Page 23 of Carpenter's Christmas Bride

Kenzie rolled her eyes.

“I liked performing for the school,” she told Walt. “Even though I wasn’t great at juggling.”

“I’m going to school next year,” Walt told her with a solemn expression. “If I can sit still.”

She barely restrained a giggle at that last remark. She was pretty sure her parents had been worried about the same thing when she was his age.

“Walt has a lot of energy,” Aidan said gruffly. “But he’s doing a great job staying close tonight.”

Walt nodded.

Just then, Tanner appeared in the doorway to the apartment building.

“Thanks so much for coming out tonight, everyone,” Tanner yelled as the crowd went silent. “I’m not one for speeches, so… Three…Two… One… Merry Christmas.”

It had just gotten dark enough overhead that the only light came from the streetlamps. So when the lawn beside the apartments was suddenly flooded with color as at least a hundred decorations came to life, it felt almost like magic.

“Wow,” Walt yelled as the whole crowd made noises of astonishment and appreciation around them.

The people at the front were already slowly meandering their way down the path through the display, admiring all the illuminated characters. Walt had moved between Aidan and Kenzie. She could see his whole little body was practically shivering with energy, like Tanner had turned the power on inside him as well.

“We can go in slowly once the line starts moving,” Aidan told him gently. “Are you excited to see everything?”

“I want to see Snoopy,” Walt squeaked, hopping up and down in place.

“Oh, me too,” Kenzie told him.

She hadn’t meant to attach herself at the hip to Aidan tonight. She hadn’t even thought she’d see him. But it felt right to stick around when Walt was having a hard time being patient.

Once we get in, I’ll let them do their own thing, she told herself.

But a few minutes later, they were winding their way through the display together. Even if she’d wanted to give them space, there wasn’t really room for it. And besides, Walt was showing her all his favorite characters and making sure she knew who they all were.

Dale Williams and Reggie Webb were right behind them, and she couldn’t help noticing the excitement in Reggie’s eyes when he spotted her with Walt and Aidan.

Reggie had always been a font of local gossip, and she was pretty sure he still was. And a couple of girls she knew from high school were up ahead and she could see their curiosity as their eyes danced from her to Aidan and back again.

Her cheeks heated at the idea of being mistaken for Aidan’s girlfriend, even though she obviously didn’t want to date the grump.

He’s so gentle with Walt, though…

She tried to shake herself out of it and focus on the little boy who was tapping her crutch to get her attention so he could show her a little Batman decoration.

“Wow,” she said. “You should have one like that at your house.”

He looked up at her with a big smile on his little face and she felt a soft warmth blooming in her chest.

8

KENZIE

Kenzie couldn’t keep the smile off her face as Walt continued to lead her through the winding path of the display, with Aidan trailing behind them. This was turning out to be such a fun night.

“Aunt Leticia,” Walt yelled suddenly, his eyes lighting up. “Uncle Simon.”

She turned to see that Simon and Leticia Webb were several groups behind them and had just entered onto the path. Walt dropped her hand like a hot potato and took off like a shot before she could react.

“Excuse him,” Aidan called out as Walt wove through the people behind them to get to his great-aunt and great-uncle.

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