Chapter 6 Sunday
I was woken with a kiss, Anna's hand across my body. "Michael". Anna said in a low voice. "Will you do me a favour, will you make love to me with gentleness and pure honest love". I looked at my watch, the alarm was due to go off in about an hour, so I did as Anna had asked me, we made love slowly and deliberately, and as Anna held me around the neck and kissed my mouth, I knew I was taking her to new heights of pleasure. When we finally stopped and lay alongside each other letting our heartbeats get back to normal. Anna looked at me, a smile on her face. "Thank you, my love, I really did need that, plus I was far too tired to let you have your wicked way with me last night, so I suppose this is my way of saying sorry".
In the dining room, we were sat eating a very nice breakfast, and as we sat enjoying the coffee, Anna asked. "So my love, what plans have you for us today". I told Anna I was going to take her to the biggest market she had ever seen, and that she would love it.
We arrived in Valletta some half an hour later, I parked the car in a small side road away from the bus station, because I knew, all the buses would be parked up on the main road so that the market could and would overflow into the bus station.
Anna and I walked around the market stalls for a good half an hour, just looking at each stall, watches, C.Ds, toys, kitchen equipment, electrical goods and clothing. As I watched Anna, she seemed fascinated with everything she saw, then every so often she would look at me and squeeze my hand to show me she was having a great time. As we walked from stall to stall, Anna stopped, she let go of my hand and stood looking at a stall selling underwear and nightwear, As I stood beside her she held up a pair of white cotton panties, then looking in my direction said."What do you think". I nodded. "Well love". I said. "Your the one who has to wear them, so whatever you go for is good with me". "Michael love, what colour would you like to see me wearing". I looked at all the coloured panties on the stall, then picking up the pale pink pair, then a black pair and a white pair, I handed them to Anna saying. "If your buying Panties for my benefit, then these are the ones I like most of all love". Anna then picked up three pairs of each colour I had chosen in her size, and they were put into a carrier bag and Anna paid for them. A couple of stalls down, I had seen something that I wanted, so asking Anna to stay where she was, I carried on to the stall, I bought a very large beach towel, on it was the Maltese flag, but in each corner was a picture, a Maltese bus, a Luggu fishing boat, a Dghajso, a Maltese water taxi and a Ghari, a horse drawn cab. having paid the knockdown price, you always barter with the stallholders, but they do tend to make a profit the towel was put into a carrier and I walked the short distance back to Anna. She was still at the same stall looking at nightdresses, as I walked back she said to the stallholder. "I will take those two, and that first one you showed me, then again the items were placed into a carrier and she paid for the items she had bought. Hand in hand we continued looking around the market, I looked at my watch, it was 12-15, so I asked Anna if she fancied something to eat. "Yes please". she said. "but I could really do with a drink, my lips are parched and my mouth is dry. We left the market with our goodies and using one of the side streets made our way to Victoria Square and our favourite cafe. With Anna sitting under a large sunshade I asked her to order two cheesecakes and coffee with cows milk. "I will be back in a mo". leaving Anna at the table, I headed for a small kiosk in the main street that sold newspapers. back with Anna I sat down, she was just paying for the food and drinks, and when I tried to reimburse her the money, she just looked at me saying. "If a wife cannot pay for a cup of coffee in this marriage, what can she pay for". I placed the two newspapers on the table, the Malta Times, and the Daily Mirror, and said, " Which one do you want to read". Anna grabbed for the Mirror, and while we sat in the March sunshine we enjoyed the peace and quiet of a Sunday lunchtime in our own little world.
The headlines in the Times was mainly local news stories, but in the small set of headings it said English news page two, I turned to page two and read a couple of headlines about the prime minister and government, then I got to reading about some man in Dorchester who had stabbed his next door neighbour to death, tried to stab a police officer as he was being arrested, and they were now searching the grounds of his house for the body of his wife. As I was reading, I picked up my cup to take a drink, as I did so, I happened to glance at Anna, her face had lost all its colour, her mouth was open and she was engrossed in whatever she was reading. I touched her shoulder and asked her if she was ok. She almost leapt out of her seat like a frightened rabbit, I got out of my seat and stood behind her, my hands on her shoulders. "What has scared you, sweetheart". I asked in the gentlest voice I could use, she pointed to the story she had been so engrossed in, I read the whole transcript and as I got to the last paragraph Anna said. "That's my B of a husband, he has killed Peter, and that poor man did nothing, he did not even help me leave Dorchester, I did it all on my own". "It's ok love, I am here with you, you have nothing to fear, I will not let you face this situation alone, we will face this together". Anna placed her hand over my own and looking up at me said. "Michael, do you mean that, because at this moment in time, I am very frightened". I leaned down and kissed her cheek then looking into her eyes so that she could understand what I was saying to her I said. "You stick with me love, Michael will look after you". Taking Anna by the hand I helped her out of her seat and said. "We are going back to the car, but on the way, we are going to have to make a slight detour. Walking back along the main street we got to St Johns Church and I saw a local policeman, going over to him I asked him to direct me to the main police station in Valletta, which he did.
