All Areas Accessed - Sequel to Access All Areas

Chapter Twenty Four

Echo Lakes has always been a place of serene refuge away from my fame and my family, but with Clara being here with me, I feel like I am seeing it for the very first time. With new and amazed eyes, I'm really appreciating this place for what it so amazingly is—the still mirror-like water, the marvel of the panoramic mountains, and the refreshing scent of the many wild trees that naturally surround the still and calm lake—I'm soaking it all in, I really am.

After a really long car journey—scenically through some of California, Sierra Nevada and on into El Dorado National Forest—I'm glad that we're finally here. Flying would have made our journey much quicker, but I knew that my girl would love seeing only a fraction of the beauty that The States has to offer.

Cuddling up behind Clara, as she stands so still and so silently in her bubble of mesmerisation, I affectionately nest my chin onto her shoulder. "What do you think?"

Remaining quiet, she says nothing at first. But Clara's content inhalation of Echo Lakes, already informs me that she's fallen in love with this place. At the end of her contented breath, she finally says. "It's absolutely perfect." She doesn't want to say anything more, instead, she wants to absorb all that Echo Lakes has to magnificently offer. So, I give her the time she needs to treasure this place. Giving Clara what she needs, gives me exactly what I need; my girl being held in my arms and feeling like I can finally breathe.

No Maci.

No mom.

No interviews.

No fans.

No fame.

Just us.

Bringing the back of her head against my own content chest, Clara wistfully starts speaking again. "I can see why you come here to unwind, it's absolutely wonderful." She falls quiet again, only to excitedly pipe up. "Is that your boat?"

Feeling her arms cuddle mine that still so affectionately cuddle her, I look out towards my private dock with a smile on my face. "It sure is."

Quickly turning, Clara is soon looking up at me like a delighted little child. "I've never been in a boat. Yours is soooo cute."

Now softly laughing, I hold onto her hips. "Then I shall take you out in my cute boat, lots." Taking her hand, I eagerly want to show Clara around. "Enough about the boat, what do you think of the cabin?"

I'm now looking at it, so Clara does too. "Rhys, it's just so..." her words seem wonderfully lost. Lost amidst her silent awe.

Smiling, I jokingly say. "Cute?" Before pulling her towards it.

From behind me, Clara earnestly then tells me. "It is cute." She is now smirking, following where I lead her with that smirk not leaving her lips anytime soon. Once inside, my girl just can't help herself. "Oh Rhys, it's just so beautiful in here."

Just like before, I feel like I am seeing my cabin for the very first time. They seem to roam, just as Clara's are—enjoying the warm and welcoming open plan design, the cosy knotty pine that's everywhere, the heat from the flickering log fire, all the necessary appliances in the well equipped quaint kitchen and the homely furnishings and furniture—instantly make me feel right at home. "The bedroom and the bathroom are up here." Giving Clara's hand a gentle little squeeze, I want to show her upstairs, because I know it's just as cosy and comfortable. With a focal timber bed, draped in luxurious chenille of rich red, green, brown and tan stripes—the bed is achingly inviting.

Needing to guide Clara away from it, because I'm already conjuring up the carnal ways in which we can soon christen that inviting bed, I am quickly now showing Clara the timber bathroom with its jacuzzi tub and farmhouse sink. "It really is beautiful." She admiringly tells me, blissfully unaware of my very crude thoughts.

But as crude as my thoughts are, I need her close. "It's a whole lot more beautiful with you in it." Is my loving confession, as my arms engulf her tightly. "The driver will bring all of our things inside and then leave us be, what do you want to do once he's gone?"

With her eyes full of a blend of tiredness, contentment and affection, Clara slowly lifts her head to look up at me. "I just want more of this." Then snuggling in deeper against me, she says nothing else.

My crude thoughts quickly get flushed out of my mind, overfilling now with only happiness. I've waited for this moment. I've had to be insufferably patient for this moment. And now this moment is here; having Clara in my arms and breathing calmly against me...I am happy. "That sounds perfect to me." I happily whisper back into my girls hair. Despite all of the dramas and the dilemmas and the craziness that just so happens to be my life, this...really is perfect.