4. Two Months Later . . .

"I dunno, Rich, she’s been actin’ very weird recently." Ringo listened as Neil poured out his problems, and took a swig of his beer.

"Look, mate. You have no proof that she’s ‘aving an affair. That’s a bit of a leap."

"I know." Neil moaned. "That’s the problem. But I just, . . .I wish she’d just tell me why she’s so . . . moody and secretive." He downed the rest of his brewskie in one gulp.

"What do you mean by secretive?" Ringo pried.

"Well, last night for example. I was awake, and she got up in the middle of the night and left, then came back in about a ‘alf hour. She wasn’t in the house- she walked down the block and out of sight from the window. And we haven’t um, made love in several nights. It’s so unlike her. I just think that she’s getting it somewhere else. Then she won’t even tell me where she’s been during the day!" He sighed.

Ringo smiled weakly. "Cheer up, mate. I’m sure there’s a good excuse."

Neil walked slowly into the kitchen, where Julia was sitting, sipping some tea. He noted that she looked like there was something on her mind. She looked up.

"Oh, hi hunny. I hafta talk to you. Sit down." He didn’t like the sound of that.

"I just want to say that I know what you’re going to tell me." She looked startled.

"You know? I was that obvious?" His heart broke into a million pieces.

"Yes, and because of that, I’m calling off the wedding. I’ll ask you to please take your things, and leave." She sat in stunned silence for a minute. Then tears sprang to her big chocolate eyes. She ran up the stairs, and threw everything into her suitcase. Julia picked up her acoustic, and sprinted back down the stairs, and out the door, weeping uncontrollably. Neil let his head fall to the table, and sobbed quietly.

Maureen Starkey, Julia’s best friend, crashed loudly through Neil’s door. She found the Beatles trying desperately to console him. Her eyes flared like the flames of forest fires.

"YOU BLOODY BASTARD!" she screamed. All the men looked up in shocked surprise. "How could you do that to her?" she demanded.

"How what?" John shot back. "She’s the one in the wrong!"

"You!" Her eyes flew wide in anger at John for backing up "the bastard". "I’ll have you know that she’s done nothing wrong! HE’S in the wrong! HE’S not a pregnant woman thrown onto the street by the man she was supposed to marry! HE’S not the one who’s got a broken heart. HE’S not the one who was going to throw a surprise party for his fiancée!" The men stared at her.

"What did you say?" Neil jumped up, and ran over to her. "She’s had an affair!"

"No, she didn’t!" Mo argued. "She’s been at my house during the day, planning a huge birthday surprise for you. She’s been practicing the guitar with some other musicians that are friends of hers! And she’s bloody preggers, and you call off the wedding because you didn’t want her baby!" Mo’s temper flared. "That’s the worst thing of all, you uncaring monster!" But Neil hadn’t heard the last. His mind spun when she had said ‘baby’. Then all of it dawned on him. That’s where she’d been. That’s what had been going on.

"Where was she last night?" he asked, hoping that Maureen was right.

"The grocery store. Pregnant women do have cravings, you know."

"Where is she now?" Neil breathed heavily.

"She’s at my house- or was." Neil bolted out the door, and sprinted all the way to Ringo’s mansion, which was about two miles away. He ran into the house, and looked about frantically. On the table was a note to Maureen from Julia.

Neil was out of the house just in time to catch Paul’s car coming up the driveway. He hopped in, and instructed Paul to the airport. After an excruciatingly long drive, they arrived at Heathrow International Airport. Neil ran in, followed by George, Maureen, John, Ringo and Paul in that order. The lady at the front counter slowly informed the party which planes were currently leaving for New York.

"You guys take gates 35 and 21 between you- Maureen and Rich check gate 11, and I’ll run to gate 13." Neil hurriedly announced the game plan. "And stop her- I’ll be there pronto." The group separated, and sprinted to the assigned terminal. While the other pairs searched in vain, Neil spotted her head in the waiting area for his gate. "Lucky number 13." He whispered. He crept up behind her, and said her name softly. She turned, and saw him. A single tear fell down Julia’s soft cheek.

"I’m so, so sorry. There’s been a misunderstanding . . ." But she turned away, and picked up her bags. She tried to leave, but Neil cornered her. "Let me finish. I thought that you were cheating on me. I didn’t even know that you were pregnant." He kept his voice low, but Julia heard him. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"But I thought . . ."

"I know. I was confused too. Honey, I’m so eternally sorry. I just want you to know that I love you. I truly do. Darling, please, please come back home." He fell to his knees in front of her, and kissed her hands. Neil looked up pleadingly, and Julia’s sad mouth slowly turned up into a smile.

"But do you love the baby?" She asked this so quietly, that he barely heard her at all.

"Oh, luv, yes! I am more happy than I have ever been in my life to know that!"

"Let’s go home!" Julia announced with tears of happiness in her eyes.

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