by Sarah Gay
“Mom, are you going on the zipline with me?” Ethan kicked his feet against the coffee table as he lounged back on the couch.
“Of course.”
Ethan crinkled his nose. “You sure you feel okay?”
“Yeah. Why do you ask?”
“You won’t get hurt again, right?”
“That’s so sweet of you, buddy.” Tori’s heart melted when her son talked to her in such a caring way, but she didn’t want him to worry. “Your mom’s tougher than she looks.”
“Oh, good.” He sighed, popping a piece of candy into his mouth.
Tori suddenly felt quite small and unsure of her own abilities. Going on a zipline didn’t take skill, right? They hook you to a line and whoosh, or so she’d heard. How hard could it be? And Zee would be with them. Her internal heat rose by ten degrees. Being next to him with his shirt off had caused the connections between her brain lobes to misfire. Perhaps she could blame her scatterbrained behavior on sleep deprivation. An afternoon siesta sounded fantastic. The fluffy magenta pillows on the bed screamed for attention, while beckoning the weary traveler to rest their head in comfort.
“Mom, I see you looking at your bed, but Zee’s on his way up to get us. Don’t. Even. Think about it.”
Tori shook off her exhaustion as she leaned over to tie her shoelace. “You’re right. And if anyone says to you, Is your mom okay? She seems kind of out of it. You say…”
“I say, Don’t worry about her, she’s just in love.”
“Ethan!” Tori squealed, grabbing him by his belt loops, and twisting him to the ground where she continued to tickle him into submission.
A light knock on the door prevented further torture. “I’ll allow you a moment to contemplate your allegiance, young man,” Tori said in a firm, yet playful, tone.
Tori opened the door to a bright smile and open arms. Annie was impossible not to hug.
“Ready to go?” Annie said, turning to Ethan and pulling him into a hug. “I need to get those photos for my book.”
“I forgot to ask,” Tori said. “What’s your book about?”
“Romance that blossoms in the lush cloud forests of Costa Rica.” Annie winked. “Tarzan meets Jane.”
“Are you writing a spin-off of the juvenile, jungle story?”
“Um, I guess…but with a modern-day hunk and an apprehensive Jane. Enough about that, our Tarzans are waiting for us in the jungle.”
“I can hardly call Zee my Tarzan.”
“But I can call him yours,” Annie said with a sly grin.
Ethan jumped off the couch. “I’m hungry.”
“We think alike.” Annie threw her arms around Ethan. “Let’s grab a bite on our way out.”
“Hey, Mom?” Ethan said, opening the door.
“Yes?”
“Can I call Zee Tarzan?”
Standing in the parking lot of the excursion center, Tori spun in a slow circle, examining her surroundings. The thick flora was a striking balance between low-lying vegetation, crawling out of the muddy earth, to sky-bending trees, covered in spongy moss. Thick, dangling vines hung from the top of the foggy canopy, as if suspended from the clouds themselves. She was in Tarzan country.
Tori’s head began humming. It was the tell-tale sign of a developing migraine. Her lack of sleep and high-stress day were most likely the catalysts for her headache. She scoured through her African purse to find her migraine medication.
Instead of her pills, she came across a bottle of bug spray. She’d forgotten to apply insect repellant on Ethan. There wasn’t much need for repellant in the mountains of Utah, they didn’t get near the same quantity of insects in the arid, cold climate.
“Tell me again why the guys wanted to meet us here,” Tori questioned Annie, pulling bug repellent from her purse and lathering it into Ethan’s legs, “and not at the hotel?”
“They wanted to verify the safety of the equipment.”
“Is it that dangerous?”
“Only if we fall,” Annie responded casually.
Tori grabbed Ethan by the arm. “Maybe sending you soaring above a forested canopy isn’t a good idea.”
“Chill, Mom. I got this.”
I got this, wasn’t reassuring. Tori’s back and neck muscles constricted. She didn’t want to be the overbearing mother who didn’t allow her child to do any activities due to her unreasonable fears. But was this an unreasonable fear? Every time Ethan fell on his bike, or wrecked on the ski hill, Tori’s muscles would twitch and burn, involuntarily echoing his pain.
