Laney gave the man the eye because he picked her favorite.
“Is that an oatmeal pie?”the farmers’ market manager asked.
“Sure is,” Mrs.Madelyn divulged.
“I haven’t seen one of those in years.”
Noel remembered her grandmother teaching her how to make that particular pie as a young child.
“And that one?”a city council member asked.
“Pumpkin cheesecake pie,” Noel revealed.
“How about that beauty?”a police officer standing next to Levi checked.
“Caramel apple pie with streusel topping,” Noel shared.
His eyes grew as large as the muscles stretching his sleeves.
“That pie has my name on it,” Levi announced, and a round of genuine laughter ensued.
Witnessing all the interest excited Noel.Although she had yet to set out the name plates for each pie because of the annual guessing game, she made sure to add that touch because she knew members of the community would take note.She prayed for lots of orders between now and Christmas.She did the same with the fudge which would be a hit as well.
“They are all decorated so beautifully,” a familiar voice spoke.
Noel turned.“Jack, you made it,” she announced then hugged him carefully after a firefighter friend pushed his wheelchair close to the dessert bar.
Mrs.Madelyn stepped toward her husband, and when she bent down to greet him, he kissed her on the cheek.
“Aw, you two are the sweetest,” Noel noted.
“Plenty of years of practice,” Jack stated with a grin.
“He’s been in love with that woman since middle school,” the mayor’s wife reminded everyone.
They all grew up together.Beaufort was one of those towns a person didn’t want to leave once they figured out what they wanted in life.Some wandered off for college, careers, relationships, and all kinds of other reasons, but many circled back to what Noel calledthe roots beneath us.She thought of this phrase one day while meandering through the large live oaks on the courthouse grounds where the Olde Beaufort Farmers’ Market assembled every Saturday from April through November.
The locals missed having the market during the winter months, but they looked forward to the Olde Fashioned Holiday Market, a one-of-a-kind Christmas event that took place every December.Vendors squeezed into every nook and cranny with the best gifts around: homemade candles, soaps, dog treats, Alpaca socks, novels, jewelry, ocean-inspired art, and so many other unique items.They also sold the freshest fruits and vegetables available from local farmers like Jack, as well as freshly caught seafood.
Anything related to fishing, boats, and water made Noel’s mind drift to Fletcher.He fished for a living.The man knew the waterways like the back of his hand.
She remembered her dad often saying when introducing Fletcher to others, “He's not a fisher; he’s a catcher.”
Her man sure knew how to bait a hook to reel in the big ones, the little ones, and everything in between.He taught Levi how to fish, and Laney tagged along, too.The two of them still fished, and Noel wondered if being by the sea helped Levi feel close to his dad.Personally, she hadn’t stepped onto a pier or a boat since the accident.She hadn’t swum in the creek, the river, or the ocean.She had no desire.
“Noel,” a voice called out.“Noel, did you hear me?”
Noel shook away her thoughts.“I’m sorry, what?”she asked, realizing nearly everyone dispersed while memories of Fletcher paralyzed her.Now she stood alone at the dessert table with Walter Benson, a local businessman with deep pockets and influence, who also happened to be her accountant.“I think I zoned out,” Noel added, fluttering back to reality.
“Have you thought about my proposal?”Walter asked enthusiastically in his perfectly fitting suit and tie which he adjusted while awaiting an answer.
“Yes,” Noel answered simply without further remark, still trying to find her bearings.
“The offer is quite lucrative,” he suggested, moving in close to provide his full attention.
Uncomfortable with the lack of distance between them even though his short, well-fed stature did little to intimidate her, Noel stepped back.She wanted to sock him and knock the expensive frames right off his nose.“I have no interest in selling the candy shop.”
Walter’s face soured a hint then quickly transitioned to his pondering look as he pressed his thumb and forefinger against his chin.“Noel, my dear, I want to make sure you see the whole picture?”he conveyed as he adjusted his hands to create a large frame in midair.
