Page 77 of Mechanic’s Christmas Match

“I want to fix cars,” Theo said right away, practically jumping up and down in place with excitement.

“We only have one car at the shop right now,” Rory told him sadly. “And we can’t fix it yet. We don’t have the part it needs. But maybe we can have some dinner and you can tell me about school.”

“Too much snow,” Theo said, turning his attention to the fruit salad.

“Yes, you had a snow day,” his grandmother said. “No school today.”

“Let me fix you some fruit salad,” Ana said to Theo, who looked like he was about to grab a handful of it. “We’ll put it on a plate.”

“Hi, Mrs. Gutierrez,” Rory said, turning to Ana’s mother, who had settled down beside him on the blanket. “I heard that you helped with this feast?”

“I did,” she told him. “Did you like it?”

“I loved it,” he said. “Thank you.”

“Well, I hope you like empanadas,” she said with a smile. “That’s our favorite dessert.”

“If you made them, then I know I’ll love them,” he told her, wishing he were better with words so he could tell her how much he appreciated her kindness, and how good he was going to be to her daughter, wishing he could do a better job explaining how he really felt to her and to Ana.

“She knows,” Ana’s mom said, leaning closer and speaking softly while Ana was busy piling up a plate for Theo. “She knows how much you care about all of us, and how lucky she is.”

“I’m the lucky one,” Rory said, meaning it. “And I’m going to earn her faith in me every single day.”

“You already do, my love,” Ana’s mom replied, patting his hand.

He looked across at Ana, who was smiling at him with so much warmth in her eyes he could feel it in his chest.

What did I ever do to deserve any of this?

23

ANA

Ana walked through the village toward home later that night with Rory right beside her. A gentle smile lit the big man’s handsome face as he reached for her hand again.

“Are you going to let go again?” she asked him, trying to ignore the happy little tingles that went down her spine when his big hand wrapped around hers. “When my mother turns around?”

Her mom and Theo were up ahead, peering in the window of the toy store as the last of the snow drifted down in large, lacy flakes, shimmering in the streetlamps.

“We’ll see,” he said, smirking.

But when her mom and Theo turned back a moment later, Rory kept Ana’s hand tight in his.

“Theo and I are heading up for bath time,” her mom announced in a businesslike way. “See you soon, Rory Dunn.”

“Thank you again for dinner,” Rory said, his deep voice so warm and respectful. “Good night, Theo.”

Theo dashed over to Rory, who let go of Ana’s hand and crouched to hug the boy tight.

Ana met her mother’s eyes over their heads and a surge of emotion passed between them.

Ana didn’t have many memories of her father, but she remembered running to him when he came home, and the way he held her to his chest like she was the most important thing in his world.

Just the way Rory was hugging Theo close right now.

Ana spent so much time worrying over the future and all the things that could change. But it seemed that time kept doubling in on itself, and the good things came back to her again and again.

When Theo and her mother disappeared down the side of the building to the door, Rory turned back to her and she had to blink back the tears welling up in her eyes.