Molly smoothed the front of her dress and picked up her evening bag. Turning to Schrodinger, she said, \u201cWell, what do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n
I think you look beautiful<\/em>, Schrodinger said. Drew won\u2019t be able to keep his eyes off you.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIf he\u2019s there, you mean.\u201d But she smiled and turned back to the mirror one last time. Unlike last year, this year she\u2019d chosen a slim sheath dress of dark blue that ended just above her knees, and dark blue shoes. The dress curved up over one shoulder, and left the other one bare. Drew\u2019s snowflakes hung from her ears and nestled between her breasts, glittering in the lights of the mini Christmas tree on the table. She and the Trio had gone out that morning to have their hair and nails done; the result was a sleek up-do that left a fall of curls trailing down the left side of her neck. \u201cI hope he is.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a beep from the street; Molly leaned over and peeked out the window. Lai\u2019s Range Rover was parked out in front of the building. \u201cThey\u2019re here!\u201d she said, dropping the curtain. \u201cAre you ready?\u201d<\/p>\n Yes. Don\u2019t forget your coat.<\/em> Schrodinger swiped a paw across his whiskers and jumped down. Molly had to admit he looked very dapper in his bow tie.<\/p>\n \u201cHardly. This dress is pretty but not very warm.\u201d Molly went over to the closet. \u201cLuckily, Aunt Margie let me borrow her mink.\u201d<\/p>\n The full-length fur coat fitted her perfectly, just like her aunt had promised. Feeling a bit like an old-time movie star, Molly hurried down the stairs, Schrodinger on her heels.<\/p>\n \u201cWow, you look fabulous!\u201d Lai said, as they slid into the car. \u201cWhere did you get that coat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Aunt Margie\u2019s, and if I get anything on it, I\u2019ll be killed,\u201d Molly said, clicking her seatbelt in place.<\/p>\n \u201cDarn.\u201d Lai chuckled. \u201cAh well.\u201d She looked in the rear-view mirror. \u201cYou all set back there?\u201d<\/p>\n Ready to go!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThen we\u2019re off!\u201d Lai threw the Rover into gear and they headed out to the snow.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t hard to find. There was a line of cars headed out to the Snow Queen\u2019s Ball – Lai fell in behind a large limo. \u201cYou ready for this?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d Molly flipped down the mirror and checked her makeup one last time. \u201cDo you really think he\u2019s going to ask her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the rumor. And I heard he\u2019s going to ask the Snow Queen\u2019s blessing, too.\u201d Lai stepped on the gas as the line moved up a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cThat will be awesome.\u201d Molly flipped the mirror back up.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be even more awesome if she lets Drew show up.\u201d Lai glanced over at her. \u201cAny news?\u201d<\/p>\n Molly shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, hopefully she lets him come.\u201d<\/p>\n They didn\u2019t talk more until they got to the clearing. Lai parked the car and they stepped into the night snow.<\/p>\n Schrodinger jumped down, and then stiffened. Do you smell that?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSmell what?\u201d Molly sniffed the air.<\/p>\n It\u2019s snow.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s winter,\u201d Lai said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s been snowing off and on for the last two days.\u201d<\/p>\n Not like this,<\/em> Schrodinger said. He looked up at Molly. This smells like him.<\/em><\/p>\n Him. \u201cOld Man Winter?\u201d<\/p>\n Yes.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThen let\u2019s go!\u201d Molly hurried towards the clearing, both Schrodinger and Lai hot on her heels.<\/p>\n They dropped their coats off with the valet and then entered the clearing. As always, it was like entering a fantasy winter world, one where snow fell but the temperature was that of a warm spring day. Molly looked around, hoping to spot either Drew or Old Man Winter.<\/p>\n She didn\u2019t see either of them, but she did spot the Snow Queen, sitting on her throne and watching the dancers. There was already music playing, and people were out on the dance floor.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you find him?\u201d she asked Schrodinger.<\/p>\n If I can\u2019t, I\u2019ll turn in my nose<\/em>. He was off before he finished the sentence.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on.\u201d Lai took Molly\u2019s arm. \u201cLet\u2019s go find Noemi and Sue.\u201d<\/p>\n <><><\/p>\n \u201cCome on, boy! I swear, you take longer than a woman to get ready!\u201d<\/p>\n Drew rolled his eyes and finished tying his tie. \u201cI\u2019m almost ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe ball will be over before we even get there!\u201d Old Man Winter snapped.<\/p>\n \u201cHardly.\u201d Drew ran his hands through his hair once more, and then grabbed his bag. Funny how little he actually had with him. \u201cAll right,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout time,\u201d Old Man Winter grumbled.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, I haven\u2019t seen Molly in a month!\u201d Drew said. \u201cYou can\u2019t blame me for wanting to look good. Besides,\u201d and he gave the old man a look, \u201cI see you took some pains in how you look too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it didn\u2019t take me three hours.\u201d Old Man Winter took a hold of Drew\u2019s arm. \u201cHold on.\u201d<\/p>\n Snow swirled around them, blinding Drew momentarily. When he was able to see again, he realized two things.<\/p>\n One was that he was warm again. Almost too warm.<\/p>\n The second was that he was surrounded by people.<\/p>\n The music faltered and died as he straightened up. Everyone had taken a few steps back, probably unnerved by Old Man Winter\u2019s entrance. Drew shook the last few flakes of snow from his head, and then he saw her.<\/p>\n Molly and Lai stood together, both looking at him, eyes wide and mouths open. The dark blue satin dress hugged every curve, and the blue heels added inches to her height. She looked sleek, sophisticated, and utterly perfect. He dropped his bag and pushed through the crowd to her.<\/p>\n Folks melted out of the way: all Drew could see was Molly, standing in a pool of white light, snowflakes sparkling on her ears and around her neck. Then she was in his arms, and her lips met his.<\/p>\n \u201cYou made it,\u201d she whispered, her eyes bright, once the kiss broke.<\/p>\n \u201cI promised I would,\u201d he said, and kissed her again.<\/p>\n Then she pulled back, fear on her face. \u201cAre you leaving again?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d Drew pulled her back into his arms, and rested his chin on the top of her head. \u201cNo, I\u2019m back to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Molly smoothed the front of her dress and picked up her evening bag. Turning to Schrodinger, she said, \u201cWell, what do you think?\u201d I think you look beautiful, Schrodinger said. Drew won\u2019t be able to keep his eyes off you. \u201cIf he\u2019s there, you mean.\u201d But she smiled and turned back to the mirror one …<\/p>\n