Susan Leigh had planned this all perfectly. She would slip into the boot of the Beatles’ car while everyone else was distracted, while the Beatles were running away from all her fellow fans and they tried to catch the Beatles by chasing them. She would stow away to their hotel with them, hidden by the instruments and luggage in the back. And then when the boot was opened, and the Beatles found her, she would climb out and face her beloved boys, and she would look deep into Paul’s dreamy eyes and say....
“Eee! Paul!! Huminaminama....”
The Beatles stared at her. Susan twisted her fingers together nervously, eyes shining with excitement and tears. What had she wanted to say again? She knew she’d thought of something, but – oh, there were Paul’s eyes for real, those breathtaking long lashes, and – what colour were they? Susan had always wondered about that, and now even looking at them up close in person, she couldn’t tell.
“Umignabah,” she stammered. Or something like that. Come on, Susan! She’d played this out in her head a million times....
“Oh – hello,” said Paul, in his wonderful soft, warm voice. “What were you doing in our boot?”
Paul had spoken to her... Susan could hardly believe it. With a squeal, she launched herself at Paul, arms outstretched to wrap around his neck... She just had to kiss him right now, this wonderful, beautiful man....
An arm reached out in front of her, blocking her way and pushing her backwards. “Maybe you’d better leave now,” said the Beatles’ driver sternly.
“No! No, I... Paul!” cried Susan, straining to get closer, stretching out her hand to Paul, hoping desperately that he’d take it. There was so much she’d wanted to say to him – and now she couldn’t remember any of it. How could she leave before she’d even got the chance?
But the Beatles were already going, heading for the door while Susan struggled to follow. The Beatles’ driver held her back until the Fabs were inside. “Paul!” she cried, tears falling from her big blue eyes. “I love you!!”
Paul turned in the doorway, giving Susan a small wave with his slender left hand – and then he was gone. Susan collapsed in a heap on the ground, sobbing outright now, as their driver let go of her and made his own way towards the door with the instruments. She wouldn’t be able to follow them now. The Beatles would have gone up to their room, and the hotel would never give her the room number, not even if she told them how she and Paul were meant for one another....
Why hadn’t she been able to talk to them? She’d spoken to her mum about the Beatles coming here when she’d first found out. “What do I say to them, Mum?” Her mum had told her that the Beatles were just ordinary people like anyone else, and she should talk to them as though they were. But Susan, who had always been rather shy, knew she wouldn’t get anywhere with the Beatles if she talked to them the way she’d talk to anyone else. So she’d planned a speech in which she told the Beatles how much she loved them and told Paul that she would be his forever – and even now, she still couldn’t remember a single word of it.
Her mum had been wrong. The Beatles weren’t ordinary people like anyone else. Ordinary people didn’t make you feel the way she’d felt when she’d first seen Paul for real just now. Ordinary people didn’t make your heart beat a million times faster, until your thoughts were completely overwhelmed and you were reduced to a sobbing heap, knowing that your life would never, never be complete until you and he were together....
Susan sat up, smoothing her short brown hair, which had gotten messed up in the car boot, trying to work the flip back into it. She had to make this work somehow. Because Paul was anything but ordinary, and that one little taste of seeing him had only made her want him more.
“Eee! Paul!! Huminaminama....”
The Beatles stared at her. Susan twisted her fingers together nervously, eyes shining with excitement and tears. What had she wanted to say again? She knew she’d thought of something, but – oh, there were Paul’s eyes for real, those breathtaking long lashes, and – what colour were they? Susan had always wondered about that, and now even looking at them up close in person, she couldn’t tell.
“Umignabah,” she stammered. Or something like that. Come on, Susan! She’d played this out in her head a million times....
“Oh – hello,” said Paul, in his wonderful soft, warm voice. “What were you doing in our boot?”
Paul had spoken to her... Susan could hardly believe it. With a squeal, she launched herself at Paul, arms outstretched to wrap around his neck... She just had to kiss him right now, this wonderful, beautiful man....
An arm reached out in front of her, blocking her way and pushing her backwards. “Maybe you’d better leave now,” said the Beatles’ driver sternly.
“No! No, I... Paul!” cried Susan, straining to get closer, stretching out her hand to Paul, hoping desperately that he’d take it. There was so much she’d wanted to say to him – and now she couldn’t remember any of it. How could she leave before she’d even got the chance?
But the Beatles were already going, heading for the door while Susan struggled to follow. The Beatles’ driver held her back until the Fabs were inside. “Paul!” she cried, tears falling from her big blue eyes. “I love you!!”
