No More Lonely Nights - A Fan Fiction

No More Lonely Night - Chapter Fifty-Nine

September 20, 1964.

New York City, New York.

United States.

ALLIE: The lads have their rehearsal for the final concert this morning, so I decided to just head out on my own and explore New York. I've been here enough that I am familiar enough with the city to go out without Paul escorting me (seeing as he never really likes me to be alone when we're out and about). Delilah offered to come with me but I told her to go see her family instead and that I knew Manhattan well enough to be out by myself. The day was absolutely gorgeous, one of those perfect autumn days that seem to come only rarely in the season, and I was rather enjoying being out and about by myself in the city. Not that I didn't miss Paul, of course, because I did, but I do like having alone time every so often. He doesn't always have to be glued to me, after all.

The wind blew my long hair back, and I regretted not pinning it up before leaving the Plaza, but oh well. My own fault. I kept hoping no one would be out and notice me, as I didn't feel like dealing with any of the psycho fangirls at the moment, especially without Paul or one of the other lads here to fend them off. I'm not the best at dealing with the crazy fans or the press, as my shy nature generally causes me to panic and not know what to do or say. That has caused the press to make fun of me on a couple occasions, mostly the British press who can't stand the fact that one of their own is marrying an American. I guess I should learn to be more talkative and assertive, but I don't know... I tend to hide behind Paul in public situations, preferring for him to do the talking while I stand there holding his hand and not saying a word. He has this natural ability to just say anything and everything to the reporters and photographers, probably the most out of the four; George is about as quiet as I am, John acts annoyed, and Ringo will talk but tends to not know what to say. Paul can charm anyone whenever he opens his mouth (I think it is that cute smile and his voice), so I let him do all the talking in public.

I tucked my hands in the pockets of my grey wool pea coat, wishing I had also remembered to bring my gloves. Oh no matter, I'd go back to the Plaza soon enough. The rehearsal was over at two; a quick glance at my watch showed it was half-past twelve. I'd wander a bit more, maybe go get something to eat, then head back to the hotel, I suppose. Not much to do till the concert tonight, but I want to see if I can spend some time with just Paul beforehand. I'm thankful that this is the last concert of this tour, seeing as I am ready to be back home alone with him without the others around pretty much every waking minute. It feels awkward to even kiss him in front of the others, mostly John (who always has to make some remark about it), so I don't know... I'm just ready to go home and spend a day (or two... or three... or ten) just with him, hiding from the crazy Beatle-obsessed outside world.

I heard a rustling sound in the tree above me and felt a few leaves drift down and come to rest in my hair. I brushed them out and looked up but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary up there. Oh well. I started to walk on before a voice stopped me. "Excuse me down there! I'm in a bit of trouble. Could you please help? It would be very much appreciated."

I looked up to see a young man balanced on one of the lower branches, a camera bag perched in his lap. He had close-cropped dark hair and looked to be a couple years older than me, clad in navy trousers, a navy blazer, and a crisp white shirt. "Me?" I asked.

He nodded and squinted as if trying to see me better. A look of recognition spread over his face, but whether he truly recognized me or was just trying to see me I wasn't sure. "Yes... sorry for bothering you, miss, but if you hadn't come along, I don't think I could do this alone," he continued.

I thought for a moment. He seemed harmless enough, the young college type, I gathered. "Sure, I'll help you," I replied. "Looks to me as thought you need help getting down from that tree." I couldn't help but almost laugh, and I fought to keep the amusement out of my tone, but it really wasn't working. I just hoped the lad didn't think I was making fun of him.

If he detected my suppressed laughter, he wasn't bothered by it. "You'd be right, miss, but it's my camera equipment that needs help. I can do just fine," he said. "All you need to do is catch this bag when I toss it your way. I assure you it's not heavy; it's just very fragile, and I am confident that you will catch it."

Good one. I am quite clumsy with my hand-eye coordination (as evidenced last summer when we were all playing cricket at John's and I tossed the ball and accidentally hit Paul in the eye with it; I was mortified for days but he just laughed it off). I took a deep breath and extended my arms to hopefully catch the bag, closing my eyes and bracing for either impact or a total miss.

I felt something cloth and heavy in my arms a moment later, and I opened my eyes to see I had a firm grip on the camera bag. "Got it!" I exclaimed, exhaling with relief.

"Thank you so much!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with joy. "I really appreciate this." He began to climb down but suddenly slipped and fell the rest of the way, and I put the bag on the ground and ran over to where he had landed, hoping he was okay.

