Page 18 of Carpenter's Christmas Bride

“Here you go, Natalie,” Mal said, handing her a huge paper bag with cute twine handles.

“Thank you so much for the donation, Mal,” Natalie said.

“My pleasure,” Mal told her, heading back to the counter to help the next person.

“You’re running a mini-senior center out of your grandma’s old house,” Kenzie remembered. “It’s called Carla’s Place after her, right?”

“You really kept up with the news in town,” Natalie said, looking impressed.

“Just the best news,” Kenzie said. “And only here and there from my grandmother—mostly about the people I knew from school.”

“Well, it’s true,” Natalie said proudly. “And so many people donate time, labor, and other things to make it possible. Mal keeps us stocked in fresh bread for sandwiches, and she gives us her day-old baked goods from time to time, too.”

“Wow,” Kenzie said, glancing over at her friend and feeling more impressed than ever.

“Are you off to see your grandmother?” Natalie asked. “I have to pass by there to get to Carla’s Place. We can catch up. And maybe I can help you avoid another accident by carrying those doughnuts.”

Had everyone heard about the shopping cart? Kenzie knew it was a small town, but still…

“I read the article in the paper yesterday,” Natalie added with a sympathetic glance. “You look beautiful in that photo, by the way, if it’s any consolation.”

“The costume and make-up departments were absolutely amazing,” Kenzie said, relieved that of course Natalie was talking about her getting hurt onstage, not her incident with Aidan yesterday.

She grabbed the doughnut box and handed it to Natalie, then swung herself onto her crutches and they headed out together.

The cold air was delicious after the warm, cozy interior of the bakery. Tiny snow flurries danced their way down and melted on the sidewalk, giving ambiance without causing a mess, at least for now.

Kenzie looked around at the Tudor-style shops and the Christmas decorations across the street at the library.

“Believe me, I know New York is the most exciting place on earth,” Natalie said. “But you missed Trinity Falls, didn’t you?”

“I did,” Kenzie admitted, glancing over at her friend with a smile.

“I did too,” Natalie told her. “Although it took my grandmother getting sick to bring me home. Will you be heading back when you’re well again?”

“I’m just focused on recovering for now,” Kenzie said. “We’ll see what happens when I get this boot off.”

Natalie nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Before Kenzie knew it, they were right in front of the ballet theatre. She smiled as she took in the familiar sight of the beautiful Arts & Crafts style building with the golden ballerina painted on the wooden sign out front. Some things changed over the years, but this would always remain the same, at least for as long as Lee Forrest taught ballet in Trinity Falls.

They headed up the walkway and onto the wide, covered porch. Kenzie knocked on the door, but there was no answer.

“It’s fine,” she told Natalie. “You can just set that on the little table. If she’s choreographing, it might be a few minutes before she realizes I’m here.”

Her grandmother didn’t just teach classes. She also put on full ballet productions three times each year. It was a pretty impressive feat for such a small studio. Kenzie hadn’t realized just how big of a deal it was until she got out into the wider ballet world.

“She has an artist’s concentration,” Natalie said, smiling like someone who understood before saying her goodbyes to Kenzie.

But Natalie had barely gotten back down the walk when the big wooden door opened.

“MacKenzie,” Grandma Lee said fondly. “I’m so glad you came. And this is just the right moment, too. Do you need a hand getting in?”

“No, I’m just fine on these,” Kenzie said, her heart full at the sight of her grandmother looking as agelessly beautiful as ever. “But I brought some treats. They’re on the table if you can grab them.”

Grandma Lee floated out. Her figure had gotten a little curvier over the years, but she still stepped soundlessly across the porch to grab the box, her long, silver hair sparkling in the sunlight, her simple movement as graceful as any performance.

Back inside the theatre, Grandma Lee put the box of treats on her desk and then sank into her office chair. She leaned back, looking absolutely regal in a flowing blue dress with a pretty pin at her bosom, her posture as perfect as always.

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