They planned to meet in Valletta to get the ring, Mike waited around for about an hour, but Nann didn't show so Mike picked up the ring, it was nicely packed in a green box with gold piping along the edge, and when Mike opened the box to check that all was well, he was very impressed, closing the box and putting into his pocket, he paid the bill and walked out into the sunshine. Heading for the bus station, he caught a bus that would take him to Msida, on the bus he was a little worried, was Nann getting cold feet, or was she unwell, either way, Mike needed to know. At Nann's flat, he took the stairs two at a time, then knocked the door, Grace opened the door, "is she ok, she didn't show up," Mike blurted out, "slow down lover boy," Grace said with a smile on her face, then pointed to the lounge. Mike almost ran into the lounge to find Nann laid on the sofa in her dressing gown, as Mike went towards her, she sat up. "Hello love," she said, Mike sat beside her and holding her hand asked, "what happened to you, I waited for over an hour, I was worried sick." Nann pulled his head down and kissed him, then whispered, "have you got it."
Grace came in from the kitchen, "how are you feeling darling," she asked. "Much better now mummy," Nann said. "In that case, why don't you two go out onto the balcony, I'll make a nice cup of tea." Nann and Mike went out onto the balcony, it was very hot, she held him in her arms and kissed him again, they heard the cough, Grace was at the door, "here you are," she said handing two cups of tea to them. "And Maureen, explain to your," she smiled, "future husband what happened to stop you meeting this morning." Mike and Nann took the tea and as they looked over the balcony Grace returned to the lounge. Nann tried to explain to Mike what happens to her body at the end of every month, Mike listened very intently, but to be honest, he didn't really have a clue what she was talking about, the only bit he did understand, was how they were able to make love in the canoe without him having to wear protection, and the fact that just before this situation took over Nann's body they could have a lot more fun. then Nann said, "changing the subject, did you get it." Mike took the small box from his pocket and opened the lid, the black stone shone in the sunlight, and with the three diamonds on each shoulder glinting in the sunshine as well, the ring looked beautiful. Nann took the ring from its box, "Michael, please put it on my finger." Mike looked at her, "No love, I believe it's unlucky for the man to place the ring on the girl's finger before he asks the girls father for her hand. No love you put it on, to see if it fits properly." Nann placed the ring on her finger then looking at Mike she smiled and held her hand out to him. "Perfect," she said, "absolutely perfect," then taking the ring off and putting it back into its box she again looked at Mike. "So love, when are you going to talk to daddy, I want to wear my new engagement ring, I want to show the whole of Malta that I am your girl, your future wife, and I can't do that if the ring is going to stay in its box." "Ok," Mike said, "I will talk to your father as soon as I can," Mike put his arm around her and kissed her, "I promise," he said.
As the August was replaced by September, the Taylor's and Palmer's being very good friends seem to do a lot of things together. Dorothy and Grace spent days out, drinking coffee and shopping, Roger and |Ken both worked together, so they tended to have the same mind when it came to the navy money wise, being both chief writers and their days off, both families would meet up at the beach and have there own family get together. It was on one of those occasions that Mike asked Mr Taylor if he would walk with him, Mike needed to talk to him about Maureen and himself, the rest of the families were in the water swimming and splashing around, so the pair of them went for a walk along the beach. Mike explained about the relationship between Maureen and himself, then Roger stopped, his feet in the soft sand. "Look son, why don't you come straight out with it, let's call a spade a shovel." Mike swallowed, then said. "Ok. I love Maureen, we have been seeing each other on a regular basis since you came out to Malta, and I would very much like to marry her." Roger was quiet, then said, "have you asked Maureen yet if she wants to marry you," Mike thought about that, "well sort of," he said. "Well," Roger said, "I suppose we had better see what Maureen has to say about this hadn't we." Looking round, he saw Maureen in the water, waving to her, she looked at him and walked towards the two of them, As Mike and Roger were waiting for Maureen to ger to them, Roger asked Mike what his prospects were, Mike explained that he had passed the entrance examination to join the Royal Navy, and was going to join up in January. Roger seemed impressed, "well that's good," he said.
Maureen was now alongside them, "what's up," she asked, Roger looked at his daughter. "Do you love this guy," "yes daddy," Maureen said, "he wants to marry you," Roger said, " yes, I know daddy, and I want to marry him," Maureen replied. "Well," Roger said, "there's nothing more I can say, is there. "No daddy," said Maureen. "Right," said Roger. "In that case, I will say this, you can get married, but not right away." Roger thought for a moment, then said, "get engaged," he said, "then, Maureen, if you still feel about Michael as you do now, then I will consent to this marriage and you will have my blessing." Maureen held her dad in her arms and kissed his cheek, then looking at Mike, she said. "Well that wasn't so hard, was it." As the three of them were still standing round in the sand, Mike took the box from his pocket, then kneeling on one knee he opened the box and taking the ring from the box looked at Maureen saying, " Maureen darling will you consent to be my wife," then taking Maureen's left hand, he placed the ring on the third finger. Maureen looked down at him and said, "Yes, I will marry you." getting up again Mike stood and holding on to his future wife, he kissed her, then the three of them headed back to the rest of the families
Back with the families, there were congratulations all round, everyone was keen to see the ring, both Dorothy and Grace were very impressed, Ken asked, "how much did that little beauty set you back," but Mike just looked at him, smiled but said nothing. Kelvin seemed pleased, though he still hated girls, and said he thought fishing was more fun than kissing. Ken shook Mike's hand and said, "you have done all right there son, she's a pretty little thing." Dorothy was the only one not really joining in, she took Mike to one side saying, "Son, have you thought this through, you're still so young." Mike took his mothers arm. "It's ok mum," he said, "I love her." "What do you know of love," Dorothy said, "you don't know what love is." Mike looked at his mother then smiled. "Talk to dad," he said, "I tell him everything." "Ok son," his mother said, " if your happy, then I am happy as well." Walking back to the others Dorothy put on a brave face.
At the end of the day, Mike went back with the Taylor's, sitting in the back seat with Nann snuggled beside him was fantastic, and once back at the flat Mike was invited to stay for the evening meal. Later in the evening, Mike and Nann were alone on the balcony, they heard the cough, turning, they saw Grace stood in the doorway. "Maureen darling," she said, "your dad is wacked, and so am I, sorry love but we are off to bed." Mike looked at his watch, it was 20-45, Grace looked at Mike, then smiled, "don't stay up too late.
Mike and Nann looked up towards the end of the creek, Nann was in front of Mike and he had his arms around her waist. He could feel every inch of her, and as his fingers wandered Nann pushed herself back onto him, the love he felt for her just grew and grew. Nann said. "Mike, I need the loo," Mike stepped to one side and released her. Mike stayed watching the locals go about there busy lives. When Nann rejoined him in the semi darkness, she once again took up the position she was in before, only this time Mike had noticed that Nann was in her dressing gown, as Mike snuggled into her, Nann placed a small package on the balcony rail, then turning in his arms and letting the gown cord drop to the floor, she whispered, " an engagement present from mummy and daddy..."
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