\u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen you this excited, Zoey!\u201d her father said, chuckling as his daughter pulled them along the snowy sidewalk.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so cool, Dad! And you won\u2019t believe it until you see it!\u201d Zoey danced in front of them, her braids flying around her head. She\u2019d requested white bows today, and Donna had found ribbon with silver snowflakes on them. The silvery bits sparkled in the weak midday sun.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
They came upon CrossWinds Books and Zoey cried, \u201cLook! See what we did? Isn\u2019t it pretty?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Donna and Peter Allard stared. The large front windows of the bookstore were covered with a blizzard of snowflakes. Large, small, all intricately cut out.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you think?\u201d Zoey asked anxiously, when they didn\u2019t say anything. \u201cDo you like it?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cOh sweetie, it\u2019s lovely!\u201d Donna knelt down and hugged her daughter. \u201cWe\u2019re just surprised – that\u2019s a LOT of snowflakes!\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took us all day yesterday,\u201d Zoey told her, hugging her back. \u201cWe worked really hard on it!\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cYou guys did a great job,\u201d said a new voice behind them, and they all turned to see Lily and Jack coming down the street with Nathan and Corrine in tow. Nathan shook Peter\u2019s hand and continued, \u201cI couldn\u2019t believe the pictures Molly sent to me on my phone last night, but I can\u2019t argue with what I\u2019m seeing before me. You should be very proud of yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jack barked, and Lily and Zoey glowed at the praise.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, let\u2019s get inside,\u201d Corrine said. \u201cI know your aunt Molly will have hot chocolate and cider waiting for us, and it\u2019s cold.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, maybe it will be cold enough for Old Man Winter to come and visit!\u201d Lily said, skipping ahead to get the door. \u201cThat would be magnificent!\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cSays you.\u201d Nathan chuckled. \u201cYou didn\u2019t have to shovel the snow last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIsn\u2019t that why Mom bought you a snowblower?\u201d Lily asked, her eyes twinkling. \u201cSo we don\u2019t have to worry about snow?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone still has to run said snowblower, and I don\u2019t see you doing it,\u201d he reminded her, and she giggled.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish he would come,\u201d Zoey said wistfully. \u201cHe sounds very cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIn more ways than one,\u201d Lily said, grinning. \u201cBut he was very nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWho was?\u201d Molly asked, just hearing the last bit of their conversation as everyone entered the kitchen. Zoey thought that Molly\u2019s kitchen was just perfect – it was never crowded, even when it was full of people, and it was warm and welcoming. Just like Molly herself. Zoey wondered if that was the magic everyone kept talking about.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Maybe someday, I\u2019ll have magic too,<\/em> she thought wistfully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Schrodinger nudged her gently. You have magic already,<\/em> he said. Look at your painting.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n That\u2019s not magic,<\/em> she said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Isn\u2019t it?<\/em> He tilted his head at her. Are you sure?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n And she didn\u2019t have an answer to that.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo this is the magic Advent Calendar,\u201d Peter said, as they gathered around it. He touched it gently. \u201cDid I ever tell you about the Advent Calendar I had as a child, Zoey?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d she said, shaking her head. \u201cWas it magic?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, not like this one,\u201d Peter said. \u201cInstead of a painting like this, mine was a house, and each day was a different room. There was a Santa Claus, and he started at the beginning of the month on the chimney. He went through the entire house, and on Christmas Day, he would be in the living room with the Christmas tree.\u201d He smiled, a distant look on his face, and Zoey knew he was seeing the old Advent Calendar. \u201cI wonder what happened to it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt probably got worn out,\u201d Donna said fondly. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time since you were Zoey\u2019s age.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTrue.\u201d He smiled at his wife and daughter. \u201cWell, who\u2019s going to show us how this works?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Schrodinger\u2019s turn today,\u201d Lily said. \u201cCome on, Schrodinger!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They all moved back so the CrossCat could look at the picture. \u201cIt\u2019s a bit hard, because the numbers are all hidden,\u201d Zoey whispered to her father. \u201cWe have to help Jack, because he\u2019s not good with colors. But Schrodinger can see them himself.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Oh, here it is!<\/em> Schrodinger said finally. Number 8 was hidden in the open mouth of the angel who hovered in one of the corners. Zoey hadn\u2019t seen her before – she was all in white, and blended into the snowbank she seemed to be floating above. Schrodinger touched his nose to the number, and then stepped back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh my god,\u201d Zoey heard her mother whisper as the paint around the number crumbled, and the snowflake came out. \u201cIt really is magic.