Coffee and a cake.

Did I answer all the questions well,asked my husband eagerly. I know everything,don't I? I am very intelligent,aren't I? Yes,dear,you are very clever. I love you so much,he said and gripped my hand firmly. I didn't respond. He wouldn't have heard,anyway. Wrapped up in his own world he was thinking about the cake he was going to have soon. There were no taxis to be had near the hospital and ordering one would have been too much of a palava. The bus stop was not far and a bus dropped us off just by a delicatessen I was familiar with. It was a pleasant place to sit down for a while. I was to sit in the same soft comfortable chair many more times with my husband next to me and many more times alone. The whole experience was a big adventure for Olly. The day was going well. He was brimming with pride as he sat down looking around,smiling. This is my wife,he said.When I die I want her to marry a builder.Are you a builder? he asked a startled young man. I burst out laughing.I am so sorry,my husband likes to joke a lot. The young man smiled. What was I to say? That he was not well? That often what he said made little or no sense? That he had dementia? Adults had no idea what dementia meant,let alone young people, as I was slowly finding out. I quickly learnt never to explain and never to complain. We walked home. My husband loved walking. Throughout our marriage we would often go out for long walks in the evening together and when I had things to do or was too tired, he would go by himself, it helped him sleep. It was a good day for both of us.