“Wouldn’t the birds be frightened of a snowman?” Kenzie teased.
“They’d know it wasn’t real,” Sara patiently explained.
They tried to roll up a ball, but the snow didn’t pack together.
“Maybe we could make a baby snowman,” Kenzie suggested. This was met with approval. With much effort, they got the requisite three balls of snow and stacked them precariously on top of each other. Digging down to the ground, Kenzie found some small rocks for eyes and a mouth while Sara fetched twigs for the arms. Sara sprinkled what was left of the birdseed on the snowman, and they stood back and admired their mini-creation. Then they went back to the trail and moved farther into the woods.
Sara went off the trail to explore. Finding a clump of small pine trees weighed down with snow, she pushed aside some pine boughs and exclaimed, “Look! It’s like a room. This can be our home!”
Kenzie smiled at her daughter’s enthusiasm. When they went in, the branches snapped back into place, enclosing them in a snug little hollow. “What a great idea! A home of our own.”
“Let’s clear it out,” Sara said. “We’ve got to have a clean house.”
Industriously, Kenzie picked up branches and leaves, remembering how, shortly after she and Larry became engaged, they had looked at a little house to rent. The yard needed cleaning up, but they were so excited about the discounted rent and the idea of getting a home of their own that they wanted to start working on the yard immediately. They’d had so many plans and dreams. Deeply in love, they’d held hands while sitting on the tiny patio, looking over the yard and talking about their future. They’d discussed religion a few times, and that evening they sat on the porch steps of the home they’d just rented and talked about their future life. When Larry told her he wanted to be baptized so he could share that part of her life, tears came to Kenzie’s eyes.
Larry started taking the missionary discussions, but as their wedding date approached, he told Kenzie that he felt pressured because there was so much going on. He wanted to put off his baptism and focus on the wedding. After they were married, his church attendance became sporadic, and after a year he stopped going altogether.
Their plans for children also changed. In the beginning they both wanted at least four, but Larry became so involved with his work—and Kenzie was busy as well—that he thought it best to wait until they were more established in their careers. Kenzie accepted it but, after a few years, began longing for a baby so much that Larry gave in. Then after Sara was born—faced with sleepless nights and round-the-clock care—Larry decided one child was plenty. Kenzie’s heart ached, but she immersed herself in taking care of Sara and attending to work, rising rapidly up the corporate ladder.
When Larry began spending more and more time working, Kenzie didn’t give it much thought until she happened to read a text on Larry’s phone from Nichole about their plans for Thursday night—the night Larry had told her he had to oversee a focus group.
Kenzie’s world imploded. But Larry begged for forgiveness. They went to counseling, and slowly she began to heal.
Then Larry began working extra-long hours once again. Kenzie had no inkling until he sat her down at the dining-room table and explained he’d fallen in love with someone else. There was no begging for forgiveness this time. Larry wanted a divorce.
A small clump of snow fell on Kenzie’s head as she worked, pulling her back to the present. When they had cleared the thicket sufficiently, Sara looked over their “house” with a satisfied expression.
“This is great! Maybe we can bring some boxes to sit on,” Sara suggested. When they went out the “door,” a misty gray fog had descended, making the skeletal branches of the oak and hickory trees stand out.
They continued along the trail, Sara scuffing her boots and kicking up clumps of snow. Kenzie picked up a small piece and lobbed it gently at Sara.
“Hey!” Her daughter took up the challenge, moving off the trail where the snow wasn’t so hard and trying to scrape up enough to make a snowball. Kenzie did the same, but they had to settle for bits of frozen crust. Back and forth. Kenzie ducked, then hit Sara on the shoulder. Her laughter made Sara launch a barrage, forcing Kenzie to cover her head with her arms as she ran. They laughed and threw more with most of the bits and pieces of snow disintegrating before they ever reached their target.
Finally, they brushed snow and ice from their coats and pants and returned to the trail. Taking the right fork to the pond, they saw fresh footprints.
“See that?” Sara said, peering at them. “Someone’s been here.”
