Page 24 of Carpenter's Christmas Bride

Everyone smiled and made way for the chubby-cheeked boy who was so happy to see his family.

“He’s great,” she said, turning back to Aidan, who was suddenly scowling again.

Aidan instantly seem to light up at the praise of his son. But he said nothing, just nodded, and they walked on.

“Oh, wow,” she said, looking at a display of snow people that was set up like a manger scene. Some of the characters had faded paint or a bulb or two missing, but it was hardly noticeable. Somehow, they all looked perfect the way Tanner had set them up.

“He gets them from all over the place,” Aidan said suddenly.

“Yeah?” she asked, pointedly not looking at him, and hoping he would go on.

“People donate them sometimes,” Aidan said. “He used to find them at the thrift store or out on the curbs on the trash day after New Year’s. Then he started putting out word that if you were getting rid of a yard decoration, he’d come and take it. He can fix them up, even if they aren’t working.”

That made sense. Tanner was a great electrician, and she didn’t think any of these decorations looked all that complicated.

“It’s an amazing collection,” she said.

“On their own, they’re just decorations,” Aidan said. “And some aren’t even in very good shape. But all together like this… it’s pretty impressive.”

It’s impressive—probably his highest compliment.

She nodded as they walked on.

“So, listen,” he said. “I know you probably think my quote was really high. But you won’t find anyone who could do it for less. The issue is the mirrors.”

“Really?” she asked. “I went online to look, and they don’t seem that expensive.”

“They’re not,” he told her. “But transporting and installing them is dangerous. Because they’re so big, you can get badly hurt, even killed, if you don’t have proper help and take your time.”

“So you need another guy,” she realized out loud.

“Definitely,” he told her. “And it’s not something we can rush. Are you sure you need that much coverage, and that we can’t do it with smaller pieces? Keep in mind that if you ever need someone to take them out again, it’ll be just as expensive to remove the bigger sections.”

“No, I really need big mirrors,” she said. “But I understand now why it’s so much more to install them.”

“The price is about double on labor from what I would normally charge,” he said, nodding. “Because of needing a second person.”

“The barre did seem way more reasonable,” she said.

“Well, believe it or not, you’re getting a discount on the whole thing,” he told her.

“Why?” she asked, truly stunned.

He didn’t answer right away, and she found herself praying that he wasn’t going to go into some song and dance about feeling bad for her getting hurt. But when she glanced up at his face, he was wearing that expression that made it look like he was trying not to smile.

“You’re Mallory’s friend, and I kind of owe her one,” he said at last.

“You do?” she asked him, even more surprised than before.

“I took her out,” he said gruffly. “My aunt insisted on fixing us up. But my regular babysitter called out, and I had to get a new one last minute, and she kept texting me stupid questions about how to work the microwave and stuff. So I was late, and then I was on my phone half the night.”

Now it was Kenzie’s turn to try not to laugh.

“Is that really what happened?” she asked. “Did you tell Mal this?”

“You can if you want,” he said, shrugging and looking away as if the whole conversation bored him.

“Why didn’t you?” she demanded.

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