“Zee!” Ethan yelled, pulling away from his mother’s insect repellant application, causing her to become unbalanced and stumble to the ground.
She’d never been accused of being graceful. She had held her own on the runway, but that took concentration. After Ethan was born, her equilibrium was shot, even disciplined concentration couldn’t get that back.
Zee shot Tori a smile that sent a hot bolt shooting up her back.
“We’re all set,” Zee said, extending his fist to give Ethan bones. “You guys ready to rumble?”
“Do we need our vision?” Tori questioned. “Because I have a sudden headache, turning migraine, that may prevent me from seeing clearly.”
“I understand that those can be brutal. My mom gets those sometimes,” Zee said, leading Tori from the parking lot to a bench under a vine-covered pergola.
Tori sat next to other waiting victims soon to be released onto the high-wire. Guides, dressed in official yellow, filtered out of the excursion building and onto the outdoor patio that resembled an abandoned helipad. The guides began suiting their victims up in harnesses and leading them to a tall platform.
Zee bent down and spoke softly into Tori’s ear. “Can I give you a quick neck rub to release the tension?”
“Migraine medication is the only thing that’s worked in the past, but I’m not averse to trying.” Tori took a seat on the bench next to a soaked, balding man with a sour look on his face. Apparently, he was in the rain during the most recent torrential downpour. “Thank you, Zee.”
Zee placed his warm hands on Tori’s neck and pressed firmly along her shoulders, continuing down her back. “The tension appears to be lodged near the base of your head, on either side of your spine.”
Tori winced at the profound pain shooting through her neck as Zee bore his thumbs into her tight muscles.
“Mom,” Ethan said, plopping himself at Tori’s feet, “you have to try this strawberry shake! It’s so good.”
As he held a straw up to Tori’s lips, Zee’s hands released from her neck.
“Oh!” Zee yelled. “What was that?”
Tori lifted her head, turning to face Zee. Pink foam ran down the back of his white shirt.
“I’m sorry, Zee. I can be so clumsy.” Annie held her hands to her mouth. “I have an extra shirt for Paxton in the car. Let me go and grab it for you, after we get this sticky thing off,” she said, lifting up the tail of Zee’s shirt. “I’ll take care of this.”
Tori held her breath as Zee wiggled out of his shirt and handed it over to Annie.
“I’m so sorry to have interrupted your therapeutic massage.” Annie continued her apologies. “Ethan, could you help me grab the shirt? I may need a little body to climb in the trunk and find it.”
“Sure.” Ethan jumped up and followed behind Annie like her new little puppy.
Tori hadn’t even thought about Rambo’s sweet little black eyes and rough tongue until that moment. She missed her little guy. Gussie graciously offered to dog-sit him for the weekend.
“I’m surprised that Annie and Paxton didn’t bring their dogs for the wedding,” Tori wheezed as Zee’s hands found her tense muscles.
“Pax’s dog doesn’t travel well. He’s getting older.”
“I miss my little Rambo.”
“I’m sorry.” Zee kissed Tori lightly on her shoulder, sending shivers down her arm. “Next time we’ll bring him.”
The aroma of strawberries and cream masked Zee’s norma
l peppery scent. “You smell like strawberries.”
He laughed. “That’s batido, a fresh fruit shake with milk.”
“Smells yummy.”
“I’ve always wanted to smell yummy. I’m usually accused of having a musky, peppery scent.”
“I’d take either,” Tori said, noticing her vision had improved dramatically. “You’re amazing! My vision is clearing, and the tension’s releasing.”
“Yummy and amazing?” Zee stepped in front of her.
She was again faced with his perfect, shirtless form. She swallowed back the drool as he pulled her to her feet.
“I hope you’re in this for the long haul.” He brushed the side of her face with his strong fingers. “Because I refuse to give up on a kind, intelligent, beautiful woman, who’s beguiled enough to believe me to be yummy and amazing.”
