Chapter 21 #2
“For now it is,” Cavin answered. “I figured you all would be working at the candy store today, maybe even managing the hot chocolate stand,” he added as Noel came within earshot.
“Beaufort Candy Company is closed on Sundays,” Noel revealed. “A lot of the shops close so that the owners and employees can enjoy a day of rest, attend church, or spend the time with their families. Some of the others close on Mondays or Tuesdays instead since those days are typically slower.”
Cavin previously considered walking down there at some point today, and the idea struck him once more as he descended the steps a few moments ago. He would have been bummed to find the shop closed. “What are you all up to?” he inquired.
“Looking for Scout,” Levi announced with excitement lining his little voice.
“The lost dog?” Cavin checked.
“Yep,” Levi answered.
“Come help us,” Laney requested.
Cavin looked to Noel for approval.
“You should come,” Noel encouraged, stuffing her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. “It would be nice to have another set of eyes.”
Cavin considered the alternative—working on the proposals. “If everyone else is taking the day off, I guess I should, too,” he announced while imagining his father’s ears burning right now.
“We need all the help we can get,” Levi suggested, raising his walkie-talkie as high in the air as his arms allowed. “The police are on the case also,” he announced proudly.
“We are junior officers,” Laney explained, showing Cavin her walkie-talkie.
“That is awesome and impressive,” Cavin replied. “Do you all have time for me to run inside and grab a couple of things?”
The kids shook their heads up and down, and Noel answered, “Of course.”
When Cavin returned, Levi pulled a folded and crumpled sheet of paper from his pocket and handed it to Cavin.
“What is this?” Cavin asked.
“Open it. It’s one of the fliers for the missing dog,” Levi explained.
“Scout’s owner got hot chocolate from Laney and me yesterday.
We didn’t know it was him until he pointed to the flier on the nearby pole and asked if we’d seen his dog.
Then when we told him we were going to find Scout for him, he brought back extra fliers for us to hand out and put up. ”
“He also gave us a twenty-dollar tip,” Laney shared with bulging eyes.
Noel smiled almost as broadly as when the kids told her the story this morning before church. She loved their excitement about helping others, especially strangers.
Cavin nodded his head, showing his understanding. “That is amazing, you guys. What would you like me to do with the flier?”
“You like to talk to people so ask anyone who walks by if they’ve seen Scout,” Levi instructed.
Noel hastily pulled a hand from her back pocket to cover the erupting giggle, and her shy demeanor caused Cavin’s cheeks and brows to rise as he shot her a little grin in response.
“Yeah, and show them the picture,” Laney added.
The four of them wandered the streets of Beaufort, specifically the neighborhoods surrounding Cavin’s rental, for nearly two hours.
The kids called out, “Here, Scout, here, boy,” a hundred times as they surveyed every place a dog could possibly hide: behind bushes, fences, cars, porches, and all kinds of other spots.
They ran in and out of people’s yards and knocked on front doors asking homeowners if they saw the dog on the poster.
Cavin and Noel often found themselves left behind, and they took full advantage of the opportunities to learn more about each other and engage in the occasional flirtation.
When their eyes weren’t on one another, they remained focused on the mission although the kids reprimanded them several times for being distracted.
Noel and Cavin smiled obligingly but then carried on as the December sun moved high across the sky.
“Do the people here not mind the kids running through their yards?” Cavin asked knowing that where he came from they would be constantly scolded by residents.
“I love that you say what is on your mind,” Noel complimented.
“Pretty much everyone in Beaufort encourages the local kids around Levi’s and Laney’s age and above to run around and have fun.
We adopted the it takes a village philosophy many moons ago.
Most of the children are super respectful, and being able to roam freely is a perk of growing up in a small, safe town where everyone knows one another.
We all have each other’s numbers and know where one another lives and works.
Those of us who are now parents and grandparents grew up the same way when we were kids, so we know firsthand how much fun it is to have the freedom to explore this place,” Noel explained.
