“Schrodinger, Jack, did you want some tea?” Molly leaned her head out of the kitchen and looked at the two of them as they snoozed by the wood stove. There had been fitful spits of snow all day, and the cold (a thank you from Old Man Winter, Molly was sure) had kept most people from coming out to the store. Well, that and the fact that the next day was the Snow Queen’s ball. Everyone was prepping for that. The result was a tea room that only held the hound and the CrossCat.

 

Molly was actually glad for the respite, because it meant that she could concentrate on decorating the other gingerbread houses for Sunday without worrying about being interrupted. Decorating the houses always brought her back to college, and the cake decorating course she’d taken, which had been one of her favorites.

 

But decorating was a grueling task, and her back and shoulders needed a break.

 

Jack declined, preferring to snooze next to the stove, but Schrodinger, after a moment of consideration, got up and stretched before joining her in the kitchen. Molly pulled out their personal mugs and filled them with hot water before dropping in a Christmas tea bag and an Earl Grey tea bag. She moved the most recently finished house to the sideboard to finish hardening, and set the mugs on the island.

 

“Are you hungry?” she asked.

 

Schrodinger considered that question too as he watched the steam rise from his steeping tea. I think so, he said finally. I don’t remember the last time I ate, which means it’s been a long time since you ate too.

 

“Guilty,” Molly said, chuckling. “This is a good chance to try my new scones.”

 

His ears perked up. Are these the ham and cheese ones?

 

“Yes.” Molly took two of them out of the refrigerator and put them on a small tray, which she slid under the broiler. “You get to be the test subject who can actually tell me what you think,” she said. “I send a batch to the Station with Drew earlier, but he hasn’t gotten back to me.”

 

They’re probably busy with all the guests coming in for the Ball, he reminded her. I’ll be surprised to see Drew before tomorrow night.

 

“Me too.” Molly pulled two plates out of the drawer and pulled the tray out from the oven. The fragrant smell of cranberries and ham filled the room, and she sighed happily.

 

You are amazing, Schrodinger said, watching as she cut the scones in half, revealing the oozing interior.

 

“Don’t say that until you try it,” she warned. “It could be a bad idea.”

 

“If by bad idea, you mean you shouldn’t eat too many, because your clothes won’t fit, then I agree,” Aunt Margie said from the doorway. “Those smell amazing.”

 

“Would you like one?” Molly didn’t wait for her to answer, but handed her one of the plates and got another scone from the fridge.

 

Aunt Margie put the plate firmly back in front of her niece. “You eat first,” she said. “I know you haven’t eaten much today, because you’ve been decorating. I can wait five minutes.”

 

Molly didn’t argue, but lifted one half of the scone to her mouth. The scone itself was buttery and sweetly tart, the cranberries bursting in her mouth, and the savory ham (from one of the local farms, which had also supplied the cheese) and melted cheese were a nice counterpoint. “Yes,” she said, after swallowing. “These are definitely staying on the menu.”

 

She turned back to the oven after taking another bite and pulled Aunt Margie’s scone out.

 

Yes, I agree, Schrodinger said. You should do some turkey ones too.

 

“Oh my gods, turkey with stuffing.” Aunt Margie’s eyes lit up. “Or mashed potatoes.”

 

“That might be a bit hard to put in a muffin,” Molly pointed out, but her mind was already racing through possibilities. “Although maybe a taco one, with cornbread. Or a pizza one.”

 

Aunt Margie took a bite of scone and sighed happily. “I think these are better than your sandwiches, to be honest,” she said.

 

“They’re more labor intensive, though,” Molly pointed out. “Bread dough is easy.”

 

“True.”

 

Schrodinger finished his scone and sipped at his tea. You could probably do it as a loaf, you know, he said. And serve slices.

 

“That would work,” Molly agreed. “Maybe after Christmas we’ll experiment a bit more.”

 

Sounds good to me.

 

“Speaking of sounds, I think we have guests,” Aunt Margie said, as the front door banged open and happy shouts were heard. “Today was the school party, wasn’t it?”

 

“What gave you the first clue?” Molly asked, chuckling. “The shouting, or the banging?”

 

“Molly, Molly, Molly, we brought you a present!” Lily shouted, as she and Zoey barged into the kitchen. “Look, look, look!” She shoved the wrapped box into Molly’s hands, then hugged both Aunt Margie and Schrodinger.

 

“Oh, what is this?” Molly opened the gift and pulled out an apron, decorated with all sorts of cookies and cupcakes. “Oh, how lovely! Did you guys make this?”

