Tuesday, December 11<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Come on, Molly!<\/em> Schrodinger danced around the kitchen, anxious to be off. We’re going to be late!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Molly laughed at him as she pulled her coat on. “We can’t be late, silly,” she said. “They have to wait for us to get to anywhere else! Besides, we have everything they need to finish the surprise!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was true enough, Schrodinger had to admit. The special supplies they had picked up after picking out their trees yesterday were safely stowed in the back of Molly’s Jeep. But still! I can’t wait!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n “Me either,” Molly agreed, following him out on to the porch. “They are going to be so surprised.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a glorious bright afternoon, the kind of winter day with a sky so blue it stretched forever, and every snowflake sparkled in the bright light. A sharp wind, smelling of pine and snow and crisp cold, made the ribbons on the wreaths that Molly and Schrodinger had hung on the railings of the porch dance. He could taste the faintest bit of sea salt – even inland, you could smell the sea in Carter’s Cove. Schrodinger dashed across the yard and waited impatiently for her to reach him so she could open the front door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hudson was playing Christmas carols on WCOV, the radio station for Carter’s Cove, and Molly and Schrodinger sang along at the tops of their lungs as they drove into town to pick up the others. By the time they pulled into Molly’s traditional parking spot behind the bookstore, she was fully into the Christmas spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Which was good, because waiting for them inside the bookstore was not what they had expected at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “You are not going to get away with this!” <\/p>\n\n\n\n The words hit Molly like a sledgehammer, and she very nearly reeled backwards away from the speaker: an angry man with a towering beard that bristled threateningly at Kris, who looked supremely unconcerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Sure, Nelson, and what should I be getting away with?” Kris countered. “It’s not as if it affects you at all, you know.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nelson’s face went even redder, and he swung around, looking for another target. His gaze fell on Molly. “Do you know what this woman means to do here?” He asked, stabbing an accusing finger at Kris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Move into the Cove and open a shop?” Molly said, looking at Kris. “Making a living?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “A living?” Nelson shouted. “More like a dying! And the one dying will be this town! He glared back at Kris. “I won’t let you do it! I won’t!” And then he pushed past Molly and stomped out of the store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat was his problem?\u201d Molly asked Kris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kris shook her head, the long grey braid swinging with the movement. \u201cHe\u2019s an unhappy man, is Nelson. His is a long, sad story, and I\u2019ve no wish to go over it now. Not at Christmas. Some folks just can\u2019t move on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did he live in a town you lived in?<\/em> Schrodinger asked, coming up to her. Is that why he doesn\u2019t like you?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kris leaned down and stroked Schrodinger\u2019s ears. \u201cWe knew each other a long time ago, in a place that doesn\u2019t exist except in our memories. And while I\u2019ve learned to put those into the past, not everyone has. Some day, Nelson will have to own up to the fact that our village is gone, and then he will be forced to deal with the present, instead of obsessively going over the past.\u201d She sighed. \u201cI can only hope that it is sooner, rather than later. Perhaps this place will be good for him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If any place can be, it would be here! <\/em>Schrodinger agreed. This is an amazing town to live in!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSure, and it is.\u201d Kris smiled. \u201cMolly, I realize it is your day off, but may I bother you for a bit about tea?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course!\u201d Molly said, leading the way in to the kitchen. \u201cWe\u2019re waiting for the others to get here anyways. How can I help?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kris followed her in, and took the seat that Molly offered. \u201cI\u2019m looking for a good tea to leave in a crock pot, for a party. Something that will appeal to a wide range of people, but will be okay to sit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Molly frowned thoughtfully. \u201cAre you thinking of a black tea, or an herbal?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d Kris spread her hands. \u201cI bow to your expertise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWait here.\u201d Molly moved into the pantry, already running scenarios in her head. Not a black tea, <\/em>she mused. An herbal is more forgiving to sitting, and that means that everyone can have some. Perhaps a mix on cider – there\u2019s that spiced apple tea that would be lovely.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n She chose a few tins from the shelf and brought them back into the kitchen to find her new friend examining the Advent calendar, Schrodinger at her side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd it brings you magical gifts?