Chapter 15Christmas came on a beautiful, sunny day that year. Although the world around them was frozen to the bone, the air seemed warmer, somehow, than it should have been. After their coffee, they went to Grammy’s house and were greeted by the welcoming smell of fresh flapjacks. The final pile of cakes was so massive, Violet could hardly tell the color of the table cloth beneath their plates. Along with their hotcakes, there was fresh butter and cold milk, and a small jug of molasses. Sitting Bear had to stop Rory’s pouring before he emptied half the jug on his breakfast. They ate and talked, and reveled in Grammy’s fine cooking. No doubt she’d been up since dawn to make enough for the lot of them. By the time Violet was done, her belly was bursting at the seams.
“Now after yas wash up
