Chapter 15
“Have you been crying, dear?” Mrs. Madelyn inquired empathetically, finding Noel in the back during a break between customers.
“Yes, I’m afraid I have been.”
Noel shared a synopsis of the conversation near the hot chocolate stand and then followed it with one explaining her private talk with Cavin in the kitchen.
“He asked me if anyone ever told me I was cute when I was mad,” Noel grumbled. “Why did he have to say that?” she grunted.
Mrs. Madelyn’s eyebrows climbed her forehead. “Honey, that sounds like a compliment to me.”
“Yeah, but . . .,” Noel trailed off.
“How did you respond?”
“I started crying and then said that Fletcher told me that,” Noel explained.
“Oh,” Mrs. Madelyn murmured. “Then what?”
“Cavin said something about not crossing boundaries again, and all of a sudden, he was gone.”
“He hurried out of here as quickly as he scurried in earlier,” Mrs. Madelyn noted.
“Hopefully he won’t come back,” Noel spewed.
“Sweetie, I think Cavin was simply trying to help.”
“You would say that,” Noel huffed.
“He stood up for your children,” Mrs. Madelyn reminded her.
“You’re just saying that because you think he’s cute and that I should date him. Well even if I wanted to date him and for the record, I don’t; he lives in Atlanta. On top of that, I think Georgia already beat everyone to the punch. Imagine that.”
Mrs. Madelyn recalled the memory of Georgia storming into the candy shop demanding they shut down the hot chocolate stand immediately.
Once she held everyone’s attention, Georgia talked in one of those forceful whispers pretending she didn’t want the customers to hear although most took in every word.
The woman always seemed to be on a power trip.
“That Georgia is a handful,” Mrs. Madelyn said.
“Maybe they will fall in love and he will take Georgia back to Georgia with him where her big city thinking would probably fit in a little better. She has been attempting to change everything good since moving here. She’s so rigid with her rules.
Beaufort is a laid-back town. No one who’s from here cares if a couple of kids want to sell hot chocolate on the sidewalk. ”
“You are right about that, and I’m sorry that Georgia and Cavin upset you, but at least Cavin acknowledged your frustration and apologized.
That must say something about his character.
” Mrs. Madelyn decided not to push the dating issue for the time being.
It wasn’t simply that she wanted Noel to date Cavin; she understood the hurdles Noel pointed out.
She just knew Noel deserved a good man in her life.
Someone like her Jack who would always be there for her.
Someone like Fletcher who had always been there for Noel although death stole him away far too soon.
There would be no replacement for Fletcher, of that she felt certain.
However, Mrs. Madelyn was optimistic that other good men were out there, and Cavin just happened to be single and quite handsome.
“You are right about Georgia. She has really rubbed a lot of people the wrong way with her agenda. I’m not sure how she got voted into her position. ”
“Oh, I’ll tell you how she got voted into her position. You should have seen the way she walked away from the hot chocolate stand earlier. Georgia draws a lot of attention, and she knows exactly what she is doing. She would probably bring an upscale strip club here if the town would let her.”
“I pray Beaufort will stay far too classy for such establishments,” Mrs. Madelyn replied.
“Me too,” Noel agreed.
The simple sounds of Christmas music mixed with customer’s voices reminded Noel and Mrs. Madelyn that they needed to put a pin in this emotional conversation and get back to the floor.
As soon as Noel nudged the kitchen door, Levi came hustling through the opening as if it were made for him. “Excuse me,” he requested. “We have more hot chocolate to make,” he added, passing them by.
Noel dredged up a smile. “I am proud of you two.”
“Thanks, Mom. This hot chocolate stand is really a hit,” he responded enthusiastically as he washed his hands thoroughly.
Impressed by how well the kids remembered to wash their hands anytime they entered the kitchen, Noel smiled.
“We knew it would be,” Mrs. Madelyn encouraged before walking out front to find a handful of cheerful customers wandering the store with cups in hand. A few hovered near the counter, and Mrs. Madelyn rushed to ring up their selections.
“Levi, make another batch of the hot chocolate mix and put the milk in the pot on the warmer while I help Mrs. Madelyn on the floor quickly. Then, I will pour everything into a large thermos and help you transition the product to your table.”
