Page 14 of Wish You Faith (Christmas Sweethearts #1)

CHAPTER SEVEN

S andwiched between Oglethorpe Mall and Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah on Ice was in what was previously a distribution warehouse. The parking lot was large and brightly lit. Evan stopped walking at the curb.

He was still holding Rosie’s hand.

“Where are you parked?” he asked.

“One sec.” Rosie swiped her phone, and showed Evan a photograph of the sign near her car. “B-10.”

“Clever.”

“I used to write it down on a piece of paper, but taking a photo is easier.” She pocketed her phone. “I try to capture things like trees and poles so that I can identify where I should walk to, you know.”

“My truck is parked over there.” Evan pointed straight ahead. “Someone happened to be leaving when I pulled in, so I took their spot.”

“Maybe you can give me a ride to my car.”

“I plan to.” Evan led her to his Silverado.

“Is this a rental?” Rosie climbed in and buckled up.

“No. It’s mine. I drove it all the way from Seattle.”

“Wow. How much did you pay for gas to get here?”

“I didn’t pay attention, but I spent more because I took a few detours.” Evan started the engine. “I wasn’t planning to come to Savannah, but I needed a temporary job, and Cyrus was hiring.”

“So here you are.” Rosie pointed the way to B-10.

When they reached her car, Evan was reluctant to let her go. “It’s not even eight o’clock. Want to do something?”

“I was thinking of just going home.” Rosie took out her car keys from her jacket pocket.

It was then that Evan realized she didn’t have her handbag with her. She must’ve just used her zippered pocket as a purse.

“Would you like to go somewhere?” Evan asked as casually as he could.

“Where do you have in mind?”

“I don’t know. The mall is next door, for example.”

“Probably crowded with Christmas shoppers.” She didn’t say more.

Evan wondered if Rosie wasn’t interested in walking around a mall and shopping. “As you can see, I’m winging Plan B. I thought we’d be skating all evening.”

“You were, not me,” Rosie said. “I had no plans whatsoever to get on the ice.”

“I would stay with you on and off the ice.”

“I was going to leave at eight o’clock anyway. I only went this evening because I told my Sunday school class that I would.”

“Oh.” Disappointment washed over Evan.

“But...”

“But what?” Evan perked up.

She didn’t say anything. Evan sensed that she was waiting for him to make a suggestion. That made him feel brave.

“Maybe we could get some hot chocolate and desserts.” Evan wished he’d been more prepared with ideas for their unexpected evening together, but he had really thought they’d be at the ice rink for a while.

“Well, twenty minutes from here is Piper’s Place on River Street,” Rosie said. “They’re open twenty-four-seven except on Sundays.”

“Do they have good desserts?”

“I hear they do, but I’m on a diet. I don’t drink coffee after four o’clock, but I’ll go with you for some hot chocolate—although it does have caffeine.” She paused. “Maybe I’ll just have mineral water.”

“Get whatever you want. I’ll pay.”

“Uh… No need. I think we should just go Dutch, just in case I want a cupcake. Piper’s Place is known for its cupcakes.”

“A cupcake diet?” Evan chuckled at how quickly Rosie switched from no desserts to desserts in minutes.

“Another struggle in life, I tell you.”

“Maybe we can split a cupcake. That would help, wouldn’t it?” Evan suggested.

“Why am I even thinking of cupcakes? Maybe I shouldn’t go to Piper’s Place at all.”

“I’m sure they have fruit cups,” Evan said.

“Okay.”

“Good.” Evan tried to think of the positive side of the matter. Rosie had agreed to go get hot chocolate with him. That was a step forward, wasn’t it?

Rosie opened the passenger door. “Do you want to meet there or…?”

“How about we drop off your car at your house and carpool?” Evan didn’t want to give her a chance to change her mind once they reached her house. Or risk the opportunity that they’d get separated on River Street.

“That’s what I wanted to suggest, but I didn’t want to be too forward.”

“Not at all. I’d rather you speak your mind.”

“Downtown parking will be a nightmare since it’s Friday night at the river.” Her eyes widened. “Oooh. It’s Friday night. I almost forgot. There’s fireworks by the river.”

“Good deal. Let’s go see the fireworks.”

“All right. Let’s do it. I haven’t been to the promenade at night in a long time. I prefer not to go alone at night, and even with Mom, I feel that I can’t protect her enough.”

“I’m here. I’ll protect you.”

Rosie stared at him, as if wondering if he was just saying it perfunctorily.

“I mean it. I took a self defense class a while back.”

“What made you do that? Did something happen?”

“Nope. It was a preventive. The company I work at—I mean worked at—hired a self defense instructor to teach all employees.”

“Hmm… That’s a good idea. Maybe I’ll suggest it to Amy. Christmastown workers need this type of training.”

