Author's Note: This is simply a filler chapter! Things will pick up soon and more chapters will solely have interactions with Jude and Lennon! Thanks for hanging in there! Enjoy :) Also, there may be some errors bc I haven't had the chance to look it over. I apologize in advance!
"So, you're a carpenter?" Lennon asked, wiggling her toes from underneath the water. Her hands were placed on her lap as she allowed the cool summer breeze to rush past her.
"More or less, yeah." He replied. Jude hadn't felt this comfortable around a woman in a very long time. He imagined himself talking to her for the longest time and even then, it wouldn't be enough time to spend with her. "What about you? What do you do?"
"Uh, I take photos for the National Geographic."
Jude arched a brow. "Are you serious?"
"Indeed I'm serious. I've been working there for a year and a half now. It's amazing."
"I suddenly feel like I'm in the presence of a celebrity," he teased.
Lennon laughed quietly, shaking her head and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She had always loved the outdoors and taking photos that being a photojournalist at National Geographic was a dream come true.
"It's fun. I get to travel around the world. Every work day is different from the last. You never know what to expect."
"Don't you ever wish to settle down somewhere?" Jude asked.
"Yeah. Once in a while, but I'm enjoying the time I have right now to travel. Besides, if I do ever settle down, he's gotta be the right one," she replied.
Jude smiled to himself, nodding. Even with the silence, it was comfortable enough that he didn't find the need to start a new conversation. It was calming to be in her presence.
"You know, I feel closer to my parents now that I have more information. My grandparents always lived in the city. They had a falling out with my mother once she met my dad. They still feel guilty to this day," Lennon admitted, playing with the fabric of her dress.
"A falling out?"
"My mom left when she was seventeen to be with my dad."
"Well, I've seen pictures of your parents from Grace. You do look a lot like your mom and she was one hot woman."
Lennon looked over at him with slightly widened eyes before she playfully smacked his upper arm, laughing quietly.
"First of all, she's my mom! And second, is that is that your way of saying I'm hot?"
Jude grinned over at her, rubbing his arm absently. "Oh, you caught me."
Lennon laughed quietly, shaking her head. She looked out into the water and sighed to herself. Since coming to Woodstock, she had learned more about her parents that not even her grandparents could give her. It was a good idea to take the risk and leap of faith to visit the town that her parents grew up in.
"You know, we've been talking for hours and we don't even know each other's names," Lennon lied. She knew his name. She overheard Grace, but he didn't need to know that she was interested. Lennon liked to play hard to get.
"Well, I was getting there. You aren't a patient woman, are you?"
"You're this close to being pushed in the water," she teased.
Jude laughed quietly, "I'm Jude."
"I'm Lennon."
"My god. After John Lennon?"
"Yeah. My parents loved The Beatles," Lennon smiled.
"Wow. What's your middle name, then?"
"Rose."
Jude grinned, "Lennon Rose. That's such a beautiful name."
"Thanks. So, I take it your parents loved The Beatles, too? I mean, I'm singing Hey Jude in my head right now."
"They did, yeah. I don't mind though. Everyone loves The Beatles," he replied.
Lennon smiled to herself, glancing over her shoulder. "We should probably head back."
"All right." Jude stood up, slipping on his shoes. He extended both hands for her to take to help her up. Lennon took his hands into hers and stood from the dock, stumbling a bit before she felt herself trip forward.
She immediately rested both hands onto his chest to steady herself, looking up at him and taking note of the close proximity. Lennon cleared her throat once his hands moved to her hips to keep her from falling.
When he didn't move, Lennon didn't either. She stared up at him, looking into his eyes.
"Is it time for you to run away and leave a sandal on this dock so I can return it to you?" Jude teased.
Lennon arched a brow, deciding to not reply. Instead, she kissed his cheek and removed one sandal. She set it on the dock and walked away, glancing over her shoulder at him before she began running. Lennon couldn't wait to see him again.
Once Lennon left, Jude picked up the sandal and tilted his head, smiling to himself. He knew he shouldn't get attached to a woman who wasn't going to be staying here, but he couldn't help it. It had been a while since he had a sincere connection with a woman.
Once the party was over, Grace walked over to Lennon and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Lennon simply leaned against her, glancing over at the older woman.
