Finding Home

by Sarah Collins

  Dylan smiles. Maybe this could work if she stays around long enough. Just maybe…

  She pulls out her phone to check her bank account while Naomi downs the rest of her coffee. There seems to be enough money to stay in Idaho at least another month before having to find a job to fund her next adventure. Maybe, if things keep going well between them, she can stay and find a job here for a while. She’s never shaped her travel plans around anyone before, but it’s starting to feel like Naomi isn’t just an anyone anymore. She’s beginning to feel like the one.

  Dylan’s eyes involuntarily widen at the thought. She’s never felt like this about someone. God, she hopes it turns out well. She doesn’t want to crash and burn. Not yet, not so soon after Davie and the blow-up with her family. Her heart just can’t handle another letdown like that again. Especially not now; not with Naomi. It’ll crush her like nothing ever has before.

  Chapter 5

  They spend the next few days apart, only sending texts back and forth non-stop until Dylan decides it’s time to meet up again. Naomi jumps head first into the idea and suggests they go camping in the heart of an Idahoan forest. A purposeful overnight—not one caused by an accidental sexcapade. Dylan knows this trip is a lot, very soon. But their budding relationship feels like a whirlwind she can’t seem to pull herself from. And besides that, she’s really fucking excited to show Naomi what coexisting with the wilderness is all about.

  She decided to let Naomi try driving the van since she claims to want her own eventually. She’s beginning to think that may have been a mistake. The white VW bus lurches slowly up a steep road towards their middle-Idahoan adventure. Naomi’s arms are ramrod straight, locked tightly in place against the steering wheel.

  “Relax,” Dylan laughs. “It won’t hurt you.”

  “But I don’t want to hurt it,” Naomi quips. They jerk forward when she hits the breaks just a little too hard. “Sorry.”

  Dylan places her hand on Naomi’s tan thigh. Her shorts have ridden up enough to show most of her leg. She uses her thumb to stroke the skin there softly. “Seriously, it’s okay. This buddy has been through a lot worse. Loosen up.”

  “Okay.” Naomi blows a deep breath of air through her lips. She shakes her arms to relax them and makes a show of popping her neck. “Okay. Maybe that’ll help.”

  “You’re so cute.” Dylan’s eyes go round. She feels a little more than embarrassed. Is it even okay to randomly say stuff like that yet?

  Naomi grins, obviously pleased. “You’re pretty cute yourself.”

  Dylan smiles back. Crisis averted.

  Naomi focuses on the winding road, but dares flicking her eyes Dylan’s way. “Have you ever thought about naming her?”

  Dylan scrunches her brow. “Who?”

  “The van,” Naomi answers. “Have you ever thought about naming her?”

  “I tried a few things, but nothing seemed to fit.”

  “What kind of names were they?”

  “Dallas,” Dylan starts ticking off the names on her fingers, “Denver, Montana, and Cali. None of them stuck.”

  “All places you’ve been?”

  “Some of my favorites actually.” She braces herself as they hit a bump in the road. “Where’s you’re favorite place to go? I don’t think we’ve ever talked about it.”

  “Hmmm,” Naomi hums. “I haven’t been to very many places outside of Idaho actually.”

  “Really?”

  “My family never really had money for vacation growing up, so we would go on day trips close to home if my dad ever got a day off.”

  Dylan didn’t know that. She knew Naomi’s mother stayed at home and her father worked in auto-repair, but she had no idea they struggled growing up. She may have only had a single parent raising her, but Dylan never hurt for money as a child. Even now, if she called home begging for money, her mother would be more than quick to offer.

  They continue slowly chugging down the road as they cross deeper into the heart of Idaho. “Well what’s your favorite place in Idaho then?”

  Naomi thinks about it for a moment before answering. “My family took me to a park right outside Boise for my eighth birthday. We invited all my friends, my whole family…Sounds great right?” Dylan nods. “Well it was a total washout. It rained so hard that the power went out in most of the city. I remember feeling so crushed standing there under the pavilion watching the slides fill up with rain.”

  “I’m sorry,” Dylan answers softly.

