Sylvia shook her head. “It’s hard to believe Mom and Dad were like that, but it’s true.” Memories of her father were vague. She remembered the feel of being hugged up against his suit. Her Dad was always busy, busy, and had not had a lot of time with her. When he died, Sylvia had a sore spot in her heart that missed him, but it wasn’t the grief that she felt for Gran. Looking back, she couldn’t help but feel that she didn’t know her father and wondered about his level of caring for her. She turned her attention back to Marian. “Tell me more about Gran and her causes that my parents were so upset about,” Sylvia asked, “please?”
“Well, mind you, I was out of the country for a good chunk of the time,” Marian told her, “but, your grandmother wrote me some lively letters about what was going on.”
“Your mother mentioned some locals, I believe, Ted Jamison and Maureen Davenport. I think they’ve calmed down on their issues, but your grandmother was active with them and a few others who were very concerned about Thurmont, about pollution and the beaches, and a lot of local causes. Maureen went in for the more radical groups. She wanted national groups to go up against Thurmont. I understand she went to Washington and had to be led away by police she was so vehement.”
Marian paused to drink more coffee. Sylvia waited for more.
“Ted Jamison died a few years ago, but Maureen’s still around, I think,” Marian mused. “I know she and her son were quite active in Green Peace. Last I heard she was on a boat to somewhere. I’ll introduce you some time.”
Sylvia took this all in. It definitely gave her a surprising, new perspective on her grandmother. The waitress brought them their check. Marian reached into her purse.
“It’s on me, remember?” Sylvia said.
Marian smiled and conceded to Sylvia, “All right,” she told her.
They had a quiet ride home. Sylvia had a lot of unformed questions in her mind, but she wasn’t sure how to voice them to Marian.
When Marian dropped her off, Sylvia said, “Thanks for talking to me about the Green Man and Gran. I feel a lot better about it.”
“Good,” Marian said. “I’m glad.”
“But, I still have a lot of questions,” Sylvia stated.
“I’ll be in touch soon,” Marian said, smiling, “Take care.”
Sylvia waved her off and took her packages inside. The light on the answering machine was blinking and she listened to the message. It was from Thurmont requesting an interview. She glanced at the clock and took a chance at calling personnel after 4pm. She left a voice message and said she would call in the morning. After that she called her Mom to tell her the good news. She wasn’t home or at work or answering her cell, so she left messages at all three. Thirdly she called Marian who also was not at home to give her the news. Frustrated and wanting to share her news she sent a text message to Gwen. Still restless Sylvia decided to take a walk. She headed out the front door and walked toward the marina about a half-mile away. She walked briskly, enjoying the warm sun and looking around her. She had not walked down here in a long time. There were the usual dog walkers out and she nodded and said hello as they passed. It felt good to stretch her legs and move after the long drive and shopping.
Sylvia stretched her hands overhead and in back of her stretching out her back. Her walk slowed and she noticed there hadn’t been too many changes in the neighborhood since the seventies when the older cottages were razed and more modern homes were put in place. Most of the families kept the charming Arts and Crafts movement cottage style. There were a few exceptions where the older homes had been knocked down and replaced with a new, much larger home of stone and glass that covered two waterfront lots. Somehow the owners had gotten round the laws of building on the same footprint by the bay. She wondered who the new neighbors might be and if they were local or part of what the locals called ‘the Pennsylvania Navy.’ Gran had mentioned the increase in residents over the years in dinner table conversations. Gran wondered if the land would support everyone with all of the construction and water and sewage needs. Sylvia had listened, but left most of these conversations, which sometimes led to arguments between Gran and her mother, to the ‘adults.’ She didn’t like conflict and would escape out to the beach listening to her mother arguing for progress and capitalism and her grandmother voicing concerns for irrational building and the environment. Perhaps if she had stuck around and listened to the arguments between her mother and her grandmother, Sylvia would have had better insight on the secondary life her grandmother had led and was forced to quell per her parents’ directives. When she reached the marina she turned to walk back by way of the beach. She was nearly home when she saw a tall figure striding towards her. It seemed familiar and as she got closer she realized it was Owen.
