I’m sorry, but I finally, FINALLY got the breakthrough I needed! You guys…
I KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS!
Tomorrow, more writing!
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“Am I late?”
Lai rushed into the kitchen, the door banging behind her. “I’m so sorry!” she said breathlessly. “I had a conference call run long!”
“You’re fine,” Molly said, setting another cup and saucer in front of her. “We haven’t started yet.”
“Oh good.” Lai sank down onto the stool and looked at the others around her. Noemi, Sue and Schrodinger were perched on their own stools, and Molly was standing in her normal spot between the island and the ovens. She put a stainless steel tea ball into the cup in front of Lai, and then poured boiling water into the porcelain tea cup. Fragrant steam rose from the cup, to join with the other fragrances of tea and cider and chai. “I was worried you’d start without me.”
“Never.” Molly looked around at them, then did something she’d never done before: she went and locked the kitchen door. For the next twenty minutes, nothing would go in or out.
“All right,” she said, clicking the lock and then turning to look at her friends. “Nothing we say here goes outside.”
They all looked at her a bit apprehensively.
“What I’m going to say is going to go no further than this room,” she warned them. “I’m about to cross one of the biggest influences in the Realms, and if you don’t want to go with me, that’s fine. Just let me know now, and I’ll let you out.”
For a couple of moments, the room was quiet except for the ticking of the clock and the strains of Christmas carols from the radio she kept up on a shelf near the door. Then Sue broke the silence.
“No,” she said firmly. “We’re in this together.” Lai and Noemi nodded.
You know I’m not going anywhere, Schrodinger said. So let’s get started.
“You guys are the best,” Molly said, and meant it. “Seriously.” She went back to the island and cupped her hands around her tea mug. “Okay, here’s the deal.”
Between the two of them, she and Schrodinger filled in the Terrible Trio on what they’d found out.
“So, Old Man Winter kidnapped Drew to what…force him to help destroy the Cove?” Noemi asked, her eyes wide.
“No,” Molly said. “I think the Snow Queen set Drew up to be kidnapped so he could get Old Man Winter to change his mind.”
“Wow.” Sue sat back, clearly stunned. “That’s…kind of cold.”
She’s more than just a figurehead, Schrodinger said. She’s got her own Realm to rule, and she’s influential in thousands more. If she needs to sacrifice Drew to save the Cove, she will. But I don’t think that’s what she’s doing.
“So what IS she doing?” Lai asked. “Do you really think she thinks he can change Old Man Winter’s mind?”
I think so, the CrossCat said, nodding. And I think she may be right.
“So what do you intend to do?” Sue said, looking at Molly.
Molly and Schrodinger exchanged glances, then she said, “I’m going to go after Old Man Winter.”
“What?”
All three of the Trio looked at her in horrified admiration, and she giggled a bit in spite of herself. “Not like that! You guys should know me better than that.”
“So what are you going to do when you find him?” Noemi asked.
“I’m going to help Drew,” Molly replied. “I’m going to convince Old Man Winter to spare the Cove, and release Drew.”
“Well, at least we know your self-confidence is intact,” Lai said after a moment. “Where do we fit in?”
“I need to know more about Old Man Winter,” Molly said. “I need to know more than we do right now.” She looked at Sue. “Do you have anything at the Museum that might help?”
Sue frowned. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “There are some archives that I haven’t been in, ever. I have the keys to them, but the Director seems to prefer that they stay forgotten.”
“I can help you go through them,” Noemi said. “I’m on break for the next two weeks.”
“Sounds good,” Sue said. She looked at Molly. “We can start this afternoon, if you want.”
“Do so,” Molly said. “Schrodinger’s going to go and see if he can find Old Man Winter.”
Try? The CrossCat’s tail swished. Please. No one can hide from me.
Molly stroked his head fondly. “I know. Just remember, you need to make sure that he’s not going to do something bad to you.”
He won’t. I’m too fast.
“And what is Schrodinger going to do when he finds Old Man Winter?” Lai asked.
Molly smiled. “He’s going to invite him over for tea.”
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“Wait, she did WHAT?”
Drew stared at the computer screen, aghast. He’d been checking his email when the message from Father Christopher asking him to a Skype session had popped up. Since the only person he was really forbidden to communicate directly with was Molly, he’d clicked on the link. Now he was regretting it.
“That’s what Margie said,” Father Christopher told him. “Since Molly never locks the kitchen door, it piqued her curiosity. Especially considering who was in there with her.”
Drew sat back in the chair, stunned. “She’s going to try and find Old Man Winter.”
“That’s what Margie said,” Father Christopher repeated. “And honestly, I wouldn’t put it past her.”
Me neither, Drew admitted to himself. And that’s what scares me.