He opened his eyes, and what he said next made me realize he knew who I was. "It's you," he murmured, but I didn't respond to that right away. "Are you okay?" I asked instead. "You aren't hurt, are you?"

He nodded. "I'm fine, really. Trust me, I've had worse spills than this all for the sake of photography."

"I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed, feeling bad that I hadn't attempted to help him from the tree. I might be a little thing but I could have at least tried.

"No really, you're not at fault." He stood and dusted off his clothes. "I'm the one who didn't grab on to the branch right. You have nothing to apologize for."

I just had to ask what he meant by his comment that indicated that he knew who I was. "When you fell off, you said something afterwards like you recognized me," I said. "I'm sorry, have we met before? You seem to know me somehow." I don't know how much I am featured in the press in America, because otherwise, I have never seen this young man a day before in my life.

"That's right. I do know your face, but it's not until today that I've had the pleasure to speak to you, miss," he said with a laugh.

I appreciated his politeness, but he could call me by name if he so desired. "Please, either call me Allie or Alexandra," I said with a smile. "And do forgive me, but you look rather silly with all those leaves in your hair, sir," I said, pointing to his tousled dark locks, several golden oak leaves clinging to it.

He brushed the leaves from his hair and let out another laugh, this one longer and richer, almost musical in quality. "I'm so sorry. I should have explained things sooner, and please do forgive my rudeness for not introducing myself upon requesting your help. My Name is Adell Lilith Bloodworth, but I prefer just plain old Adell."

Oh my. Adell was a feminine name. "So, you're a girl?" I asked. I just decided to say it out. I hoped I didn't offend her, but she did have the appearance of a lad thanks to her clothing and her hairstyle.

Adell nodded and smiled. "Yes, I'm a girl. Appearances can fool, but biologically, I'm a girl. Sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, Allie. Oh, before you can ask the second most common question, no, I do not play for the other team. I'm into men."

I found myself blushing at her last remark despite myself. I hadn't wondered if she was a lesbian, but I guess she must get that often enough that she has to clarify it for everyone regardless of whether they truly wonder or not. "You do have a point, I guess," I replied. "Even if I did think you were a man, you don't give off an aura of being a lesbian. So no need to clarify." I changed the subject, feeling awkward discussing sexuality with a young woman I had just met. "Here's you bag, Adell," I said, holding it out to her. "I hope your camera wasn't harmed."

"Thank you, Allie," she said, breathing a sigh of relief as she took the bag from my out-stretched hand. "You're a lifesaver. Thanks to you, my camera is safe. I don't think it would have been if I had tossed my bag down from the tree."

I smiled. "Oh, don't mention it. I'm glad to be of service."

"Well, I can't thank you enough. Listen, have you eaten yet? There's a wonderful café just a few minutes from here and they sell the best tea and pastries. Living in England, I take it you are a tea drinker?" Adell asked.

I nodded. The highlight of my morning was getting up and making the tea; I always did it whether I was at my place or Paul's, and then we would sit together and have a cup or two and talk before he went off to write with one of the lads and I went to class. I loved the early mornings we shared doing as such, which only served to deepen my love for tea. "Well then," Adell said. "Accompany me and I shall tell you how I know you, Allie."

Maybe I was just feeling spontaneous today, seeing as normally I didn't voluntarily do things with people I don't know. Or maybe I am trying to break free from my shy side. Either way, I was glad to accompany Adell to get something to eat and to talk; if she was a fan of the lads, she wasn't acting like the usual nutty ones. What a relief. I was also surprised as how she was treating me, seeing as most of the females in the world despise me for taking their precious Paul from them.

Adell launched back into talking a moment later. "So Allie, won't Paul be worried about you if he doesn't know of your whereabouts here in New York?"

Okay, so she does know exactly who I am. I know exactly who she is referring to when she says Paul, no question about that. I guess my face is being splashed all over the magazines in America then. "I knew it," I said, feeling a bit of anger creeping into my voice. "That's where you recognized me from, right? All the tabloids, am I correct? I guess they are really spreading their dislike of me around over here."

Adell looked surprised but didn't seem mad that my tone had been a bit on the harsh side. "Oh, no, not at all, I swear. I don't read that useless garbage. But I am right, aren't I? You're Allie Morgan, and you're engaged to the one and only Paul McCartney of the Beatles, correct?"

I nodded and held out my left hand, showing her the engagement ring, the early afternoon sun glinting off the diamond like a thousand splendid suns. "So if you didn't read it on the tabloids, how did you know about me and Paul?" I asked. "We don't tell people much about our lives unless we're at a press conference or something and the media twists out their own deluded ideas of what we're doing."