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt is,\u201d Molly agreed. \u201cWelcome to Carter\u2019s Cove.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The snowflake hovered in front of them, and Zoey stuck her hand out. The snowflake spun and exploded, and four brass ornaments, shaped like musical notes, fell into her outstretched plan.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOoh,\u201d Lily said, looking at them. \u201cHow pretty!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo what is the adventure today?\u201d Zoey asked, confused. \u201cThe snowflake didn\u2019t take us anywhere!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And then, from the floor above, she heard a single voice raised in song. It was clear and pure, just the way Zoey imagined an angel would sound, and the notes in her hand vibrated.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think we should go upstairs,\u201d she said. \u201cI think the notes want us to.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Then let\u2019s go!<\/em> Schrodinger said, leading them out of the kitchen and up the same stairs they had climbed yesterday to the second floor of the bookstore.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Zoey\u2019s eyes went immediately to the mail box, still sitting beside the massive fireplace. However, today the tables had been moved around, and in the center of the room was the source of the singing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There were people standing around her, but Zoey could only focus on the singer. She was dark-skinned, with long dark hair that was braided away from her face and fell down in a loose fall to the middle of her back. There were intricate tattoos on her face, and when she looked at them, Zoey saw that instead of irises, she had stars in her dark eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She was beautiful.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Schrodinger nudged her, and Zoey came out of her trance long enough to follow the others into the room. They were the first ones there and as she moved, she saw who else was standing in the middle of the floor, besides the singer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They were a choir, she guessed, because they all wore long open robes of dark green. Father Christopher was there, also in a robe, but he had something that looked like the magic wands she\u2019d seen in books. \u201cWhat IS this?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis is the Carter\u2019s Cove Christmas Choir,\u201d Lily said. \u201cThey sing here every year! And they come to the school, too, right before we get out for winter break!\u201d She gave a little wiggle of excitement. \u201cAnd they have both Starsha and Darien here this year!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s Darien?\u201d Zoey asked, looking around, her eyes getting wide. There were \u2026well, she wasn\u2019t sure what some of them were. There were people like her and Lily, but there was one centaur (a centaur!), three little men that she was pretty sure were dwarves, and two ladies who had green skin and long, wispy fingers. And the singer with the starry eyes, who Zoey was pretty sure was Starsha.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the elf standing next to Starsha,\u201d Lily told her, nodding at the young woman who had first sung. \u201cHe\u2019s really neat, and they sing beautifully together.\u201d She looked around the room. \u201cCome on, let\u2019s go over by the fireplace. We\u2019ll get to see everything from there.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Zoey stopped staring at the older gentleman with long silver braids long enough to follow Lily over to the hearth, where they sat down. Schrodinger curled up beside her, and Jack laid down next to Lily. \u201cHe\u2019s an elf? Like who works at the North Pole?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Schrodinger gave a snort. Not quite,<\/em> he said kindly. You know how there are different races of humans? Well, there are different races of elves too. Darien\u2019s people come from a land that is a lot like the Cove – I think if he had to live in snow all year round, he\u2019d be very unhappy. Besides, he\u2019s too tall.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lily and Zoey started to giggle at that. The mental image of the tall, stately man on his knees painting toys was just too funny to keep in.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd what are you four giggling about?\u201d Molly asked, coming over.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Schrodinger snorted again. Darien as Santa\u2019s helper.<\/em> And that sent Lily and Zoey into gales of laughter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Molly joined in, and it took Father Christopher giving them a look to stop. Which he did, because it was time for the concert to start.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Zoey looked around the room – it was nearly full, with shoppers amid the bookshelves, and a lot of people standing around or sitting in the armchairs, all looking at the choir. Father Christopher raised his wand, and pointed it at Starsha.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The entire world fell away as the first notes came out of her mouth, liquid and sparkling. Once again, the brass ornaments that Zoey held clutched in her hand, almost forgotten, shivered, and she looked down at them in wonder. Then she handed two to Lily, and one to Molly. Before she forgot.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That done, she was free to turn her attention back to the music. Darien had begun to sing as well, his baritone weaving in and around the melody of her soprano. It was magic – another kind of magic, and Zoey began to realize what Schrodinger had been trying to tell her earlier. Perhaps there were more types of magic than she\u2019d realized.