“Hi there, Syl,” Owen called down the beach to her.
“Hi!” Sylvia answered Owen, with a surprised tone and gave him a look of puzzlement as to why he was walking on the beach.
“I’m glad I found you,” he said when he caught up to her panting a little. Owen had broken into a brief jog when he had seen her. “I thought you might be out walking.
“You’re probably wondering why I’m here,” he said as if reading her thoughts giving her a warm smile.
She nodded in reply and they continued to walk back toward the house, strolling more slowly on the way back.
“Marian sent me over,” he told her, “you left a package in her car and she thought you might need it tomorrow.”
“Oh,” Sylvia said, “Thanks! You can tell her she’s probably correct.”
“She told me you applied to Thurmont?” he asked.
“Yes,” Sylvia answered, “and I missed their phone call today. They’re interested in an interview.”
“That’s great!” he said. “When do you think it will be?” he asked.
Sylvia shrugged, “I’ll call tomorrow. I would think it would be Thursday or Friday, but I really have no idea.”
“How’s the new job going?” she asked him.
“So far, so good,” he quipped. “I’m really just getting my feet wet,” he told her. “Just learning about the place and the routines, you know. There’s nothing exciting or interesting so far to report. It’s definitely a change from the hallowed halls of academia and I’m enjoying that aspect.”
They got back to the house and went inside. Sylvia pulled out a beer and offered it to him while he was talking, taking one herself. They walked back out to the deck and sat on the steps.
“Tell me about the job you applied for,” he said.
“It’s for a position as assistant public information officer,” Sylvia told Owen. “Do you know anyone in that department?”
“I’m afraid not,” he said. “Thurmont’s a huge place. I haven’t had the chance to meet too many people yet. Sorry.”
“That’s okay,” Sylvia said. “I was just wondering.”
Owen was sitting so closely to Sylvia on the steps that she could feel the heat from his body. Their conversation lapsed as they watched the brilliant sunset colors collide and melt into the horizon.
“I’ve seen hundreds of sunsets here,” Sylvia murmured. “I never get tired of seeing them.”
“There’s something magical about them, that’s for sure,” he agreed. He paused and then looked at his watch. “I should be going,” Owen said abruptly, breaking the moment as the sun lowered itself over the western horizon of the bay, burning brilliantly before it settled on the horizon and the air turned from day to dusk.
“Thanks for bringing the bag over,” Sylvia said her voice a little husky with unspoken emotion.
Owen pulled up his tall, lean form and went around to his car.
“Good luck on the interview,” he told her.
“Thanks,” she replied and leaned both elbows on the railing watching him go.
She mentally gave herself a headshake as she watched his car drive away. Sylvia stayed on the deck, musing about Owen until the last dregs of light were wrung from the sky. Twilig
ht fell, and the mosquitoes came out in full force as darkness filled the sky. Sylvia slapped at a few and headed into the kitchen to find something for dinner. She settled in front of the television sitting cross-legged on the couch in the study to eat a microwave meal and flipped through the channels. She couldn’t focus. Her thoughts turned to Owen instead of what was being shown on the television.
The next day she called Thurmont at 8:30. A girl name Carol answered the phone in the Human Resources department. Carol asked if she could possibly come at 11:30 that day, Sylvia was surprised, but agreed. After she got off the phone she showered and chose one of the outfits she had purchased the day before. It was a nubby golden brown raw silk suit with a gold silk shell. It brought out the gold and brown highlights in her hair and eyes. She neatly French braided her hair, added makeup, and matching brown pumps and hurried out the door to make it to Thurmont on time.
