Davide had planned to stay at a five star hotel, but now he wasn't sure where to stay since Zoe was footing the bill for the time being. Motels crowded both sides of the street and he said, "Let me know when you see a place you want to stay."
"Okay. How about that one?" She pointed to Bert's Motor Inn and Davide pulled into the parking lot. Inside, while he completed the necessary forms, she retrieved her credit card and Davide silently cursed when she handed it over.
They checked into two adjoining rooms and Davide groaned when he unlocked Zoe's to let her in. It was smaller than his closet at home. He set her backpack on her bed and walked to the window overlooking the back parking lot. He turned and said, "I'm sorry about this, Zoe." He waved into the room.
"Sorry about what? The room?" she asked incredulously.
He nodded. "Since you so graciously accepted my crazy request to go on a walkabout, I wanted to lavish you with the best accommodations and dining."
She laughed. "Davide, perhaps its time you joined the real world. While this room isn't the Hilton, it's clean and acceptable." She yawned, dismissing his concerns.
Davide walked toward the adjoining door and glanced at his watch. "Let's meet at seven for dinner. That gives us three hours to rest; then I'll share my research on The Red Center of Australia and a walkabout." He opened the connecting door, but turned back around with a sheepish grin. "Dinner is on me."
* * *
Zoe glanced across the diner's booth at Davide. Her eyes roamed his cropped hair as he bent his head over a map and pointed to different locations.
"As you can see, Uluru is a sixteen hour drive from here, so that's why I rented a campervan."
She almost groaned aloud. She would be sleeping in a campervan with Davide. He looked up and she quickly smiled.
"The road to Uluru is called Stuart Highway." He grinned. "Looks like we'll be passing through the towns of Pimba and Coober Pedy."
She chuckled. "Australia has such colorful language and wonderful people. I once played at the Opera House in Sydney while touring with a junior orchestra when I was in high school. It was one of the best experiences of my life."
Davide smiled. "I remember. I was bummed because you were gone during summer break. I'd been looking forward to hangin' out with you and the ranch hands and becoming a cowboy."
Zoe smiled and sipped her iced tea.
Davide turned the conversation back to their trip. "If you feel up to it, I was thinking we could leave tomorrow morning."
Before she could answer, their young waitress brought their dinner and she watched the perky, red head take extra care in setting down Davide's meal. He seemed oblivious to her efforts. Before leaving their table, the waitress glanced quickly at Zoe and gave her a smile that said without words, "You're so lucky."
Zoe watched the waitress surrounded by a pink aura walk away. Over the years, she'd come to equate different colors to different states of consciousness. Unfortunately, she'd never been able to see her own aura. Long ago Fawn had told her she was an Indigo child, and when she'd questioned her stepmother about that, she'd learned that Indigo children were born with unusual abilities that would assist creation toward its ultimate goal—enlightenment. Yeah, right. As if I could assist anyone with anything. She looked back at Davide now buttering a roll. His aura only fluctuated in its brightness; the golden hues never changed like other auras. Davide was an enigma, for sure, with neither a shapeling nor human auric field.
"What are you looking at Zoe?"
Startled, she moved her gaze to his face.
"What is my aura telling you?"
"It never changes except in its brightness, and right now it's very bright because you're excited about the trip."
"Yes, I am excited. But I'm taking things one day at a time. I've only read about walkabouts, so I have no idea how to begin, except to find a guide first. Roaming the outback without someone experienced is not going to happen. I wouldn't put you in harm's way for anything—not even to gain directions to the Cave of Thirteen."
"I know, Davide, but I believe in divine intervention, so let's see what Source has in store for us." She smiled and Davide's responding one warmed her heart—and her face. She turned her attention to her salad.
After dinner, she and Davide located the local grocery store, hardware store, and sporting goods store. They purchased water, snack and trail foods, basic tools, emergency kit, sleeping bags, toiletries, flashlights, and anything else deemed necessary for their upcoming adventure.
By six the next morning, they were on their way and driving through the streets of Adelaide. Zoe enjoyed the many trees, now dressed in fall colors, and the simple layout of the city. Lovely hills to the east rose toward a pristine blue sky.
Davide interrupted her musings. "Some of the best wines in the world are grown in this area."
"I can certainly see why."
For the next three hours they reminisced about childhood adventures and enjoyed the beauty of a perfect morning. Stopping in Port Pirie, they found a small restaurant and ate a typical Australian breakfast of sunny-side up eggs, bacon, and toast slathered with Vegemite, a spread made with brewers' yeast, vegetables, and spices. Between bites, Davide said, "This is really tasty. I remember it from previous visits to Australia."
Always ready to try new things, Zoe enjoyed the salty and slightly bitter taste.
In less than an hour after leaving Port Pirie, they reached the natural harbor city of Port Augusta and a cool ocean breeze blew through their open windows. Driving past the harbor, Zoe watched yachts and sail boats bob in a somewhat choppy sea. Smiling, she remembered vacations with the Beowolf family on their yacht.
"What are you smiling at, Zoe?"
"I was just remembering some vacations with your family on the Dolphin."
Davide chuckled. "You know, we still own that ship. You're welcome to vacation with us at any time."
"Thanks, Davide. Remember the time we traveled from Portland Harbor to Catalina Island? You were ten and I was seventeen."
Davide laughed heartily. "I sure do. It was one of the best vacations of my life. I'll never forget watching Fawn swim alongside the Dolphin as a dolphin, and then my father diving overboard to join her as another dolphin. Remember how we all leaned over the railing and laughed at their antics? I think my mother almost fell overboard she laughed so hard."
"It was really funny. My dad talks about it to this day. Sometimes I wish I could time travel and return to those days. Not that I'd want to remain there; I just want to revisit them." She sighed.
