“The answer to your first question came up later in the investigation in a meeting with detectives when Rainey mentioned that Fletcher never allowed anyone to drive his boat,” Noel explained, and then she somehow let out a hint of a laugh while crying sounding like a bull snorting although Cavin couldn’t imagine why she found humor in the question nor the answer.Then her answer to his second question cleared things up.“Prior to the accident, Keaton wouldn’t touch alcohol.He hated everything about it—the smell, the taste, and the effect it has on the brain,” she explained.
“Really?”Cavin responded surprisingly although he could see why a man who felt responsible for the death of loved ones might turn to alcohol.Now he felt bad about making an assumption about Keaton once again.Maybe he should stop doing that, he realized.
“Regardless of what happened out there, Keaton holds himself responsible,” Noel shared.
“What did he say happened?”Cavin came right out and asked.
“Keaton said they hit a sandbar.”
“How did he survive when no one else did?”
“Keaton said everyone except him went flying because he saw the sandbar at the last second, and only had enough time to brace himself and hold onto the steering wheel for dear life.He said he tried to scream, but by the time it came out of his mouth, it was too late.”
“Oh God,” Cavin sighed.
“The actual causes of each person’s death varied slightly.My mom and Lexi were sitting in the back of the boat, and my dad and Fletcher were at the front.”Noel paused for a moment realizing she never shared the details with anyone.The autopilot response had always been that her family members died in a tragic boating accident, and after hearing that, people didn’t ask questions.“Mom and Lexi both flew forward toward Keaton, hitting their heads on unforgiving parts of the boat,” she mentioned first, not wanting to explain further although certain Cavin understood.“My dad flew out and landed on the sandbar—the impact was too great for any chance of survival.”Noel stopped there for a moment trying not to visualize the accident for the millionth time, but she never could push away the imagery.“Fletcher was near the bow.His head rammed into something that knocked him unconscious but didn’t kill him, and he flew completely over the sandbar.His cause of death was listed as drowning.”
Cavin let the silence linger in the air for a long while, and then Noel’s quiet tears erupted into muffled sobs as she covered her face with her hands and eventually her jacket.Nonetheless she kept pacing instinctively knowing that if she stopped she would fall to the ground.Cavin’s insistence on walking along the waterfront brought Noel relief because she would have never made it through this conversation in a restaurant, but for some reason she didn’t fully understand, she needed to get this out.
“I am so sorry, Noel,” Cavin finally uttered, reaching for her shoulder again, but she didn’t even seem to notice the gesture.“I am sorry this happened to your mom, dad, Lexi, Fletcher, and to you.”Cavin felt the need to name them all.They were real people.Even though he didn’t know them, they were as real to Noel as he was standing beside her right now, and he knew she loved each of them unconditionally.That was evident.
Noel eventually pulled her face out of her jacket, and for a split second she locked eyes with Cavin.“Thank you,” she mumbled simply.
They reached the end of the waterfront area and started walking down random streets passing historic homes full of charm and character.Cavin had no idea where they were headed, but as long as Noel continued he would keep walking beside her.He would walk all the way back to Beaufort if she wanted.They didn’t even have to eat; he would be fine with going hungry.
“I cannot fathom going through what you have been through,” Cavin admitted.
“I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy,” Noel asserted.“Not that I really have any,” she added, thinking that Walter, who had been trying to force her to sell her family’s building at a fraction of the value, might be the person she liked the least.Oh, and Georgia—she didn’t really care for Georgia, and even more so after the lady threatened the children and tried to flaunt the connection she made with Cavin.Some women were way too skilled at stabbing each other in the back.
“I am sure,” Cavin replied.“Can I ask you another question about the accident?And if you would rather not answer or if I am asking too many personal questions, you can tell me it is none of my business.”
“Believe it or not, I actually appreciate your questions.No one ever asks any questions; they just tell me over and over how sorry they are, and they look at me like I am the most pitiful thing they have ever laid eyes on,” Noel explained.
“I understand all of that,” Cavin reasoned.“Was Fletcher wearing a life vest?”he wondered aloud after receiving permission.
“Not at the time which is another red flag.Fletcher always wore a vest, and he made every person in his boat buckle one on, no matter what; otherwise, he wouldn’t leave shore.”
“Did Keaton say why Fletcher was not wearing a life jacket?”
Noel shook her head.“He just said Fletcher took it off.He won’t explain more, not even when the police interrogated him over and over.I’ve asked him many times, too,” Noel explained still shaking her head.“I’ve even questioned him when he was drunk, hoping he would spill the beans, but he won’t.”
“Geez, Noel.You are so strong to have made it to this point in your recovery after experiencing this tragic accident.”
Cavin was the first person to acknowledge Noel’s direct connection with the accident; even though she was not physically present on that boat, she always felt like she had been right there with her loved ones.
“Thank you,” Noel replied gratefully.
“It is also so brave of you to share this story with me,” Cavin acknowledged.
At the mention of the wordbrave, Noel felt her whole body shudder—not just because she couldn’t seem to escape that term but because she couldn’t deny that the moment he spoke it, she saw Fletcher in Cavin Dawson’s eyes.
20
Noel figured that she and Cavin must have walked for nearly an hour.Not once did they discuss which direction to go while wandering through the maze of downtown streets—decorated festively for the Christmas season—ultimately ending up back at the waterfront.The two of them simply went with the flow letting the cold breeze guide them wherever it might as the welcoming glow of nighttime in Swansboro surrounded them.
Noel felt much better now than when they left Beaufort, better than she had in a while, in fact.She never realized quite how heavy all the details of the accident weighed on her even after a year passed.So many questions still loomed in her mind; some similar to the ones Cavin posed.If only Keaton would reveal what happened out there on the water, maybe then she could close another chapter of the horror story.
During dinner Cavin and Noel barely spoke another word about the accident.The fluffy Christmas tree in the corner of the room twinkled with white lights, and candles on the windowsills and tables created a warm, flickering luminosity throughout the restaurant—a welcome distraction from the chilly November weather awaiting them outside.The conversation felt much lighter as Cavin and Noel learned more details about each other.
