Harvesting Acorns (4 page)

She
explained about her breakdown and decision that she needed either to leave or
lose herself, and how she had just got in her car and later found herself here.
When she was done, she felt a great weight had been lifted, just by being able
to share with people whom she sensed would understand, and not judge her. She
had sat through enough lectures from her parents about ‘needing to do what
needs to be done to put food on the table’; and about ‘everyone having to
endure parts of their jobs that they might not like’; and, the one that topped
it all ‘thinking that she was so special that she could pick and choose the
aspects of life she wanted to deal with’. Yes, her family saw her as a failure
and told her many times that she was far too impulsive.

“Well
we are glad that you went through all of that, because it brought you here.
Sometimes all we need is the kind smile of a new face, and to hear someone
else’s story to bring a little extraordinary into the ordinary.” Jean Pierre
raised his glass and toasted Chloe and Phoebe.

“To
serendipitous meetings,” cheered Phoebe.

Chloe stifled a yawn.

“I
am going to excuse myself. Thank you for an amazing evening and delicious
dinner. I am off to that snug bed with a book. Good night.” She greeted Jean
Pierre and Phoebe stood up to give her a hug.

“Tomorrow
things will start becoming a little clearer for you, I hope. Bonne nuit Chloe!”

C
hapter Three

The
next morning, she sat at her usual breakfast booth with the view of the park.
That tree still intrigued her, she had not figured out why yet. She read a
magazine while sipping her morning tea. Today she would go back to her usual
muesli, yoghurt and fruit with herbal tea for breakfast. After a while she
looked out the window. The same little boy from the day before was standing
under the tree, again with his cooler box, just looking up into the branches.
Now her interest was piqued a bit more. She sat pondering for a while and then
Phoebe joined her with her coffee and she was distracted by their conversation
and forgot about the little boy.

But
the next few mornings she saw him, around the same time, in the same place –
just sitting on his cooler box gazing up into the tree. On the sixth day, she
noticed him just as Phoebe brought her tea.

“Phoebe,
do you know the little boy sitting under the giant oak?” she asked.

“Yes,
that is James. He is the grandson of a prominent family in the village. He is such
a special little boy. He really has a heart of gold and a genuine affection and
consideration that shines. So well-mannered as well, very polite,” Phoebe
explained.

“Do
you know why he sits under that tree? And why he has the cooler box?” Chloe
asked; trying to sound casually interested as opposed to inquisitive or nosey.

“To
tell you the truth, this is the first time I have noticed. I am ashamed to say
I get so busy in here I do not often look out or notice what is going on in the
park.”

Chloe smiled, “Don’t worry, I guess I
am just being curious. It is the journalist in me, always trying to read
between the lines, look for something that others might not see. It is useful
while working. Off duty, it can be a curse.”

Their
conversation turned towards Chloe’s plans.

“Have
you decided if you are going to take up the offer of the job and
accommodation?” asked Phoebe.

“Actually,
it is all I have been able to think about for the last few days,” replied
Chloe. “This is obviously what fate has in mind for me right now, and so I
think I shall accept.”

“This
is wonderful news!” exclaimed Phoebe. “I will contact my friends and invite
them over this evening for dinner so that you can meet with them. From there it
will be between you and them as to the details.”

“I
would like that, and Phoebe – again, I thank you for looking out for me,”
Chloe’s eyes watered up as she said this last part.

The
meeting that evening went very well, Chloe liked
Mr
and
Mrs
Taylor very much and knew she would be happy both working for and renting from
them. They arranged for her to go and see the apartment the next morning and
then to go through to the offices to show her around and let her get a feel of
what the company was all about.

Edward
Taylor was in his early fifties, a tall and well-built man with
greying
hair. He had an authoritative but kind and respectful manner and a deep chuckle
that had you laughing along every time. Beth Taylor seemed around the same age
and had a calm presence about her. You could tell she adored her husband. The
admiration in her gaze when he spoke was unmistakable.

She
was a smart and opinionated woman, but you could tell that she liked her
husband to be the leader, her rock, in the marriage. One would not call her
submissive by any means; she clearly chose to let him be the dominant one in
the relationship. Chloe guessed to balance her strong nature and allow her
femininity to shine through. There was no mistaking that she could put anyone
in their place, including her husband, in an instant.

Their
interactions were intriguing to watch. Their friendship with Jean Pierre and
Phoebe seemed to span a few years and was unmistakably a close and mutually
treasured one. By listening to the conversation Chloe had picked up that they
had been there for each other through some trying times and also helped each
other out by referring potential clients to each other. Edward would book all
of his lunch meetings at Tea for Two and would refer any visiting colleagues to
the guesthouse. Jean Pierre had in turn referred many of his associates to
Edward’s media company for placing of adverts, which was a large source of
income for the magazine, as well as writing feature articles on restorative
architecture and how to renovate without destroying the original architecture.
It was a very mature friendship yet still there was, from time to time, a bit
of playful banter and mutual ragging.

Chloe
thought of her own friendships. Her few close friends had been her friends
since their school days, so it was based on mutual teenage interests that had
long since taken separate paths. They were still really great friends, it was
just that their lives had just gone in such different directions that they found
it hard to keep up regular meet ups and that they had fewer and fewer things in
common as they got older.

In
the morning, Chloe got up early and went for a brisk walk before breakfast.
After only a week she was already feeling refreshed and not needing to sleep so
late. She supposed it was from having renewed hope and perhaps a soon to be
purpose again. The air was nippy and she zipped her jacket up as far as it
would go. When she got back she quickly showered and dressed, and then went
around to the café for her usual breakfast in her usual booth. There was
something both comforting and powerful in routine. Phoebe had her breakfast
ready when she arrived. She giggled to herself – and there was definitely a
certain amount of predictability that came with routine.

