Chapter Eight
CHAPTER
Caleb dropped back a gear, and the engine of his Troopy rumbled as he gripped the steering wheel and navigated his way along the bumpy, twisting dirt road, fringed by vast fields and the towering trees standing guard on their patches of ground.
Nyah, perched in the passenger seat with her chin resting on her hand, dreamily watched the landscape blur by in a colourful mosaic of greens and browns.
The air flowing through the vents was thick with the scent of rain from the previous night, refreshing and earthy, as Caleb relished their cross-country adventure.
Johnny and June Cash were riding shotgun through the speakers, too, their song ‘Jackson’ encouraging him to hum the tune along with the lovers’ twangy voices.
‘Remember when we tried to race the kangaroos across old Jack Henderson’s open paddocks?’ Caleb’s voice broke through Nyah’s reverie, his eyes crinkling with amusement as he stole a glance at her. ‘On foot!’
‘Oh my gosh, yes, I do!’ Laughter bubbled from her, and her bright blue eyes lit up with fond memories.
‘We were so convinced we could outrun them,’ she recalled with a tip of her head.
‘But we ended up covered in mud instead.’ She absentmindedly traced the outline of the birthmark on the back of her neck, a habit he knew quite often came with nostalgia.
‘Ah, the invincibility of youth,’ he mused.
‘Young and free we certainly were, Hart,’ she replied, this time a little sadly.
‘We still can be, Love, if we choose to be.’ Leaving her with this thought, he expertly steered them around the final bend, the four-wheel drive’s suspension protesting a little as they approached their destination.
Catching sight of what had been just a tender teenage memory, Nyah sat up straight, her wide gaze focused on the cascading waterfall meeting with the tranquil swimming hole encircled by towering trees.
He quietly treasured her rapt stare—it meant he’d made the right call by bringing her here.
The usually deserted spot was still one of his favourite places to while away a few hours.
The cool oasis within the red-earth backdrop, with its sparkling waters reflecting the vast expanse of the cloudless blue sky above, was jaw-droppingly beautiful.
Just like this fascinating woman sitting beside him in silent awe.
Slowing, he parked under the shade of a lofty bottlebrush tree, its vibrant red flowers striking. ‘Here we finally are,’ he said, killing the engine and letting silence fall over them.
‘Oh, Caleb.’ Nyah breathed in nice and deep. ‘It’s absolutely stunning.’
‘Ain’t that the truth,’ he replied with a chuffed grin and an affirming nod.
Smiling from ear to ear, she slipped out of the passenger seat, her aquamarine dress dancing in the breeze as her bare feet grounded with the earth.
Slipping his thongs on, Caleb followed suit.
Mother Nature had sure stepped up to the plate.
The sun was generous, enveloping their private retreat in its warm embrace.
The temperature was just right for both swimming and basking.
The splash of water flowing down the steep drop, into the pool they’d call their very own for the afternoon, was a relaxingly familiar sound that had been the backdrop to many of their youthful escapades.
He retrieved a picnic blanket from the back. ‘Perfect day for it, isn’t it?’ He spread it out with precision, choosing a spot close to the water’s edge where the grass was softest.
‘It sure is,’ she agreed, plonking their picnic basket filled with delectable goodies onto the ground, then settling down, legs crossed as she gazed towards the sky. ‘It feels like a world away.’
‘Our own little piece of heaven, I reckon,’ he replied with a smile.
‘Uh-huh.’ Resting back, she closed her eyes.
Giving her a moment all to herself, Caleb imagined her allowing the rush of the waterfall to fill her ears, as the cool mist kissing his skin raised goosebumps.
‘Actually, it feels like coming home,’ she whispered as he sat down beside her.
‘And home is where we can hopefully find peace,’ Caleb replied, his tone as gentle as the rise and fall of her chest. ‘Even if just for this little while.’
‘Yes, very true.’ She smiled, but didn’t open her eyes.
Caleb was relieved she couldn’t see him; fear of meeting her eyes and succumbing to his urge to kiss her, hot and hard, was overwhelming him right now.
Taking a quiet, self-controlling breath, followed by another, he sensed, for each of them, that this place held more than just memories.
It was a sanctuary from the many trials life had thrown at them, especially of late, a shared refuge where challenges and hardships were understood without words.
Where united, silent contemplations spoke volumes.
Here, amid the rush of the waterfall and whispers of the surrounding bushlands, a future together seemed possible, even if only for an evanescent moment.
