{"id":1703,"date":"2016-12-07T17:58:16","date_gmt":"2016-12-07T22:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=1703"},"modified":"2016-12-07T17:58:16","modified_gmt":"2016-12-07T22:58:16","slug":"day-7-let-it-snow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=1703","title":{"rendered":"(Day 7) Let it snow!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Wednesday, December 7<\/span><\/p>\n

It was, Molly realized, going to be one of those days.<\/span><\/p>\n

Having realized that, she felt much better about the chaos going on around her. Normally, she and Schrodinger were at CrossWinds Books by 7 a.m., getting everything ready for the day. The bookstore opened at 9, but getting there by 7 meant that she had time to bake, and get herself together.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the snow had been bad enough by the time they had returned from the animal shelter the night before that the kids had all stayed over. School had been canceled, and Drew had to be back at the Gate Station at 5 am to take the next shift, so she had left a message at the store letting DC and Aunt Margie know they\u2019d be in later. But that had thrown everything off.<\/span><\/p>\n

It had given her the opportunity to bake at home while the kids slept, which was a good thing. There were six loaves of cranberry-nut bread in her basket for the shop, and the last loaf had been soaked in vanilla-scented custard and made into french toast. That, along with fresh bacon and orange juice, had fed everyone when they finally woke up. Since they didn\u2019t have school (and it was still snowing, although not as heavily as before), Molly had let them sleep. So by the time they were all ready to go into the Cove, it was nearly 10 a.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

Will we all fit in the Jeep?<\/span><\/i> Jack asked, looking up at Molly. <\/span>I can stay home, if needed.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cNot needed,\u201d she told him, grinning. \u201cI hate driving in the snow, so we aren\u2019t taking the Jeep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe aren\u2019t?\u201d Lily said, pausing as she was pulling her boots on. \u201cThen how are we getting there?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Molly winked at her. \u201cWhile you sleepy heads were still getting up, I made a couple of calls. Our ride should be here soon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As she said that, she heard, very faintly, the sound of bells. All the kids heard it too, and with a joyous cry, Lily and Kaylee finished throwing on their coats and boots and ran out the front door, Jack right behind them, baying excitedly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have time to finish getting dressed,\u201d Molly told Gideon, who was staring after his friends with a look of surprise on his face. \u201cIt will take him a bit to get here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Not that much time,<\/span><\/i> Schrodinger said, bringing Gideon\u2019s coat on. <\/span>Those reindeer go fast!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cReindeer?\u201d Gideon\u2019s eyes got wide. \u201cIs Santa coming?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Better,<\/span><\/i> Schrodinger told him. <\/span>Much better.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cBetter than Santa?\u201d Gideon said. \u201cIs that possible?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes. Santa comes only once a year. If we\u2019re lucky, we get to see Old Man Winter all winter long!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Gideon hustled into his coat and then he and Schrodinger ran outside as well. Molly pulled her coat and gloves on, grabbed her basket, and went outside as well. Drew had taken the castle with him when he left that morning, and she knew he had stopped and dropped it off at the bookstore for them.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was an amazingly snowy morning, the kind that Currier and Ives memorialized in their paintings. The farm\u2019s front yard held the sleigh with its selection of CrossCats and packages, pulled by the polar bear, and several snowmen that she and Drew and Schrodinger had built over the past few weeks. In addition, Phoebe\u2019s golden lights danced around the edges of the sleigh and around the evergreens. The faery lights were some of Molly\u2019s favorite decorations now, and she blessed the fact that their wedding had brought Drew\u2019s faery godmother back into their lives. <\/span>Maybe she\u2019ll come out for Christmas one year,<\/span><\/i> she thought, joining the pack of children as they waited by the side of the driveway. <\/span>That would be amazing.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Chaotic, but amazing,<\/span><\/i> Schrodinger said privately. <\/span>I can tell you how to get her out here, if you want.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Oh?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Sure. Get pregnant.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Molly choked on her laughter as the sledge came into view. Old Man Winter had been thrilled when she had called him at the cottage that morning, and had promised that he would be there to get them all safely to CrossWinds Books. His great sledge was piled high with woolen blankets and furs, and the reindeer were all wearing evergreen boughs woven into their harnesses. Jingle bells rang out through falling snow.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHello, my friends!\u201d His voice boomed out through the snow as the reindeer galloped up to them. \u201cI hear you need a ride!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you SURE he\u2019s not Santa?\u201d Gideon whispered to Molly, who laughed again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s very close,\u201d she agreed. \u201cI think they\u2019re related.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Old Man Winter was dressed in what she thought of as his Father Christmas outfit: the long red coat, trimmed with white fur, a large Russian fur hat on his head. Ivy wrapped around the brim of his hat, and there were holly berries peeking out from his long white beard. His grey-blue eyes were bright with cheer.<\/span><\/p>\n

