Please enjoy this repost while I enjoy a little R&R at the beach!

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The dense tropical forest surrounded her. The calls of macaws echoed through the vines above. A lone hiker stopped along the trail, wiped the sweat from her brow, and sipped from her canteen.

She slipped the canteen back in her pack. That waterfall can’t be too far now, she thought to herself. She couldn’t wait to take a dip.

She listened for the sound of rushing waters, but was met only with rustling leaves and more birds. She picked up the pace after her rest, knowing it was not far now.

Ahead she spied a small man made bridge over a creek bed. It was small, but at last, a sign she was close. She continued on the trail.

She swiped her bare legs, flicking away a pest. Her shorts, cuffed, and tank, let her skin breathe in the humid climate. Her cropped hair was tucked into a boony which kept the sunlight off her freckled face.

She tugged on her tank to get a little air. It was hotter here than she expected and not much breeze found it’s way to the rainforest floor.

She rounded a bend of granite rocks and in the distance finally heard a rush of water. A slight coolness drifted across her face and she sighed in relief.

As she neared the waterfall, the stream became wider. She stopped a moment to feel the water; cool to the touch and refreshing. She splashed a little on her face.

Behind her, she heard the sound of leaves pushing against each other, like something moving between them. She stood up and looked over the area.

A toucan took flight and she smiled to herself. Silly girl! It’s just a bird, she scolded herself. She adjusted her pack and carried on.

Finally, the greenness on the trail gave way to flowering plants and a series of fairy pools being fed by a glorious waterfall. She had arrived at her destination.

She found a spot to enjoy the falls and set down her pack. She pulled out a small towel and took a seat, watching the water cascade over the rocks. The rock face was covered with flowering plants in yellow, pink, and white flowers. Their sweet aroma filled the air.

She rested back on her elbows and dipped her toe in the babbling water. Another round of brush swayed and made a bit of noise. She sat up and turned to see a monkey moving between the branches.

She heard how these cute creatures could easily steal your food, so she secured her pack as best she could. He didn’t seem interested as he climbed on and disappeared into the forest.

She decided to take a quick plunge in the large pool at the base of the falls. She looked around, and seeing no one, shimmied out of her shorts, then headed into the pool.

The water chilled her at first. Her skin was covered in goosebumps from the temperature of the pool. However, it was refreshing as she swam toward the falls. The sound of the falls grew louder, drowning out the sounds of the forest.

She looked back toward her pack and a few rocks over, saw some hikers and a rucksack. It surprised her as there was no one visible to her in the area. She scanned around trying to see if someone else was nearby, but saw no one.

Part of her thought was to go over there to check it out, but the water was so enticing, especially as the falls also splashed her from behind, she decided to stay put. She looked up to the sky and began floating on her back, drifting about the pool.

After a few minutes, she felt a tug in her shirt. Her eyes were closed, but she figured a stick or something had caught on her clothes, so she reached to clear it away. Then a hand grasped her wrist.

She opened her eyes in surprise. She looked over to see a man holding her arm. His mouth was moving, but his voice was muffled. She lifted up her head from the water.

“Are you okay?” the man repeated.

She looked at him groggily and shook her head. “Yes, just enjoying a float. Where did you come from?”

She looked him over and realized he was bare chested and quite handsome. His eyes, light blue with little flecks of grey and gold, danced in the sun’s rays. His face was thin with a three day shadow of golden blond/brown hair.

“I was behind the waterfall,” he breathed out as he realized he was still holding her wrist. He gently let go. “I just saw you laying there limp and was worried.”

She smiled and then shrugged. “I’m good. No damsel in distress. Thank you though.” She tilted her head a bit. “Hey, I have some snacks to enjoy, if you’d like to share?” She swore his face blushed a little.

He looked down to his hands and smiled, holding them up. “Yeah, I think I should get out. I’m shriveled up like a prune!” He showed her the deep grooves in his fingers.

She chuckled as she raised her hand, “Me too!”

…to be continued

Smoke floated upon the air. The smell of burning wood brought to mind cool fall nights, football games, and hot cocoa. She pulled her coat around her, inhaling his cologne that still lingered on her from his hug. A smile crept across her face.

Her suede boots crunched through the leaves. She turned down the side street and walked along the Williams Cemetery. Leaves blew about as the shadows grew long in the full moon.