"My photos told me, the ones I took a few months ago," Adell said, pulling open the door to the small café. The scent of fresh-baked bread and coffee hung in the air, and I took in a deep breath, thinking about how long ago my tea and scone had been. We took a small table in the back and placed an order for two cups of Earl Grey and a place of finger sandwiches, and Adell let the waitress rush away before speaking again. "The ones I took this winter, that is."

I took a sip of my tea. "And how do you know this exactly?" I asked, confused. I didn't recall seeing this girl at all throughout the course of our time in America this winter and now. I wondered what sort of photos she was talking about.

Adell looked a little shy as she spoke. "Well, I secretly took pictures of you and Paul when the boys were in Central Park in February, when they were all over here for Ed Sullivan. Forgive me if I am prying, but I couldn't help but notice the way that Paul would glance at you the entire time while the other photographers where snapping pictures." She stopped for a minute and squeezed honey into her tea, blushing as she told the next part of her story. "I know it must have been crazy with all the fangirls running around, but even so, he only had eyes for you that day."

I felt tears spring to my eyes hearing this young woman tell me of witnessing how he would look at me, and hearing it from someone else confirms his intense and undying devotion to me. Yes, it had been crazy that day, with flocks of girls driving us all insane, yet he had never looked their way. I remember he had maintained a steady grip on my hand the entire time, keeping me close to him and not caring what the press or the fans thought. He loved me more than I could even begin to imagine, and I touched the corner of my cloth napkin to my eyes, brushing away the tears that had collected right at the edge of my eyelashes.

Adell smiled and continued, only this time, her face was mischievous. "Oh, and don't think I don't know about a quick private moment you two shared in the park," she said with a wink, and I smiled. I knew what she was talking about, the moment when he had pulled me off to the side and behind one of the large oaks- only in February, it had been devoid of its golden foliage- and kissed me, holding me in an embrace for a long moment afterward, repeating one phrase over and over- "I love you so much, pretty baby." I can't believe Adell witnessed that, but I guess she had been nearby and we hadn't seen her. She turned her camera over in her hands and looked up at me, and I realized she must be trying to say she had photos of that day, of even that moment.

It dawned on me where she had to have been the entire time. "The trees!" I exclaimed. "You took pictures from the trees on that day, too! That's why we never saw you."

Adell grinned. The waitress returned with our sandwiches at that moment, and Adell helped herself to a small chicken one and a watercress one before replying. "That's correct," she said. "It's the only place that is fangirl-free and has a great view. You aren't mad, are you?" she asked, her voice worried.

I sighed. "Well, I will be honest. I should be mad, seeing as that was all very private and very personal and I could say you were spying on us, but in all actuality, I am impressed." I helped myself to several of the tea sandwiches. "You clearly went out of your way to capture a good photo. I thought it was a bit odd at first when I met you earlier, you perched in the tree like that, but you must really love it if you go to such lengths to capture an image."

Adell nodded and took a sip of her tea. "Yes, I really do love it. Taking photos, that is. The ones that I took came out magnificently, and I couldn't be more proud of them." She stopped for a moment. "Allie, is it possible at all for me to give those snapshots to the boys?"

"You really want that, Adell?" I said. I could tell from looking at her that she was sincere in her desire, so how could I say no?

She nodded. "Yes. It's a silly dream of mine, but it would be selfish to keep them all to myself. I want to share the pictures before time runs out for me."

Her last phrase made me suddenly get chilled all over, and I hesitated before I asked what she meant. "Before time runs out? Is something wrong?" I hoped I wasn't being nosy but when someone says a phrase like that, I think we would all react by asking what on earth they mean.

I looked over at Adell only to see her eyes were misty, and she grabbed up her napkin and brushed it across her eyes, trying to hide the fact she was about to cry. "I have a sickness of the blood- leukemia- and it is only a matter of time before my existence on this earth comes to an end. The doctors didn't give me much time, but what little time I have left, I have dedicated to my photography. Please don't feel pity for me, Allie. I have accepted my fate and I realize that my time will come soon... but please, I ask you, please just grant this wish of mine. Share my photos with the boys and with the world."

I smiled and reached across the table, patting the back of Adell's hand gently. "Of course I will do that," I said. "Absolutely. You can count on me."

"Well, I will have to get the photos developed. I can do that in my darkroom at my flat this afternoon, no problem."

