Monday, December 15<\/p>\n
Molly looked out at the tea room, checking to see who might need more tea or treats. Her little cafe was fuller than normal, since Goldie was sitting at the table next to Schrodinger\u2019s cat bed, a set of gold reading glasses perched on his nose, a large book in his hands. She couldn\u2019t tell if he was actually reading or watching the door. Knowing the pirate, probably both.<\/p>\n
It was odd to know he was there to keep her safe. Molly still couldn\u2019t believe that Caliban would actually harm her, would use her to get at the Snow Queen. But given the last two days, she couldn\u2019t deny that he might.<\/p>\n
Shaking her head, she went back into the kitchen, filled a thermal carafe with hot water, stuck some random tea bags in her sweater pocket, and then went out into the store. She stopped by Stephen and Lucille\u2019s table first, refilling their cups and admiring the sweater Lucille was making for her artist son Robert, who lived outside the Cove but always came up for Christmas.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s bringing up the new projects he\u2019s working on,\u201d Lucille told her, beaming. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to see what he\u2019s come up with now!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s still doing the beaded brooches, right?\u201d Molly asked, and the older woman nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s branching out, though,\u201d she said. \u201cDoing some really interesting things with calligraphy.\u201d She leaned forward and said conspiratorially, \u201cThere\u2019s a rumor that he\u2019s going to have a big show in the spring. In New York!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s awesome! I hope it\u2019s true!\u201d Molly smiled down and then went over to where a couple of tourists were sitting enjoying some of her gingerbread scones and tea. They asked for a pot of her apple cinnamon tea, so she went back into the kitchen. Molly, Drew and Schrodinger loved hitting the flea markets and yard sales in the summer, looking for tea pots, cups and saucers to stock the tea shop, so she had an ever-changing supply. She considered what she had on the shelves in her pantry currently, then pulled down a lovely green teapot with holly berries on it.<\/p>\n
Leaving the full teapot with the tourists, along with a timer so they could take out the tea balls in time, Molly went over to Goldie. As she neared, she realized that not only was he actually reading, but he was reading Charles Dickens\u2019 \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d out loud to Schrodinger.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t realize you were a Dickens fan,\u201d she said, when he stopped for breath. She held up the carafe suggestively. \u201cMore tea?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, please.\u201d The pirate looked up at her over his glasses as she filled his mug (he\u2019d asked for larger than the normal tea cup, and Molly had been happy to oblige). \u201cAnd do you know people who aren\u2019t Dickens fans? Really?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally,\u201d Molly told him, laughing. \u201cHe\u2019s not for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, maybe not Bleak House or David Copperfield,\u201d Goldie allowed. \u201cBut I have yet to meet anyone who does not like A Christmas Carol.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019m enjoying it,<\/em> Schrodinger said, raising his head. He\u2019d actually slept about half the night last night, since Jack and Pavel had been as good as their word and sent guards to the farmhouse. Even still, he hadn\u2019t been able to sleep all the way through, and Molly knew he\u2019d done several rounds of the farmhouse. Still, he didn\u2019t look as tired as he had yesterday, which made her feel better.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you liked the movie, so I\u2019m not surprised,\u201d Molly said.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that depends on which movie,\u201d Goldie amended, and there was a twinkle in his blue eyes. \u201cWhich movie did you see?\u201d<\/p>\n You mean there\u2019s more than just the Muppets Christmas Carol?<\/em>\u00a0Schrodinger said, mock astonishment coloring his mental voice. Really?<\/em><\/p>\n Molly and Goldie laughed. \u201cWell, yes, there are, but that\u2019s my favorite too,\u201d the pirate admitted. He looked up at Molly. \u201cYou know, I think I\u2019ll tell the captain that I\u2019d rather be here than the ship. You have better food.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly laughed again. \u201cYou know you\u2019re welcome any time, Goldie, but don\u2019t you think your reputation as a terrible pirate will suffer if you keep hanging around a tea shop?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course not,\u201d Goldie said. \u201cEveryone knows tea is far more hardcore than grog.\u201d He winked at her. \u201cBesides, the clientele is more gentile here.\u201d<\/p>\n She couldn\u2019t argue with that, so Molly went on her way, refilling tea cups and taking orders for scones, sandwiches and cookies. There were two other pirates lounging throughout the store, and Molly, rather than feeling smothered, felt amazed that they would give up a day off to keep her safe. This was friendship, she knew.<\/p>\n When she finally got back to the kitchen, Jack was waiting for her, a large bag on the island. \u201cI wasn\u2019t sure you were going to be around today,\u201d Molly said, putting the carafe away and picking up her own mug. \u201cWould you like some tea?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, please,\u201d Jack said. He indicated the bag. \u201cI\u2019ve brought you a gift, and unlike Caliban\u2019s, it has no strings attached. It\u2019s a thank you, for putting up with me and helping me when you didn\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t have to do that!