{"id":1215,"date":"2013-12-03T08:30:50","date_gmt":"2013-12-03T13:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=1215"},"modified":"2013-12-03T23:32:49","modified_gmt":"2013-12-04T04:32:49","slug":"advent-tuesday-december-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=1215","title":{"rendered":"(advent) Tuesday, December 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

You have to tell me,<\/em> Schrodinger said, as they waited with Jack for Lily and Zoey to come out of the school. I know you had something to do with this.<\/em> He\u2019d used their private link to say this, so Molly knew that Jack couldn\u2019t hear them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know what you mean,<\/em> she said silently. They were waiting in the playground, Molly sitting on a swing while she and Schrodinger watched Jack chase snowflakes. It was flurrying in little bursts, nothing serious, but just enough to add a holiday feel to the day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Schrodinger looked up at her, disbelief in his green eyes. Seriously? I\u2019m not a kid, Molly. I know you weren\u2019t going to let Zoey and Lily ruin Christmas.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Okay, I\u2019ll give you that,<\/em> she said. I may have made a few phone calls. But I had no idea what they would do.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You called the Snow Queen?<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Among others.<\/em> Molly looked fondly down at the CrossCat. You looked so bereft when Corrine told us. And really, Jade has been looking for an excuse to do something like this ever since Drew and I told her the story of what he did with the carols.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Really?<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Molly nodded, laughing a bit at Jack\u2019s antics. \u201cShe\u2019s a bit of a romantic, you know,\u201d she said out loud. \u201cI wonder why she\u2019s never found someone.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Well, there\u2019s the whole being the Snow Queen bit,<\/em> Schrodinger said. I can see that being a bit off-putting.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTrue.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The bell rang then, and the doors of the school opened, disgorging students. Lily and Zoey were in the second wave, and when they saw Molly waiting for them, they ran over.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you think today\u2019s advent adventure will be?\u201d Lily cried, throwing herself at her aunt. Molly wasn\u2019t prepared for the assault and they both went over into the snow, laughing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d she admitted. \u201cBut I bet it will be fun!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Which wasn\u2019t true – that she didn\u2019t know. When she\u2019d first called her, Molly had demanded a part in the calendar, and Jade had sent her a list of the adventures she\u2019d planned. Which is why Drew was waiting for them at the tea room, his Range Rover ready to take them where they needed to go.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, let\u2019s go!\u201d she said now, pushing herself up from the snow. \u201cI want to see what\u2019s coming up too!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They walked quickly to the bookstore, admiring the Christmas lights that were starting to glow in the late afternoon air. \u201cIt\u2019s so pretty here,\u201d Zoey said. \u201cDo you think we\u2019ll see Spot and Mr. Grey again?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Molly said. \u201cI don\u2019t think so. It\u2019s Tuesday – they usually come by on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. They seem to have something else to do on the other days.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And I\u2019m not sure I want to know what, <\/em>Jack said. Spot is cool, but he\u2019s a little creepy sometimes.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Well, he\u2019s a hell hound,<\/em> Schrodinger pointed out reasonably. He kind of can\u2019t help it. And he\u2019s still a puppy, you know.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Molly idly wondered what a fully grown Spot would look like, and didn\u2019t envy Mr. Grey at all. \u201cI think Spot will be fine,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s all about the owner, after all. And Mr. Grey isn\u2019t creepy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I like him,<\/em> Schrodinger said. He likes Earl Grey tea – that shows that he\u2019s a man of sophistication.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt does?\u201d Zoey said, eyes wide, and the CrossCat nodded. Molly smothered a laugh at that.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre you guys hungry?\u201d she asked, as she unlocked the back door. On her off days, she didn\u2019t usually unlock it, since Schrodinger didn\u2019t need to get in when Molly wasn\u2019t at work. If he\u2019d gone without her, he\u2019d just go to the front door and wait for DC or Margie to let her in. Grace, the assistant clerk who helped cover the tea room on Molly\u2019s off days, didn\u2019t actually go into the pantry unless someone broke a mug or needed one of the more exotic teas Molly stocked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Drew said, from his perch on one of the stools. \u201cStarving.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t asking you,\u201d Molly said, laughing as she went over to him and gave him a quick kiss in hello. \u201cI was asking them.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you didn\u2019t specify,\u201d he said, pulling her close and stealing another kiss, since the kids had made a beeline for the Advent Calendar. \u201cAnd you know Mac never feeds us on shift.