“Absolutely not,” Keaton replied.“No one is more important than you, Levi, and Aunt Noel.”
Is football more important?Noel wanted to ask.How about beer?However, she kept her lips together as if bonded by glue.
“So you’ll come?”Laney assumed hopefully.
“I can’t cancel my plans at the last minute, little bug.”
You couldNoel thought.You should.
“Maybe your dad will come by the candy shop soon and see all the hard work you and Levi have done,” Noel suggested, hoping to soften the blow.
“Yeah Daddy, do that.”
“I will,” he promised.
Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn’t, but for now the answer seemed sufficient for Laney.
When Keaton disappeared after a round of hugs, Noel and the kids tracked down Rainey, Chelsea, Mrs.Madelyn, and Jack.Rainey wheeled Jack back to his vehicle, and then the rest of them headed to Beaufort Candy Company to decorate for Christmas.Laney and Levi pulled the empty wagons along the sidewalk, and Noel reminded them that all the leftovers would be donated to the homeless shelter.
“The tree is so huge,” Levi told Rainey, his eyes mirroring the word choice as he and Laney led the group along the boardwalk overlooking Taylor Creek, the most scenic route.
Tiny waves rippled across the water causing the surface to shimmer like diamonds.Most of the boats remained docked while everyone celebrated Thanksgiving although a few meandered through the no-wake zone.Several families on their vessels' decks appeared to be enjoying the sunshine and the view as a pod of dolphins graced everyone with their presence moving at a pace similar to the wagon-themed walk.
After Noel twisted the key in the lock and everyone spilled through the entrance, Rainey’s eyes stretched the distance of the store, the space more than twice as long as the width.“Wow, the Christmas tree really is massive.”
“Told you so,” Levi declared.
“It smells so good,” Chelsea pointed out sniffing the open air as if a candle rested beneath her nose.
“I have always loved the smell that the fresh candy and live Christmas tree create,” Mrs.Madelyn commented as she became lost in the thought of all the years of experiencing the distinct aroma.It reminded her of the dear friends who introduced her to this shop—two people who embodied the Christmas spirit year round.
“Rainey, you get to climb the ladder to wrap the lights around the top and hang the ornaments on the branches that are too high for the rest of us to reach,” Noel announced.
“I knew you all had an ulterior motive for inviting me,” Rainey responded with a smirk.
In the past only family and Mrs.Madelyn decorated the store, but this year Noel decided at the last minute to solicit the help of friends.She waited until the end of the Thanksgiving feast to ask since she hoped Keaton would be the one climbing the ladder as usual.This would mark the first time without him present for the occasion.Last year he still participated in most family traditions.None of the adults gave fully into decorating the candy shop last season, and Noel knew it showed visually and in the books.This year she held high hopes.
Chelsea smacked her husband on the shoulder.“You are the second woman to hit me today,” Rainey acknowledged.
“Oh yeah, who was the first?”she inquired.“I want to know so that I can thank her for helping keep you in line.”
Rainey glared at Noel as she locked up the store behind the crew, grinning as the conversation between her friends took residence in her ears.
“Thank you, Noel,” Chelsea noted.
“My pleasure.”
The cuckoo clock sounded letting everyone know that two o’clock arrived.More importantly, the kids, helping prove Pavlov’s bell theory, sprinted to the spot where they left their stockings.Levi slid across the wooden floor like a baseball player trying to score the winning run.
“Did we miss eating any of our special candy while we were at Thanksgiving?”Laney investigated suspecting they had.
“I think the two of you ate more than your share of candy at the community feast,” Noel declared as she recalled seeing them run to and from the dessert table often along with scores of other children.“But yes, you missed two, and you can eat them whenever you want.”
“Or you can give them to me,” Rainey encouraged.
“No way,” Levi replied.
“You can have my two extras,” Laney offered.“I’m stuffed like a turkey.”
