6. Kenzie

6

KENZIE

K enzie sat at one of the café tables in Mal’s bakery, nursing a peppermint tea and watching her bestie at work.

She already knew that Mal came to the bakery most mornings at an ungodly hour to start the incredible offerings in the glass case. But she hadn’t breathed a word of complaint this morning, and she didn’t even look particularly tired.

And while Kenzie was pretty sure her friend would never exactly get rich from running a small-town bakery, the place seemed to do a brisk business, and the customers all had really nice things to say. Mal had clearly made her dream job into a reality.

Imagine having a dream that you could do your whole life…

She watched Mal hand a paper coffee cup and a croissant wrapped in wax paper to the girl who ran the bookshop, and then help a little boy choose a doughnut, looking truly happy the whole time, even though she had several more customers to serve and no guarantee that the line would ever get any shorter.

Kenzie wondered what would happen if her friend sold all the baked goods this morning. Would she just have to close up for the day? But the line was already getting shorter now, so maybe that wasn’t a real threat.

“Hey,” Mal said when the last customer had gone. “How are you doing?”

Kenzie had gotten in line with everyone else for her tea and the box of doughnuts she would be taking when she stopped by to see her grandmother. But there had been too many people behind her to say more than hello.

“Great,” Kenzie said. “You must be exhausted.”

“Not really,” Mal said. “But I’ll be happy when Annie Williams comes home for the holidays. She normally helps out here when she’s not away at school.”

“That’s awesome that you have a helper,” Kenzie said, smiling at the thought that one of the little Williams cousins was in college now.

“And how are things going with your helper?” Mal asked with a grin. “When’s he getting started on your place?”

“I’m not sure he wants to do my job after all,” Kenzie said.

“What?” Mal asked. “Why not?”

“Well, he seemed like he did yesterday,” Kenzie said. “But the numbers he sent me last night—they’re really high.”

“Did you ask him about them?” Mal asked.

“He said he’d stop by today,” Kenzie said, biting her lip .

“ Ooo-ooo-ooo ,” Mal crooned teasingly. “Sounds like he wants to see you again.”

“I don’t know about that,” Kenzie said, smiling.

“I still can’t believe he remembered you from school,” Mal said.

“Yes, from when I was wearing a giant clown suit and a rainbow wig,” Kenzie shot back, unable to stop herself from laughing a little. “I don’t think he remembers me in the way you’re thinking.”

“We were such dorks,” Mal giggled, shaking her head.

“But we had fun,” Kenzie said with a fond smile. “I wouldn’t change any of it.”

“Not even the part where you dropped a hacky sack and it fell into the orchestra pit and lodged itself in Lenny Silver’s tuba?” Mal asked dreamily.

“Especially not that part,” Kenzie said solemnly. “But only because no one was hurt, and we did eventually get the hacky sack out with no damage to the tuba.”

“That was lucky,” Mal said thoughtfully.

The bells over the door jingled, announcing more customers, and Mal hopped up and dusted her hands on her apron.

“Hang out for a sec, and I’ll help you carry those over,” she offered as she darted behind the counter.

“I’ll be okay,” Kenzie told her.

But when she got up and tried to grab the box, she found that she wasn’t really okay after all.

“Where are you headed?” a familiar voice asked.

“Natalie Bell?” Kenzie said, turning.

Sure enough, there was her old friend from school. Natalie had spent a few years in New York, too, following her own dream to perform as a guitarist. But she and Kenzie hadn’t really crossed paths much since Kenzie spent all her time in the ballet rehearsal hall.

“Natalie Cassidy now, actually,” she said, laughing. “It’s so good to see you.”

“Right, my grandmother told me about you and Shane,” Kenzie said. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Natalie said, her cheeks going pink. “He’s amazing, and so are the kids. I still can’t believe it.”

“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.

Kenzie had honestly never seen her grandmother sit down at the theatre unless there was a performance. Grandma Lee was always moving, it was likely part of why she always seemed so young.

Knowing that she had probably only taken a seat in deference to Kenzie’s injury made her almost tear up.

“You’re home,” her grandmother said warmly, her blue eyes twinkling. “I’m so glad to see you.”

“Me too,” Kenzie said. “But I know you’re probably busy. What’s on the docket here today?”

“Oh, it’s The Nutcracker , like every December,” Grandma said happily. “The sets are getting touch-ups now, and the high school has an in-service today, so some of the dancers will be coming in for final costume fittings in a little while.”

“I didn’t bring enough treats for the kids,” Kenzie said worriedly. “Should we take these out now for the crew?”

“Oh, that’s good thinking,” Grandma said, leaping out of her seat like there was a spring under her soft form.

Kenzie followed her, a smile plastered to her face. It was impossible to be in Lee Forrest’s presence without feeling happy.

Grandma’s office was just off the theatre. Stepping back into it gave Kenzie a happy shiver, as it always had. And the dark space felt just as large and chilly as she remembered.

Volunteers were busy setting up chairs on the risers that were built and struck along with every performance. Others were painting set pieces, or sitting in the chairs sewing costumes. Tanner Williams, a local electrician, was making adjustments on what looked like a very new light board.

“Oh, wow,” Kenzie said, gazing up at the new system in the ceiling.

“They’re all LED lights now,” Grandma Lee said proudly. “We did a fundraiser over the summer and Tanner volunteered his time to help with the installation. Now we don’t have to be on ladders swapping out gels. Each light can be any color we want.”

“Amazing,” Kenzie said quietly, not wanting to distract anyone from what they were doing.

The crew was made up of dozens of volunteers, many of whom had children who danced with Mrs. Forrest, or who had danced with her themselves as kids. Kenzie couldn’t help noticing that everyone was smiling and excited. The energy in the room was palpable.

