Page 99 of Never Tear Us Apart
‘Don’t laugh at the man who has just made love to you,’ Danny says with a grin. ‘Might give him a complex.’
Stepping back, he starts to redress himself, and I pour myself back into the gown I’ve spilt out of in so many delightful places.
When he’s decent, Danny sits next to me, taking my hand.
‘What’s so funny?’ he asks.
‘It’s just that this is the dress my grandmother got engaged in. I feel very naughty.’
Danny laughs, catching hold of me and kissing me again. He doesn’t question where I might have got my grandmother’s dress from, although I’m sure he understands it’s a long story.
‘What would she say if she knew?’ he says instead.
‘I don’t know, honestly,’ I tell him. ‘I don’t think she would mind too much.’
‘Maia, I need you to know,’ he says, suddenly serious, ‘I intend to marry you first chance I get.’
‘That would be lovely,’ I say, simply. It doesn’t feel like I need to say any more – he already knows exactly how I feel.
His words are delivered lightly and full of sweet sincerity. I never want to let him go. Before, in that other world, I never once believed that there was anyone, anywhere meant just for me. But now, I know it’s Danny, and to imagine life without him, even for a second, tears me apart.
Because I know that if I don’t find a way to prevent it, the love of my life will be taken from me, alongside my grandmother, and so much love will never be given or felt.
Gripped by sudden terror, I fling myself into his arms and burst into uncontrollable tears.
‘Hey, now, hey,’ Danny says. ‘Don’t carry on so. What is it? Do you have regrets?’
‘No, no, no,’ I say, kissing his face in between each word. ‘I’m just afraid, Danny.’
‘Me too,’ he nods. ‘Never wanted to live so much as I do now.’
The door to the roof opens and another couple appears in silhouette, accompanied by a burst of applause and cheering as the band strikes up another tune.
‘Want to go back and dance some more?’ Danny asks, glancing at the other couple living out their own love story in another shadowy corner. ‘Forget about all this until dawn?’
‘Wecould, or . . . Christina gave me the key to her flat,’ I say. ‘She said it was ours for tonight if we want it.’
‘Oh, we want it,’ Danny says. ‘We want it more than anything in this world. Let’s get outta here.’
Slipping off my shoes, I follow him, and we run as quickly and as quietly as we can. Danny stops me on one side of the entrance to the dance floor, takes a peek inside and then races to the front door, beckoning me after him. We escape onto the silvery streets in a burst of laughter, twirling and tumbling in one another’s arms as we revel in our victory.
Then the weight of the hour settles on our shoulders, and we become quiet and serious, feeling the time we have together slip away, no matter how we want it to stand still.
Walking hand in hand, we head to Floriana without speaking another word, not even when we let ourselves into Christina’s flat and fall into bed.
No words are needed now. Everything we have to say has already been spoken.
Chapter Seventy
Wednesday 12thAugust 1942, 10 a.m.
That night and the following morning pass with a surreal air, almost as if I am dreaming.
Colours are heightened, and I feel as if I have lost a layer of myself somewhere, slipped off along with my gown last night, as Danny’s hands and mouth soared across the plains and valley of my body, as I felt every touch and emotion with new intensity. Entwining my fingers in his hair and encouraging his kisses to travel further up my thighs, an idea he seemed only too happy to explore.
Parting is almost impossible. Our limbs seem determined to remain entangled, our fingers holding on to one another, forcing us to say goodbye again and again. But Danny can’t be late on base, and I have my own meeting to attend. Still, I cannot bear to let him go.
‘I won’t see you until tomorrow,’ I say.