\u201d Molly said, blushing. She went for another mug and two of her special Christmas tea bags. Jack had earned the right to have some, she decided.<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d he said, smiling at her response. \u201cBut I wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n Once the tea water was poured, she opened the bag eagerly. Inside were apples, but apples unlike any she\u2019d ever seen: a deep, deep red outside, and when she cut one open, the flesh was golden and the juice that dripped down was sweetly spicy. \u201cThese are amazing!\u201d Molly said, looking up at Jack. \u201cWhere did they come from?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey come from a special tree from my realm,\u201d he told her. \u201cThey don\u2019t really have a name – the seed was given to me by a people who no longer exist, when they knew their world was dying. They wanted to make sure it would continue somewhere.\u201d His smile dimmed a bit. \u201cIt\u2019s not as much as I could have done, I know now, but at least it\u2019s something.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly laid a hand on his arm. \u201cYou can\u2019t save everyone,\u201d she said quietly. \u201cThank you for this. I know just what to do with them.\u201d<\/p>\n She pulled out her peeler and went to work. Within an hour, she\u2019d reduced the bag to golden slices, soaking in a bit of lemon juice and water. While Jack watched and chatted with her, Molly pulled pastry dough from her freezer and thawed it, then rolled it out and cut it into squares. The apples went into the squares, and she frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Jack asked.<\/p>\n \u201cTry this,\u201d she said, dusting a bit of cinnamon on top of one of the apple slices and handing it to him. \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n He chewed thoughtfully. \u201cIt\u2019s good,\u201d he said finally. \u201cSpicy, but not too spicy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u201d She dusted the squares with the cinnamon, and folded over each square, pinching the edges together with a fork. Then, as the turnovers baked in the oven, Molly sat down and warmed up her tea.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me about your realm,\u201d she said, and Jack looked surprised.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019ve been to the Snow Queen\u2019s realm,\u201d Molly said. \u201cBut you\u2019re a fall spirit. What is your realm like?\u201d<\/p>\n He looked over her shoulder, into the distance. \u201cWell, it\u2019s wild,\u201d he started. \u201cThe days are warm, but there\u2019s that little nip in the air, and it snows occasionally. At night, the stars twinkle in the sky. The leaves are all colors, and it smells like apples and wood fires.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you have a castle, like Jade?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d Jack laughed. \u201cI\u2019m a bachelor, remember? With not a lot of friends. I have a little log cabin, actually. It\u2019s enough for me to sleep in, and that\u2019s about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll have to add a kitchen now,\u201d Molly teased him gently. \u201cImagine, a fall spirit, with all those harvest treats, who doesn\u2019t eat!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I do now,\u201d he said, chuckling. \u201cWill you come and teach me some more?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely,\u201d Molly said. \u201cI\u2019ll even help you design the kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack sniffed the air. \u201cAs long as you teach me to make these and pizza, I think I\u2019m good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSpoken like a true guy,\u201d Molly said, laughing as she got up to pull the turnovers out of the oven. She dusted them with cinnamon sugar, and then handed him one.<\/p>\n Jack\u2019s expression was one of pure bliss as he chewed the first bite. \u201cIf I promise to keep giving you these apples, will you keep sending me these?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDeal,\u201d Molly said, pleased. Then she paused. \u201cJack, can I ask you something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you refill my tea and let me have another turnover, you can ask anything you want.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSuch a guy,\u201d Molly said, shaking her head, but she put another turnover in front of him and refilled his mug.<\/p>\n \u201cAsk away,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Jade does accept you as her consort, will you leave your realm? Or will she?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack chuckled. \u201cNeither, and both.\u201d When she blinked at him, confused, he said, \u201cWe\u2019ll share, and set up some personal Gates. So we will each have our own space.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen you\u2019ll definitely need to change your cabin,\u201d Molly told him. \u201cJade likes to cook.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think that can be arranged.\u201d<\/p>\n She watched Jack eat, marveling at the changes in him. The man who had come to ask for her help two short weeks before was gone, replaced by a friend. Something she wouldn\u2019t have expected.<\/p>\n Suddenly, she thought about Jade. Old Man Winter had said she was still in seclusion, and that she wouldn\u2019t come out for anyone. Molly looked at the turnovers, and realized that it was time to start softening another heart.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Monday, December 15 Molly looked out at the tea room, checking to see who might need more tea or treats. Her little cafe was fuller than normal, since Goldie was sitting at the table next to Schrodinger\u2019s cat bed, a set of gold reading glasses perched on his nose, a large book in his hands. …<\/p>\n