“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 sayingmaybe 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.
When Noel sang the first line of Silent Night, the kids nestled in next to her one on each side and began singing along.Cavin, initially embarrassed to join in, soon realized he felt more comfortable here than at his own family’s home.Together they sang three more songs while the cookies baked, only pausing to decorate the treats with icing along with red, gold, green, and silver sprinkles.Laughter filled the air as they made messes, but no one seemed to mind.
“You lied to me, Cavin Dawson,” Noel scolded him playfully as the kids scurried off to their rooms to collect their favorite toys for show and tell with Cavin.
“What?”he asked dumbfounded.“When?”
“You can sing,” Noel asserted.
Cavin grinned boyishly.“My mom may have insisted I join the school chorus when I was a kid,” he revealed.“However, I did not lie to you; I clearly remember saying that Imaybe a terrible singer.”
“The cat is out of the bag now,” Noel stated matter-of-factly.
“I think it is pretty obvious which of us is the professional,” Cavin complimented.“And considering the way your fingers danced across that antique piano, I can only imagine what your talent would bring on a newer, tuned instrument.”
“Thank you,” Noel replied shyly.“It has been a while since I tuned the piano.”
“You are welcome,” Cavin responded.“By the way I like how you conned me into singing before playing golf with me.”
Noel bit her lip through a smile.“I will still play golf with you, but I may be terrible,” she reminded him with a playful wink.
Cavin chuckled heartily, and Noel joined in.They all proceeded to enjoy a fun-filled night packed with music, laughter, and cookies.After Levi and Laney put on their pajamas, they excitedly relayed to Cavin how Noel had them write down all of the Christmas activities they hoped to enjoy from now until the big day.Two seconds later they invited Cavin to participate in every single one of them.
Cavin, Noel, and the kids ended up spending every evening together for the rest of the week.In the mornings Cavin went to the gym around six o’clock and then worked tirelessly the rest of the day so that he allowed plenty of time in the evenings for the scheduled adventures.He researched, met people, visited businesses, and ate lunch with Jeff, Gerald, Walt, and others keeping his friends close and the competition even closer.He happened into Georgia at the gym nearly every morning which only came as a slight surprise since she recommended the place.They chatted, and Cavin slowly made it known that he only wanted a friendship.She didn’t seem to mind all that much but still flirted and asked him to have drinks and go to lunch, but he declined respectfully.Georgia realized Cavin spent his leisure time with Noel as did everyone else in town.
Levi and Laney continued taking turns flipping the Days Until Christmas signs each morning when they woke up for school.When the bell rang, they hurried home to open their hot chocolate stand for an hour and then spent the remaining sixty minutes of daylight each day searching for Scout.Cavin and Noel helped them some, and Mrs.Madelyn watched the store while they went out looking equipped with posters and walkie-talkies.
Rudy bought a cup of hot chocolate from the kids every day that week, and they gave him updates on their search for Scout.It didn’t take very long at all for them to make some progress.The first time they spotted the dog, Levi and Laney were ecstatic.
“He’s so adorable,” Laney avowed.
