Ana softly asked, "Will you hold me and not let me go? I am not perfect, but I need someone who can love me regardless of what I have done or mistakes I might make in the future."
Pulling Ana out of her chair I gently guided her back into the bedroom. Pulled a blanket around her and held her.
Pt 7
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee woke me. Then a beautiful, naked angel walking towards me made me wonder is this a dream? The soft voice said, "It's time to get up sleepy and join me on the lanai." Then realityβI realized this angel was in fact Ana who had gotten up and made coffee.
Trying to smooth my ruffled, night hair, I took the coffee and replied, "This is the first morning in my life when an angel woke and gave me coffee. I will follow you to the lanai or anywhere else you want to go."
Ana simply smiled and said, "The lanai will be good for a start."
The morning was comfortably warm and the humidity low for Florida. This might have been Heaven, but it certainly was a close imitation. After a few minutes of just being together without any conversation, Ana said, "You asked me to be naked for you. I have shared so much about myself. I want you to get naked with me. Tell me about yourself."
After another sip of coffee, I started. "I grew up in Circleville, Ohio. My dad, Harold, was a firefighter, Harold and mother, Eloise, stayed at home raising my brother Ted, sister Carrie, and myself. I was the oldest and somewhat of a miracle according to my mother. My parents had tried for many years to have children but couldn't. The doctors told her that her RH negative blood type and my dad's RH positive would making having a baby impossible. After 7 miscarriages, I came along. As such I was treated as a 'Gift from God'. That lasted until my bother came along two years later and my sister 4 years after that. Teddy and I got along like most brothers but were close. Sister Carrie was the pride of my dad. She got anything and everything she wanted. All she had to do was say, 'Daddy I need...'."
Life changed when dad accepted a position with the Columbus fire department and was promoted. This move changed my world. As the oldest I became responsible for chores around the house. This included mowing the lawn, weeding the garden, and anything else had to be done. My brother helped but sister Carrie remained free to do whatever."
"In high school studying, working at home, and a part time job kept me busy. Not being athlete or a member of the 'in crowd' I didn't have much of a social life. Dating was awkward. Not having a car like many of my classmates did restrict my status among girls in the class. My date to the senior prom was a very nice girl that no one else would invite. She was fun, but we didn't have chemistry. Upon graduation I applied to Ohio State and was accepted. I also was won an appointment to the Navy
ROTC. This meant my college tuition and books were paid. The check for $50.00 a month helped pay my other expenses. I lived at home, so room and board weren't a problem. I had a part time job of managing a small retail store in evenings and Saturdays. This kept money coming in but did not help my social life."
I was a good student but not a great one. I had to study and do all the assignments in order to get a good grade in a class. Unlike some guys who could party all week and pass exams with high marks on Friday. During the Summer I had 6 to 7 weeks of active duty for training in the Navy."
"The Navy ROTC became my social anchor. Summer training provided training and travel. I fell in love with ships and going to sea. As a Midshipman I formed a bond with the other guys. Unfortunately, of the 150 men and women who started as Freshmen, only 50 of us graduated and received commissions."
"A big social event each year was the Quarter Deck Ball. All Midshipman were expected to attend with a date. This was a formal event and included military ceremony. Considered a hot social event, getting a date wasn't much of a challenge. Not having a girlfriend, I took the opportunity to work as an honor guide, member of the Color Guard, and anything else freshmen do to make the event operate smoothly. This gave me a chance to experience the event but not have a date."
"During my sophomore year I did get a date. Actually, a very attractive girl in my physic's class, Jenny, developed a "lunch" friendship. We had gone out several Friday nights together. There was a platonic relationship but when I asked if she wanted to go to the Ball, she immediately accepted."
"The big night I rented a car, put on my dress uniform, and took Jenny to dinner at a good restaurant. We got to the Ball and after going through the receiving line comprised of the Staff, and University Provost, we got together with some of my classmates. Things were going well until one of the seniors, George Winslow, stopped by the table. Jenny was immediately smitten, and her interest focused on him. His date was a nice girl. Jenny accepted a dance with George and that was the end of my date. George's girl, Rosemary, was left at the table with me. After some time had passed, it became clear George and Jenny were not coming back. I did my best to talk with, Rosemary. We talked and danced but this again was an awkward situation. At the end of the evening George and Jenny left and I drove Rosemary back to her sorority house on campus. She thanked me for the evening and that ended my sophomore Ball experienced."
"After class the following Monday, Jenny apologized about leaving with George and thanked me for introducing them. That was the end of that relationship."
Ana asked, "How did that make you feel?"
"It didn't feel good. I just focused on school and work. I don't do anything for your ego when you have your date leave a dance with someone else and you must try to make his date feel good. I did my best."
Reaching over to hold my hand Ana said, "You were a gentleman and both those girls were lucky to have met you."
"During my senior year I met Mary Kay. She was attractive, intelligent, and shared some common interests. We met in a history class and our relationship grew from there. At that year's Quarter Deck Ball, I had a great time and after the dance we went to her apartment and spent a great night together. She enjoyed having her back rubbed at it didn't take long before we were both naked and having great sex. I was in love."
"I graduated in June and left for my first duty station on a destroyer, a navy warship. My ship was home ported in Japan. Mary Kay had another quarter to finish before graduating. Our plan was to get married in November and have her join me in Japan as my dependent."
"In October my ship returned to port after two weeks at sea. It was then that I received a Red Cross message from Mary Kay's mother. It said, 'Mary Kay died on Wednesday in a traffic accident.' The funeral will be held next Monday.' Although we were not married, the Captain granted me emergency leave and flew to Columbus. That started the saddest two weeks of my life."
Without saying a word Ana got up and pulled me to my feet and just held me. The warmth of her body and the embrace told me she understood my loss. That emotional embrace created a bond between us that I had not experienced before.
After a few minutes we sat down. As emotions that had been suppressed for years flooded out. I said, "Are you hungry?"