Living with Dementia

 Chapter 11 Friday

I woke up with the alarm going off on my watch, as I rolled over and opened my eyes, I found myself looking into the eyes of Anna. "Hello my darling, sleep well". As I put my arm around her, I could feel her softness, she snuggled into me and we kissed. I felt her body mould itself to my own, she said in a whisper. "Banks open if you need to use it". We made love as we always did, with pure passion but with the full understanding that both of us needed satisfaction. Anna knew my story, and realised that I had never been truly loved, in fact over almost 15 years I had the life of a man who needed to be loved, and in return wanted to show love. Anna as well had never been shown love, yes, she had been used as a sex object, but never really loved. Then a guy comes along and helps her out, a total stranger gives her the confidence to look at men in a new light. And when she gives her body to this man, he treats it with gentleness, with the utmost care, and shows her what true love is all about. Over the coming week, she sees that his love is infectious, and she wants to return that love, she allows this wonderful man too, as she said make love to her by using her bank vault, for any deposit he has, and she will accept that deposit with love and joy. She has also made it very clear to this wonderful man, that her bank is for his use only, so over the days of there holiday they have fallen in love, very much in love, and that love has grown stronger with each day that has passed.

In the car, the drive to the ferry port was one of small talk, all the way along the north side of the Island, as they drove Anna had her hand on Mike's shoulder and every so often she would squeeze his shoulder just to make the point that she was with him and loved him. During the run Anna kept looking to the sky, the clouds had now turned from a fluffy white to a grey, an ugly grey. I was not that worried, the ferry to Gozo was big enough to take almost anything, and apart from the gap between Comino and Gozo, I could not see a problem. I also knew what the day was going to be like, and as the man in this relationship, had made plans. We got to the ferry port at around 10 am and were able to get on the ferry straight away, a case of driving down the ramp and board the ferry. The trip over was a little bumpy, but once inside the breakwater in Gozo the water was again flat calm. Once docked we left the ferry and headed into Victoria, then on to explore the Island. We stopped at one small town and sat in a very nice cafe where we had coffee with evaporated milk, we also had a locally made cheesecake, it looked like a small version of a pastie, it was hot and tasted fabulous, the filo pastry melted in the mouth, we just kept looking at each other a huge smile on our faces. Then it was on to explore, San Lowrenz, Zebbug, Xaghra then back to Victoria, we stopped at each town to look at the local churches and enjoy the feeling of what it was like to be apart of what these people had. On our trip round we bought jumpers, cardigans made from local wool that we knew would be ideal for those winter days back in the old country. Anna bought a few extra bits and bobs, including some more earings that took her fancy. It was now getting dark and I told Anna we needed to make a move, we then headed for a major hotel on the Island where I planned for us to have our evening meal. At the reception desk I booked us in as Mr and Mrs Palmer and was given a room key, as we headed for the lift, Anna asked. Michael love, why do we need a room if we are only going to be here for dinner". "Well". I said, "You want to look the part, don't you". 

In the room, I removed the flight bag from my shoulder and placed it onto the bed, then from it I took a button down dress for Anna, the one she wore when we went to the boathouse, a clean bra and panties and the white shoes she liked to wear in the evenings. I also removed a lightweight suit for myself shirt and tie washing gear and deodorant. "Michael love, what's going on". Anna asked. "Well love". I said. "Those clouds you were worried about earlier, have gotten a lot worse, the ferry stopped running at 6 pm so my love we are stopping here tonight, we are booked in for dinner tonight and breakfast in the morning, we will try and catch the midday ferry back tomorrow for Malta". I then took the white and gold box from my pocket and opened it up. "Anna, I have booked us in as Mr and Mrs Palmer, so I think we had better make it look good". Anne removed the engagement ring, I took the wedding ring and placed it on her wedding finger, she then replace the engagement ring. "Ok Mr Palmer". Anna said. "I will play your wife tonight and tomorrow, but I don't want to see that ring until you put it onto my finger properly, promise". I promise". I said. "It's just that these people are very straight laced, they are Roman Catholic so to them and there beliefs what we are doing is a sin, they believe that two people living together and making love is against God's law, we see things differently, to us, if we love someone, or fall in love with someone, the next step is the kiss, then the wandering hands, then the act of lovemaking, if the kiss works, then it is hoped that the lovemaking will too, and if everything fits as it should, then you discuss marriage, a home and children. Out here, if you fall in love, you can date, but with his or her mother on hand to see nothing untoward happens. And out here, you marry, and on your wedding night, you make love, if it works then great, 9 months later the first child comes along, followed by the next 9 months after that. If on the other hand, it doesn't work out, you end up, stuck with a girl who doesn't love you and you do not love her, and the D word is out of the question, the church refuses to accept that at any cost".