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n During the intermission, Lily dragged Zoey and her parents over to meet Starsha, Darien and the rest of the choir. Zoey hung back a little, but the lovely singer leaned down and smiled. \u201cWelcome to the Cove, Zoey,\u201d she said, and her voice was warm and rich. It was almost as if she sang every word. \u201cHow are you enjoying your new home?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s amazing,\u201d she said shyly. \u201cI never knew there were such things in this world!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Starsha nodded. \u201cI understand,\u201d she said. \u201cI too, lived most of my life in a small village with little contact with the other realms. Coming here to study with Master Darien was a bit of a shock.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOne you weathered quite well, once you understood that we weren\u2019t going to hate you for being different,\u201d Darien said, coming over. He shook hands with Zoey and her parents when Lily introduced them. \u201cIn truth, that\u2019s why I like living here.\u201d He waved a hand at the room. \u201cAfter all, where else can you meet such diverse comrades, without it being a bloody war?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cVery true,\u201d Peter said. He smiled. \u201cI grew up in a CrossRoads town, but we only had an industrial Gate, so we didn\u2019t get as many visitors as come through the Cove. But I\u2019m so glad we had the opportunity to move here.\u201d He took his wife\u2019s hand and squeezed it. \u201cThis will give us all chances we would never have elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cVery true,\u201d Donna said. Her face was a little pale, and Zoey realized that her mother was having to reassess some things. Magic had never been discussed in her family before moving to the Cove, and for the first time, Zoey wondered why. Was it because her mother had never really believed in it?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some people have a hard time believing in things that they can\u2019t see,<\/em> Schrodinger told her. Some people just need evidence. He looked at Starsha and Darien. The Cove has evidence that\u2019s hard to refute.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Zoey stroked his head. I wonder if that\u2019s why she doesn\u2019t believe in Santa,<\/em> she thought. Because she never saw him.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Could be. Or it could be because she saw or heard something that shattered her belief. Molly says in many places, children stop believing because they don\u2019t ever catch him.<\/em> Schrodinger sighed. I wish everyone could see the magic like we could.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Me too.<\/em> Zoey looked up at her mother. Do you think she could learn to believe again?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Anything is possible.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Luckily, Darien had the conversation well in hand, and by the time the intermission was over, Donna\u2019s color had returned to normal, and she was even chuckling at some of his stories. Then Father Christopher clapped his hands together, and everyone not in the choir retreated to the edges of the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After the end of the concert, Zoey and Schrodinger sat and watched as the choir filed out. You should have them write letters to Santa,<\/em> Schrodinger told her. It\u2019s the only way to make sure they get what they want for Christmas, you know.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Zoey looked at her parents, wondering if they would. Her mother had always insisted Santa wasn\u2019t real, but that was before the Cove. \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d she said, and got up before she could think too much more about it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe have one more thing we have to do before we leave!\u201d she announced to her parents.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBesides buying some of Molly\u2019s cookies?\u201d Peter said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOkay, two things.\u201d Zoey wasn\u2019t about to pass up any of Molly\u2019s cookies. \u201cBut before we do that, you have to write your letters.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLetters?\u201d Donna looked puzzled, but let her daughter lead her over to the table.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTo Santa. You have to write to Santa.\u201d Zoey looked seriously at her mother. \u201cSo you get what you want for Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For a moment, she thought Donna would argue. After all, there hadn\u2019t ever been a Santa in their house before, and this was the first year Zoey had ever written her own letter. But now that she knew the magic existed, Zoey was more than half-way convinced that Santa was real too. After all, Lily and Schrodinger and Jack had all seen him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPlease?\u201d she said, when she saw Donna wavering. \u201cPlease?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat can it hurt?\u201d Peter said, looking at his wife. He reached for one of the cards.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After a moment, Donna did the same, and Zoey smiled.<\/p>\n This was going to be the best Christmas ever.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen you this excited, Zoey!\u201d her father said, chuckling as his daughter pulled them along the snowy sidewalk. \u201cIt\u2019s so cool, Dad! And you won\u2019t believe it until you see it!\u201d Zoey danced in front of them, her braids flying around her head. She\u2019d requested white bows today, and …<\/p>\n