December 4 – Sarah<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The grey clouds swept around them, bringing them back to the present. Old Man Winter settled his figure within the branches of the tree, and Jade looked out over the crowd. \u201cWho would like to go next?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI would, if you don\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone turned, and the crowd parted as a tall, slim young woman stepped confidently forward. One hand clasped the handle of her service dog\u2019s harness, and in the other, she held a small gingerbread house ornament that she held out to Jade. The house was tiny, about the size of her palm, but Molly knew every single decoration on it, sculpted into the gingerbread and dyed with food coloring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sarah Ford was blind, but her sensitive fingers told her all about the world around her. Watching her, Molly was pulled back into the past again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was snowing, and she was in the tea room at CrossWinds Books, listening to WCOV play Christmas Carols. Molly watched a 6-year-old blonde child make her way unerringly to the younger Molly who was having a cup of tea by the fireplace. \u201cMolly! Molly! I need your help!\u201d little Sarah said eagerly, her hands outstretched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She was so small! <\/em> Schrodinger said to the present-day Molly. And yet so independent!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh yes. Sarah\u2019s never been anything but unafraid.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Past-Molly helped her down into the chair next to her. \u201cAnything! What can I do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMommy said Daddy is going to be on duty Christmas eve,\u201d Sarah said. \u201cCan we make a gingerbread house that he can bring with him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Past-Molly frowned, obviously thinking. \u201cPossibly. What were you thinking?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarah\u2019s little face puckered into a matching frown. \u201cWell, when you bring the gingerbread houses to everyone, they\u2019re big and fragile,\u201d the little girl said. \u201cCan we make kind of a mini version that won\u2019t break? That maybe he could hang from the window of his squad car?\u201d Sarah\u2019s father was a member of the Carter\u2019s Cove police force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think we can!\u201d Past-Molly pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket, and the stub of a pencil. \u201cIf you want it to last and not to be eaten, I can make the gingerbread harden. And if we sculpt the decorations into the gingerbread itself, then there\u2019s nothing to fall off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPerfect!\u201d Sarah clapped her hands together eagerly. \u201cAnd then he will have it every year! Can I help?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh yes,\u201d Past-Molly agreed. \u201cI\u2019ll make it so that it will never fade. And of course you can help! We\u2019ll make it the best gingerbread house ever.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" December 4 – Sarah The grey clouds swept around them, bringing them back to the present. Old Man Winter settled his figure within the branches of the tree, and Jade looked out over the crowd. \u201cWho would like to go next?\u201d she said. \u201cI would, if you don\u2019t mind.\u201d Everyone turned, and the crowd parted …<\/p>\n