Page 55 of My Heart Still Beats
“Good enough, Ben.” Marcus grins and then raises his voice. “All right, folks, welcome to Dunn’s River Falls! I’m Marcus, your guide for today. Remember, stay close, and we’ll make it to the top safely.”
“Safely?” I whisper to Ben.
“Tessa, this is perfectly safe.”
I don’t reply.
“Wow,” Skye says on a breath, a waterproof camera around her neck. “The pictures online don’t do this place justice.”
“The photos you take will,” Braden says, taking her hand.
They’re so in love, it’s disgusting.
Except it’s not. It’s sweet, actually. Their impending wedding is one of the most anticipated events on social media. Skye is keeping a lot of it private, but she makes her followers happy by posting once a day about something. Today I have a hunch it will be Dunn’s River Falls. She won’t post about the party tonight. If I know my best friend, she’ll consider that too private.
We walk to the falls. The whoosh of the water is oddly soothing. Chains of climbers holding hands move upward on the limestone rock, but I try to imagine the falls without the people. Just the natural beauty. The water glistens in the sunlight as it rushes over the rocks. The falls are surrounded by vibrant greenery that contrasts strikingly with the white limestone and the turquoise pools of water.
For a moment, I wish only Ben and I were here to experience this together.
Marcus shouts to be heard over the thundering falls. “Okay, everyone. We’re going to wade in now. Make sure anything that can be damaged by water is secure because, folks, we’re going to get wet! Anyone who wants to take my hand and form a chain, please do. Otherwise, be careful.”
Ben grabs my hand.
I jerk slightly, but I don’t pull away. I’m pretty athletic from running and yoga, and I’m sure I can make this climb alone, but Ben’s hand… It feels good in mine. We don’t join the human chain. Neither do Skye and Braden, but Betsy, Kathy, and most of the others do.
The cool water laps around my ankles, and it’s refreshing in the hot sun under the blue sky.
“The rocks beneath you are naturally formed by the water,” Marcus yells. “This is a unique hiking experience that you’ll never forget!”
Betsy laughs. “The water’s chilly, but it feels great!”
“Totally,” Kathy agrees.
She’s holding Marcus’s hand and engaging him. Such a flirt. Betsy’s next to Kathy, holding her hand.
“Keep going,” Marcus says. “We’re just getting started. Remember to watch your step on the rocks.”
The water level increases as we go, and soon I’m up to my knees. It’s cold, but it feels good. Invigorating, even.
“I think I know why you wanted me to do this,” I say to Ben, my hand still in his.
“Oh?” He lifts his eyebrows.
“The cold. The water. It’s…exhilarating. I mean…you just can’t feel bad when you’re among such beauty…and coldness.”
“It takes you over,” he says.
“Yeah, it does. In a good way.”
“Wait until you see what I’ve got planned for you tomorrow.” His eyes twinkle.
“Climbing Mount Everest?”
He laughs. “Did Tessa Logan just make a joke?”
Did I? The old Tessa made jokes all the time. This Tessa? It may be her first time.
“This is incredible!” Skye says from in front of me. “Can you believe how the water carved these steps from rocks?” She stops and takes a few photos.