Inside the lobby of the central police station, I asked to speak to a senior police officer who could speak good English as we had to relay a situation that needed sorting out. We were asked to sit on the bench provided and someone would see us very soon. "Michael". Anna said. "I'm not happy about this, what if they put me in police cells and return me to England, I'm scared, really scared, please don't let them lock me up". I patted Anna's hand. "Darling, it's not going to happen, I promise you, just let me do the talking and I promise you everything will turn out fine, you'll see". We were sat in the lobby for some 15 minutes before a uniformed officer asked us to follow him. Sat in his office with a very attractive woman police officer I gave the police chief, as I later found out he was, the British paper and asked him to read page 4. After some time he looked up from the paper and asked. "What has this to do with you two". I then said very quietly. "This is Mrs Battly, the wife of the man who killed his next door neighbour, and tried to kill a police officer". The police chief looked at Anna. "So, what's your story". Anna told him everything, the beatings, the imprisonment, being treated like a slave for 5 years and the death of her baby. "So Mr Palmer, where do you fit into all of this", So my story came out, how I had left my home and the ex wife's son saying he planned to find me and beat me to a pulp and finding my new place of work. "So why did you come to Malta," he asked us. "Well I lived out here as a schoolboy in the 50s, and also in the 60s as a serviceman in the Royal Navy, so I knew I would be safe here, my so called step som doesn't have a passport, so he had no way of following me. As for Anna, she needed to get away from her ex and the travel agent in Bristol put her on the same flight as myself, we got talking on the aircraft, found we were staying at the same hotel, so we sort of joined forces. Then today, we read this, where do we stand law wise". "Well". the officer said. "You have not broken any of our laws". he looked at the lady police officer who was nodding her agreement. "However, looking at the story in the paper, it would seem, that the Dorset police are worried about you safety Mrs Battly. I think, under the circumstances, the two of you continue with your holiday, I will contact the Dorset police and advise them that you are safe and well in Malta at a secret location, and if they need to interview you, then they either come to Malta and do the interview here. I will also say, that Mrs Battly is under a lot of stress, and any extradition order will be refused". We all shook hands and as we were escorted to the main door by the lady police officer, she said in perfect English. "Forget this for the moment, enjoy your stay on our Island, we have much to offer if you know where to look for it".
back in our hotel room, Anna and I stood with our arms around each other. "You were right". she said. "But how did you know", I kissed her mouth and said. "it was written all over your face when you were talking to the chief, we all saw it, the way you were holding my hand, I felt it also, and that my sweet is why he needed to reassure you, you were safe in Malta. Now love, your ex is behind bars, you are safe with the new love in your life, so as we have been told, let's enjoy the rest of our holiday". "I love you Michael Palmer". Anna said. "Somehow you have the power to make everything just right. By the way, what time is it". I looked at my watch, it was showing16-30, I told Anna the time and she said, Michael love, will you go out onto the balcony and face the water, I will tell you when you can come in again". I went out on to the balcony and as asked stood looking up the creek. "Michael, you can come in now, but I want you to stand by the bathroom door". as we passed each other I stood by the bathroom door and Anna was stood at the balcony door, as she turned to face me, she allowed the housecoat she was wearing fall to the floor. My mouth went suddenly very dry, I found it hard to swallow, Anna was stood in the doorway in a black nightdress that just covered her upper thighs, it was jet black, but also transparent like it had been spun by a very clever spider, as I looked at her I was mesmerised. "Are you naked under that". I asked. "Not quite". she answered. "I bought this for you". she said, I made to move towards her but she put her hand up to stop me, which I did. "You can look, but you can't touch, you told me, that when we got back to England, you were planning to make me your wife, I bought this for our wedding night, and on that day, you can do what you like to remove it and get to your new wife wearing it, but until that day, it stays in its wrapping paper". She then came back into the room and removed the nightdress and placed in into the tissue paper and put it into the bottom her suitcase. "Are those new as well". I asked looking at the skin coloured panties. "Yes". she said and gave a twirl, as she turned I caught her left cheek with my hand, not hard, just the usual love tap, but it did catch her off guard, she stepped into my arms and said "Still love me then". I kissed her and held her in my arms. "Michael". she said. "You can take those off any time you want to, but if you decide to do it now, I will require you to make love to me".
In the dining room, we were enjoying a lovely Sunday roast, we had a bottle of rosa on the table and we were very happy. During the meal, Anna was asking about the situation with the Dorset police, but I told her to stop worrying. "if they want to come to Malta to talk to you, then let them, if they don't, they will arrange to talk to you back in England, the choice is there's, but no matter what happens, I will be by your side, I promise". She held my hand on the table. "I hope you will because if ever I needed your love and strength it is now".
We went down to the bar, we needed a drink, a good bellyful of San Mig, we sat in our usual sofa overlooking the water, the bar was empty and on asking the barman what was going on, he informed us that most of the guests were packing ready to fly out in the morning, this was the usual thing on a Sunday when the flight was on the Monday. He asked me if I wanted a top up, but I declined saying I was happy with what I had, he then told us that he was closing up, and would we leave our empty glasses on the bar when we left, the main lights went out and Anna and I were left in the bar with just the clock and picture lights on. "Michael, I have something to say to you, I do love you very much, and what has been going on today, I realise you also love me and that together we are a good team as you put it, so my darling, I want what we have to work and work well". "It will". I said kissing her. "It will". "One more thing my love before we go to our room, the bank vault is full, so I am sorry to say it, but it will be a kiss and cuddle in bed tonight". " That's ok". I said. "Just promise me, no one else will ever use this particular bank". "I promise you my darling, this is your own private bank, I will never be like your ex wives, I promise to love you always and this body is yours alone".
In bed we snuggled down for a well needed sleep, Anna did wake up at around 4 am, she was sobbing into her pillow, so I took her into my arms and told her that everything was going to be fine. She fell back to sleep, her head resting on my chest, my hand where she liked it to be, we woke up in the same position on the Monday morning.
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