As
she ate, she habitually looked out at the giant oak. As expected, the little
boy was sitting there, on his cooler box, staring up into the tree. This time
curiosity got the better of her. She just had to know what he was doing. She
finished up her meal and excused herself, telling Phoebe she would be back in a
moment for a quick chat before meeting up with the Taylors.

She
approached the little boy from the other side of the tree where he could
clearly see her approaching – she did not want to startle him. She remembered
how children were cautioned not to speak to strangers, so she did not go too
close until invited otherwise.

“Good
morning. My name is Chloe Dane and I am new here. Would you mind if I chatted
to you for a few minutes – I don’t mean to disturb you” she called out to him
gently.

“Hi!
I am James. Sure, I would be happy to chat for a while. Welcome to our
village.”

“Thank
you. Quite a friendly village it is. May I sit on the bench next to your cooler
box?” she asked, waiting for permission to move into his space.

“Of
course, please join me. I would love some company while I wait” James gestured
to the park bench.

“What
is it exactly you are waiting for? I must confess, I have seen you every day,
sitting here on your cooler box and looking up into this tree. Today I could
not contain my curiosity anymore” she had to know, but didn’t want to be too
pushy.

“I
am waiting for the acorns to fall. It is almost time; and I don’t want to miss
the first ones. They will be best” he offered as his reply.

“Acorns!
Aah, that makes sense! Why didn’t I think that is what you were doing? After
all it is an oak tree” Chloe said embarrassed.

“Really?
It makes sense? I am glad someone understands” he said and looked back up into
the tree. “I have to make sure they don’t lie on the ground too long before I
give them to their new owners.”

Chloe looked at him questioningly.

“So
you collect the acorns and sell them. That is a good way to make extra pocket
money.”

This was an entrepreneur in the
making she thought.

“No,
I don’t sell them. I give them to anyone who may need an acorn” James
explained.

Now Chloe was confused.

“Just
one acorn? And why would somebody need an acorn?”

James sighed and looked hurt.

“Oh,
you don’t understand. I don’t know why everyone finds this so difficult to
understand.”

Chloe grimaced.

 “I
am sorry James. I jumped to a conclusion. Please would you explain to me, I am
sorry if I offended you. I am sure there are many things a person could do with
an acorn, besides eating it.”

James looked at her a little
hesitantly.

“OK.
But I need an acorn to help me explain. Meet me here every morning. When the
first acorn falls, I will explain.”

Now
Chloe had been caught off guard. This little boy seemed to know something that
no one else did, or perhaps he just had a vivid imagination. Either way, her
curiosity was now beyond the point of brushing this off. She would meet with
him again, and wait to hear just what it was he was hoping for by giving people
acorns.

“OK
James, I will wait with you for the acorns to fall. I must go now, I have an
appointment. I will see you tomorrow. Bye!”

James said goodbye, smiled and waved
as she left. Interesting child, she thought.

She
recounted this briefly to Phoebe as they shared their usual cappuccino and
Phoebe did not seem too surprised.

“That
James is a special boy. He sees things differently to other little boys.”

Chloe
finished up her drink and dashed out so as not to be late for her appointment.
Beth Taylor had given her directions the evening before and it seemed easy
enough, after all, the village really was small, but she did not want to take
any chances and create a bad impression from Day One.

The
apartment was only two blocks away. It was on the top floor and had a
magnificent view of the ocean from the balcony. It had two large bedrooms, a
lounge, dining room, a huge kitchen and a study. This was way more space than
she needed but it would be a nice change from the cramped places she had been
used to before. It was absolutely beautiful. Edward was pleased to see her
reaction.

“So
I take it you approve? Is it settled that I have found my new tenant?”

Chloe was radiant when she replied.

“This
is more than I could have hoped for. Yes, I most definitely approve.”

“Great!”
Edward replied. “Now let us go and take a look at your office. I am holding
thumbs you approve of that too. We could really benefit from someone with your
skills. And your vibrant personality is an added benefit that may perk the
place up a bit. We middle-agers need a bit of a boost now and then.” He
chuckled that infectious chuckle and Chloe could not help giggling herself.

The
office was another four blocks away. Chloe realised that she would be able to
walk to work and also to the coffee shop. The thought strangely made her happy.
It really was the little things that could brighten a person’s day. It was not
a very big building. It had a reception room, where a young auburn haired woman
sat behind a computer. She looked up as they came in. Edward introduced them.

“Cami,
this is Chloe. She will be taking over as editor from the beginning of next month.
She has many years’ experience in our line of work.”

Chloe
learned that Cami had been working for Edward for just over a year and had
joined the company straight from university where she had studied Graphic
Design. Her first year had been part of an internship, organised through the
university. When the year was up she and Edward had discussed her staying on
and they were now working on incorporating her design skills more formally into
the layout of the magazine. Before, she had just had small features.

Next
they went through to the boardroom. It was very professionally laid out, with a
big screen monitor and projectors. It had a coffee vending machine and water
cooler in one corner. A solid, dark round table formed the centre, with stylish
chairs around it. She liked how it represented equality – no ‘head’ of the
table. She imagined brainstorming sessions around this table, with each
person’s opinions and insights as valuable as the next person’s. Edward took
her through to three other offices and introduced her to their team: 
Subscriptions and Marketing Manager, Design and Layout Manager, and Financial
Manager.