Page 19 of Mechanic’s Christmas Match

Taking a deep breath and plastering on a smile, she headed down the stairs from the apartment with the warm plate in her hands.

Just because she was going to Jolly Beans with Rory during her lunch break didn’t mean her mom should have to eat a yogurt from the mini-fridge.

Stepping back into the shop, she couldn’t help appreciating the way they had laid things out this year. Even the clearance section, which was practically empty now, had been plenty spacious without impacting the setup in the front of the shop.

“I thought you were getting changed,” her mother said, sounding disappointed. “Don’t you want to look special for your date?”

“I told you, Mami,” Ana said with a smile. “It’s not a date. I’m going to set him up with Maggie Sullivan.”

“Why?” her mother asked, not for the first time. “He’s good for you.”

Ana let out a breath slowly, trying to think of an explanation that her mom would accept. She certainly wasn’t going to tell her that it had anything to do with her or with Theo.

“Here,” she said, setting the plate on the counter. “Leftovers. I warmed them up.”

“You’re a good daughter,” her mother told her, lifting the napkin to reveal some rice and beans with plantains and a little salad. “You don’t think Rory could get used to eating like this every day?”

Ana laughed and watched her mom inhale the steam coming off the plate with a blissful expression.

“He likes Maggie,” Ana said simply. “And she’s really nice.”

“Then why’s he going out with you?” her mom asked.

“I think he’s nervous about it,” Ana said, frowning. Honestly, she was still trying to figure that out herself. “He said something to me, it was so strange, like he thinks he’s not worthy of her or something. I’m just going to talk with him, get him pumped up I guess.”

“A boy like that doesn’t need any help with women,” her mom said, shaking her head.

Ana had been thinking the exact same thing. But she didn’t want to admit it to her mom.

“People feel nervous for all kinds of reasons,” she said. “We don’t know what his hang-ups might be.”

Her mother smiled knowingly.

“What?” Ana asked.

“You love to help people,” her mother said, looking up. “But you need a life of your own.”

“I have an amazing life,” Ana said, gesturing to the shop and her mom.

“You have a job you like,” her mom agreed. “And you have family. And that’s a lot. But you need something more, something that’s all for you. A little romance never hurt anyone, Ana.”

But there was no point getting into that. Rory had enough baggage of his own, apparently. He didn’t need Ana adding hers to the pile.

Besides, all she wanted was to hold onto the life she shared with her mom and Theo just as it was. She didn’t need to be chasing something more—that was a sure way to stumble and lose all the good things she had.

“Can I bring you back anything?” Ana asked, grabbing her coat.

“No, my love,” her mom said with a wistful smile. “Have fun. And don’t hurry back. I can close up for a few minutes to pick up Theo if you aren’t back in time.”

“Thank you, Mami,” Ana said, coming back to embrace her mother. “I love you.”

Her mother squeezed her back, her petite frame filled with a strength that seemed to come from nowhere as she gave Ana one of her life-affirming hugs.

As Ana turned back to the door, it opened and Rory appeared.

“Hi, Ana,” he said. “Hello, Mrs. Gutierrez.”

“Hello, Rory Dunn,” Ana’s mom replied. “You sure you want to go out? Ana made rice and beans.”