Lost & Found (Beatles Fan Fiction)

Chapter 5

"Everything alright?" Ringo asked as I took a cigarette. He offered me a light and I took a drag. 

But before I could answer, Harry stepped out into the balcony abruptly, stopping any continuation of our conversation. 

I smiled as Harry came over and stood by me as he pulled out a cigarette from his own pack.  We talked a bit about the California weather as our cigarettes slowly disintegrated. 

After a few minutes, I noticed Harry giving Ringo a look, which I pretended not to notice, and a few seconds later Ringo excused himself and went back into the house. 

This left Harry and me by ourselves once again.  I could see the others from where I was standing so that meant that they could also see us.  I discretely walked over to the other end of the balcony with the excuse of admiring a rose bush that was growing in the garden.  Harry followed me and I could feel his body standing very close behind.

 I felt his arms on my shoulders before he gently turned me to face him.  I knew what was on his mind.  We had been interrupted earlier and this was the perfect follow up to what we had started. 

“This isn’t my life anymore Harry.” I heard myself say abruptly.   “My priorities have changed.  It has been years since I’ve seen John or Ringo or have been in this type of atmosphere with people like you.”

He chuckled a little. “People like me?  What kind of person am I according to you?”

“I didn’t mean it like that.” I smiled. “What I meant is that you’re a musician…you’re a celebrity….you’re in the public eye…being involved in this environment…in this atmosphere takes a certain type of person…and that’s not me anymore.  I have different priorities now.”

He looked at me for a second before responding.

“Don’t you think making yourself the number one priority once in a while is good for you though?” he asked as he began moving his finger tips up and down my arms. 

In all honestly, ever since Elise was born, she had been my number one priority, as it should be, but because of it, I had found myself without any male companionship whatsoever.  Having gotten back in touch with John had made me yearn for my past, not because I didn’t love or regretted Elise, far from it, but because I had forgotten what it felt like to be a woman and not just a mother.   I looked at Harry, not really convinced that I should put myself as a priority.

He smiled.  "Look, I am not asking you to marry me...just one date...I won't even get all dressed up for it so we can keep it casual."

That made me smile.  Was I seriously considering this? It was hard enough for me to believe someone was actually asking me out on a date, but even more so that this man was a friend of John...the father of Elise...who minutes ago had told me to stay away from him.

"Well...you should know that I have a daughter and..."

"If you can't find anyone to leave her with, we'll plan a child friendly outing." Harry cut me off.

If a man asking me out was unbelievable, a man being okay with taking along my daughter on our date was unreal.

I chuckled.

"C'mon...." Harry urged.

Suddenly, the door to the balcony burst open and John peered out.

"We're about to eat..." John said rather coldly.

I saw Harry shoot him a look, but John completely ignored him.

"Well...c'mon then...." John repeated.  He stayed there looking at us until we started heading his way.  He let me through and rudely cut Harry off by walking straight in front of him.  He put his hand on my shoulders and directed me to the dining room.