Marcus sat on one of the several benches around the firepit in the middle of the clearing. It was so still here, away from the bustle and noise of the city. They were right on the edge of the national park, and the immenseness of the bush made him feel the same way he did when he stood with his feet in the water at the beach. On the edge of something huge and alive, something thrilling and endlessand indifferent to his presence. He closed his eyes and listened to the scattered chorus of birdsong.
Marcus could hear a magpie croaking melodically above, some parrots chattering, and somewhere in the distance a couple of kookaburras laughing their famous maniacal cackle. His dad had loved that sound. He’d always been tickled by how human and unhinged it was, and any time he’d heard it, he’d laughed in reply—even when there were people around and Marcus and Davo were embarrassed. The laugh rang out again, closer this time, and a wave of grief washed over Marcus, briefly draining the air from his lungs and the strength from his muscles. His dad would never hear that cackle again—and Marcus would never again have the chance to be embarrassed by his dad laughing back.
He heard footsteps approaching and turned to find Heather returning from the restrooms, wiping her hands on her jeans. For a moment, Marcus just watched her, let the sight of her—out in this place with him, because of him—soothe the parts of him that ached.
Marcus worried she might not want to come this weekend. That she might decide it was too risky to keep doing...whatever it was they were doing. He’d been sure she’d say it wasn’t a good idea and was slightly taken aback by the depth of his own relief when she said she wanted to. And he’d never imagined the thrill of victorious satisfaction he’d felt as he watched the realization dawn on her face that she was about to see koalas in the wild and up close. She’d gasped in delight, and she glowed with anticipation, and his heart squeezed at the sight of it. It was better than any curtain call, better than the way she smiled after she came. And he’d made it happen.
Heather caught his eye as she approached, and he noticed the clutch of people following close behind her.
“All right, everyone,” called the man at the front of the group, who had checked them in when they’d arrived. “Make yourselves comfortable on the benches, if you would.” He’d introduced himself as Craig and was dressed in khaki, the centre’s logo embroidered on his chest pocket, and well-worn leather work boots.
Heather sat next to Marcus. Their thighs touched, and he realised with a jolt that this was the first time they’d been able to sit that way in public. He scooted a little closer, and she pressed her leg against his, shooting him a sideways smile. On his other side, a man sat with his two young daughters, dressed in matching outfits, and next to them a tourist couple who Marcus had heard muttering to each other in what sounded like French.
“Welcome to Blue Mountains National Park,” Craig said, giving them a crinkly smile. Under his wide-brimmed hat, he had straggly sun-bleached hair and a deeply tanned face, as though he’d spent most of his life working outside. “We’re here as guests of the traditional owners of this land, the Dharug and Gundungurra people, who have lived here for tens of thousands of years, caring for the land and waters you see around you.”
Craig gave them all a moment to look around the clearing. Marcus took in another deep breath of the air, smelling the gum trees and the hints of old woodsmoke from the firepit behind him.
“Now, there are some ground rules I need to go over before you get settled into your tents and I set you loose in the park,” Craig went on. He gestured to the bush behind him. “This is a fragile wild ecosystem. There are lots of creatures living out here, minding their own business. Most of them are harmless, but a coupla them are deadly when disturbed. We’re visitors in their house. So as long as we’re polite visitors, and we don’t get in their way, there won’t be a problem.”
Next to Marcus, Heather gave a tiny gulp. He reached over and took her hand, squeezing it gently and revelling in the fact that he could. Craig went on.
“That means if you’re walking out in the bush, you need to stay on the track unless you’re with me or one of my colleagues. No littering, no picking any plants or flowers, and absolutely no touching or approaching wildlife, no matter how cute and cuddly. If you’re going to take photos or videos of creatures you see out here, the zoom lens is your friend. If you’re close enough to snapa selfie, you’re too close. If you see something you think might be dangerous, like something that creeps or crawls or slithers along the ground, walk away slowly, don’t make any sudden movements, and come find me and tell me where you saw it. All right? If you can follow those rules, we can all have a good time out here, and I won’t have to suck any poison out of any spider bites.”