 

“We picked out the fabric,” Zoey told her, dancing around excitedly. “Mrs. Collins sewed it for us! Do you like it?”

 

“I love it!” Molly gave them each a hug. “It’s the best Christmas present ever!”

 

“Yay!” Lily and Zoey said, bouncing around her. “We hoped you’d like it!”

 

Molly slipped the apron over her head and tied it off. “I’ll wear it right now!”

 

Jack, woken up by the noise, came in and was immediately mobbed as well. Molly let them be loud for a bit, and then clapped her hands together. “Okay, okay, time to do the Advent Calendar and then let me finish decorating!”

 

They rushed over to the Calendar, hunting feverishly for the golden number. “I see it, I see it!” Zoey called, touching the number 20 where it nestled in the pipe of one of the snowmen. Then they all stepped back as the snowflake zoomed out of the Advent Calendar and whirled madly around the room.

 

In its wake was a long white ribbon that floated down onto Lily and Zoey’s outstretched hands. On the ribbon, in red and white candy-cane letters, it read, “Today is a sweet day! It’s cold and clear and just right for a snowball fight!”

 

Which will be perfect to run off all their energy, Molly thought, as the girls cheered and Jack barked. “Okay, then follow the snowflake!” she called, cutting through the noise. “Don’t forget your coats and hats and mittens!”

 

To their credit, both Lily and Zoey grabbed Jack’s and Schrodinger’s coats on their way out the door, still following the snowflake. Molly shook her head and looked at Aunt Margie, who was still sitting and eating her scone placidly. “Will that tire them out, do you think?”

 

“Eventually,” Aunt Margie said. “Now, since it’s quieter, how about a cup of tea?”

 

<><>

“Hold still, Jack!” Lily said, as she struggled to get the straps tied on the hound’s coat. “Hold still!”

 

But the snowflake is going to disappear! The hound gave a mournful howl but stopped squirming.

 

“It’s not! It never has before!” Zoey said, as she snapped the last clasp closed on Schrodinger’s plaid coat.

 

Indeed, although it was vibrating rapidly and spinning through a rainbow of colors, the snowflake hadn’t moved forward from the position it had taken right outside the store. Once Jack and Schrodinger had their coats in place, Lily and Zoey pulled their hats and mittens back on and they all burst out into the cold December sunshine that had burst through the clouds.

 

It was only noon, so there was plenty of light to see the snowflake by. It led them back down the street to the park, and even before they got within sight, they could hear the whoops and shouts of joy. “Who’s down there?” Zoey shouted.

 

“I don’t know!” Lily shouted back. “Let’s go find out!”

 

As they turned the corner, they saw a massive snowball fight going on in the park. Snowballs were flying fast and furiously, and for a few moments, they just stood and blinked, watching the game.

 

There’s Drew! Schrodinger said suddenly. Over by the statue!

 

Zoey looked and saw Molly’s tall boyfriend, snow coating most of his dark hair. As she watched, he aimed and threw a snowball, hitting another boy square in the back. Then Drew ducked the return throw, already scooping up another handful of snow for another snowball.

 

The snowflake was still hovering in front of them, and Zoey wondered if it was as excited as they were. That would explain the colors! As she watched, it split into two different snowflakes that hovered in front of her and Lily.

 

Oooh… Jack said, his tongue lolling out as they put their hands out and two perfect snowballs landed in their mittens. Who do we hit first?

 

It was a good question. As Zoey still didn’t know a lot of people in the Cove by sight, she looked over at Lily, who was considering her options like a general. After a few moments, she pointed over to the group that Drew was in. “Let’s do this,” she said, grinning, and shared her plan with the others.

 

Oh yes! Jack and Schrodinger took off towards Drew, weaving through the flying snowballs with skill and grace. Zoey and Lily followed, ducking a little less successfully. By the time they made it to where they wanted, both of them were splattered with snow and laughing hysterically.

 

“Ready?” Lily whispered, and Zoey nodded. Lily looked up and shouted, “Hey, Drew!”

 

As he looked over, they both let go with their snowballs and hit him squarely in the face. He staggered back, and then fell backwards over Jack and Schrodinger, who were positioned perfectly. Lily and Zoey cheered, and then squealed as his friends rallied around him and pelted them with snowballs.

 

For the next hour, they traded snowballs and shouts, enjoying themselves immensely. Finally, Drew threw his hands up in defeat, and everyone jumped on him, bringing him down into the snow. Lily and Zoey tried to help wash his face, but they were laughing too hard to do more than hold him down.

