After the Brown’s pulled away from the curb with the kids waving their arms out the back windows as if in a parade, Cavin continued conversing with Rudy.
“You should come out on the boat for lunch,” Rudy suggested.“The crew caught fresh fish, and they’re waiting for a reason to cook them.”
The crew?Maybe that’s what Rudy called his family.“Sure,” Cavin accepted, thinking this opportunity could help keep his mind off Noel.“My vehicle is right over there,” Cavin announced while pointing at the SUV.“I can drive us to wherever your boat is docked.”
Five minutes later Rudy led Cavin onto the very boat Cavin and everyone else in Beaufort admired each time they walked along the waterfront—the largest superyacht he’d ever seen.
24
Aday could make such a difference, Noel thought as she washed her face.Knowing the kids would be home any minute, she didn’t want them to see her upset.This past week she felt on top of the world and appreciated the time spent with Cavin with and without the kids.She actually convinced herself she was ready to balance her life out once again by letting someone in.Now Noel didn’t know if she ever wanted to see Cavin Dawson again.
When Mrs.Madelyn called to ask about taking the kids out to lunch, Noel almost said no, especially when she mentioned that Cavin walked around with them helping look for the missing dog.How dare heshe wanted to shout into the phone, but she waited until she pressed the end button and then screamed into the thick air in her bedroom while pounding her fists on the mattress where Fletcher used to sleep beside her.
“Why didn’t you warn me?”she yelled to her husband as if he might answer.
Noel wasn’t sure how long she kicked and screamed and cried, but she knew she had to compose herself before Levi and Laney returned although she didn’t know what to reveal to Mrs.Madelyn if anything.The woman knew her well enough to realize the difference between sickness and sadness.In fact Mrs.Madelyn probably already knew the real reason she left church if they stuck around after service even though she and Jack had been in the back helping with the children.All the kids loved hearing Mr.Jack tell Bible stories.
Noel wished she were working today to help keep her mind off Cavin, but the candy shop along with some of the other retail businesses in Beaufort closed on Sundays.Amid the hustle and bustle of a workday, she would feel more comfortable talking to her friend about this dilemma because if at any time emotions ran high, she could find an excuse to walk away.However, she didn’t want to have that conversation at home, especially in front of the kids when Mrs.Madelyn dropped them off.
Maybe she would call Chelsea later after the kids fell asleep.Chelsea had been checking in all week by phone, texts, and visits just to hear the latest scoop on her and Cavin.“Tell me more about your business meeting,” a text from her read late that Friday night after Chelsea and Rainey ran into her and Cavin escaping to Swansboro.She messaged back and forth with Chelsea all giddy like a schoolgirl.Now with the tide turning unexpectedly, she knew her friend would be there for her.The nice thing about tides related to the waterways was predictability; however, with people things often proved differently which Cavin had reminded her.
Perhaps Noel would beg Chelsea to have Rainey arrest Cavin or better yet run him out of town like the authorities did with troublemakers back in the day.That’s what Cavin deserved for showing up here and turning her world upside down as if it wasn’t already a hot mess.
By the time the kids burst through the door wanting hugs and kisses, Noel pulled herself together as much as possible, and their excitement elevated her spirits.Mrs.Madelyn walked in not far behind carrying some of their belongings while Jack stayed behind in the car for obvious reasons.Not only was taking the wheelchair in and out of the vehicle a chore in addition to getting him in and out of it, but also Noel didn’t have a ramp, lift, or elevator that led upstairs.
Once the kids ran off to one of their rooms, Mrs.Madelyn's hug to Noel told her everything she needed to know.
“I am praying you feel better, sweetie,” her dear friend uttered.
Noel knew exactly what it meant or at least thought she did.Then after Mrs.Madelyn told the children goodbye and the kids rambled for fifteen minutes straight about all they did with the Browns and Cavin, Noel’s heart sank even deeper.
“We saw Georgia kiss Cavin,” Laney spouted.
Noel’s face contorted as she fought to stifle her emotions.“You did?”she double checked.“When?Where?”She didn’t want to drag them into this adult nonsense, but the words just flew out of her mouth.
“At church,” Laney answered as if Noel should know the answer.
Noel suppressed her desire to ask further questions.If the kids saw Georgia kiss Cavin, that most likely meant Mrs.Madelyn and Jack did as well.This news only further verified her suspicions.Cavin, the slick businessman, doubled as a ladies' man.He might get away with his shenanigans in a big city like Atlanta, but in Beaufort hiding secrets didn’t come easy.A man couldn’t string two women along without soon getting caught.The good-hearted people here would rat out the scoundrel without thinking twice about it.
By sunset Noel received four phone calls from friends asking about what happened at church, all but one mentioning Cavin and Georgia.Two of those friends weren’t even at the service.Suddenly it felt like high school all over again, especially when Keaton called.
“I’ll take care of him,” Keaton promised.
“Keaton, stay out of it,” Noel begged while hiding out in the bathroom and whispering.“You don’t need any more trouble with the law.”
“No one hurts my sister and gets away with it.”
Not long after that Chelsea called to console Noel, and Noel could hear Rainey in the background sounding a lot like her brother, only a bit more diplomatic.Eventually Rainey asked Chelsea to put Noel on speaker.
“I will have a talk with Mr.Cavin Dawson about the way men are expected to treat women in Beaufort, North Carolina,” he insisted.
“Rainey, you don’t have to come to my defense,” Noel replied, although having the same idea earlier with Keaton.“I am a big girl now, and I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can, but I think this guy will benefit more from an outsider’s perspective.”
“Rainey, don’t get yourself in trouble with the police department.”
“I’m not going over there in uniform or on police business,” Rainey clarified.“This is personal.”
