\u201cMolly! You in here?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Molly heard Lai\u2019s voice cut through the instrumental Christmas carols from the radio and chuckled. Right on time, as always.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere else would I be?\u201d she called back, mixing up another batch of scones. \u201cCome on in!\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
She knew, before they trooped in, that Lai wasn\u2019t alone. They weren\u2019t called the Terrible Trio for nothing, after all.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Lai, Sue and Noemi had brought not only the frosting ingredients she\u2019d asked them, but a bottle of wine and two pizza boxes as well. \u201cYou guys are my heroes,\u201d she said, inhaling the tantalizing scents of pepperoni and the zingy tomato sauce that Carter Cove\u2019s pizza restaurant was famous for. \u201cI was starving.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly you would starve in this kitchen,\u201d Noemi said, shaking her head. \u201cDo you even eat when we aren\u2019t here to remind you?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Only when I\u2019m here<\/em>, Schrodinger said, wandering in with Jack from the tea room. I\u2019m amazed she survived to meet me, honestly.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOkay, okay, okay!\u201d Molly laughed, and cleaned up the island. \u201cWe\u2019ll eat first, and then start working on the bake sale goods.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHooray!\u201d Sue said, pulling out four wineglasses from her bag. \u201cI always find it better to do decorating with a glass in my hand.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs that your secret?\u201d Lai teased her. \u201cI\u2019ll have to remember that the next time we have to do this. I see you come prepared, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDamn straight,\u201d Sue replied, grinning as she pulled out a corkscrew. \u201cI wasn\u2019t a girl scout for nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They all laughed and helped themselves to pizza and wine, although Molly made sure Schrodinger and Jack had a cup of tea. Not that he couldn\u2019t have the alcohol, but neither he nor the hound really needed it, and alcohol wasn\u2019t good for dogs. Then, after the pizza was gone, they got down to business. Well, the humans did. Jack wandered out to nap, but Schrodinger opted to watch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI printed out more order forms for you,\u201d Sue said, handing the folder over to Molly. \u201cAlso, this year you have labels for the cookies and scones.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, you rock!\u201d Molly eagerly opened the folder. Sue had outdone herself this year: the labels held not only the ingredients for the baked goods, but a cute little snowflake logo and the words \u201cMolly\u2019s Treats\u201d in candy cane letters. \u201cThose are adorable!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sue beamed. \u201cI thought you\u2019d like them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI do!\u201d Molly pulled out the sheets of labels, since they\u2019d be using them that day, and put the folder of order forms in the box of stuff she\u2019d already packed for the bake sale the next day. Then she looked at the clock. \u201cSchrodinger, why don\u2019t you go wake Jack up and head out to meet the girls? We\u2019ll get everything set up here while you\u2019re gone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will do!<\/em> The CrossCat jumped down and ran out into the tea room, where Jack was napping by the wood stove.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo, what needs to be done for tomorrow?\u201d Noemi, always the practical one, asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, we need to pack up the scones I\u2019ve already baked and drizzled with icing.\u201d Molly indicated the trays that she had lined up on the pantry counters. \u201cI have a few more dozen scones that need to be drizzled.\u201d These were on the counter behind Lai and Noemi. \u201cI need to cut out this last set of scones, and bake them. Then I have about twenty balls of sugar cookie dough in the fridge that needs to be taken out and rolled out.\u201d She looked at the clock again. \u201cIf I\u2019m not mistaken, Lily and Zoey will be here soon, and the magical Advent Calendar will have them help us out.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s convenient,\u201d Lai said, and Molly winked at her. \u201cHow\u2019s the calendar working out?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cVery well.\u201d Molly could be smug, now that Schrodinger wasn\u2019t around. \u201cAnd I think it\u2019s not just working on the kids, but on Zoey\u2019s mother as well. She even wrote a letter to Santa yesterday after the concert.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSweet,\u201d Sue said. \u201cI figured it would only be a matter of time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWelcome to the Cove,\u201d Lai agreed. \u201cIf you aren\u2019t a believer when you move here, you soon will be.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYep.\u201d Molly handed around aprons to her friends, and then looked at them. \u201cSo, who wants to do what?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By the time Lily and Zoey came into the kitchen, followed closely by Schrodinger and Jack, the four had become parts of a well-oiled machine. Lai and Noemi were packaging up the finished scones (four to a package) and labeling them, then packing them in one of the boxes that Drew had brought over from the Station for Molly to use. Sue was drizzling sweet orange icing over the cranberry scones that Molly had already baked, and Molly herself was rolling out sugar cookie dough. She caught sight of them in the doorway to the tea room (Schrodinger being smart enough to have them go around, rather than through the back door into the pantry) and said, \u201cCome on in!