Page 34 of Where She Is
“Come on,” he says with a pull to my arm and we head towards a viewing area.
“Where are we?”
“We’re in Katoomba. Echo Point to be exact. It’s pretty touristy up here, but it’s the best viewpoint of the three sisters.”
Daniel surprised me today by taking the driver’s seat. As last, it was just the two of us. As we drove, the endless shades of green through my window brought memories of home. Then the blinding sun and abundance of wildlife soon reminded me I’m definitely not in Blighty. “I don’t know anywhere else on earth you’d find melting trees.
“They might look like it, but they’re not actually melting,” Daniel explains. “Gum trees shed their bark at this time of year.”
“It’s absolutely fascinating.”
“I suppose when you see it all the time, you don’t think about it,” he smiles.
Within thirty minutes, we’d made it to our destination and were now looking at the mountains ahead. I’m hit with a cloudlessblue sky, pure, clean air and a rush of excitement running through me as I take in my surroundings. Lush, green and standing proudly in the middle of my view are three rock formations. My body breaks out in a shot of goosebumps as I absorb this incredible sight. It’s a moment which demands music. I reach into my bag for my phone, knowing the playlist immediately and the song I want. It has to be Elbow,One Day Like This.With a single earbud, I wait for the violins to kick in. I press pause before the intro begins, but as I’m about to open my mouth, Daniel says, “Bored with me already?” and nods towards the phone with a suppressed smile.
I try not to laugh, “Don’t be such a sensitive cowboy.” I offer him the other bud. “Take it. I promise this will give you goosebumps.”
His sideward grin lights up his entire face. I smile back at him then cuddle into his side. With one speaker each, I press play and turn up the volume. It’s a surreal moment. We absorb the sounds of the music while taking in the mass of trees which surround this astonishing formation. The sun beats a line of light across these magnificent stones showing unique shades of orange rock. I’m lost in this pool of colour until the feel of Daniel’s hand running from my shoulder to my waist, sparks electricity from his touch. He pulls me closer and as if on cue, the violins strike and the chorus kicks in. I feel elated inside and as predicted, goosebumps run along my body and prickle my skin, but it has nothing to do with the music. I take in a large lung full of beautiful, crisp air. I will remember this moment forever. I close my eyes for a second, savouring this feeling, but all too quickly, the music fades and Daniel’s hold slips away. He turns to me, removing the wire from his ear. “That. Was. Amazing.”
My smile is clear. “I told you, you’d get goosebumps.”
His eyes lock with mine while they dance and shine. A kiss would be the most natural thing to happen, but there are too many people around. I drag my eyes away from his, although oursmiles remain firmly in place. Daniel watches me put away my tiny earbuds, then pulls me to his front while his large hands slip to my hips where they stay. My back rests against his front while we continue to take in this magnificent view. I lean my head back against his chest while the soft vibrations of his voice brush against my ear.
“I want you,” he whispers while his hands slide around my waist. I nestle into him, closing my eyes and allowing my senses to heighten with the familiar smell of sandalwood. I have this urge to grind my arse into the hard bulge pressed against it, so I do. His growling breath ripples over my earlobe. My arse arches further into his crotch, but we’re halted by a loud, “Ahem.” We stop and I dare to look to my right and find an elderly couple stabbing us with their daggered eyes. I look away quickly trying not to laugh then feel Daniel’s body grow taller behind me. I look up and talk from the corner of my mouth. “Perhaps we better move on.” I’m about to push away, but his firm hands keep me in place. “Just… give me a minute, will you?”
I stand stock still, pursing my lips together hard as I try to conceal my laughter. I hear, “Can you believe how brazen they were,” fade into the distance as the couple walk away. When I look up again, Daniel has the biggest smile on his face. “Yeah, they secretly enjoyed every minute.”
I raise a brow, “Um, no. I don’t think they were impressed.” I laugh. “You think you’re ready to go now?”
He dips and shakes his legs out. “Yep, I think I’m right.” He takes my hand, “Come on, I want to show you a different view. Just don’t stand too close this time. I can’t be held responsible for my actions.”
“Do you know about Aboriginal legends and stories?”
I shake my head, “Not really.” He points towards themountains briefly before his hand slides back to my hip. “Okay, well, look at the rocks in front of you. The story goes that three sisters fell in love with three brothers from a rival tribe, but because of their tribal laws, they couldn’t marry. The brothers were so angry; they kidnapped the girls. Obviously, it caused a war.”
“Obviously,” I pipe up. His chest jumps against the back of my head. I’m glad he thinks I’m funny and I can hear the humour in his voice while he continues with his story. “A witch doctor from the girl’s tribe turned the sisters to stone because he was worried they were in danger and wanted to protect them. The plan was, once the war was over, he could reverse the spell and turn them back to normal. Sadly, the witch doctor was killed in battle and the three sisters remained in this mountain.”
I’m transfixed by the sheer beauty of this rock formation and the heartbreak of the sisters. “That is one of the saddest stories I’ve ever heard,” I sigh. Daniel squeezes me to him and kisses my crown before his chin rests on it. I think to myself how little I know about this beautiful country and the gorgeous man that lives here, but that’s something I hope to change.
We stay wrapped up together for a while, both deep in our own thoughts until I take out my phone to snap a few photos of the scenery. Daniel asks a passer-by to take one of us together. We admire the view while we chat, laugh, and walk hand in hand. You would never think we met just a week ago.
I notice how well he knows the area as we trek under a canopy of pine forest and rough track. It’s probably not as dramatic as that, but I wish I’d brought my walking boots. My Converse trainers are okay, but I could do with a little more support and grip. At least the air is cooler under the shade of the forest, but it doesn’t stop Daniel’s concern as I huff and puff up the hill. “Shall we take a break?”
“I’m fine, honestly. I just need a second.” To tell the truth, I’m exhausted, which isn’t like me, but I’m not used to the heat. I stop and drink the bottled water Daniel gave me earlier, just toget a breather. He may be a fast walker, but his attentive nature hasn’t gone unnoticed. His hand takes mine to steer me through pathways and over small streams. His gentle guidance is at every corner and never once does he turn his back to me.
A faint sound of water ahead steals my attention and before it has time to register in my brain, I’m mesmerised by the most beautiful waterfall. Daniel tucks me neatly into his side and my hand, without thought or hesitation, rests firmly against his chest. I can’t ignore the rapid beat of his heart against my palm before my concentration rests on the flowing water. It feels peaceful here. This could be a musical moment, but I shouldn’t break the connection between us by bringing out my phone. Instead, I focus on the safety I feel when I’m in his arms and his warm breath caressing my cheek. We could be in the honeymoon period, but I want this to be our normality. Why should these special times only happen at the beginning?
He searches for my hand. “I’ve got something for you.” He leads me to a small clearing and my mouth drops. There’s an enormous picnic table with two chairs, a pristine white tablecloth, white napkins, silver cutlery and two long-stemmed wine glasses. A bottle of thoroughly chilled, white wine sits in a silver bucket on a bed of ice.
“Hungry?”
I nod enthusiastically. “Where on earth did this lot come from?” I ask while taking it all in. He smiles and pulls out a chair, then gestures for me to sit. “That would be telling,” he says.
I’m absolutely starving. My stomach has been growling since mid-morning, but I’ve ignored it up to this point.
“I hope you like Caesar Salad?”
“Lovely, thank you,” I say pulling my chair up to the table. “You know a picnic blanket would have been fine.”