Tori now understood the level of loyalty she could expect from Zee. His devotion to her was endearing. She wanted to be honest with him. She wanted to express her desire to be with him, but stopped herself. Could she be as devoted to him as he was to her? Her devotion lingered in the air, as if clinging to no one.
She threaded her fingers through his. “These first adventures with you have been nothing short of wondrous.”
“I was thinking the same…” he leaned in slowly, “exact…” he brushed her lips with his, “…thing.”
All stimuli, external to her and Zee, disappeared. Tori’s five senses were happily occupied by one person, one very beguiling person.
19
The skies geared up to do some more soaking. As Zee adjusted his harness, it reminded him of his St. George climb. He hadn’t planned on doing anything quite so reckless, but he did find himself in another state of physical frustration.
Now that Zee knew Tori returned his affection, his desire for her intensified. How could he speed their courtship along? All he knew was that he needed to get physical with someone, or somehow.
“Pax, what’s the hold up?” he questioned. “I need to get some energy out.”
“You need to?” Pax wiped the sweat from his forehead. “I’m getting married tomorrow. I’ve got the stress of making all the guests happy, etc., etc.”
“What’s the etc.?” Zee laughed.
“You try being engaged for six months.”
“Believe me, I’m gonna try to get engaged, but I’m gonna try for a week-long engagement.”
“Who’s trying for a week-long engagement?” Annie trilled.
“Sh!” Zee waved his hands. “Where did you come from?”
Annie smiled deviously. “Here and there and everywhere.”
“Okay, Dr. Seuss, but this is where the conversation ends.” Zee pointed his finger at her. “And I saw you clicking away on your camera over there while you were looking for a shirt. Don’t…just don’t.”
“Zee, please, please, please.” She snuggled up to him, while batting those adorable, kid-sister eyes. “I only ask that you look at what I’ve captured. It would hit New York Times Bestseller’s list based solely on the cover. You guys got it!”
Ethan pulled at Zee’s shorts. “We got what?”
“We gotta get going on some wicked zip lines.” Zee patted Ethan on his head. “You’re gonna love this, fellow thrill seeker.”
Ethan was the coolest kid. Zee finally had a kid-buddy to hang with.
Ethan grabbed Zee’s shirt. “You’re going to be with me the whole time, right Zee?”
“Of course,” Zee nodded, “and your mom will too.”
“And…you’ll watch out for her?”
“You guys won’t leave my sight for a minute,” Zee promised.
“Adelante!” An energetic guide stomped into the outdoor waiting area. “Come with me to travel like Tarzan through our beautiful selva.”
Annie and Tori exchanged a look. Zee wasn’t sure what they telepathically said, but it caused Tori’s cheeks to blush; a reaction that generated increased blood flow in Zee.
“Who’s first?” the guide yelled. “Primero?”
Zee raised his hands, “Mi…primero.” He turned to Ethan, “That way, I can watch you come to me on the line. Okay? I’ll be watching you the entire time.” He wasn’t going to share with Ethan his other reason for going first.
Pax grabbed Zee by the harness and did a final check by yanking and pulling. “You’re good.”
“Superman, right?” the guide questioned.
“Superman?” Zee responded. “I thought you said Tarzan?”
“Tarzan swing is at the end. Superman, you go flying like Superman.”
“Sure.” Who wouldn’t want to be Superman?
The guide hooked the cords to the back of Zee’s harness and motioned for him to jump off the plank. Zee looked across the deep valley he was about to cross.
“One and a half kilometers to the other side,” the guide said, tipping his protective cap. “Jump.”
Zee had to trust his cousin’s equipment review. Here he was, trusting his life to Pax again, but so were Tori and Ethan. They were also entrusting Zee with their lives. Something about that notion made Zee jump into the air and shout, “Yes!”
Perhaps he should have jumped with his arms stretched forward and his belly down, as Superman would have done; instead of jumping up and out. He came to that conclusion as his back snapped up, forcing his arms and legs to flair until he regained control of his limbs and proceeded in a Superman position. It would’ve been less embarrassing, and less physically painful, if he’d done it that way.
