Page 6 of Carpenter's Christmas Bride

“Thank you,” Kenzie said, feeling genuinely honored.

“Your grandmother has my number,” Betty Ann told her, nodding by way of a dismissal.

Kenzie swung herself over to the Christmas section beside the café and waited for Lucy to catch up.

“Wow,” Lucy said. “They’ve never asked me to volunteer before.”

“It’s just a pity invitation,” Kenzie said. “But I might actually take them up on it. Why shouldn’t I be a town VIP-in-training? I can’t help my grandmother with teaching or loading sets in and out yet.”

Lucy laughed and they headed down the milk aisle together.

Kenzie knew she should be ashamed of herself, especially since she was with Lucy, but she loaded up on all the calorie-laden snack foods she had been dreaming about since she was twelve and had to start eating like an athlete.

She also grabbed a few sensible things that she could make for meals. It was lovely to see so much nice fresh produce even in wintertime. She got plenty to make salads, chicken soup, and even a roast with root vegetables.

“It’s gotten expensive here,” Lucy told her apologetically as they stood in line.

“It’s gotten expensive everywhere,” Kenzie said. “I’m just glad that my roommates found someone to take my bed in New York, so I don’t have to pay rent while I’m here.”

“Did you say your bed?” Lucy asked, looking horrified.

“Well, yes,” Kenzie laughed. “New York is expensive. I was sharing a one-bedroom with four other people.”

“How?” Lucy asked.

“We had two sets of bunk beds in the bedroom,” Kenzie told her. “And then Katya had a bed in the dining room.”

“Wow,” Lucy said.

“Ballet dancers don’t get paid much,” Kenzie said, shrugging. “We were just happy to live close to the theatre. Some of the other dancers had to take buses in from New Jersey.”

“You must really love to dance,” Lucy said as a lane opened up and she headed for it.

“I did,” Kenzie said, her eyes going automatically to her foot.

“I’m so sorry,” Lucy said worriedly. “I didn’t mean to?—”

“No, no, it’s fine,” Kenzie assured her. “I got to do a lot of dancing, more than most people, and hopefully this isn’t the end.”

Lucy smiled at her, clearly relieved.

“Lucy, I need your eyes on something,” someone called out, sounding aggravated.

“Oh, it’s Mrs. Stinson,” Lucy said quietly.

Mrs. Stinson had been a fancy old lady in a fur coat who loved nothing more than complaining even back when Kenzie was a child.

“Go on and help her,” Kenzie told Lucy. “I’ve got it from here.”

“Are you sure?” Lucy asked.

“I just have to pay and then get from the door to my car,” Kenzie said. “What could go wrong?”

“Lucy Webb,” Mrs. Stinson called, louder this time. “I can see that you hear me.”

“See you around,” Lucy said apologetically as she headed off.

Check-out went well, thanks to another young woman who was in line behind her and stepped forward to help get Kenzie’s things onto the carousel.

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