5pm 21st September - Kenwood

[cyn_lennon64]

Having realised that I hadn't been very sociable of late, I decided to throw a party of sorts to celebrate the imminent return of John and the other boys from America. I say "of sorts" because I didn't think I'd be up to anything more thrilling than pouring tea and having a good old natter with the rest of the girls. Even that I needed someone to

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[pattieboyd64]

Coincidences...I was getting far too many of them lately for my liking. Seemed as though every time I got invited to do something anymore, it was on a night I didn't have work and had planned to go out on the town--shop, drink a little, have a bit of fun. But Cyn had phoned, asked me over, and I certainly couldn't turn her down with such an excuse...and anyway, I hadn't seen the others for quite some time; I couldn't deny that I would enjoy some actual company. As I'd reminded myself, most of my friends were busy tonight and I would have looked a little pathetic going out to a club on my own.

So it was with a mostly light heart that I arrived at Kenwood and wrestled through the hoardes of fans. I saw several giving me dirty looks and clawing through the others, as though they were trying to get to me--but maybe I was just being paranoid. Americans would do that...wasn't sure about British girls. But I supposed one never knew.

Jane was already at the door, waiting. I stepped up next to her and smiled, said hello, good to see you--all of that. My mind, honestly, was an ocean away in America...our boys--my boy--would be home tomorrow, hence the celebration. I twisted a strand of hair around my fingers and grinned softly to myself. George would be home tomorrow...god, tonight was going to last for years.

[cyn_lennon64]

Summoned by the doorbell, I began to make my way downstairs. So huge was Kenwood that, once I had made my way to the front door, both Pattie and Jane were waiting there. I smiled at them, feeling nervous again but also pleased that they had come. They always seemed so very busy, with their glamorous careers taking them off all over the place while I stayed at home with my small family that would never be quite so small again.

"Jane, Pattie," I said, with a more relaxed smile as I stepped aside for them to come in. "I'm really glad to see you both. Um, I've got another friend over today as well. Phyllis. She's been my friend since I was at art college. We've just been catching up on a few things like, um..."

Like my affair and the resulting baby. Not really front door small talk, I realised, so I offered to take their coats and told them to make their way upstairs to the attic.

"Don't mind the mess. The builders have finished for the day but obviously things are still half done. John and I have more than enough space upstairs as it is. I think we'll be at a bit of a loss when the time comes to use the rest of the house."

[pattieboyd64]

I nodded, smiling, at Cynthia's friend and held out my hand to shake. "Lovely to meet you," I said. She grinned back--a smooth, easy smile--and I had a feeling I would like her.

Jane and I headed up to the attic, marveling appropriately at the partway-finished room. Even with the unfinished bits, it was easy to see that it would be incredible.

Really, even with Cynthia being pregnant, I had no idea what such a small family would do with it all.

[janey_asher]

I smiled as Cynthia led us from the front step and into her lovely home. I greeted her friend, Phyllis, with a warm smile, reaching out and shaking her hand.

We made casual small talk as we all walked up to the attic, which wasn't completed yet, but still looked marvelous.

"It looks great so far, Cynthia," I said, taking in the surroundings. It really was a wonderful room and it hadn't even been finished yet. "I can't wait to see what it will look like when it's done."

[maureencox64]

I was patiently waiting in the car, as it headed to Kenwood. I was running horribly late. For some reason, we had gotten held up in a small traffic jam. Cyn had phoned me earlier today and had invited me and the other girls over for a get together to celebrate the return of the boys. I couldn't have been more excited. I sat in the car, patiently tapping on the armrest, totally ready to just arrive and get out.

We finally made to Kenwood and managed to get past the large amount of fans waiting there. It would never cease to amaze me how many girls just camped outside the houses, waiting to catch a glimpse of John or one of the other boys.

I stepped out of the car, turned and thanked the driver, and then hurried up the front steps. I knocked on the door, before looking down and smoothing out my skirt. I must have looked a mess from all of that rushing.

[cyn_lennon64]

"I'm sure it will look fantastic, when it's all done," I said, not really wanting to admit that I was still feeling very unsettled about all the building work. "It's just every time I talk to someone about it they say it's going to take that little bit longer. I'm worried that in six or seven months time I'm still going to have to step over all the stuff they leave lying around. That's not going to be easy for me then, as you can imagine."

From somewhere behind me I could hear a knock at the front door. I half turned away from the other two as I said, "That'll be Mo. I'll go let her in. The two of you can stay here or you can carry on up to the attic."

After a what seemed like a very long time, I reached the door and opened the door with a smile.

"Hello Mo," I said. "I was worried you wouldn't be able to make it. Come in, come in."

[maureencox64]

I smiled at Cyn when she opened the door. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear as I stepped in.

"Afternoon, Cyn." I pause before biting my lip. "I'm terribly sorry I'm late. We got caught in a bit of traffic on the way here, but we made it alright."

I took a glance around the downstairs area. It seemed like the builders had been in today. I'm sure we'd be spending most of our time upstairs. "Is everyone else already here?" I questioned before looking back at Cyn.

[cyn_lennon64]

"It doesn't matter that you're late. Pattie and Jane haven't been here that long. My friend Phyllis is also here so I'll introduce you to her when we get upstairs."

I took Mo's coat and hung it up before leading her upstairs past all the embarrassing mess left by the builders. Would I really still have to be dealing with this when I was heavily pregnant? I really hoped all this work on the house wouldn't go on that long but I didn't want them to rush the job either. One thing was certain, I wouldn't be forever fetching them cups of tea when I was that far along, no matter how nice they were.

