{"id":1209,"date":"2013-11-30T15:09:03","date_gmt":"2013-11-30T20:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=1209"},"modified":"2013-11-30T15:09:03","modified_gmt":"2013-11-30T20:09:03","slug":"advent-november-30-a-prologue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=1209","title":{"rendered":"(advent) November 30 – a prologue"},"content":{"rendered":"

Molly Barrett hummed to herself as she kneaded bread dough. There were four more loaves already rising in bread pans lined up on the stove, and five loaves in the oven. That would be enough bread for sandwiches for at least six days, provided Drew didn\u2019t snitch a loaf for the Station. Maybe I\u2019d better make at least two extra,<\/em> she thought wryly, giving the loaf before her a final pat before she put it in the last loaf pan to rise. Just to make sure.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Or stop making such good bread.<\/em> That sleepy thought made her smile at the large CrossCat that ambled into the kitchen. Although I\u2019m not sure you\u2019re capable of baking anything bad, unless you\u2019re angry.<\/em> He blinked up at her and then jumped up onto one of the stools that she kept pulled up to the island. Are you planning on getting angry any time soon?<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t usually plan on getting angry,\u201d Molly said, stretching her back and reaching almost absently for the copper tea kettle that lived perpetually on the back burner of the stove. \u201cTea?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Please.<\/em> Schrodinger yawned. I just woke up from a nap, after all.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI noticed.\u201d Molly chuckled. \u201cAre you planning on sleeping the weekend away?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s an option<\/em>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re offering tea, I\u2019d love a cup,\u201d said a new voice, as a tall young woman with windblown brown hair breezed in to the kitchen. \u201cSomething hot and black, and sweet, if possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Molly grinned at her sister-in-law. \u201cNathan told you I just got a tea order in, didn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cActually, I heard it from Aunt Margie,\u201d Corrine Barrett admitted. \u201cAnd since the local grocery doesn\u2019t carry the Nutcracker Sweet tea anymore-\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause they\u2019re heathens,\u201d Molly interrupted, going into the pantry for another mug, and the tea Corrine liked. She came back out and set up the three mugs: Corrine\u2019s Nutcracker Sweet, Schrodinger\u2019s Earl Grey (hot, just like his idol from Star Trek), and her own personal favorite, the Christmas blend from Twinings. Then she poured hot water in, and while the tea steeped, she got out a tray of the day\u2019s bakery offerings: cranberry-orange scones with butter and orange marmalade.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Corrine hung up her coat and sank down onto another stool. \u201cIt\u2019s bone-chilling out there,\u201d she said. \u201cAlmost like last year, when Old Man Winter was around. The wind has a nasty bite to it.\u201d She cocked her head at them. \u201cI hope you guys have warm coats if you\u2019re walking home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We do<\/em>, Schrodinger told her. And hats and scarves, too<\/em>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood. You\u2019ll need them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cUnless Drew stops by and picks us up,\u201d Molly said. \u201cHe just bought the Range Rover, after all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTrue.\u201d Corrine sipped her tea, and then sighed. \u201cSo, I have news.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Molly and Schrodinger both looked at her – the tone in her voice suggested it wasn\u2019t good news, and that was worrying, especially now, heading into the Christmas season. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Lily.\u201d Corrine sighed again. \u201cShe\u2019s decided that she doesn\u2019t believe in Santa Claus this year, and as such, doesn\u2019t really want to do much for Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Molly and Schrodinger stared at her, stunned. Christmas was a huge deal in the Barrett family, not even taking into consideration the recent history. It was THE holiday in Carter\u2019s Cove, too. \u201cWhat?\u201d Molly finally said. \u201cAfter everything that\u2019s happened\u2026after two years ago, how could she decide this? I mean, she MET him!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d Corrine shook her head. \u201cI think it\u2019s her new friend, Zoey Allard. She\u2019s a lovely little girl, but she\u2019s not from a CrossRoads town originally, and I don\u2019t think she\u2019s really experienced the magic yet. She and Lily are inseparable, and I\u2019ll bet that\u2019s where it\u2019s coming from.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell.\u201d Molly picked up her tea and drank thoughtfully, processing this. She knew there were new people in town, but she hadn\u2019t actually met the Allards yet. Peter Allard had taken over the Carter\u2019s Cove Pharmacy when Mr. Irons had finally retired, bringing his family from somewhere south of here – Pennsylvania, she thought possibly. Not a CrossRoads town, although he had been born and raised in Portsmouth, which housed its own Gate. Then again, she\u2019d heard that the bigger towns that housed Gate Stations, like Portsmouth and Boston, weren\u2019t quite the same as Carter\u2019s Cove.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Of course, nothing was the same as Carter\u2019s Cove. She quite like the uniqueness of her little town on the Maine coast. \u201cWell, we\u2019ll have to see about that,\u201d she said now, bringing herself back to the present. She set her tea mug down. \u201cBecause that won\u2019t do.\u201d Molly looked over at Corrine. \u201cI don\u2019t suppose Miss Lily\u2019s rejection of Christmas included not making a list of what she\u2019d like to see under the tree, did it?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd forgo the chance to get presents? Not likely!\u201d Corrine handed Molly a list. \u201cHere you go. Nathan and I have the dollhouse covered, so don\u2019t get that. But everything else is fair game.\u201d She grinned. \u201cJust check with your mother first. You know she started shopping early.