In My Life I Love You More

Chapter Twelve

   After two days in the hotel where John and Josephina stayed locked away from the world, the first day of filming Magical Mystery Tour had arrived.

   For discretion, John arranged for a taxi to pick the girls up and bring them to the meeting place of the bus, he himself having to arrive earlier for a filming scene with Ringo.

   "This is exciting, isn't it?" Gabriella smiled, watching the city melt away into smaller towns.

   "Yeah, I'm just a little nervous." Josephina admitted and her sister turned to look at her confused.

  "Nervous about what? You're acting like you have the lead role in Gone With The Wind."

  Josephina didn't even justify that with an eye roll, "I'm nervous about how careful John and I will have to be around other people." She played with her engagement ring that she had moved to a silver chain around her neck at John's request.

   "Celebrities screw around all the time, the most anyone would think if they saw you, is that you're just having a little fling. There's nothing to worry about sissy." Gabriella tucked her younger sister underneath her arm and rubbed her shoulder comforting.

  "I hope your right." She sighed, laying her head against Gabriella's.

   
    When the two young women arrived at the meeting place, the site that greeted them was.... different to say the least. Before them stood a large yellow bus, the words Magical Mystery Tour painted on in rainbow colors, along with shooting stars and other childlike images.

     Stepping out of the taxi, the girls allowed the driver to pull out their luggage, still eyeballing the bus while other cast members mulled about, ignoring the girls in favor of getting their own seats and luggage taken care of.

  "estos británicos son muy extraños. un autobús arcoiris, ¿son en serio?"* Gabriella said in Spanish, causing a few cast members to shoot her a curious glance but otherwise missed the message.

   Josephina smirked, leaning forward to touch the side of the bus. "tal vez están tratando de asustar a la gente con brujas y magos. Sin embargo, una gira mágica y misteriosa suena como la trama de una novela policíaca." *

   The two girls laughed, stopping once a third voice chimed in, a voice that they had heard many times on records spoke from behind them.

  "no señoritas. El tema es traer algo de alegría a un campo que de otro modo sería sombrío. pero creo que me gusta más tu teoría." * There he stood in all his baby faced, perfectly arched brow glory, a rainbow sweater vest adorning his chest while he gave a lazy yet flirtatious smile at the two.

"Sorry. We didn't meant to offend." Josephina blushed, elbowing her sister who muttered a "speak for yourself."

"It's no harm done love. If I'm at all honest, maybe I should have had the font designed differently." He leaned in to mock whisper, winking at the young woman.

"No, no. I like the font, but maybe try a different color scheme." Josephina ran a finger over the letters again.

"Christ give me strength." Gabriella rolled her eyes and walked off, leaving a mortified Josephina and a highly amused Paul behind.

  "I'm sorry about my sister. She has no manners. You know the saying, "must have been raised in a barn? Well, I think she spent too much time in our actual barn," Josephina glared at her sister's retreating form that was beginning to blend in with cast members before smiling back at Paul, "my name's Josephina." She held out her hand which Paul shook warmly and held onto just a moment too long.

"Oh you live on a farm?!" Paul's eyes lit up and he stood straighter and she was taken aback.

"Yes, sort of. Our family owns a cattle ranch back home in California."

"I knew I could detect an accent, not necessarily a Spanish one, but an accent none the less," Paul snapped his fingers, clearly proud of himself, "what kind of farm is it?" He bounced on the  balls of his feet, reminding her of a child at a candy store.

"A cattle farm further down, but at the house we have a small dairy farm. We also have a bakery in town that I maintain." Josephina explained, quite enjoying talking to someone genuinely interested in her home.

"That sounds lovely. I must make a trip down there some day." Paul shamelessly flirted and Josephina couldn't help turning her eyes downcast.

"Trip down where Macca?" Josephina tensed, watching John stroll up to stand next to her, his hand just barely brushing against her's.

"To Josephina's farm....by the way love, how did you join the cast? Were you in London?"

"No, she and her sister are friends of mine. We met in California and have been keeping in touch." John cut in before Josephina could speak.

"Oh. Well I'll have to steal you away during filming breaks. I'd love to know more about your farm. I'm thinking of purchasing one in Scotland someday." Paul said and John's eyes narrowed, hands beginning to clench.

"She'll be very busy, I promised to show her around, since she a tourist and all. Don't want any cads taking advantage of her while she's in our country." The possessiveness in John's voice had Paul taken aback and Josephina kept her eyes trained just amore John's shoulder.

"Well, you can't be with her all the time John," Paul snapped with a roll of his eyes, his own annoyance clear and he turned to Josephina, a warm smile immediately taking over his face, doe eyes endearing and sweet, "when this grumpy old goat is filming, you and I shall have lunch together. What do you say darling?"

Josephina glanced between Paul's iconic puppy dog eyes and dreamy expression and John's narrowed, "don't you dare," glare and nodded mutely.

"Fab, if you can excuse me, I have to talk to a man about a poodle." Paul clapped John on the shoulder and ran off, leaving his writing partner glaring at him.

"Fucking McCartney, who does he think he is...." He grumbled and turned his attention to Josephina who played with her engagement ring nervously.

"And you, what the hell do you think you're doing flirting with Paul?" He hissed lowly, glancing wearily around for any gossipers tuning in.

"I was just being friendly. What, I suddenly can't talk to people?" She furrowed her brows and John scowled.

"Not to Paul you can't. In case you forgot, you're engaged to me. You're mine." Josephina narrowed her eyes, not at all liking the tone John had taken on.

"I don't like the way you're speaking o me John and I'll see you later once you've calmed down." She eyed him and walked off in search of her sister.

John watched her go trying to figure out how in the hell he had forgotten to tell her to avoid Paul at all costs.