Page 47 of Mechanic’s Christmas Match

It’s not sad to choose your family, she told herself. It’s not sad to want a friend to be happy.

But if that was the case, Ana couldn’t think of a reason for how low she felt right now.

13

RORY

Rory drove back through the village with a sleepy Leo dozing off in his car seat.

Tiny snowflakes had begun swirling down from the soft gray sky, melting the moment they hit his windshield. But somehow even the magic of the early flurries couldn’t penetrate Rory’s dark mood.

Why doesn’t she feel the way I feel?

He’d had an unrequited crush here and there growing up, like every other guy. But this was different. The idea of Ana pushing him toward another woman really hurt.

I told her I was lonely…

But it wasn’t a vague sense of loneliness, it was a very specific feeling of wanting a certain woman in his life. He couldn’t just substitute Maggie for Ana.

Thankfully, he wouldn’t have to. He was sure Maggie would turn him down if he asked her out again. It was clear that they had almost nothing in common. The only part of their conversation that flowed was when both of them were talking about how much they liked Ana.

He turned on the radio, desperate for a distraction. Of course the local station was playing Christmas music all the time now, so he knew he shouldn’t see the song that started playing as a sign, but Elvis crooning “Blue Christmas” only made Rory think of Ana even more than before.

As the village spread out into the fields of the community college campus and then the big stone homes with their deep lawns and beautiful decorations, Rory tried to let his mind clear a little, and to remember everything he was grateful for.

He and his baby sister were safe and they both had food in their bellies and a roof over their heads. That was about all he’d ever wanted for as long as he could remember.

He had Leo in his life and another nephew on the way. Even if they weren’t his kids, he knew Evangeline planned for him to be a big presence in their lives.

I’ll go see them more often, he promised himself, trying not to remember that it was Ana who had encouraged him.

And he had his work, which he loved and enjoyed, solving mechanical mysteries and helping people. He drew an honest paycheck and he even had savings now.

What’s the point? a little voice murmured in the back of his head.

But he tried not to listen. He had a lot to be proud of and plenty to be grateful for.

By the time he pulled up at Evangeline and Grayson’s place, he was feeling calmer and more centered.

He got out, and then plucked a sleeping Leo from his car seat.

“Mmmumph,” Leo murmured, snuggling into Rory’s neck as he carried the boy into the house.

A sweet pine scent greeted them. Rory headed down the wide center hall, passing about a million doors before he reached the open living space with the massive kitchen and dining area, and the big comfortable sofas, all overlooking the fields.

Evangeline was stretched out on her back on one of the white couches, with a big cushion under her knees and her hands on her swollen belly, looking at the Christmas tree.

“Hey,” she said softly, turning to smile at the sight of her son asleep in Rory’s arms.

“How are you feeling?” he asked her.

“Not bad,” she said. “Honestly, I think that was the best nap I’ve ever had. Thank you so much for taking him.”

“We had a blast,” he told her. “We even stopped by the park for a few minutes afterward.”

Evangeline smiled, her eyes twinkling in a mischievous way that let Rory know all he needed to.

“You knew Ana would be there, didn’t you?” he said, realizing he’d been had by his own little sister.