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs it safe?\u201d Zoey asked, looking more than a little worried about entering the busy kitchen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPerfectly,\u201d Molly assured her. \u201cYou know everyone here, right?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think so?\u201d Zoey stepped in after Lily, who greeted everyone with a bright smile. \u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re Molly\u2019s friends from grade school,\u201d Lily told her. \u201cThey\u2019ve been friends FOREVER.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs that why I feel so old in the mornings now?\u201d Sue whispered to Molly. \u201cBecause it\u2019s been forever?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Molly laughed. \u201cYou\u2019re not that old, and neither am I,\u201d she said. Then she looked at the girls. \u201cAre you guys hungry? There\u2019s scones, or I can make you sandwiches.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe have pizza too!\u201d Lai called out from the pantry. \u201cRemember? We saved 4 slices from the second one.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, right!\u201d Considering how their faces lit up at the mention of pizza, Molly knew it had been the right decision. \u201cOkay, pizza first, then you can open the advent calendar.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Zoey looked curiously at what everyone was doing as Molly brought out the pizza box. \u201cWhat are you guys doing?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re getting ready for the bake sale at the school tomorrow,\u201d Molly told her. \u201cIt\u2019s a tradition at the school – every December, there\u2019s a huge bake sale and craft sale.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, there have to be other things to sell, or Molly would just rake in all the sales,\u201d Noemi teased. \u201cNot all of us can be amazing kitchen witches, after all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Molly blushed. \u201cHey, I buy stuff there, and some of it is even food!\u201d she replied. \u201cI hope Lisa brings her jams again – I intend to stock up again, especially since she didn\u2019t have much last year.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, last year she was still recovering from the fire,\u201d Lai pointed out. \u201cI saw her last week, and she mentioned that she\u2019d gone down to her parents\u2019 again, and gotten a ton of plums.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMmm, Lisa\u2019s plum jam.\u201d Sue looked dreamily up at the ceiling. \u201cI love her plum jam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Me too!<\/em> Schrodinger said. We have to get some, Molly!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe will, if she has any!\u201d Molly assured him. \u201cNow, let\u2019s get you guys out here, so we can continue to work while you eat.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo you need any help?\u201d Lily asked, as they followed her out into the tea room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Molly pretended to consider it. \u201cWell, don\u2019t you want to see what the advent calendar has in store for you first? I mean, you don\u2019t want to pass that up just to decorate cookies, do you?\u201d She hid a grin as Lily and Zoey looked at each other, knowing exactly what the calendar had in store for them. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you eat, and then open the calendar?\u201d she said, when the silence had stretched. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to make your decision now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTrue.\u201d Lily nodded as she took the pizza box from her aunt, who was about to place it on one of the tables. She led the other three over to Schrodinger\u2019s bed, and plopped herself down in it. When Molly blinked at her, she shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s easier for Jack and Schrodinger to eat here. The tables are just a bit too tall.\u201d Zoey sat down next to her, and Jack and Schrodinger nestled in on either side. Molly made a mental note to see if Julia down at the Home For All store had a bigger bed. She must, she thought. She has everything else.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Because the extra large dog bed just wasn\u2019t big enough for two kids, a CrossCat and a hound dog. But it was an adorable picture. Molly wished for her camera, but her phone was back in her purse, and by the time she\u2019d come back with it, they\u2019d be done with their snack.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So she retreated, and winked at the Terrible Trio when they looked at her. \u201cHow are we doing in here?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWonderfully,\u201d Lai replied. \u201cWe\u2019ve got almost all of these scones packaged.\u201d She leaned out the pantry and looked at the trays in front of Sue. \u201cAre those almost ready?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sue nodded. \u201cThat tray should be hardened,\u201d she said, pointing with the icing bag. \u201cI\u2019m working my way down the line, so if you start there, we should be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Molly went back to rolling out sugar cookie dough. She had four trays already rolled out, but she wanted to stay ahead of everyone else. While she started the next ball, she went over in her head what she had for decorations. It would depend on what kind of cookie cutters they used, she knew – and then she remembered the stuff she\u2019d gotten the last time she and Drew had gone to Portland. \u201cSue, how many more trays do you have to frost there?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTwo,\u201d Sue said. \u201cDo you want me to do something else?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d Molly nodded towards the pantry. \u201cGo in and grab the six small glass bowls, and the box from the Pastry Shop.