Chapter Nineteen #2
Seated by the window when he finally pressed send on his text message, Caleb looked out as the aircraft taxied down the runway and then lifted into the air.
With every metre gained in altitude, the weight of his decision seemed to lift, too, giving way to a sense of hope or perhaps something more daring.
Within seconds, the tapestry of his part of Australia spread out below him—a blend of ochre earth and verdant patches stitched together under the wide expanse of sky.
As the plane climbed higher, the surrounding landscape of Wildstone became a mere speck, its familiar outlines quickly fading into the distance.
His heart quickened with each passing moment, the thrum of the engines like a steady drumbeat guiding him towards his future.
Popping one of his AirPods in, he closed his eyes and wiled the time away to the tunes of The Highwaymen—Johnny, Waylon, Willie and Kris would keep him company.
An announcement crackled over the intercom, signalling their arrival into Cairns.
The seatbelt sign dinged on, and as he straightened in his seat Caleb felt a surge of adrenaline course through him.
Stealing a glance out the window, he caught sight of the sprawling coastal township of Cairns below, nestled between lush rainforest mountains and the sparkling turquoise sea.
As they approached the runway, the Great Barrier Reef briefly came into view.
From the pictures he’d scoured, he knew it was a breathtaking mosaic of vibrant coral, a living masterpiece etched upon the canvas of the ocean.
The glimpse of the natural wonder stirred a profound reverence for the underwater world that Nyah held dear.
And he hoped that one day they’d venture into its depths so he, too, could discover a realm he’d never been lucky enough to visit before.
‘Please be seated for landing.’ The pilot’s voice echoed through the plane.
The quick descent brought an electric current of excitement through Caleb’s veins.
Each minute closer to Cairns was a step closer to Nyah, and to a love that held the promise of forever—if she allowed him to love her like he ached to.
And he hoped with every fibre of his being that would be the case.
He was ready to embrace whatever lay ahead, and whatever challenges they had to overcome, to make it through, together.
And as he stepped off the plane and into the humid embrace of Cairns, another rush of warmth enveloped him.
He was close now, so very close. He stood for a breath on the tarmac, allowing the tropical atmosphere to seep into his pores, feeling the distance he’d travelled not just in miles but in the expanses of the heart he was about to offer to her.
The airport arrival hall was abuzz with the energy of arriving travellers and welcoming loved ones, yet all the noise seemed to fade away when his eyes landed on her.
There she was, his gorgeous Nyah, standing amid the bustle, a vision of beauty with her long, dark curls reflecting the sunlight streaming through the glass doors as she searched for him.
Within seconds, her bright blue eyes found his, igniting a spark that raced through his veins like a fire out of control.
With each determined stride towards her, his anticipation grew until they were finally within arm’s reach.
There was a moment, a brief hesitation where their shared history hung between them like a delicate thread, laden with unspoken words and tender memories.
Then, as if drawn by an invisible force, they closed the distance with a joyful embrace.
Nyah’s arms wound around him tightly, pulling him into the comforting warmth of her presence, and she smelled like absolute heaven on earth—sweet, floral, a little spicy—like her.
In this intimate moment, everything else ceased, and only their hearts and breaths could be heard.
He couldn’t deny the want, need, urge to kiss her as if his life, and hers, depended on it.
So he did what he’d been longing to, and brought his lips to hers, ever so gently, giving her the room to pull back if she needed to.
But to his heart’s delight, she didn’t. Instead she pressed her mouth into his, as if hungry for him, as if she, too, had been desiring this moment with every part of her being.
And the majestic moment lingered, beautifully, until they both needed to take a breath.
‘Hey, you,’ she murmured softly, her voice a melodic caress that played on the most vulnerable chords of his soul.
‘Hey,’ he replied, his voice rough with emotion.
For him, within that simple exchange lay layers of relief at their warm reunion along with a sense of rightness at being near her once again.
And as they walked from the airport together, he kept an arm draped over her shoulders as a silent declaration of their rekindled connection.
She couldn’t seem to get close enough to him.
