{"id":2162,"date":"2022-12-18T12:35:21","date_gmt":"2022-12-18T17:35:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=2162"},"modified":"2022-12-18T12:35:22","modified_gmt":"2022-12-18T17:35:22","slug":"december-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=2162","title":{"rendered":"December 3"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

December 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre we ready?\u201d Molly asked, surveying the table in front of her. Around her, the barely-contained chaos of the annual Carter\u2019s Cove Craft Fair swirled and buzzed as craftspeople set up their own tables, laden with the fruits of their labor. This year, she\u2019d managed to snag tables next to Kiaya Fable, who was doing her first fair as the owner of The Home For Wayward Crafts, which was (as she said) \u201ca thrift store for artists, crafters, and people who like crafty stuff.\u201d It was an amazing place, and Molly loved to browse in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReady for this? You might be, but I think I\u2019m more ready to crawl back into bed,\u201d Kiaya said, shaking her head. \u201cWhy did I think this was a good idea again?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause it is,\u201d Molly told her, going around to the back of her own tables and opening the cooler she\u2019d brought with her. She poured Kiaya a mug of steaming black tea, and then poured another for herself. \u201cTrust me, once the customers start coming in, you\u2019ll be fine. Besides, our help should be here soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As if her words had conjured them, the four children rushed through the bustling people, along with Schrodinger and with Donna Allard bringing up the rear. \u201cMolly, Molly, guess who we found!\u201d Lily shouted, pulling along the familiar figure of Cookie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMiss Molly!\u201d Cookie pulled off his knitted cap and bowed, his curls bouncing around his face. \u201cAnd Miss Kiaya! How good to see you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cookie manned the galley on board the Heart\u2019s Desire<\/em>, and his cooking was a bit of a legend around the Cove. He and Molly had been trading recipes since she\u2019d first met the pirate crew, and she always looked forward to when the ship came into port. Now, she grinned at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLooks like you\u2019ve been captured by enemy forces, Cookie,\u201d she said. \u201cIs there a ransom demand I should bring to your captain?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI came willingly,\u201d he admitted, grinning back at her. \u201cHe\u2019ll have to find someone else to make his morning tea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, he\u2019ll love that,\u201d Kiaya said. Her nervousness seemed to have evaporated when the genial pirate chef came up. \u201cMolly, you can be the one to tell him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh no, I\u2019ll let the children do it,\u201d Molly said. \u201cThey\u2019re less likely to be harmed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schrodinger snorted. As if Pavel would harm any of you, <\/em>he said dryly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donna came around to the back of the table and dropped her coat on one of the chairs. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, we had a bit of a delay. My sister called, and I couldn\u2019t not take it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo worries,\u201d Molly told her, and then looked at the kids and Schrodinger. \u201cYou all ready to work?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes\u2019m!\u201d they all chorused, eyes bright. Lily added, \u201cWhat are we doing today, Molly?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTaste testing, of course!\u201d Molly brought out the specially made trays that she\u2019d had commissioned a few years earlier. Gideon and Kaylee took one, and Lily and Zoey took the other. Once they had them set around their necks, Molly piled them high with pieces of gingerbread, sugar cookies, and peppermint stick cookies. Then she looked at them. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go take a look around before the bell rings? I\u2019m sure some of the other crafters would love a cookie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The kids, with Schrodinger once again in tow, took off, and Cookie took advantage of the relative calm to look at Molly. \u201cAny news?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot yet,\u201d she said, sighing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shook his head. \u201cAll in good time.\u201d Then he brightened. \u201cOh, I found something for you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Out of his pocket he pulled a small box. Molly opened it and breathed in the smell of rich cardamom and cloves. \u201cThis is lovely!\u201d she said. \u201cWhere did you find it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe stopped at a bakery, and the lady there made her own chai,\u201d he said. \u201cI thought you\u2019d like it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Molly carefully closed the small box up and stowed it carefully in the cooler. \u201cI\u2019ve never made my own chai,\u201d she admitted. \u201cI might have to try it with those.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cookie nodded, and said, \u201cWell, since I managed to sneak in early, I\u2019m going to look around before the bell rings. I\u2019ll be back for my gingerbread order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As if on cue, the bells overhead rang out, and Molly, Kiaya, and Donna were soon swamped with customers eager to order cookies, buy craft supplies, and in general look around. The pile of mystery boxes of cookies was swiftly demolished, and Molly was glad she\u2019d thought to pack enough to refill the display several times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During one of the rare lulls, she got a chance to talk to Donna, who was trying very hard to keep the worry from her eyes. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d Molly asked her quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donna sighed. \u201cI\u2019m trying. I just – this year is hard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause your family is coming?\u201d Molly handed her a cup of tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause my family is broken,\u201d Donna said, almost without thinking. Then she sighed again. \u201cIt\u2019s nothing. We\u2019ll figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Molly laid a hand on her arm. \u201cAnd we\u2019ll help. That\u2019s what friends are for. Don\u2019t forget that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

December 3 \u201cAre we ready?\u201d Molly asked, surveying the table in front of her. Around her, the barely-contained chaos of the annual Carter\u2019s Cove Craft Fair swirled and buzzed as craftspeople set up their own tables, laden with the fruits of their labor. This year, she\u2019d managed to snag tables next to Kiaya Fable, who …<\/p>\n

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