In My Life I Love You More

Chapter Eighteen

   With a yawn, John slid out of bed, scowling at the window where the sound of a rooster could be heard crowing. It was five in the bloody morning and the damn bird wouldn't shut its damn trap.

    Slipping into his robe that he had thought ahead to bring, he began his journey down the hall and the stairs where the sound of Josephina's family isn't the kitchen bounced off the walls along with the smell of bacon and eggs frying.

   "So I'll be seeing you when you get back." It wasn't a question as she buttoned up her jacket, John looking anywhere but her.

  "No, you won't." He said quietly and she laughed, picking up her purse.

  "You can go play house with this girl John, but we both know you want more out of life. Trying to settle down with a farmer's daughter is not going to bring you that peace you're searching for. To truly reach your artistic self? Only I can help you break free from this mold." With one touch of his arm, Yoko left.

   "Johnny!" Josephina's voice snapped him out of the memory and he was suddenly tackled by his very excited fiancée. He immediately grabbed ahold of the door jam behind him and steadied himself before they toppled to the ground as her Ames came to encircle his waist.

"Hello to you too." He chuckled as she planted kisses over and over on his mouth and cheeks.

"Hey hey, watch it.....," Colt pointed his fork warningly at the couple, "I'm eating." He added after a moment, smirking as Josephina flipped him the bird once their mother had turned her head.

   "I'm so happy you're here." Josephina beamed a twinkle lighting in her eye that sent a wave of guilt through him for his actions hours beforehand.

  She hugged him tighter before releasing her grip on him and instead took his hand, leading him to the table, and sat him down next to her.

   His arm was itching from the injection point where Yoko had stuck the needle and he fought down the urge to scratch it. Josephina had eyes like a hawk and would immediately catch him in the act and it would only lead to questions that he didn't want to answer.

  Emilia, bless her, suddenly placed a large plate of five pieces of bacon, a pile of scrambled eggs, and four pancakes in front of him.  Smiling knowingly, she patted his shoulder with the warmth only a mother could provide before returning to the stove.

  "Have a good rest John?" Beau asked over his newspaper, dark brown eyes scanning the paper reminding the Beatle very much of ole' Jim McCartney.

   "Yes sir." And John felt like a teenage boy again, having to be extra polite else being banned from the house.

   "That's good, we're gonna need your help around the place the next few days to get it set up for the engagement party besides what the caterers are doing. It's a eight-man job and you're number four." His tone left no room for argument and John nodded mutely.

   "Oh Beau, before I forget-Uncle Al called earlier, gave his congratulations and a gift for the family, he's not going to be able to make it." Emilia wiped her hands and walked over to the counter where a package sat and handed it to her daughter while her husband stared at her bemused.

"Who the hell is Uncle Al?"

"You know, Uncle Al, from Buffalo." Emilia waved a hand dismissively as she took her husband's empty plate.

  John half-listened to the conversations going on around a red light, reaching over to hold the hand that was resting over her lap a soft squeeze.

  "We really are all so happy you here John, tonight we're going to light up the barbecue to celebrate your arrival." Emilia finally sat down for her plate and place her in her lap.