“Thanks for letting me know,” he said out loud. “You have the one for tonight taken care of, right?”
Father Christopher nodded. “Luke is delivering it after he gets off shift.” Then he sighed. “What are we going to do with her, Drew?”
“I’ll take care of it,” Drew said. “Just trust me. And see if you can distract her.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Once the priest signed off, Drew sat for a few minutes longer, staring at the blank screen, wondering what the heck he was going to do. Molly could be stubborn, that he knew and loved about her. But sometimes she picks the worst things to be stubborn about!
With a sigh, he got up and wandered out into the hallway, heading for the courtyard behind the house. He and Old Man Winter had brought the dragon out of the clearing to find a sleigh waiting for them, a long dogsled-type vehicle. No dogs, though – Drew and Old Man Winter had pulled the sled back to the cottage, trying their best not to jar the dragon’s injured leg. They’d brought her into the stables, where there were huge box stalls full of soft hay. No horses, but plenty of stalls, and the dragon fit perfectly in one.
Drew went out there now, shrugging into a heavy flannel shirt as he did. The dragon preferred cold temperatures, so the stable was minimally heated.
You are troubled. Her blue eyes were as calm as her mental voice. Someone is worrying you.
“My girlfriend is trying to find me,” Drew said, kneeling down to check the bandages on her leg. Old Man Winter had left the medications and salves in the next stall after giving the young tech instructions on what needed to be done to keep the wounds from getting infected. Now, Drew peeled back the soft bandages and peered at the jagged cuts. “No infection,” he said approvingly.
Old Man Winter is a good healer. She arched her neck, watching him while he spread salve gently on her leg. As are you.
“I’m just a good technician,” he said, putting the salve aside and picking up a fresh bandage.
You are a good man, Drew McIntyre, she said, dropping her head onto his shoulder briefly. And you are worried about your girlfriend. Tell me why. I am a good listener.
And she was. As he wrapped the bandages about her leg, Drew shared everything: what the Snow Queen had asked him to do, what he’d planned for Molly, and what he’d just found out from Father Christopher. “So I don’t know what to do,” he finished. “How can I keep her safe?”
Sometimes, you cannot, the dragon said. Sometimes, you have to let her keep you safe.
Drew stopped, thinking about that. He’d always wanted to protect Molly. That felt right. But in this instance, maybe she’d have to keep him safe too.
“Thank you,” he said to her. “For listening.”
I am Ember, she said, leaning forward to put her head on his shoulder. And I am very happy to have met you, Drew McIntyre. I think you have great things ahead of you.
Then she winked at him. As long as you can survive this December, that is.
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“Molly? Schrodinger?”
Molly heard Luke come into the kitchen as she pulled together boxes for the scones she’d made earlier. “I’ll be out in a second!” she called, reaching for the last set of tins. Then she came out, grinning. “Looking for something hot on your way home?”
Luke’s cheeks were flushed with cold, and he grinned back at her as he shucked his coat. “I won’t say no,” he agreed, putting his packages on the island. “The wind is wicked out tonight! I hope you guys have a ride home!”
She nodded as she put a heavy ceramic mug full of steaming cider in front of him. “Aunt Margie won’t let me walk alone.”
“Where’s Schrodinger?” Luke asked, one eyebrow raised.
“He’s off wandering,” Molly said, waving one hand vaguely. “He does that from time to time.”
“Well, I hope it’s warmer where he’s wandering.”
Not likely, Molly thought, but smiled at him. “I’m sure he’ll tell me all about it when he gets home.” She eyed his bags. “Did some Christmas shopping, huh? Is there a little black box from the jewelers in there?”
He flushed. “Maybe.”
She leaned in. “Seriously?”
Paper crinkled as he reached into one bag and pulled a long black velvet box out. “Do you think Sue will like it?”
“Oh, Luke, I think she’ll love it.” Molly took the box and gazed in awe at the sapphire bracelet nestled into the velvet. “Seriously.”
“Awesome.” Luke took the bracelet back and grinned at her. “I have something for you too.”
“Shocking,” Molly teased him. “You don’t say.”
The ornament this time was blue, just like the sapphires in Sue’s bracelet, with pearl connecting beads, and it was attached to a narrow wrapped box with the red envelope. She opened the envelope first.
“I wanted to watch this with you so we could get ready for next week,” she read out loud. “I hope you enjoy it still. We’ll watch it together, I promise.”
The package contained a DVD of the Nutcracker. Molly smiled. “He remembered.” When Luke looked puzzled, she explained, “Lily is in the ballet at her dance school next week. Drew and I have tickets to go.”
“I hope he’s back by then.” Luke drained the rest of his cider and shrugged back into his coat. “See you around, Molly.”
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There will be much writing tomorrow. MUCH WRITING. But now, I have a scarf to finish.