Just five days after loosing her beloved husband, Michelle found herself facing two detectives wanting to talk about the incident itself. After going through the sequence of painful events with them, she was delivered a huge bombshell.
“Mrs. McCartney, we have eye witness accounts of the incident involving your husband. We believe, based on those accounts, that your husband was killed deliberately.”
Michelle stared at them, taking in the full horror of the information. “But….” She stopped, bewildered, lost for words.
“Mrs. McCartney, can you think of any reason why someone would want to kill your husband?”
“No…..no…there was never anything like that until …well until the stuff you know about.”
One of the detectives shuffled uncomfortably. “Mrs. McCartney, I’m sorry I have to ask you this, has your husband ever been involved in any business deals or things where he may have crossed people?”
“Crossed people?” Michelle looked at them in disbelief. Suddenly she began to laugh. “He was a musician not a gangster! I can’t imagine someone wanting to hurt him because they didn’t like his music. Can you?”
“Is it possible your husband was having an affair?”
“What!?” Michelle glared at the officers in front of her. “Look,” she snapped, “Paul and I were married for nearly twenty five years. We were happy OK? No affairs! No business problems! Nothing! Now please, I’m grieving for my husband and I no longer want you in my home. Please leave!”
“Mrs. McCartney we need to…”
“I think,” said Mike softly, “that you should do as Mrs. McCartney asks. Rest assured we will look into as much as we can to help with your enquiries. However…” he moved over to her, “I think this is enough for today, don’t you?”
“And you are Sir?”
“Michael McCartney. Paul was my brother. I’m here to support Mrs. McCartney and her children and, of course, attend his funeral as soon as you decide his body can be released.”
******************************************************
The day of Paul’s funeral dawned dry but cold. After showering and dressing Michelle entered the kitchen where she found her four children nursing mugs of hot chocolate made for them by Rose.
“Morning everyone. How are we all today?”
“Mum?” It was Michael. Michelle turned and looked at her nine year old son. She noticed his drawn tired face, pinched with recent tears.
“Yes sweetheart?”
“Is Uncle Mike coming today?”
“Of course, he was Dad’s brother. He’ll be here soon. Why?”
Michael shuffled in his seat, fresh tears glistening in his eyes. Michelle’s heart went out to him. She walked to him and wrapped him in a warm hug.
“Come on sweetheart. Mike will be here soon. Get washed and dressed then you’ll be able to sit with him. OK?”
“Mum…do I have to wear black today? Can I wear something that I know dad liked me to wear instead?”
She looked into his sad brown eyes. “Michael McCartney, today is all about you saying good bye to the dad that you loved. What you wear is totally up to you.” She looked at the other children, “and that applies to the rest of you too. Wear whatever you think is right for you and your dad. I have.”
James smiled. “You look lovely in that dress mum and I know Dad loved it too. He used to tell me it reminded him of something you were wearing when he first met you!”
In spite of the sadness to the day, Michelle couldn’t help but smile. “I know.” She looked at the clock on the wall, “Right you lot. Go and get ready. The cars will be here in just over an hour.”
Once alone, Michelle sat at the table, her head in her hands. She allowed herself to cry, overwhelmed by how strong her children were being. She wished she could protect them from the hurt and sadness that would come their way today. She lifted her head as Rose put her arm across her shoulders. Rose held her and they cried together.
Michelle, closely supported by James and Kathryn, walked into the church behind Paul’s coffin. She held her head high as the now familiar click of press photographers followed them. She pulled the children closer to her, knowing that Michael and Alice were being protected by Mike. Rose followed behind them with the rest of the band. After finding their seat she continued to face forward, her eyes on the coffin where her husband lay. It felt unreal. She checked the children. She could see they were holding themselves together and her heart swelled with pride.
The service began. The vicar knew the family well as Michelle and the children attended church regularly. The eulogy began.
“As a young cleric, I remember dancing with my girlfriend to songs by The Beatles. We both thought they were amazing! So imagine my surprise to go on to meet the great famous multi talented Paul McCartney face to face!”
The congregation chuckled at the reaction of the vicar recalling his youth. He grinned at his audience before continuing. “It was early May 1968 and by then I had married that girlfriend. Paul and Michelle came to see me about baptizing their new born twins.” He smiled at the memory. “I remember thinking how honest he was after he told me he wasn’t into this “religion stuff” to use his words, but that it was Michelle who came to Church and it was important to her. I was struck then by how much he clearly loved his wife and young family. As the years have passed, I went on to baptize two more McCartney children and then watch the four of them grow up.
Paul often came to church events. He took over child care whilst Michelle stood in as our organist in emergencies! He, alongside his wife, gave his time and energy willingly to our causes. Through this work, I got to know Paul as a person and not as the public face, the PR Paul as Michelle called him. Like all you friends and family here, I found him to be a quiet, serious thinking man. Highly intelligent and, despite his claim that he had no faith, he could give me a run for my money in a theological discussion.