Davide reached across the seat and touched her hand. "Zoe, let's not lose touch again after this is over."
The touch of his hand on hers made her want to lift it to her mouth and kiss it. Instead, she turned her head to hide her expression and gave a response meant to placate, knowing in her heart that she would again break contact. "Sure, Davide." Needing to change the subject, she faced him again and asked, "So, what's our next destination?"
Davide pulled his hand back, searched her face, but didn't comment on her obvious withdrawal. "In a couple of hours we'll reach Pimba. I understand there's an iconic roadhouse called Spuds there. We can eat lunch and then top the fuel tank off."
Zoe placed her other hand over the spot where Davide had touched her and watched the urban terrain slowly become rural as he continued his running conversation about the area.
"The Red Center gets its name from iron that's oxidized in the soil. Habitation is mostly in scattered communities. The largest town in the Outback is Alice Springs, which is Northeast of Uluru. Long before settlers arrived, the Anangu people made Central Australia their home for at least 50,000 years."
The mood lightened and Zoe grinned. "You sound like a tour guide."
Davide laughed. "I'll be your personal guide. What would you like to know?"
"Okay. Tell me about Coober Pedy."
"Ah, good question and something I can answer. Seems the only reason there's a town is because of the opal mines. It's the opal mining capital of the world."
"Interesting."
Davide chuckled. "Also, the residents live underground because of the heat."
"Really?"
"Yep, they bore caves into the hills because it keeps their homes a consistent temperature."
"I guess it just goes to show that you do what you have to."
Davide shot her a sideways glance. "Okay, are you ready for this?"
"I don't know."
"The owners of the mines collect bras. Do you feel like giving yours up?"
Zoe gave him an incredulous look. "What?"
Davide laughed loudly at her expression. "It seems that Tina Turner donated the first bra during the filming of the original Mad Max movie. What are you going to do when they ask for yours?"
Zoe raised her eyebrows.
Davide laughed again. "I didn't think so." He continued with his tour guide information. "The drive from Coober Pedy to Uluru is about seven hours, so I figure if we travel until nine or ten tonight we'll reach the outskirts of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. We can then pull into one of the campgrounds and sleep until sunrise. I understand Uluru at sunrise is a sight not to be missed."
"Sounds like a good plan."
They both became silent.
"Uh, Zoe, I really appreciate your easy acceptance of my disjointed plans. I have no idea how to initiate a walkabout, so, like you, I believe Source will bring some kind of cohesion to my bungling."
Zoe's heart expanded at his honesty. "It'll all work out, Davide. I just know it."
When they reached Pimba, Davide drove into Spud's Roadhouse parking lot. "I'm starving. How about you?"
"Me, too."
Inside the iconic rest stop, Zoe and Davide laughed over the hundreds of license plates covering the walls before ordering "fried and grilled whiting" which was white fish. While waiting for their order, Davide turned the full force of his concentration on her. "Besides traveling with the symphony, tell me what you've been up to these past two years."
Zoe turned from her study of the license plates. "Wherever we're playing, I try to visit as much of the non-tourist areas that I can. I've discovered some quaint and lovely towns and villages and I've been thinking about buying my own place; maybe in England or the Languedoc Valley in the South of France."
"In the off-season where do you live? Are you still returning to Dream Catcher Ranch?"
"Up until a couple years ago I came home each year."
Davide raised his eyebrows questioningly, but didn't ask her to explain.
"Two years ago I stayed in the town of Salisbury in the County of Wiltshire in England, and the next year in Carcassone in the South of France. I like those areas."
"Why is that? I know they're beautiful, but is there another reason?" Davide lifted his water glass and eyed her over the rim. "Do you have a special someone in either of those regions?"
She glanced at the table. "Not at all. I just love the mystery and history of those lands. The County of Wiltshire is a hotbed for crop circle activity and the South of France is rife with Cathar and Merovingian intrigue. I enjoy researching the mysteries of life."
Davide nodded. "I understand. That's why I majored in philosophy, not that it solved anything." He set his water glass down and asked bluntly, "Do you have a special guy in your life? You're beautiful and I can't believe you haven’t been swept off your feet by a romantic European."
She fiddled with her silverware. "Maybe I like being single—no strings, no one to answer to, that sort of thing."
"If I didn't know you better, I might agree. But honey, we grew up together. You love children, you love family, you love home and hearth. I don’t believe you want the single life."
The waitress brought their meals and Zoe was grateful for the reprieve. Davide, however, did not let the subject drop. After the waitress left, he asked, "So, tell me what gives."
She avoided looking at him. "I just never met the right guy, I guess. What about you? You like the single life?" She glanced up.
Davide studied her eyes. "Not particularly. After being raised by a father and mother crazy for each other, I guess I never found anyone who made me feel that way."
Zoe kept her face unemotional, but the pain of his statement broke her heart.
He continued, "I've also been so consumed with this crazy prophesy that hangs over my life, that I haven't actually gone looking for anyone. How could I ask a woman to share that zaniness with me? Besides, if I fell for a shapeling, she'd be married to a shapeling unable to shift, and if I fell for a human, I'd have to reveal myself as part shapeling because I couldn't withhold the secret from my spouse like my grandmother did for over thirty years. Do you see where I'm coming from?"
She nodded. "I do."
He put down his fork, looked intently into her eyes, and said, "You've always understood me. I've missed you, sweetie."
She quickly glanced at her plate and didn't say anything.
Davide warned, "I'm going to get to the bottom of this aversion you have toward me."
Still staring at her plate, she said, "There's nothing to get to the bottom of."
"I don’t believe you."