Friday, December 18

“So let me get this straight,” Doug said, looking faintly skeptical. He, Tim, and Molly were at one of the small tables in the tea room at CrossWinds Books, enjoying the warmth of the wood stove as the afternoon inched on. It was a drowsy sort of day, with softly-falling snow shushing against the windows, and only a few people had ventured out. In fact, Molly realized, looking around, other than her family, the only other people in the tea room were the Dorrs, seated at their customary table. Mr. Dorr was reading quietly to his wife, who was knitting something purple.

Probably an afghan for Lee-Ann, she thought, watching the silver needles flicker. That’s definitely Lee-Ann’s color.

Mrs. Dorr, apparently feeling eyes upon her, looked up and smiled at Molly, who smiled back.

Or it’s for the kittens, Schrodinger said sleepily. He was curled up on his large cat bed with Ryan, who was fast asleep, one chubby hand curled under his cheek, the other holding on to the CrossCat’s leg. The entire picture was too cute for Molly, who smiled to see her friend doubling as a pillow.

Doug touched her on the arm and Molly jumped a bit. “Did you hear me?” he asked.

“No, sorry, I got distracted by how stinking cute your kid is right now,” Molly admitted. “What did you ask again?”

“Entirely okay, he’s adorable,” Doug agreed. “We already sent a picture to Mom, who probably has plastered it all over Facebook. But I asked if the entire town shuts down for the ball?”

“Pretty much,” Molly said, nodding. “Even the restaurants close. Everyone’s going to be at the ballroom, with the exception of the emergency services folks, and even they rotate in and out.”

It’s THE event of the social season, Schrodinger added. Especially since everyone wants to see what Jade and Jack have been planning for this year.

“And Old Man Winter,” Molly added. “He stopped by Wednesday and said that he was going to be there, because he was bummed that Lily and Zoey weren’t coming this year.”

They aren’t? Schrodinger said, raising his head and blinking. Why not?

“They’re babysitting for Kaylee and Ryan, remember?” Molly said. “They asked if you wanted to stay with them.”

Oh, right. Schrodinger sighed. I would, but I really, really love the ball.

“They’ll babysit again, and you can help then,” Molly assured him.

“Are you sure that your brother and sister-in-law are okay taking Ryan?” Tim asked. “I’d hate to put them out.”

“They wouldn’t have offered if they weren’t okay with it,” Molly said. “They’re looking forward to the night. And it means you guys can go.”

“For a ball in the middle of the forest.” Doug shook his head, still skeptical. “I can’t wrap my head around it.”

“I’m more impressed by the fact that she’s on a first-name basis with the spirits of winter and fall, personally,” his husband said, chuckling. “This is such a weird town.”

“It’s the same place that Drew and I got married in,” Molly said. “Which, yeah, is in the middle of the forest, but it’s magic. Doug, you grew up with Phoebe around – how can you not be that used to magic?”

“True,” he said. “But I dunno – Phoebe was just Phoebe. She was so much a part of our lives that we didn’t really question it.”

Because you met her as a child. Children accept magic easier, especially if you get them when they’re small. Schrodinger shifted just a bit under Ryan. Your son will never know anything other than magic. Think of what he will take in stride.

“Which is why I’m so happy to be here,” Tim said. “I wonder what my childhood might have been like if I’d grown up in a CrossRoads town.”

“It still depends on the town,” Doug said. “Marionville is not as saturated as Carter’s Cove is.”

“Probably because we’re more of a trade town, especially with the harbor,” Molly said.

“It’s more than that, actually, dear,” Mrs. Dorr said. “I’m sorry to interrupt.”

“Not at all!” Molly said, smiling. “You know more about the town than almost anyone else here.” She turned back to Doug and Tim. “Mrs. Dorr and her husband have been all over, even more than most.”

“That’s because we’re retired, my dear. It gives us something to do and keeps us young.” Mrs. Dorr smiled at all of them. “But the big reason that the Cove is more magical is because of who borders the town.”

“What do you mean?” Doug asked, leaning forward.

“You know how every CrossRoads town has metaphysical borders with several other Realms, right?” Mrs. Dorr said, setting her knitting down for a moment. They nodded. “Well, not all of those Realms are necessarily magical. In the case of Carter’s Cove, however, almost every other Realm that touches upon it is at least partially magically active. So all those different magical energies flow and eddy here in the Cove, and make this place more magically active than most. That’s why so many children born here have magical gifts.”

“We need to have another child,” Tim said, looking at his husband. “I want to see what we can come up with.”

Doug laughed. “You say that now,” he said. “Let’s at least get through the terrible twos with the one we have before we have another.” He winked at Molly. “Beside, I want to see how Molly and Drew’s family turns out first.”

“Do you know something I don’t?” Molly asked him, raising an eyebrow.

“Not yet,” he grinned. “But I’m pretty certain you guys will have a baby before we do another one.”

