Paul hoped the subject of names wouldn't come up again; the whole thing was making him very uncomfortable. He didn't like having to pretend like this, but he didn't see what else he could do. He steered the conversation to anything else that popped into his head as he, Ringo, and Winston took their adjoining seats on the plane. Winston grinned at these increasingly random topics with a teasing expression, and Paul, hastily casting his mind around for a topic that would be completely natural to bring up, said, "Do you like rock-and-roll music, Ringo?"
Ringo perked up. "I love it! That's what I'm going over to America for; I'm tryin' to get started as a drummer over there!"
It was almost too amazing to be true. "Us, too!" cried Paul. "Well, only we play guitar, Winston and me..."
"Yeah, James and me play guitar," Winston put in helpfully. "James is good at guitar, aren't you, James? He's written a bunch of James songs, that James...."
Paul blushed at the way Winston repeated his name so many times, each time with a certain mocking tone that said quite plainly that he knew "James" was usually called something else. Fortunately, Ringo just laughed.
"Gear," he said happily. "I've tried to write a few songs meself. They don't turn out well, though."
"Maybe they do!" Paul told him. "What's the matter with your songs, then? Maybe there's no problem!"
Ringo shrugged and smiled. "Well, they always sound exactly like someone else's."
"Oh." Well, that really was a problem....
Winston grinned. "Let's have you play drums for me songs and for James here's songs," he suggested, "and see how you do with those."
"Gear!" Ringo said again. "We can all jam."
"We'll all jam together where people can hear us," Winston said decisively, enthusiasm building in his voice as he talked. "That's so's someone can discover us."
"Like a band?" Ringo seemed surprised. "You mean you and me and James - in a band?"
"Of course!" Winston beamed. "How about it, James?"
Paul was beginning to get used to hearing his first name said by Winston in that mocking tone, and was glad it wasn't the name he used normally. He didn't know if he would ever be able to get the sound of Winston making fun of it out of his head after this. But this new idea excited him too much to care about that. "Yeah!" he agreed happily. This was working better than he'd hoped. He hadn't even reached America yet, and already he had a band.
Ringo perked up. "I love it! That's what I'm going over to America for; I'm tryin' to get started as a drummer over there!"
It was almost too amazing to be true. "Us, too!" cried Paul. "Well, only we play guitar, Winston and me..."
"Yeah, James and me play guitar," Winston put in helpfully. "James is good at guitar, aren't you, James? He's written a bunch of James songs, that James...."
Paul blushed at the way Winston repeated his name so many times, each time with a certain mocking tone that said quite plainly that he knew "James" was usually called something else. Fortunately, Ringo just laughed.
"Gear," he said happily. "I've tried to write a few songs meself. They don't turn out well, though."
"Maybe they do!" Paul told him. "What's the matter with your songs, then? Maybe there's no problem!"
Ringo shrugged and smiled. "Well, they always sound exactly like someone else's."
"Oh." Well, that really was a problem....
Winston grinned. "Let's have you play drums for me songs and for James here's songs," he suggested, "and see how you do with those."
"Gear!" Ringo said again. "We can all jam."
"We'll all jam together where people can hear us," Winston said decisively, enthusiasm building in his voice as he talked. "That's so's someone can discover us."
"Like a band?" Ringo seemed surprised. "You mean you and me and James - in a band?"
"Of course!" Winston beamed. "How about it, James?"
Paul was beginning to get used to hearing his first name said by Winston in that mocking tone, and was glad it wasn't the name he used normally. He didn't know if he would ever be able to get the sound of Winston making fun of it out of his head after this. But this new idea excited him too much to care about that. "Yeah!" he agreed happily. This was working better than he'd hoped. He hadn't even reached America yet, and already he had a band.
When the new day came, the couple woke up feeling rested and got themselves ready for the ride to Inverness. "See you in a week, Laura, darling. Take care." George whispered to his daughter, who was still sound asleep. "We love you." Pattie added. With that, they kissed her on the forehead. This was then followed by a tasty breakfast, after which they headed back to the airship. "The weather is expected to be cooler where I'll be taking you during this time of year (being the capital of the Highlands), so have ye brought along some coats?" Philip asked as they returned on deck. George replied, "Why yes, sir! We did. Thanks for letting us know about that." Pattie said, "Indeed! Good thing we planned ahead of time." "Mm-hmm." Nodded George. "You are all set in that case!" Remarked Philip. A few minutes later, the airship was gliding in the sky again, and the newlyweds shared a sweet moment while enjoying the lovely view at the same time.
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TO BE CONTINUED
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.
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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.
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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.
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TO BE CONTINUED