by a gentle wind. The grass bending and boats drifting and car climbing to make the hill combined into one large movement—like some silent music played in perfect rhythm with the world.
Soon Uncle Browne and Aunt Millicent’s house came into view. Through a mist of light and haze of motion, Jack and Veronica saw the small cape emerge from the landscape. It was a house like in a dream with a hilly background, half-light and half-shadow. Uncle Browne stopped the car on a plateau and gazed toward his property to see if he could spot what he referred to as his mystery of affection.
“You might be able to see Millie,” he said, his hand shading his eyes, “she’s at her painting now, probably checking the morning light.”
Aunt Millicent was an artist who had recently attained a kind of local celebrity for her seascapes. Her current project was to paint the cove near their house at different times of day to see how the light changed it. Uncle Browne pointed toward the house and hill of land it sat upon and then lowered his focus, “The light’s brilliant over the cove, I’m sure she’s out there.”
In a moment, they drove onto the property. Jutting toward them at a bend in the driveway was a wooden placard mounted to a robust elm. It was a small, oval placard with black italicized letters that read Maison d’Etre.
“That’s a cool sign,” Veronica offered. “You like that?” Uncle Browne responded.
“Yes,” Veronica said.
“That’s one of Millie’s creations. What do you think it means?” Uncle Browne asked.
“Oh no, here comes my uncle the professor,” Jack said.
Veronica answered like she was asking a question, “That your home is your reason to be?”
“C’est bon,” Uncle Browne said. “Jack, your girl gets an A for life.” Veronica beamed with the complement.
Aunt Millicent approached the car as the others got out, coming up to them in a paint-smeared smock. She hugged Jack right away, a brush still in her hand.
“Oh dear, it’s so lovely to see you,” she said.
“Jack’s girl’s a keeper,” Uncle Browne reported.
“Is she?” Aunt Millicent asked pleasantly. Then she turned to Veronica with a welcoming smile.
“Aunt Millicent,” Jack said, “this is Veronica.”
“Hello, Veronica,” Aunt Millicent said, taking both Veronica’s hands in hers and squeezing them.
After pleasantries were completed and Jack and Veronica settled in, Aunt Millicent decided to go to the Up Island market for groceries. She invited Veronica to come along. Jack and his uncle stayed behind and Uncle Browne suggested a walk.
It was close to midday when they started walking and the sun was high, bright and strong. They dressed in swim suits and T shirts and Uncle Browne suggested they walk along the shoreline in the cove out toward Smith Point.
Smith Point was a large cliff that projected out into the sound and separated the sound from the ocean. It was the most prominent land mass on the island, renowned for its red clay cliffs; high, massive, wall-like bulk, and magnificent views. It was the island’s natural wonder, looming as it did above the water and holding back the land. Smith Point was two miles away and, according to Uncle Browne, perfect walking distance for stretching out his aching muscles.
Uncle Browne’s hair had gone gray when he was still in his forties. Now it was silver and sometimes in the light shone bluish. He kept his full head of hair long and combed it off his forehead to the side. The long silver strands completely covered his large ears which were only visible when the wind blew or the hair was wet, and which always made Jack laugh. Jack was his only nephew and Uncle Browne looked upon him fondly and proudly, the way he might have looked upon his own son if he had one.
Uncle Browne had a nickname for Jack that came about when Jack was just five years old. Young Jack had heard his Uncle calling to his wife for his jacket and thought he was calling him. So Jack became Jacket. It was a name Uncle Browne delighted in saying. As they walked, Uncle Browne inquired about Jack’s plans. “Jacket, where do you go from here?”
“I’m going home for a couple weeks, then to Montana with my parents,” Jack said.
“Isn’t that something you do every year?” Uncle Browne remembered.
“Yes it is,” Jack said, “we usually go there around my birthday.”
“Twenty-two, right?” Uncle Browne calculated. “It’s hard to believe, I remember you as a baby.” Uncle Browne patted Jack’s shoulder. “Long range plans?”
“I have an opportunity to work in Durham,” Jack said.
“What about Wall Street, isn’t that the family plan?” Uncle Browne asked, gazing ahead toward Smith Point.
“No interviews yet,” Jack said.
“That’s surprising,” said Uncle Browne.
Jack viewed the water off in the distance. He felt uneasy not telling his uncle about Sanders Brown and was relieved by the next question.
“How do your folks like Veronica?” Uncle Browne asked.
“Oh, I think Mom’s just a little jealous. Dad doesn’t say much.
He seems to like her. But I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want me to get seriously involved. I know Mom doesn’t.”
“Oh, I see. They’re practicing parental blindness. I see it among my friends with their children. But your parents are more astute than that. They must know what’s what.”
“Is it that obvious?” Jack smiled.
“Abundantly so, and from what I can glean, with good reason. She’s charming and lovely, Jacket. I’m happy for you. How does she get on with them?” Uncle Browne asked.
“Veronica likes them. But she doesn’t share their conviction about what’s right for me and what I should do now,” Jack said.
“Explain, Jacket.”
“Well, she’s not keen on me going to Wall Street. She thinks I should do what I really want to. She would like me to stay in Durham.”
“What’s the Durham offer?” Uncle Browne asked.
“To work for the Durham Nursery,” Jack said.
“Interesting. Of course you’d be closer to Veronica that way,” Uncle Browne said considerately.
“I’m sure that’s a big part of it, but it’s more than that, Uncle.”
“Tell me.” Uncle Browne leaned a little toward Jack so as to better hear him.
“I have a chance to work as a landscaping consultant. I’ve worked at the Nursery through college and the owner likes me, thinks I’m good at landscape design. He’s offered me a full time job doing that.”
“What kind of business
