Cavin wandered through the aisles with mixed emotions.Although he loved the taste of candy like most other human beings, he rarely ate sugary delights, and he couldn’t recall the last time he partook of something sweet for breakfast.He usually stuck with healthy options like eggs and fruit smoothies.However, it didn’t take long for nostalgia to set in as he reunited with candies from his childhood, some that he hadn’t come across in years.He noticed that the store offered their own homemade candy rather than the name brands.
A handful of minutes later at the register, Cavin waited in line behind a couple of customers before Mrs.Madelyn greeted him again.
“The coffee is delicious,” she said, touching her cup.“I hope you enjoyed your cinnamon roll.”
“So far it’s the best breakfast in Beaufort, Mrs.Madelyn.”
She laughed out loud.“I told you.”
With customers standing in line behind Cavin, Mrs.Madelyn placed the items he chose on the scale.“Did you bring your wife or girlfriend with you to Beaufort?”she inquired with a grin.
“I left both of them at home,” Cavin teased without missing a beat, and then he noticed a puzzled expression take over Mrs.Madelyn’s face.“Just kidding, of course,” he quickly clarified.“It’s just me,” he confirmed.
“Well if you need to know about all the best places in town, you know where to find us,” she suggested while punching in numbers on the old-timey cash register.
“I will keep that in mind, Mrs.Madelyn,” Cavin agreed.“Thank you for the cinnamon roll and coffee.”
“Thank you for retrieving the coffee and helping us resolve this morning’s catastrophe.”
“Anytime.”
“Kids, say goodbye to Mr.Dawson,” Mrs.Madelyn said, peeking underneath the counter.
“I thought I saw them run back there earlier.”
Laney and Levi stood, each of their little heads just above the tall counter.They wore noticeable hot chocolate mustaches which caused Cavin to grin.
“They have a little fort back here,” Mrs.Madelyn shared with a smile.
“Bye, Kevin,” Levi said while Laney waved dramatically.
“Thanks for the hot chocolate,” Laney offered.
“It was yummilicious,” Levi added.
“Levi and Laney, maybe next time I will have one with you.”
Mrs.Madelyn handed each of the kids a napkin before the next customer set a basket of goodies on the counter.
When the bell jingled as Cavin pushed open the door to exit the store, Noel stepped out of the kitchen with a fresh tray of cinnamon rolls just in time to catch a fleeting glimpse of the dark-haired newcomer before he disappeared onto the sidewalk.
10
Cavin spent the next few hours walking around the downtown waterfront area of Beaufort which was even more beautiful on foot at a slow pace.He slid his long, thin fingers along the rail separating the boardwalk from Taylor Creek and noticed a neatly placed Christmas wreath hung on each concrete pillar he passed.The rows of docked boats stretching toward Carrot Island offered a unique and inviting nautical vibe that seemingly attracted people from all walks of life.
With the wind blowing Cavin’s coattail rather fiercely, he stopped to lean against the railing overlooking the creek hoping for a few moments of reprieve from the chilly weather.He nestled his cold hands into his pockets and studied the wide array of vessels from canoes to sailboats to yachts as the water slapped against the barrier beneath his feet.One boat in particular captured his attention, and most likely caught the eyes of every passerby.
At the end of one of the docks rested a fancy superyacht twice as long as the next largest yacht in the water’s parking lot.The three enormous decks brought it to a height that surpassed the others by a wide margin, and its sleek design with long, darkly tinted windows was mesmerizing.
Cavin wondered who owned the yacht and what they did for a living.He imagined their net worth must be at least a billion dollars which meant this individual probably owned a large corporation, was a famous celebrity, or made a fortune some other way.The impressive boat could even belong to one of the top social media influencers with all the money they raked in these days.Regardless, Cavin made a note to meet the owner and work his magic to find a way onto the yacht for a tour if nothing else.Having a contact who played in a league like that would be a major asset.
Walking a little further, Cavin discovered John Newton Park, a small area accessorized with benches beneath spidery live oaks that overlooked the rippling creek.A cute little red and white barn-style Santa house sat in the middle with a tall chair out front.He figured families would line up here soon to have pictures of their children taken with the big guy.Assorted colored lights lined the A-frame roofline; a wreath hung above the doors; and flat wooden trees painted green flanked either side of the entrance.
After some time studying the layout of the scenic waterfront, Cavin went into nearly every shop on Front Street and met as many people as possible.In some places he talked to the business owners, and in others, he made acquaintances with employees.Many of the stores were already decorated for Christmas or at least in the process of adding special touches like trees, lights, ornaments, and snowmen.
Early on in his career, Cavin learned not to step up to the counter and start asking questions or for the owner, but to peruse each store with a purpose.In nearly every shop, he purchased at least one item.He carried bags around with him so that the staff would realize his intention to shop, and when the merchandise became too bulky, he dropped it off at the rental vehicle.While perusing the stores, he asked for help, opinions, directions, and all kinds of other things.He learned as many names as possible and listened for the names of the key players in town that those he met mentioned.
Every small town had a powerful group who pretty much ran things, and those were the people he wanted to influence.It could consist of the sheriff, a retired professional athlete, the mayor, a respected farmer, business owners, or just about anyone.Cavin kept a small notebook in his shirt pocket, and each time after visiting a new store, he took notes.It didn’t take much prodding to figure out which businesses were popular and which ones struggled in this tourist town.He didn’t need to ask who owned each location because that information was readily accessible online, and he studied the details before going into every establishment.Most often he would have done this homework on the airplane, and now he kicked himself for watching the movie instead because it slowed down progress during the available hours to work in the field today.
