December 8<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, Molly, Schrodinger, need a lift?\u201d<\/p>\n
The words, shouted over the roar of the snowmobile that came to a stop in front of her brownstone, sounded like the call of an angel to Molly. She and Schrodinger had been wondering just how they were going to get to the bookstore: the nor\u2019easter that had settled in the night before was still dumping snow on the ground, adding nearly a foot to the already impressive amounts on the sidewalks. Sidewalks which at 6 am hadn\u2019t been plowed, although the roads had. Molly, with no car, had been on the verge of going back inside and calling for a cab when the snowmobile had come up.<\/p>\n
Now, she watched as the rider removed his helmet and gave her a shy smile. Luke Travers was the quietest and also the newest Gate tech in the Cove, another local boy who\u2019d gone for his training and then come back home to work. Really, Drew was the anomaly, but Molly had heard mention that he was an orphan, so maybe that\u2019s why he\u2019d chosen to come to the Cove instead of back to his hometown.<\/p>\n
Schrodinger looked up at her. Can we?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think we have much of a choice,\u201d she said, hefting her cooler and grinning. \u201cDo you have room, Luke?\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded and cut the engine so they could talk without shouting. \u201cOnce we saw it was still snowing, I volunteered to come and get you. Beat Drew and Tom to it by about two minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Molly blushed. \u201cYou guys! You\u2019re awesome. Mal\u2019s going to hate me, though. Stealing away his Gate techs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNah, he doesn\u2019t mind.\u201d Luke climbed off the machine and waded through the snowbanks over to her. \u201cLet me take that. Besides, if we don\u2019t get you to the store, who is going to send tea and cookies over to us? Pure selfishness, I assure you.\u201d He took the cooler and offered her an arm, which she took gladly. \u201cAnd it means I get to ride through downtown with one of the sexiest ladies in the Cove behind me. Talk about street cred.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou guys are getting your brains scrambled down at the Gate center,\u201d Molly told him. \u201cFirst Drew, now you \u2013 seriously, guys, I\u2019m just a cook in a tea shop.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke stopped short and turned to look at her. \u201cYou aren\u2019t \u2018just\u2019 anything, Molly,\u201d he said, and the slight tremor in his voice made her blink. \u201cDon\u2019t let anyone tell you that. You\u2019re very, very important here in the Cove.\u201d Then he grinned his shy grin again. \u201cBesides, you\u2019re not only sexy, but gorgeous and sweet and the best baker in the Cove and surrounding area. There\u2019s no just about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The words, more than she\u2019d heard Luke string together in the past six months, floored her. \u201cReally?\u201d was all she could managed.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally.\u201d Luke jumped down carefully onto the street and then turned. He put his hands on her waist and lifted her down. \u201cThere will be weeping when you finally find someone to steal your heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you\u2019re all insane,\u201d Molly said, climbing onto the snowmobile and watching as he lashed her cooler to the back of the machine. Schrodinger waited until Luke settled on in front of Molly, and then jumped in front of him and crouched low on the sheepskin there. \u201cDon\u2019t you guys have better things to do at the station?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOther things, sure, but they\u2019re not as fun.\u201d He handed her a helmet. \u201cHold on; the roads are slicker than they look. Schrodinger, make sure you\u2019re anchored, buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claws are dug in,<\/i> the CrossCat said. This was a good idea.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cDrew\u2019s,\u201d Luke said, and then there were no more time for speaking, as he cranked the machine up. They sped through the pre-dawn twilight, the snow flying by them, and Molly gloried in the feeling. When Luke pulled up to the store, she was almost sorry the ride was over.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was awesome,\u201d she said, handing him back the helmet after she\u2019d clambered off. \u201cThank you so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo problem.\u201d Luke stowed the helmet and then handed her the cooler. \u201cSay, Molly, I know you and Tom had words\u2026but are you going to the Snow Queen\u2019s dance?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d she said, after a few moments when the snow falling between the two of them was the only sound on the street. \u201cIt\u2019s a work night\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s also a day that every business in the Cove closes early,\u201d Luke said. \u201cNot an excuse.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see,\u201d Molly said. \u201cIf I do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you do, save me a dance?\u201d<\/p>\n
She nodded, unable to vocalize anything else, and he grinned. \u201cI\u2019ll be back later for our cookies. Anything good today?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWalnut Rum balls,\u201d she said, and he rumbled approvingly. \u201cWe just got in some lovely new spice teas, so I thought it would go well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood choice,\u201d he said. And then he was gone, zooming up the street, leaving her standing amid the falling snow and wondering just what had gone into the water lately to have all the guys she\u2019d thought she\u2019d known turn into strangers.<\/p>\n
I like him,<\/i> Schrodinger announced, bringing her back to herself. Can we keep him?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe,\u201d she said. It would certainly be a different relationship from Tom. Molly shook herself and turned up towards the store. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to see\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice trailed off. There, peeking out from the holly leaves, was another red envelope.<\/p>\n
She opened it, after she warmed up in the store, a steaming cup of the new tea next to her elbow. This time, the CD was surrounded by tiny glittery snowflakes that Schrodinger immediately attacked. For a few moments, Molly sat and laughed as he chased them madly around the kitchen, enjoying his antics. Then she looked at the scrap of paper that had come out.<\/p>\n
It said, simply, \u201cYou look lovely in the snow. SA.\u201d<\/p>\n
And, of course, SA sent her this song. I\u2019m in love with this version too.<\/a><\/p>\n