Leather and Lace - A Lauren Woods Spinoff (Part 3 in series)

Chapter 1

Lauren's P.O.V.

I never would have imagined that by the age of 36 I would be running one of the biggest fashion empires in New York City. I also wouldn't have thought I would be married and divorced and have 3 beautiful children.

Due to my job, I travel frequently and because George works mostly from home in his recording studio, he spends a lot more time with our children. We have an open custody agreement and if I'm away on business then he assures them that I love and miss them dearly despite our differences.

George and I drifted apart in the last couple of years and decided it wasn't worth the effort any longer. I was no longer going to have to jeopardize my happiness and freedom for his career and stardom.

On this particular spring day I decided I would have lunch with John Lennon and his wife Yoko. They have been very important to me as I spent time here in New York City because of the familiarity that they bring to me in a city that I grew up in.

The time I spent in England made the hustle and bustle of this city foreign to me and having a Beatle here who is so kind and compassionate and inquisitive on life has helped me immensely not to feel alone -even when surrounded by so many people.

Yoko herself has become more genuine, kind and welcoming to me over the years and I've grown to really care for her.

....

I met them at a restaurant in Manhattan and with them was their young son Sean who reminded me of my daughter who is the same age, 5 years old.

"How are you?" Yoko asked me as we sat down.

In reality I was a hot mess but I decided to say "I'm fine," with a slight fake smile.

"Just fine?" John then asked me, "you sure about that?"

"Yes, just fine," I responded once more, "but enough about me tell me all about what's been going on with you guys."

I dismissed the subject because I didn't want to get into my own problems.

"Did you hear Paul is having some reunion of sorts for us all back in London?" He then dropped this bomb on me.

I was not expecting to hear this. I had been very close with Paul and Linda but grew distant over the years and because I was no longer married to George I wasn't surprised that I hadn't heard.

"No I didn't hear," I rolled my eyes.

John chuckled. He wasn't close with the others like he once was either.

"Are you going?" I then asked him.

"No," he said and I gave him a look.

"There's no Beatles without John Lennon," I pointed out.

"Then it's not going to be a Beatles reunion now, is it?"

He was right. Whatever it was going to be and whatever the reason for Paul doing it, it won't ever be a reunion if one of the four Beatles isn't there. I also was almost positive George wouldnt be interested.

"Will you ever come back to England?" I then asked him and he shook his head no.

"Maybe someday but not anytime soon," he said, "I'm afraid if I go back then I won't be able to return here to America."

He was right. The government had it out for him due to his "radical" ideas on peace and love. That and his periodic drug use.

"But," he then said, "I am going to Los Angeles to an event at the end of the week and Yoko here is going to stay here with Sean. You're welcome to come if you'd like - are you free?" He asked me.