“While I agree that the kids have good hearts, I am not sure I agree that the candy shop will survive.”
“What makes you say that?”Rudy checked.
“I know things, and like I said, I am not the only one interested in buying that building.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.You know real estate like I know candy although differently because I don’t think it’s your passion.However, you still know to examine all the ingredients.If you dig deep enough, Mr.Dawson, you will understand that something doesn’t taste right in this recipe.”
The man mentioned digging deeper three times.Cavin knew he was pointing to something, but he wasn’t sure what.He doubted Rudy was going to come right out and tell him.“Explain what you mean by digging deeper,” Cavin requested bluntly.
“I would rather you be the one to find the opportunity to save the candy store,” Rudy insisted, and their day together concluded soon afterward.
These thoughts and others about Noel and the candy shop ran through Cavin’s mind the entire drive home, and now he couldn’t wait to get inside and open his laptop.If there was something out there that he didn’t know about Noel’s business or building, he wanted to find out as badly as Rudy, Levi, and Laney wanted to find Scout.
As Cavin walked toward the door, however, a startling voice called out to him through the dark from the other end of the porch near the Christmas tree he and Noel decorated last night.
25
Cavin stood at the door as frozen as the top layer of the ice-skating pond he visited last December around this time.He wished he could teleport back there right now as the shadowy figure moved through the darkness toward him.Cavin thought about running even though all the person said so far was, “Hey, Cavin.”The tone of voice used, however, instantly made him realize the intention behind this surprise visit didn’t seem in his best interest.
Cavin recognized the individual immediately.“Hey,” he replied sheepishly.
“I want you to see my face and hear my voice, so that you won’t have to wonder who did this to you,” the person scowled.
“Did what?”Cavin questioned.
At that moment a fist flew through the air at Cavin’s face.He didn’t have time to duck or dodge or even step back.Four hard knuckles connected with his left eye socket, the force of the punch sending him backward into an unforgiving porch wall.His whole face immediately began to throb, and he figured blood must be rushing to the site of impact although he wasn’t yet sure whether it would pour out of a cut or fill a bruise.
Cavin instinctively braced himself for what might come next.He wished he felt ready to strike, but he had never been in a fight nor been punched.Geez, his face hurt although the adrenaline running through him temporarily camouflaged the extent of the pain.Golfers and tennis players didn’t usually run into these situations nor did businessmen, at least not until today for Cavin.Nonetheless he felt his defenses rise and after a moment considered swinging back at the perpetrator as he raised his hands to guard his face from another blow.
“I do not want to fight you,” Cavin announced, his voice as shaky as the rest of his body.
“I just came here to give you a one punch warning.”
“What?”Cavin asked, somewhat relieved yet still on edge.
“You need to leave Beaufort, or there will be more,” the individual promised before walking down the steps nonchalantly.
On Monday morning with an unmistakably swollen black and blue eye, Cavin walked into Beaufort Candy Company with a Santa hat in his hand.He iced the eye last night and this morning, and although it helped the swelling go down some and tempered the pain, neither vanished.He also took over-the-counter pain medication from the local pharmacy he visited after the incident.The pharmacist warned him he would probably wake up in the middle of the night to a throbbing sensation requiring more treatment, and he had.
Surprisingly Noel was behind the front counter rather than Mrs.Madelyn, and while part of Cavin hoped he would see Noel here, another part of him hoped to avoid her because looking into her eyes only reminded him of whom he was walking away from.
Noel never saw Cavin walk in although she heard the bell jingle.When she finished ringing up the customer in front of her, Cavin stood across from her.Noel’s mouth immediately gaped open as he began to speak.
“I thought you might want this,” Cavin uttered, placing the Santa hat her parents gave her when she was a kid onto the counter.
“Oh my God, Cavin,” Noel stammered, noticing the hat but not looking down at it.“What happened?”
Cavin grinned, let out a faint huff, and shook his head.He thought about saying,I got what you thought I deservedoryou won’t ever have to see me againor maybe even the truth:I only wanted you, Noel.Instead, he turned and walked out the door, thankful that neither the kids nor Mrs.Madelyn were anywhere in sight.
Cavin’s feet moved quickly as he passed Noel’s display window without looking in.He marched toward the parking lot where his rental vehicle sat fully packed although he had no idea where he was going when he left Beaufort.
Without thinking twice Noel raced around the tall counter with customers watching her just as intently as the congregation at church watched her storm out yesterday.She wasn’t sure why she chased after Cavin Dawson—maybe because she felt responsible for his black eye or perhaps because she appreciated him bringing back an item that meant as much to her as nearly any material possession this world offered.With all that happened yesterday, she couldn’t figure out where she left it.However, in the short time she had to process her thoughts, she figured that in addition to both of those considerations something about the genuine look on his face spoke volumes to her, saying,If you let me leave Beaufort, you will never see me again.
“Cavin,” Noel shouted, his back to her as he turned the corner and disappeared behind the brick building.
Noel knew he heard her, but he never looked back.She jogged past the gingerbread house display window with everyone inside still watching her.She cut the same corner as Cavin, and just before he made it to his vehicle, she caught up with him, close enough to tag him if they were playing the game.But this wasn’t a game; this was real life, and real life was messy sometimes.
“Cavin,” she called out again trying to catch her breath as she reached for his arm.