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHah. Then what does he do with all the baskets of goodies I send up to you guys all the time?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe hoards them like a dragon,\u201d Drew told her, and the image of dour Mac, curled up on a pile of picnic baskets and smoking his ever-present pipe, was enough to send Molly into peals of laughter loud enough to not only drag Lily, Zoey, Jack and Schrodinger from the Advent Calendar, but to bring Aunt Margie into the room as well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat mischief are you up to, Drew McIntyre?\u201d she demanded, her hands on her hips and her eyes sparkling as she surveyed the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMe?\u201d he protested. \u201cWhy do you think it\u2019s me?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Aunt Margie shook her finger at him. \u201cBecause you\u2019re the only one who can make her laugh like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLike a maniac,\u201d she said, and that set Molly off again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When she finally got her giggles under control, she sighed. \u201cI\u2019ll never look at Mac the same again, you know,\u201d Molly told Drew, who grinned. Then she turned to Aunt Margie. \u201cHow\u2019s the day going?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Aunt Margie shrugged. \u201cIt goes. It\u2019s a holiday season. We\u2019re going nuts.\u201d She turned to leave, and then apparently remembered something. \u201cOh, did you have sandwiches set up for tomorrow? We\u2019ve had a request.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSort of, but I\u2019m flexible.\u201d Molly ignored Drew\u2019s chuckle at that and went over to the notebook she kept on the sideboard, flipping to the menu she\u2019d set up for the next day. \u201cWhat\u2019s the request?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Dorr asked if you could do a cranberry-nut bread sandwich with cream cheese,\u201d Aunt Margie said. \u201cHe said his grand-mere used to do that every year, and he misses it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFor Mr. Dorr, I would do anything,\u201d Molly said, and wrote down the change, then considered what she could do. The cream cheese was easy – she\u2019d been planning to make cream cheese frosting for carrot cake cupcakes, so she\u2019d ordered some extra. There were cranberries in her freezer, and if she remembered correctly, she had leftover orange concentrate in there too. \u201cYes, we can totally do that,\u201d she said. \u201cTell him I\u2019m expecting him to order one now!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Aunt Margie nodded and left. Molly closed the notebook and stretched, then went to the fridge and started rummaging. She was hungry, and she knew Drew was too. Teasing aside, his job was hard, and he used a lot of energy working around the Gates. She tried to remember the last time she\u2019d seen a fat Gate tech or engineer and failed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, what are we doing today?\u201d she called out, as she pulled the remainder of a loaf of bread, some cheese and some roast beef, and the butter. She piled these on the counter and then turned the flame on under the cast iron skillet, then shed her coat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI love how you have your priorities straight,\u201d Drew said, and Molly gave him a puzzled look. \u201cFood first, and THEN take your coat off.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI was cold?\u201d she said weakly, and shrugged. \u201cNo, I was hungry, I\u2019ll admit it.\u201d She looked over at the four around the calendar. \u201cWhose turn is it today?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That\u2019s apparently what they were trying to figure out. Molly watched as they discussed it in low tones, and then Jack started to look at the calendar.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lily was the one who spotted the little number 3, hidden in a pine tree bough on the sleigh. Jack pressed his nose to it, and the painting crumbled away. He backed up as the snowflake floated out.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A blast of cold air followed it out of the hole, cold air that smelled of pine and the forests. It whirled around the small kitchen, chilling them all with its bite.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOooh, look!\u201d Zoey pointed at the snowflake, which had turned a forest green briefly, and hovered in front of Lily. She held out her hand, and the snowflake pulsed before turning white again. A perfect pine cone with a tag on it landed in Lily\u2019s outstretched hand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What does it say?<\/em> Jack demanded, his tail wagging so ferociously that he nearly knocked Schrodinger over. Jack\u2019s tail had a mind of its own most days.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt says, \u2018The perfect Christmas needs the perfect decorations,\u2019\u201d Lily said, squinting hard at the tag. She looked up at the others. \u201cWhat do you think it means?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I think it means that you need to follow the snowflake, after you eat,\u201d Molly said, offering up a plate of grilled cheese and roast beef sandwiches. \u201cI think it will wait, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The snowflake sparkled and then went to sit on the end of one of Zoey\u2019s braids. She giggled and then they crowded around Molly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once the sandwiches were consumed, Molly did a quick clean-up, grabbed some of the cranberries and the orange concentrate from the freezer, and tucked them in a small cooler. \u201cFor later tonight,\u201d she told them. \u201cI need to make cranberry-nut bread, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Then they all put their coats back on and looked at Zoey, who lifted up her braid and said to the snowflake, \u201cI think we\u2019re ready now. Where do we go?