Sunday, December 13<\/p>\n
Molly paused at the top of the stairs and let the music wash over her. Once again, Father Christopher had brought his choir to CrossWinds Books for the annual Christmas Concert, and once again, the lovely Mareesh girl Starsha was the centerpiece. As Molly stepped into the room (moving carefully, since the room was packed and she was carrying a full carafe of hot water), Starsha’s clear voice floated up over the choir. People moved aside as Molly made her way to the table she and Aunt Margie had set up against the wall, where it was filled with all sorts of handheld goodies. She replaced the large carafe that was almost empty with her full one, and then went back downstairs to refill it.<\/p>\n
When she came back up, she took a few moments to look around. It seemed like most of the Cove was crowded into the top floor of the bookstore. She finally spotted Pavel, standing behind one of the armchairs. Seated in the armchair was the woman that she assumed was his mother.<\/p>\n
Ella Chekhov was small, as Drew had said, and she was knitting steadily as she listened to the choir. Her silver hair was wound around her head in an elaborate braided crown, strands of darker brown threading through the braids, and her dark eyes were relaxed, calm, not at all what Molly had expected. Schrodinger was lying at her feet on one of his big cat beds, and Molly wondered who he\u2019d bribed to bring it up the stairs for him. And what he had promised them.<\/p>\n
Pavel offered,<\/em> Schrodinger told her, sounding slightly offended. Well, after his mother asked me if I needed anything.<\/em><\/p>\n I knew there was more to it,<\/em> Molly told him silently, smiling. What do you think of her?<\/em><\/p>\n Schrodinger\u2019s voice changed to thoughtful. I like her,<\/em> he said after a moment. She\u2019s very much like Pavel, and yet she\u2019s softer, kinder. There\u2019s steel in her, though. I would not want to cross her. You can feel it in her.<\/em><\/p>\n Molly didn\u2019t doubt it. Drew had told her how Ella had handled her son at the Gate station, and from the competent way she held her knitting, she was clearly someone who knew what she wanted, and how to get it. That didn\u2019t quite follow with what Pavel had told them about how his grandfather had dominated her, but perhaps she\u2019d simply learned there was more than one way to get things done.<\/p>\n The song ended, with Starsha\u2019s voice throbbing on the last note, and everyone applauded.<\/p>\n Father Christopher stepped to the front, and said, \u201cIntermission, folks. I need to make sure these voices get some lubrication, and I noticed Molly just refilled the tea carafe.\u201d He cleared his throat. \u201cI\u2019m a little parched too. Directing these amazing singers is thirsty business.\u201d Everyone laughed at that.<\/p>\n Molly took advantage of the lull to slip over to Pavel\u2019s side. He gave her a hug and leaned down. \u201cMother, this is Molly Barrett, Drew\u2019s wife.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe amazing Molly! Who cooked that lovely dinner that Pavel served me last night!\u201d Ella put down her knitting (after finishing the row, of course), and reached up to take Molly\u2019s hand. \u201cI have been looking forward to meeting you, my dear. I\u2019ve heard such amazing things about you!\u201d<\/p>\n Molly blushed. \u201cI\u2019m sure Pavel\u2019s been exaggerating,\u201d she said, pressing the older woman\u2019s hands in her own. \u201cBut I\u2019ve wanted to meet you as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI never exaggerate about you,\u201d Pavel protested. \u201cYou\u2019re amazing and wonderful, and make the most magical things ever in your kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m afraid I agree with Pavel<\/em>, Schrodinger chimed in. You\u2019re amazing, Molly.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou guys are going to give me an oversized ego, and then I\u2019ll never get back into my kitchen,\u201d Molly told them, blushing even harder. \u201cI\u2019m just a kitchen witch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no just about it, Molly,\u201d Ella said firmly. \u201cThe kitchen is the heart of a house, and you, my dear, are the heart of your kitchen. Without a heart, the body dies. Don\u2019t sell yourself short.\u201d She grimaced. \u201cToo many others are willing to do it for you, trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n Pavel nudged Molly, and she turned to find him holding another one of the armchairs. \u201cSit,\u201d he told her. \u201cYou can take a load off for a bit, and visit.