Episode 12
2586 Words
We got to Glasgow the week before Christmas and there was no better feeling than being at home. I went Christmas shopping with Vinnie and people would stop me and ask for photos, and it was always so nice to hear the familiar accent. These were my kind of people, nice genuine people. They liked to meet you but were busy with their own lives and would give you a cuddle and wish you well. Before I knew it it was Christmas Eve. John said he was going to have a special dinner at his house just outside Glasgow for his sons and girlfriends. He told me to get really glammed up and that he was wearing a tuxedo. I always loved him in a tux. We drank a few Sylvia’s and he said “it’s just you and me tonight Kid” I was confused “why? couldn’t the boys make it?” I asked “No I fancied a night just the two of us, we can see them tomorrow at Christmas dinner” He put on our favorite song and we slow danced in front of the enormous Christmas tree and it was so romantic. Then he said “I’ve been thinking about the future, and I’ve decided I want to retire” this was totally out of the blue “wow John that’s great, but what does it mean?” He smiled “it means less hours, I’m going to let John Jr run the company but I still want to do my charity work. That will keep me busy” “I’m really pleased you have decided to slow down. I hate it when you work too hard” he put his two hands at either side of my face and looked deep into my eyes “You make me so happy Kid. I want to spend all my time with you” it was music to my ears. This was everything that I had wanted Michael to say to me years ago. Michael always put his career before me and now John was giving it all up I was over the moon. “John you make me so happy, this is going to be amazing” he kissed me gently then pulled away and said “I want to settle in one place for a while, and I was thinking maybe LA would be the best place. You were really happy there” i shook my head “I don’t want to settle there baby I’m sorry” I didn’t even want to go back for the reunion show that was coming up but I knew deep down that I was just being dramatic “oh right” he said and he looked kind of hurt “I miss being here, and I love London” his face broke into a smile and he seemed relieved “well, wherever you want to stay I’ll be there. I don’t care where it is as long as you and me are together” he said kissing me. This was everything I wanted Tommy to have said to me when we had been together. But instead Tommy had wanted to stay in LA and the fact that John just wanted to be with me no matter where it was made me the happiest girl in the world “you better put your coat on Kid it’s cold outside” I wondered what he was up too “why? are we going out?” I was confused because I could smell whatever it was that his chef was cooking in the kitchen. “Yeah I have a surprise for you” he put my coat over my shoulders and we went out onto the patio. His garden was the size of a golf course and it was covered in snow. The patio was beautiful it had candles lit everywhere “this looks lovely” I said but I was wondering what he was up too. The snow was coming down and it was freezing. “What’s this surprise?” I asked “look up” he said and just then loads of fire works went off. I grabbed his arm because I got a fright, and we both laughed. I stood with my head on his shoulder clutching his arm and he had his hands in his pockets to keep warm. The fire works were fantastic. When I thought they had stoped I cheered and John bent down next to me. I was looking at all the candles and the snow and it was really romantic “John are you tying your shoe? Do you need a hand getting back up old timer?” I said with a chuckle. “No I’m not tying my shoe.” He said and when I looked down at him he was holding the biggest diamond ring I had ever seen in my life. I don’t think I had ever seen John look nervous before but I could tell he was really bricking it. I looked at the ring and it was enormous. It had John written all over it. Firstly it was huge and ridiculously expensive looking and secondly it was sleek and stylish and most importantly it was one of a kind just like him. “Lydia you’ve made my life complete, I thought this kind of happiness had passed me by, I never thought I could be this happy and I want you to be my wife, will you marry me?” I was shocked, this was totally out of the blue but I didn’t need any time to think about it. “John I would love to marry you” he stood up and put the ring on my finger and dipped me back and gave me a kiss. “I’m going to give you the world kid” he said and kissed me again and then all the fireworks started again. I had tears in my eyes I was so happy. “Are you crying Kid?” he asked with a smile holding me close “no I have something in my eye” I said and we both laughed. We had the most amazing Christmas after that, and I thought that we would live happily ever after together. I thought I had finally found that special person that made my life better and that he was the one. I thought we would grow old together but we didn’t. And I think splitting up with John was the one that hurt the most.
