“Mom, it’s Scout.We hear him barking.”
The three of them ran downstairs, their bare feet bouncing on every step.They quickly traversed the candy shop aisles and found Scout looking frigid and fragile barking at the door while peering through the glass at them.Noel’s eyes glazed over with awe when just beyond Scout, she spotted a layer of puffy white snow covering the sidewalk, and as she glanced up at the gray sky, she saw little white dots swirling through the air in slow motion.
“Aunt Noel, it’s snowing,” Laney announced with pure joy lining her tickled voice.
“Wow,” Levi replied, seeing the precipitation himself.“That’s why Scout wants in, he’s freezing.”
Praying, Noel twisted the lock slowly as if searching for an exact number on a combination safe.When it clicked, Scout took two steps back but didn’t run away like usual.
“When I open the door, don’t run out,” Noel instructed.“Kneel down and wait for Scout to come to you.”
Scout barked as Noel gently pushed the door open, then he stared at the three of them in the open doorway as a blast of cold ran through their bodies like a brain freeze.
“Come here, Scout,” Laney uttered as softly as the falling flakes of snow.
“Hey, sweet boy,” Levi whispered, holding out his hand as if it held treats.
Suddenly for no apparent reason, Scout turned and raced into the snowy road where street lamps still glowed as daylight began to lift onto the horizon.
“Should we go after him, Mom?”
“If we don’t, he’s going to freeze to death,” Laney anxiously predicted.
Before Noel could make a decision knowing none of them needed to run out in the snow without proper footwear, a figure from across the street ran onto the road and scooped Scout into his arms.
“Mom, it’s Cavin,” Levi shouted, pronouncing his name the proper way for the first time.
“Cavin caught Scout,” Laney exclaimed.
At that moment Noel heard the cuckoo clock sound in the background telling them seven o’clock arrived.
“You showed up right on time,” Noel reported enthusiastically, happy to see Cavin with Scout in his arms and the dog’s tail wagging.“Come on in,” she added.“It’s freezing out there.”
Levi and Laney lunged toward Scout while Cavin held the animal tightly so he wouldn’t escape.
“Hey boy, you are so cute,” Levi told the dog as he petted him for the first time.
“You have snow on your fur, little guy,” Laney added while rubbing her hand across his back to brush off as much as possible.
“Let me close this door so we can keep Scout in and the cold out,” Noel suggested then pushed it shut.
For a moment she wondered how in the world she and Cavin would arrange the kids' Christmas gifts without them noticing.Tradition was to place the presents around the large tree in the back of the candy shop, but with the children already in the store, the tree glowed like an open invitation, only with no real gifts underneath.Fortunately, Scout’s surprise appearance and the magic of snowfall in coastal North Carolina occupied their minds while Noel quickly herded everyone upstairs with a promise of drinking hot chocolate, playing on the floor with Scout, and eventually dressing warmly to frolic in the snow.She imagined Cavin with all these options could keep the kids entertained while she played Santa Claus.
Christmas morning went smoothly from there.Noel found a soft, warm blanket to wrap around Scout who, after a short time, decided he wanted to dance across the house as if he lived there his whole life.The kids chased him, and he chased them back, and Cavin watched with a smile while Noel hustled up and down the stairs surrounding the tree with gifts.
Eventually Cavin sent Levi and Laney to their rooms to dress for the snow in the clothes Noel set out for them before disappearing.While the kids climbed into winter gear, Cavin latched a leash they acquired with this very moment in mind on Scout’s collar.Then Cavin helped the kids pull on their gloves before leading them outside through the balcony door, making them walk as if on eggshells holding onto the rail tightly while moving down the slippery steps.He let them play in the snow for about fifteen minutes as he held onto Scout’s leash like a fisherman gripping a pole with the big one on the other end.Scout played along jumping in excitement while the children threw snowballs, made snow angels, and started rolling body parts to create a snowman.
Noel joined them outside with her camera in hand and whispered, “Everything is ready” into Cavin’s ear.They all played in the snow and watched it fall on the creek for a bit longer before heading in to open presents.As Levi and Laney tore the paper off each gift, joy filled Cavin’s and Noel’s hearts as they watched the children’s little faces bubble with excitement.Scout loved playing in the wrapping paper scattered across the floor, and that was the only present he seemed to need.Noel was thankful he never discovered nor started eating the candy.
When the kids finished opening gifts, they ran upstairs and brought Noel a box that Cavin helped them wrap last night.
“What is this?”Noel inquired, smiling with that smile that only a mom is capable of producing.
“We’re helping you save the candy shop,” Levi announced.
Noel’s brow furrowed ever so slightly, but she continued to wear an appreciative grin as she wondered what she would discover inside.What did Levi mean?How did he know?What did he know?
Laney punched Levi in the arm.“Don’t tell her, just let her open it.”