\u201d<\/p>\n She took the chair gratefully, and thanked him, then turned back to his mother. \u201cSo you liked the casserole?\u201d she asked. \u201cI know it was simple, but I thought\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was lovely,\u201d Ella interrupted her. \u201cSometimes, the simplest food is the best.\u201d Then she leaned forward and said conspiratorially, \u201cBut I would love the recipe. I would be willing to trade for it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely!\u201d Molly said, eyes bright. \u201cI\u2019d love to talk recipes with you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAsk her for her braided bread recipe,\u201d Pavel said, and Ella smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was always your favorite, wasn\u2019t it? We made it every Christmas, and Pavel would beg for just one more piece.\u201d Her eyes went misty, back to another time. \u201cYour grandmother taught me to make that when I was just a girl.\u201d<\/p>\n Pavel looked uncomfortable. \u201cI didn\u2019t know it was her recipe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been passed down in our family for a long time.\u201d Ella gave him a sharp sideways look under her eyelashes. \u201cI\u2019ll have to pass it along to Molly, since it\u2019s highly unlikely you\u2019ll bring a wife home before I\u2019m gone.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Molly and Schrodinger chuckled as Pavel\u2019s face went even more uncomfortable.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a good recipe,\u201d Ella continued, ignoring his discomfort. \u201cFull of raisins, which are a luxury on our little island, and orange rind. My mother used to bring the oranges home with her on her last voyage of the year, before we celebrated.\u201d She sighed. \u201cIt was harder to get them after she left, but I always managed. It\u2019s not Christmas without the braided bread.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt sounds lovely,\u201d Molly told her. \u201cYou\u2019re welcome to come into the kitchen at any time, and we can trade recipes. I\u2019m always looking for new ones.\u201d<\/p>\n Ella smiled at her, then turned to Pavel. \u201cCan you get me a cup of tea, Pavel? I\u2019m a little thirsty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course!\u201d Pavel hurried over to the table.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd a scone!\u201d Ella called after him. Then she turned to Molly. \u201cThank goodness. I was afraid all he was going to do was hover over me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe missed you,\u201d Molly said quietly. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t always talk about his family, but I could tell that he missed you terribly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just wish\u2026\u201d Ella\u2019s voice trailed off, and she sighed. \u201cI wish there wasn\u2019t as much of his grandfather in him as there is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou want him to meet his grandmother,\u201d Molly said. It wasn\u2019t a question.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. More than that, she wants to meet him.\u201d Ella looked over at her tall son, who had been stopped by Mr. Gray, and was now talking animatedly to the man. \u201cThe last time she saw him, he was barely two. She\u2019d come by to get some of her things, and to drop off Christmas presents. My father was out at sea, so she dared to come. He was so mad when he found out, but what could he do? Other than ban her from the island.\u201d She shook her head. \u201cAnd not even I could change his mind. Pavel never knew how much she missed him. How much she still does.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly\u2019s heart ached. \u201cYou want me to help persuade him to go?\u201d<\/p>\n Ella swallowed. \u201cI don\u2019t want to drag you into our family mess,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cPavel is family to us,\u201d Molly told her, reaching out again to take the older woman\u2019s hand. \u201cThat means you\u2019re family too. And I don\u2019t want to see either of you unhappy.\u201d<\/p>\n Ella squeezed her hand gratefully.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re coming to dinner on Tuesday, yes?\u201d Molly asked her, as Pavel rejoined them.<\/p>\n \u201cI cannot wait,\u201d Ella said, accepting the delicate tea cup that her son handed her. \u201cPavel said we are bringing wine?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, for goose.\u201d Molly looked at Pavel. \u201cYou haven\u2019t forgotten, have you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm, no, of course not!\u201d Pavel said, grinning.