“Two people.” Kenzie pointed out the larger footprints and a smaller set.
Sara put her feet in the smaller ones. “This one’s about my size,” she cried. “Let’s follow them!”
“All right. But what if they turn out to be Big Foot and his kid, and they’re waiting for us?”
“They wouldn’t be wearing boots,” Sara explained in a withering tone of voice.
“Maybe they’re trying to trick us.”
Sara giggled. At the pond, they found a place where the snow had been well trampled. Sara pointed at the pond. “Look, Mom! They were skating!”
There were tracks all over, most of them following the outer curve of the pond.
“Maybe it’s that boy you liked—Tyrone—and he came skating here!” Sara sounded excited. “You have to meet him and find out if he still likes you.”
“You’re getting carried away. Tyrone moved away a long time ago. A lot of people come here to skate. Nearly everyone in town knows about this pond.”
“Like Tyrone!” Sara was insistent. “He could have moved back.”
Wouldn’t that be something? Then Kenzie shook herself. No good indulging herself in Sara’s make-believe. Tyrone had said more than once that he wanted to live in Lake Forest when he grew up—but back then Kenzie had planned on becoming a ballerina. They were just childish dreams.
Kenzie gave Sara a stern look. “You, my dear, have a one-track mind.” She turned her back on the pond. “Ready to go home? Uncle Tom and Aunt Mandy are coming for dinner, remember?”
“You don’t believe me,” Sara said, “but it could happen. Grandma says magical things happen at Christmastime.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Opening the back door and going into the utility room, Kenzie could hear the pleasant murmur of conversation coming from the kitchen. Mandy, Tom, and their children must have arrived. In a flash, Sara shed her boots and coat, and ran off to find her cousins.
On her way to the kitchen, Kenzie paused to gaze at the small wooden reindeer standing amidst the greenery on the table. She scooped it up, running her fingers over the smooth surface. She remembered how cute Tyrone had been as he explained in great detail how he’d made the reindeer with the help of a neighbor. He’d even described the different grits of sandpaper he’d used and how he’d painted the hooves and antlers white. He’d added spots to the reindeer’s back—making it look a fawn. The nose was red, of course, and Tyrone had given the reindeer a crooked but happy smile.
What Tyrone hadn’t told her, but she’d learned later from his mother, was that he had worked hard to pay for the wood and his neighbor’s help. A soft smile curved Kenzie’s lips. He had been the most wonderful, extraordinary friend she’d ever had.
When Tom wandered in, he stopped short. “Why are you smiling?”
She blinked. “I’m not smiling.”
“The ends of your mouth are pointed up. I almost didn’t recognize you.” He came closer, looking at the reindeer. “I remember when you got that. You acted like it was made of gold. Wouldn’t even let me touch it.”
“You were so clumsy I knew you’d break it.”
“Let me see it.”
“Not on your life.”
Mandy walked in. “I thought I heard you. What are you guys doing?”
Tom complained in a little-boy whine, “Kenzie won’t let me hold her reindeer.”
Smiling, Mandy came o
ver. “That’s because she’s smart.” She asked her husband, “Did you make this?”
“No, Kenzie’s boyfriend did. He was madly in love with her and vice versa.”
With lifted eyebrows, Mandy asked Kenzie, “Why haven’t you ever told me about this mystery man?”
“I was eight years old, for goodness sake.”
“And the flame has never died,” Tom pronounced in a melodramatic voice.
“Okay, you have to tell me.” Mandy went to the closest chair in the family room and threw herself in it, settling herself for a good story.
Tom broke in before Kenzie could say a word. “That’s old news. Let’s talk about something interesting—like football. The Forty-Niners are playing the Broncos tonight. Who looks good to you?”
His wife brushed a dismissive hand toward Tom as if he was a pesky mosquito. “Go away.”
“Hmph. I’m going. But if you change your mind and want me, I’ll be out in the backyard, eating worms.”
He started toward the kitchen, but Kenzie stopped him. “Tom, can I talk to you later?”
