When Ed and I woke up an hour later, we heard Ross and my mom in the kitchen talking. I stretched, and Ed hugged me and we got up. I could not stop looking at my ring on my finger everytime I could. Ed just stood there, smiling. He said, “I am so happy with you and can’t wait for you to meet my mom and come to Naples to see my other family.”
I said, “Yes, I can’t wait either.”
We walked into the kitchen together, and just a moment later, my dad walked in the front door from the office. We said hello, and he hugged me and shook Ed’s hand. Ross was in his high chair as he was about to eat as my mom had made his supper. My dad said, “When you finished with Ross, let’s have a drink and go and sit outside. It is such a lovely evening.”
We finished feeding Ross, and Ed had a beer, and I had a glass of wine, and my dad poured my mom, a gin and tonic. We all went outside and sat down. My dad toasted Ed and me on our engagement, and we all chatted about the wedding and where it should be and that it was just going to be family and a few friends. Ed and I agreed with him on a small wedding and thought it would be more intimate we felt a hundred guests was more than enough. Ed said he was going to fly his mom and sister over.
My dad said that was great and that they could stay at a hotel in Umhlanga Rocks that was not too expensive. Everything was working out well. My mom said Ed must eat with us as he did not have to be back at the ship until the next day. My dad said it was okay for Ed to sleep over as we were engaged now. I just went to my dad and hugged him and thanked him. My heart felt so full of love I thought it would burst. Ross was playing with Ed with a ball on the grass they were kicking to each other with, and I chatted with my dad telling him about our day at the beach. My mom went inside to sort out the curry and rice she just had to warm it as it was made already. I then went inside to set the table for us all.
My mom said, “You better let Ross sit with us when we eat as he is so wide awake now.” I agreed with her.
By the time we sat down to eat, I was hungry as Ed and I had such a lovely day together—the first time we had spent the whole night and day with each other. We ate, and Ed enjoyed the curry and rice as I thought he might find it hot for his mouth. But I was wrong, and he liked it. Then I told Ross he had to say good night to everyone, and I took him upstairs to bed. Ed came with me, and I read him a story on pirates from one of his books, and then we hugged and kissed him and put the light off. He looked content lying there.
Ed and I went downstairs and sat in the lounge with my mom and dad, chatting. Ed was telling us about his sister and the rest of his family. He had lost his dad two years ago as he had a heart attack at the age of sixty-five. We listened to Ed talking, and I loved the sound of his voice in his broken English. We looked at the time, and it was ten o’clock already. My mom and dad said they were going to bed. I said Ed and I were going to listen to some music, then we would be going to bed. They said all right and went upstairs.
I turned to Ed, and we hugged, then I got up and put a CD on. This Italian music by Andrea Bocelli filled the room. I loved opera music, and Bocelli was my favorite. Ed took me in his arms and kissed me. I was swept away in the kiss, and the music it felt surreal. I had never been happier and thought life could not get any better.
Later, we got up and went to bed together as I slept in the outside room off the kitchen. We were so tired after our long day together that we fell asleep in each other’s arms.
The next day, we got up, and I left Ed having a shower while I went to find Ross and made Ed and I some coffee. I came downstairs with Ross, changed for school, and he and I went to find Ed. He was dressed when we saw him, and he came inside to have his coffee. He was going to come with us to take Ross to school then get off with me in town and come and see my office then go and catch the taxi to the ship.
By the time we were all ready to leave with my dad in the car, it was 7:15 a.m., and we kissed my mom goodbye and got into the car. Ross was so happy that he could show Ed where he went to school. We stopped at the school, and Ross asked if Ed would come inside to see it. We asked my dad, and he said it was all right with him. Ed and I got out the car with Ross and went inside the school. The school was called Valling, and the teacher came toward us and said “Good morning.” We answered “Good morning too,” and I introduced Ed to her. Then Ross took Ed’s hand and showed him where he sat; he also showed him where they played soccer. After that, we had to leave; otherwise, I would be late for work. We both kissed Ross and hugged him, then we went to get back in the car. I felt so happy and fulfilled as I sat there being driven to work.
My dad dropped me off near the Royal Hotel, and Ed and I got out and walked into the building where my work was. We got into the lift and caught it to the floor I worked on. We both got out and walked into my office. I said good morning to everyone and then saw my boss, so I introduced Ed to him. His name was David Bennett, then Ed and I walked through to my office. I was lucky to have my own office. We both sat down, and Ed said what a stunning view I had from my window of the yachts, which was true. I then said that I had to start working, and Ed said he was going to go, and that now I was a part of him as I had a ring on. I agreed with him. I hugged him, and he kissed me and then left.
I got into my work, and Zuleika came through from the front office a little while later and said that Ed looked like such a good man. She admired my ring, and I told her we were very happy together. She asked when we were going to get married, and I said, “The end of the year, hopefully in December.”
I mentioned to her that he wanted me to go to Naples hopefully soon, so she suggested that maybe I should go and talk to my boss, David, that day. I said I would, and then we got back to work.