She heard noise coming from behind the gates. A child cried in the distance.

Her mind told her that it couldn’t be; why would a child be in the graveyard at this time of night? But she couldn’t ignore the plea for help.

She lifted the metal bar holding the gate closed, and pulled open the heavy iron door. She stepped through and walked along the path.

She heard a squeal behind her then the click of the gate behind her. Startled, she spun around, but saw no one through the light and shadows.

The cry behind her beckoned once more. She cautiously walked across the field, weaving between headstones, until she arrived at a freshly dug grave.

She stopped as a chill went up her spin. A faint figure seemed to move in the distance. She rubbed her eyes, and the mirage disappeared as quickly as it came.

Something brushed up against her leg, startling her. She jumped and lost her footing, tripping on the pile of dirt and tumbling near the edge of the grave.

She escaped falling in, but her foot dangled over the edge. She then realized a small kitten was sitting near her. He approached her, brushing up against her once more and mewing aloud.

She laughed at herself. The baby crying was this little ball of fur. She scooped him up and buttoned up her jacket, giving him a safe place to warm up.

Soon she stood back up and returned to the gate. On the wind, she thought she heard a whisper. “Take care of my kitten, please.” She shook it off as her mind playing tricks.

She opened the gate and shut it behind her. She picked up the pace as she headed home. Her heels clicked faster until she was almost at a run. She clutched her new friend to her so he wouldn’t be afraid.

The front porch lights were a welcome sight. She slipped out of her boots and stepped inside. “I’m home!”

Her parents looked up and the sight of dismay gave way to relief.

“What’s wrong?” She looked at them perplexed.

“Little Suzy was killed tonight, the little girl up the street. She was looking for her kitten, Jax, when she was hit by a car.”

She paused and gasped. She fished the little kitten from her coat. A tear ran down her face. “I think I found him.”

Slowly, she set the book and pen down.

She needed to give her mind a rest,

But it would break her heart to walk away.

The words scrawled across the pages

Revealed her heart, but he wouldn’t get to see.

She turned away to give him a breather,

Letting him focus on his own life.

She doubted she’d ever see the day

When her dreams might finally come true.

So she shifted her focus back to the here and now.

May as well live the life she built here

The one in the real world…whatever that means.

She knows she’ll be back, flipping through the pages,

Maybe even add something new.

But for now, those chapters would be held

May another day come soon.

She stepped out in a flowing navy sarong tied around her neck. He stood back watching her as she finished hanging her earring from her left ear. She smiled. She loved when he watched her get ready.

He was dressed in some cargo shorts and a casual buttoned-down shirt, perfect for their tropical dinner she has planned.

“I have a surprise,” she said as she entwined her hands with his. “Follow me.”

She led him down the decking from their overwater bungalow and to the beach.

A butler met them as they stepped onto the powdery soft sand. He looked at the woman and nodded, then turned to the man. “Sir, Ms. Miller here arranged for a special evening for you with our staff. Please, follow me.”

She looked up and grinned. He knew something was up, but not what. They followed the butler into an arched opening into the palms and followed a sandy path.

Finally, the path opened. A candle-lit linen covered table and chairs sitting next to the surf greeted them. The butler pulled out the chair, “For the lady.”

She sat down and set the napkin across her lap, then tilted her head up at him. “Meet your approval?”

He just stood there, looking at the little oasis carved out among the trees. He spied an outdoor bed to the right of the table and a sheet hung from the trees. He suspected the sheet was to provide some privacy perhaps.

He slid into the seat next to her.

The butler then poured drinks for each of them. “Tonight, we have arranged to have Chef Angelo prepare for you a meal most delicious. I will return shortly with your first course. In the meantime, please enjoy some bread.”

The butler opened the breadbasket revealing warm breadsticks, then turned and walk away.

Her companion chuckled. “What are the odds….breadsticks!”

She chuckled a bit to herself, then shrugged her shoulders.

They both looked out to the sunset shimmering over the waters. Around them, the butler lit torchiers which gave an ambient glow; then returned to the table.

“Our first course is a simple salad dressed with Italian dressing,” he announced as he placed a large bowl on the table. Tomatoes, onion, pepperoncini, parmesan, and dressing speckled throughout a layer of lettuce rested in the bowl. The butler then filled two cold shallow bowls with the mixture and offered freshly grated parmesan.