When we caught up with Jane, Pattie and Phyl, I could almost feel the awkard silence we'd just walked in on hanging in the air.

I coughed and started up the promised introduction. "Mo, this is my friend Phyllis. Phyl, this is Mo."

[janey_asher]

The three of us mostly stood in silence as Cynthia went downstairs to get, who we assumed, was Mo. I wondered if she was still perturbed about the conference and if she was going to speak to Ringo about it. I wanted to bring it up with her, but after seeing the way Pattie reacted and how uncomfortable she was, I refrained.

"Hi Mo," I smiled as she walked up the stairs with Cynthia. It was nice to have all the girls together again and I was eager to have the boys home. Although I was almost certain Paul and I would be having a nice little chat about his American girlfriends.

[pattieboyd64]

I gave Mo a smile as she and Cyn appeared. "Great to see you again," I told her truthfully. Although I hoped that this time the atmosphere would be a little more lighthearted than the last time we'd seen each other...

There was a momentary silence, and I don't know about the others, but for me it was awkward. "So, er...how's everyone been?"

[cyn_lennon64]

Phyllis squeezed my shoulder as I sat down and said she'd bring the tea up while I caught up with the girls. I thanked her, realising that she was going to feel like the outsider all through this little get together, no matter how hard I tried to integrate her.

"Oh, I've been coping," I said in response to Pattie's question. "It's been a lot better since I got back in touch with Phyl. She's been staying and it's honestly the best feeling in the world just to do normal things like shoe shopping and getting my hair done. We even went to see A Hard Day's Night today because she hadn't seen it before."

I sighed, remembering that I hadn't seen a lot of it before today either. I tried desperately to forget the exact reason I'd missed most of my husband's film debut but the image of him in that office floated back into my mind. My hand automatically went to where my body now harboured the ever-growing new life we had created that night.

Eleven weeks today. That was almost three months. I could hardly believe it.

In an attempt to snap myself out of my trance like state, I shook my head and forced myself to speak, "It was nice being able to see John, even if it was only on celluloid. I miss him so badly."

[janey_asher]

I took my seat next to Cynthia, smoothing out the creases in my dress. I sat in contemplation, not really paying attention to the conversation they were having. I couldn't decide if I was happy Paul was coming home tomorrow. Of course I wanted him home where he belonged, but I knew I had to confront him about the conference and I knew it would turn into a fight.

I snapped out of my inner thoughts, nodding along with Cynthia's response. "I can't believe the day has come when they're finally going to be back home."

[maureencox64]

I smiled and reached out to shake Cynthia's friend's hand. She seemed nice, I was quite surprised Cyn hadn't introduced me to her before.

I sat down next to Jane and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I glanced over at Pattie and gave her a quick smile.

"Oh, I've been fine. I haven't been up to much really, just waiting for the boys to get back I suppose."

That's all I had been thinking about honestly. It felt like it had been ages since I had seen Richie. So I couldn't have been more happy that he would be home tomorrow.

I nodded in response to Jane's statement. "It really does feel like its been forever, hasn't it?"

[cyn_lennon64]

"There is, however, one thing I'm dreading about John's return," I told the girls as Phyllis came back with the tray of tea and small sandwiches. "I, um, made the mistake of telling about the baby over the phone and he wasn't best pleased, you know."

I searched through the sandwich selection Phyl had laid on and found one quarter of the blue cheese and marmite sandwich I'd specifically asked for. By this point I needed something strong to get me through every day until John came home and, as the luxury of alcohol was denied, I was reduced to cheese and marmite. The combination was surprisingly nice, actually, and I tucked into it with relish. Well, not literally with relish but, thinking about it, that might be an interesting ingredient to add next.

"Well, tuck in girls. Don't panic if you come across a strange sandwich or two in there. Most of them are normal."

[janey_asher]

I smiled at Cynthia, reaching forward for a sandwich and instead coming across a magazine that was laying on the coffee table. I decided to pick up the magazine as well, just to mindlessly flip through it while we all chatted. The conversation kept its small talk tone and I opened the magazine, giggling to myself. It was one of those simple-minded teenaged ones, plastered with pictures of our boys and the Rolling Stones.

"This magazine is so stupid," I smiled to myself, taking a bite of my sandwich. I flipped through a few pages however my eyes fell on a certain page with an article from the Stones on it. "Mick and Keith Discuss The Beatle Gals?" I raised my eyebrows, showing the rest of the girls the article.

"Listen to this," I said, clearing my throat and quoting a piece of the article to everyone. "Mick Jagger of the Stones seems to have his eye on one of the Beatles' girls... 'I heard John's girl sleeps around quite a bit so I think I could have a go at her,' Mick says. Keith also agrees with his mate but goes on to say that he heard she was pregnant, and that he prefers Jane Asher anyway. Looks like the Fab Four has more to worry about than just losing their chart-topper success to the Stones!"

I furrowed my eyebrows, closing the magazine and tossing it back onto the table. "Where would they get that information from, anyway?"

[maureencox64]

I leaned forward and picked up a sandwich.

"I, um, made the mistake of telling about the baby over the phone and he wasn't best pleased, you know."

My eyes widened ever so slightly and I wanted to ask her how it went, but I could tell that she probably would prefer not to talk about it. She had also said that he wasn't pleased when she had told him. Well, that was John for you I suppose.

My thoughts were interrupted when Jane started to read from the magazine she had picked up. I almost laughed. Those arcticles were so ridiculous sometimes, it completely amazed me.

"Who knows? I mean, they'll make up anything to sell their magazines I suppose."

I gave Jane a shrug and took a bite of my sandwich.