Page 5 of Mechanic’s Christmas Match

“Hi,” Theo said as Ana slid in next to his car seat.

“I’m going to try starting the car,” Rory warned him as he turned back, making eye contact in the rearview mirror again. “It might be a little noisy.”

Theo just gazed back at him, looking interested, so he figured it was okay to give it a shot.

As he expected, the engine was misfiring.

“Okay,” Rory said. “I have good news and bad news.”

“Let’s get out and talk about it,” Ana said, her eyes looking worried.

She doesn’t want to get upset in front of Theo, he realized.

He got out and met her in front of the car, where Theo could see but not hear them.

He knew Ana and her mom weren’t exactly wealthy, but it wasn’t until the first time that she brought the car in that he realized how tight things might be. He suspected there might be more to the job, but he decided to only share the easy part.

“It’s probably just a spark plug,” he told her.

“That’s good?” she asked, with hope in her eyes. “Can you do it here?”

“It’s good because it’s not expensive,” he assured her. “But you will need a tow to the shop so I can do the work.”

“Oh,” she said, her face falling.

“Don’t worry,” he told her right away. “Beau owes me one for working today when Ryan called out. Let me call him real quick.”

She nodded and headed back to Theo while Rory pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed.

“What’s up?” Beau asked.

“She needs a tow,” Rory told him. “You can take it out of my wages.”

“We’ll comp it,” Beau said immediately.

“You sure, boss?” Rory asked.

“Not a worry,” Beau told him. “You helped me out by coming in today. If that’s all it is, we’re gonna take care of your girl, no charge. I’m on my way.”

“Thanks, boss,” Rory said, but Beau had already hung up.

The man was a saint. But then Beau Wilson had been blessed with a beautiful family, a repair shop, and a Christmas tree farm. Rory figured it was a little easier to be generous when you already had more than enough to get by. But even if that wasn’t the case, folks here helped each other no matter what. It was their way.

Rory and his sister were from a part of the city where things were tight for everyone. Most of the families they’d grown up with had moved away from the block as a dangerous element closed in on the neighborhood. Coming to Trinity Falls had probably saved his life.

He was almost back at the car before he realized exactly what Beau had said—we’re gonna take care of your girl.

A warm feeling filled his chest and it was hard not to smile.

Take it easy, he warned himself again.

“Any luck?” Ana asked.

“Beau’s on his way with the tow truck,” Rory told her. “Why don’t we get you and Theo into my truck while we wait for him?”

“Thank you,” Ana said. “Hey, Theo. We have to get you out. We’re going for a ride in Rory’s truck.”

“Why?” Theo asked.