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou actually went to a place called the Pastry Shop?\u201d Sue said in mock-horror. \u201cHow could you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI do actually enjoy eating pastry made by others occasionally,\u201d Molly told her, rolling her eyes. \u201cBut in this case, it wasn\u2019t pastry. Bring the box out, and I\u2019ll show you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sue, looking intrigued, brought out the box and the bowls. Molly set aside the fifth tray of dough, all rolled out, and opened the box. Inside, it looked like a jewel box.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, how pretty!\u201d Sue said. \u201cWhat are they?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEdible jewels,\u201d Molly told her. \u201cWell, that\u2019s what I think they are. Really, it\u2019s just hand-dyed sugar.\u201d She took one of the boxes out, and the ruby red crystals inside glittered in the light. \u201cThey ordered them in specially for me, and I\u2019d almost forgotten them. I thought we might use them on the sugar cookies today.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOooh,\u201d Lily said, as they came in. \u201cThose are gorgeous!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey are, aren\u2019t they?\u201d Molly agreed, putting some of the crimson sugar into one of the glass bowls. There were six colors in all: red, blue, purple, gold, green and pink. The crystals were large, almost mini rock candy in shape, and they really did glitter like faceted jewels.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWow,\u201d Zoey said. \u201cThose are amazing.\u201d She sighed. \u201cI almost hope the calendar says we can help you today.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, let\u2019s find out!\u201d Lily told her. \u201cIt\u2019s your turn today!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, right!\u201d Zoey tore her gaze away from the sugars, and the food paints that Molly had also taken out, and hurried over to the calendar. She looked for the golden number 9, her face so close to the calendar that Molly wondered if she could actually focus on it. \u201cHere it is!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Number 9 was hanging off the edge of one of the snowman\u2019s scarves. Zoey touched it, and then stepped back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The snowflake came out of the crumbling paint and hovered in front of her. Zoey held out her hand, palm up, and her eyes lit up as the snowflake began to spin. But it didn\u2019t throw anything off – just spun in place, as if waiting for something.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Zoey asked, her face concerned. \u201cDid we break the calendar?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think you could,\u201d Molly told her. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s waiting for something.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLike what?\u201d Lily asked, furrowing her brow. \u201cWhat could it be waiting for?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She and Zoey looked at one another for a long moment, while the snowflake continued to spin in between them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Then Schrodinger said, What if you put your hand out too, Lily? Maybe it has something for both of you?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, all we can do is try,\u201d Lily said, shrugging. She extended her hand, palm up, like Zoey\u2019s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That was apparently what the snowflake had been waiting for: it exploded, and two cookie cutters fell out, one into each girl\u2019s hand. They looked at each other, eyes wide.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo, what kind of cookies are we making?\u201d Molly said, grinning as they turned to look at her.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSnowflakes!\u201d they shouted together, showing her. Both snowflakes were different, but they were the same size.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThose will look lovely with this sugar on them,\u201d Molly said. \u201cHow about you guys set up out in the tea room? I\u2019ve got an idea for Jack and Schrodinger, so they can help.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Really?<\/em> Jack said, his tail wagging. We get to help?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course you do,\u201d Molly told him. \u201cThey\u2019ll need supervision, after all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And artistic design,<\/em> Schrodinger added. We\u2019re good at that!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, you are,\u201d Molly said, putting the sugar bowls on an empty tray and bringing them out to the tea room. She put them down on a table, then pulled another two tables over, making one long work bench. Then she went upstairs, and looked around.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As she\u2019d suspected, she found a helper. Luke Travers, one of the other Gate Techs, was lounging in one of the armchairs, ostensibly reading a magazine while he waited to see if he could catch a glimpse of Sue coming up the stairs. Molly grinned and went over to him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou know, you could come downstairs and into the kitchen, and actually see her,\u201d Molly said, and he jumped. \u201cAlso, holding the magazine upside down does not, in fact, make us think you\u2019re reading it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Luke blushed. \u201cYou guys looked like you were busy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe are. But as long as the two of you aren\u2019t making out in the middle of the kitchen, there\u2019s always room for one more,\u201d Molly said. As she was talking, she was looking for a specific chair that Aunt Margie had tucked into one of the alcoves. Molly hoped it wasn\u2019t occupied today.