\u201d Kris was saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes. Mostly it brings us things to do, and it\u2019s loads of fun!<\/em> Schrodinger said. I can\u2019t wait to see what we\u2019re doing today!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou are lucky indeed to have such friends that give you such things,\u201d Kris said admiringly. \u201cPerhaps one day I too shall have that kind of friend.\u201d She looked over at Molly. \u201cWhat have you found for me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think this would be best, especially if you put it into an apple cider,\u201d Molly said. \u201cI\u2019m going to mix a few of my herbal teas together for you, and then you can float it in the crock pot.\u201d She pulled out a bowl, and then an empty tea tin, and got to work. It was a simple task, and soon she handed the tin to Kris. \u201cJust use a quarter of a cup of the tea mixture to the crock pot,\u201d she said. \u201cIt would be best if you put the herbs into a square of cheesecloth or muslin, and then tie it up. Easier than a tea ball, and you won\u2019t get the weird metallic taste in the cider.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s perfect!\u201d Kris beamed as she accepted the tin. \u201cHow much do I owe you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNothing,\u201d Molly said. \u201cConsider it a welcome to the Cove gift.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen you must come to my party!\u201d Kris said. \u201cAll of you!\u201d She looked at the children who had just trooped in. \u201cYou will, won\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA party? Of course!\u201d Kaylee said. \u201cWhen is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDecember 19 is the date I\u2019m planning,\u201d Kris said. \u201cSo I can open the store before Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOooh,\u201d Lily said. \u201cThat sounds awesome!\u201d She looked at Molly. \u201cWe can go, can\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs long as your parents say so, I don\u2019t see why not,\u201d Molly said. She looked at her regular calendar. \u201cIt\u2019s a Wednesday, so I\u2019ll be here, but I\u2019m sure I can stop over at some point, and you guys will be out of school by then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYay!\u201d Gideon said, and he grabbed Kaylee\u2019s hands, the two of them whirling around in glee. \u201cI love parties!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGuys, guys, come on, we need to see what the Advent calendar is having us do today!\u201d Zoey said, giggling a little at the antics of the younger children. Then she turned to Kris. \u201cWould you like to help us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAbsolutely!\u201d Kris said. \u201cWhat do we do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe watch,\u201d Lily said, and pointed to the little cat, who was sitting on the stairs, obviously waiting for them. \u201cWhat are we doing today, kitten?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He jumped to his feet and trotted down the stairs and then through the hall, stepping into a back garden that was coated with snow. There was a Christmas tree out here, decked with long strings of cranberries and popcorn. Suet balls shaped like bells and gingerbread men hung on it, along with apples, and the top of the tree had a nest, with a beautiful red cardinal perched on the edge, his beak close to the beak of his mate, who sat within the nest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, what a pretty tree!\u201d Zoey said. \u201cI love how it\u2019s for the birds and animals! Just like we planned for Indi!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s like he knew! <\/em>Schrodinger said. I wonder how the Snow Queen knew what we were going to do!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s the Snow Queen,\u201d Molly reminded him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The little cat had sniffed the tree and then gone over to the big snowman that someone had built. The snowman had a jaunty red scarf tied around his neck, and a big black top hat, with a sprig of holly tucked into the hat band. A pipe was stuck into his smiling face, and his bright eyes were bricks of charcoal that sparkled with magic and mischief. As they watched, he leaned over to the cat and patted its head with one mittened hand, then looked up and out, and raised his hat politely to them. The expected smoke came out of the hat, and formed the words, \u201cRemember that this is the season to help others. And have fun!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSure, and isn\u2019t that amazing,\u201d Kris said, as the smoke came out of the calendar. It wrapped around each child, and as they watched, it dropped suet stars into their hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you, calendar!\u201d the children chorused, and then turned to Molly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you think Indi will like it?\u201d Lily asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI do!\u201d Molly said. \u201cDid you guys bring your skates?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMom said she\u2019d meet us there with it,\u201d Zoey said. \u201cSo let\u2019s go!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Tuesday, December 11 Come on, Molly! Schrodinger danced around the kitchen, anxious to be off. We’re going to be late! Molly laughed at him as she pulled her coat on. “We can’t be late, silly,” she said. “They have to wait for us to get to anywhere else! Besides, we have everything they need to …<\/p>\n