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The snowflake floated up and shimmered at them, then led them out front, to where Drew\u2019s new Range Rover was parked. It floated towards the vehicle and then stopped, obviously waiting for them to get in.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone in!\u201d Drew said, clicking the doors open with his remote. They piled in, and then he pulled out into the road.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clouds had come in and more snowflakes had started to fall while they\u2019d been in the tea shop, and the Christmas lights glowed in the deepening twilight. Carter\u2019s Cove put on quite a show in December. Molly leaned back against the seat, enjoying the light show. The snowflake was right ahead of the car, glowing above the Range Rover\u2019s lights.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are we going?\u201d Zoey asked, as the ride stretched. \u201cAre we even in the Cove anymore?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh yes,\u201d Drew told her. \u201cI think I know where we\u2019re heading, though. What kind of decorations do you think we might find out here for Christmas?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They didn\u2019t have to answer, as a large sign that said \u201cLavalle Christmas Tree Farm\u201d loomed out of the pine trees on the side of the road. The snowflake strobed again, and then vanished as they pulled into the driveway.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Zoey said, as they all got out and breathed in the pine-scented air. \u201cThis is wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHaven\u2019t you ever gone to a tree farm before?\u201d Lily asked her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Zoey shook her head. \u201cWe have an artificial tree.\u201d When Lily stared at her, incredulous, she shrugged. \u201cMom says real ones are a fire hazard.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, they are, if you don\u2019t keep them watered,\u201d said a new voice, as Josh Lavalle, the owner of the tree farm, came out of the small trailer that stood at the edge of the parking lot. \u201cBut if you take care of them, they can not only be fine, they can be recycled afterwards.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you recycle a Christmas tree?\u201d Zoey asked him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe come and pick them up, and make mulch to use in gardens,\u201d he said. He looked at Molly. \u201cHow many tickets do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTwo,\u201d Molly said. \u201cOne for us, and one for Lily and Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSounds good.\u201d He handed her the tickets, and then went to go and talk to another couple who had just climbed out of their car.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Molly turned back to her group. \u201cOkay, so Corrine said nothing bigger than six feet this year,\u201d she said. \u201cShe wants to make sure it fits in the living room with the tree topper, without your father having to take some off the bottom.\u201d Lily nodded vigorously. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t need anything bigger than four or five feet. Got it?\u201d They all nodded this time. \u201cThen go ahead and look!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lily grabbed Zoey\u2019s hand. \u201cCome on!\u201d she cried. \u201cLet\u2019s go find the perfect tree!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Molly and Drew strolled behind them as they ran off. \u201cThis was such a good idea,\u201d he said, slipping an arm around her waist.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYep.\u201d Molly rested her head on his shoulder and sighed happily. \u201cIt was.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They wandered through the trees, hearing the girls shout and Jack bark as they looked for trees. Schrodinger was quiet, of course, but Molly could \u201chear\u201d his thoughts as they debated various trees. She really didn\u2019t care what kind of tree they got. What she cared about was the fact that she was going to get to share the entire Christmas season with the two guys she really loved, for the first time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what do you want for Christmas?\u201d she asked Drew. \u201cYou never gave me a list.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t answer right away. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said finally. \u201cI really don\u2019t want anything this year, except to spend it with you and Schrodinger. I\u2019ve got everything I want.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEverything?\u201d she teased gently. \u201cThere\u2019s not one thing that you don\u2019t have that you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, of course, but where are you going to find a castle for sale around here?\u201d he teased back.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre you challenging me?\u201d Molly asked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh no!\u201d Drew laughed. \u201cI know better than that!\u201d Then he looked off over the trees. \u201cHonestly, though, I don\u2019t know what I want. I\u2019ll think on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMolly, Drew, we found it!