They all climbed into the sledge and snuggled under the blankets, and Old Man Winter stored Molly\u2019s basket under the seat. \u201cTo the bookstore, then?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Molly told him. <\/span><\/p>\n

The ground flew under the runners of the sledge, and Old Man Winter\u2019s magical reindeer made short work of the distance between Molly\u2019s farm and CrossWinds Books. There weren\u2019t many people out on the roads, due to the snow, so the magical sledge didn\u2019t even need to hop onto the Roads to go into the town.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you coming in with us?\u201d Kaylee demanded, as they pulled up in front of the store. \u201cMolly made cranberry-nut bread!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid she?\u201d Old Man Winter winked at Molly. \u201cDid she make cookies too?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe did!\u201d Kaylee nodded, her hat pompoms bouncing wildly. \u201cShe made lemon shortbread! And candy cane cookies!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhich are for Saturday\u2019s bake sale,\u201d Lily reminded her sister.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kaylee waved a hand airily. \u201cShe can make more! We can share some!\u201d Then she seemed to remember her manners and turned to Molly. \u201cCan\u2019t we?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Molly laughed, unable to be mad at the little girl. \u201cI think we can probably spare some cookies to pay for our ride in, yes,\u201d she said, removing the blankets from her lap. \u201cAnd you\u2019ll at least come in to have a cup of tea? Pavel brought me some new spice teas when he came in last week.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would love a cup of tea,\u201d Old Man Winter said, stepping off the sledge.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut what about your reindeer?\u201d Gideon asked, a little worried. \u201cAren\u2019t you afraid they\u2019ll wander off without you here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Old Man Winter laughed. \u201cThey might, but they\u2019ll come back when I call. They like to wander, but they like being fed more!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, good.\u201d Gideon nodded and followed the rest of them inside. <\/span><\/p>\n

DC was at the front counter and grinned at all of them when they came in. \u201cWe were wondering if you were going to sleep all day!\u201d she teased. \u201cIsn\u2019t that what you do when there\u2019s no school?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the bed was awful warm,\u201d Gideon said seriously. \u201cBut Kaylee kicked a bit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid not!\u201d she said instantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Actually, you both kicked, <\/span><\/i>Jack said mildly. <\/span>I know, because I was in between you.<\/span><\/i> He nosed them along. <\/span>Come on, let\u2019s get some tea, and then we can do the Advent calendar!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Molly wondered privately how many times a day Jack had to divert or calm Kaylee down. She loved the little girl, but Kaylee was a bit of a force of nature sometimes. The big hound, however, seemed to be well-suited to keep her in check. Molly didn\u2019t envy him that task at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

Drew had left the castle on the island in the kitchen, and the kids immediately clustered around it, trying to see the next number. Old Man Winter made it easier by picking the castle up and bringing it out into the tea room, so they could all look. Molly could hear the excited murmurs as they looked. She smiled to herself, knowing what was coming next.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat is the cat that ate the canary smile,\u201d Old Man Winter observed, coming back in. <\/span><\/p>\n

She winked at him as she handed him a cup of tea. \u201cPavel found this tea on his travels, and I thought you would like it,\u201d she said instead. \u201cIt should warm you up quickly, since I have a feeling it\u2019s going to be a long, cold day for you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite kind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

<><><\/span><\/p>\n

Gideon found the number 7, hidden on a wall halfway up the north tower, and touched a finger to it. The window opened with a rush of snowflakes and cold air, and inside, they could see a very strange scene indeed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re OUTSIDE! INSIDE!\u201d Kaylee said, awed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The room was coated in a fine layer of snow, and three small creatures (they might be elves – Schrodinger wasn\u2019t sure, but they certainly LOOKED like the elves from all the Christmas movies he and Molly had watched) were busy at work, rolling various balls of snow of various sizes. Around them were snowmen in all sorts of positions: some were busy shoveling more snow for the elves, it seemed; others were dressing themselves in hats, scarves, and mittens; and even more were decorating the trees around them. <\/span><\/p>\n

