A hint of cinnamon and something else

"HHhrrhmmm..." an old raspy voice mumbled.
"can't find it..."
The old man and the stairs creaked and moaned as he slowly walked back up to the cellar door.
He turned around, looked back down into the cellar and turned the light off.
"I'll Look again tomorrow..." he mumbled softly.

He closed the cellar door behind him as he walked into the tiny kitchen.
A half peeled potato lay on the counter.
Birds could be heard outside through the slightly open window.
He sat down and sighed.
"Feeling tired today" he thought as he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

Faint footsteps sounded in the gravel of the garden path.
He looked through the kitchen window. The neighbour girl.
He got up, shook his arms and tried to look less tired.
A gentle knock.
He walked to the backdoor and opened it.

"Ah dear, good to see you" he said with a warm, tired smile.
"I see you brought back my hedge trimmer."

"Yes, thanks for lending it to me" she smiled.

"You can just lay it on the ground there". he gestured to spot by the door.

"I can put it back in the shed if you want" she asked.
"It'll be no trouble."

"No no. No need to bother. I have some things I need to clear out of there first."
His face turned more thoughtful.

"Do you need some help?" She smiled warmly.

The old man look at her for a second as if considering it.
"Oh no, thank you very much, it's fine dear" he waved with his hands.

"Okay" she said as she put down the hedge trimmer.

"Oh, I baked a new batch of apple cakes. If you want another I'll get you one"

"Oh that would be nice, but I don't want to -"

"Oh not to worry" the old man said while turning around "I like to bake them faster than anyone can eat them." He chuckled.
The old man walked to the counter and came back with one of the apple cakes that was cooling of there.

"Here you go. Enjoy!" he said smiling as he gave her the still slightly warm package wrapped in tin foil.

"Thank you very much!". She lowered her face to catch the sweet warm smell of cinnamon.
"I probably will" she smiled.
"Thanks for lending me the trimmer".

"No problem, just yell if you need something."

"Thanks. Have a nice day Mr. Heavensbee."

"Thank you. You too dear" he said.
She turned around and walked back down the garden path.
Mr. Heavensbee watched her go.

When she disappeared around the corner of the old hedge he stood there for a while. Thinking.
"right then..." he said softly, as if he had just made a decision.
Mr. Heavensbee put on his clogs and walked towards the small garden shed. Leaving the hedge trimmer behind.
He opened the old wooden door, went to the corner and pushed aside some sacks of fertilizer.
As small hatch became visible.
Slowly he lifted it and looked into the dark opening left behind.
"I think you are right... Sorry about my earlier caution"
A soft warm humming, rumbling noise came out of the hole.
He started climbing down the ladder.

In the kitchen a new cake had taken the empty spot left behind by the old one.
The potato was laying in a cooking pan, fully peeled and cut into 4 pieces.
The hedge trimmer by the door was gone.