  Naomi waves it off. “No, no. The park wasn’t even my favorite part. It’s what happened afterward.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, we obviously couldn’t stay at the park, right? It flooded. So they loaded us all up and took us across town to McDonald’s.” She laughs to herself. “It sounds completely ridiculous, but I swear to god it was the best birthday I’ve ever had. My dad saved up enough to buy me my first bike that year. When the manager saw how bummed I was that I couldn’t ride it outside, he moved every single table out of the way and let me ride my new bike around the restaurant.” She takes an elated sigh. “I’ll never forget how that made me feel.”

  Dylan basks in the way Naomi’s story makes her own self feel. It’s pure—goodness made from a place that had none. No, it’s not really a vacation spot, but it is a place in Naomi’s past that very real to her. Dylan never struggled monetarily growing up; she’s very thankful for that. But she wonders just how different she would be if her childhood was like Naomi’s. Would it have been as easy to walk away from a steady job and consistent paychecks? Probably not. So she gets it; she understands why Naomi hasn’t followed her dreams yet. How could she give all that stability away when she rarely had it growing up?

  Besides feeling a little spoiled, Dylan also feels grateful. For her past, her present, and hopefully her future. She’s grateful to have met such a wonderful woman and to learn and grow from their time together. And she also hopes she gets to continue spending time with her for as long as possible.

  They crack the windows so the temperate spring breeze freshens the stale air inside the van dwelling. As they get closer and closer to their destination, tall Ponderosa trees dot the landscape. Not nearly as tall as the sequoia trees Dylan spent weeks marveling at in California, but mesmerizing in their own right. The curving road winds in and out of rolling hills and fresh greenery. Dylan has never been the passenger on any of her travels. It’s amazing to watch the crystal blue water, bright sky, and breathtaking flowers and trees pass by the window. It would be nice to have someone to share the burden with her all the time.

  Too bad this is only for the day. Too bad she’s already planning her next trip.

  But that thought can wait. She points at a tall, blue sign coming up on the side of the road. “Look—Sawtooth National Forest. Two miles ahead on the right.”

  Naomi practically bounces in her seat. “I am so excited. I’ve never been camping before.”

  Dylan smiles to herself. Out of her thousands of solo adventures, this will be one for the books.

  As soon as they find an acceptable parking spot, tucked away amongst tall trees and pebbled ground, Naomi wanders off towards the water with her camera while Dylan sets up camp.

  Dylan readjusts the solar panels on top of the van for maximum energy capture, and then she starts pulling out equipment to build a small bonfire far enough away from the surrounding vegetation. They want to stay warm and cook with it, not unintentionally set a huge wildfire.

  She places a pot of water on the fire to boil. Though spring, it’s still chilly enough outside to make a nice, warm hobo stew for dinner later. Like clockwork, she pulls out the small eating table miraculously big enough for two, then the tall camping chairs, and then she pulls out some of the battery-powered lights to set up around their makeshift camp. She leaves the side door on the van open to access anything they need more easily, but drops down the netting in order to keep any and all insects from creeping inside.

  They stocked
up on some fresh goods and dry staples before leaving Twin Falls. Dylan chops up some celery, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and adds them to a bowl of cubed chuck tenderloin and baby potatoes. With a dash of salt and seasoning, it smells and looks good enough to go in the pot of water.

  “I got some great shots,” Naomi says, walking up to the camp a few minutes later. “I can’t believe I’ve never been here before. It’s amazing, especially by the water.”

  “Let me see,” she answers, reaching for the fancy camera.

  Naomi looks around their camp. “Whoa—you did all this while I was gone?”

  “It’s easy. I’ll show you how later,” Dylan brushes off. She flips through the photos, marveling at how Naomi seemed to capture the images in a way even better than real life. “Wow…these are amazing.”

  “Thank the landscape,” Naomi quips.

  “No, seriously,” Dylan starts, handing back the camera. “You have a talent here. Have you ever thought about travel photography?”

  “What, like traveling around just to take pictures?”

