Living with Dementia

I looked at the police chief and the lady police officer. "Right, let's get this press interview sorted out". As I was talking the manager came into the room, I looked at him. "Will it be alright to have the press interview in here". he looked at me and nodded. "No problem Mr Palmer". "I don't think we need all of them in here". I said. "I reckon if we have the Malta Times in English and Maltese and say one of the television stations, they can relay what is said to everyone else". both the police chief and the manager were nodding there agreement, I looked at Anna and she nodded as well, but she was still holding my hand. Once we had made our plan, the manager left the room, some minutes later he was back with about a dozen people and we soon found ourselves sat in the same seats looking down the lenses of three cameras and a small television camera.

At first, Anna was bombarded with questions, so I stood up and asked the reporters very calmly to ask their questions one at a time, and they would be answered honestly and as correctly as possible. Over the next hour almost the story of Anna came out, there was one nasty incident when one of the reporters asked Anna if she had gone out of her way to lead the neighbour on by flirting with him behind her husbands back. I could see that Anna was getting very upset, so I took over. "Please understand". I said. "This country lives under a church regime, they make the rules from what they read in the scriptures because they assume it's true. In our country we have a government who make the rules, but if someone wants to live by there own rules and does it inside there own four walls, then they do". "Mrs Battly, why did you come to Malta". the Times asked, I again answered the question. "Anna wanted to escape her torment, it was a local tourist company that gave her the holiday, she has never been to Malta before, didn't even know where it was. We met on the tarmac at Bristol Airport, but that's a different story. On the aircraft over a two hour flight, I got to know the lady very well, and as we found we were heading to the same hotel, we agreed to join forces and have a 14 day holiday together. I on the other hand know this Island very well having lived out here in the 50s, also during an 18 year career in the Royal Navy. When we arrived, we came to this fantastic hotel, where I might add, the management and staff have done us proud. Can I also add, to all you brits who love to holiday in Malta, next time you book, come to the Crown at Peita, you won't be disappointed. Now my friends, if the interview is over, Anna and I have the rest of our holiday to enjoy on this beautiful Island, so we thank you". As we were walking out of the room the reporter from the Times asked me. "Mr Palmer, where do you stand with regards Mrs Battly's situation". I looked at him and smiled, with Anna stood beside me holding my hand a huge smile on her face. "What do you think". and we walked to the lift.

Back in our room we were both sat on the bed, there was a knock at the door and on opening it we had the manager and the chief of police at the door, I stood to one side to let them in, they both had smiled on there faces. The hotel manager shook my hand then went across to Ann who was still sat on the bed and shook hers. "Thank you for what you said about the hotel and my staff if what you said gets printed, and I know it will, for Malta this is big news. I think we will be booked solid for the next two years at least". The police chief looked at Anna. "Mrs Ba". Anna stopped him. "Please, the name is Anna, we are friends, so please call me Anna". "Ok Anna, just one thing, can you bring your copy of the tape into the police station tomorrow, I would like a copy to put in our files". Anna picked up the tape from the bed and went to hand it to the chief. "You can't do that love". I said. "You have to take it in, it's the law". I took the tape from Anna and looked at it, then I removed the two tags from the bottom. "Michael love, why did you do that". I looked at the chief and then at Anna. "That". the chief said. "Is to stop the tape being wiped clean of your statement". I looked at the chief and smiled. "Shes lead a very sheltered life, but I love her dearly". As both men made to leave us alone the manager took a set of keys from his pocket. "Your keys for your new car, its the same make as before but in royal blue". Then he closed the door behind himself and Anna and I found ourselves alone again.

On the bed was this very large envelope, and it felt very heavy as well. Anna opened the envelope and let the contents fall out onto the bed, we were looking at a load of bundles of money, I picked up one bundle and found it to be in £50 notes, each bundle was £25,000 and we counted 10 bundles plus the odd £20, I told Anna, she had a quarter of a million pounds in front of her. "I don't believe it". she said, this lot came from the safe in the lounge". we arranged with the manager to put the money into the hotel safe, we resealed the envelope and in the manager's office he signed the back of the envelope as did the duty receptionist, we then left saying thank you and in the new car headed into Valletta. It was now mid afternoon and we were both hungry and needed a drink. As we sat at one of the tables eating our cheesecakes I looked at Anna. "Well love". I said. "You are now a very rich lady, so what are your plans". "No love, we are very rich, this is the new life I have chosen, so please love, you are a part of that life, we have made plans for our future, let's stick with them. I still want to be Mrs Palmer, anything else is a bonus and that includes money. You promised to stick by me when this trouble erupted, and you did, you sat by me when the press asked awkward questions, you fought my corner without even thinking about it. As I sat and watched you and listened to what you said, I realise you are now apart of my new life, and what I feel now, felt before and want to feel has not changed, I love you very much, and like I said and I say it now, we may have a bit of extra money, but what you put into your private bank, namely me means much more than banknotes. I carry your love, your devotion, your gentleness". she placed my hand on her tummy, and through the thin cotton fabric I could feel her warmth. "I am here, right here and although I cannot bear you any children, I can, and want to show you, I can be your wife if you will let me".

