He was five hours late to Christmas lunch — then I realised why

It was the year 2000 and my belief in love had been crushed after a five-year relationship ended when I discovered my ex had been unfaithful. I was writing novels set in the Australian wilderness that kept being rejected, and I partly blamed myself for being drawn to proverbial bad boys.

Then I met Adam: we were randomly seated together at a dinner party and his warmth and luminous smile felt like Christmas. He listened with focused attention, making me feel like the only person at the table, and gently reminded me of the world's merit and beauty as I talked about its darkness.

We went for pizza, explored far north Queensland’s rainforests and rivers by day, and talked all night while floating in my pool. Adam consoled me through each book rejection and urged me not to give up; I started working through certifications to become a dive instructor.

Australia, Far North Queensland

christmas lunch, adam, relationship, infidelity, novels, australian wilderness, queensland, rainforest, dive instructor, pizza