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIn January, probably,\u201d Molly said, scanning the list. Mrs. Barrett took her grandma duties very seriously, especially since Lily was her only human grandchild. The honest fact was that Schrodinger and Jack were just as spoiled as Lily was, by both elder Barretts. \u201cI\u2019ll talk to Mom and Aunt Margie about this before I buy anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Corrine drained her tea and got to her feet with a sigh. \u201cI\u2019d better get back. I left Nathan unattended, and that\u2019s never a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood lord, you\u2019re brave,\u201d Molly said, grinning. \u201cI know my brother – who knows what trouble he could get into.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Corrine laughed. \u201cHe\u2019s watching TV with Lily. I figured I was safe.\u201d She looked down at the tray of goodies, and Molly obligingly packaged up some of the scones. \u201cOrder me some tea when you next order?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOr you can take some now,\u201d Molly said, going into the pantry and pulling out one of the boxes. \u201cSince I ordered extra.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a goddess.\u201d Corrine hugged her, then pulled on her jacket. She paused at the door. \u201cDo you really think you can help Lily and Zoey?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLet me think on it,\u201d Molly told her. \u201cI think we can change their minds. And have some fun doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once Corrine was gone, she turned to Schrodinger, who had been very quiet throughout the conversation. He was staring down at his full teacup. Molly went over and gathered him into her arms. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Schrodinger?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He leaned against her. How can she not believe in Santa?<\/em> His thought was quietly anguished. After everything she\u2019s seen. After all the magic. How can she not believe?<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI think she\u2019s just a little confused,\u201d Molly said, snuggling him close and resting her cheek on his soft mottled fur. The CrossCat was the size of an ocelot, with the same spotted fur, but that was where the similarities ended. After all, how many ocelots were telepathic, and could walk the Roads like he could? \u201cYou know the truth. So does she. But it\u2019s something that kids go through, and Lily\u2019s hitting it now. I think we just need to remind her about the magic of Santa and Christmas, and show Zoey what a CrossRoads town really is.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I hope so.<\/em> Schrodinger disentangled himself from her arms and went out to the tea room. Molly watched him go, her heart constricting. He hadn\u2019t even touched his tea. Then she stood back up, pulled the finished loaves of bread from the oven, put the new loaves in, and cleaned up the island. Schrodinger\u2019s cup of tea went into a mug that she could warm up later – no sense wasting the tea, after all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All the while, her mind raced. Lily was seven this year, a prime age for the \u201cI don\u2019t believe in Santa!\u201d phase to hit. Even here, in the Cove, most kids went through a version of it, although it usually only lasted until they came into contact with the gentleman himself at CrossWinds Books, since Aunt Margie made a point to invite him in every year. Lily would no doubt be the same. It was Zoey who sounded like she might need some additional convincing. Which might be a bit harder.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Harder, but not impossible. Especially not here.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Molly filled up a thermal carafe with hot water and went out into the tea room to make sure everyone was taken care of. Margie Barrett had revamped her two-story building when her niece had graduated from Johnson and Wales and come home. Now, the bottom floor housed a gleaming kitchen with a large attached pantry, the main checkout area for the store, several rows of shelves full of books, and a modest tea room with six tables for two, a wood stove tucked into one corner, and some overstuffed arm chairs around the edges. On any given day, there were all sorts of people in here: reading, doing homework, making music, writing or doing crafts. CrossWinds Books was more than just a bookstore, after all. It was one of the town\u2019s cultural hubs, and Molly loved that about it. It was one of the joys of working there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As it was Thanksgiving weekend, there weren\u2019t a ton of customers in the tea room, but there were a few regulars. Mr. Dorr and Mrs. Dorr were sitting at one of the tables, she knitting something soft and lavender while he read to her. Nearby, Sam and Brad, two of the local high school students, were working on something that involved a lot of maps and mutterings. Knowing the two of them, Molly knew it was either a school project, their next roleplaying campaign, or a combination of the two. And in one corner, Lee-Roy Johnson, the Cove\u2019s newest artist, was going over what looked to be a portfolio of elaborate art involved skulls and various children\u2019s toys, his notebook open next to him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs. Dorr looked up and called her over. \u201cMolly, dear, is that hot water?\u201d<\/p>\n

“It is.\u201d Molly grinned as she refilled their teapot. Then she looked at the table, put her hand in her apron pocket, concentrated, and pulled several more chamomile and lemon tea bags out. Sometimes, being a kitchen witch was pretty handy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As she looked at the blanket Mrs. Dorr was knitting, she said, \u201cSo they know it\u2019s a girl this time, do they?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot just one girl,\u201d Mrs. Dorr replied, her smile proud. \u201cThree!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPlease tell Jeff and Lee-Ann congratulations from me!\u201d Molly said. Mrs. Dorr\u2019s son and daughter-in-law were famous for the fire kittens they raised – the magical creatures were very hard to breed, and triplets were almost unheard of. This was a momentous event indeed. \u201cWhen are they due?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIn February, of course,\u201d Mr. Dorr said. \u201cWhen it\u2019s cold and wet.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs. Dorr smiled at her husband. \u201cThat\u2019s a good thing, Steve. Do you remember how hot the last delivery room was?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cVery true,\u201d he agreed, reaching for a new teabag.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs. Dorr set aside her knitting and laid a hand on Molly\u2019s arm, gesturing slightly with her chin towards Schrodinger, who was lying in his bed next to the wood stove, his head on his paws, eyes staring off into the distance. \u201cIs everything okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s having a crisis of faith,\u201d Molly said, and told them about Lily and her new friend, and their lack of belief in Santa. \u201cSo now he\u2019s worried about how this will play out.