In My Life I Love You More

Chapter One

                                                                                       Disclaimer: I'm my Life I love you more  is a work of fiction. While many of the characters portrayed here have some counterparts in the life and times of John Lennon, the characterizations and incidents presented are totally the product of the author's imagination. Accordingly, In my life I love you more  should be read solely as a work of fiction, not as biography of John Lennon nor the Beatles as individuals or as a band

———Please note that this is a slightly alternative universe, thus the dates will be slightly off along with events. Just to clarify, in this universe, John and Yoko have been seriously dating for a year now and are going through one of their many rough patches.

February 26th, 1967 -

It was a chance encounter, and the first glimpse he caught of her, she wore flour on her face.

John Lennon found himself on the highway, cars whizzing past him as his shoes crunched gravel with each step. He pulled his coat tighter around him, muttering about the unexpected chill of Northern California.

"45 degrees Fahrenheit, for Christ's sake," he grumbled to himself, lighting a cigarette in a feeble attempt to ward off the cold. His almond eyes scanned the vast fields of green stretching out before him.

ohn Lennon trudged along the highway, the Northern California chill nipping at him despite his heavy coat. The sun hung low, casting long shadows over the fields of green stretching out in the distance. His boots crunched on gravel with each step, and he muttered to himself about the unexpected cold.

"Forty-five degrees Fahrenheit, for Christ's sake," he grumbled, fumbling with a lighter to ignite his cigarette. The smoke did little to ward off the cold, but it was a comfort nonetheless. He glanced at the sprawling landscape, his mind still reeling from the whirlwind of the previous days.

The trip had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. Yoko had been eager to attend an art event in San Francisco, and the idea of a spontaneous journey had seemed like a welcome escape. The lads had just finished recording "Lovely Rita," burning the midnight oil, and John had barely slept. When he called Brian Epstein the following day to inform him of the trip, the manager had nearly exploded, furious about John's absence during such a crucial recording period. The one upside was that Epstein couldn't reach him, offering a brief taste of freedom.

By the time Yoko had whisked herself away to New York for an art retreat, John found himself with unplanned solitude. They had been drifting apart, and the separation, though not ideal, felt like it might offer some much-needed space.

His days had been a blur of mingling with fellow musicians, soaking in the local art scene, and wandering through the cities. But on this particular day, John had decided to escape the city's grip and take a leisurely drive down the coast. Fate had other plans—the rental car had overheated in the middle of nowhere.

Left with no other option, John set off on foot, his path obscured by a dense fog that clung to the landscape. The wind howled, making him reconsider his decision to continue. Then, a tantalizing aroma of baked goods cut through the fog, guiding him toward a quaint bakery nestled along the roadside.

Pushing open the door, John was met with a wave of warmth and the inviting scent of freshly baked bread. The interior was cozy, adorned with oak walls and a crackling fireplace. Mismatched furniture gave it a homely feel.

He approached the counter, hoping to avoid attention. The bell on the counter jingled softly as he helped himself to a couple of complimentary cookies while waiting.

"You're in luck," a cheerful voice called from the back. "I just had a busload of tourists, so the coffee's fresh."

John glanced over, catching sight of a young woman emerging from behind the counter, her face smudged with flour. She carried a steaming cup of coffee and a plate of muffins.

"I wasn't prepared for this cold," John said, his voice tinged with mild annoyance. She laughed, her eyes twinkling as she set the coffee and muffins in front of him.

"Ta," John said, accepting the coffee. "Is this your own recipe?"

"Yes, it's Greek coffee," she said, a hint of pride in her voice. "My grandmother's recipe, actually."

John raised an eyebrow. "Greek coffee, huh? Not filtered, right?"

She nodded, surprised by his knowledge. "That's right. And yes, it's not usually this cold around here, at least not in the summer. You picked the wrong time to visit."

"But it brought me here, didn't it?" John winked, his playful demeanor earning a giggle from her.

"What brings an Englishman like you to El Granada, California?" she asked, settling across from him, genuinely curious.

"My accent that noticeable?" John smirked.

"Very much so. And everyone knows John Lennon," she teased, taking a sip of her coffee.

John chuckled. "Don't worry about it. It's not every day a celebrity walks in here. You're the first."

She smiled brightly. "Well, this is my family's bakery. I help out with baking and manage the place during the day. We use eggs from our free-range chickens and milk from our cows."

As the gentle strains of "I Fought the Law" by The Crickets began playing on the record player, John's attention was caught. He noticed her humming along.

"You're a fan of The Crickets?" he asked, his interest piqued.

"Yeah, I love them. Though I have to admit, The Rolling Stones are my absolute favorite," she said with a playful smirk.

John's smile faltered for a moment before he burst into laughter. "You're a cheeky one, aren't you?"

She laughed, covering her mouth, and John felt a warmth spread through him that had nothing to do with the coffee.

"I'm sorry," she said, her cheeks flushed. "I'm usually not so coy. I watch a lot of movies and dream of being an actress. I guess it just came out."

"Bravo," John said, his grin widening. "You're quite the actress already, if you ask me."

"Thank you," she replied, their eyes meeting in a moment of shared understanding before a family of four entered the bakery.

As she attended to them with effortless grace, John remained inconspicuous, turning his back to avoid drawing attention.

Once the family left, Josephina returned to the table, her demeanor returning to its warm and cheerful self.

"Sorry about that," she said, reclaiming her seat.

"No need to apologize. We all need to make a living," John said, waving off her concerns. "But I've figured out how I'm going to get you to reveal that elusive middle name of yours."

She arched an eyebrow. "Oh, really? And how's that?"

John leaned forward, his voice conspiratorial. "I'm going to take you out tomorrow night. You pick the place, and I'll have my driver take us there. How about it? I could use some company."

She smiled, genuinely amused. "Where are we going?"

"That's the part you get to decide. I'm a bit out of my element here, and I'd love to see what this place has to offer," John said, stretching with a contented sigh.

Josephina's eyes sparkled with intrigue as she agreed to the plan. "I'd be happy to."

With their plans set and a promise of more to come, John left the bakery with a spring in his step, eager for the evening ahead. He might just find that his unexpected detour was turning out to be more than just a break from routine—it was the beginning of something quite memorable.

  And there's chapter one! How did you guys like it, please leave a comment, feedback is appreciated greatly. 👍♥️