Eighth Anniversary: The Bronze Anniversary (18th July 2016)
It is Donna and Sam's eighth wedding Anniversary, although things between them had been a little strained this last year, it would be impossible for them to imagine life without each other. After Cassie's accident she had been left with nothing more than a small scar above her right eye. However the psychological effects of what had happen to her where still very much evident. She had woken up every night for nearly a year afterwards, having nightmares of Skye coming to get her and taking her away from her family. Skye had been told to stay away from the family after the accident. Sophie had reported him to the police, regardless of what Sam had said to him at the time. He was informed that he had broken his visitation rights order so was not allowed to see his daughter without express permission or supervision.
Another set back the family had experienced was, because of her fears, Cassie wouldn't be enrolled in a school on the mainland. She was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Cassie was trying to face her fears but hadn't been very successful up to now.
Donna and Sam were both running their Villa and at the time it was taking its toll on them. Donna was increasingly exhausted and Sam had tried to encourage her to see a doctor. However Donna was reluctant to do so, as she was scared and worried that it could be something else and was trying to put it off for as long as possible. She didn't want her greatest fears confirmed, not when they were so busy at the Villa. For the first time during their marriage she was lying to Sam. She hated this but there was no point worrying him unnecessarily. To do this though, she knew she had to confront her own fears, by going to see the doctor and finding out what was wrong, good or bad. It was on the morning of their Anniversary, while Donna and Sam were trying to convince their granddaughter to try school again, that her perfectly constructed illusions would be shattered, possibly forever.
'Come on Cass, just try it once more for us. You don't have to stay for a full day if you don't want to. Just please try. It might not be as bad as you think.'
'But what if daddy comes to get me and takes me away?'
'He won't, I promise! He's probably travelling the world again by now anyway. He is out of our lives for good.' Donna can see Cassie's face contorting, trying to figure out a way to get out of it. She looks at Donna with panicked eyes. It was at these moments that Donna had always given in to her granddaughter's whims because as she'd said previously to Sam, she didn't like to see her granddaughter hurt in any way. Whether that be physically or emotionally. Suddenly Cassie thought of something, 'But it's yours and granddad's Anniversary and we never spend it apart.' Donna puts her hand on Cassie's, which is clenched on the back of the chair so tightly that her knuckles had gone white. 'I know honey but you have to go. You need to get past these fears otherwise they will only get worse. That could be your Anniversary present to me and granddad, to go and try school. We would both be extremely happy if you could do that. I tell you what, how about this, you promise to go to school and I'll promise not to open our Anniversary gifts until you get home.' Donna pulls Cassie in to a cuddle, after she nods, looking sulkily down at her shoes. At that moment the post comes through the door but Donna is so busy with Cassie she doesn't realise. Sophie is coming downstairs, she rushes to the door to pick it up, calling Cassie's name as she does so. As Sophie is flicking through the post absentmindedly she comes across Donna's letter and stops instinctively. Sophie remembers her mother received letter like this when she was having cancer treatment. Her stomach twists painfully. Cassie comes up behind her mother not realising how distracted she is. 'I've agreed to go, Mum. I promised Nan I would!'
'That's great baby,' Sophie says distractedly, still looking at the letter she is holding in her shaking hands. Her stomach twists painfully at the dreadful thoughts in her mind. She is only pulled out of them when she see Sam walking down the stairs. She looks down to see her daughter staring at her with confused eyes. Sophie then walks over to the hook where the truck keys are, she takes them off and throws them to her daughter who catches them easily.
'Why don't you take granddad out to the truck? I'll be out in a minute.' Sam gently guides his granddaughter outside, turning to Sophie and mouthing, is everything ok. Sophie gives him a reassuring nod before walking into the kitchen, where her Mother is still sitting. Donna looks up, seeing her daughter in the doorway.
'Honestly Sophie, that girl drives me to distraction.'
'That's because you spoil her rotten and she's got you and Sam wrapped around this.' Sophie indicates her little finger, smiling at her mother as she does so. 'By the way, you've had some post come.' Sophie puts the letter on the kitchen table and slides it to her Mum. Donna's eyes instantly change as she realises what it is. 'What's going on Mum? I'm not leaving this room until you tell me.' Sophie puts her hands on her hips as if to reinforce her point.
Donna looks at her daughter but she doesn't have to say a word. Sophie already knows.
'It's only a preliminary consultation, just to tell them how I've been feeling and to see what they suggest.'
Sophie stares at her Mum is disbelief. 'Tell them how you're feeling? How can you tell them when you haven't even told us?' Sophie looks at her Mum, recognition just dawning. 'Hang on a minute, Dad does know? Doesn't he?' At Donna's silence, Sophie has her answer confirmed. Her expression softens as she comes to sit next to her Mother. She puts her hand on Donna's and Donna twists her hand so their fingers entwine. 'Mum, you need to tell him.'
Donna looks at her daughter. 'What's the point when there's nothing to tell?'
'Because he loves you and needs to know.'
'He doesn't deserve it Soph. None of you do.'
'I disagree with that. You're the one who doesn't deserve it. If there's one person who doesn't deserve it, it's you. We will cope whatever the outcome.' Sophie squeezes her Mum's hand softly before turning and realising what time it is. 'Look, I'll see you later. Cassie will be wondering where I've got to. Sophie kisses the top of her Mother's head before rushing out the door. She hears the door slam and then silence envelops her.
Voices call out to me, straight to my heart
So strange yet we're so well acquainted
I let the music speak, with no restraints
I let my feelings take over
Carry my soul away into the world
Where beauty meets the darkness of the day
Later that day Donna and Sam are walking together along the shoreline when Sam suddenly covers Donna's eyes. Donna laughs before trying to remove his hands.
