If I Fell

Tropical Wonderland

Tropical Wonderland

England and her gloomy weather was left behind and now an island dappled in glorious sunlight loomed in front of us. I watched in a trance as the waves broke over the bow. The swell making me cling to the rail by my side to stop myself faceplanting the floor, the motorboat sped fast, closer. Closer to George.

I was to be a surprise. Paul said not a peep about my accompanying him to George's island home. And here I stand idly worried if I'm enough or good enough for Paul due to my earlier infraction...

An arm crawled over my bare shoulder hugging me close, my sundress straps now have fingers under them touching and moving, driving me crazy with the feel of his finger almost burning my skin "What ya thinking about" Paul whispered as he leaned in closer trying to raise his voice just enough, just for me, above the crashing waves. His aftershave subtle and intoxicating.

"Will he remember me? I haven't seen him in so long, our penpal correspondence stopped way, way back in '66" I placed my own hand over Pauls wrist holding on, feeling his pulse as he laughed at my worry.

"A mountain of time has sailed yes but George .... that bugger doesn't forget anything"

Out of nowhere I fessed up to my real worry, why I had been so quiet since we stepped onboard almost 45 minutes before. I had been thinking about it staring into the waves hoping they would solve the upset I had put myself in.

"I'm sorry I had that burger before, at the airport" I blurted and squirmed out from under the burning fingers. He and Linda, the vegetarians. I was starving and ordered without a thought to his ideals, now I felt so guilty about it "I forgot-"

"Abbs! I don't want you to change, you're not Linda, you couldn't be"

"Well thanks a lot what's that even supposed to mean"

"Well, Just. She"

"Yes?"

"No fighting" Paul took his arm away and tapped his pockets, he looked like he was searching for a pack of smokes but he had quit years ago.

"I'm not fighting, you just said it like I was less"

"You're not less your different"

"Different and a carnivore!"

"NO!"

"We're here" I took off, ducking from his reach, locating my small bag in seconds and without pause scrambled off the blue and white launch, heading toward what looked like a five star resort.

"Miss Abigail, I do believe I am seeing ghosts of Christmas past" George stepped deftly in front of me almost getting run over in my rush to escape. His mode of transport a white golf buggy that had was parked in the shade of a bushy tropical golden cane palm.

"George!" I swung my arms around him engulfing his body happily. I turned slightly as did George and we watched Paul as he fought to make his way over to us, the passengers returning to the mainland were greatly delighted with the stars presence, obviously all requesting pictures and autographs.

"How did you know it was me?!"

"I saw Paul having a fight with a girl on a boat" George grinned broadly, winking then laughed "Yea as it came into berth. She looked pretty upset so I paid attention to the bird that got pissed at the cute one thinking she was my kind of broad" He repeated his great big grin showing all his teeth then settled into his watchful solemn face, the one he would often wear when studying people's auras and reactions, for want of better description.

"I ate a burger then he said I wasn't as good as Linda"

"Really" the deadpan Beatle was back, the eyebrows rising then he glanced up from grinning at me lifting his chin, Paul must have escaped and was approaching us now.