England 1 week later.

Heathrow airport was jam packed. A sardine can of human flesh.

I was tired. Jet lagged.  I was fed up and wanted for a long hot shower and bed but no oh no I wasn't to get much of either, as tonight, was my deb night.

I felt like maybe, being swallowed by the sardines, would be easier than facing tonight.

"Mum!!" Hailey slammed into me covering me with kisses, four days and I'm treated like we have been apart months, I soaked them all in. "Come on. Everything's set, Stella's fin, just need you!"

"Slow down what's Stella fin, done? What's set?" I trailed behind my overly confident and outgoing daughter like a pull along toy, bumping into loads of bustling oncoming travellers as she hurled me through the crowd at break neck speed.

"You'll see!" Hailey smirked tossing my luggage in the boot. She settled in the cab, nestled forward near the partition. I was ignored the whole way back to St. Johns Wood, as she chatted up the cute driver.

The my old home seemed the same from the street.

The same colours, smart white timber for the bottom level then a deep reddish-brown brick for the second and third storey, the high fence and smart maroon wooden gate, the wet slick slate like court yard that made my heels click and clack when I crossed it.

Three storeys of story's, like fairy tales or legend from long ago flooded my thoughts, my eyes, my senses.

All my yesterday's here today.

I held my breath as the gate opened, idly wondering if my room was very different to what it had been. Of course it would be, silly girl- get a grip. The window straight above the front door, the window I gazed out of more often in happiness than sadness, bade me silent hello.

No time was handed to me, no time to walk around reminiscing about the house, the stairs, the kitchen. No seconds to see how big the oak tree had grown, or check out the piano room, or even my old room. I was dashed into the oversized converted attic, feeling like Cinderella meeting the fairy god mother for the ball.

"Yay! Finally" Stella hurtled toward me with a measuring tape checking she had the dress perfect, and it was apparently. I tried to get by her to look at it but no, dismissed to the shower I was.

"Makeup Mum!" Hailey set to work after capturing me as I dried myself with the fluffy pink towel. Twenty minutes later my 1st fairy helper made me look like a dream, the Abby staring back was all high class from her hair to her lips "What do you think Mum?"

"What'd you do to the mirror?" I laughed watching Stella and Hailey survey their finished handiwork- my face; below I was still towel wrapped and slightly chilled.

"You look gorgeous. Much better than the wicked witch of the Aldershot" Stella smirked and bit her lip "Come on let's get you dressed Abigail"

I wasn't given a chance to pull her strange words apart, she had me standing in the centre of the converted attic in bra and panties then she brought the eye- catching gown over. I forgot all about Aldershot.

"Like it?" Stella was a genius, a world class genius of thread and fabric.

"It's spectacular" I touched the satin fabric gently, worried I would hurt the silky softness of it.

"Dad's gonna flip!" Stella popped the P and smiled as I shimmied into the gown, the zip, which was hidden down my side, slid up effortlessly.

Deep maroon edged in gold, nothing shown I was indeed covered head to toe but when I moved magic happened, a slit so long I felt myself blush thinking about the leg I revealed then disappear as if a magician had set it away. The back opened only if I moved a certain way, leaned toward to speak to someone. The front a peak a boo glimpse of skin, a clever mix of coy and sexy. Nothing flaunted but tantalising, teasing when the dress revealed its secrets.

"It's amazing" I walked about, getting a feel if the weight and caught my reflection in the mirror. Abigail had certainly arrived back in London and she was now ready for her opening night. "It's ......wow Stella. You are so talented"

"Limo's here" Hailey tossed from her position seated by the window, today was sunny, the sky a glorious shade of blue. The girls, now dressed in their finery, and I, made our way to the biggest evening in London, saluting all things British, celebrating Queen and country the who's who of London invited. Paul its main attraction, as the Queen was abroad on tour.

Paul was meeting us there having just arrived back from another trip away. I wanted so much to see him before this evening. Before everyone's eyes turned on us, wondering who the new old lady was with Paul McCartney. 

