December 24<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry, Molly, he\u2019ll be here.<\/i><\/p>\n
Molly smiled down at Schrodinger, who was standing next to her as she looked out the window. He had one paw on her leg, and his whole body radiated concern. \u201cI know,\u201d she said, letting the curtain drop. \u201cI was actually looking out for Zette \u2013 I wanted to make sure I caught her when she delivers the mail, so I can give her the cookies we baked for her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oh. Good. I didn\u2019t want you to worry.<\/i> Schrodinger dropped back down and began to wash his paw.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not.\u201d And she almost believed it. There was a little knot, in the center of her stomach, but she was determined to ignore it. The farmhouse her parents owned was bright and welcoming, warm with the scents of vanilla, cinnamon and pine, all mixed together with the smoke from the fire in the living room fireplace. There would be a buffet spread later, full of all sorts of goodies that she and her sister-in-law and mother had made over the last twenty-four hours, and bottles of her brother\u2019s crisp hard cider. Lily and Jack and Schrodinger were already planning how early they were going to get up the next morning, and Molly looked forward to hearing her father say, as he\u2019d said to her and Nathan every year when they were younger, \u201cGo back to bed, it\u2019s not 6 am yet!\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked outside again as she heard something scrape outside, and this time, she saw the mail carrier heading up the front walk. Molly took the brightly-wrapped package from the table next to her, shrugged into her coat, and opened the front door.<\/p>\n
\u201cMerry Christmas, Zette!\u201d she said, when the mail carrier mounted the front steps. Her parents had a huge wraparound porch, and this year, it was decorated with snowmen and Christmas greenery.<\/p>\n
\u201cMerry Christmas, Molly!\u201d Zette said, smiling up at her. \u201cHave the kids driven you guys nuts yet?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re working on it,\u201d Molly admitted, offering the package to her. \u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019ve put Lily and Schrodinger in this many timeouts in a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zette\u2019s smiled broadened into a grin as she accepted the package. \u201cI think I know what Santa gets in our house tonight, and thank you! Here, this is for you guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid the letter come?\u201d Molly asked, flipping through the envelopes eagerly.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d Zette said. \u201cDid you think we would forget?\u201d<\/p>\n
Molly squealed as she found the envelope she was looking for. \u201cThanks, Zette, you\u2019re the best! Have a good Christmas!\u201d She gave the mail carrier a quick hug, and then ran inside. \u201cLily! Jack! Schrodinger! You have mail!\u201d<\/p>\n
The three came tumbling around a corner, all ribbons and ponytails and velvet. \u201cWhat? Who sent us something?\u201d Lily demanded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know! But it has your names on it!\u201d Molly shed her coat. \u201cCome on into the living room and we\u2019ll read it.\u201d<\/p>\n
They ended up snuggled on the sectional, Lily in her lap and Jack and Schrodinger on either side. The large living room was dominated on one side by the large fieldstone fireplace, flanked by built-in bookcases. The other end held the large Christmas tree, surrounded by a literal wall of presents. The sectional hugged one edge of the wall and then curved around towards the fireplace. The tree, decorated with the ornaments Molly\u2019s parents had collected over the years, glowed with multicolored lights. The angel that smiled down from the top of the tree had been made by Molly\u2019s mother when Molly was only Lily\u2019s age.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho sent them, Aunt Molly? Who sent us stuff?\u201d Lily asked, looking at the envelopes in her hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cOpen it and find out,\u201d Molly said. Lily took the envelope and opened it carefully, the tip of her tongue peeking out of the corner of her mouth. She pulled out the letter and handed it to Molly.<\/p>\n
\u201cDear Lily, Jack and Schrodinger,\u201d Molly read. \u201cThank you so much for your letters! Mrs. Claus and I read them carefully, and then we looked to see how good you\u2019ve been. You\u2019ve been doing very well, but don\u2019t forget to be good tonight too! I have to finish packing my sleigh soon, but I wanted to make sure that I responded to you. Be good, and don\u2019t forget to leave me some of your Aunt Molly\u2019s cookies \u2013 they\u2019re so good! Oh, Rudolph asks that you leave him and the other reindeer some carrots too. Can you do that? Thank you, and Merry Christmas! Love, Santa\u201d<\/p>\n
Lily laughed and clapped her hands. \u201cSanta did get our letters! He wrote us back! That\u2019s so cool!\u201d She hopped off Molly\u2019s lap. \u201cCome on, guys, we have to go find carrots!\u201d<\/p>\n
All three of them tore off towards the kitchen, while Molly laughed. They nearly ran over Nathan as he was coming into the room; he had to twist out of the way to avoid being crashed into. \u201cI take it the letter was a success?\u201d he said, coming in and handing her a glass. <\/p>\n
\u201cCompletely,\u201d Molly said, taking a sip. Cider bubbled on her tongue. \u201cOh, this is lovely.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan was about to answer when they both heard boots, heavy boots, on the porch. Molly\u2019s heart leapt. Was it him? She held her breath as her brother went to answer the door, and when she heard Luke\u2019s voice, she couldn\u2019t help the brief spurt of disappointment that rushed through her. Not Drew.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on in and have a cup,\u201d Nathan was saying, and Molly got up to greet the Gate tech. \u201cI\u2019ve got a fresh batch of cider.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t refuse that,\u201d Luke said, giving his shy smile. \u201cHi, Molly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, Luke,\u201d she said, and then couldn\u2019t help herself. \u201cDrew back yet?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot yet,\u201d he said, and then smiled at her again. \u201cWe\u2019re not expecting him until late \u2013 he said there was a lot of snow on the Roads. Not surprising, really.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not really,\u201d Molly agreed, kicking herself. Of course there was snow on the Roads. It was Christmas Eve, after all.<\/p>\n
Luke handed her a red envelope. \u201cI was asked to bring this to you, and since that meant I got to see you, well, it wasn\u2019t a hard request.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAsked, huh?\u201d Molly arched an eyebrow but accepted the envelope. \u201cBy Drew?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, actually,\u201d Luke said. \u201cTom was supposed to bring this one, but he asked me to do it instead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Molly\u2019s other eyebrow rose. \u201cWhy? Afraid I might say something to him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I think he\u2019s just not ready to admit that he\u2019s lost you.\u201d Luke touched her cheek gently. \u201cI can\u2019t blame him. I\u2019m just a better loser than he is.\u201d<\/p>\n
And then he and Nathan went off, leaving her there, holding her envelope and staring after them, her eyes wide.<\/p>\n