"Well Michael, I do love you, and we fit perfectly, I want very much for us to be a couple, I don't care about religion, if we get married in a registry office, as long as I have that bit of paper saying we are Mr and Mrs, man and wife, I will be more than happy to make a life for us both".

We had a shower and then got dressed for dinner. "Michael, why black". she held up a pair of black panties. "First pair I could grab". I said. "You were in the bathroom and I was trying to pack as quickly as I could". "Ok love, but I don't think they will go with this dress unless you have an underslip in that bag as well". I shook my head. "Oh well". Anna said. "We will just have to see". With Anna now fully dressed and looking fantastic, you did not notice the black underneath, the only time you might have seen anything was when she was sat down, but I felt that once in the dining area anyone looking at us would only see Anna's face and clothed body and wonder how a good looking woman was on the arm of someone like me.

We made our way down to the dining area which was on the ground floor, the room was very lovely, decked out in burgundy and gold, the tables had these white tablecloths on them that almost touched the floor. we were shown to a table and then handed a menu. Anna was as always sat on my left hand side. We had clear chicken soup to start, I ordered a bottle of rosa which went down very well, but I did tell Anna, we would have to drink it all, but to be honest, there were only two glasses each anyway, so that was ok. The main course was fish, it was in a cheese sauce with fried potatoes and peas and again went down very well, both of us leaving empty plates. the sweet was fresh fruit with ice cream, this was followed by coffee and a sort of almond biscuit which I found to be very sweet, so handed what was left to Anna, she dunked it into her coffee cup and said. "Mmm not bad, dunking it makes it nice and soft". We sat for some time at our table talking about the day, Anna told me, her hand clasped in mine how much she had enjoyed it.

It was around 9-30 pm when we went to bed, we lay alongside each other our naked bodies touching, I went to speak to Anna, but she was asleep, it was very clear to me, she had had a good day out, and with the wine, once her head hit the pillow she was in the land of dreams, I closed my own eyes and drifted off.

It must have been sometime in the night, Anna was saying. "Michael love, are you awake". I held her naked body in my arms saying. "What's wrong love, can't you sleep". It was then that I heard it, and saw it. A huge clap of thunder right over the top of the hotel followed very closely by a bolt of lightning. Anna moved in closer. "Its alright love I'm here there's nothing to be scared of, you are quite safe in bed with me". I put the table lamp on and went to the window, the rain was battering at the window and with the thunder and lightening the whole Island seemed to be under floodlight. "Please Michael, come back to bed, I am very frightened, thunder and lightning are my biggest fear, even as a child I would hide under my pillow, when I got married, my ex called me a wimp and would tell me to get over it, I am happy to say it, we did not have that many thunderstorms in Dorchester, most of them were at Portland and Weymouth". I climbed back into bed and Anna cuddled into me, I could feel her fear, so putting the light out I gently laid her body on top of my own then with my arms around her I tried to calm her fears. The problem we now had, was with Anna on top of me and us both naked, I was getting excited, and Anna could feel it as well. "Ok". she said. "I'm all yours". we made love and when it was over and Anna was again laid beside me the thunder and lightning had gone, vanished, totally disappeared. "How did you do that". Anna asked, I held her and said. "I'm a Palmer, all us Palmer's have the ability to take away fear, or any problems there partners, wives or girlfriends have. I felt the kiss on my cheek then Anna rolled over and fell back to sleep.