"Well, we leave tomorrow morning at noon," I said. I rummaged in my handbag before I found a scrap of paper (a gum wrapper; somehow I bet George stuck that in there, because I don't chew gum) and a pen and wrote down the address to the Plaza along with our room number and the phone number that connected to the suite. "This is our hotel," I said, handing her the slip of paper. "We're leaving tomorrow after the boys give a final press conference, so I do hope you can make it in time. If not, just call the hotel, they will know how to get in touch with the lads' manager, Brian Epstein, over in England after we get home."

"Oh I'll have them in time, don't worry," Adell said. "Do you mind if I photograph you, Allie? I think that your Paul would appreciate that, and I would like to have the pleasure of photographing his lovely fiancee."

"In here?" I asked, looking around. Not the best setting for a photograph, really.

Adell shook her head. "Oh, no, of course not. In Central Park, where we met."

I nodded in agreement, and we rose from the table. I left the right amount to pay our bill along with a tip, and we walked back out into the crisp autumn air, and I found that I was excited for Adell to photograph me, as no one had ever done so professionally. I know that Paul will indeed appreciate it; I was looking in his wallet once for his credit card and found that he had at least six photos of the two of us together in there and several of just me, so he'll be glad to have a new picture to carry around with him.

"You really are a very lovely young woman, I must tell you," Adell said before we parted company. "Paul McCartney is very lucky to have you."

"Thank you very much," I said. "But wait. Take a photo of the two of us. I'd like one," I said. "To remember this lovely afternoon."

After we finished (we had snapped it in front of the oak where I had met her), Adell turned to me, her camera bag over her shoulder. "I had a wonderful time this afternoon," she said. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Allie, and I wish you and Paul every bit of happiness that the world has to offer. When is the special day?"

"Next July, the thirteenth," I said. "Listen, if you... well, you should come. I would really like that."

"So would I. I'll get in touch with Mr. Epstein later on this week and get your contact information from him, seeing as I doubt you have any more gum wrappers on you and I don't have paper either."

I laughed. "Yes, I don't." I stopped for a moment. "You're a lovely person, Adell, and I am crtain that your photos will one day be known all the world over."

Adell seemed to be struggling to find words to reply, so she simply nodded and walked with me to the entrance of the park, where she helped me hail a taxi. As the little yellow cab drove away back to the Plaza, I couldn't help but smile thinking about the lovely time I had had this afternoon. It was a bit after two and Paul was probably wondering where I was, but I would explain when I got back. He would understand.


PAUL: I was just settling in for a nap when the door to our room opened and in stepped Allie, a thoughtful look on her face. "There's my love," I said. "Where have you been all morning, baby?"

"Out and about." She tossed her handbag and coat in the chair and sat on the bed, pulling off her shoes before lying beside me. She then began telling me about the girl she had met in the park, Adell, and I smiled, glad to hear that she had at least had a good morning and afternoon. I also smiled to myself because I was glad to hear that she is finally branching out and coming out of her shell, so to speak, and interacting more with people who aren't me. Much as I love how she always wants to be with me, I do think she does need to overcome her shyness and talk to more people in this world. I know she is only used to the girls the other lads are dating and then the utterly insane fangirls, but not all girls outside our circle are crazy and obsessive. Obviously this Adell wasn't that way in the least, judging from what Allie was saying.

"I can't wait to see the photos," she said, snuggling up to me, her head against my chest. "Adell took some of just me as well. I think you'll like those. I hope they turn out all right. I'm not doubting her ability, I am doubting my ability to be photographed."

"Oh, hush now, love. You'll look absolutely beautiful as always." I kissed her forehead. "Now if you don't mind, I would like to sleep a bit before the show tonight. I am so worn out and want to be at least semi-awake when we take to the stage later."

"All right. But I'm staying right here."


ALLIE: I was already packed and ready to go when the phone in our suite rang at a bit after ten, a young lady on the front desk on the other end, informing me that I had an envelope waiting downstairs. I walked down to retrieve it and saw that it was a large yellow manila one, and I took it back to our suite before opening it. I spread the photos out on the bed and was going through them individually when Paul stepped out of the bathroom, a plush white towel around his waist and his dark hair still dripping wet. I am always ready before him, it seems. "Those the photos?" he asked, kissing the top of my head.

"Yes, Dry your hair, silly, I don't want you dripping on them." I suppressed a laugh and looked away when he removed the towel from around his waist and used it to dry off his hair. "Cover back up, please," I said. "I don't want to be tempted."

He obliged and sat beside me on the bed, ringing his arm around my middle and resting his chin on my right shoulder. "She captured you beautifully," he murmured, reaching for one of the shots from yesterday. "Her work is stunning."

"I think so as well," I said. "I really do."