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She was in luck. The large armchair was unclaimed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLuke, can you help me?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d he said, getting up. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She pointed to the chair. \u201cI need to bring that down to the tea room.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Luke blinked. \u201cOkay. Do I want to know why?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Molly chuckled. \u201cI need a chair that Schrodinger and Jack can share while they supervise the girls, who are decorating cookies. The chairs downstairs are just a little bit too small for Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAh, gotcha.\u201d Luke surveyed the chair, and then said, \u201cHey Zach, come out here for a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In just a few moments, Luke\u2019s younger brother came out of one of the aisles, a few books in his hand. \u201cWassup?\u201d<\/p>\n Luke pointed at the chair. \u201cHelp me carry this downstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI can help,\u201d Molly protested, but Luke shook his head and grinned.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet Zach show off his muscles for Lai,\u201d he said, and watched as his brother flushed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Molly eyed the two of them. \u201cShall I get the Trio out to cheer you two on?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf you could, I\u2019ll be that would make the trip easier,\u201d Zach said, grinning despite his blushing, and flexed his muscles. \u201cAppreciation makes things lighter, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She laughed. \u201cAll right, just don\u2019t fall down the stairs, okay? The insurance can\u2019t handle it.\u201d Then she went back downstairs to pull her friends out to watch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They were as good as their word. The chair was not light, but they managed to get it down the stairs with a minimum of cursing, and both Lai and Sue clapped when they put it into place.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThank you so much, guys!\u201d Molly said, bringing out two of the freshly decorated scones for them. Then she turned to Schrodinger and Jack. \u201cIs that the right height?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They hopped into the chair and Molly knew she\u2019d been right. It was big enough for both of them to sit side by side, and high enough that they could see the table and everything Lily and Zoey were doing. Perfect!<\/em> Jack said, wagging his tail and nearly knocking Schrodinger over.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Be careful!<\/em> The CrossCat ducked, and then swiped playfully at the hound. That thing is a deadly weapon!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sorry.<\/em> Jack\u2019s tongue lolled out at his friend. At least you ducked this time.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n True.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Molly suppressed a laugh with difficulty, and turned to her helpers. \u201cAll right, we have eight trays of cookies to cut out and decorate. Do you think you\u2019re up to it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course!\u201d Lily and Zoey chorused, and got down to business.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Between their efforts, and the help of the Terrible Trio, the afternoon flew by. By the time Corrine came in to pick the girls up to take them home, all the cookies were cut out, decorated, baked and were cooling.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut we can\u2019t leave!\u201d Lily wailed when her mother walked in. \u201cWe have to package the cookies!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou have school tomorrow,\u201d Corrine reminded her. \u201cMolly can package up the cookies on her own.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHardly on her own,\u201d Lai said. \u201cWe\u2019ll stay and help.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSee?\u201d Corrine said to her pouting daughter. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut I want to!\u201d Lily wailed, and Zoey nodded. Corrine was unmoved, though, and after a few more tears, Lily and Zoey got into their coats.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou guys did awesome,\u201d Molly told them, hoping to lift their spirits. \u201cHere.\u201d And she handed them both a package of cookies. \u201cThese are for you. I couldn\u2019t have done it without you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d Zoey sniffled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReally.\u201d Molly nodded. \u201cDon\u2019t forget your cookie cutters! And I\u2019ll see you tomorrow – you\u2019re going to help me sell all these cookies, right?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They nodded, perking up at at that.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen I\u2019ll see you at school tomorrow!\u201d Molly said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Before they left, Lily turned to Schrodinger. \u201cYou do the calendar tomorrow,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019ll swap.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I will, he promised.<\/em> And then he glanced up at Molly as Corrine led Lily, Zoey and Jack out the front door. Since I bet it will send us to the school anyways.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMaybe,\u201d Molly said, and winked at him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cMolly! You in here?\u201d Molly heard Lai\u2019s voice cut through the instrumental Christmas carols from the radio and chuckled. Right on time, as always. \u201cWhere else would I be?\u201d she called back, mixing up another batch of scones. \u201cCome on in!\u201d She knew, before they trooped in, that Lai wasn\u2019t alone. They …<\/p>\n