Blue sneakers & Green grapes
Are we ready for the opening?.
Yes, sir, the yards are fenced, the visiting area is marked and the guides are ready. The final trays of cheese are being set. We are ready to host.
Great, the visitors will start arriving anytime now. And we have a reputation to maintain.
Yes sir.
Nate, the most successful vigneron in the Muralo family to date. He had successfully expanded the vineyards with his unconventional ideas and sales soared like they never had and to places, his ancestors had never dreamt of.
The gates at the far end opened and the cards paraded in one after the other by the side of the farm. The day was an important one. This vast vineyard had newly opened and was the latest addition to his acquisition. Nate wanted everything to be perfect. Like always. He would not tolerate tardiness. He had faith in his butler and his handling of the affairs, He never had the need to doubt him. However, that morning, although content by the preparations for the welcome of the wine aficionados or some who were just looking for a getaway, he felt the same void he had been feeling for the last few months. It was in his heart. Nate had, by choice, spent most of his life expanding the vineyards. He loved the outdoors and had a huge ambition to reach in his life. But off late he had started to wonder if he had ignored some salient things in life. He pondered if he should have spent more time finding a soul mate. Would that fill the void in his heart? He had had dates. Some that his friends set up and some that his family set up. But they all felt feigned or superficial. Nate was not much of a talker and found it difficult to strike a conversation post,’ what do you do for a living?’. With the clock ticking he told himself that maybe this is a price he would have to pay to reach his dreams. If that was the case, he was gladly willing to take it.
At the stroke of 1100, it was time for Nate to be a good host. Just a few hours of courteous welcome and then he can retire to his room to read his books, Nate convinced himself. As he headed out of the door, his favorite girl came running to him. ‘Shall we go, princess?’ He asked.
‘Yes, uncle Nate’, his niece replied.
The one thing that took his mind away from his work, ambition, and everything was his 5-year-old niece. The first time he took her in his arms, she smiled at him that touched a chord in his heart. From the moment onwards he knew he would do everything to protect this little thing. She was his little bundle of joy. As they walked hand in hand to the entrance, Nate was impressed with the arrangements. His sister had outdone herself this time.
Well familiar with the protocol that this event had, Nate, welcomed everyone formally to the neighborhood’s first vineyard tour. With a smile and a toast, he stepped away to give the rest to his sister to take over. It was the same rich barons, oenophiles he had seen in so many events in the past, and some uninterested people who were there just for the glamour of the event when his eyes suddenly fell on someone out of place. She was not wearing the satin or the floppy hat. She was wearing a red dress and a beige coat that fit her snugly and a pair of blue sneakers. This was not a scene he saw often. Intrigued enough, he decided to stay a little longer.
As they stood up to go to the cellars for the display, he noticed the lady in red help someone stand. It must have been her mother for the resemblance was uncanny. She slowly held her hand and took small steps as her mother struggled to take one step after the other. The rest of the crowd was moving faster. But the lady in red was not anxious at all. She was more concerned about moving in pace with the old lady. Although a very tiny act, Nate was enthralled by her poise and confidence. She radiated a sense of self-contentment in being where she was. Nate wanted to help them. He called someone right away asking him to bring a wheelchair. Once it arrived and knowing it was taken care of, Nate left for his study room.
Although he decided to read the book from where he left off, Nate could not stop thinking about the lady in red. He admired simplicity and confidence. She without doubt radiated them. He was glad that he saw someone like that after a long time. When, even after some attempts, he could not get his head around the book, Nate decided to watch over the vineyard. Maybe he can get one look at her as she came out for the tours around it.
The visitors exited the villa to head to the fields and he searched for the one in beige. He was far enough to be obscure but close enough to make out colors. As the train of people strode ahead escorted by the guides, he did not see her. Was she left behind? Was the wheelchair not helpful? A guest was in an uncomfortable place. As a host, it was his job to sort it out. He headed out to find out what had happened.
As he reached the entrance to the fields, he saw her sitting there by her mother, looking out. Like a model host, he walked up to her and said,
Excuse me, mam. Is there a problem?
She turned around to look at him. Wow, she was even more beautiful up close. She had brown eyes, the color of honey, and her face radiated with pink cheeks. The world around Nate shrunk to that face.
Oh, hi no problem at all. We are just sitting here. She replied.
Quickly gaining his composure, Nate said, would you like to take a visit into the fields? They are the best part of the event. Our guide is quite the expert.
Oh, thanks. I am sure that would be great. But the mud is wet and my mother would have a tough time walking in the fields. We are fine seeing the fields from here. She replied.
Oh, that is not a problem at all. It would be a sin if you came here and did not tour the fields. Please allow me to sort this out for you.
No no, please don’t trouble yourself. She replied.
Nate was already making a call by then. In less than 2 minutes, a tour buggy came by.
