THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD || Paul McCartney [Completed]

35. Ghosts That We Knew

Three chapters posted in one day! I'm determined to finish this story soon. :) 

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October, 1967

Paul walked along the pavement with Martha by his side. He passed Natalie's old house. Last he heard, her father lived there and took over her brother's fight club. A lot happened with the band during the last eleven months, and his life was changing tremendously. There were the drug scandal for a start, the release of Sgt. Pepper, and the filming of Magical Mystery Tour. Everything seemed to be moving forward, but even so, he felt like he was standing in place.

He stared at the house with a wistful look in his eyes. Paul remembered when he first heard about Natalie's marriage to Henry. It wasn't long after that he found out she was pregnant. He shut himself down, and cried for weeks.

Right after he discovered Natalie's sudden marriage, he made it a mission to marry Jane as soon as possible, but she wouldn't budge. In fact, they continued to stall and push their marriage date  further back. Paul wondered if he was ever actually going to marry Jane, or if they were going to remain engaged forever.

Paul still thought of Natalie. Often more than naught. Especially when he was with Jane. His mind would drift back to last November in Scotland. Her body beneath his, and her arms tangled around him in front of the fireplace. He could still feel her bare skin against his. The memory left a tingling feeling on his skin, and a burning in his chest.

He could still feel the longing, and the sorrow they felt when they knew it would be their last time. It was so much in his memory, he could taste it. They would always have Scotland, he would tell himself.

He tore his gaze from the house and continued to walk, before halting at the sound of a familiar voice. He lifted his chin to see Natalie exiting the front door, chatting with Henry. Paul only saw the man once in his life, but he looked frail, like a shadow of his former self.

He didn't know what to do. She was more beautiful than ever, and he felt his heartbeat quicken and his feet were tempted to run. He couldn't let her see him, what would she think? 

Her gaze caught his, and his breath hitched. He saw surprise flash in her eyes, mingled with what he could only describe as guilt. What did she have to be guilty about? Getting married? She was allowed to do that. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and glanced down at the ground, avoiding eye contact with him.

Henry leaned down to whisper something in her ear. Natalie bit her lip at whatever was said, and her eyes flicked up to meet Paul's once again. Henry nudged her forward, and before he knew it, Natalie was walking over to him.

He couldn't believe almost a year passed since he last saw her.

She was now standing in front of him, her honey-colored eyes staring into his. He swallowed the nervous lump in his throat and spoke, his voice low and unsure, "Erm...hello, Natalie." He managed to spew out, feeling like a complete idiot. 

She gave him a ghost of a smile, "Paul—" She glanced back at Henry for reassurance before she turned to face him again, "How are you?" She stuttered, the awkwardness seeping off her like an aroma.

Natalie noticed Paul had changed. His hair was styled differently, and he looked older. Not by much, but his baby face was thinning out, and his doe-like eyes held much more wisdom than they did nearly a year ago. But his mouth was the same. The same pouty lips that felt so soft against her own.

"I'm alright. You—" He jutted his chin toward her, "You doin' alright too?"

She smiled, "I am." She saw Martha standing behind him, wagging her tail happily as she gazed up at Natalie through dark eyes. Natalie swept around Paul and leaned down to pet Martha, thankful for the brief interruption.