December 20 <\/p>\n
Molly looked out over the packed tea room and sighed. Not surprisingly, the bookstore had been rocking all day; it was only 5 days until Christmas, and no one was immune to the last minute Christmas panic. Molly herself still had a few things to buy, but figured she\u2019d hit the stores on Tuesday. She needed to finish filling Schrodinger\u2019s stocking, and she wanted to get something special for SA. Especially since she was pretty damn sure she now knew who he was.<\/p>\n
Behind her, the oven timer dinged. Normally, Molly didn\u2019t even bother with the timer, but her senses were a bit overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of people surging in and out of her domain. Now, she turned to the oven and pulled out yet another tray of gingerbread men to add to the army marching around the kitchen. One more tray was waiting to go in; she put them in the oven, reset the timer, and then went into the pantry for icing supplies.<\/p>\n
When she came out, Tom was waiting in the kitchen for her. Molly had heard the footsteps and her heart had swelled a bit; when she saw who it was, she couldn\u2019t help but feel a little spurt of disappointment. Then reminded herself that Drew had to work, after all. She couldn\u2019t expect him to dance attendance on her all the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi,\u201d she said, smiling. \u201cHow\u2019s it going?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d Tom looked a bit ill at ease, and Molly\u2019s smile slipped. \u201cMolly, can we talk?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are talking,\u201d she said, putting the supplies down on the island and moving to the sink. \u201cWhat\u2019s on your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n
He hesitated, watching her draw a glass of water, then said, \u201cI want to talk to you about us. And about your secret admirer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re friends,\u201d Molly said, coming back over to the island and setting the water down. She poured powdered sugar and meringue powder into the bowl, then began adding water and beating it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want us to be more than friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
She sighed, not stopping. \u201cI\u2019m not sure that\u2019s possible anymore, Tom. You\u2019re not going to change, and I can\u2019t live with your weird silences. You lost your chance to let me in.\u201d Molly didn\u2019t look at him. \u201cI\u2019m happy with being friends. I like you. I even love you, but I\u2019m realizing that it\u2019s like a sister loves a brother. Not like a girlfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd there\u2019s nothing I can do to change that?\u201d Tom\u2019s voice was strained, a little desperate.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d Molly finally looked up at him. \u201cYou had your chance, Tom. I\u2019m sorry. I can\u2019t go through that again.\u201d She picked up the red food coloring and dripped six drops into the frosting. \u201cPlease don\u2019t ask me to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know that Drew will be gone, just like I was.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I do.\u201d She stopped and stared steadily at him. Not angry, she realized; there was no anger left in her. \u201cBut I don\u2019t think Drew will vanish when he\u2019s NOT being sent out to fix a Gate or find a traveler and think I won\u2019t figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tom had the decency to flush at that. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t what you were thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow could I know that, Tom? You never told me anything. And then that girl called. And you wouldn\u2019t talk about it. What was I supposed to think?\u201d Molly took a second bowl and began again, making green icing. \u201cBut it doesn\u2019t matter now, whoever she is. I don\u2019t really care anymore. I\u2019m just not going to let you into our lives like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if I can be just friends, Molly.\u201d Tom began walking up and down behind the island.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, then. I\u2019ll miss you.\u201d She mixed up a third bowl of icing and left it white, then she pulled out three pastry bags from the drawer in the island.<\/p>\n
\u201cMolly, please, give me another chance.\u201d Tom put his hand over hers. \u201cPlease.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d She pulled her hand away. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. I can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI agreed to this scheme because I thought it would give me a chance to win you back, Molly. I was hoping for a Christmas miracle.\u201d He stopped then, as she stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgreed to what scheme?\u201d She had a sinking suspicion that she knew what he meant, and it gave an edge to her voice.<\/p>\n
He shook his head, and stuffed his hands in his pockets. \u201cNever mind. It was stupid. Forget I said anything.\u201d Then, before she could say anything else, Tom fled the kitchen.<\/p>\n
Molly watched him go, her mind whirling. It wasn\u2019t too hard to guess what he\u2019d meant by \u201cscheme.\u201d But if he\u2019d been only a part\u2026She shook her head and filled the pastry bags. She\u2019d know everything by Friday.<\/p>\n
Schrodinger came trotting in about thirty minutes later, carrying a red envelope in his mouth. He waited until she laid down the icing bag and then put his front paws on her leg, offering the envelope to her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, well, well. Let\u2019s see what SA sent today.\u201d Molly slipped her finger under the flap and opened the envelope. The CD and scrap of paper came out, along with another ornament. This one was delicate brass, and it shimmered in the light.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, how pretty,\u201d Molly breathed, enchanted in spite of herself. It was a triskelion, and each arm was etched with fancy Celtic knotwork. She laid it down gently on the island and looked at the note.<\/p>\n
\u201cDear Molly, I\u2019m hoping this is a symbol of what we have before us. A love that lasts forever. But even if not, this Christmas season has been a magical one. Thank you. SA\u201d<\/p>\n