"Ok", I said. "Let's forget the money, let's get on with our holiday and have a great time". As we walked back along the main street, we passed a high classed jewellers shop, I stopped and looked in the window. I spotted what I was looking for and with Anna's hand still in my own, we entered the shop. The girl behind the counter asked if she could help me, I pointed out the tray of rings in the window that I wanted to look at, top row, second from the left. The girl came and placed the tray on the counter I picked up one of the rings, as I looked at it I asked the girl if it was white and yellow gold combined, but she shook her head. "No sir, this is yellow gold and platinum". I took Anna's hand and tried to remove the ring she had on her finger, but she wasn't happy and asked me what I was doing, I then asked her to try the new ring on her finger. She removed the engagement ring and placed the wedding ring on her finger, then replaced the engagement ring. "Well love". I asked how does it feel". "Perfect love and it's the right size as well, how do you do these things". she looked at her finger and her face said it all she showed the shop assistant and she had to acknowledge that the two rings together looked fantastic. Anna removed the two rings, handed the wedding ring to me and I, in turn, handed it to the shop assistant, Anna put the engagement ring back on her finger, and placed her arm through mine. I paid for the wedding ring and it was placed into a white box with gold edging, I put the ring into my pocket and we left the shop. As we headed for the car, Anna said: "Michael my love, that wedding ring is beautiful, and I cannot wait for you to place it on my finger, I cannot wait to be your wife, I love you so much".

Once in the car, we passed the hotel and headed on through Sliema onto St Julians Bay, I parked up in the small town square car park, and with the car locked we headed for the Chinese, inside we sat at the same table as before and we were served by the same girl as last time. We had the rosa wine with our meal and when I asked Anna what she wanted to eat, she said. "can we have what we had last time, but no soup", I ordered the special fried rice with chicken and prawns and for seconds we had the chocolate ice cream and coffee with cows milk. 

Once again the food was piping hot and the ice cream really creamy. As we sat back and relaxed with our coffee, Anna placed my hand halfway up her thigh, I gave her thigh a squeeze. "Well my darling, it would seem you have our future planned out, we enjoy a further week in Malta, then we fly home to England and I move into your flat with you as soon to be your wife". As I gently squeezed Anna's thigh i could see her eyes closing and he mouth opening, whatever she was feeling from my fingers, she was really enjoying. I finished my coffee, paid the bill and together we headed for the car. Sat in the car Anna said. "Please love, let's not go yet". I had backed the car into the parking place, so now sat in our seats we could see the bay, the boats bobbing up and down on there mooring lines, and across the water the lights of the cafes and restaurants shimmering on the water. As we sat looking through the windscreen Anna turned in her seat. "Michael, please hold me, please kiss me, the sort of kiss that tells me you truly love me". I leaned over and lifted Anna out of her seat and sat her on my lap. With her arms around my neck we kissed long and hard, I held her in my arms, and slowly allowed my finger to play with her breast under her top, she kissed me harder saying." have you any idea what you are doing to me, your fingers are driving me wild.

We got back to the hotel well after midnight, and hand in hand we made our way to the reception desk to pick up our key. Whilst the girl was giving us our key, she asked us if we wanted breakfast in our room. I looked at Anna and she nodded. "Yes please". I said, "can we have scrambled eggs on toast, toast and marmalade and coffee and cows milk". "Very good sir, and is it the same password". I smiled at the girl and said. "Yes please".In our room, I put the wedding ring into the safe and relocked it. Anna was now in bed waiting for me, as I undressed, Anna did the one thing that told me the night wasn't over yet, she lowered the bed covers and showed me her bare breast, I claimed into bed and Anna whispered. "Michael my breast need to feel your fingers, and the bank is open. An hour later we were snuggled into each other sleeping like babies.