  “No. I mean, sort of. I have a few friends who do it,” she says. “They travel everywhere, take awesome pictures, and then sell them online. Sometimes they even just post it on their own blog and make money that way. You should definitely look into it.”

  Doubt crosses Naomi’s round face. “I dunno…seems too good to be true.”

  “Well you’re too good to be true,” she quips, “and here we are.”

  “Hush.” Naomi’s tan skin turns blush. She leans over and plants the most graceful kiss upon Dylan’s cheek. “Thank you.”

  “You deserve it.” Dylan stokes the fire one last time for good measure. “That should do for a while. What do you feel like doing now?”

  “I’m new at this, remember? You tell me.”

  Dylan counts things off on her fingers. “Well, we could go hiking, which is great for photography. Go search for some cool rocks to keep. Drink some beer and play some games,” she laughs, “Or go down by the water and see if we can catch anything.”

  “Like fishing?”

  “Yeah, like fishing. Have you ever been?”

  “Not in a long time,” Naomi answers. “But how about a few beers while we get settled in? Then we can go explore the area. I’d love to have an actual person in my nature shots for once.”

  “My van pic doesn’t count?”

  “It does,” Naomi says, grinning. “But my subject was so beautiful, that I can’t resist the chance to photograph her some more.”

  “Oh please,” Dylan laughs. “Bottle or can?”

  “Bottle please.” Naomi settles in one of the camping chairs by the fire. It’s past noon, but not too hot to enjoy the emitted heat. “Thank you,” she says, reaching for the offered bottle.

  Dylan sits beside her, opening the tab on a canned beer. While the first park they went to together was breathtaking, this somehow manages to be even more so. There are a few mountains jutting up in the background with peaks tall enough for a light covering of snow. The grass shines brilliantly green, a green she’s rarely seen in her travels, and it contrasts perfectly with the crystal water. And by crystal, she means crystal—it’s so clear it can neither be categorized as blue nor green. So crystal clear she can easily count the rocks and pebbles comprising the bottom up to ten yards away. The spring weather means they can go sit in it without freezing to death, but also have an excuse to run back to the van and cuddle. Hopefully that makes the list of things to do today.

  “Where’s the best place you’ve ever been,” Naomi asks, breaking the easy silence. “We talked about mine, but what’s yours?”

  “That’s a tough one,” she answers. “I’ve been to 45 states, most big cities, and a few places in Mexico and Canada. So I can’t narrow it to one place, but maybe a couple if you’re ready to sit here a while.”

  “Tell me everything. I love to hear about the things I’ll hopefully get to see one day.”

  “Let’s see… New Orleans was great,” Dylan starts. “I went during Mardi Gras. People throw beads and booze from balconies and all you have to do is stand there with your arms up. I caught so many cool things that trip. Not to mention the voodoo and history and architecture. Talk about wow—you can practically feel New Orleans surrounding you like a hug from the second you arrive. The people were eclectic too. And surprisingly kind.”

  A smile overtakes Naomi’s face. She sips her beer. “That sounds amazing. Where else?”

  “There’s a desert in Nevada that holds a special place in my heart. It’s more sentimental than anything. My other van friends and I meet up there every few months to talk shit and reconnect. There isn’t anything but dirt and cacti everywhere, but it means we don’t get distracted from what we are really there to do.”

  “Are they friends from college?”

  “Some,” Dylan nods, sipping her beer. “Others I’ve met on the road. We all have our own vans or RVs though. That seems to be the only prerequisite for joining our shenanigans. We build a huge bonfire, drink some beer, maybe pass around a joint and talk about the afterlife.” Dylan laughs. “It’s a good time. Even though we have comfortable places to sleep, we usually throw up some tents so we don’t have to break the mood every night. Six people in a two person tent usually provides enough memories to last until the next time.”

  “You are amazing,” Naomi says. Her eyes meet Dylan’s blue ones. “Stepping off the expected trail of life isn’t easy, but you did it anyway. And having the time of your life while you’re at it. Simply amazing.”

  Dylan smiles. If she keeps getting these compliments, she may just fall in love. Tilting her beer back, she finishes it easily. “I keep telling ya to join me.”