One of the elves turned towards them, grinned, and waved. As they waved back, he laughed and tossed a snowball right at them.<\/span><\/p>\n

It came out the window, and swirled around them before bursting into glittering snowflakes. Gideon caught the note out of the air and read out loud, \u201cI hope you have good mittens! There are lots of snowmen to be made, and we need help!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSnowmen! I love making snowmen!\u201d he crowed, pumping his fist in the air. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut where are we making them?\u201d Lily wondered. \u201cThat could be anywhere!\u201d She looked at Gideon. \u201cDoes it say where?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he said, turning the note over in his hand and then giving it to her. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing else.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe Molly knows?<\/span><\/i> Schrodinger said, and they all turned to look at the kitchen witch as she and Old Man Winter came out with a tray of steaming mugs and cookies.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe Molly knows what?\u201d Molly asked, as she set the tray down on another table, away from the castle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lily showed her the note. \u201cDo you know where we\u2019re going to be making snowmen?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Schrodinger saw the merry twinkle in her hazel eyes, but Molly frowned at the note. \u201cHmm, snowmen, huh?\u201d She turned to Old Man Winter. \u201cDo you know a place that might need snowmen?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, I think I do,\u201d the old spirit said, after considering it for a few minutes. \u201cIt seems to me that when I came through the Gate Station the other day, Mal was telling me that their decorations seemed a little flat, and did I think some snowmen might be what they needed?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI LOVE the Gate Station!\u201d Gideon said. \u201cLet\u2019s go there and make snowmen!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you warm up first?\u201d Molly suggested, indicating the tray. \u201cIf you\u2019re going to make snowmen at the Gate Station, you\u2019re going to be outside for a long time. And I\u2019ve got some things that need to go over there anyways, so let me pack those up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

By the time the hot tea and hot chocolate was gone, Molly had packaged up a loaf of cranberry-nut bread, along with scones and some of the candy cane cookies, and a package of assorted teas, and Kiaya had made it in to the store, brushing snowflakes from her hair.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMom, we\u2019re going to the Gate Station to make snowmen!\u201d Gideon announced as she joined them. \u201cDo you want to come?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Kiaya said, blinking a bit. \u201cWhen?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs soon as we get warmed up,\u201d he said. \u201cYou are coming with us, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you let her have a cup of tea first,\u201d Molly said, bringing Kiaya a mug of Earl Grey with cream in it. Kiaya took it gratefully, holding the mug in both hands to warm her fingers up. \u201cThe snow isn\u2019t going anywhere.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Schrodinger watched Kiaya take a sip, then suddenly realize who was sitting next to her son. Old Man Winter smiled at her genially and took another cookie from the tray.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMom, this is Old Man Winter! He brought us into the store on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, and he knows Santa! And he\u2019s going to take us to the Gate Station! And I kick in my sleep!\u201d Gideon bounced. \u201cBut Jack said I stopped after a while!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhoa, hold on, buddy,\u201d Kiaya said, laughing a little despite herself. \u201cSlow down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He looked at her critically. \u201cDid you sleep okay, Mom? You look a little tired.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m okay, just a little confused.\u201d She took a sip of her tea. \u201cLet me warm up and catch up with you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019m not moving.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, you are, but that\u2019s not what she meant,<\/span><\/i> Schrodinger said kindly. <\/span>She needs to mentally catch up.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Gideon frowned, and sat thinking about that for a bit. While he did, Kiaya nodded gratefully to Schrodinger and drank her tea. Once it was gone, she said, \u201cOkay, so you\u2019re going to the Gate Station?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I was going to take them,\u201d Old Man Winter said. \u201cWe would be happy if you joined us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