His brown eyes looked at her speculatively. “Is this about Tracy Perez?” Kenzie nodded. “Look, I told you when you stopped by the office that I’d sell you the house if Jared’s house hasn’t sold by the deadline. What more do you want?”
“We talked for five minutes. You got a phone call, and I didn’t have a chance to explain what happened with Tracy.”
His brow furrowed, remembering. “Yeah, but why get into it again? You talked the Perezes out of seeing Jared’s home—a home they might have bought. I really don’t want to get into it tonight.”
Kenzie fumed. How typical of Tom to say all he wanted but refuse to listen to her side. The quintessential big brother.
“What’s this about Tracy Perez?” Mandy asked as Tom went into the kitchen. “Tom hasn’t told me about it.”
“Oh, I’ll explain later.” Kenzie put the reindeer inside the top drawer of the side table so it would be safe in case her nephews started roughhousing after dinner, as they usually did. Then she sat by Mandy.
“Don’t forget. Now, tell me all about that boy who loved you so much.”
“He didn’t love me! We were just friends. And he made me a reindeer.”
“If that’s not love, I don’t know what is. So come on—tell me.” Mandy cupped her chin in her hands, happily expectant.
Kenzie went over everything, and at the end Mandy dramatically put a hand over her heart. “Star-crossed childhood sweethearts.” Then she sighed. “It was so sweet of you to give him a pair of ice skates.”
“He loved skating so much, and my parents helped pay for them. On the bottom of one of the skates I wrote, ‘Best friends are forever.’”
“That’s just the cutest thing ever! And he made the reindeer for you in return.” Mandy sighed. “Sounds like he went to a lot of work. Tyrone must have been crazy about you.”
A smile fluttered on Kenzie’s mouth as she thought about their shared laughter and the ease of talking with a really good friend. “We were very close—for a while anyway. I wonder where he is now.” Kenzie crossed her legs and smiled indulgently. “Sara is convinced he came back to Lake Forest. She’s an incurable romantic—like you—and she’s only eight.”
“You were eight when you met Tyrone,” Mandy said with portent. “Coincidence? I think not.”
Kenzie laughed. “Actually, he and his mom lived in an apartment in West Lake Forest. She was a single mom. A friend of hers said her manager intended on hiring someone in a few months. So the friend told him about Tyrone’s mom, and he hired her.”
“Did you and Tyrone keep in touch?”
“We meant to, but we were both moving, and I didn’t know my new address. Tyrone told me not to worry about it and said he’d write me. He gave me his address, but I lost the paper.”
“Kenzie! How could you?”
Even after all these years, Kenzie was bummed that she’d lost that precious piece of paper. She’d always been so responsible and organized, even as a child, but somehow the paper had disappeared. “On the day Tyrone left, he gave me a little piece of paper with his new address on it while we were in the woods. I was sure I’d brought it home and put it in my jewelry box—you know, the kind that has a little ballerina that dances when you open it. Anyway, I looked in the box, but the paper wasn’t there. I searched the house, the backyard, and the woods for days—sometimes on my hands and knees—but I never found it.”
“Oh, that’s awful.” Mandy was quiet a few moments then went on. “What if Sara is right and this guy is in Lake Forest?”
Kenzie scoffed. “Sara’s eight. She still believes in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.”
This didn’t dissuade Mandy. “But wouldn’t it be cool if Tyrone was here and you met him again?”
“He’s probably married and has five kids.”
“What was his last name?”
“I think it was Hatch. It’s hard to remember, and we really didn’t talk about our last names.” Kenzie then admitted, “And, yes, I’ve checked the telephone book and Facebook.”
Mandy squealed with delight. “I knew it! You want to see him again! You were hoping he’d be here in Lake Forest.”
“But he’s not.”
With a sigh, her sister-in-law gave in. “Okay, but there are plenty of other eligible men around. Let me set you up with someone. You know you’re ready to date and get serious.”
“Give me some time.”
“You’ve had time. Come on, you can’t stay at home night after night.”