<\/p>\n \u201cWhich means he told that nice Mr. Strange,\u201d Ella said tartly. \u201cAnd he will take care of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what first mates do. Isn\u2019t that what you were telling me yesterday?\u201d Pavel said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you listened? Well, that\u2019s a first,\u201d Ella said, and Molly grinned.<\/p>\n Before she could say anything, Father Christopher clapped his hands, drawing the attention back to himself, and the second half of the concert started. Schrodinger managed to climb up into Molly\u2019s lap, and curled up, snuggling with her. The music washed over them, and Molly forgot her worries for a bit, enjoying herself. This was what Christmas should be<\/em>, she thought contentedly: good music, good friends, and a warm CrossCat in her lap.<\/em><\/p>\n Agreed,<\/em> Schrodinger said.<\/p>\n \u201cYour grandmother would love to hear that,\u201d Ella said afterwards, as Pavel helped her put her coat on.<\/p>\n He winced, but Molly said, \u201cOh? Does she like music?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe sings like an angel,\u201d Ella said. \u201cAnd she used to sing while I would do my schoolwork.\u201d She looked up at her son sadly. \u201cI wish you would change your mind, Pavel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou ask a lot, Mother,\u201d he said, shaking his head. \u201cI don\u2019t know if I can do what you ask.\u201d<\/p>\n Schrodinger asked, looking at him. I can\u2019t imagine not wanting to know about her.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not a CrossCat,\u201d Pavel said, but not unkindly. \u201cAnd I know about her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you know what your grandfather wanted you to know,\u201d Ella said. \u201cAnd he was hardly an impartial person.\u201d She held up a hand to forestall Pavel\u2019s objection. \u201cNo, no more. I don\u2019t want to fight with you. I will not ask you again.\u201d She smiled at Molly. \u201cThank you, Molly. Thank you for all your hospitality.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou haven\u2019t seen the half of it,\u201d Molly said, impulsively kissing the older woman on the cheek. Ella\u2019s skin was weathered under her soft lips. \u201cJust wait until you come out to the farm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI cannot wait,\u201d Ella said. \u201cAnd Pavel said the entire town lights up!\u201d<\/p>\n It does!<\/em> Schrodinger assured her. Make him take you in the sleigh!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI had planned on it,\u201d Pavel told him. \u201cTomorrow night, when it snows.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill it snow tomorrow night?\u201d Molly said. \u201cI haven\u2019t had a chance to check the forecast.\u201d<\/p>\n Pavel winked at her. \u201cI\u2019ve been assured it will, by a very reliable source,\u201d he said. \u201cJust enough to be atmospheric, and give the sleigh a good base.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cConvenient to be friends with Old Man Winter and the Snow Queen, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Molly teased him.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes,\u201d he agreed.<\/p>\n Molly turned back to Ella. \u201cYou\u2019ll stay through Christmas?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Ella said, not really looking at her son. \u201cI might go on to my mother\u2019s for Christmas eve.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think you should,\u201d Molly said. \u201cBut at least stay through the Snow Queen\u2019s ball. You won\u2019t want to miss that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see.\u201d Ella hugged Molly, and then reached down to hug Schrodinger as well, then turned to Pavel. \u201cCome on, these old bones want to get back to that lovely chair you bought. And perhaps have something a bit stronger than tea.\u201d She winked at Molly. \u201cSometimes, you need something a bit more to warm up, eh?\u201d<\/p>\n I definitely like her,<\/em> Schrodinger said later, as Molly washed dishes in the kitchen. Now, how to get Pavel to agree to visit his grandmother?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Molly said. \u201cBut we\u2019ll think of something. We always do.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sunday, December 13 Molly paused at the top of the stairs and let the music wash over her. Once again, Father Christopher had brought his choir to CrossWinds Books for the annual Christmas Concert, and once again, the lovely Mareesh girl Starsha was the centerpiece. As Molly stepped into the room (moving carefully, since the …<\/p>\n