yesterday • (sequel to "And I Love Her")

seven: new life

July 1970

Paul and Linda were married. Paul had a stepdaughter, Heather, 8 years old, and another biological daughter, Mary, not even a year old. Haydan was 5. As the Beatles broke up and his life spiraled downward, Linda brought his life back. Her patience kept him alive. Haydan kept him happy. The interaction between him and Heather kept him sane. The birth of his second daughter gave him hope. Everything was good.
They lived in Scotland now, fairly private, on a horse farm. Though Paul and Linda became famous with a band they were in the midst of creating, Haydan was kept very private unlike her stepsisters. People knew about her existence, but they didn't know about her life.
Heather and Haydan went to public schools and lived normal lives despite their parents; a famous musician and a famous photographer who was involved with famous musicians.
What killed both Paul and Haydan about moving to Scotland was leaving Casady. Paul truly struggled to leave her site, but he had to get out of England and all the places that reminded him of his former colleagues with whom he had argued for years. Paul saw that Haydan was visibly hurt when they moved and she had no physical access to her mother, who she knew well already.
But Paul made sure to bring her most important possessions like the locket she got as a baby shower present that had their pictures in it and the silver chain she wore on their wedding day, which Paul now wore on his own wrist.
Despite popular belief, Paul married Linda because she was very easy with him, and they clicked. They had fun together, they enjoyed life together, and everything in between. But she looked exactly like his late wife. The same blue eyes with a green glimmer, bright blonde hair, tall and built, a beautiful smile. But she had a softer appearance than Casady. Casady was tough and had more rugged features while Linda had soft facial curves and a more peaceful resting face. Otherwise, the similarities were unreal.
Paul continued to live out his best times with Casady through Linda. They had a horse farm and they both had a passion for horses, which were naturally passed down to all their children. They enjoyed the simplicities in life and didn't dwell on bad days, as Paul learned to do fairly quickly after Casady's death. He was given new life in his family, with whom he was so happy.
At night, before Linda came to bed, Paul would find himself staring out the window at the clear night. He would find the brightest star and talk to it as if he was taking to Casady. He knew she could hear him, no matter how quiet he was. Her arms were always wrapped around his shoulders and she was always responding to him in some way. He had talked to professionals about it and they told him he was just hallucinating. He wasn't. She was really there.
"Everything okay?" He heard Linda's voice behind him. He stood by the big window with jeans and no shirt. She came up and wrapped her arms around his warm waist.
"Yeah," he replied. "Just thinking."
"About her?"
"Who else?"
She sighed and rested her chin on his shoulder. Her eyes were drawn to the bright star that Paul had been staring at. "Is that it?" She asked.
"What?"
"The star. It's the brightest one."
"How'd you know?" Paul asked with a smile as he turned in his wife's arms.
"I just figured you'd find the brightest star and talk to her." She smiled back and Paul sighed a bit. "You know, I remember seeing her in the tabloids. She looks an awful lot like me, you know."
Paul paused for a bit and opened his eyes to meet hers. "Yes, she does."
"Does that have anything to do with why you married me?" She asked. She had no anger or attitude in her voice, just genuinely asking a question.
"Of course not, love." Paul felt a bit of guilt because it was indeed what drew him to her initially, but her personality was much different. "Maybe it was why you caught my eye but that's not why I married you."
She let go of his waist and approached their bed, taking off her robe and revealing her nightgown. Paul stared, something he wasn't sure he'd do again.
"I know that, Paulie. I just thought I'd ask because I noticed that pretty quick. Haydan even looks like us," she laughed. Paul laughed with her as he took his jeans off and laid next to her in bed.
"Yes, she does. She got very little from me in the way of looks," he explained. Linda smiled and chuckled lightly. She turned towards him and laid on her side, looking up at him with her pretty eyes.
"You tired yet?"
"Come on, you know I haven't hardly slept since April." He crossed his arms and stared at the ceiling.
"I know, I know." She reached up and stroked his cheek with her thumb. She turned his head to face hers and leaned up for a kiss. He gladly returned it, putting his own hand on the side of her head. When they pulled away, Linda still had her smile. "Let's go to bed, huh? At least try to sleep?"
"Sure. For you," Paul said with a genuine smile. He was most happy around her and his daughters, both biological and adopted.
Linda turned her lamp off and Paul did the same before they laid down and pulled the sheets to their chins.
"Goodnight, love," Linda said.
"Goodnight, Lin."

Little filler but that's ok! More next week!