Noel swiftly returned to provide fudge samples and answer questions about specific candies customers sought without luck.
After all the time she spent walking the aisles positioning products in the most optimal places, she knew the store like the back of her hand.
Noel couldn’t believe the kids already sold three-quarters of the first batch of hot chocolate—she was so proud of their efforts.
Levi read the hot chocolate mix recipe his mother wrote for them earlier, and he made sure to follow it closely while waiting for her to come back.
She mentioned consistency being the key ingredient several times, and he recalled her also saying this when he helped make fudge and candy.
He loved helping his mom in the kitchen, and he loved even more making things on his own and impressing her and Mrs. Madelyn with his abilities.
The powdered sugar, cocoa powder, powdered milk, vanilla, chocolate chips, and dehydrated marshmallows were all within reach although he used his stool to grab a couple of the items. He and Laney each had a stool for reaching things on shelves and to create a better vantage point during prep time.
Measuring everything was the hardest part of this project, but Levi recalled his mom saying that having the perfect amount of each ingredient was what made their homemade hot chocolate so delicious.
Just before Levi finished sifting all the ingredients and mixing them together in a large bowl, his mom returned and helped him stir the mix into the warmed milk. Then he purposefully walked through the store as they each carried a full thermos.
“Take your time so you don’t accidentally drop it,” Noel suggested as he outpaced her adult steps.
“Customers are probably waiting, Mom,” he replied without looking back although he slowed a bit and steadied the thermos with both hands. The contents still churned like an angry sea, but the tight lid kept the chocolatey waves at bay.
As Levi bounced down the aisle, Noel couldn’t help but notice his resemblance to a cute little elf with his Santa hat flopping to and fro. The kids were growing up way too fast, and she wished life would slow down just a bit.
Cavin made it back to the house in time to catch the taxi he called after leaving the candy shop.
He wasn’t sure why he focused so much on getting the rental vehicle’s tires fixed.
Although still an important issue, paying for a ride was quick and easy and wouldn’t bankrupt the company.
This way he would be sure to make his tee time and could deal with the tires later.
He decided that rather than visit a local sporting goods store, he would purchase clubs from the pro shop. The set would be more expensive but would make a good impression at the country club.
Cavin circled the rental vehicle once more glaring at each of the four tires while shaking his head in disgust.
When the driver pulled into the driveway, Cavin tossed his duffel bag into the backseat and climbed in next to it. The two exchanged pleasantries, and then the guy made him laugh.
“Who did you piss off?” he inquired, staring at the sunken SUV.
“I know, right! At least this time I am confident it was not an ex.”
The man sitting behind the steering wheel chuckled. “Been there, done that.”
It didn’t take long for them to arrive at the country club where Cavin handed the fellow a cash tip before asking if he would be available to pick him up later this afternoon.
“Just let me know when,” the driver offered with an appreciative smile.
It didn’t surprise Cavin that he was the first to arrive for the golf outing. He purposely came early to allow plenty of time to pick out a nice set of clubs, and he was grateful for the club pro’s expert recommendation leading him to the best set for the occasion.
By the time Cavin swiped the company credit card, the other men began showing up.
Jeff and Daniel—one of the gentlemen at Georgia’s table last night—were among the first to arrive, and they introduced him to the friends who accompanied them.
Cavin quickly realized that everyone seemed to know each other, regardless of who brought whom.
“Fellows, I have already taken care of today’s round as well as the cart fees,” Cavin announced. “I also started a tab for us at the register so make sure to grab beverages and snacks to take with you on me,” he insisted.
“You’re the man, Cavin,” the guy who introduced himself as a chiropractor announced.
“You will fit in well in Beaufort,” the doctor greeted with a strong handshake.
“I’ll get you next time,” Jeff offered. “But the rest of you are on your own,” he quipped.
A round of laughter filled the pro shop. Each man grabbed a few items, and then they loaded their personal belongings and clubs into the three carts that awaited them under the luxurious awning beyond the front doors.
Cavin climbed into one of the driver’s seats, and Walt, the accountant in the group who looked every bit the part with his thick glasses and short, plump stature, plopped down beside him.
“Do you guys want to play individually or split into teams?” Walt asked, digging through a handful of snacks he grabbed in the clubhouse.