And he allowed himself this fleeting instance to imagine them together, in every sense of the word.
Happy. Free. And so deeply, openly, in love.
Now that would be fulfilment.
Enjoying the serenity, he lay down beside her, his head in his clasped hands, and his now bare feet crossed at the ankles.
Together, they basked in comfortable silence, two souls connected by history and at the same time being healed by nature.
It was a rare interlude, a peaceful pause in the relentless march of time that he cherished with every calming breath he took, with each of them contentedly lost in their own thoughts yet bound by an unspoken understanding that ran deep.
‘Are you getting hungry yet, Ny?’ he eventually asked.
‘Now that you mention it.’ She turned on her side to face him. ‘I’m bloody starving.’
He grinned. ‘Good, let’s eat before my stomach eats itself!’
They both sat up, Nyah with her legs crossed beneath her.
His hands, roughened by years of service and the caress of motorcycle grips and leather reins, worked with gentleness as he slowly lifted the wicker lid of the picnic basket.
Nyah always made him feel like a softer version of himself. And it was a relished sensation.
Inside the basket lay a treasure trove of homemade culinary delights that he’d put time and effort into making.
With hunger pains gnawing, his mouth watered at the sight—sliced sandwiches with perfectly trimmed crusts, two beautifully ripe mangos, and a miniature orange and almond cake.
To wash it all down, they’d chosen a couple of mid-strength tallies from the drive-through bottle shop on the way.
He nudged the basket towards her. ‘Ladies first.’
‘Why thank you, Mr Chivalrous.’ With her grin a little sassy, Nyah reached for a sandwich.
Caleb grabbed his too, and tucked in. Each bite exploded with flavour as basil pesto danced on his tongue, as did the sweetness of the beetroot he’d wedged between the lettuce and leg ham, so the homemade sourdough bread didn’t become soggy.
‘Did you really make all of this yourself?’ Nyah asked in between bites, her voice tinged with both surprise and awe.
‘Yup, every last crumb,’ Caleb replied with a proud lilt in his voice.
‘Well, you’ve gone above and beyond.’ She eyed the cake. ‘I can’t wait to tuck into that little beauty.’
‘Trust me, you’ll be in sweet heaven when you do.’ His nod was affably comedic.
‘Confident, much,’ she replied with a chuckle, enticing him to join her mirth.
Their laughter echoed through the tranquillity, blending into nature’s symphony of rustling leaves and distant birdcalls.
As they enjoyed the rest of their feast, their conversation wandered lightly.
Nyah spoke about her Ragnar with joy and love, while Caleb shared his own stories of how much Jet filled his life with happiness.
And they both agreed that some humans could really suck, big time.
True dog lovers they both were, that was for sure.
‘I hate to admit it, but I’m afraid of becoming bitter like my mother sometimes,’ Nyah disclosed softly, right before taking a sip from her beer.
‘You’re nothing like your mother, Ny,’ Caleb reassured her. ‘You’re stronger than that, and the kind of woman who isn’t defined by anyone else’s shadows.’
‘Thank you.’ Her gaze flittered then landed back on his. ‘For seeing me like that.’
‘I see things as they are, and you as you are.’ He offered a smile, and a whopping piece of cake.
‘Oh yum.’ Nyah couldn’t speak for pleasure as she devoured every mouth-watering crumb.
After they were sated, their conversation turned to who this mystery man of Claire’s might have been. As they sifted through memories and speculation, Caleb carefully articulated his thoughts, mindful of her still-healing wounds.
‘It’s really frustrating.’ Nyah sighed. ‘I’ve tried to think back, to see if I can remember any men that used to be around Mum, but I can’t recall any.’
‘Yeah, I’ve racked my brain, too, but honestly, I don’t recall seeing Claire with any men other than your father.
’ He gazed at the reflective surface of the water.
‘And even more recently…I haven’t seen her out and about much, let alone with a man.
’ Rubbing his five o’clock shadow, he sighed.
‘But I’m not going to give up trying to find out who it was, because my gut tells me he knows things. ’
‘Mine too.’ Nyah nodded, her voice softly affirming.
Caleb reached out and squeezed her hand. ‘One way or another, I’ll find out what happened to Skye, even if my hunch about your mother’s affair has nothing to do with it.’
‘If anyone will, I know it’ll be you, Caleb.’ She squeezed his hand back in gratitude.
***