You can always write in one of the rooms there if you need, <\/span><\/i>Schrodinger added, as she hesitated. He knew she was on deadline. <\/span>But it would be fun if you came!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Kiaya looked at the faces of the children around her, all looking hopeful, and surrendered. \u201cI\u2019m actually a little ahead of where I need to be, and I could use a break. Why not?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYay!\u201d Gideon cheered, and launched himself into her arms.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ride to the Station was fast, although Old Man Winter kept to the streets of the town. The snow was still falling, and with the Christmas lights twinkling through the flakes, it seemed to Schrodinger that they were caught in a magical snow globe. Kiaya had been properly awed by the sledge and the reindeer, and she and Gideon were busy teaching Lily and Kaylee a new Christmas carol about Vikings as the landscape went by them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Which gave him time to speak to Old Man Winter privately.<\/span><\/p>\n

He had managed to sit next to Kiaya on the big seat in front of where Old Man Winter was nominally guiding the reindeer, and now he turned around and said quietly, <\/span>Have you heard any more about Caliban?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

No,<\/span><\/i> Old Man Winter replied. <\/span>I figured Molly told you. He hasn\u2019t been seen reliably.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Schrodinger noticed that he hadn\u2019t said the spirit hadn\u2019t been seen. <\/span>Where are the unreliable sightings?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Here and there, mostly through older Gates that are unmanned,<\/span><\/i> Old Man Winter said. <\/span>We know he was with the cousin that we think broke him out, but he left her a few days ago. We\u2019re not sure where he is now, or who he\u2019s with. He might be traveling alone, for all we know.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

And that makes him dangerous,<\/span><\/i> Schrodinger said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Old Man Winter hesitated.<\/span><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t think so?<\/span><\/i> Schrodinger asked. <\/span>Why not?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know, but it\u2019s entirely possible that Caliban wants something other than the Cove,<\/span><\/i> Old Man Winter said finally. <\/span>I know he wanted to take the Cove when he came and courted Jade, and it consumed him. But now? I don\u2019t know. He might want to just go somewhere else.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Schrodinger pondered that as the sledge pulled up the driveway to the Gate Station.<\/span><\/p>\n

Heidi and Porter, her immense grey cat, met them at the doorway. \u201cMolly telephoned after you left,\u201d the receptionist said, pushing her glasses back up her nose and smiling. \u201cShe said you were here to help with snowmen!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes!\u201d Lily said, nodding. \u201cThe advent calendar said you needed snowmen!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe do indeed! Let me tell Mal you\u2019re here!\u201d Heidi picked up the phone on her desk and spoke into it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mal came out a few minutes later, Drew and Tom Alward Jr. with him. The boys were armed with shovels, and Mal grinned at all of them. \u201cI hear you\u2019ve come to help us with snowmen!\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m so glad! These two have been telling me that they don\u2019t know how to make the snowmen I want! Can you imagine?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of snowmen do you need?\u201d Kaylee asked. \u201cWe can do anything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, this year, I was thinking that we needed a new theme,\u201d Mal told her, crouching down so that he was at their level. Schrodinger noticed that he\u2019d removed the cigarette that normally lived in his mouth before they\u2019d come in. \u201cWe\u2019ve done a few different ones in the past few years, but this year, I wanted something really special. Do you guys think you can do some snowmen enjoying winter sports? Things like sledding, and skiing, and things like that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The three children looked at each other for a long time, obviously thinking this through. \u201cWe could have some of them decorating trees,\u201d Gideon said finally.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd maybe some feeding the birds?\u201d Lily added. \u201cWe could even put a feeder made of snow out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd skating!\u201d Kaylee said, her eyes lighting up. \u201cBecause skating is fun!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Drew said, and Schrodinger noticed he had the same mischievous twinkle in his eyes that Molly had had earlier. \u201cThose sound pretty hard to make.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gideon waved a hand. \u201cWe\u2019ll show you. We\u2019re professionals.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI knew we had the right people for the job!\u201d Mal said. \u201cHeidi, do you still have that basket of supplies?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRight here, boss,\u201d she said, and handed over the big basket to Kiaya. \u201cThis should have everything you need.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRight! Let\u2019s go!\u201d Old Man Winter said. \u201cWe have snowmen to make!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

>Activity: make a snowman out front or out back of your house! <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wednesday, December 7 It was, Molly realized, going to be one of those days. Having realized that, she felt much better about the chaos going on around her. Normally, she and Schrodinger were at CrossWinds Books by 7 a.m., getting everything ready for the day. The bookstore opened at 9, but getting there by 7 …<\/p>\n

>>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[61],"class_list":["post-1703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-advent","tag-advent"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1703"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1703"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1703\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1704,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1703\/revisions\/1704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}