(advent) December 19 – Gingerbread!

I need to make some gingerbread….

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“There, we’re all set!”

Molly tucked the last box of gingerbread into the large picnic baskets and looked around the kitchen. “Is there anything else we need?”

“You’re procrastinating,” Sue said. She picked up one of the baskets. “Come on!”

“Okay, okay!” Molly grabbed her coat from the rack and shrugged into it. “Wait for me!”

Sue and Noemi were going to watch the tea room while Molly and Schrodinger delivered the last of the Christmas gingerbread orders in Sue’s car. The CrossCat was already waiting out front, watching the car.

Or he was supposed to be. However, when Molly and Sue got outside, he wasn’t near the car. In fact, he wasn’t anywhere they could see.

“Schrodinger?” Molly called, setting the basket she was carrying down on the cold sidewalk. “Schrodinger? Where are you?”

I’ll be right there.

The CrossCat’s voice was…odd. Thin, as if he was very far away. Molly frowned. How could he be far away? He’d just come outside not three minutes before them. What’s going on?

Don’t worry, Schrodinger said, and this time, the voice was stronger. I’ll explain when we get there.

“We?” Molly said, exchanging a look with Sue, who was staring at her.

“What about we?” Sue said, and Molly realized she hadn’t heard Schrodinger.

“Schrodinger said he was coming back, but he said when WE get there,” Molly said. She bit her lip. “Who would he have gone off with?”

“In this town?” Sue laughed. “I don’t have time to list the names!”

“Yes, but you’d think he’d tell me who he was with,” Molly said. “It’s just weird.”

“I think you’re getting paranoid,” Sue said, and then shivered. “I’m heading back inside.”

“Thanks again for watching the tea room,” Molly said, and Sue waved as she dashed back into the store and warmth.

I don’t remember a winter this cold in a while, Molly realized, as she waited for Schrodinger to reappear with whomever he was with. There hasn’t been a ton of snow, but it’s been cold.

She looked at the picnic baskets on the ground next to Sue’s car. I should load those in with the others. But something nudged at her, so instead, she clasped her arms around her and looked around.

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Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

(advent) December 20 – only 5 days left!

Whatever shall we do when it’s over???

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Drew? Do you have a moment?

“Sure,” Drew said, blinking. He’d never heard Ember actually sound so…concerned. “Let me just throw a coat on.”

He’d been sitting at the computer in the library, going over his Facebook and looking at the pictures from yesterday. There were a ton of pictures, each with the same elements: Old Man Winter, dressed as Father Christmas, holding various small children up to pet two enormous reindeer. Now, as he shrugged into his coat, Drew wondered just what kind of magic Molly had been weaving into the cookies and scones she’d fed the old man.

Ember wasn’t in the stable – she was in the yard, stretching her wings out in the brisk air. Drew stopped and watched the sunlight bounce off her delicate membranes and bright scales. She was truly a beautiful creature.

Thank you, she said, and he started. But I didn’t ask you out here to admire me. I’m worried.

“Worried?” Drew asked, coming over to her. “About what? Your leg?”

No, the leg is fine. She stretched up onto her hind legs to show him. I’m worried about Old Man Winter.

“Why?”

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Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

(advent) December 21 – snow

Slowly, surely, I’m getting caught up!  Slowly!

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Molly looked around the kitchen one last time. “I think everything’s all set.”

It’s not like you haven’t written everything down for them anyways, Schrodinger observed from his stool. You’d think you were leaving for a week or more, not just one day.

“Well, I wanted to make sure I’d covered every possibility,” Molly said. “They’re being wonderful in covering for me tonight. Especially tonight. I don’t know how they swung it, since it’s the night before the Ball.”

The Snow Queen’s Annual Christmas Ball was potentially the most important event of the Christmas season in Carter’s Cove. For one night, the entire Cove shut down, and everyone donned their best clothes to dance on a magical ballroom floor in the middle of the Snow Queen’s clearing. The fact that Mal had agreed to let Luke and Steve leave the Gate Station to cover the tea shop for three hours before Aunt Margie closed the store for the night was nothing short of amazing. Especially since they were already short-handed without Drew.

It’s because they asked, Schrodinger said. And because it’s for you.

“You make me sound like someone important,” Molly told him, pulling out the box of spare mugs from the pantry and putting it on the island. “I’m just me.”

You’re the one who makes sure everyone is happy, Schrodinger told her. You’re the one who goes out with cookies and baked goods when someone isn’t feeling well. You’re the one who is always able to help out with cookies or cupcakes or something at the last minute.

“Now you’re making me sound like a saint,” Molly said, laughing a little because she was blushing. “I’m most definitely not. I’m just Molly.”

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Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.

(advent) December 22 – The Snow Queen’s Ball!

Molly smoothed the front of her dress and picked up her evening bag. Turning to Schrodinger, she said, “Well, what do you think?”

I think you look beautiful, Schrodinger said. Drew won’t be able to keep his eyes off you.

“If he’s there, you mean.” But she smiled and turned back to the mirror one last time. Unlike last year, this year she’d 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’s 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. “I hope he is.”

There was a beep from the street; Molly leaned over and peeked out the window. Lai’s Range Rover was parked out in front of the building. “They’re here!” she said, dropping the curtain. “Are you ready?”

Yes. Don’t forget your coat. Schrodinger swiped a paw across his whiskers and jumped down. Molly had to admit he looked very dapper in his bow tie.

“Hardly. This dress is pretty but not very warm.” Molly went over to the closet. “Luckily, Aunt Margie let me borrow her mink.”

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.

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Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.