The Finding Tree

Chapter 10 - The Finding Tree

The judge agreed that the lake house couldn't be sold until Janey could legally decide for herself, once she reached twenty-one, but that Marcie as her guardian, had the right to use the property as she saw fit until that time.

The summer Janey was thirteen she begged her mother for a week at the lake before school started. Marcie had decided, with Richard's help, to lease out the property as an income source. This meant Janey wouldn't be able to visit, as it would be occupied year round.

With tears and slammed doors, she used all of her newly found teen attitude to convince Marcie for some time at her favorite place, before the inevitable happened.

"Janey," Marcie rolled her eyes with a half grin. "You win this round... we'll go in August. It will be a few weeks before you leave for Chester, so we'll make the most of it, since you'll be gone until winter break.

Marcie had used the Cameron name, as well as their financial and political leverage to secure enrollment for Janey at the prestigious Chesterwood Academy on the other side of the country.

Of course, Janey had passed the entry exams and interviews, but she didn't want to go. Her desires didn't make a difference on the final analysis though.

Marcie had decided to travel around the world with Richard and his legal foundation. No one would be home anyway. Tom wasn't allowed to be her guardian, and it seemed Marcie didn't really want to be. Janey didn't really have any other options.

So, resigned to her fate, she accepted the boarding school as her only avenue of escape. Ever the optimist, she  thought maybe something good would come of it, if she applied herself.

*****

The first week of August, Janey, Marcie, and Richard made the long trip to the last arm of the lake. The property was still boat access only, so the rented boat and driver were a necessity.

Janey didn't wait for anything, as soon as the vessel slowed at the dock she grabbed her bags, and vaulted herself out of the cruiser and up the ramp. Normally tentative, and somewhat clumsy, this was the movement of pure enthusiasm and joy. Whatever hesitation she may have had was left at home.

The house had been opened and aired out by the property management staff.  The lawn was green and freshly cut for their arrival.

After she had unpacked and looked in every room, to make sure everything was still the way it should be, she sat down... suddenly exhausted.

Slowly she reached in her bag and brought out the beautifully burnished red gold oak box. The curls, swirls and movement in the wood always looked like Van Gogh to Janey. Today was no different, the texture looked like brush-strokes on a galaxy full of stars.

The carving of the tree was dark and deep, intricate with leaves and branches... it almost danced, and she thought it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.

Knowing it was made by Lawrence and had held all the love he had for Mabel, made Janey's heart swell with yearning and desire. Her chest ached with the beauty of it all, and the loss of her own family that she felt so keenly.

Setting out lavender stationery, and a brand new Lisa Frank pen and pencil set, she slowly and deliberately wrote a letter in soft teenage cursive. Stopping to blow her nose, she then scrunched up the letter, batted it to the floor with an exasperated sigh.

After a trip to the kitchen for a forbidden glass of Dr. Pepper , She focused again, brushing dark curls out of her eyes, the loops and swirls, graceful arcs and straight ends made their way onto the paper directly from her
heart.

The third attempt was kept on the desk.  Carefully, she lined up the corners, folding the sheet into perfect squares and then in half again. With purpose and resolution the note made it into the box, and was sealed away by the puzzle mechanism.