Mrs. Dorr smiled at Ryan. “He’s young enough to soak up the magical energy. You might get him developing gifts, you know.”

Both Tim and Doug looked surprised. “Really?” Doug asked.

“Yes.” She nodded. “I’ve seen it happen before.” She looked over at her husband, who had put a bookmark into his book, and was getting up to get his coat on. “Is it that time already?”

Mr. Dorr smiled. “Only if you want to stop and see Lee-Ann and Jeff before we go home,” he reminded her. “And we need to stop at the grocery store.”

“Right.” Mrs. Dorr gathered up her things as well. “We’ll see you all tomorrow night,” she said, and they headed out into the snow.

“So everyone really does go to this ball,” Doug said, watching them go. “I wouldn’t believe it.”

“Marionville didn’t have anything like that?” Molly asked him. “Really?”

“Not really,” he said. “I guess the closest thing would have been the Homecoming game and party, but it’s not a fancy ball.”

“They weren’t really into fancy anything in Marionville,” Tim added, chuckling a little. “I don’t think you would find anyone who wanted to dress up that much.”

“True,” Doug admitted. “We’re kind of informal.”

“Well, tomorrow night will not be informal,” Molly said, reaching over and warming up the tea pot with a bit of her magic. She didn’t normally do that, but she was disinclined to get up. “It’s a black tie affair.” She eyed them both. “And no, I won’t tell you what I’m wearing, even though I know Drew asked you.”

“So instead, tell us what to expect tomorrow night,” Doug said. He offered his cup as she poured more tea into her mug. “Because I’m a little worried, to be honest.”

“Why?” Molly shrugged. “Everyone gets dressed up in their prettiest clothes, and goes to dance.”

“Somehow, I doubt it’s the Top 40, though,” Tim said. “Is it?”

“No,” Molly said, giggling at the thought of a DJ at the Snow Queen’s Ball. “There’s live music. Last year, she had a string quartet, but I don’t know what they have planned this year. It changes.” She leaned back in her chair, cradling the warm mug of tea in her hands. “The dancing is all over the place, though. There are slow dances, and fast dances – all different kinds of music, although I will admit that there are more slow couples’ dances.”

Don’t forget the last dance, Schrodinger said. That’s always the best.

“The last dance is a Cinderella dance,” Molly agreed.

“What, we all take off one shoe and dance like that?” Doug asked.

“No, silly.” Molly laughed at him. “The women all take off a shoe, and we put them in a large pile in the middle of the room. Then the guys go and choose a shoe at random.”

Everyone does it, even the Snow Queen, Schrodinger added. And if something special is going to happen, it’s usually then.

“Yes,” Molly said. “Even Jade puts her shoe in. And it’s always danced to the Christmas Waltz.”

“What do you mean, if something special is going to happen?” Doug said.

“Well, there’s been engagements,” Molly said, thinking back. “And we’ve saved the Cove a couple of times.” She laughed at the look on her cousins’ faces. “Seriously!”

“How?” Doug asked.

“Well, last year, we got the Snow Queen and Jack Frost together,” Molly said. “That saved her life, and the life of the Cove.”

And three years ago, Molly stopped Old Man Winter from destroying the Cove by blowing up the Gates, Schrodinger said. That was the year Drew was kidnapped.

“Yes, but I had help,” Molly said. “Oh, and two years ago, Lily and Zoey went to the Ball! And had a wonderful time.” She didn’t want to remember the fire that had destroyed Zoey’s home while they were all dancing. After all, Santa had fixed that too.

Tim and Doug were staring at her, slightly open-mouthed.

“What?” she asked, startled.

“You’re serious,” Doug said, and it wasn’t a question. “You’re really serious.”

“Yes,” she said. “It all happened.”

Doug turned to his husband. “And she says it so casually,” he said, shaking his head. “She’s managed to save her town at least twice, and she just dismisses it.”

That’s part of her charm, Schrodinger said. She’s modest.

“I had help,” Molly felt required to point out. “It wasn’t just me. Lily helped win over Old Man Winter, and Jack really made changes to show Jade that he could be the partner she needed him to be.”

But you started it all, Molly. They wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.

She blushed and hastily changed the subject. “So yeah, now you see why it’s such a big deal,” she said. “And honestly, the more people who go, the better.”

“Why?” Tim asked her.

“Because there are protections on the Cove, and the Ball helps keep them charged,” Molly told him. “Jack and Jade started it back with the founding of the Cove.”

“Wow.” Doug leaned back in his chair, pondering that. “Amazing.”

“I am so glad we moved here,” Tim said. “I just wish…” His voice trailed off, and Molly reached out for his hand comfortingly.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “Have you heard anything?”

He shook his head. “Not that I expected to, but I’d hoped.” He sighed and squared his shoulders. “Oh well.”