don't seem like yourself, what's the matter? Too many drinks at the good Ol' pub near St. John's Wood again? What have I told you about that lad?" She asked as Paul rolled his eyes. "No, it's not that, sorry, I forgot it was Sunday today..." he explained as she giggled. "Yes, it's Sunday, weekly cleaning day. Move aside my boy, and let me clean up your house like usual." Rose soon excitedly said as Paul shuffled himself so he and Rose were outside of the apartment. "Move aside..." she ordered as he blocked her from entering. "Listen Rose, you've been so delightful and helpful the last few years, but don't you think you deserve an award for all of your dedication? Like, a week off?" He asked as Rose tried to push her way through. "Now Paul, that's utterly ridiculous rubbish, I only work for you for one day a week.....I can handle whatever mess you've created over the last 7 days...." Rose argued as Paul continued to block the door. "No, really I insist, I can clean it up myself.....it's honestly just bits and bobs.....like y'know dust in between nooks and crannies ....tedious, tiresome, and not worth paying someone else to do it." He offered as Rose studied him.

"You're up to something, I can tell....what is it? Did Martha poop everywhere on the carpet again? Or did you get hammered with your mates and someone puke everywhere?" Rose interrogated as Paul clenched his teeth. Due to her curiosity, Heather soon peaked outside the door that Paul was trying to block shut, which sparked Rose's alarm. "Paul! Who is that?" Rose asked as Paul shifted his eyes down towards Heather in embarrassment and panic. "My name is Princess Tiger...." Heather answered as Rose raised her eyebrows in disbelief as she also noticed the vomit on Heather's face, crusted ice cream, as well as dried peanut butter and jam all over her clothes. Several minutes later, Rose eventually was allowed in the house as Paul gave up his attempt to avoid Rose from seeing his disastrous living situation.

"Oh god, my dear....." Rose exclaimed with horror and shock as Paul and Heather looked at the explosion of milk, broken glass, peanut butter and jam, Beatles memorabilia and Heather's vomit. "You should have called me sooner....." Rose soon reprimanded as she walked to the bathroom and grabbed two washcloths one red, one blue and other supplies, and then back to the kitchen where she damped the washcloths. "Silly silly childish boy..." Rose continued as she soon slathered Paul's forehead and face with the blue washcloth, as he had crusted ice cream in the roots of his hair and the top of his forehead. "You're too good to me Rose..." Paul thanked her as he took the cloth and rubbed his face to finish the job while Rose began with the red washcloth on Heather. "I'm definitely a firm believer that young men need their mothers, such a great shame that the  beloved  Mary McCartney isn't here anymore, god rest her soul..." Rose said soothingly as Paul nodded and handed his washcloth to Rose. "I never knew your mum, but from what Jimmy told me, she was certainly the delight of his life, and you boy's life too..." Rose continued as she rubbed Heather's face and  Paul sighed.

"What's your point?" Paul asked as he stood up and headed to the coffee machine to make himself coffee. "My point is, you need someone to motherly tend to you, so does your brother Michael.....that's my job.....and that's why I'm paid to house-keep....." Rose explained as Paul scowled at her. "That's not why I pay you? I pay you because I've got the means to, and I was traveling constantly, I was never home, I needed someone to tend to the household needs." Paul corrected as Rose began to mop. "And you haven't been on tour since 1966, and yet I've remained your employee. Has it ever crossed your mind as to why I'm still here after two years of you being stationary?" Rose questioned as she looked at Paul directly in his hazel eyes.

"Or maybe why I started helping your father, brother, step mother and sister?" Rose asked as she cleaned her mop and Paul poured his coffee. "No, to be honest, it never crossed my mind...." He answered as Rose chuckled, "Exactly, those are the things that mothers think about, and that's what I do...."  She finished as Heather walked up with her towel in her hands. "I still got sick all over Ruth's clothes...." Heather soon said softly as Rose bent down, and helped finish Heather up with cleaning her chin. "Hush now, let's go to the laundry room...." Rose said sweetly as she led Heather into the bathroom where the laundry was. "Are these your clothes here, sweetheart?" Rose asked as Heather nodded and watched as she picked up her purple shirt with the psychedelic flowers on it and gray overalls that were still drenched in urine. "We're gonna get these all washed up, okay?" Rose reassured Heather as she started the laundry machine. "So Paul, when are you gonna explain the situation with this young little lady?" Rose asked as they walked into the living room and Heather ran to the couch and began spinning and dancing around the living room.

