The snow had finally ended around noon on Friday, and to Kaylee and Gideon\u2019s delight, Old Man Winter himself had brought his massive sledge to bring them back to their car, then to the library to drop off the box (which turned out to be full of books wrapped in brown paper, mysterious packages of delight that the librarian, Mr. Staphert, took with effusive thanks), and then back to the bookstore. The calendar had been waiting for them, the kitten looking very concerned, his tail lashing back and forth. He\u2019d been in a room that looked an awful lot like Molly\u2019s pantry back home, if her pantry had been decorated, and the package he\u2019d opened had given a puff of smoke that said \u201cGood things happen when you have friends to help!\u201d and then had dropped pieces of gingerbread into their hands. Gingerbread studded with candied fruits, like rich jewels, that melted in their mouths, and which they shared with everyone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, Schrodinger was curled up on his bed beside the wood stove with Aurora and Zoey, who was looking MUCH better but was grumpy at missing the sleepover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMan, I always seem to miss the fun stuff!\u201d she complained. \u201cDid Brynna cook for you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She and Molly put their heads together and made gingerbread pancakes and maple bacon,<\/em> Schrodinger admitted. It was yummy.<\/em> Then he laid a soft paw on her lap. But don\u2019t worry – Brynna said she had so much fun that we need to do it again! So you can come the next time!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n That cheered Zoey up, as did the eruption of sound as Lily, Kaylee, and Jack came through the front door. The next few minutes were spent in bringing Zoey up to speed, and waiting impatiently for Gideon to come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re late!\u201d Kaylee said to him, as he and Kiaya came through the door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gideon looked at his watch and frowned. \u201cNo, we\u2019re not,\u201d he said. \u201cWe said 10 am, and it\u2019s 9:55. We\u2019re early.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou came last,\u201d Kaylee said. \u201cThat means you\u2019re late.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, it means we\u2019re later than you,\u201d Gideon corrected her, as Kiaya tried and failed to hide a smile. \u201cAre you feeling better, Zoey?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLoads! And I hope whatever the calendar gives us to do today is outside. I\u2019m sick of being inside!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, let\u2019s go see,\u201d Kiaya said, leading the way to the kitchen, where Molly was cutting out gingerbread walls for the houses she was constructing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat smells like breakfast from yesterday!\u201d Lily said, inhaling deeply. \u201cI love gingerbread.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMe too,\u201d Molly said, putting her knife down. \u201cI think one of the new teas I get will be gingerbread flavored.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That caught all their attention. \u201cHow are you going to do that, Molly?\u201d Kiaya asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYava and I are working on some new teas together,\u201d Molly admitted. \u201cI\u2019m not ready to sell them yet, but by mid-January, they should be available.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOoh, that\u2019s so cool!\u201d Lily said excitedly. \u201cWhat other flavors are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Christmas tea, of course,\u201d Molly said. \u201cAnd a decaf version that I\u2019m testing now.\u201d She indicated the steaming mug by her elbow. \u201cAnd we\u2019re working on an Earl Grey for Schrodinger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Really? That\u2019s awesome!<\/em> The CrossCat bounced. I love Earl Grey!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Molly smiled down at him. \u201cI know.\u201d Then she stretched, trying to get the kinks out of her back. \u201cSo if you can think of any other flavors you\u2019d like to see, I\u2019ll be happy to talk to Yava about it. But now, let\u2019s see what your calendar has in store for you today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They all clustered around the calendar. \u201cGood morning, kitten!\u201d Zoey said. \u201cWhat is up today?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The little cat had been sitting in the pantry\u2019s doorway, obviously ready to get things underway. As he trotted into the next room, his tail caught the ribbons from the package from the other day, giving him a long trail of red ribbon that had all of them giggling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next room was the grand dining room, and to Schrodinger, it looked very much like the table at Molly\u2019s parents\u2019 house, especially since it was set for the Christmas dinner. In the center of the table was a small tree, covered in what looked like beaded ornaments in all different colors. The plates were white with gold edging, and each setting had a red linen napkin, intricately folded to resemble trees. The feast wasn\u2019t on the table yet, but Schrodinger could imagine what would be there: turkey and stuffing, Molly\u2019s fluffy rolls, green beans and mushrooms and squash and so much more, they\u2019d be eating leftovers for days. And that didn\u2019t even start to count the desserts\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n The kitten didn\u2019t go straight to a chair, but ducked his head under the dark green tablecloth, obviously looking for something. To their surprise, he pulled out a picnic basket, edged with green and red ribbon. He nosed up one side, and the expected smoke rose. \u201cTime to make sure others are happy too!\u201d it said, and then came out of the calendar, formed an arrow, and went out towards the front door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWait for us!\u201d Gideon said, and they all ran out, shouting goodbyes over their shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The arrow led them down the freshly-plowed sidewalks towards Merchant Square, which was one of the hearts of Carter\u2019s Cove. It was an area they knew well, and Schrodinger wondered what was up now. As they followed it along, they called out greetings to the shopkeepers they knew. The square was alive with music, not from radios, but from performers who were set up outside of the shops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI love Christmas in the Cove,\u201d Lily said, as they entered The Chocolate Bean, the coffee shop run by Katarina and Mick. \u201cIt always sounds so nice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt smells nice too,\u201d Zoey said, inhaling deeply. Katarina, who was frosting a chocolate cake, smiled at them from the counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood morning!\u201d she said in her musical Austrian accent. \u201cAre you here to help us then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The smoke arrow turned into the words \u201cYes we are!\u201d and then burst into sparkles and faded out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI guess so!\u201d Gideon said. \u201cWhat are we doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Katarina lifted the counter-top to allow them to go into the back room, where her husband Mick was busy. \u201cGo see him,\u201d she said. \u201cHe\u2019s got everything for you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mick did have everything: two large thermoses full of hot cocoa and cider, and wrapped packages of butcher\u2019s paper that were warm to the touch, and contained meat hand pies. \u201cYou have an important mission today,\u201d he told them, his Scottish brogue a deep counterpoint to Katarina\u2019s lighter voice. \u201cAll those musicians out there need to be fed for lunch. Think you can handle it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe can!\u201d Lily said. \u201cBut we should have borrowed Molly\u2019s little wagon. Those will be heavy to carry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s not a problem,\u201d Mick said, and opened the back door. \u201cThink you can handle this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis\u201d was a little sleigh, although the back was covered with a lid, rather than having seats. It was painted in blue and green with silver accents. Mick picked up the lid, and showed them what he\u2019d built inside: a warming box, well insulated, which would keep the hand pies warm. The two thermoses went on the back of the sleigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd we can pull it!\u201d Gideon said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not you, me! <\/em>Aurora bounced into the area between the traces, and she was right. It fit her perfectly, and there was even a harness that Mick put on her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI made this for the goats,\u201d he admitted. \u201cWell, are you guys set?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s go! <\/em>Schrodinger said, and they headed out into the square.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The snow had finally ended around noon on Friday, and to Kaylee and Gideon\u2019s delight, Old Man Winter himself had brought his massive sledge to bring them back to their car, then to the library to drop off the box (which turned out to be full of books wrapped in brown paper, mysterious packages of …<\/p>\n