December 16<\/p>\n
\u201cYou do realize I haven\u2019t been skating in years, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew laughed as they laced up their skates. \u201cThat\u2019s okay, I haven\u2019t either,\u201d he assured her. \u201cBut I saw the ad in the Covenant, and thought that it would be fun, if you\u2019d join me.\u201d<\/p>\n
They were seated on a log, lacing up rented skates. Carter\u2019s Cove, being on the ocean, had plenty of ice around, but not much of it was good for skating, which was why anyone who wanted to skate went to one of the rivers leading into the cove. There were three, total, but it was the gentle Elizabeth River, named for Captain Carter\u2019s favorite granddaughter, that Drew had brought Molly and Schrodinger to. In a sheltered cove, Indi Sarabian and her husband had brushed the snow from the ice, and built a roaring bonfire on the beach. Logs dragged out from their farm, perched above the river, provided benches, and Indi herself had built a small stand, complete with generator, to provide hot and cold beverages and food for sale. There was no charge to just come and skate, and Indi had skates for rent if someone didn\u2019t have any. Stars glittered overhead, and instead of spotlights, there were masses and masses of Christmas lights strung through the trees. The cove itself was nearly circular, and the ice was smooth as glass.<\/p>\n
Molly looked over at Schrodinger, who was watching them with interest. \u201cI think you\u2019ll stay here on the beach,\u201d she said. \u201cI don\u2019t want you getting cut out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
I think I shall,<\/i> he agreed. Besides, it\u2019s warm next to the bonfire, and there are enough people here to keep me company.<\/i><\/p>\n
That there were. Molly looked around the cove: there were people everywhere, mostly younger people, although her aunt and uncle were already on the ice, skating together like they must have forty years before when they were dating. She smiled, watching them. It was apparent to all how much they loved one another.<\/p>\n
Schrodinger nudged her hand with his head, and when she looked down at him, purred. You\u2019ll find someone like that,<\/i> he said. I know it.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cYou do, huh?\u201d She scratched his head. \u201cI wish I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cComing?\u201d Drew asked her, and she looked up to see him standing in front of her, holding out his hand. He helped her stand, and then they walked slowly through the snow to the edge of the river.<\/p>\n
Molly took a deep breath and stepped out onto the glassy ice. Her skates slipped a bit, but Drew still had her hand and helped her up. \u201cThanks,\u201d she said, leaning on him a little as her legs tried to remember how to stand on skates. \u201cLike I said, it\u2019s been a few years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll take it slow,\u201d he said, drawing her out farther onto the ice. Despite what he\u2019d said, he didn\u2019t seem to have any rust on his skills at all; skating backwards as he led her out on the ice with nary a wobble of his skates. \u201cIt\u2019s like riding a bike,\u201d he continued, and Molly found he was right. \u201cYou just have to remember how to move.\u201d<\/p>\n
After a few uncertain moments, she felt a little more steady and Drew moved beside her, tucking her hand under his arm. They skated around the cove for a time in silence, enjoying the carols played over Indi\u2019s sound system. Molly caught glimpses of Schrodinger from time to time; he was curled on a cushion Indi\u2019s young son Caleb had brought out for him, accepting caresses from any and all that offered them. He had no shortage of folks willing to sit with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cPenny?\u201d Drew said after their second circuit.<\/p>\n
\u201cNone, really,\u201d Molly admitted. \u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful night, and this is perfect.\u201d She smiled up at him. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, thank you,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m glad you came out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve gone out more this month than I have in the past six,\u201d she admitted. \u201cYou guys are pretty persuasive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood. Gods know we\u2019ve been trying.\u201d Drew looked down at her. \u201cHave you figured out who your secret admirer is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have my suspicions,\u201d she said, grinning. \u201cLuke all but admitted it was one of you three, which I think is cute.\u201d<\/p>\n
He shook his head. \u201cLuke never could keep a secret from a pretty girl.\u201d<\/p>\n
Molly laughed. \u201cYou guys are too much. I don\u2019t know why you all felt the need to go this route, though, whichever one is SA. It\u2019s fun, but isn\u2019t it a lot of work for you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re worth it,\u201d Drew said. \u201cAnd besides\u2026\u201d He hesitated, and Molly wondered why. \u201cBesides, after Tom screwed up so badly last summer\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTom and I had a lot of issues,\u201d Molly said. \u201cNot the least of which was that we didn\u2019t talk about things.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTom doesn\u2019t like to talk much,\u201d Drew agreed. \u201cHe\u2019s much more an action guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d Molly didn\u2019t say more, and a silence filled the air. But it wasn\u2019t an uncomfortable one, just quiet. She realized she liked being with Drew, especially since he didn\u2019t seem to have to talk. She and Tom hadn\u2019t been like that.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour aunt said you bought a dress,\u201d he said finally.<\/p>\n
Molly grimaced. \u201cYou\u2019d think I never bought a dress before, the way she\u2019s carrying on about it. It\u2019s just a dress, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConsidering the Snow Queen\u2019s ball is just that, a formal ball, I doubt it\u2019s just a dress,\u201d Drew said. \u201cAny clues on the color, or do I have to pump your aunt for information?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe hasn\u2019t seen it,\u201d Molly said. \u201cNo one has, actually. I went to Portland for it. And why do you want to know the color?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I can buy you a corsage, silly,\u201d he said, and she actually stopped to look at him. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBuy me a corsage? Seriously?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, seriously.\u201d Drew tugged her along again. \u201cWhy is that so weird?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause the only folks who buy corsages for people are ones who are dating,\u201d Molly said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot true. I used to buy my mother a corsage every Christmas.\u201d Drew sighed. \u201cRight up until the year she died.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d Drew didn\u2019t talk much about his family. Molly bit her lip, and then said, \u201cWhite.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dress is white,\u201d she said softly. \u201cWhite, with pale blue accents.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew looked at her, with her long dark hair blowing back in the wind, and said, \u201cOf course it is. You\u2019re going to outshine the Queen herself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly if I want to die,\u201d Molly scoffed. \u201cNo one outshines her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTrue.\u201d<\/p>\n
They continued to skate, and then Indi\u2019s voice came over the PA system. \u201cLast skate, folks. I need to get these kids to bed. After I play one more song, which is dedicated to Molly, according to the envelope I have up here for her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Molly giggled. \u201cI wondered where my song was.\u201d She cocked her head at Drew. \u201cI wonder how he knew I was going to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAny plans for afterwards?\u201d Drew asked her, ignoring her comment as the first notes came across the ice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI should go home,\u201d Molly admitted. \u201cI still need to frost brownies for tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut baby, it\u2019s cold outside,\u201d he sang to her, following along on the song, and she laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI simply must go,\u201d she sang back at him, and they completed the song together, not caring that the other skaters were watching them.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut baby, it\u2019s cold outside,\u201d he insisted, pulling her close. And while he held her, he whispered, \u201cToo cold to spend it alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could help me frost brownies.\u201d Molly heard the offer fall from her lips as if it was someone else talking.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like that.\u201d <\/p>\n