Her companion looked at the bowl. “Looks familiar!”

She giggled. She did arrange for the evening after all.

They enjoyed their salad while laughing and reminiscing over their trip thus far.

The butler deftly removed their salad plates ahead of the main course. Before them he set a trio of delights – chicken parmigiana, lasagna, and a sirloin steak cooked to perfection.

Her companion looked up. “This isn’t quite the Tour of Italy…”

Finally, she burst out in laughter. He’d finally figured out their meal. “Well, I knew you needed some meat to get back your strength!” She winked at him.

They dug into their meals as the skies turned dark and the stars began to shine overhead. It amazed her at how many stars one can see so far from civilization.

The butler appeared to clear away their meals as their conversation quieted into glances over glasses. “If I may, one more item is set up for you this evening. You are welcome to stay here the rest of the evening, but the path is also lit to guide you back to your room. It is completely private here when I depart once I set this last item up for you.”

The butler guided them to the outdoor bed and fumbled with the controls on a projector. It flickered a couple times.

She guided her companion to join her. As they settled in, scenes from Voltron ’84 flashed on the screen.

He looked her over and went in for a long kiss. “I can’t believe you did this!”

The butler bowed his head and bid the couple good night as they snuggled in close to each other.

The air was heavy with the scent of blooming flowers. She brushed her fingertips across the blooms as she walked through their acreage. They bought the land as their first purchase after the wedding, knowing they would build their life here.

The heat of the sun bounced off her white button down as the breeze tossed her short brown hair against her face. She tucked a few strands behind her ear. Her jeans stopped the scratching of the overgrowth.

She looked back towards the house. A home filled with memories and happiness awaited her return. The mountains in the distance still filled her with awe and wonder. The past month had been too quiet though; she missed him and the girls.

Hot breath came down on her neck, and then a loud snort. She stopped in her tracks, then reached in her pocket. As she spun around, she presented the beast a shiny red apple.

He whinnied then snapped it up, munching away. They rescued Cashmere, a chestnut mustang, a few years prior and let him wander on the fields. She pet his face and smiled.

In the distance, she saw a cloud of dust rise. He was finally home, and her heart filled with joy. She turned from Cashmere and headed back to the house.

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He pulled into the winding drive of their homestead. He was nervous after having been away so long. It was a good nervous, almost excitement.

He stepped on the brakes when he saw her in the distance. She wasn’t looking his way, so he took a moment to watch her.

He loved watching her when she didn’t know. He watched her sleeping, cooking, always mesmerized by her presence.

Today he saw her enjoying the wildflowers. Her crisp white shirt and dark jeans framed her figure. It was rounder now, but he stilled loved it, because it was her.

He spied Cash walking up to her. She always carried a couple apples for him when she walked the field. Her face lit up as she turned to her trusted steed.

He was still in awe of her enjoyment in the simple things. At that moment, he had an urge to take her in his arms. He refocused on the drive and took off toward home.

The turquoise water shimmered in the afternoon sun as the breeze picked up her sun kissed curls. Shades obscured her dark brown eyes. Her white cotton dress floated around her tanned body.

He watched her from the bed in their bungalow. This getaway was exactly what they needed after dealing with the chaos back home. He saw the lines disappear from her face these past weeks as her stress melted away.

She turned back toward him and smiled. Her bare feet glided across the decking and then onto the polished hardwood. Her soft steps drew his attention to the curve of her ankles and calves.

As he watched, he realized her hem lifted. She pulled her dress up and over her head. He snickered as he realized she had a swimsuit on.

She placed the dress on a chair, then motioned to him with a curve of her finger. “Let’s swim.”

He slid off the bed and adjusted the band of his trunks. The wood floor felt cool against his bare feet as he crossed the floor. “Sure I can’t convince you to do something else?” He twisted his head towards the bed.

She blushed, then grabbed his hand, pulling him outside. “Later,” she giggled. “I want to take a dunk.”

She led him around to the small private dunking pool next to the bungalow. He stood back, enjoying the view of her as she disappeared into the water, then climbed in to join her.

She slipped the straps of her bathing suit off her shoulder and shimmied in the water, then dropped the suit to the side of the pool. Slowly, a smile crept across his face.

Maybe later was sooner than he expected.