CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Before we headed out geocaching, Seth recommended I get a full meal in my stomach. He assured me once I had food inside me, I'd feel much better. To make certain I got my fill, he treated me to the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at Paul Bunyan's Cook Shanty, a tourist favorite ever since John Candy downed the Old 96’er in The Great Outdoors. I ate my share, eating three pancakes, a serving of scrambled eggs, two pieces of toast, bacon and a cup of chocolate milk. By the end of the meal, my body was re-energized, and I could think straight without a knife slashing through my brain.
“So where is this cache? Is it in the Dells?” I adjusted myself on the hard bench beneath my butt. While the restaurant did a great job of living up to its name, the seating left my ass feeling as though I just crashed onto concrete falling from roller skates.
“Nope.” Seth spoke through chewing. “On our way back.” He stabbed his fork into his pancakes, swirling them around in syrup.
“I did some geocaching of my own when I got back from my brother’s.”
“Really? You’re a veteran now, huh?” He winked at me.
“Hardly.” I touched my knife still sitting on the napkin, moving the handle back and forth between my fingers. “I actually placed one.”
The chewing stopped and Seth looked at me. “You? Where? What?”
The nerves about telling him left me. I rubbed my hands together as I let out a slightly evil laugh. “Ah, the tables are turned now. See? It piques curiosity.”
“Well, I’m showing you now. So, you can show me.”
I reached my foot under the table and touched his shoe, raising my foot up the side of his leg. “Oh, is this a case of I’ll show you mine if you show me yours?” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. Good. He liked what I was doing. Maybe, if luck leaned my way, more than my foot would be touching him later.
Pushing his plate away, he ignored my question, and I caught him blushing. "Do you want to explore the Dells before we go? Take in some attractions or anything?”
We planned on coming back after our geocaching trip since I paid for the hotel room the entire weekend. If things went my way, though, we wouldn’t leave the room until check out time. Anxiousness overcame me and I wanted to get going, but wanted to enjoy some time doing couple things. Not that geocaching didn’t qualify as a couple thing to do, but this trip revolved around another purpose besides fun. While here, still, and the crowds not too big, we might as well take advantage of it. “Let's take a Ducks tour." I had never been on the tour before, and the Dells were known for their trucks made from tankers from World War II, which easily coasted from land to water, and vice versa.
“Quack, quack,” Seth joked as he reached across the table to grab my hand and plant a kiss on it.
I adored this man.
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The early birds we were that morning, we got onto the first tour of the day. However, even for the first Duck out, the locomotive didn’t have an empty seat. The tour swung us all over the Dells, explaining the city's unique history and myths. The most interesting part showed us where a road collapsed and Lake Delton emptied in 2008, homes collapsing and washing away. Such devastation. The experience included its somber moments (and wet ones as we switched from land to water), our guide was hilarious and kept everyone awake with her jabs. Seth and I sat next to each other, and I often leaned over him to get a better look at things.
After the tour, we wandered around some of the shops, holding hands, as though nothing had changed. We visited an art gallery, browsed homemade jewelry shops, and stopped at a t-shirt store with over the top sayings and not always appropriate pictures on them. The whole morning and into the early afternoon everything seemed perfect - just us, as a couple. The time together reminded me of before things went awry between us, and I wished that back.
By two, Seth thought we should head out to find the cache, and after we could stop for dinner before going back to the hotel. The entire ride, my leg bounced up and down, nervous of things to come. I was thankful we talked the whole time, barely stopping to rest our voices. The importance of this cache to him, though, didn’t leave my mind. It was a huge part of his life. Did our relationship hinge on my reaction? If I didn’t react in a way he deemed acceptable, would that crush us and ruin any chance we had? I couldn’t think about it. Ally Couper took on challenges and this is exactly what it was. I was ready.
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"Obviously I know exactly where the cache is," Seth started as he swung his backpack on. "So, I want you to find it."
Enough suspense. If he couldn't just tell me, why couldn’t he at least lead me right there, point it out, and I could open it? This way the whole thing would go faster and we’d be headed back to the hotel, knowing everything we needed to about each other’s lives. "Fine. Why the backpack? Is it hidden deep in the woods and you need items for survival in case I get us lost?"
He locked his car door and placed his keys in the pouch of the backpack. We found parking on a side street, but had to fill a meter. "Funny." He plugged a few coins in. "It's not in the woods. I do have some snacks in here, though, and some other things. I rarely go geocaching without my backpack. You never know what you'll need."
My mind wandered to us making love in the woods, sprawled out on a blanket, grass in our hair as we rolled around. I had to admit a romp in the grass crossed my mind more than a couple times with Josh (he was too chicken to do anything in public) and Harry Styles (yeah, like that would ever happen). The thought of Seth and I doing it under the bright blue sky, the sun beating down on our bare skin, sent tingles through my entire body.
The crowded street filled with people reminded me much of the previous night when I searched the block for a bar. People from all walks of life shuffled past us, pointing in the store windows, arguing over which restaurant to try, or their faces glued to their phone screens, narrowly missing Seth and me as they tore down the sidewalk. We were in a small town outside of Madison; I hadn’t even caught the name as we drove in.