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAh.\u201d Mr. Dorr nodded. \u201cAnd I assume you are taking steps to remedy the situation?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Molly smiled. \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood. Let us know if we can help in any way.\u201d This was not a little thing – between the two of them, the Dorrs knew just about everyone in the entire area, not just the Cove.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d she said. Then she looked over their table again. \u201cIs there anything else I can get you folks right now?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat sandwiches are you offering today?\u201d Mr. Dorr asked. \u201cThe bread smells wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The tea room had recently started offering sandwiches, as Molly had started experimenting with bread. The menu changed daily and was, like everything else she served, entirely up to what she felt like making. \u201cToasted cheddar and apple, cranberry chicken salad, or ham and cheese. The bread today is a multi-grain, multi-seed variety,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat would you like?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They both ordered the cheddar and apple, and Molly nodded. She did a fast circuit of the tea room, topping off the other teapots, and taking another sandwich order from Lee, who asked if he could buy a loaf of bread as well. \u201cIt smells amazing,\u201d he told her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI think I could do that,\u201d Molly told him. \u201cWould you like it sliced?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou are an angel,\u201d Lee said. \u201cAn absolute angel, to keep me from being a starving artist.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She laughed and went back into the kitchen, where she assembled the sandwiches and heated the grill pan. Aunt Margie had offered to get her a panini grill for the store, but Molly had shook her head. \u201cThe cast iron is way better, and we don\u2019t do enough in the way of customers to warrant it,\u201d she\u2019d said, and it was true. Sometimes, having a limit of how many people could be in her cafe was nice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The cast iron pan covered two of the burners on her industrial stove, and it took four sandwiches. Looking up at the clock, she added an extra ham and cheese sandwich to the pan, knowing Drew would be along soon enough. Then she sliced up a loaf for Lee and wrapped it up in plastic wrap, and slid it into a bag.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As the sandwiches cooked, she checked the other loaves to see how cool they were. Not quite cool enough to put away yet. But soon. She delivered the sandwiches and sliced bread, then came back into the kitchen and put the last sandwich on a plate.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Just then, she heard the front door open and grinned.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow did you know?\u201d Drew McIntyre demanded, coming into the kitchen and shedding his coat. \u201cI\u2019m starving.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Molly grinned and offered the plate. \u201cI\u2019m a kitchen witch, remember? And I looked at the schedule this morning when we were at the Station.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAh-hah!\u201d He came around the island and claimed the sandwich, but only after he stole a kiss. Not that Molly resisted all that much, truth be told. She loved his kisses.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTea?\u201d she said, when they came up for air. At his nod, she went and got his mug. \u201cCaffeinated or no?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t have to go back until tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dropping a tea ball full of peppermint tea into the mug, Molly brought it out and filled it up with hot water, then added more water to the copper kettle. \u201cGood thing I put the crock pot on, then,\u201d she teased. \u201cOtherwise, you\u2019d go hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDating you? Starvation is the least of my worries.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Molly laughed. \u201cHow\u2019s things at the Station?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBusy.\u201d Drew shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s Christmas in the Cove. What else would it be?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The mention of Christmas dampened her spirits a bit, and she glanced out the door at Schrodinger, who hadn\u2019t even gotten up to join them. Drew followed her gaze.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What\u2019s up?\u201d he asked. \u201cEverything okay with Schrodinger?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Molly told him what had happened, and as he ate, Drew pondered. \u201cYou know it\u2019s a phase, right?\u201d he said finally.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but I don\u2019t think Schrodinger believes me,\u201d Molly said, pulling out the saran wrap and starting to package up the bread.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo what are you thinking?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She smiled at him and said, \u201cI think that there are certain people that owe us a few favors, and I think that it\u2019s time to call them in.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI love it when you plot.\u201d Drew picked up his cup of tea. \u201cWhat do you need me to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What could Molly be planning??? Tune in tomorrow and find out!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Molly Barrett hummed to herself as she kneaded bread dough. There were four more loaves already rising in bread pans lined up on the stove, and five loaves in the oven. That would be enough bread for sandwiches for at least six days, provided Drew didn\u2019t snitch a loaf for the Station. Maybe I\u2019d better …<\/p>\n

>>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[61,15],"class_list":["post-1209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-advent","tag-advent","tag-christmas"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1209"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1209"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1210,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1209\/revisions\/1210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}