One day at a time. (Part 2 of the story of Joanne and Paul. Now complete!)

Chapter 1:- 1st December 2000.

Cavendish Ave. London

Paul sat at the piano, playing the beginnings of the new melody he'd been working on for a few days. For the fourth time that day, he stumbled at the same point in the emerging song. In frustration he slammed his hand down on the keys, creating a loud cocophony of confused sound. he was in a strange mood...empty....lonely even.  The noise from the piano mirrored the confusion and restlessness he had been feeling since Joanne had left him. He leaned against the piano, and, despite his frustration, he couldn't help smiling as he remembered how she had played for him and how they had sung together. The song, with it's close harmony and gentle words which, he thought with some irony, he wrote as a love song for another girl oh so many years ago, had seemed very appropriate for them both! He also remembered what had happened after that. How they would probably have made love, had they not been disturbed. Mind you, he admitted, had they made love it would have killed their friendship / relationship dead. Joanne would have regretted such an action without a doubt. This was proved by their talk afterwards which, sadly, had brought their friendship to an abrupt end. Paul missed her company so much, he admitted to himself. Joanne had started out as yet another fan hanging round. He was so glad she had now. She was witty, intelligent and funny and had brought so much fun to his life during those few short days she was around. He'd also happened to fancy her like mad!

It was now almost a month since he'd heard from her. There had been the curt text with the words 'home now'  that had only been sent because he'd asked her to! But then nothing! He'd been tempted to drop her a line or a text but had then bottled out, fearing her rejection. He sighed. Oh the irony he thought to himself. Here he was, Sir Paul McCartney, the man who, if you believed the tabloids, could apparently have any woman on the planet now that he was single again. Yet it appeared that the only woman he had any interest in, didn't return those feelings.

Joanne had been different. He liked the fact that she hadn't been in awe of him. The fact that she had been herself and not out to impress. He smiled to himself, imagining what she was doing in school these days. No doubt up to her eyes in preparations for Christmas concerts and parties! He could almost picture her surrounded by children singing songs as she played the piano for them....

The thought of the piano pulled Paul back to the song he was writing. He looked once more at the rough words and chords he had scribbled down. Things were not quite right he decided. Despondently closing his note book and leaving it on the piano, he wandered into the kitchen for a cup of tea.

Haigh House. Diggle.

Finally giving up and putting her pen down, Joanne sat back in the chair, rubbed her tired eyes and stretched. She'd been covering for a sick colleage all week at work. She'd loved the teaching but had forgotten just how much marking came with a year 6 class! She'd been at it for hours but still had a mountain of books to mark. Her heart sank as she reckoned she had a good hour to go at least before she'd be finished! Suddenly the dog placed his nose on her knee and whined.

"Oh sorry Martha, we'll go walkies in a while ok." she stroked the border collie's soft head then picked up the next book to mark. Suddenly the phone rang, making her jump. She walked through to the hall and answered it.

"Hi mum!"

"Grace! How lovely to hear from you! How are you?"

She had a long, laughter filled talk with her daughter. Then, there was a pause in the conversation.

"Mum?"

"Yes love."

"I've got something to tell you."

"Go on." Joanne closed her eyes, praying it was good news. She didn't think she could cope with bad news.

"You know how Luke and I have been seeing each other for a while?"