Page 71 of Carpenter's Christmas Bride

“Thank you, Kellan,” Kenzie said. “It means the world to have a doctor I know and trust right here in town.”

“Call me anytime,” he told her, looking very pleased.

Half an hour later, she and Mal were heading back to the village, moving slowly down the sandstone sidewalks, their breath puffing out in front of them.

“How does it feel to walk without the boot?” Mal asked.

“Really good,” Kenzie told her. “I’m still sort of in shock.”

Mal nodded.

“What?” Kenzie asked.

“I just couldn’t help but notice that you didn’t seem all that excited when he told you that you could dance again,” Mal said.

“He didn’t tell me that,” Kenzie said, hoping to avoid the questions she figured were coming. “He just said he didn’t see any reason I couldn’t get my strength back. It’s not the same as saying that I can dance professionally.”

“Po-tay-to, po-tah-to,” Mal said, shrugging. “Either way, you didn’t seem excited.”

Kenzie sighed, wondering if her bestie was going to think she was crazy.

“Is this about Aidan Webb?” Mal asked.

It wasn’t lost on Kenzie that this was the second time her bestie had asked this question. This time the answer wasn’t quite so simple.

“No,” Kenzie said thoughtfully. “At least it’s not completely Aidan and Walt. I just can’t stop thinking about how much I love being behind the scenes at the ballet right here in Trinity Falls.”

Her phone started buzzing in her pocket before she could continue. She pulled it out and shook her head in disbelief when she saw who it was.

“Dmitri,” she said.

“Hello, butterfly,” he said warmly. “I have a surprise for you.”

“My partner,” she mouthed to Mal.

“Are you there?” Dmitri asked.

“Yes,” she said quickly. “I’m here.”

“Well, so am I,” he said, chuckling.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“I’m here in your hometown,” he told her. “Surprise.”

“No,” she breathed.

“I had a day off, and thought I’d come down to check on you,” he told her. “It’s not so far.”

“It has to be a four-hour drive,” she said, in wonder.

“It’s worth it to see my butterfly,” he told her. “Now, I can come to you if you give me an address. I’m at a charming little café called Jolly Beans? Is that a joke about Easter and Christmas at the same time?”

“I think it is,” she said, laughing. “And guess what? I’m about a block away. I’ll come to you.”

“See you when you get here,” he told her.

“That was Dmitri Volkov?” Mal asked in wonder as Kenzie hung up.

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