I’m so sorry, folks! \u00a0I am hoping to be fully caught up by tomorrow!<\/p>\n
In the meantime, here’s the December 10th episode.<\/p>\n
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It was easy to tell when Old Man Winter entered CrossWinds Books. Molly was out in the tea room, refilling Lisa\u2019s (one of her regulars) tea cup and chatting about Lisa\u2019s upcoming book release when the front door opened and an icy wind blew through. The busy hum in the bookstore stopped abruptly.<\/p>\n
Molly finished topping Lisa\u2019s cup off, smiled down at the woman, and then moved to the front of the room, where a tall man dressed in an array of furs and scowls stood waiting.<\/p>\n
\u201cWelcome to CrossWinds Books,\u201d she said, smiling up at him as if he were a regular customer and not Old Man Winter, refusing to be intimidated by him, even as her stomach knotted. This was who was holding Drew captive, who had kidnapped him. He was impressive enough in his wild man of the woods outfit, never mind the cold aura of winter wrapped around him, but she refused to let him rattle her. \u201cYou look cold. Come on back into the kitchen – it\u2019s warmer there, and we can talk.\u201d And she turned and walked back to the kitchen, not bothering to see if he would follow.<\/p>\n
There was a chance that he wouldn\u2019t, of course, but Molly was betting he would. Schrodinger had told her that Old Man Winter had been faintly confused when he\u2019d delivered her invitation. Faintly confused, and curious. That meant he didn\u2019t know what she\u2019d do next. Which gave her an edge; a faint one, but she\u2019d take it.<\/p>\n
As she pushed open the kitchen door, well aware of everyone\u2019s eyes upon her, heavy footsteps echoed behind her. Molly suppressed a triumphant smile. That\u2019s it,<\/em> she thought. Follow me. You know you want to know what the heck is going on.<\/em> She refilled the kettle in her hand and put it back on the stove to boil again, then turned around to her reluctant guest. \u201cPlease, sit down. What kind of tea would you like?\u201d<\/p>\n Old Man Winter stared at her. \u201cAre you serious?\u201d he asked finally, his voice rough and gravelly. He sounded like he\u2019d spent a century gargling rock salt and broken glass.<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Molly replied, as Schrodinger came in and jumped up onto his customary stool. She put his mug in front of him and looked back at Old Man Winter. \u201cIf you don\u2019t like tea, I have hot chocolate, cider, or chai as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo coffee?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n Molly drew herself up, offended. \u201cNo. This is a TEA shop. If you want coffee, we can go to the diner and talk. It won\u2019t be as private as here, but it\u2019s up to you.\u201d<\/p>\n They locked gazes, and surprisingly, it was Old Man Winter who looked away first. He sat down heavily next to Schrodinger and looked at the Cat. \u201cWhat are you having?\u201d<\/p>\n Earl Grey, hot,<\/em> Schrodinger replied. Just like Captain Picard.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d Old Man Winter said.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t get him started, or you\u2019ll be here all day,\u201d Molly said hastily, cutting Schrodinger off. \u201cHe\u2019s Schrodinger\u2019s hero.\u201d<\/p>\n Old Man Winter stared at the Cat, and then his gaze slid back to Molly. \u201cSomething black, please.\u201d The please sounded like it might have hurt him.<\/p>\n \u201cComing right up.\u201d Molly went into the pantry and returned with a large mug and three tea bags: Schrodinger\u2019s Earl Grey, and two of her special Christmas tea bags. After she\u2019d poured hot water into the mugs, she set a tray of cookies and scones that she\u2019d prepared especially for him in the middle of the island. \u201cMilk? Sugar?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot in tea,\u201d he replied, and she mentally gave him points for that. Molly preferred her tea black as well. \u201cNow, what did you want to talk about?\u201d<\/p>\n Molly sat down across from him and gathered her courage. \u201cI want to talk about the deal you made with the Snow Queen. To save the Cove.\u201d<\/p>\n Old Man Winter grunted. \u201cWhat about it?\u201d<\/p>\n So that\u2019s the way this is going to go?<\/em> Molly\u2019s eyes hardened. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s fair at all that you can condemn a place to death without even coming into town to see the people you\u2019re going to destroy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d he asked, picking up his mug and sipping. Apparently he liked the tea, because he took a long drink of it. \u201cI won\u2019t kill anyone. Just destroy the Gate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust.\u201d Molly jumped on the word. \u201cDo you know how many people come to the Cove through that Gate? If you destroy it, you\u2019ll destroy the heart and soul of this town, which will kill it. Completely. And you don\u2019t even know anything about us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know humans are destructive beasts,\u201d Old Man Winter countered. \u201cAsk your feline friend about the dragon he met last night. She nearly died because of humans.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019d condemn the entire race for a few?\u201d Molly said, heat rising in her cheeks. \u201cHe also told me that Drew helped save her! She said so!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I dragged him along.\u201d<\/p>\n Because you couldn\u2019t touch the iron trap,<\/em> Schrodinger corrected him. You needed him.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSemantics,\u201d Old Man Winter said, but Molly heard the change in his voice. A chuckle? Maybe. If it was, it was buried pretty deep. \u201cI have no need to come to the Cove.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, you do.\u201d Molly leaned over the table to make her next point. \u201cSo I\u2019ve got a deal for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Old Man Winter looked at her. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome with me to a few things around the Cove before Christmas,\u201d Molly said. \u201cLet me show you this town you\u2019re so bent on teaching a lesson. After all, if we\u2019re as bad as all that, this should only stiffen your resolve. What\u2019s the harm?\u201d<\/p>\n They stared at each other again for a long, long moment, and Molly saw the wheels turning in his head. Would he go for it? Or would he get up and leave?