Paul turned in the doorway, giving Susan a small wave with his slender left hand – and then he was gone. Susan collapsed in a heap on the ground, sobbing outright now, as their driver let go of her and made his own way towards the door with the instruments. She wouldn’t be able to follow them now. The Beatles would have gone up to their room, and the hotel would never give her the room number, not even if she told them how she and Paul were meant for one another....
Why hadn’t she been able to talk to them? She’d spoken to her mum about the Beatles coming here when she’d first found out. “What do I say to them, Mum?” Her mum had told her that the Beatles were just ordinary people like anyone else, and she should talk to them as though they were. But Susan, who had always been rather shy, knew she wouldn’t get anywhere with the Beatles if she talked to them the way she’d talk to anyone else. So she’d planned a speech in which she told the Beatles how much she loved them and told Paul that she would be his forever – and even now, she still couldn’t remember a single word of it.
Her mum had been wrong. The Beatles weren’t ordinary people like anyone else. Ordinary people didn’t make you feel the way she’d felt when she’d first seen Paul for real just now. Ordinary people didn’t make your heart beat a million times faster, until your thoughts were completely overwhelmed and you were reduced to a sobbing heap, knowing that your life would never, never be complete until you and he were together....
Susan sat up, smoothing her short brown hair, which had gotten messed up in the car boot, trying to work the flip back into it. She had to make this work somehow. Because Paul was anything but ordinary, and that one little taste of seeing him had only made her want him more.
While strolling among the flowers, George told Pattie about his quick chat with the fans. "As you may have observed, those ladies were very sweet, and they're just as happy for us tying the knot!" She replied, "Yeah, I noticed that. It made me smile, too!" "Great!" he remarked back. Laura said, "And I mustn't forget to mention that they felt the same thing about my father adopting me after our visit to Hampton Court three years ago!" Pattie said, "Oh, how splendid, my dear!" George said, "Yes, Laura, darling! I also remember that. It's lovely!" She responded with a big smile. The trio then spent the remainder of the day by paying a stop inside the wide, well-kept lawn of Kensington Palace.
TO BE CONTINUED
TO BE CONTINUED
As he had promised, George made those phone calls in the morning that followed. Then, at around an hour before noon, the lovebirds had a coffee break in Hyde Park while Laura did some jogging. George said, "So about the cake, I have requested Spencer from the Cadbury factory in Birmingham to make it a triple layer one with the top being made from milk chocolate, the middle white, and the bottom dark. How's that, love?" Pattie replied, "Ooooh, that sounds so luxurious, darling! I'm excited to taste it!" George replied, "So am I!" He then continued, "And our honeymoon destination of Scotland has been settled, too. The royals will even reserve two seats on their airship for us as newlyweds!" "Absolutely splendid!" exclaimed Pattie. "That also means the details for our wedding are nearing completion." "Right as rain, Pattie. Right as rain!" remarked George. They soon finished their coffee and shared a sweet kiss.
TO BE CONTINUED
TO BE CONTINUED
Next morning and shortly after breakfast, the trio proceeded to Fitzrovia Chapel for the wedding rehearsals. "Wowsers! This place is bloody magnificent, daddy George!" exclaimed Laura as she marveled at both the stained glass windows and ceiling. George replied, "It sure is, Laura, darling! Just perfect for the ceremony!" Pattie added, "Not to mention quite a popular venue for those tying the knot!" Laura said, "Yeah, I can see why you decided to have yours here as well. Excellent choice!" George smiled and said, "Thanks, dear! We're glad ye think so." Pattie nodded in agreement. The rehearsal itself went very well, concluding with the lovebirds sharing a kiss near the altar. They then spent the rest of the day exploring the chapel's location, which is better known as Pearson Square.
TO BE CONTINUED
TO BE CONTINUED
The rest of the day was spent with a tour around the other areas of the park. George said as they walked, "Before we get started with our wedding plans, I think it would be wise for us to first seek some advice on how we could make our marriage a veddy happy one. What do ye say, love?" Pattie replied, "Yeah. That's a smart idea, darling. So, to whom shall we ask about this?" George thought for a moment, then replied, "Let's head on over to Windsor Castle tomorrow! I'm sure the royal couple will help us out with this step." Pattie said, "Oh, I know what you're thinking there. Certainly!" Laura added, "Plus, it's been a while since we last visited that place! Right, daddy George?" He replied, "You definitely are, Laura, darling!" "Heh, heh!", she responded. Afternoon soon turned into evening, and the trio had dinner at one of the nearby restaurants before driving back home for the night.
TO BE CONTINUED
TO BE CONTINUED