Paul had strong principles and opinions. He believed in helping others and I know he contributed to many good causes during his life time. I know his involvement with different charities will be greatly missed. In the main though, what I remember is a man who sat with me watching Michelle rehearse the church nativity one year. We began talking about the Christmas story and how Joseph would have reacted had the story took place today. It was a very deep enlightening discussion during which he admitted that his proudest achievements weren’t in fact his music or his fame as one might expect. No, what Paul declared was the enormous pride his wife and family filled him with. His children were everything to him and, his wife Michelle, he clearly adored. I know that with that family he strived to provide for them an ordinary quiet life despite the fame and fortune that came his way.
Paul’s life can be tracked through many stages. He worked on different projects with The Beatless and then his solo work where he collaborated with Michelle. He won many well deserved awards. He was something of a perfectionsist and always threw himself into everything 100%. However, no matter what he was involved in, no matter how intense that involvement was, nothing ever stopped his desire to be the best husband and father he could be. That, ladies and gentlemen, was Paul McCartney's greatest success.
Knowing this about Paul, it makes it even more of a tragedy that we are here today … at his funeral. Paul was almost forty four years old. With his children growing up and he and Michelle still very much in love after over twenty years of marriage. He talked once about how he and Michelle would be together forever and even joked how they would sit in their rocking chairs with their grandchildren around their feet.
For a life so incredibly lived, Paul still had everything to look forward to yet his life was cruelly snuffed out due to the actions of one person. It now rests to James, Kathryn, Alice and Michael to ensure that Paul lives on in them. Knowing how much they adored their father, I know they will do this.”
Michelle's attention was given to her children, all of whom were sobbing openly. She pulled all four close to her, fighting back her own tears, and just held them. The congregation saw this and fought back tears too. Finally, the vicar began to move. Paul’s brother Mike, along with John, George Harrieson and Ringo, took their places as pall bearers. Michelle gently led the children outside, following their father’s coffin to what would be its final resting place in the pretty church yard. The children stayed close to their mother as the coffin was lowered in to the grave. Young Michael clung to her, sobbing that he wanted his dad. The other children became visibly more and more upset. Then, seeing their pain, Michelle lost her own composure and sobbed with them. As the committal drew to an end and seeing that she was close to collapse, Mike and the lads from The Beatles moved swiftly to the distraught family and supported them back to the awaiting cars.
Once back at the house, the lads made to leave. Mike stopped them.
“No,” said Ringo softly, looking towards Michelle and the children, “They need piece and quiet. Not us hanging around.”
“Actually,” explained Mike, “having you lot around will do them all good. The children enjoy talking to people about their dad and it does Michelle good to keep busy for a while. Come on in.”
Michelle turned, overhearing some of the conversation. “Look, all three of you were Paul’s best friends. You’re always welcome here, especially today. Please?” She held her hand out to Ringo. He looked around at George and John, who nodded. He took the proffered hand and let Michelle lead him into the house. They all went through to the kitchen as Michelle and Rose set out the food they had prepared earlier. The children sat around the table, quiet and subdued. John went over to them and sat with them.
“How’s the guitar playing going Jamie?” he asked softly. Michelle couldn’t help but smile as she heard him using the name he had used when he had been a small child.
James looked up at his godfather and grinned. “Pretty good. Dad taught me loads then I’ve been having lessons too.
“Fancy a jamming session?” the older man suggested, “your dad would’ve love it!”
James looked at his mother, unsure. “Mum?”
Michelle nodded, smiling at her son. “Go for it James, it would make us all smile and like John says, your dad would’ve love it.”
“I’ll go and get my guitar from the car then.
“Use one of Paul’s,” Michelle offered softly, “you too George. There's a couple of right handed ones in the office James.”
“I’ll bring you one as well, shall I mum?”
Several hours later an exhausted Michelle hugged and kissed the three musicians goodbye. “Thanks for today,” she whispered to them, “It’s done the kids a world of good remembering their dad through his music.”
“It was good to do it for us too,” said George sadly, “I wish Paul had been here to hear us though! He'd have loved it!”
Michelle smiled sadly. “He’s always with us,” she whispered, leaning over and touching him on the chest, “Just here, in your heart and here…” she touched his head, “…in your memories.”
George hugged her again. “Young James is a fine musician Michelle. A real chip off the old block!”
“Yes he is isn’t he!”
John nodded slowly in agreement, “There were times tonight he reminded me so much of Paul when we were that age.” His voice cracked as he smiled wistfully, his eyes full of tears. He hugged her close. “Take care Michelle. You have our numbers if you need anything. Please, ring anytime OK?”
“Thanks.” Michelle swallowed the tears forming, “and you lot don’t be strangers anymore OK? Life's too short!”
She watched them get into their cars and drive off. Once they were gone she closed and locked the door. The house was silent, the children having gone to bed exhausted, save for the sounds of Mike and Rose clearing up in the kitchen. Michelle leaned against the door and closed her eyes.
“Oh Paul,” she whispered, “oh Paul my love, what are we going to do without you with us?”