"Come on. I want to show you something," she said.
"Is it your garden?" Lennon asked.
"What? No! Unless you want to."
Lennon laughed quietly, shaking her head. "No, no. It's okay."
Grace began driving a few miles down her house to see an abandoned one in the middle of nowhere. When Lennon stepped out, Grace took a deep breath and prepared herself for the emotions that she was sure would come.
"Where are we?" Lennon asked.
"This used to be your parents' house after Arlo's parents passed away, they lived the rest of their lives here."
Lennon bit her lower lip, looking around the open space and back to the house. It looked old and dusty and fragile.
"I don't – I don't know if I want to step inside…" Lennon admitted.
"That's okay. You don't have to. I just wanted to show you where they lived."
Tears began to cloud Lennon's eyes, walking towards the steps of the front porch before sighing to herself. She wished her parents weren't taken from her so soon.
"When your parents found out they were having you, Arlo wanted to set up a tire swing on that tree over there. Then he said he wanted to create a treehouse in the backyard," Grace began, draping a comforting arm around Lennon's shoulders.
"They were really excited to meet me?" Lennon asked quietly.
"Of course, honey! Your father paraded your mother around town saying that their newest addition to the family will make Woodstock an even better place and I think he was right. When you were born, your father melted into a puddle. He was known to be this macho type of man, but when he was holding you, he was mush. Your mother always teased him about it," Grace continued.
Lennon slowly sat at the stairs, looking out to the tree in the front yard and the tire swing that was lying on the grass. "Thank you for taking me here and for giving me so many stories about my parents… It means so much to me."
"I promised your parents I would always take care of you, Lennon. I'm not going to break that."
Lennon let a small smile line her lips. She decided to remain quiet, taking in the comfortable silence and the quiet breeze of wind.
She shut her eyes and imagined what it would have been like if her parents were still alive. Lennon wondered if her entire life would be different or if it would be the same. It was the constant questions that she knew would never be answered.
"Hey, Grace? Where's your daughter? How come she isn't here?" Lennon asked, breaking the silence.
"Well, she's a successful lawyer in New York City. She never really did support my practices with certain things, but she's doing great out there. I'm so proud of her."
"She's missing out on a wonderful woman," Lennon replied.
Grace smiled, glancing at the time. "So, there's another protest this afternoon. Would you like to come and join us? Maybe take some photos?"
"That would be great. I would love to, Grace."
Lennon walked around the main area of the town to see the same faces she saw at the party holding picket signs. However, she spent majority of her time taking pictures that it wasn't until she moved her camera that it was focused on a man holding up a slipper with a big grin on his face.
She let her camera drape over her neck before walking towards him. Jude smiled to himself, looking down at Lennon once she was close enough.
"I think I found something of yours…" He said.
"Is that my glass slipper?" Lennon teased.
"We have to make sure it fits."
Jude led them to a bench and kneeled down in front of her, lifting the end of her dress to her calves to reveal her feet. He slowly removed her other shoe to place her sandal back onto her feet.
"It's a perfect fit," Lennon smiled.
Jude grinned, "Well, will you look at that? You're right."
"Thank you," she said, standing up once he did too. She looked up at him, still distracted by his green hazel-like eyes and dimples.
"What are you doing tonight?" Jude asked.
"I was thinking of buying a bottle of wine and going back to my hotel room to have some fun by myself."
"Would you like some company?"
"You asking me out?"
Jude chuckled, "Maybe. Are you going to say yes?"
Lennon nodded. "Yeah. I'm saying yes."
"I've got a better idea. How about after this protest, you can go and get ready and I'll pick you up? I don't think you've seen all of Woodstock yet."
"I haven't… No."
"Great. It's a date."
Lennon smiled shyly, an innocent blush appearing on her cheeks. "A date?"
"Mhm. A date," Jude replied. He winked down at her before walking back to gather more signatures.
Lennon smiled to herself once he left. She had to distract herself, so she continued to take photos. When she saw Jude again, he smiled directly at the camera.
Once she took the photo, Lennon looked over at him and noticed him grinning.
Lennon was expecting to find more information about her parents, but she wasn't expecting to meet someone as charming, funny, and laid back as Jude was.