I didn't have even a guess as to where we were headed as I hadn’t even taken my cell out yet. He still didn’t give me the name of the cache, or his geocaching name, but I assumed we were somewhat close. We continued down the road, crossing a few streets, passing an ice cream shop and as we moved further down, the distance between shops increased and we began to approach a more rural space. Seth led me over a bridge leading into a wooded area. I wanted to stop and enjoy the peaceful water flowing underneath the bridge, but I got the feeling Seth wanted to get to wherever he was taking me.
We stopped where the end of the bridge met the dirt into the woods. Seth took my hand to his lips, planting a kiss on my skin, and then crossing his other hand on top of mine. “Okay, Ally. If you're ready, this is where I stop.”
I twirled around, observing the trees and ground around me. Nothing stood out or seemed like a place anything would be hidden. I even kicked the dirt up from under my feet. “What's going on? Is it right over here somewhere?” I took a few steps forward as though I knew what to search for.
“No, it's not. I took you this far. If you take out your phone, you can see you’re close. I want you to find it.”
“You're not coming with me?” I asked, disappointed and confused.
He pulled the straps on the bottom of his backpack. “I want you to do this on your own. You’ll be fine.”
“Why on my own?”
He placed his hands on the sides of my head and smoothed down my hair. “I’m confident you can do this, Ally. Give me some time. I’ll join you.”
“Time for what?” I thought I spent enough time being patient. He showed up at Chris's doorstep, sent my best friend home, and made it sound like he wanted to do this with me. Now, he turned me around, shoved me forward and said, ‘No, you go. I don't want any part of this.’
“This is my first time back since I hid the cache.” I put my hands on his arms as he spoke. “I follow the log online and am glad so
many found it. But I haven’t been able to come back yet. I need a few minutes to myself before I catch up.”
“Fine,” I grumbled. My choices were either forge ahead on my own, find the cache, and prove to Seth I was fully capable, and then we could start moving forward together, or, tell Seth forget it and walk away. My curiosity started to fade, with all of these games, but I didn’t walk away from challenges. “After I find this, promise no more secrets or treasure hunts.”
“I promise,” he agreed as he leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Now go already, and find it so we can enjoy our evening together. The cache you’re looking for is called Sweet Lullaby.”
I took a deep breath and fetched my phone out of my pocket. Swiping the lock screen off, I contemplated the possibilities of what I could find. Or even if I found anything at all. I opened up the app and the little marker showed up on my screen. Only one cache existed close to the area - Seth's. Approximately two-hundred feet put me in the cache’s vicinity. I didn't glance behind me before I took my first step because if I was aware Seth watched me my nerves would go into overdrive. Swatting a couple bugs away, I cursed him for not offering bug spray. He probably stashed some in his handy little backpack. Not only was he teaching me about his past, but I guessed also about being a Boy Scout and that I should always be prepared. The ground crunched beneath my feet with every step I made. A couple walked by holding hands and I nodded at them. They couldn't have been more than seventeen years old. At seventeen, I was two years away from meeting Josh, six from our engagement, and nine and a half from our separation. I don't think I would've done anything differently, because I learned from everything we went through. I was sure they were headed off somewhere to go make out. I know that's what I would've been doing that age.
My compass directed me Northwest. I didn't see a walkway of any sort, but as I looked closer, I saw a dirt path only wide enough to fit one body through. I had to remember to check myself for ticks when I got back home. Even my short hair still attracted bugs. The thought alone gave me the willies. I brushed my hand through my hair and moved on.
I reached the end of the pathway, which opened up into a meadow. The view took my breath away with its tall flowers surrounding a pond. I looked down at my phone, my heart skipping a beat when I realized how close I became to finding it. Amid all the flowers and the beautiful lake, no trees existed except for one. The tree didn’t overpower the amazing scene, but certainly dominated it. The weeping willow fanned out over a tattered white bench. That was it. The cache must be by the tree or the bench. I started to walk toward it, until that turned into a jog, and finally I sprinted, knowing only moments stood between me and the find.
When I reached the bench, I checked back with my phone, which showed me within five feet. I tried to get excited, but I was smart enough not to claim victory yet. With the app, it may show a mere few feet between me and the cache, but a margin of error always existed. This may take me only a few minutes to find, or a good hour. Based on my history, an hour (or even two) seemed more likely.
“Here goes nothing,” I said out loud, to no one but me. I started to think this through. What had I learned so far to help me find this? The cache could be a large box, or so minuscule it could be embedded into a small sliver in the bench. Not only did I need to inspect by sight, but also touch every single piece of that bench and tree.
I started with the bench. The wood was not only worn, but very rough and wrinkled, probably from rain. I touched between every opening and rolled my finger over every screw. I even got my fingers in the ground around the bench. I crawled onto the ground and inspected underneath, finding absolutely nothing.
