“Is this your house, Kevin?”Laney asked as her eyes widened to match the following statement.“It’s big.”
“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 theit takes a villagephilosophy 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.
