The Sequoias

Chapter 10

"Yep. Lead the way." I brushed my butt off after he got me to my feet.

I helped Lizzie up from the ground and hoped that it was just nerves and not something serious that caused her to just fall like that. "Just follow the trail there. I'll be right beside you. Go where you wish. I'll follow. There are signs that will tell you all about the trees."

He seemed very worried. I tried to assure him that I was fine. I followed his directions and wandered the trail. I took pictures and read all the signs. The trees were beautiful and had been here forever. I was in awe of everything. We didn't talk much, but we didn't need to. I was starting to get where his peace came from.

I just smiled and walked along with her as I soaked in the feel of the wood. We were surrounded by a lot of people but I felt like we were a million miles away from them. I was in heaven.

The air was warm. There were lots of people around, but there was plenty to see. I finished my bottle of water and needed more. I wondered if there were any secret trails that Avi knew about. I forgot about all of those things as I continued to wander. I really hoped we didn't get recognized, but today Avi was not easily recognizable with his hair pulled up and sunglasses on.

She was lost doing all the touristy things that tourists or people who are seeing these trees for the first time in their lives. I was content to just wander around with her and follow where she went taking pictures of her and the trees here and there. I haphazardly led her to a few specific trees to explore. They had holes in them large enough for a person to walk into. I took lots of pictures of Lizzie wandering and in the trees. "Are you ready for lunch little lady?"

I jumped. His voice startled me. I nodded. "I am quite hungry and very thirsty." I held up my empty water bottle.

I took her bottle and put it in the pack and gave her mine. I was used to being outside and out and about these trees were my home. "Then let's find a bench and sit and eat."

I smiled and let him lead the way to a place to sit and eat. I took a sip of water as we walked. "Is this all the water we have? Is there a bathroom?"

"Yes. Do you want to go there first? There will be a fountain to refill your water bottle from so drink up."

"Yes please." I nodded. I had completely lost track of any of my needs as I explored the trees.

I shook my head and wondered what I was like the first few time my parents brought me up here. Was I that lost? Probably not. I was just a tiny boy. Those trees would have been absolutely overwhelming to me though, but a lot of the concepts would have been lost on me. They were until I was old enough to understand 3 thousand years. I chuckled to myself as I walked along beside her. I could feel the weight of the trees the forest itself calling to me. It felt wonderful and amazing. I shook my head just wondering.

"Are you having a good time?" He had been very quiet and I hoped this trip was going as he had planned.

I smiled and laughed. "Absolutely. You?"

I nodded. "They're just so big. It's so pretty here. I didn't know what to expect. Is this how you wanted the trip to go?"

"I just wanted to be with you."

I smiled. "Are there any special places you can show me?"

"Some of the named trees this time around. I can take you on a more personal tour later. Here's the bathroom. I'll refill your bottle then give you the pack so I can go."

I went and took care of business and then held our things while he went. I stretched while I waited for him.

"Okay. Now, I am hungry. Let's find a place to eat." I looked around and spied some benches and an open field designed just for what I was hoping for. I smiled, pointed, and headed that way.

I followed him and got comfortable. He kept looking at me like he wanted to ask me a question. "I'm sorry that I am so quiet. The beauty is quite overwhelming out here. I can see why you come up here to write and recharge."

"Yeah. It is. What do you think?"

"I think I want to live here." I laughed. "But seriously, I am surprised you haven't brought me here before."

"Really? We haven't been dating all that long? Why are you surprised?"

"It's your favorite place. If we get to my hometown together, I know exactly where I want to take you."

"It is. It's one of them." I looked at her and smiled. "We'll go one day. I can't imagine not going. There's a lot of places I want to take you to. I've got you in one of them now. Sunday evening you'll be in another." I looked up at her as I took a bite of my sandwich and half shrugged. I'm a bit more cautious and kinda slow. I needed to be anyway. It was difficult with Lizzie to go slow. It had been heart first, straight out of the frying pan and into the fire with her from the get-go.

I smiled at him and continued eating. I so badly wanted to take him home and I had never wanted to take anyone home before. We were moving so fast it seemed. I blushed at the thought.

I looked up at her rosy cheeks. "Huh?" The looked up at the sunlight. "Your cheeks are pink. What's that for?"

I smiled. "I was just thinking about taking you home and how fast we have moved."

"Yeah. It's crazy. Scary. You done? We have a tree to go see. They call it the "Birthing Tree. Which if you look at it, well it's very suggestive."

I laughed. "Not too scary. Yeah, I am. I can't wait to see it." I gave him my garbage and got to my feet.