Wednesday, December 24<\/p>\n
\u201cDrew! Can you get the door, please?\u201d Molly called, slicing up another loaf of homemade bread. The doorbell pealed again, and Molly heard footsteps hurrying to the front door. She wondered again where Schrodinger was – she hadn\u2019t seen the CrossCat in at least an hour, and it wasn\u2019t like him to be absent on Christmas Eve. Especially not this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cMolly, Molly, Molly, where\u2019s Schrodinger?\u201d Lily demanded, skidding in to the kitchen, Jack hot on her heels.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Molly admitted. \u201cDid you check the barn? He might be there, working on Christmas presents.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily and Jack ran off, nearly knocking over Corrine and Nathan as they came into the kitchen. \u201cBe careful!\u201d Corrine shouted after them, shaking her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt least here they have enough room to run around and burn off some of that excess energy,\u201d Nathan said, chuckling and kissing his sister on the cheek on his way to the large refrigerator. He had a box of bottles in his hand, and Molly\u2019s eyes brightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cider\u2019s done?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n
He nodded. \u201cI tested a bottle last night. It\u2019s perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat, he didn\u2019t share?\u201d Molly teased Corrine, who shook her head and flushed a little.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, he couldn\u2019t,\u201d Corrine admitted. \u201cNo more alcohol for me until around July.\u201d<\/p>\n
Molly looked at her, and then the light went on. \u201cOh, Corrine!\u201d She hugged her sister-in-law and then her brother, nearly knocking him over. \u201cDo you know yet?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, but we should around February,\u201d Corrine said. \u201cWe haven\u2019t told anyone else; you\u2019re the first to know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first to know what?\u201d Drew asked, and when told the news, he whooped and nearly crushed Nathan\u2019s ribs with a hug. He was more gentle with Corrine, of course, and then Nathan cracked open a bottle of his cider, and the three of them toasted to the newest addition to the Barrett household. Molly, after glancing in her refrigerator to make sure she had enough ginger ale, sent Nathan and Drew to find the kids. Corrine sat at the table and assembled sandwiches for lunch, piling cold cuts, cheese, and veggies high on Molly\u2019s homemade bread. Molly, meanwhile, started working on the stuffing and cranberry relish for Christmas dinner.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom is going to be ecstatic when she hears,\u201d Molly said, zesting an orange into the bubbling relish in front of her. \u201cDo you have a preference?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHealthy,\u201d Corrine said, chuckling. \u201cAlthough Lily wants a little sister desperately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two hours later, everyone gathered in the large living room around the Christmas tree. Molly, Drew and Schrodinger had gotten an eight-foot Christmas tree, which stood in an alcove, surrounded by a wall of presents. The kids were plastered to the front windows, looking anxiously for both Zette and the promised snow. Drew had told them that the weather reports all reported a snow storm headed straight for the Cove. And this one didn\u2019t look like it was going to veer away.<\/p>\n
It wouldn\u2019t, Molly knew. Caliban\u2019s spells were gone, banished at the tip of Jack\u2019s sword. The summer spirit had been so sure he\u2019d been victorious as he raised his sword, ready to take Jack\u2019s head off, that he hadn\u2019t seen Schrodinger come barreling in from the sidelines. The CrossCat had hit Caliban broadside, knocking him to the ground and sending his sword flying. Jack had grabbed the sword and, with Schrodinger growling at his side, forced Caliban to surrender. To Molly\u2019s surprise, once Herse had brought the wards down, there had been men waiting outside, led by an older man whom Caliban had shrunk back from.<\/p>\n
\u201cKing Medron,\u201d Jade had said, hurrying down to greet the older man. \u201cTo what do we owe this surprise?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have done me a service, Your Majesty,\u201d Medron had replied, bowing gravely to her. \u201cI have been looking for this criminal for several months now.\u201d He had glared at the quivering Caliban. \u201cMy son. I see can finally take you to answer for your crimes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The shrieks of the kids broke her out of her reverie. Molly glanced out the window to see Zoey, Donna and Peter Allard climbing out of a car, their arms full of presents. Right behind them was Zette\u2019s mail truck.<\/p>\n
Once all the presents had been brought in and the kids sent off to read their letters from Santa, the adults retired back to the living room, where Drew and Nathan had built a warming fire. There was a bite in the air, and Molly could smell snow coming as she opened the front door one more time, to admit her parents and Pavel.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, are we the last ones?\u201d Mrs. Barrett asked, kissing Molly on the cheek.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, we\u2019re still waiting for Jade and Jack,\u201d Molly said, ushering them in to the living room. She caught a glimpse of something white moving down the end of the driveway. \u201cThis should be them, though. Go on. I\u2019ll wait for them here.\u201d<\/p>\n
She heard them greeting Nathan and Corrine, and heard her mother exclaim in delight – obviously, the news of a new grandchild in the summer was welcome. Molly stepped out on to the porch as the large white sled ghosted into the front yard, two large white reindeer pulling Jade and Jack\u2019s sled. Jade looked absolutely lovely, wrapped in white fur and snowflakes, her eyes shining. And Jack looked happy as he helped her down from the carriage, for the first time since Molly had known him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWelcome to our home,\u201d Molly said. \u201cMerry Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jade all but danced up the steps and hugged her tightly. \u201cMerry Christmas, Molly,\u201d she whispered. \u201cMerry Christmas. And thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Wednesday, December 24 \u201cDrew! Can you get the door, please?\u201d Molly called, slicing up another loaf of homemade bread. The doorbell pealed again, and Molly heard footsteps hurrying to the front door. She wondered again where Schrodinger was – she hadn\u2019t seen the CrossCat in at least an hour, and it wasn\u2019t like him to …<\/p>\n