  “One day, “Naomi answers demurely. “You’ll see me out in Nevada soon enough.”

  They climb through the foliage, over rocks, under trees, and across rolling landscape as the day wears on. Dylan readjusts her backpack carrying the essentials while Naomi snaps a few photographs of a hot spring. They stumbled upon it unwittingly, but it dots the grass like an oasis in the otherwise dry landscape. Unlike the water they parked next to, here it looks deeply azure like the reflected sky.

  The sun won’t set for another hour at least, so Dylan shrugs off her backpack and sets it on a dry rock off the ground. “Want to get in?”

  “In there?” Surprise mars Naomi’s face. “Is it safe?”

  “We’ll see I guess.” Dylan yanks off her shirt, revealing her bare breasts to the open air.

  “Dylan,” Naomi says, surprisingly un-brash. “You’re getting naked? Out here?”

  “Do you see anyone?” Dylan opens her arms and looks around broadly. “Because I don’t.”

  She continues, stepping out of her shorts, underwear, and yanking off her socks. Once bare, she takes a few steps to the water’s edge. The air feels a little chilly now that it’s near-dusk, but the water feels delightfully warm.

  Dylan looks over her shoulder. “Coming?”

  Naomi bites at her lip. She debates internally for only a moment before shedding her own top. Her nipples welcome the cold air, seeming straining for its touch. She places her camera in the backpack before shirking her shorts, though she leaves on her underwear out of strange-hot-spring-bacteria fear.

  Dylan wades further in, allowing the warm water to overtake her legs, then thighs before deciding to sit down. Once settled, her head remains the only thing to peek out from the spring. The warmth feels wonderful on her aching muscles. She leans back against the edge, adding a pressure-like massage to her back.

  Naomi tentatively steps in the spring, though errs on the side of caution and sits on the shallower end. Her collarbones are still visible once she settles, but breasts fully covered.

  “Well?” Dylan finally says. “What do you think?”

  “I’m still a little creeped out,” Naomi admits. “But it does feel good. Beautiful out here too.”

  “Don’t be creeped out.” She moves fluidly to Na
omi’s side. Her hands fill up with the curve of Naomi’s hip. “I’ve gone in hot springs hundreds of times. Nothing bad has happened to me yet.”

  “There’s a first time for everything.”

  “Touche,” Dylan chuckles. “And here I was thinking you were an exploring girl. How am I supposed to take you on adventures if you’re scared?”

  “I’m not scared,” Naomi retorts. “Just cautious. Caution never killed anyone; being reckless certainly has.”

  “You think this is reckless?”

  Naomi leans closer. Their sides touch, breaths mingle. “I think the way you make me feel is reckless.”

  Dylan swallows thickly. This is a lot more real if Naomi has started to feel the same way about her too. She dares to ask, “How do I make you feel?”

  “Like I’m freefalling.” Naomi presses their lips together, letting her admission hang in the air around them. She tastes light, like all the things Dylan wants to keep for the rest of her life. Naomi pulls back slowly. “And you’re the only thing that can catch me.”

  Dylan swallows thickly. Fuck, fuck, fuck. She’s in over her head here. This wasn’t supposed to happen, in Idaho no less, but here they are. Swapping breaths, stories, and soft touches. Why did she have to meet the woman of her dreams here? Now? There’s so much she still wants to do and see. But Naomi isn’t ready yet, and Dylan can’t wait here until she is. Fuck.

  Before she can think herself sick, Naomi pulls her close enough for a lip-searing kiss and she loses her train of thought. They stay in the water, kissing and holding hands, until their skin becomes pruned and the sun begins its descent. Dylan steps out first and extends a hand for Naomi.

  “Shit,” Naomi says once she’s out in the open. “I forgot I wore my underwear.”

  Dylan holds out her dry briefs.“Want mine?”

  She grimaces. “I really like you, Dyl, but not enough to share your dirty undies.”

  “They aren’t dirty,” Dylan defends, still halfway joking. “I just put them on before we hiked out here!”