<\/p>\n He finally looked down at the tray in between them. \u201cWhat are these?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSugar cookies, peppermint candy cane cookies, and orange cranberry scones,\u201d Molly said. \u201cPlease, have some.\u201d<\/p>\n Old Man Winter picked up a scone and bit into it. Molly watched his face soften for just a moment as the sweet, citrusy pastry melted in his mouth. Just a moment, but when he looked up again, the scowl wasn\u2019t quite so harsh. \u201cGood,\u201d he grunted grudgingly.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll send you home with some.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBoy didn\u2019t mention you were a kitchen witch,\u201d he said, after he finished the scone.<\/p>\n \u201cHe doesn\u2019t know you\u2019re coming,\u201d Molly said.<\/p>\n \u201cSure he does. Someone told him the other day.\u201d Old Man Winter took a brightly-frosted sugar cookie and bit into it. Molly had spiked the sugar cookies with lemon rind and thyme, and the scowl fractured a bit more. Two more cookies, and he might actually smile,<\/em> she thought.<\/p>\n \u201cDo we have a deal?\u201d she asked out loud, ignoring the comment about Drew. She had a pretty good idea who\u2019d told him, but it didn\u2019t really matter.<\/p>\n He took a drink of tea before he finally nodded. \u201cYes, we have a deal, little witch. I\u2019ll come around with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u201d Molly smiled brightly at him. \u201cThen meet me back here tomorrow at 6 pm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d He looked warily at her.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause we\u2019re going to the ballet.\u201d<\/p>\n <><><\/p>\n Molly and Schrodinger cleaned up quickly that night. She was exhausted, not just from the strain of meeting Old Man Winter (who had actually thanked her for the tea and cookies, and seemed pleased with the box of pastries she\u2019d pressed upon him), but from the interrogation from Aunt Margie afterward.<\/p>\n The front door had barely closed behind Old Man Winter when Aunt Margie had come barreling into the kitchen, demanding \u201cWhat just happened? Why was he here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was here because I invited him,\u201d Molly replied, putting a fresh cup of tea in front of her aunt and refilling the tray of cookies. Old Man Winter had quite the sweet tooth, it turned out. \u201cWe had a very civilized conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout?\u201d<\/p>\n Molly had been debating how much she was going to actually tell her aunt ever since Schrodinger had come back and said Old Man Winter would meet with her. She could try and lie, but no one had ever successfully lied to Aunt Margie for any length of time. Besides, she\u2019d probably be listening at the door again.<\/em><\/p>\n So Molly didn\u2019t even try. She explained the entire situation to her aunt, including the fact that the news was not for public consumption. \u201cBecause really, no one needs to know that this guy might blow up our Gate,\u201d she said, and Aunt Margie had agreed. However, after both conversations, Molly was looking forward to a nice quiet night at home with a book and a bottle of wine.<\/p>\n She and Schrodinger went out the front door after calling goodbyes to Aunt Margie (who was staying late to catch up on some bookkeeping). Molly blessed the forethought that had made her pack both her gloves and her thick wool mittens; the temperature had dropped rapidly once the sun went down, and there was a bitter bite to the air. She wrapped the scarf her mother had knit her around her face and turned to head down the street.<\/p>\n Are you sure you\u2019re warm enough?<\/em> Molly thought at Schrodinger. It was too cold to actually talk.<\/p>\n Yes.<\/em> He was wearing the coat she\u2019d bought him for Christmas last year, but he\u2019d steadfastly refused to let her put boots on him. Schrodinger started to say something else, but paused, one foot lifted. Do you hear that?<\/em><\/p>\n Molly stopped and listened hard. Bells?<\/em><\/p>\n Those aren\u2019t St. Michael\u2019s bells,<\/em> Schrodinger said.<\/p>\n No, they\u2019re sleigh bells!<\/em> Molly looked around. The roads were icy enough that Doc Robbins\u2019 sleigh had no problems coming down the lane towards them. Except it wasn\u2019t Doc\u2019s sleigh.<\/p>\n This sleigh was drawn by two elegant black horses, decked in silver and black barding, and the young man who drove it was bundled up more than either of them. Pavel grinned down at them from the back where he was snuggled under a massive amount of fur and blankets. \u201cCan I interest you in a ride?\u201d<\/p>\n Molly and Schrodinger willingly climbed aboard and snuggled down with him. \u201cDid Drew send you?\u201d Molly asked, pulling her scarf down. Down in the back of the sleigh, protected from the wind by the high sides of the sleigh, it was a little warmer.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d Pavel replied. \u201cHe would have come himself, but, well\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wonder what I can get Jade to do for us to make up for this,\u201d Molly mused, and Pavel laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said. \u201cI think you managed to give her quite a start today!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good for her.\u201d<\/p>\n Pavel laughed again, and then shouted something to the driver in a language that Molly didn\u2019t recognize. The horses leapt forward.<\/p>\n For the next hour, Pavel took Molly and Schrodinger on a tour of the entire town, looking at the Christmas lights and decorations that twinkled in the clear night air. Despite herself, Molly had to admit it was fun.<\/p>\n When he dropped them off in front of their building, Pavel pressed a package into Molly\u2019s hand, and murmured softly, \u201cJust be careful, Molly. Old Man Winter is not to be trifled with.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly pulled her mitten off and carefully extracted the ornament from the box. Looking at the gold and silver beads caught around the glass ball, she said, \u201cNeither am I.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I’m so sorry, folks! \u00a0I am hoping to be fully caught up by tomorrow! In the meantime, here’s the December 10th episode. <><><><><><><><><><><> It was easy to tell when Old Man Winter entered CrossWinds Books. Molly was out in the tea room, refilling Lisa\u2019s (one of her regulars) tea cup and chatting about Lisa\u2019s upcoming …<\/p>\n