Just before I went to lunch, David came into my office to speak about some portfolios I was doing. After we finished talking business, I told him Ed and I were planning to get married in December. He said congratulations and was happy for me. I mentioned that he wanted me to go to Naples to meet his mother and that could I go like next month for two weeks. He said he did not see a problem as we would be finished the big portfolio I was working on with him. He said he would get me leave forms to fill out. I must go ahead and make arrangements.
I caught the bus home that night all happy that things had worked out so well at work. When Ed phoned me that night and I told him what my boss had said, he was delighted and said we must go and see a travel agent so that we can sort it all out. I asked if he was going to come with me, and he said that the ship was going back to Naples in another week, and he would meet me there.
On the Saturday, Ed was off from the ship, and he phoned on the Friday night, and I said I would meet him the next morning at the Royal Hotel. I took Ross in his stroller, and we caught the bus to town from my place as the bus stops right in front of our house. We got to town, and I put Ross in his stroller, and we walked to the Royal Hotel Ed was waiting outside and looked happy to see us. We then walked together to the travel agent who were in the building a block away. We got there, and I introduced him to Fawn. She asked when we wanted to go, and I told her it was just me. She said I would have to fly to Rome and could get a train or bus to Naples. Ed said no, that he would meet me and drive me to Naples. So we booked my flight for May 25, 1986. To leave Durban and arrive back two weeks later on June 8, 1986. She told us how much it would be, and Ed asked if we could pay half now as he had the money on him. He paid, and she said that when we paid the balance, she would give me the ticket. I had to get a visa, which she said she would organize. I gave her my passport, and she said we would be in touch.
Ed, Ross, and I left and walked to the Three Monkeys Coffee Shop and had something to eat and drink. Ed said he would phone his mother from the ship and tell her. He said he was leaving on the following Wednesday, May 8, 1986, on the ship and would be back in Naples in two weeks. I said that was good, then it wouldn’t be long and I would be flying out to visit them all. He looked really happy as he held my hand, and Ross had fallen asleep in his stroller.
We caught the bus back to my house, and Ed held Ross on the bus as he was fast asleep in his arms. I felt so close to Ed as we sat on the bus and felt really happy and content with the two people I loved most in the world.
We got home, and Ross had woken up, so when we got off at the bus stop, we opened the stroller and put Ross in it. I pushed it home as Ed walked next to me. As we came in the door at home, my mom walked out the kitchen and said how about a cup of a tea. I said, “Yes, please,” so did Ed and Ross. We sat on the veranda having our tea and biscuits. We told my mom what had happened at the travel agents and said I would be leaving on May 25, 1986. She said, “Good, at least you will be here for my birthday on May 18, 1986.”
I said, “Yes, I will be here.” Ed said he would not be as he was leaving on Wednesday, May 8, 1986, with the ship to go back to Naples; and they would be in Naples in two weeks’ time. My mom said that that was a pity, but she was glad I was going over to meet his mom and Ed agreed with her.
After that, Ed asked my mom if it would be okay if he took me out to dinner, and we left Ross with her and my dad. She said that of course, it would be okay. She would drop us off wherever we wanted to go. I was happy and went upstairs to shower. Ed went and gave Ross a bath while I was showering. My mom went off and made some supper for Ross. I got out the shower and put on some black pants and a floral shirt and my black sandals. I came downstairs, and Ross was in his pajamas, and Ed was helping him eat in the kitchen. Ross was sitting in his high chair. I was so happy I kissed Ed on the cheek and thanked him for bathing Ross. We asked my mom to take us to Granada Center, and we would go and have some supper at Angelos, an Italian restaurant.
My mom took us in her car and dropped us in outside Granada Center, and Ed and I got out of the car and held hands as we walked toward the restaurant. We got a lovely corner table right away, and Ed ordered some red wine for us. I was glad to be with Ed, and he held my hand and gazed at my ring. I was so in love and just looked into Ed’s eyes. We looked at the menu, and I decided to have some pasta with seafood in it. Ed said he would have the same so we ordered and then sat chatting about me going to Naples in a less than a month’s time. Ed asked me where I would like to live when we are married, and I said “Durban” as Ross was happy in his school, and if we had to go live overseas, there would be a language problem. He agreed with me, and we chatted about where we could find a place to stay. Ed said he could speak to his boss and ask for a land job so that he would not have to travel on the ship all the time. I said that would be great, only if he wanted to do that. He said, for me, he would do anything.
I said, then he should speak to his boss as I know MSC has a big office in the middle of town. I said we could think of getting our own car, and Ed agreed. Our food arrived, and we ate, and Ed ordered another glass of wine for us each. It was great being with Ed and knowing that I would be going over to meet his family soon. After we had eaten, Ed and I took a stroll around the center, and then it was time to meet my mom, so we waited for her, and it wasn’t long when she arrived. We both got in the car, and my mom drove us home. Ed was sleeping over again as he was due back at the ship in the morning 11:00 a.m. When we got home, I went upstairs and kissed Ross who was fast asleep. I then came downstairs and made Ed and I some decaffeinated coffee. We sat outside drinking it as it was a lovely evening. My mom had gone to bed, so it was just us two. Ed said he was so happy that we were getting married, and his mom would just have to accept the fact that I was not a Catholic. I agreed with him.