December 22<\/p>\n
\u201cSchrodinger, hurry up! We want to start!\u201d Sarah called from the tea room, and Molly laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo!\u201d she said, shooing the CrossCat off his stool. \u201cI\u2019ll finish these \u2013 it sounds like they\u2019re just waiting for you. And you\u2019ve been waiting for this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schrodinger didn\u2019t need much encouragement. He hopped down and shot out of the room like he\u2019d been stung by something. Molly laughed again and turned her attention back to the tea cakes cooling on the rack behind her. She and Schrodinger had been trying to decide how to decorate them, and she still wasn\u2019t sure.<\/p>\n
She\u2019d adapted her gingerbread recipe, making it into fluffy cupcake-sized tea cakes, a little spicier and less sweet than normal cupcakes. Now, she chewed on her lower lip as she pondered options. Frost them with a cream cheese frosting? Dust with powdered or cinnamon sugar? Stud with candied orange and lemon and cherries? Decisions, decisions\u2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you expecting them to do something?\u201d Drew said from behind her. \u201cLike talk, or do tricks? Because if that\u2019s the case, I\u2019m not sure I want to eat them, and they look really tasty.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope not,\u201d Molly said, turning around and grinning. \u201cBecause then I think I\u2019d be violating a bunch of international laws. Isn\u2019t there something about not selling sentient beings?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve made sentient cupcakes?\u201d he asked, coming around the island and pulling her into his arms. \u201cI\u2019ve fallen in love with a goddess!\u201d<\/p>\n
She laughed. \u201cHardly. Just a kitchen witch.\u201d His words made her glow within. \u201cI\u2019m trying to decide how to decorate them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew dropped a light kiss on her upturned lips. \u201cWhat flavor?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGingerbread.\u201d Molly wanted to just melt into his arms, but she knew she had work to do and, sighing, extricated herself. \u201cI\u2019m torn between dusting with cinnamon sugar and frosting with cream cheese.\u201d<\/p>\n
He frowned at the cupcakes. \u201cI dunno, the cream cheese frosting sounds good, but a bit heavy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what I was thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about the icing that you did on the gingerbread men?\u201d he suggested, and Molly blinked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hadn\u2019t even considered that,\u201d she said, tilting her head to one side as she thought. \u201cThat could work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moving almost on auto-pilot, she went into the pantry, leaving him to watch her. \u201cWould you like some tea?\u201d she called out, almost as an afterthought. \u201cThe kettle\u2019s hot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I don\u2019t have much time today, sadly,\u201d Drew said, and Molly stuck her head back out, raising an eyebrow at him. \u201cI\u2019m heading out for a few days \u2013 gotta go fix a Gate near Caledon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Friday\u2019s Christmas Eve!\u201d she said. \u201cI was hoping\u2026\u201d And then she bit her lip and stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, hey, hey, don\u2019t look like that.\u201d Drew came into the pantry and slipped his arms around her. \u201cYou spend Christmas Eve with your family, right? Do you think they\u2019d mind me crashing there?\u201d<\/p>\n
Since she\u2019d already checked with her mother, Molly could shake her head. \u201cOf course not. They already invited you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d He kissed her on the top of her head. \u201cThen I\u2019ll head out now, and I\u2019ll see you Christmas Eve.\u201d<\/p>\n
Molly gave him a sideways look. \u201cHaving left tomorrow\u2019s SA gift with one of your co-conspirators?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about,\u201d Drew said innocently, but there was a sparkle in his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cSure you don\u2019t,\u201d Molly said, her lips twitching into a smile against her will. Then she sighed. \u201cBe careful?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI will. It should be a fast fix. Some idiot got it stuck in the open position, and they\u2019ve been having issues with the Middenfolk, so it needs to be closed.\u201d He kissed her gently again. \u201cI promise, I\u2019ll be back on Christmas Eve.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d better.\u201d Molly gave in and hugged him fiercely. \u201cWe\u2019ll both be looking for you. Be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI will. And maybe I\u2019ll find something for your Christmas present there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re the only Christmas present I want,\u201d she said, and hugged him again.<\/p>\n
One more kiss, and he was gone. Molly stood in the pantry and watched him go, then noticed the package on the table. On top of it was the familiar red envelope.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my favorite Christmas movie ever, Molly. I hope you and Schrodinger enjoy it. SA\u201d<\/p>\n