Page 45 of Mechanic’s Christmas Match

Thankfully, Miss Caroline began to read the first book and Ana had something to focus on.

Theo enjoyed himself thoroughly, and Leo stayed very focused for such a small fellow. When the story time was over, Miss Caroline said goodbye and told them she would see them next week.

Theo scrambled up immediately, ready to go play outside after sitting quietly for a nice long time.

“Where are you guys headed?” Rory asked Ana.

“Oh,” she said. “We normally go to the park after story time to stretch our legs.”

“That sounds nice,” he said, pausing expectantly.

“Um, do you want to come along?” she asked.

“That’d be great,” he said with a big smile. “Right, Leo? We’ll stay out of your mom’s way for a little longer so she can rest.”

“Is Evangeline okay?” Ana asked, taking Theo’s hand as they headed out.

“Is he coming too?” Theo asked at the same time.

“Yes,” Ana told Theo. “Does that sound like fun?”

“You’re coming too, baby,” Theo told Leo with a big smile. “You’re coming too.”

Leo laughed at Theo and reached for him from up in Rory’s arms.

“I’ll put you down as soon as we get closer, buddy,” Rory told him. “We just have to get out of the crowd so you don’t get bumped around.”

Leo seemed content to chuckle at Theo from Rory’s arms, so they continued out to the lobby, where they pulled on their coats.

“Here we go,” Rory told Leo.

He held open one of the glass doors for Ana and Theo, and all four of them headed out onto the walkway leading to Park Avenue.

“Eva’s fine,” Rory said in answer to Ana’s earlier question. “She says the doctor wants her to rest because she has sciatica.”

“Oh,” Ana said. “That sounds painful.”

“Yeah,” Rory said, nodding. “I don’t like it, but when she told me he wanted her to rest, I was afraid it was something worse, so I was honestly relieved to hear it.”

Ana nodded. That was understandable.

They crossed the street and walked slowly down the other side of Park. Theo was walking on his own, but Leo had snuggled into Rory’s neck.

They passed the ballet school with the golden ballerina on the sign and turned down the little path that led to the toddler park as the wind picked up a little.

“Smells like snow,” Rory said with a smile.

“It’s so early for snow,” Ana said. But he was right. There was the tiniest taste of shimmering snow on the cold breeze.

“Snow,” Theo yelled, letting go of Ana’s hand and scampering the last bit of the way to the wooden gate of the park.

There was no one else there, so the equipment was all empty and available to the boys. After they were all inside, Rory closed the gate behind them before lowering Leo to the ground.

“Swings, Leo,” Theo said to the little one, pointing with one mittened hand and holding the other out for Leo.

Leo grinned up at Theo for a moment, then took his hand and the two of them headed for the swings. Ana felt proud that Theo remembered to go slowly so his little friend could keep up.

“They’re pretty good together,” Rory pointed out, his voice gruff.