One of the staff from John’s house took a photo of us when he had dipped me back and kissed me, and it was the most beautiful photo I had ever seen. The fireworks and the snow in the back ground was like something from a fairytail. And he looked so handsome and happy in it. I decided to use it as our engagement announcement it simply said ‘I said YES’ as soon I hit send the press went into over drive printing lots of old photos of me and Stefan and me and Tommy and I was a little embarrassed but John didn’t seem to mind. When I called to tell the dragon she wasn’t happy, “engaged again Lydia? We will see how long this one lasts” she said. I was gutted my own mum wasn’t happy for me but Stacey more than made up for it with her enthusiasm. She was so happy you would have thought he had asked to marry her. Fran sent a bunch of balloons to me congratulating us both, but I didn’t hear from the big man. Which wasn’t unusual because he was probably busy with some model or actress. I finally ended up calling him and he said he hadn’t heard about it and congratulated us. I found it kind of odd but then he wasn’t exactly a wedding kind of guy. After two months we returned to LA for the anniversary concert and it was a huge success. It had sold out straight away and people had travelled from all over the world to see us. We had enjoyed being back as a band and Fran said we should have a tour at the end of the year just a few big city dates in the US and Europe and I loved the idea and so did John. He loved the band and knew every word to every song we had ever written. We decided to stay in LA for a while so Fran and I could work on a few new songs. When I got back to LA I was surprised that Fran was still with Joanna, even though he said he wasn’t happy and wanted to end things with her but I decided to stay out of it. It was none of my business. Fran and I never spoke about the kiss and it was as if nothing had ever happened. The big man had signed a deal to star in a super hero movie, it was a three year deal, one movie a year and he was filming with Michael and I was shocked to find out Tommy was going to be in it too. I thought it would be awkward between the two of them but it wasn’t my problem. I just had visions of them sitting around saying how much of a b***h I was but I knew the big man wouldn’t stand for anything like that. Carmela was going down to South America to film a new movie and Chris and the kids went with her. I was happy being with John and writing with Fran and relaxing after the past two years of travelling constantly. Things were still frosty between me and Tommy, I couldn’t even look at him. I had asked Harry to look into Tommy’s story that he had been set up. I had wanted to slap down the evidence that he was a dirty cheater in front of him and laugh in his face but as soon as John proposed to me all of that drama didn’t seem to matter any more. I didn’t hate Tommy and our whole relationship seemed like a lifetime ago. I felt bad for Lilly that he had tried to kiss me and that he said he was still in love with me behind her back but it was none of my business and I was sure she would find out what kind of man he was eventually. I wasn’t keen on spending any time with Tommy because he had tried to kiss me and I didn’t want to see Joanna after she had tried it on with John. But John asked everyone over to our house for dinner as a farewell as Chris and Carm and the kids were leaving for a little while. I got changed into my new white tight dress and headed down stairs. John had asked the chef to make Italian food for Carmela because he knew it was her favourite. The staff had set the table and lay out the food on serving platters, there was all different kinds of pasta and bread and oils and he had got bottles of her favourite red wine and they were decanted into crystal goblets. It looked wonderful when I walked in John was pouring himself a drink. “You look beautiful kid, I love you in white, I can’t wait to see you in a big white dress” but the mention of it made my tummy flip. “I was looking up wedding dresses today but I can’t find the right one” We had decided to get married in Jamaica so it had restricted me to what I could wear, although it wasn’t my idea to get married there I had always wanted to get married in Scotland but John fancied a beach wedding so I just went along with it. We had the date booked and the invites had been sent out. But the thought of not having the perfect dress had me stressed out. “What’s wrong with you Kid are you ok?” I nodded my head “yeah I’m just stressed about finding a dress, I want to have it designed for me but the style I want doesn’t suit a beach wedding” “we can change it if you like” that’s what I loved about John, nothing got his back up. “No silly the invites have been sent” “well you look good in that, but I think you should just wear a white bikini” “I bet you do” “anything you wear you will look beautiful” “thanks big daddy, but please promise me you won’t wear flip flops I hate a groom in flip flops” he let out a laugh “and don’t do that thing were you rub the wedding cake in my face” “what like this” as I turned around he had a finger full of garlic butter and smeared it across my face. “John” I yelled and let out a laugh then I picked up whole butter and put it in his hair. He was laughing so much his face was bright red then he stopped laughing and he had a wicked smile on his face “no don’t do it this is a new white dress” I ran around the table he grabbed a handful of spaghetti and threw at me. We both laughed “right this is war Sir Steel” I grabbed handfuls of pasta and threw it at him. We stood at either side of the table grabbing handfuls of anything we could get our hands on and lobbed it at each other all the time laughing. I had spaghetti hanging from my hair and my dress was ruined from the tomato pasta sauce and we were both covered in food. Then he looked at the red wine “no don’t John” i said giggling and I ran out into the living room laughing and he was chasing me and threw the wine over my head. When I looked up everyone was there. We were both laughing and covered in pasta and sauce and everyone stood in shock. “What are you two doing?” asked Chris and little waterfall was laughing “auntie Lydia you’re all messy” she chuckled “sorry guys we had a food fight. I think the dinner is ruined” Tommy and Lilly still looked shocked and Fran was laughing “what are you two like?” he said then John Said “sorry Carmela about the dinner sweetheart, let me get her cleaned up and I will order a few pizzas” he picked me up and ran towards the open patio doors “no John” I shouted and he threw me in the pool. When I got to the surface John was pissing himself laughing because I still had spaghetti in my hair he was laughing so much that I thought he was going to pass out.“John” I pretended to be upset but I couldn’t keep it up for long before I was laughing too. He helped me out the pool and everyone was laughing including Joanna which was surprising. Stacey shook her head and laughed “you two are made for each other”
- Writer