And he liked that. A heck of a lot. On the drive to her place, there were no uncomfortable silences as they shared moments of laughter, the sound dancing in the air like moonlight on the water’s surface.
Each chuckle, each smile exchanged, each lingering glance, became a stepping stone back to the deep bond they naturally shared.
‘I still can’t believe you’re here, Caleb,’ she said as she pulled the Jeep Wrangler into her driveway.
‘To be honest, neither can I.’ Arriving at her home felt so surreal, like an amazing dream.
‘Well, come on then, slowcoach.’ She hopped out and looked at him through the open driver’s window. ‘Ragnar’s dying to meet you.’
‘Righto.’ Caleb grimaced playfully. ‘I hope he likes me.’
‘He’ll love you, just like…’ Her voice tapered off, and she smiled. ‘This way, Hart.’
Meeting him, she took his hand as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do, and led him to her front door, where, as it swung open, he was greeted by the biggest bundle of furry love he’d ever encountered.
‘Hey, Ragnar, it’s nice to meet you, too.’ Chuckling, he ruffled his new buddy’s curly coat. ‘I’ve heard so much about you, all good stuff too, by the way.’
‘Come on, Ragnar, let the man inside,’ Nyah said, with a giggle that sent his heart skittering. ‘Here we are, home sweet home.’ She waved her arm from left to right, over the tastefully boho-decorated room where the scent of incense lingered. ‘Do you like it?’
‘Wow, Ny, I love it.’ He looked to her and smiled. ‘It’s so you.’
In the sanctuary of her home, he noted her collection of books, photographs—he loved how the one Hope had sent her of them was front and centre—and the potted herbs along her kitchen windowsill and bohemian tapestries adorning her walls.
Here, Caleb settled into an easy rhythm with the woman of his dreams, now made a reality.
Their deep affection was not only through touch but also through the gentle attention they paid to each other’s words.
As they spoke of everything and nothing, their hands would intermittently meet, lips on each other’s, fingertips brushing with an electric charge that spoke of deeper desires and a shared future they were only just beginning to dare to envision.
But he refrained from taking it further, just yet; that magical moment would come when the time felt right.
For now, he wanted their mind and soul connection to deepen, and then, and only then, would he make love to her the way he’d been aching to.
‘Tell me about your garden,’ Nyah prompted as she picked mint from her potted herb collection to pop into their bowls of watermelon and feta salad.
‘It’s missing your touch,’ Caleb replied with a soft smile.
As am I… he wanted to add.
In this cherished space, with Nyah right by his side, he felt the fractured pieces of himself aligning, and he could see a happy future for them glowing on the horizon like the first blush of dawn.
And with that thought he playfully grabbed her and brought her to him.
Nyah’s smile ignited and she giggled softly as she brought her cheek to his chest, a place she belonged, for always.
Wrapped up in the warmth of her and the sanctuary of her embrace, he distinctively knew he was finally home, in every sense of the word.
***
The next day, Caleb stood at the edge of the mighty Barron Gorge with Nyah huddled into his side.
The crashing of water tumbling down the astonishing drop drowned out any other noise, and a vast expanse of vibrant green spread out like a sea beneath them.
In absolute awe of the force of nature, he felt the sweet, earthy scent of the rainforest fill his lungs as he took another deeply satisfying breath.
Then they stepped away, allowing others a front-row view.
The melodious calls of exotic birds resonated in the otherwise tranquil surroundings.
It was no wonder people travelled from all over the world to bear witness to such an enchanting place.
This. Right here. Was his idea of heaven on earth.
With no reason to stay rooted in his life back in Wildstone other than his dedication to the police force and the thriving garden he’d carefully tended, he turned and stole a glance at Nyah with her curly hair cascading chaotically around her shoulders like the waterfall they’d come to see.
Smiling from the soul, he breathed her in with a mixture of awe and longing.
She was unlike any other woman he’d ever known, and he was lucky enough to be in love with her.
‘Look at this place,’ she said, her voice soft yet filled with wonder. ‘It’s like stepping into another world.’
‘It sure is,’ he agreed wholeheartedly.