 

“I surrender, I surrender!” he said. “Let me up before I drown!”

 

Let him up! Schrodinger said. Molly won’t feed us if we drown him!

 

“Okay, okay!” Luke reached down and pulled Drew to his feet. “I’m not giving up Molly’s food!”

 

“Good to know you value something,” Drew said ruefully, brushing ineffectively at the snow that coated him. “Let’s go see if she’ll feed us now.”

 

Zoey realized that she was hungry, and nodded. “I bet she’ll have something good!”

 

Drew smiled down at her. “She always does!”

 

“Something good” turned out to be grilled ham and cheese sandwiches on Molly’s herb and cheese bread, spread with a tangy mustard. And she had steaming mugs of hot cider with sticks of cinnamon to stir it, something Zoey had never seen before. She seemed unsurprised to see Drew and Luke joining the others as they trooped into her kitchen through the back door.

 

“I’m glad you chose the back,” she said, looking at the line of melting snow that they had tromped in. “Aunt Margie would have killed you if you’d come in the front like that.”

 

“Give us a little credit,” Luke said. “We knew that.”

 

Molly laughed and started handing out mugs as everyone shed their wet overclothing. They had to send Jack back outside to shake himself off, but then they all settled down to enjoy the good, warming food.

 

As she ate, Zoey looked around at all the houses Molly had decorated. They were all similar, but each one had something that made it unique. Some had snowmen in the front yards, or decorated Christmas trees. There were wreaths in all the windows, and lights were piped along the outside edges.

 

“Are you done with all the houses?” she asked Molly.

 

“All done,” Molly said. “The only thing I have left to do is make the marzipan presents for the sleigh.” She looked at them. “Which is why, if you want to help, I have another project for you.”

 

All four of them perked up. “What project?” Lily asked.

 

Molly went into the pantry and came back out with a huge bowl of fluffy popcorn. “Who wants to help me make popcorn snowballs?”

 

“Me!”

 

Zoey looked surprised – Drew and Luke had joined in as enthusiastically as she and Lily had. Molly laughed and pointed to the counter, where she had a stick of butter waiting in a butter dish, and a pile of sheet pans. “Someone grab that stuff, and follow me,” she said.

 

Drew took the pans and Lily lifted the butter dish down carefully, and they all trooped into the tea room. Molly set down the bowl of popcorn, then went back into the kitchen and came out with a pot in her hands. She carefully poured the contents of the pot over the popcorn, and then, to Zoey’s surprise, coated her hands in butter and reached in to stir the popcorn all around. As she did so, Zoey realized there were chopped nuts in with the popcorn.

 

“This is how you do it,” Molly said, demonstrating. “It’s not hot, so you don’t have to worry about that. Make sure your hands are well coated in butter, so the popcorn won’t stick to your fingers.” She scooped out a handful and shaped it into a ball. “Like this. Then put it down on the wax paper. Can you guys do the rest?”

 

They all nodded, and she left them to the task. Zoey giggled a bit as she coated her hands with the butter – it felt so weird! But as she took her first handful of the sticky popcorn, she realized it was definitely needed.

 

“Now remember,” Luke said, winking at her. “We’re not allowed to eat it all, Drew. Not yet.”

 

Drew, who had a piece of the sticky popcorn half-way to his mouth, glared at Luke before defiantly popping the piece in and chewing.

 

“No eating all the popcorn!” Molly called from the kitchen. “And that includes you, Drew!”

 

They all laughed and began to roll popcorn balls.

 

After they had finished and trooped back into the kitchen to wash their hands, Molly handed them bowls of silvery white sprinkles to put on the snowballs. “You could use coconut, but not everyone likes that,” she said. Then she gave them small treat bags with silver snowflakes on them and green twist ties, to put all the snowballs in, as well as a big bowl, and sent them back out.

 

They quickly developed a system – Zoey and Lily would each roll a snowball in their bowl of sprinkles, then drop it into the bag that Drew and Luke held out for them. Then the techs would twist the bag closed with a tie, and hand it to Schrodinger and Jack, who would put the finished snowballs into the big bowl.

 

By the time they had finished, Molly had finished the last of the marzipan packages for the sleigh, which was decorated with snowflakes and lights. “Great job!” she said, moving the sleigh to the sideboard. “Now, you can take two each home, and don’t forget that we’re meeting here tomorrow before the ball!”

 

“How could we?” Lily bubbled, dancing around. “We’re going to the Snow Queen’s Ball!”