Thurmont was about eight miles from her house. It was a long building in brown and black brick tucked away on several wooded acres. As she drove down the road towards the plant, Sylvia thought it could have been a road to a state park. The parking lot was large and manicured trees and shrubs dotted the islands that were placed strategically around the lot. The building could almost blend in with the trees with the exception of the sun glinting off the front glass panels that were at least two stories high. Sylvia’s heels clacked nervously as she walked up the sidewalk to the front door. A security guard asked her business when she walked through and she waited for someone to come to get her for her interview. While she waited, she tapped her foot and looked around. Glossy photos of Thurmont’s products were framed and on the wall. The lunch crowd started to exit through the doors. Sylvia saw a few people sitting themselves at picnic tables in the trees. Two people were coming through the door and were laughing. Sylvia turned to look at them and was surprised to see Owen.
“Sylvia!” he said, as surprised as she, “Hi!” He introduced the woman who stood next to him as “Anna,” letting Sylvia know she was a fellow scientist at the plant. She was tall, platinum, almost white blond, with gray eyes. She was wearing a gray suit that matched her eyes which looked coldly at Sylvia.
“How do you do,” Anna said to Sylvia in an accent Syl could not quite place.
“Nice to meet you,” Sylvia returned politely.
“We were just going to an early lunch,” Owen said, “would you like to join us?”
“Thank you, no,” Sylvia told him, “I’m here for my interview.”
“Oh,” Owen said slightly surprised, “That was really fast. Good luck!”
“Thank you,” Sylvia said.
Anna looked impatiently at her watch and not at all subtle that she wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Owen finally noticed, glanced at them both and said, “We should be going.”
Sylvia nodded. “Enjoy your lunch,” she told them and she watched them walk out the door and across the lot.
Her eyes narrowed jealously as she watched the slim legs pull into the passenger side of Owen’s car that was parked fairly close to the entrance. But her thoughts were interrupted.
“Miss Ash?” a voice asked.
Sylvia turned and a handsome man looked at her questioningly.
“Yes,” she said to him, holding out her hand, “I’m Sylvia Ash.”
“I’m Garrett Keely,” he introduced himself. “I’m the Assistant director of Human Resources.”
“Nice to meet you,” Sylvia said, putting on a polite smile and forgetting about Owen and Anna.
“Would you come this way?” he asked her leading her through another set of heavy glass doors. They went down the left hand hallway of a set of five that led from a central desk, like spokes on a wheel or rays of the sun. Everything was quiet. Mr. Keely was quiet too and he led her to an office about halfway down the hallway.
“If you will have a seat for a moment,” he motioned for her to sit in one of the beige tweed chairs, we’ll be with you in a few minutes.”
There was a secretary at a computer, clacking away noiselessly. She smiled at Sylvia. She was a perky, black haired woman about Sylvia’s age.
“Hi!” she said, stopping to pause for a moment from her typing on the computer. “I’m Carol. We spoke on the phone earlier?”
“Yes,” Sylvia said. “Nice to meet you,” she said and offered her hand. Sylvia was nervous and sat on the edge of her seat. Her palms were sweaty and she was hoping she wouldn’t leave marks on the folder with her resume. She put it down on the chair next to her and discreetly wiped her hands on the arms of the chair. Mr. Keely came out a moment later and asked her to follow him.
Sylvia began to wonder if he purposely made everyone feel nervous and ill at ease, as if to test their nerves, before an interview. He led her to a conference room. It was an oval room with an oval table. One whole wall was curved amber glass that looked out at the woods. Sylvia sat on the side so she could look at the trees. He handed Sylvia a glossy packet about the company.
“Mr. Carter should be here any minute,” he said. “Why don’t you take a moment to familiarize yourself with the company.” He tapped the fingers of his right hand nervously on the polished wood of the conference table and kept glancing at his watch. Sylvia noticed that he had a perfect tan and that his tan nearly matched the color of his hair. He looked a little like a Ken doll. Each hair was combed and gelled perfectly in place. As handsome as he was, for some reason, she didn’t really like him.