“I like being home.”
Allen walked in. “Hate to interrupt the gab-fest, but dinner’s ready. Your mother wants everybody up to the table, pronto. I’ll get the kids.”
Mandy shook an accusing finger at Kenzie. “I’m not done with you.”
After a blessing on the food, Allen carved the roast, while side dishes of baked potatoes, peas, and a basket of soft rolls were passed around.
“Kenzie made the rolls this morning,” Elaine announced. “She also put the roast in and got the potatoes ready to bake.”
“Ah, but what has she been doing tonight?” Tom asked. “Lollygagging!”
Elaine laughed. “I don’t think Kenzie knows the meaning of the word. Since she got here, she’s taken over all of the housework and cooked most of the meals. I’ve become a lady of leisure.”
The children finished first and rushed off to play while Tom and Mandy cleared the table.
When Allen rolled up his sleeves and started filling the sink with hot, soapy water, Kenzie asked, “What’s that for?”
“I’m going to wash the pans.” He then started filling the sink with utensils, plates, and glasses. Allen noticed her watching. “It won’t take long to wash these things up.”
“But you have a dishwasher.”
“This way they’ll all be done and put away. Don’t be such a fuss-budget.”
Elaine shrugged. “You’ll never believe this, but I’ve known him to actually take dishes out of the dishwasher and wash them.” She held up her hand, palm out. “True story.”
When the kitchen was clean, Mandy and her parents went to check on the children. Kenzie and Tom went to the family room and settled on the couch.
“Mandy told me you offered to help her paint,” Tom said, propping his long legs on the ottoman.
Kenzie replied in a monotone, “I’m real excited.”
Her brother laughed—the hearty laugh of a big man. Then he said, “Thanks for helping her. I don’t want Mandy overdoing it.”
“Glad to help.”
“Say it once again, but this time with feeling.” Tom chuckled. “So when do you start your new job?”
“January 5 is the big day.”
He studied her. “Do I detect some anxiety?”
It was not something Kenzie wanted to admit. People always complimented her on how calm she appeared, and she hated not being able to live up to that image. “Who wouldn�
��t be nervous starting a new job?”
“Hey, no need to be defensive.” Tom held up his hands. “I’m not Dad.”
“Sorry to be defensive. I’d been at Midwest for so many years that it’s hard to have to start all over. Everything’s going to be new and different. And challenging. I hope I can handle it.”
“It’s normal to feel anxious starting a new job. You’ll be the new kid on the block, but you’ll do great. You’re smart, talented, and great with people.”
“Tell me more.”
“I would, but I don’t want to give you a swollen head.” Tom patted her hand.
Kenzie tried to talk herself out of her anxiety. “A lot of the responsibilities will be the same, so I shouldn’t be nervous.”
“You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t a little anxious.”
“But I’m there on a trial basis! If I screw up, I’m history. And what then?”
“Stop worrying. You’ll do fine. You did amazing at Midwest—getting promotion after promotion. You’re very good at what you do.”
The praise helped. But Kenzie still had concerns. What if she hated her new boss? What if he hated her? And worst of all, what if she was put into the same situation that had caused her to leave Midwest?
Chapter Twenty-Two
With her hands weighed down with sacks full of groceries, Elaine’s efforts to turn the doorknob were fruitless. The sacks banged against the door until, finally, someone inside heard the noise and opened the door. Kenzie grabbed some sacks to lighten her mother’s load.
“Thanks,” Elaine said. “I shouldn’t have tried to bring everything in one load.” Setting the bags on the counter, she saw three baking sheets covered with towels, which meant Kenzie had once again made rolls. They would go along perfectly with the clam chowder she planned for dinner. And her daughter had cleaned up the kitchen to boot. There was a large plastic container beside the trays of rolls.
“What’s that?” Elaine asked.
“I made some Gingersnap Cookies3,” Kenzie said. “And, yes, I made enough to freeze a few for your get-together on Christmas Eve.”
For Sale By Owner Page 14