Mam, if I may.
Nate helped her mother onto the vehicle for the premium tour. As he stepped aside to let Katie get onboard, she looked at him and said, I would prefer to walk. If you have the time, would you mind taking me through the fields?
The unexpected question took Nate by surprise and he could not believe things turned this way. Struggling to maintain composure and not wanting to show his elation, he said, ‘of course. As your host, it would be my pleasure’.
Katie first noticed him when he welcomed everyone that morning. He seemed down to earth and headstrong. He was confident and he knew his job well. He must be a part of the team that manages the event she thought. It was nice of him to wait at the door as she and her mother slowly walked out of the room that morning. She was sure he was the one who asked for the wheelchair but before she could thank him for it, he was nowhere to be seen. So it was a pleasant surprise when she saw him again some time ago and tried to help them with a tour. As he helped her mother get into the buggy, she had a strong desire to see him again. Following her heart, she braved to ask the question.
Ushering the buggy to leave, Nate and Katie walked on the fields. He was not dressed for a walk on the wet mud. He was in his office suit and his black shoes. He briefly considered going back to change it, when Katie said,
Do you always give tours dressed like this?
Not wanting to express what he just thought, Nate replied, yea, it is our dress code.
You know, you guys have to take it easy. Barefoot, or sneakers, the best thing for mud, said Katie, as she proudly raised her leg and showed off her blue sneakers.
She was unapologetic about being herself too, Nate mused impressed.
You know, we have done this so many times, but I have never seen anyone with sneakers for a tour. Nate conveniently concealed the fact that he hardly went out for tours with visitors.
Well isn’t that what shoes are for. Comfort? When I walk around I want to enjoy nature and the skies, not worry about if my Gucci shoes are getting soiled or my heels are getting stuck.
Hands in his pocket, Nate looked down and smiled. She was clear in what she likes.
Oh but I understand this is your work uniform. No offense.
Haha, none taken. So what is it that you like about the skies that much, Nate asked, now wanting to know her more completely oblivious to the fact that he was initiating conversations now. Something he had never been at ease with in the past.
The clouds. They visit every day but are different. It is as though you can sit and stare at them for hours together. They will just pass by but time will stop.
Nate looked at the girl beside him who was now looking up at the sky. The words she just said felt like a poem to him, and she, an art of nature. His heart was beating so slowly and he felt light. He slowly took his hands, cupped her face, looked into her eyes which were now looking back at him and leaned forward to give her a kiss.
Hey, he heard. As he looked, he noticed her a few steps ahead. Is everything ok? You kind of froze there.
Realizing he had just drifted to an imaginary world, he shook his head and walked up to her. Yes, everything is fine, let us go.
As she talked and talked, Nate listened. He occasionally stopped to give her the knowledge of the hanging fruits he had grown up with and knew so much about. But that was only until he would look at her face and find her looking at him. He would then stop and ask her something. He wanted to hear her speak, watch her eyes speak, her hands move in action and her body fall in tune. She spoke of her family, her job back in the city, how wine was her favorite drink, the interesting places in the city for food.
What is your favorite place for food? she asked him.
Hmm well, I do thoroughly enjoy the crepes at A2B. I guess those would be my favorites.
Aah yes, they are famous for them.
With a lot of contemplation, Nate said, May I ask something?
Sure.
I mean no offense but wine tours usually involve a lot of walking but your mother is not very comfortable in it. Was this a good idea?
Katie smiled, my mother has done everything in her life to make things better for me and my sister after our father passed away. She was our strength and was always there for us. Very recently hidden away in the attic we found something my mother had written to my father just after their wedding, a todo-list. Visiting a vineyard was one of them. And hence here we are. I want her to have good memories so that one day when she is standing by the window of our house, she can look back at these times and know that she lived her life well.
Nate stopped for she had verbalized what he was thinking about that morning. He recognised what the void was all about. He missed having memories to go back to. He missed creating those memories with someone. Nate realized it was her he was missing for so long.
Katie stopped amidst the grapevines as she felt Nate staring at her. As she turned and looked at him, she felt a sense of belonging on the face of the man she had met only a few hours ago. She was impressed by his hospitality. She admired his passion when he spoke of the vineyard. But above all, she felt a strong connection in her heart. She stood there looking at him, her gaze fixed on his face. As she continued gazing deeply into his eyes, the world around her slowed down. She felt as though everything around her was merging into one big cloud of blue and white. The pull she felt towards him was wholehearted and magical. There was only one thing to do. She moved closer to him, closed her eyes, and gently kissed him. Suddenly the world disappeared. Nate put his hands around her waist and pulled her closer. Embraced in each other’s arms, they kissed until they were convinced that the magic was real.
As she slowly pulled back, Nate opened his eyes to see the most beautiful brown eyes. This was a memory he would not forget. And he knew this was just the beginning.
