Copy/paste from Notes to Pages does not work

On my new Macbook Pro, when I write in Notes and want to transfer to Pages for better editing, I highlight all in Notes and paste into Pages. I get a word count...but no visible text except a few strange red lines like tiny text sentences at various points in the document. I always did the same thing with my old Airbook and never had this issue. I'm working on a deadline for an article and am so frustrated by this! How to fix it?