December 12 – Doug, Tim, and Ryan<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook who\u2019s here!\u201d Drew and Molly turned as a familiar voice came from behind them. \u201cI can\u2019t believe we actually found you here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Drew\u2019s cousin Doug, who was a teacher at the Daughter of Stars Middle School, was carrying his three-year-old son Ryan on his broad shoulders. Standing beside him was his husband Tim. All three of them were grinning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid you think we would miss it?\u201d Drew asked. \u201cI think the only thing bigger this year will be the Snow Queen\u2019s Ball.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTrue.\u201d Tim looked over the crowd. \u201cIt\u2019s funny, but you never realize how many people live in the Cove until you see them at something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho\u2019s next?\u201d Jade\u2019s voice floated out over the crowd. Doug looked at his husband.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure,\u201d Tim said, and the three of them went up to the front. Doug put Ryan on the ground in front of them and then knelt down and whispered in his ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jade smiled at them, and Ryan smiled shyly back at her. \u201cDo you have an ornament for us?\u201d she asked kindly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He nodded. \u201cStar,\u201d he said. \u201cChristmas star.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ornament he held out to her in his chubby mittened hands was all white, and Molly realized it was crocheted thread in the shape of an intricate star. \u201cChristmas star,\u201d Ryan repeated firmly. \u201cFor the tree. Like at home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the grey cleared, Molly and Schrodinger didn\u2019t immediately recognize where they were. It definitely wasn\u2019t the Cove. They were in a small living room, with dark curtains on the windows, and the only light came from the Christmas tree that was in the corner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where do you think we are?<\/em> Schrodinger asked her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo idea,\u201d Molly said, and then the door that they\u2019d barely seen in the gloom opened, and a much younger Doug came through. \u201cDrew? You in here? Mom says dinner\u2019s almost ready.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s when she spotted the boy sitting in a recliner, covered by a knitted blanket, holding something in his hands that he was looking down at. It was hard to see what in the gloom. He was only ten or twelve, she thought. This must be the first Christmas after his parents were killed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, how sad,<\/em> Schrodinger said, his ears going back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDrew?\u201d Past-Doug said again, coming further into the room. \u201cAre you hungry?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Past-Drew shook his head, and his cousin went over to him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWant to talk about it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Past-Drew shook his head again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow about if I just sit here with you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The other boy shrugged, and Past-Doug sat down on the couch. For a few minutes, they sat in silence. Then Molly saw what Past-Drew had been holding: a crocheted star, all in white.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey, you found the star!\u201d Past-Doug smiled happily. \u201cThat\u2019s good luck, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHardly.\u201d The bitterness in Past-Drew\u2019s voice struck Molly. \u201cThere\u2019s no such thing as good luck. There\u2019s just the world, and it doesn\u2019t like you, or me, or anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know it seems like that now,\u201d Past-Doug said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you? Really? Because last time I checked, your parents were still around.\u201d Past-Drew ran his fingers on the star. \u201cAll I have left of them is this. A few stars.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou have us,\u201d Past-Doug said quietly. \u201cYou have the memories of all the days before they were killed. You have the stars that your mom made for all of us. And you know that they\u2019re still watching over you.\u201d He laid his hand on his cousin\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re here, Drew. I\u2019m glad you weren\u2019t with them, and some day, these stars will be something we\u2019ll pass on to our kids. They\u2019ll be the symbol of the love of our family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Molly\u2019s face was wet with tears as she watched Past-Doug take the star from Past-Drew\u2019s hands and then take his cousin into his arms. \u201cI can\u2019t imagine how hard Christmas must have been to him that year,\u201d Molly said. \u201cI can\u2019t imagine Christmas without my mom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll have to, someday,<\/em> Schrodinger said. It\u2019s the way of things. Nothing lasts forever.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n She wiped away the tears and when she looked up again, she was back in the Cove, watching Jade place the star on the tree. Beside her, Drew\u2019s eyes were wet, and she knew he must be remembering those long-ago Christmases. She squeezed his hand, and he smiled sadly at her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI never knew your mom made those,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m glad you put them on our tree.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMe too,\u201d Drew said. \u201cIt\u2019s as if she and Dad are watching us when we decorate the tree.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cI wish you\u2019d gotten the chance to meet them. They would have adored you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMe too,\u201d Molly said. \u201cMe too.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" December 12 – Doug, Tim, and Ryan \u201cLook who\u2019s here!\u201d Drew and Molly turned as a familiar voice came from behind them. \u201cI can\u2019t believe we actually found you here!\u201d Drew\u2019s cousin Doug, who was a teacher at the Daughter of Stars Middle School, was carrying his three-year-old son Ryan on his broad shoulders. Standing …<\/p>\n