⇾ 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘 | 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐈

Chapter Forty-Six: Right As It All Seems At Its Best, It Plunges Downward Again

December 24, 1961

"Donna." I woke up to Johns voice. I rolled over, confused and saw him standing in my doorway.

"How'd ye get in here?" I asked groggily.

"That key under your doormat. Remember telling me 'bout that?" He held a steady, amused, loving smile.

I sat up. "You remembered?"

He shrugged. "Of course I did. Ye told me to come on in."

"Well, I guess I did." I shook my head with a smile.

He was dressed in a loose red flannel and some jeans with some tennis shoes. I liked this look on him.

I looked around. "I don't want get up," I stated flatly.

John grinned crookedly and bounced off the doorframe, coming to sit next to me. He wrapped me in his arms playfully, breathing down my neck. His shirt smelled like cigarette smoke, cologne, and Mimi's detergent. An odd mix that smelled strangely felt...right. It was John's scent that I'd come to know so well. I shuddered under the feeling of his breath.

"Would you just like to accompany me somewhere in town?" he giggled, stroking my back.

"I would like that better," I laughed in response.

"Happy Christmas Eve, love," he said and I giggled.

"Happy Christmas Eve."

He pulled away and looked at me thoughtfully. "Mimi's got a little Christmas lunch she's having later. I know you just had one, but maybe you could stop by? Some of my other aunts and grandparents will be there. It would be a good time for you to meet them, y'know?"

I thought a moment, shuddering at the very idea. "What time?"

"Twelve?" He gave me a dreadfully hopeful look.

I nodded. "I think I can make it." He beamed. "But tell me I don't have to wear that Godforsaken dress."

He gave a playful smile. "Well...."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever." I moved to get out of his grip. "Let me get dressed." He opened his mouth. "No inappropriate jokes," I cut in and he frowned, leaning back on my bed as I left to get dressed. After I returned to the room, I went to my vanity.

"Whatcha doin' now?" John asked, coming up behind me and putting his arms around me.

"I just gotta put my hair up."

"Oh, love, how about you leave it down for once? It's so beautiful when it's down." He twirled a strand in his fingers.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, alright. At least let me keep it outta my eyes."

"Aw, alright."

I ran the hairbrush through my hair hastily and slid a bobby-pin into it to hold it back.

"Aww, so pretty," John said, winking at me in the mirror and tightening his grip around me. I turned around to face him and he leaned closer to me. I put my hands behind me on the vanity to hold myself up. He reached back in his pocket and pulled something out, holding it above our heads. I looked up and saw a small branch of mistletoe and rolled my eyes.

"Yer a sap," I said.

"Embrasse-moi, ma douce Donna," he whispered cheekily.

"I don't know what that means, silly."

"Besame mucho." He grinned.

"Stop changing languages."

"Only when you kiss me," he whispered cheekily.

"Oh, Joh—."

My sentence was cut off by his lips. "Breakfast?" he asked, pulling away.

I nodded. "But not yet." And he smiled and went back in for another kiss.

~~~

"Why's your hair all tousled then?" asked Paul amusedly as John and I went to sit in the booth across from him and Dot. Dot's belly had grown since I last saw her, that being a week or so ago at my birthday. She'd been staying in a lot lately, sick. It was great to see her again.

"Que?" said John, sitting down.

"It's windy," I said simply.

Paul rolled his eyes. "It's not windy, you imbecile."

"Ah, in that case," said John, leaning back and resting his hand on my thigh, smiling cheekily when I shifted slightly. "Feel free to let your imagination run wild."

"Did you—?" Paul leaned close. "You know?" I snorted.

"I'm going to the bathroom," said Dot.

"Alright, love?" Paul asked her. She nodded simply, her hand on her belly, and ran off. Paul frowned a moment before returning his attention to us. "So—?"

"Even if we had, what makes you think we'd tell you?" John replied.

He laughed. "I'm not—?"

Dot came back up, looking horrified. "What's wrong, love?" Paul asked.

"Something's wrong," she said with tears in her eyes. "We need to go to the hospital."

We all looked at her worriedly. "What's wrong, Dot?" I asked her.

"There—." Her voice broke and she put a hand to her mouth to stop herself from crying.

Paul stood up and put his arms around her protectively. "C'mon, let's get you some fresh air."

John and I pulled ourselves up and followed them, silently thanking the waitress for being slow.

Once outside, Paul sat Dot down on a bench.

"No, Paul," she said. "We need to go to the hospital."

"Why, love?"

"Because there—we just need to."

"Okay, well—." Paul looked at us. "Sorry our brekky will have to be cut short." He gave us a worried look.

"Would you like us to let you do this on your own?" I asked. "Do you need us to come along?"

Dot shook her head. "You guys can go. We'll tell you what happens later on." She tried her best at a smile.

"You sure?" asked John.

She nodded and looked at Paul. "We need to go."

Paul nodded, looking terrified. "See you guys later then."

John clapped him on the back and whispered something to him I didn't quite catch. Paul nodded and they bustled off.

John looked at me. "Well, that happened—," he said lamely.

"I hope she's alright," I said, my voice shaking.

John out his arm around me. "I'm sure she will be, don't you go worrying," he warned. "We all know what happens when you get worried." He gave a knowing look.

I tapped my fingers against my leg anxiously. "I'll try not to worry, but I'm not good at it," I griped gloomily.

"Would you like to go back in and eat?" he asked.

I looked at my watch and shook my head. 10:30. "It seems I've lost my appetite."

He nodded and pulled me close, leading me back towards our houses.