was doing. She wouldn’t have told Ruby if the woman hadn’t visited her apartment bearing a welcome-to-town casserole shortly after Kenzie’s arrival in Wichita. Ruby’s fascination with the antique loom taking up half of Kenzie’s living room spawned a host of questions, and Kenzie let slip what she did with the projects she created.
Ruby snorted. “No, no. I only said someone from the shop.” She shot a soft smile over her shoulder. “You and your humility…You are one of a kind, Miss Kenzie Stetler.”
Kenzie’s face heated, but she wasn’t sure if it was embarrassment or pleasure stirring the reaction.
Ruby swung the storeroom door open and gestured to a box sitting in the middle of the room. “Ta-da!”
Kenzie’s mouth dropped open. She’d expected a stuffed trash bag, maybe two. But a box that had once held an automatic washing machine? This was beyond imagination. She inched forward and placed her fingertips on the top edge of the box. “Is it…full?”
“To the brim.” Ruby peeled back a flap and revealed an array of neatly folded trousers.
Kenzie ran her hand over the top layer. Such quality fabric. It would almost pain her to cut into them, but she’d do it. These would make fine rugs. “I can hardly believe this.”
Ruby grinned. “Eileen and her husband had planned to bring the clothes when they visited next Christmas, but then the chance came to send them early, so they seized it.”
Kenzie shook her head, her gaze remaining on the clothes. “Please give me her address so I can send her a thank-you card.”
Ruby winked. “Will you sign it? It’d give you away.”
Even though it seemed Ruby meant to tease, Kenzie took the question seriously. Her grandmother, who’d gifted Kenzie with her beloved loom, was a firm believer in doing good without any expectation of earthly accolades. If Ruby’s sister knew Kenzie’s name, she might accidentally repeat it, and Kenzie’s anonymity could be destroyed. Not even the managers of the shop where Kenzie donated her rugs to support missionary efforts knew her name.
Kenzie sighed. “I’ll think about it. But honestly…this is such an amazing gift.” She shifted her attention to Ruby. “How will I get this box to my apartment? It’s too big for me to carry.”
Ruby swished her hand, as if shooing away Kenzie’s comment. “We’ll transfer the clothes to smaller boxes or bags, then load them into the back of my SUV. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Someone pounded on the front door, and Ruby rolled her eyes. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, I forgot the time. Lori probably needs in.” She caught Kenzie by the elbow and steered her out of the storeroom. “Go unlock the door, and I’ll get the cash register ready for business.”
Kenzie hurried to the glass front door, but her attention stayed behind in the storeroom. Thank goodness this weekend was her Saturday off. Patience might be an admired virtue, but she could hardly wait to sort through the clothes in that big box.
Lori Fowler
“Hey, girl!” Lori stepped into the fabric shop and wrapped her friend Kenzie in a hug. “Thanks for letting me in. I knocked three times. I was starting to worry nobody was here.”
Kenzie wriggled free and tugged the waist of her pink T-shirt to her hips. “Sorry about that. Ruby and I were in the storeroom. I guess we didn’t hear you the first two times.”
Kenzie was a sweetheart—Lori loved her to pieces—but she wasn’t much for demonstrative touching. Probably due to her strict upbringing. Somehow Lori always forgot and hugged her anyway. Mostly because Lori needed the hugging. She tucked her purse into her employee cubby under the front counter and grinned over her shoulder. “Did we get in a new shipment?” If so, she knew what she’d be doing today. And she didn’t mind. She enjoyed setting up displays, making them eye catching for customers. Ruby always told her she had a knack, and the praise made her heart swell.
Kenzie shook her head, her sleek ponytail swaying. Lori had a hard time not being jealous of Kenzie’s hair, yellow as a daffodil and as shiny as silk. If Lori lived to be ninety, she’d never stop ruing the curly rust-colored hair she’d inherited from her mom’s side of the family. Kenzie leaned in a bit, her blue eyes sparkling. “Clothes for my project.”
True delight exploded in Lori’s chest. “Oh, fun! Will you let me help?” She’d assisted Kenzie at least a dozen times in the past year. She wasn’t