'What do you think you're doing? Where are we going?'
'I've got a surprise. Just come on and trust me.' Sam guides his wife and when they came up to the little steps, he lifted her up and carried her, as he had done eight years ago, back into the Villa. Donna's eyes were still closed. She suddenly stops him half way to their destination.
'I promised Cassie that we wouldn't open anything until she got home from school. You know how much she cherishes our Anniversary. I think that's all she wants is to get married and have Anniversaries of her own. Plus it was the only way that I could get her to go to school in the first place.
'I know but we aren't getting any younger and I like the thought of time to ourselves. That's why I asked you to marry me when I did, so that we could spend our twilight years together. You know how much I love our Granddaughter but sometimes it's nice to have time on our own, peace and quiet. Anyway, who says it's something you have to open?'
He places Donna on the ground, reminding her to keep her eyes closed.
'I'm intrigued Mister Carmichael. Go on take me where you must.' Donna takes his hand, which she has to feel about for as her eyes are still closed. He takes her through what Donna thinks is an open door and releases her hand.
'Ok, you can open your eyes now.'
Donna slowly begins to open her eyes to reveal the little chapel where they had married eight years previously. In front of her she can see the massive bronze organ, which is brightly gleaming in the candle light. Sam had strategically placed candles around the chapel. The candles gave off a romantic hue and this made the room feel warm and cosy.
'I believe you remember where we were eight years ago today. However, today, I want to take you right back to the beginning, to the day we first met. When we were just two young and naïve kids.' Sam says this while walking backwards towards the organ, where he proceeds to sit down. 'Do you remember that one day when we spent the whole day together? You, Tania and Rosie had just started a singing group, which didn't have a name at that point. However you wanted to try a few demos out on me and you made me stand where Aphrodite stands now. You proceeded to sing one of your first and favourite tracks. It was at that moment that I knew you were going to be successful and it was the first time I remember knowing I was in love with you and wanted to marry you and spend the rest of our lives together. It was only one day but it changed my life forever.'
Sam goes on to perform their song 'Super Trooper'. The organ makes the notes sound lilting and lovely. However Sam's singing is the complete opposite in comparison. Donna thinks when it comes to singing, he tries his best, but the resulting outcome isn't always appealing to other people. In a sense Donna found it charming because he knew he wasn't the best singer in the world but he didn't let that bother him. Her husband was the type man who made it alright not to be a good singer. As she was listening, a thought occurred to her about how much effort he had put into this. She felt as though she couldn't break his heart because he always did the most thoughtful and romantic things when it came to their Anniversary. The type of things she could never live up to.
At the end of the song Donna stood up and clapped while her husband gave an exaggerated bow. She walked over to him and put her arms around his neck, trying to keep her face straight as she did so. Giving him a soft kiss on the lips.
'I love you so much. I really appreciate it even if it didn't sound its best.'
'Yeah, I think I should leave the singing to you in future. I didn't make your ears bleed then?' Donna doesn't answer, her mind was somewhere else. Going through different scenarios wondering what his reaction will be.
'Hey, you alright?'
Donna puts on a bright, cheery smile. 'Yeah, I'm fine, just a bit tired that's all.'
Sam seems to suspect nothing wrong in her response. 'Good because I've got something else to show you. Come on.' Sam takes her hand and they run quickly out of the chapel, which is at the top of the hill. Nearly pulling Donna's arm out of its socket. How could she tell him now? Not as he was so excited, like a child on Christmas Day.
Where my mind is like an open window
Where the high and healing winds blow
From my shallow sleep the sounds awake me
I let them take me
Sam leads Donna back to the front archway of the Villa, where there is a plastic cover over what was once the sign which proclaimed the name of the hotel. Donna had called it 'Villa Donna' because at the time she didn't have any attachments or responsibilities. When she had first started the business all she had to worry about was Sophie's welfare. As she grew and became more independent, the then twenty year old Donna, who had been kicked out of her home, aged eighteen, had more time to throw herself into the business. Sam had come up with this plan and drawn on the back of a napkin, on their one day together. He had told her that one day they would run it together. But at the time Donna couldn't see herself with any man, let alone getting married. She had named it after herself to promote her independence. Since getting married she had been thinking of changing the name to signify her change in relationship status. She hadn't yet got around to it. When she see the covering on the sign, she instantly knows what Sam has done. She motions him to remove the covering. When she see it, it takes her breath away. The words 'The Bella Donna' are carved in pretty calligraphy. She instantly jumps into her husband's arms, wrapping her legs around him and kissing him as if they haven't seen each other for weeks. In-between kisses, in a breathless whisper, she says. 'I was going to get around to it you know.'
'I know, but sometimes that's what I'm here for.'
'Well it's beautiful. I couldn't have done a better job.'
'Well, I am an architect. It kind of comes with the territory!'
'I love you so much but why 'Bella Donna' though?'
'Sophie told me what she found this morning. If it is bad news you know I will support you whatever happens. I've done it before and I'll do it again. This is just to remind you that you are beautiful to me regardless of your personal appearance. Your heart will still be the same. That's why I fell in love with you in the first place. Everything will be alright in the end, I know it.'
The pair both stand staring at the new sign. Both their names are printed underneath the new, established name as well as the date they got married.
'Cassie is going to love but at the same time she is going to kill us both.' They are looking forward to another year together and they know whatever comes they will get through it. They have each other and that all they need. Donna takes Sam's hand and together they walk into the Villa, closing the door behind them…
I let the music speak, leading me gently
Urging me like a lover
Leading me all the way
Into a place
Where beauty will defeat the darkest day
