Unseen Messages(198)

Occasionally, Galloway would stop and buy a bag of seeds and other long life materials. We slowly gathered things we would need: a large propane bottle, a pack of lighters, matches, mosquito nets, large water containers, and items too big and heavy to bring on the plane from Sydney.

We also bought a kettle, fan, and electrical items.

Just because we’d been without for so long didn’t mean I hadn’t appreciated having the convenience back in our apartment.

Coco’s face remained eager and inquisitive as we entered a hardware store with bare shelves and ancient items. This wasn’t a normal depot where regular supplies flew off the shelves. This was the island way of life, where old traditions still trumped new inventions and the need for bright shiny toys didn’t have the same allure as the western world.

Galloway strode up the aisle, collecting a few second-hand tools and several kilos worth of nails. “You have a generator for sale?”

The local man stopped playing a pinball app on his cell-phone, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. “Generator?”

“You know...one that makes power? Preferably retrofitted with solar panels rather than diesel.”

The man puffed smoke. “I think we have one.”

I drifted away, taking Coco outside so her innocent lungs weren’t corrupted by nicotine.

Galloway didn’t take long.

He returned from the store to pass me an armful of shopping bags before disappearing back inside.

Struggling a little under the weight, he hugged an ancient dinged-up generator with a tatty cord. “This will do. At least, we can have light at night if we want it. I’m all for roughing it, but electricity now and again would be nice. Not to mention, it will make using power tools a lot more effective.”

“Always so practical.”

He grinned. “That’s why you married me.”

I leaned over and kissed him. “One of the many reasons.”

.............................

The first glimpse of our island appeared like a mirage.

A hidden utopia belonging entirely to us.

The slap of waves on the boat’s hull compounded my excitement. I would never have believed it if I’d been told I’d return of my own vocation. That I would trade everything I knew and choose a life where I’d struggled and feared but ultimately found so rewarding.

Coco untangled her fingers from mine, dashing to the side of the speedboat. High tide covered the outcropping of the reef, allowing the vessel to glide closer to the beach.

“Swim. Swim!” Coco jumped up and down, doing her best to reach the balustrade.

Galloway picked her up. “In a minute, little girl.”

I moved to his side.

I shook from nerves, homecoming, and the strangest sensation of doing exactly what I was born to do.

Our island.

We’d never seen it from this perspective before.

Never knew how small it was with the ocean lapping on all sides or how picturesque it was with soaring palm trees and gleaming golden sand.

And there...tucked in the shadows of the treeline was our house.

Tears sprang to my eyes as years’ worth of memories unfolded. Small layers at first, followed by sheets and sheets of laughter and tears, triumphants and trials.

We’d endured so much.

But we’d come back.

Galloway took my hand, squeezing tight, as we drifted closer.

“I can’t believe we’re here,” G whispered. “Can’t believe we’re about to go home without Pippa and Conner.”

The stain of sadness weaved with my giddy joy.

“I know. It doesn’t seem right. But Conner’s here. And Pippa will visit...eventually.”

I hope.

I couldn’t look away, drinking in every facet of shadows and sunshine. As pretty as the wilderness was, it wasn’t practical for docking. We had no pier, no ramp or trolley to haul our multiple belongings from the boat.

But we would make do.

We had a bamboo kayak that we’d never used. A life raft to rescue us. It lay where we’d left it, half stockpiled, all alone on the virgin beach. It would finally have a use, ferrying our items to shore while Galloway guided it from the shallows.

The moment the anchor splashed, Coco squirmed. “Home!”

Galloway managed to keep hold of her as she turned ballistic. “Hey, calm down.”

“Swim! Swim!”

He chuckled. “You get into the water first, Stel. I’ll pass her to you.”

I did as he asked, fighting happy tears as my feet kissed the water’s surface then slipped beneath the warm embrace, up my calves, my kneecaps, mid-thigh. I didn’t care about my shorts and t-shirt getting wet. All I noticed were the blissful welcome of my toes sinking into soft, soft sand.

This was my place.

My one true home.

Turning to grab Coco, Galloway bent over the rail and kissed me. The moment our lips touched, I wanted him desperately. I wanted to escape into our bamboo grove and rekindle our island romance. I wanted to say hello and delete the goodbyes that’d happened here.

Conner.

Pippa.

We’d called Pippa the day before we left and told her we were returning. She didn’t sound surprised. If anything, she’d expected such a call.

She’d regaled her adventures of the past few weeks, her room at her grandmothers, her first day back at school. She sounded centred and calm. However, her parting words had destroyed me: “Say hello to my brother for me.”