She had missed this so much. In New York, the tech crew was incredible, almost machine-like in efficiency. But the main emotion in the air was always stress. As many different productions as they set, and as quickly as things had to come together, it was completely understandable.

She hadn’t realized how much she loved the joyful energy of the ballet theatre here at home until she stood in the center of the space, soaking it in as people began glancing in her direction and whispering to one another.

“Hello, everyone,” Grandma said in her clear, bright voice. “You might have noticed my granddaughter is here today. She brought some treats, so be sure to come say hi.”

Grandma turned and placed the box of confections on a table beside the risers.

Now that they had permission, the crew all came up to grab a doughnut and tell Kenzie they were glad to see her. It was thrilling to see so many familiar faces and know they were all here to help her grandmother make the magic happen. She smiled until her cheeks hurt and was grateful that no one asked her anything about her injury.

Once everyone was back at work, she and Grandma Lee slipped back into the little office again.

“Everyone loves you here, Kenzie,” Grandma said with a smile.

“This is a very special place,” Kenzie told her. “You built something so beautiful here.”

“I did,” Grandma said with twinkling eyes. “I’m getting older, though. I love this place, but running it alone is wearing me out, and you know your grandfather still wants to travel.”

Grandpa Ralph was the kindest man—modest and reserved where his wife was a shining star, yet his silent strength made him absolutely her equal. He had always wanted to travel, but of course the ballet consumed both their lives.

“You aren’t thinking of closing it,” Kenzie said worriedly.

“Never,” Grandma Lee said firmly. “I’ll teach until I die. But… I’d love some help. If your injury means you can’t dance professionally anymore, or if you’re okay but decide to hang it up anyway, I wanted to propose something.”

If you’re okay, but decide to hang it up anyway… The words echoed in her head for a moment. It was incredible to hear Grandma Lee voice that idea without judgement—an idea that had been tickling at Kenzie’s mind since the night she got home and realized how much she had missed it.

“Of course I can help out with classes as soon as I’m on my feet,” Kenzie said quickly. “You don’t even have to ask. I’d love to do that. I’ll be here during my physical therapy once the boot is off, no matter what.”

“I’d like you to be my partner,” Grandma Lee said quietly.

Kenzie opened her mouth and closed it again, truly stunned.

Grandma Lee was a warm and loving person who brought out in the best in everyone she worked with. But this was her theatre, her ballet school, basically her kingdom. In the decades she had run the place, there had been almost no injuries, a handful of her dancers had gone on to professional careers, and the performances in the small space always sold out—all of which was due to her sharp eyes and the iron control she held over the process from the moment a preschool dancer set a bare foot on the Marley, until they were volunteering on a production their own kids were performing in. Not one thing happened in this place without Lee Forrest giving her say so.

If she had said she wanted Kenzie to be her assistant, it would have made perfect sense.

But partner ? That was inconceivable.

“What would that, um, look like?” Kenzie asked, wondering if maybe they were interpreting the word differently.

“It would mean we’d share decisions,” Grandma Lee said. “From which ballets to put on the schedule, to which students to advance onto pointe, and everything in between. We would choreograph together, or we might alternate productions. It means you would be my partner, Kenzie, in everything.”

Kenzie stared at her grandmother, completely overwhelmed.

“It would also mean dedicating your life to this place,” Grandma said after a moment. “You’ve seen what that means for me. Ralph and I don’t travel, we don’t do much of anything outside the theatre. We love it and wouldn’t have it any other way. This was a dream come true for me. But I wouldn’t want to burden you with it, if it isn’t your dream too.”

Kenzie nodded, swallowing over the lump in her throat. She never would have imagined her grandmother would offer her such a thing.

“I probably don’t have to tell you that the pay is lousy,” Grandma Lee added with a wry smile. “I’ve always put as much back into the theatre as I can. But we can look at the numbers and see what we could do for you.”

Kenzie almost laughed out loud. After living in Manhattan on a dancer’s salary, almost any amount of pay in this rural suburb would probably feel like a king’s ransom.

“Just think about it as an option, my love,” Grandma concluded. “But not right now, because the high school kids are probably pouring in as we speak, and there’s no way I’m getting any of your attention once they see you.”

“Wait,” Kenzie said, doing a bit of mental math. “Some of these guys were dancing when I was still here.”

“They sure were,” Grandma Lee said. “You were my assistant in the kids’ classes for some of them when they were Mother Ginger’s Children. Now they’re dancing the lead roles. Shall we go say hi?”

“Yes,” Kenzie said, having to forcibly remind herself to get up slowly.

Her heart was soaring the moment they stepped back into the theatre and a pack of teenagers flocked around her. She smiled at all the familiar faces, feeling glad that so many of them had stuck with ballet.

“You were amazing in Swan Lake ,” one girl told her excitedly. “We saw parts of it online.”

“I’m so sorry you got hurt,” another one told her. “I wish I could have seen you dance the Dew Drop Fairy in New York. My mom got us tickets, but they weren’t for opening night.”

“Well, I’m glad you didn’t see that night,” Kenzie told her. “Did you love the ballet? ”

“Yes,” the girl said, looking pleased to have Kenzie’s attention.

“Jenny is the Dew Drop Fairy in our Nutcracker ,” a boy pointed out.

“Congratulations, Jenny,” Kenzie said with a smile for the sweet girl she had known as a preschool dancer.

“Maybe you can give me some notes?” Jenny suggested hopefully. “If you watch a rehearsal?”

“Maybe,” Kenzie said.

She would have thought she’d hate watching a rehearsal of the ballet she should be performing in right now. But somehow, she found herself really liking the idea of helping these kids love the ballet as much as she did.

For now, everything about being back at the old school just felt right.

Could I spend the rest of my life in this world?