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The high-pitched shout of joy from Lily brought them at a run. She and Zoey were dancing excitedly in front of a tree that reached full branches up to the gently-falling snow. It was just a shade under 6 feet, and Molly nodded. \u201cYour mother and father will love it,\u201d she told Lily, and handed her the tag to tie on one of the branches. Each ticket had a number attached to it – Josh had already taken the other half of the ticket off before he\u2019d given it to them, and written her name next to the numbers in his log book.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNow you need to find one for Molly,\u201d Drew told them, and they ran off again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot as big!\u201d Molly reminded them. \u201cLord, why do I think I\u2019m going to get a huge tree this year?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause they\u2019re enthusiastic?\u201d Drew chuckled. \u201cBesides, a big tree wouldn\u2019t be a bad thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhere would we put it?\u201d Molly pointed out.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there\u2019s that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

However, the second time the cry went up, Molly and Drew had to admit that they had done wonderfully. Schrodinger and Jack had found a compact balsam fir, just a shade over four feet tall, with full branches and a lovely scent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d she told them, as Drew put the tag on the tree branch. \u201cThis one is perfect too.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo now what?\u201d Zoey asked, as they tromped back through the snow to the parking lot. \u201cAre we going to get a saw?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet,\u201d Lily said. \u201cIt\u2019s too early.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cToo early?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lily nodded, clearly in her element. \u201cIf you cut the tree and put it up now, it runs a greater chance of drying out. So around the 15th or so, we\u2019ll come back, and Josh will have the tree cut and waiting for us!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s really cool,\u201d Zoey said, as she looked around. \u201cMaybe I can convince my mom to get a real tree this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Josh wasn\u2019t outside when they got back to the parking lot, but his son Cory was, and he grinned. \u201cDid you find trees?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe did!\u201d Lily told him excitedly. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to come back and get it, so we can decorate it!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He chuckled. \u201cI\u2019ll bet. Now, hold on a minute. Dad said something came today for you guys, and he wanted to make sure you didn\u2019t leave without it.\u201d As he ducked into the trailer, Lily and Zoey traded curious looks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Do you know what this is?<\/em> Schrodinger asked Molly, who shook her head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cory came back out with four large wreathes, each already decorated. \u201cYep, here they are. Ordered specially for each of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They received their wreathes with awe, Molly and Drew taking Schrodinger and Jack\u2019s for them. Each one was different, and beautiful. Lily\u2019s had gingerbread men dancing all over it, while Jack\u2019s had dog bones, tied with the same red ribbons on Lily\u2019s cookies. Zoey\u2019s and Schrodinger\u2019s had blue ribbons, hers holding snowflakes on, and his holding dragons.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Oh, look, it\u2019s Ember!<\/em> He cried, nudging Molly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know!\u201d she said, admiring the wreath. \u201cIt looks just like her, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ember was the dragon that Drew and Old Man Winter had rescued last year. They carried the wreathes back to the Range Rover, and headed off into the night.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When they dropped Zoey off at her house, she jumped out with her wreath clutched tightly in her hand and sprinted to the door, where her mother stood waiting. \u201cMom, Mom, look what I have!\u201d she called, holding the wreath up. \u201cIsn\u2019t it pretty? They gave it to us – we each got one! Can we put it up? And can we go back and get a tree? Please?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mrs. Allard looked at the wreath, and then smiled down at her daughter before looking out at the car, where Molly and Drew and the others were waiting to make sure Zoey got in safely. She waved, but Molly wondered if she was truly as happy about the wreath as she was pretending to be.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Time to talk to Aunt Margie,<\/em> she decided, as Drew put the Range Rover in gear. If anyone knows anything about the newcomers to the Cove, it\u2019s her.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You have to tell me, Schrodinger said, as they waited with Jack for Lily and Zoey to come out of the school. I know you had something to do with this. He\u2019d used their private link to say this, so Molly knew that Jack couldn\u2019t hear them.   I don\u2019t know what you mean, she …<\/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-1215","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\/1215"}],"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=1215"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1215\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1216,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1215\/revisions\/1216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}