Okay, I wouldn't find it in the bench, so I needed to move onto the weeping willow. I started at the bottom, dirt embedding itself under my nails as I outlined the entire tree. I observed every piece of the bark, touching and pulling it back in case Seth cleverly hid the cache within. When I realized it wasn't hidden in the bench, or the trunk of the tree, I lifted my head to the branches crying above me. Son of a bitch. I needed to climb this thing.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
The base of the tree jutted out of the ground, massive and strong. Though I would be able to reach the first opening in the tree with my hand, and hoist myself up with no issue, if what I needed to find wasn’t in plain view, I’d need to crawl up a few branches, which seemed to go on forever, the tearful leaves falling onto the ground blanketing the bench and the grass surrounding it. Before placing my hand on the trunk, I took one last look around the bench, and the dirt surrounding the tree, to make absolute sure I didn't miss anything. I still considered myself pretty new at this, and didn’t want to overlook anything.
Climbing up a tree couldn’t be much worse than climbing up the rock climbing wall. Granted, when I did that, I wore a harness and a professional stood below me. This time, it was only me and Mother Nature. This tree didn’t pass inspections like the adventure place, and I didn’t have blocks to put my feet on and help guide me. Nope. Success depended upon me trusting myself - and the tree.
I touched the bark. The dampness caught me by surprise, and I wiped my hand on my shorts. Realizing the entire climb they’d be wet anyway, I figured screw it, and put both hands on. I found my footing before shoving myself forward, lurching into the large space where the tree separated into branch upon branch, extensions of themselves. Upon arrival at the space, I sat, wrapping my arms around one of the large branches. I leaned forward, sucked in the air, and admired the calm water in the pond. This place evoked such a peaceful emotion inside of me. How did Seth ever find it?
The cache. I couldn’t waste much more time. I wanted to find it before Seth arrived. I didn’t want to let him down. Before he sent me out on my own, he expressed how much confidence he had in me. Left or right. Left or right. I made the decision to go with my gut, and go right, since I was right handed, and the branch to the left jutted out over the bench. I envisioned myself falling off if I went left, crashing into the bench in an awkward position. I figured if my klutzy self did fall (fifty-percent chance), falling straight onto the ground may be safer than into the object most likely to impale me with splinters. I pressed my body into the bark before lifting up and placing my right foot near where my hand rested. My hand shook, and my heart gargled in my throat as I came to terms with the fact I was climbing a tree. Never in my life had I a climbed a tree. Crazy, right? Lots of girls climbed trees as kids. I admired them as they whisked up the branches so gracefully, and assumed I must have missed a class teaching how to do it. Me? Hell, no. Too high. Too risky. Rock climbing and tree climbing might as well be one in the same, though. Just do it, Ally, I pushed myself. Get this done. Sweat already formed on my hairline, and the armpits of my shirt started to dampen. Lovely. Just lovely.
I couldn’t waste time worrying, though. I inched up the branch like a caterpillar, my grasp tight and strong. The bark crushed my chest as it pushed into it, but my mission called for me to ignore the pain and keep moving. When I reached mid-branch and another one joined, I stopped, whimpering as I took my shaking hand off the branch and touched my hand to my forehead. Once I opened my eyes, I noticed twine. I traced my finger down the honey colored rope which wrapped around the branch. I slipped, and grabbed onto the branch again. Close one, Ally. I steadied myself before leaning against the branch, and continuing the path to the cache.
There it was. A medium sized cylinder container, draped in pastel pink, outlined with glitter, a (more than likely fake) pearl glued to the middle. I carefully untied it and placed the box in my lap as I rolled so my back pressed against the branch. “Okay, Ally,” I said out loud, catching my breath. “Here we go.”
I unscrewed the cap, placing the cover in my pocket. Reaching my hand in, I felt a Ziploc bag. Inside I found a small notepad, a pen, and other numerous items. First I opened the notepad, clearly the log. I used the pen inside to write my geocaching name and date down. I placed the notepad and pen on my lap as I pulled out the first item,
a necklace with the same stone as the top of the container. The second item was a rolled up piece of cloth. I unrolled it to discover a bib, “Daddy’s Girl” written across the white fabric in pink letters. The last item inside the container was a wristband. Part of the words were blacked out with a marker, but the words that weren’t read “Alyssa, Baby Girl.”
Alyssa telling me about Willow and holding the truth in my hands were two completely different experiences of emotion. This box held a piece of Seth - a piece of him he loved and could never get back. During a time he should have been enjoying being a father, he mourned every day instead. He locked away pieces of his past in this cache, and hid it away. I couldn’t fathom how he even dealt with this. I placed the items back inside. My hands shook as I attempted to tie the string back on the branch, only the container slipped from my hand and onto the ground. Dammit. I’d have to climb back down, get the container, and climb the tree again, nothing I wanted to do. Leaving the cache on the ground was a no-no. I was required to put it back, per the rules of geocaching, and planned to be respectful.
I carefully found my way back to the ground. Which side did the box land on again? My breathing increased as I searched, wanting to get the container back where it belonged and back into the tree. As I finally found it, I reached down to grab it - only my hand wasn’t the only one grabbing for it. I snatched it up and looked up, face to face with Seth, tears already flowing from his eyes.
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