Time After Time

Chapter 18: Before You Go

The black Range Rover gradually pulled alongside the curb, coming to a stop in front of Lauren's brownstone apartment three hours later.

As she descended from the car and watched it drive away, she wasn't sure how she was feeling. Lauren knew she was gone a lot longer than an hour from what she told John, but spending that time with Paul was what she must do to complete the conversation she was dreading.

Her eyes stared up at the window to her apartment, wondering what John was doing right at this minute, curious if he was worried about where she was. She stood outside, reminiscing on the long conversation she and Paul discussed, understanding she had to let him go. As she stood there, a single tear fell down her cheek, her heart breaking just thinking that tomorrow would be different - tomorrow he would be gone. Tomorrow, she would be alone once again.

'How am I going to tell him about everything in one day?' her thoughts scrambled in her head, biting the bottom of her lip. John had the right to learn about the events that would occur to him but Lauren wasn't sure she was the right person to tell him. Since his arrival, she was trying to protect him from finding out any information about the future of The Beatles as well as his. John was detecting a few hints she would accidentally slip, which made her curious if he was preparing for her to say something, but she never dared to say anything. But Paul was right - and if there was one thing she could do to save his life, this might be the last opportunity for her to do so.

Hesitantly, she walked up the flight of stairs to the apartment, hesitating at her front door as she fiddled with her keys. As Lauren stood there, she felt her heart cracking like glass, spreading its pieces throughout her body. It seemed as if her bright world went gone dark, like a big curtain being dragged across the sky. Tears streamed from her cheeks, dropping to the ground like raindrops as her thoughts kept reminding her that this was her last day with the man she had fallen in love with. She couldn't let John see her like this and leave this memory of her with him forever. As painful as today was going to be, she was going to try to make the last day the best day with him. Quickly wiping her tears away and leaving all negative thoughts to the back of her mind, she slipped the key inside the lock and opened the door.

Without a warning, the brown-haired German Shepard/Beagle mix dog pounced into Lauren's arms, nudging his body into hers as soon as Lauren was close enough. In seconds, her hand was coated in slobber as Macca's tail wagged from side to side, pressing his nose against her cheek.

"Hi, Macca!" She exclaimed as she rubbed a hand to the top of his head, "Did you miss me?"

A tall figure in the corner of her eye startled her, bringing her eyes up to gaze upon John, standing there almost expressionless. He gradually stepped towards her, watching her greet the small dog in her hands.

"I see you finally put some trousers on," she gleamed at the sight of him, almost taking her breath away. But John kept his eyes fixed on her as he strolled closer without a word escaping his lips.

The little silence between them frightened her, steadily staring at him the closer he approached her. 'Was he upset I was gone so long?' her mind scrambled, standing to her feet, 'Perhaps he found out that I went to Paul's. But how could he have known that?'

Lauren was home - she finally returned home to him. John didn't care about the fact that she was away longer than she said, but the wait for her arrival finally came to an end. While she was away, he was left alone with his thoughts - his thoughts of her.

John's hand reached for hers and they interlocked as they kissed tentatively, passionately, and then, tenderly. He tugged the silky beige blouse up, over her head and felt the little sparks of static dancing over her skin. She wasn't certain whether they were from her blouse or from where his hands gently skimmed her skin; either way, it was a magical feeling and caused her to shiver in complete pleasure and ecstasy.