“Will you excuse me a moment?” his question more of a statement. “I’ll see what is keeping Mr. Carter.”
“Certainly,” Sylvia said politely and she made herself busy looking through the folder thankful he was gone.
A minute later she heard a door and then a brusque voice, “Damn! Forgot about this today,” the voice said.
A short, paunchy man, who moved more lightly than you would have thought, entered the room. His hairline was receding and he obviously had been caught eating lunch as he had a napkin clutched in his hand.
“Thanks for paging me, Keely,” he said, slapping him on the back. “Damn good of you.” Mr. Keely looked pained.
He bounded over to Sylvia holding out his hand. “Jack Carter,” he introduced himself. “Head of the public information office,” he stated.
She took his hand with a smile. “Nice to meet you Mr. Carter,” she said. “I’m Sylvia Ash.”
“Well, we should get down to business,” he said matter-of-factly.
Sylvia slid a copy of her resume to him over the table.
“Fresh out of college?” he barked.
“Yes, sir,” she said. “All of two weeks.”
“What’s your degree in?” he asked firing the question at her.
“Liberal Arts,” she replied. “I have a strong concentration in English, writing and some coursework in web page design and HTML,” she added.
“Good, good,” he muttered as he looked over her resume. “I see here you worked on the school newspaper.”
“Yes,” Sylvia said. “We published hard copy as well as electronic. I know my way around Quark Express as well as Publisher, Front Page and Photoshop,” she said. “I think I could pick up on most of the web publishing programs if I had the chance,” she said gaining confidence in herself.
“Your qualifications are good,” Mr. Carter said. “I’ll be quite honest with you,” he said to her. “We are in a bit of a mess. This is a new position and we’re working from the ground up. Anyway, if you’re interested in the job, it will be a challenge to create something good and run with it.”
Sylvia nodded. It sounded interesting. Mr. Carter was brusque, but honest. She liked that. He continued to ask a few more questions and she answered with ease.
“I am very interested,” she said clearly at the end of the interview.
“Good,” he said. “We have a couple more interviews, and we’ll be in touch either way,” he told her.
“Nice meeting you,” he said, taking her hand in a firm
handshake.
“Nice to meet you,” she said politely. “I look forward to hearing from you.”
Mr. Keely stood up and said, “I’ll walk you to the exit.”
“Thank you,” Sylvia said as he opened the door for her.
Carol was not at her desk when she left and Sylvia assumed she had gone to lunch. She said thank you and goodbye to Mr. Keely at the glass doors and walked to her car.
Sylvia sat in her car and let the air conditioning cool her off. She hoped she had felt a lot more nervous than she looked, but all in all, thought the interview went well despite its brevity.
Sylvia put the car in gear and backed out of the space. As she left, she glanced around for Owen’s car. She was disappointed that she did not see it and assumed he was still at lunch with Anna. She was surprised at the sparks of jealousy that she was feeling.
When she arrived home her answering machine light was blinking madly. It was her mother who said, “Call me!”
Sylvia went upstairs to change from her suit. She put on shorts and a t-shirt and called her mother at work.
“Hi Syl, how did it go?” her mother asked anxiously.
“Very well, I think,” Sylvia said. “This is a new position,” she told her mother. “They want someone with ideas and who can run with them.”
“That’s good for you!” her mother was enthusiastic. “You’re creative! It sounds perfect for you,” she state with obvious relief that her daughter would be part of the work force soon.
“I think so,” Sylvia answered. “They’re to let me know in the next day or two,” she finished. “They’re to let me know either way. But, Mom,” she stated, “It would a surprise to get hired from my first interview. I’m not counting on it, to be honest.”
“I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you,” her mother said. “Thurmont is a major employer in that area. Just think, not too much of a commute! If you don’t get this job, you’re going to need to look a bit farther from North Bay. I’ll talk to you soon.”
The Greening: a novel of romantic suspense...with a touch of magic (The Green Man Series Book 1) Page 11