Nerves, nervousness hit hard as the car slid through the oh so familiar streets to the Royal Albert Hall. My fingers clawed into my hands and I felt as though sweat trickled from my eyes. Stella and Hailey oblivious to my plight chatted away about France and their adventures in a week's time.

Too soon we pulled up outside the huge building and the media turned every camera in our direction.

This was it, time flooded back to early '64 arm in arm with John and or Paul, hitting red carpets like a nervous twitchy sparrow, ready to fly and escape the media circus that followed them insistently. Those crazy seagulls screams weren't so bad today but I could still hear them in my mind.

Stop it Abby! You are no longer a sparrow.

You look like a an absolute goddess in this frock...act like one. Shoulders back, smile planted, work the walk and own the stage.

"Right you two ready?!!" Plastering a smile on, I smiled like I was wonder woman- confident, strong and beautiful. I reached for the door handle but the chauffeur beat me to it and I was offered a hand to alight from the limousine.

A no name in London on this night of stars but the cameras still flashed....

Maybe she was someone, maybe they could identify her later.

Stella followed then Hailey, we conquered the carpet and in that precious moment I felt like I should truly be here.

I was ready for Paul, the noise we would make in the papers, I was ready for an us.

Varying pinks, purples and orange flooded my vision, the Royal Albert Hall was entrancing, mesmerising, more beautiful than I remembered.

I was alone gazing at all the beautiful people below, the girls having disappeared as I paused, drinking in the display of light like a sunrise so pretty. I couldn't have  make conversation in this moment as I was awed speechless by the vision.

A small band preformed jazz standards in the background. The who's who of London found tables covered in crystal and adorned with flowers overflowing from centre-pieces of crystal.

I held the banister railing as I descended.

Not too fast to seem eager and not too slow to be scaredy cat Abby.

Centred, poised, controlled. Everything I always wasn't now flowed through me as if a higher force had taken control. Making me, perhaps for tonight only, elegant, classy and womanly.

Paul glanced up in that moment from the centre of the room -the axis to the wheel. He was the one everyone wanted to be near, to be seen with, to talk to, to be noticed by.

But he was mine tonight and as I descended the wide staircase he looked to apologise to the tight circle of fellow guests surrounding him and pulled away. Pulling away towards me.

Debonair, handsome, suave, sexy, sweet Paul. My eyes holding his, and his mine.

I was his, if he still wanted me and if his expression was anything to go by I was- snagged hook, line and weighty sinker.

"Abigail, you look stunning. Stunning, amazing and very...." whispering the rest in a breath upon my neck and kissed me sweetly "very beautiful" As he caught my elbow and took care of me the last of the stairs to the room I lit up, glowing from his words.

"Thank-you, you look pretty hot stuff yourself" I dusted invisible fluff off his black tux jacket just to touch him, the fabric soft and rich "I missed you"

"Good, 'cause we have lots of catching up to do" Paul murmured by my ear. A glass crashed to the marble close by, but I never saw.

Paul captured me in his eyes and I wasn't going anywhere, the room could have been swallowed in a sink hole and I would have only noticed Paul's beautiful face smiling and happy.

We joined the festivities side by side. Meeting dignitaries, reminiscing quietly as we mingled, laughing as we enjoyed and always no more than a hairs breath between us- a touch, a wink, a smile never far away- always for me, for me alone.

I couldn't begin to wonder how we had fallen so easily into such a friendly banter like it was only days and not years since we conversed. And it wasn't just old friends and memories it was new, current. Learning, listening and enjoying the other's words.

Easy like slipping between favourite sheets, slipping my favourite boots on- home.

Yet even home has its perils....

Sour. That's how I describe her in my mind, she was sour.

She seemed off from the moment I spied her circling just beyond the group we were inside of. Paul ever the centre, the light, patience and genuine enjoyment of the night emitting from him.

Who was she..... I would soon find out.