Page 17 of The Cloud Catcher

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The following day Cairns blossomed into warmth and light as they hopped out of Zara’s car and made their way up the winding pathways where the foliage quickly grew denser, muffling the sounds of civilisation and enveloping them in a symphony of nature. After a short hike through the slightly cooler climate of the rainforest, the lush greenery parted to reveal a set of steps that led downward and into the Crystal Cascades. This natural wonder was a hidden jewel where water danced over rocks in a gleeful descent towards invitingly clear pools. Above them, sunlight pierced through the canopy of leaves, turning droplets into liquid diamonds that flirted within the myriad ferns.

‘Wow,’ Jay breathed in awe, taking in the sight that was both powerful and serene.

‘I thought you might like it here,’ Zara said with a hint of satisfaction in her smile.

‘Do I ever, it’s magnificent,’ Jay exclaimed with wide-eyed delight.

He opened the backpack, spread out the blanket near the water’s edge and unpacked the cooler, filled with an assortment of cheeses, crackers and fruits. Then, digging back into the bag, he brought out a bottle of her favourite wine — a detail that had warmed Zara’s heart back at the local deli. Getting themselves settled, they ate, laughed and sipped from plastic wine goblets, their voices blending with the rush of the cascades. And when the midday heat arrived and intensified, they shed their summery clothes and plunged into the cool embrace of the natural pools where the water enveloped them like a soothing balm, washing away any trace of the miles that so often kept them apart.

‘Time feels different here,’ Jay remarked as they surfaced, beads of water trickling down his glistening chest — a chest Zara was dying to bury her face against.

‘It’s as if it’s standing still, hey,’ she agreed, her gaze wandering over his broad shoulders then locking with his baby blues.

‘I wish it would, so we could stay here, together, forever.’ His reply was romantic, heartfelt.

He swam the small distance between them and took hold of her, buoying her weight with his beneath the water. Wrapping her legs around his waist and tangling her arms around his shoulders, she pressed into him with a fierce urgency, her lips seeking his under the canopy of the rainforest. The kiss ignited like a spark in the depths of their shared desire, each hungry touch a testament to the longing that had built between them since their first meeting. Jay responded with equal fervour, his hands gripping her hips as if anchoring himself to this moment, and to her.

Breaking away, they brought their foreheads together, breaths mingling in the humid air. ‘Zara,’ he whispered, his voice low and rough.

‘Jay,’ she murmured in return, her fingers tracing the line of his strong jaw, committing this instant to memory as the sun cast a golden hue over his fetching features.

‘I want you, so badly — but not here, not now.’ He growled, then sighed. ‘Our first time should be privately passionate, and deeply intimate.’

Zara could feel his want for her, pressing into her bikini bottoms. ‘Argh, I agree, but this is tough, not being able to, you know …’

‘Oh, believe me, I know,’ he affirmed, his swift grin devilish.

Moving away from each other before the temptation to be reckless became too much, they floated side by side in the tranquil pool, fingers intertwined, hearts beating as one. Zara traced patterns on the surface of the water with her free hand, her mind drifting to a place of pure contentment. She had found a deep connection with Jay that went beyond mere words or actions — it was a meeting of souls, a collision of destinies that had brought them together in this idyllic setting. Here, amid the sacred serenity of nature’s sanctuary, she’d discovered yet another magical moment suspended in time, a poignant memory to be cherished.

Later, as the day evolved into their last night of freedom before heading back to living at opposite ends of Queensland, they found themselves back at their favourite seaside café, drinking coffees along with another slice of gloriously moist carrot cake. Gazing at Jay through eyes filled with love, Zara couldn’t be any happier if she tried. With only crumbs and empty cups left, she snuck up and paid the bill en route to the toilet. Then, after Jay wagged a finger at her while voicing his appreciation, they stepped back out and into the night air that was thick with humidity.

To Zara’s surprise, Palm Cove had come alive in the ninety minutes they’d spent wrapped up in each other, tucked away from the outside world, and she was keen to check out the festivities. Judging by the wide-eyed look on Jay’s face, so was he. Guided by his hand clasping hers, they dashed across the road and weaved through the crowd of revellers dancing to the bass-heavy beats of energetic music. Hopping on one foot, then the other, Jay took his loafers off then encouraged her to do the same, which she did, then she looped each sandal over her fingertips. Not far from where they stood, a joyful group were playing bongos and a glittery-faced woman swirled her firestick in the air, leaving a trail of flickers shaped like an infinity symbol. Bonfires were lit along the shoreline, and above them, fairy lights twinkled like stars caught in palm fronds, casting a soft glow over the sand that shimmered beneath their bare feet. Laughter filled the air, mingling with the pulsing beat of music that thrummed like a living thing, drawing both of them further into the heart of the beach party.

Reaching the sidelines of the festivity, Jay turned to face her, his blue eyes alive with mischief. ‘Shall we?’ he asked.

‘Yes, we shall!’ she replied with childlike glee.

Together, they stepped within the swirling mass of dancers, moving to the rhythm that enveloped them. Their bodies swayed in perfect harmony, and all around them, faces were lit up with joy and abandon, each person equally lost in this moment and the music. Above them, a sky scattered with stars seemed to bless this union of many hearts. With the music flowing through them, Jay pulled her closer, his hands finding their place in the small of her back. They moved together in a seamless embrace, bodies pressed against each other as they revelled in the warmth and closeness. She matched his movements with a grace that seemed to come naturally. Their laughter mingled with the sounds of the night, creating a symphony of bliss that surrounded them as they twirled and swayed beneath the canopy of stars.

In that hushed space between them, Jay’s voice rang out above the din of the party. ‘Zara,’ he began earnestly, his blue eyes reflecting sincerity and vulnerability. ‘I’ve never felt so connected to someone. You make me want to share everything. The good, the bad, my dreams …’

With her gaze fixed on his, unbridled emotions momentarily took away her voice, so instead she nodded, smiling like a woman blissfully in love.

‘I dream of the day I get to live my life alongside my wife and children,’ he confessed, his voice steady despite the emotions that must have been simmering beneath the surface with such a declaration. ‘And I hope that person will be you, one day, Zara Monroe. I really, truly do.’

Zara’s heart swelled with an overwhelming sense of wonder and affection. She saw in his earnest expression the reflection of her own desires, and the yearning for a bond that could weather any storm. ‘Jay,’ she breathed, happy to have found her voice in the swirl of emotions. ‘Your dreams, they resonate with every fibre of my being. To find love, real love, it’s all I’ve ever wanted.’ Now she was fighting back a flood of tears — happy ones, but tears all the same.

Their confessions hung in the air like a sacred vow, two souls bared beneath a tropical night sky filled with glittering constellations, and as they slowed then stood still amid the throng, time also seemed to stand still. In that moment, with Jay’s dreams echoing in her ears and the dance of destiny playing out before them, Zara knew that whatever the future held, it was theirs to seize, together, if they played their cards right. So, taking his hand, she led him away from the music and to a quieter place, where the ocean kissed the sand with gentle grace.

Her gaze drifted from his and up to where stars twinkled like scattered diamonds. ‘Can you hear it?’ she asked with a pensive smile.

Jay listened intently, tilting his head towards the sound of the ocean’s lullaby. ‘Yes,’ he replied, his thumb gently caressing the back of her hand.

‘Remember this sound for me, won’t you,’ she said, facing him now. ‘Because whenever you’re away from me, high above the clouds, or in a country far from here, think of this moment.’

‘I promise I will.’ He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. ‘And I’ll remember how my heart feels right now, too,’ he vowed, looking into her eyes with wholehearted sincerity. ‘Full to bursting, all because of you.’