"Well, you're aware that Jane and I have been having some relationship problems, right?" Paul began as Rose nodded. "Well, I figured out that Jane wants someone who's responsible, and so, I want Jane and the kid to meet..." Paul explained as Rose looked at Paul seriously. "Y'know that I've only cleaned up the spilled milk thus far, right?" Rose replied as Paul rolled his eyes again. "Rose, I'm serious, I'll prove myself to you, Jane and everyone else, I can take care of this girl, she's already been here two days and she's alive and well, ain't she?" Paul defended as Rose glared at him. "She's only been here two days and she's already been soiled in pee, covered in food, and got an upset stomach onto herself and your living room floor, hasn't she?" Rose corrected as Paul sighed and watched Heather dance. "If you ask me, she looks about 5-years old, and if you want my opinion, you need to get her enrolled into primary school, just like Julian, Ruth, and soon to be Ringo's boys." Rose suggested as Paul looked back at Rose.  "I'm gonna do all of that, I promise, but only once Jane's back with me...I can't do it, without her." Paul explained as Rose studied him intensely. "Clearly not, well, you mustn't dilly or dally, get yourself ready for Jane, I'll handle the child." Rose agreed as they shook hands.

Several minutes after Paul had gone to his room, Rose and Heather walked back into the bathroom and they worked together to get Heather dressed. "So tell me sweetie, what's your name? Tulip? Chrysanthemum? Seems like you're into flowers." Rose asked as Heather smiled innocently,  "Heather....what about you?" Heather answered as Rose giggled. "Rose, Rose Martin....." Rose answered as she buttoned Heather's overalls. "My clothes are still wet." Heather soon said, as Rose brushed her hair out of her face. "Yeah, but it's warm and windy outside, it'll be dry by the time you're at Jane's, but at least it's not smelling of pee anymore.." Rose reassured her as Heather looked up at her with trust. "I bet you feel better being clean now." Rose said as Heather nodded slowly, making Rose smile. "I'll wash Ruth's clothes, while you and Paul are out...." Rose soon said as she placed Ruth's clothes into the washing machine which resulted in the photograph of Linda falling out of the pocket. "Mommy!!" Heather soon yelled as she grabbed the photograph on the linoleum floor as Rose watched her with confusion. "Mummy? No, no dear....that's one of Paul's hookups.....quite the nice one I'd have to say, she's this photojournalist or something from New York....she's very introverted, but also very intelligent and introspective.....the type of woman that Paul desperately needs....but, if he wants to date childish girls like Jane Asher, Peggy Lipton or whatever fan sneaks into the studio....welp that's his choice.." Rose tried to explain away as she took the picture and Heather looked at her and the photograph with longing.

"Don't worry dear, I'll just return it to Paul's office....." Rose continued as Heather watched her silently, "Why are you looking at me like that? It's okay, really, Paul's not gonna be miffed about you having this....." Rose asked as Heather remained locked within her gaze, "That's my mom...." Heather soon said as Rose turned to her, analyzed her and the photograph simultaneously. "Oh dear lord....." Rose soon gasped as it finally registered into her head how similar Heather looked in comparison to Linda Eastman in the photograph. "He....he doesn't know....does he?" Rose whispered as Heather shook her head, and Rose hesitantly returned the photograph to Heather as Paul walked in. "Hey, Princess  Tiger, let's go.....Jane will be home any minute...." He coaxed as he took Heather by the hand, and Rose studied her and then him. "Oh by the way, Rose, could you have some tea and crumpets for us please for when we return?" Paul asked as he led Heather out into the hallway, and Rose nodded slowly. "Certainly...." She softly cried as she tried to collect herself.