To see in front of him, Zee had to squint his eyes mid-way through his rapid ride. The misty clouds offered an unwelcomed, yet refreshing bath. It was early in the expedition to be soaked, but Zee never did mind the rain. When he was a young boy, he would go outside and play during every rainstorm, to the point where the neighbors began addressing it with his mother. But I need to find worms to fish with Pax, he’d said, with the anticipation of playing longer in the rain.
Zee hoped his life wasn’t flashing before his eyes. He looked down at the wild, primeval forest, unblemished my man. He felt a sense of absolute freedom. Well, if he slipped out of his harness and died, at least it would be doing something exhilarating, and with people he loved. He loved them. He was hundreds of feet above a forested floor, soaring like Superman, and he shouted, “I love them!” Because he could shout it and not be heard by anyone but a Howler monkey, or perhaps a sloth.
Now it was a matter of becoming a family.
Zee began slowing himself down as he approached the next landing platform. A guide was ready with outstretched arms to pull him in and set him up right.
“Like it?” the guide questioned.
“Love is the only word I got.” Zee nodded.
The guide spoke into a handheld radio. “Listo.”
The line began vibrating once more. It took a minute for Ethan to come billowing through the clouds with two thumbs up. “Catch me, Zee!” he yelled.
The guide contorted his face. “He’s not slowing down. And I’ve slowed him as much as I can.”
“No worries.” Zee pushed the guide aside and braced himself for the hit. “I got him.”
Ethan plowed into Zee’s chest, head first, expelling all air from Zee’s lungs. It was a more painful hit than his worst wipeout, and it placed him on his back, a foot from the edge of the platform.
“That was awesome!” Ethan exclaimed.
As Zee laid on his back with his arms stretched taught above his head, he sucked in as much air as his lungs would allow.
“You okay, Zee?” Ethan kneeled next to him on the platform.
“Give me a sec,” he said, sucking in another deep breath. “Wind…knocked out, but I’ll be fine. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you got a wimpy skull.”
Ethan bowed his head. “Sorry, Zee.”
“No problem.” Zee sat up. “I love you, kid. And I’ll always catch you. Promise.”
Ethan put his face into Zee’s chest and sniffed in what could only b
e explained as mucinous love. Zee was finally getting his dream.
“Now, let’s see if your mom’s on her way so I can be ready to catch her too. Better yet, maybe I’ll be able to catch a kiss.”
Ethan smiled as he shook his head. At least he didn’t roll his eyes.
20
Tori wrung her hands as Ethan disappeared into the clouds again. After Ethan’s last speed-landing, the guides had re-instructed him on how to slow himself down. Did all moms feel this much concern for their kids? She would do more than cross the Great Divide for him. Seeing her son happy was all that mattered. He wasn’t merely happy today, he was ecstatic. Was it Zee, or the zipline, that made him so cheery?
“Listo?” asked the guide. “You ready?”
She nodded. If they’d permitted her to, she would’ve taken off the moment Ethan jumped. Letting him go anywhere without her was a challenge. Watching him hang above a canopy of trees was death by anxiety.
The guide gave her a gentle push, and she was off. For the current stretch of line, she sat upright. The Superman position was well beyond her comfort level; sitting upright was much more acceptable.
Tori held tight to the cord connecting her harness to the stationary line. Her sunglasses prevented the strong wind from penetrating through to her eyes. They also filtered out the sun’s harshest rays, leaving Tori with a clear view. The sun barely broke through the dense fog. Thankfully, her glasses wonderfully warmed the meager light, brightening her stunning surroundings.
As she increased in speed, during the slight decent, Tori’s stomach fluttered uncontrollably. She was ten again, sliding down a steep waterslide at the amusement park. Ethan waited for her on the next platform with a wide grin on his face.
“Way to go, Mom!”
She wobbled a few steps after being disconnected. “Thanks, bud.”
“Now comes the best part,” he said, jumping up.
“Longer line?”
“No, a Tarzan swing. We’re gonna drop a hundred and fifty feet.” He pointed his finger to the sky. “Zee says that’s like free falling from a fifteen-story skyscraper before you start swinging back and forth.” Ethan swung his arm up and back down across his body.