“Everyone does.”

“For sure.” Rosie stepped out of the truck. “We should take my car, actually. It’s smaller and we can find more parking spots downtown. Your truck is big and takes up space.”

“Okay. So we’ll go to your house and leave my truck there.”

“That’s what I meant. I’ll text you my address in case we get separated on the road.” Rosie swiped her phone and messaged him.

Evan plugged the address into Google Maps, but was determined to stay close to Rosie’s car on the street, regardless.

He waited for Rosie to get into her small car, buckle up, and start the ignition. He reversed his truck to make room for her to back out of her parking spot.

Rosie’s house was thirteen minutes away. Evan could see the hospital building from the street. Evan wasn’t sure if he should park in the driveway, but the road in front of the house was narrow. He texted Rosie.

Rosie texted back to tell him to park in the driveway. Evan did so. He turned off the ignition and the headlights. The living room light was on. Maybe Sonya was still awake.

When he got out of the truck, the air felt nippy. He opened the back door to the extended cab and reached over the seat to grab his scarf. That warmed up his neck.

“I didn’t expect Savannah to be this cold.” Evan walked toward Rosie, who had gotten out of her car, parked behind his truck.

“It can get chilly sometimes, but not cold enough for snow—usually.” Rosie brushed hair off her forehead.

“I see the lights are still on in the living room, so I’m guessing Mom is still watching TV.

I’m thinking of asking her if she wants to come with us to see the fireworks. Is that okay with you?”

“Sure.” Well, he lied. He didn’t want Sonya to chaperone them to the river to see the fireworks and drink hot chocolate and share desserts. He wanted Rosie all to himself this evening.

“Do you want to go inside? Get some water? Use the bathroom? It will be hard to find restrooms at the river unless we go to Piper’s Place later.”

“I guess I could say hello to your mom.” Evan followed Rosie to the front door.

Before she could unlock it, the door opened. Sonya was wearing a bright red sweatshirt. Behind her, the TV blared in the living room. Voices came from the living room. There were other people in the house.

The smell of popcorn wafted into the foyer.

“Come in, come in. It’s cold outside.” Sonya ushered them into the foyer. To Evan, she said, “Coat rack’s over there.”

“Mom, we’re not staying long.” Rosie closed the door behind Evan. “We’re carpooling to see the fireworks. Would you like to go with us?”

Sonya’s answer was immediate. “Thank you, but Marcella, Dottie, and I are rewatching North and South . We just started episode three. You two go ahead.”

The two ladies waved from the living room, where they’d each taken up a recliner.

Rosie went to give them each a hug. “Didn’t know y’all came over.”

“It was impromptu,” Sonya said. “I called Dottie about something, and she said she was watching North and South . So I invited them over because my TV is bigger.”

“And sharper too,” one of the ladies said. “How was skating?”

Sonya laughed. “Dottie, you knew the answer before you asked.”

“Someday I’ll teach you how to skate,” Dottie said. “It’s not that hard.”

“I’ll just drag you down.” Rosie seemed to be taking it all in stride.

Evan almost said that Rosie already had this evening, but he didn’t want to add to the banter. He didn’t want to poke fun at Rosie. He wasn’t sure how she felt about such things. Maybe she had thick skin, but Evan didn’t want to hurt her feelings at all.

“Give me a minute and then I’ll be ready, okay?” Rosie said to Evan.

Evan nodded. He stood there at the edge of the living room, not being sure of what he was supposed to do. The historical drama was playing on TV.

“Have you seen North and South ?” Sonya asked.

“No.” The actors on screen were wearing what looked like period costumes. “Edwardian?”

Sonya nodded. “I’ve seen it countless times with Rosie.”

With Rosie.

Evan realized that he barely knew Rosie. What movie genres did she like to watch? What books did she read other than the Bible? What were her hobbies and interests? Plans for the future? How many children did she want to have?

Questions like that.

Rosie returned. “Let’s go.”

“Want to take some popcorn with you?” Sonya asked.

“I’m on a diet, so no popcorn for me,” Rosie looked at Evan. “Want some?”

“I’m all right. Thanks for asking.”

“You two hurry along and let Sonya get back to Mr. Thornton,” Dottie said from her seat.

“We’re going now.” Rosie gave her mom a hug.

Sonya’s eyes were on Evan. “Please get her home by midnight.”

“Mom!” Rosie’s face reddened. “I’m thirty. Not a teenager.”

“You will always be my baby.” Sonya blew a kiss at Rosie.

Sonya reminded Evan of how his own mom treated him, the younger of two boys. Did Mom always think of him as her baby? Could that explain why Mom hovered over him?

Perhaps he should find an opportunity to assure Mom that everything would be okay. He wanted her to stop worrying so much about his life and his lack of a wife.