“This is the Calabash tree. The gourds you see hanging are not edible, but used to make bowls and other containers,” he said pointing to a pretty normal looking tree by my standards, outside of the hanging gourds. “But let’s get a little deeper into the forest so I can show you another favorite of mine.”
We continued to walk, following a beautifully made stone path again. I couldn’t imagine what it must take to have someone tend to these, the seeming miles and miles of them that wound around the island. I had yet to see what I could deem as a weed anywhere. He pulled me to a stop in front of another rather scary looking tree, one all wrapped around itself like thick branches in the shapes of cobwebs.
“Let me guess, don’t touch?”
“Oh no, this is a Strangler Fig, and only dangerous to its host tree, that it winds its vines around, basically smothering or strangling it until one would call it a victim. I like the patterns the vines create.”
“The fruit is beautiful.”
“Yes, and they are also good for feeding birds and other animals. This here, to the back of it, is a little out of place, a Flamboyant Tree. Beautiful flowers, but usually you see them more in landscaping here, adding huge splashes of color.”
“There is lots of color here. The flowers are amazing, and seem to be just stuck in everywhere. The hibiscus and bougainvillea are about the only two I can point out and name, though.”
“There is lots of fruit, too, like mangos and papayas, even soursop. You will eat lots of fruit while you are here that has been plucked right off of the tree, just before being cut up to serve. It actually makes a difference. A huge one once you get spoiled to it. When we get closer to the shoreline, I’ll have to point out the sea grapes. Similar to our vines, but the berry-like fruit is very sour. Although, I’ve had preserves made from them that was pretty amazing, thanks to sugar, I assume.”
I smiled at him briefly, still looking all around me, sometimes spinning like I did as little girl so to not miss anything. While the island probably wasn’t as big as I’d first assumed, as overwhelmed as I’d been, especially given the fact that we could walk around it, I still believed I could spend the rest of my life exploring it.
“You know, watching you take it all in is amazing,” he said with a smile as he pushed my back against a tree and brought his head down for a kiss.
This one was more heated, sending a thrill right to my core, one that dampened my panties, but then again, someone could say Lex’s name and that would happen. I didn’t need this almost otherworldly romantic walk for that occurrence, especially when he used his hips to push me back into the trunk of the tree, letting me feel the start of his erection against my stomach.
A movement of branches and a rustling of leaves made me push him away as I stepped out from the tree to get a better look. We’d obviously disturbed someone by getting too close. Not sure exactly where I was in the world here on this island, I’d no idea what species of things would exist in this place, and if I needed to fear them or not, like the death apple tree.
“It’s a lemur,” Lex chuckled as he caught his balance, as I’d pushed him back hard, making him stumble onto the path. “Some animals have been brought here whose specific species is being threatened with extinction.”
This particular animal hung there, staring at us with his beady green eyes. With black fur and a white beard of sorts that surrounded his face, I didn’t know whether the laugh I had bubbling up at this cute, oddly fantastical creature might upset him, so I held back by holding my breath for a minute.
“Well, he’s cute, but I’m not so sure what he thinks about me, so why don’t we move along? I will chalk this up as an animal I’ve never seen outside of books and walk on,” I said, the suppressed laugh still threatening, making it hard to talk as I pulled Lex along.
In a few steps, though, I stopped short even as I gripped his hand tighter. We’d come to the small grass meadow that I’d seen in our shared dream. To gaze on it in reality seemed oddly surreal, as did everything here so far, I guessed. I almost wondered when I would stop being surprised by not only the magic, but also by the splendor of the place. This truly was the most unreal moment, though, to see a dream come to life, not in an accomplishment, but in unfamiliar scenery. “I can’t believe I am standing here with you,” I managed to get out through the short breaths I was still taking.