Neil in California
3. Last Days in Sunny California . . .
Julia opened her eyes when she felt the gently kiss of her boyfriend, Neil.
"Good mornin’, sleepy head." He whispered into her hair.
She yawned. "Hi, babe. Have ya have breakfast yet?" she asked.
"Yup. Ringo made us some pancakes."
"Oh. Too bad I missed them." Julia swung her legs out of the covers.
"Nope. I saved ye some. The guys go back tomorrow." He told her.
"I know. It seems like I’ve known you for my whole life, but really, it’s been only two weeks."
"Two wonderful weeks." Neil corrected.
"Yea. Heaven." Julia sighed.
"Are you going back to New York?" Neil asked.
"I don’t know where else I’d go." she replied.
"Well, you could come back to England with me." Neil looked her in the eyes. "There’s nothing that I want more."
She was silent a moment. "I’d have to quit my job. And move out of America. And leave my friends."
"You could git another job. And you’d be able to visit America. You wouldn’t be alone-You’ll always have me. And the guys. And you could make new friends. I want you to be with me, Please, come." Neil pleaded.
Julia sighed. "Yea, but what happens if we break up? I’d be flat on my ass."
"Look, luv. Just come with me. I can promise that I have something for you, but I can’t offer that just yet."
"I’ll think about it. I love you so much. And I know that you love me-but that’s just right now. What about long term?"
"You’re right-I do love you. And if you want us to be together at all, you hafta
come with me. I can’t go with you- I would. But I have responsibilities to them. I’m in this for the long term. Really."
"Oh, what the hell? I should let loose a bit more." Neil smiled.
"So you’ll come to London?"
"Yea, I’ll go." He kissed her.
"I love you so much! We’ll buy a new house! I can see it now . . ."
"Neil, hunny, slow down! I’m not even there yet!" She kissed his head. "Can I have my pancakes?"
"Yes, you can have yer bloody pancakes . . . ."
"Yay! Race ya downstairs!" Julia yelled half way out the door.
"Hey, no fair!" Neil bounded to catch up with her.
"So you plan to marry her, then?" Brian asked Neil.
"Yea. I’m in love with her. She’s the love of me life. I can’t let her go."
"Well, I guess I could let you . . ."
"Oh, thanks, Brian! That’ll make us so happy!"
"Yea, well, just be sure that you don’t quit. We still need you."
"I won’t! Woo hoo!" Neil ran into his room to get some money. On the way out the door, he ran into Paul. "Hey, mate. Would ya do us a favor?" Neil asked.
"What would that be, Nell?" Paul questioned.
"Would ya come with me to buy Julia a ring?" he whispered, so that no one except for Paul could hear.
"Um, sorry. I need to, um do something with John. Sorry." Paul looked away, nervously.
"That’s alright." Neil found Ringo in the kitchen, and asked him the same thing.
"Sure, man! Now?" Ringo replied.
"Yea. I wanna get it done ‘fore Julia knows that I’m gone." Neil answered.
"Ok, let’s go." The two of them left for the jewelry shop.
"Can I help you, sir?" The clerk asked.
"Yes, I want to purchase an engagement ring." Neil asked.
"Oh, step right this way!" Neil and Ringo followed the man to a glass counter.
"Here’s a lovely one in gold. Or does the lady prefer silver?"
"Uh, . . ." Neil looked to Ringo.
"She likes gold." Ringo winked at Neil’s memory loss.
"Ok, here’s a 24 karat diamond ring. What is your price range?"
"Well, um, $200." Neil guessed blindly. He wasn’t very familiar with the exchange rate. All he knew was that he only had £200.
"Very well. Here’s another diamond, with a lovely gold design . . ."
"I’ll take it." Neil said.
"That’ll be $198.04." Neil had the expensive ring put in a velvet box, and put it in his pocket.
"Ok, can I open my eyes, now?" Julia asked.
"Not yet . . ." Neil was positioning her so that she could see the sunset over the ocean waters. "Ok, open ‘em." She opened her eyes to a painted horizon.
"Wow, Neil. It’s beautiful."
"You haven’t even seen the present yet!" Neil laughed.
"Well then, what is it? By the way, babe. You didn’t need to get me anything. I really just want love from you."
"You’ll like this gift, promise." Neil got down on one knee, and looked up at his smiling girl. "Julia, darling, will you marry me?" As he said the age-old words, he pulled out the little velvet box.
"Oh . . ." Julia covered her mouth with her hands, and a tear escaped her eye. She fell down to her knees, and threw her arms around his neck. "Yes, baby. I love you." She whispered in his ear. He reached for her left hand, and slipped the ring on her fourth finger. She admired its shine. "So pretty . . ." Then she kissed Neil gently on the lips, and they watched the sun go down together on the sandy shore.