“Plus, as you have witnessed today with these two communicating on the radios with the police, these two junior officers have a key to the city,” she laughed.
Unfortunately they didn’t find Scout on day one of searching.
However, Noel was grateful they ran into Cavin after wondering when she would see him again.
Not being accustomed to this dating thing, she never even thought about giving him her phone number.
She supposed she would need to get used to it again because she liked him even more after spending the afternoon with him and the kids.
She appreciated his silly banter with Levi and Laney, and the way he approached them on their level.
When Laney asked the next question, Noel realized she might not ever have to make plans with Cavin again; it seemed the kids and Mrs. Madelyn would do her bidding for her.
“Mr. Cavin,” Laney started then paused as her investigative mind turned.
“I think that’s your name, Cavin, not Kevin.
I keep hearing people say it differently than Kevin,” she observed rather wisely for a youngster.
“Aunt Noel is helping us make Christmas cookies to decorate tonight, and she is going to play the piano, and we’re all going to sing Christmas carols.
I was thinking since you took the day off from your work, maybe you have time to make cookies and sing songs with us. ”
Noel cringed a little wanting Cavin to say yes while also thinking it might be best if he said no. Then she thought about saying maybe another night, but he studied her with those eyes, and something in them told her that he needed time away from work with others as much as she did.
“You are right. My name is Cavin,” he clarified, “but you two can call me Cavin or Kevin.” As Cavin spoke, he glanced from the kids to Noel and back a couple of times attempting to gauge Noel’s body language in response to Laney’s question, but he couldn’t quite read her.
“Yeah, you should come, Kevin, that way we have two boys and two girls,” Levi pointed out. “And I think I want to keep calling you Kevin.”
“Since you put it that way, I guess I could swing by for a little bit if it’s okay with Noel.”
“While the kids have you on the hook to sing with us, I guess I better not let you off since you did kind of agree to that yesterday,” Noel teased and shrugged her shoulders.
Cavin laughed. “Did you put these two up to this?” he checked.
“I wish I could take credit for such a genius plan,” Noel admitted.
A few minutes later the four of them climbed into Cavin’s SUV, and he drove them to the parking lot next to the candy shop where Noel guided him to one of the spaces near the building designated solely for her residence.
Then Levi and Laney excitedly led Cavin around back to a staircase on the waterfront side of the building.
When they reached a quaint cast-iron balcony with a table and chairs for four overlooking Taylor Creek, Cavin took in the view with awe.
“This is the best view I have seen in Beaufort yet,” Cavin declared to Noel. “And I have discovered some really nice ones.”
“It never gets old,” Noel guaranteed as she paused to appreciate the sounds of the waves and the salty breeze that blew in their direction.
Cavin could have lingered in that spot taking in the scene for hours, but the kids were eager to drag him through the door. With each of them holding one of his hands, he entered Noel’s house for the very first time.
Inside he discovered antique furniture, a worn couch, a dated television, and carpet just begging to be replaced.
However, the place smelled like candy rather than old flooring, and Cavin could tell that people well loved this home over the years.
Toys scattered here and there along with drawings displayed on the fridge and cartoon character blankets draped unceremoniously over chairs reminded him that two children lived here with a hard-working single mom.
Cavin remembered Noel saying this house once belonged to her parents, and he realized she probably never found the time or energy to update anything or really even make it hers even if she wanted.
He wished he could fly his family’s staff here to spruce up the place for Noel and the kids.
They would have it looking pristine in no time.
However, all those thoughts drifted away as the cookies went into the oven because the aroma soon filled the air with another sweet smell.
While waiting for the dough to bake, Noel wiped a layer of dust from the piano in the corner of the room and opened the lid slowly.
Lost in thought she pulled the bench from beneath the instrument and slid her body into place.
Cavin watched her eyelids collapse as she felt the keys for the first time since losing her family members, and when she started playing a familiar tune, her face gradually pinkened as if the morning sun slowly rose on her cheeks.