“Gross,” the younger girl whispered. “Awesome,” her sister breathed.
Heather gave a little shudder, then turned to Marcus with wide, horrified eyes. “Slithers along the ground? There are snakes out here? Are they harmless like the huntsman?”
“Uh, sure,” he lied. “Let’s go with that.” Her eyes widened even further.
“We’ll be fine, don’t worry. I’m the spider whisperer, remember?” Marcus waggled his eyebrows, and she bumped her shoulder playfully against his.
“You’ve got time for a short bush walk this afternoon, and then dinner’s at 5:30,” Craig continued. “We’ll do a bit of stargazing after dinner, and then it’s early to bed. Koalas are early risers, and we want to catch them first thing in the morning.”
Marcus sensed rather than saw Heather grin with excitement. He turned to her and smiled back, loving that he didn’t have to avert his eyes and pretend he’d barely noticed her, the way he’d had to all week.
“Want to go for a walk?” she asked, looking down a path with uneven ground. “Can you handle this?”
“Yeah, if we take it slowly,” he nodded. “I brought my cane, but I don’t think I’ll need it. Might just have to hold on to you if I’m feeling weak or wobbly.”
“Well, if you must,” Heather sighed, pretending to be put-upon. Then she stood and offered her hand, helping him rise from the bench. They slowly headed toward the visitors’ centre, where a small sign gave them the choice of two tracks, one for a long loop and the other for a short walk to a lookout over the Megalong Valley.They chose the second one, and Marcus held Heather’s hand even though he didn’t need it for balance, even as his fingers grew sweaty against hers.
The air was cool and still around them, the leaves of the gum trees barely moving as they walked in silence down the sun-dappled track, which sloped gently upwards on its way to the lookout. Marcus’s ankle felt strong and steady underneath him, and the rest of his body felt solid and alive in a way it hadn’t felt in months.
Still, they were both sweating slightly by the time they gained the top of the path, and Heather had released his hand to tie her sweater around her waist. Now she was a few paces ahead as the path brought him around the corner to the edge of a cliff, and he stopped and stared at the sight before him. Heather faced the giant sweeping valley, her back to him as she gripped the railing and looked out at the craggy rock formations that poked out of the thick green forest below. Out here away from the tree cover, the breeze played with her hair, fluttering her long ponytail gently as she took in the entire valley.
For the first time since that day in his lobby all those months ago, the day he’d decided to throw himself into his recovery so he could one day dance again, Marcus felt a sense of perfect, unnameable clarity. Heather belonged here, in this sweeping place, in the warm golden sunlight of the fading day. And he belonged with Heather.
Slowly, Marcus joined her, and let his hand rest gently on the railing beside her so she knew he was there. Then he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin against her head, pulling her against him and leaning her shoulders into his chest.
“It’s beautiful out here,” Heather said quietly.
“You have no idea,” Marcus murmured, and she turned to kiss his cheek.
He squeezed her gently around the waist, and they stood there in silence watching the shadows creep and lengthen in the valley. Marcus refused to think about everything he’d lost and could still lose. He wouldn’t think about Heather’s ex, or her loomingdeparture, or the fact that standing this way out in public could get them both fired. In this moment, none of it could touch them. In this moment, he could pretend this never had to end.
Heather lay on her back on the picnic rug Craig had provided and took in the night sky. The air was chilly, but her scarf and wool socks kept out the worst of the cold, and a cup of after-dinner tea, sweet and milky, left her insides thoroughly warmed.
Heather and Marcus had returned from the lookout to find Craig starting a fire in the pit. The little light it threw off and the glow of their small solar lanterns weren’t enough to dim the stars scattered across the dark sky. Now, the night was quiet but for the breeze in the gum trees and the crackling fire. Heather took a deep breath and let her body relax against the packed dirt.
