Page 17 of Wish You Faith (Christmas Sweethearts #1)

“I like all kinds of fruits, but I’m partial to watermelons. It’s not summer until we have watermelons.” Her eyes had that faraway look. “When Dad was alive, he’d cut up the watermelons for us and we’d eat them sitting outdoors in the backyard. We’d line up lawn chairs, and Dad would tell stories.”

Evan didn’t know how to ask about how her dad died. It might be a sensitive topic.

“What did your dad do?” he asked instead.

“He was a crane operator at the Port of Savannah.” She paused. “He had a heart attack one day on the job and died.”

“Oh, so that was the workplace accident you mentioned.”

“Did I tell you?” She looked surprised.

“At the masked ball last Saturday, remember? But you didn’t go into details.”

“You didn’t ask.”

“I figured that if you wanted to tell me, you’d tell me.”

“I call it an accident because something happened to the crane and Dad was trapped. Maybe the stress of it all gave him a heart attack, but I don’t know. The company compensated us and paid a safety fine levied by the Port of Savannah. The company eventually went out of business.”

Evan knew a thing or two about safety at ports, but this wasn’t the time to ask for details. Besides, Rosie didn’t work at ports.

Rosie drank more hot chocolate. “Thank you for rescuing me from Travis this evening.”

She smiled.

It was inviting. Evan resisted.

“No problem. What did you do to fend him off before I came to town?” Evan asked.

“Lorenzo and our staff protected me at work. After work, I went straight home. I would’ve been home this evening as well if not for the skate night that I promised my Sunday school kids I’d go to.”

Evan nodded. “He doesn’t try to harass you at church?”

“Not at church, but I don’t know if it’s harassment, you know. That sounds indicting. He bothers me, but if it persists, I will ask for some guidance. We have police officers who are members of Riverside Chapel, and Lorenzo knows a few.”

“How long has Lorenzo lived in Savannah?” Evan asked.

“He relocated here about a year ago to be closer to his parents. They moved to SSLR years ago before they ran out of room. Pastor Flores’s dad preaches in the SSLR chapel services on Sunday mornings.”

“I see.”

“SSLR must be the happening place.”

“It is, but unless they build more condos, there’s no room for Mom.”

Rosie didn’t say it and Evan didn’t want to bring it up. However, if someone died, there would be room.

“Thing is, when people move to SSLR, they get the best care in the world—medical, emotional, social, and the rest—so they tend to live longer.”

“That’s good.” Evan finished his hot chocolate and wondered if he should get more. “What are the ways to get your mom to SSLR?”

“Well, the main building is fully occupied,” Rosie explained. “SSLR is planning to buy the apartment complex across the street from it and renovate it, and they are raising funds. It’s a slow process. Nothing else is available.”

Evan knew of one that was definitely available. Grandpa’s oceanfront condo might be perfect for Rosie’s mother.

“What about Founders Row?” There, he said it.

What would it take for Evan to get Mom to agree to let Sonya live in the condo for the rest of her potentially short life? How much rent would Mom ask for and what sort of deal would she want Evan to make?

For Rosie’s sake, he would consider the sacrifice.

“Are you kidding?” Rosie laughed. “SSLR considers Founders Row to be an annex, but the condos are privately owned. Each condo has conditions, such as minimum net worth requirements or connections to the family. They don’t just willy-nilly rent them out.”

“I see.” Evan had nothing more to say since that seemed to be a dead end, unless he could do something about it.

Rosie finished her cup of hot chocolate. She smacked her lips. “Mmmm… That was good because it’s sweet. I’ll pay for it tomorrow on the scale.”

“We’ll work it off when we walk to the car.” Evan wished he hadn’t suggested it. He didn’t want to give Rosie the idea that he wanted them to leave and part ways. “I don’t mean now. We can go anytime.”

“Want to walk by the river? Looks like the crowd has thinned out.” Rosie got up before Evan could reply. That was to say, she’d go for a walk by herself if Evan preferred to sit.

“We’ll lose our seats if we get up,” he protested. He wanted to sit here on the bench a little longer with Rosie.

“Exercise, didn’t you say?” Rosie laughed. She stuffed a paper napkin into her mug to dry up the last drops of hot chocolate at the bottom, but her pockets were too small to hold the mug.

“Gimme.” Evan’s two jacket pockets were bigger, and he stuffed one mug in each.

It was closing in on ten o’clock, but the night was pleasant. Evan didn’t mind the nippy air. He could hear the gentle sloshing of the river. In the distance, the Talmadge Memorial Bridge lit up, and so did Hutchinson Island across the river.

Wind blew Rosie’s hair all about, so she tied it up into a bun on top of her head with a hair tie she found in her crossbody purse—which was really inside her jacket.

She had hung it over her sweater and then wore the jacket on top.

That was a good way to deter pickpockets in such touristy places as this one.

“It’s getting colder, even with the hot chocolate,” Rosie said. “Want your scarf back?”

“No need. I’ll just stand behind you. You can be my windbreaker.” Evan tried to hide behind Rosie, but he was almost a head taller than she was. He was so close to Rosie that he could literally put his arms around Rosie’s waist—if she’d let him.

Rosie spun around. Didn’t say a word. It was as though she was waiting for him to speak.

Evan felt brave. “I could use a hug but I don’t know how to ask for it.”

“A hug? Just so happens that I do give free hugs in Sunday school.”

“Are you treating me like a third grader from your class?” Evan pretended to be horrified.

“No, no.” She slid her arms around his waist, but suddenly she stepped back and laughed out loud.

“What?”

“The two mugs are in your pockets, aren’t they?” She couldn’t stop laughing.

Rosie laughed. The same laugh that Evan wanted to hear every day for the rest of his life.

Wait. What?

“Do you still want a hug or not?” Rosie asked.

“Yes, of course.” Quickly, Evan removed the two ceramic mugs from his jacket pockets and put them on the ground next to the low concrete wall at the water’s edge.

“Now may I get my hug?” Evan stretched out his arms.

“Your reward for saving me this evening from a certain unwanted proposal.” She leaned against his chest.

He wrapped his arms around her. Feeling slightly shy, he wasn’t sure whether he should speak or quietly enjoy this surprise treat.

They didn’t say anything until moving lights on the river caught Evan’s eyes. The source was a container ship sailing down the Savannah River.

Rosie looked in that direction when the horn blew. “How cool!”

She waved to the ship for whatever reason. Evan threaded his arms around Rosie from behind her. In a split second, he realized what he had done without thinking. He was about to release her when Rosie leaned back against his chest.

So he held her there in his arms as they watched the ship sail by.

In this very moment, Evan did not have a care in the world except to continue hugging the woman he had fallen in love with. He wondered if Rosie could sense his feelings.

“What time is it?” Rosie asked.

Evan wanted to say that he didn’t care what time it was, but he recalled that Sonya had asked him to get her home before midnight. He wasn’t going to take it seriously, but he’d have to play it by ear and see what Rosie did.

His arms were still around Rosie’s waist. She grabbed his wrist, pulled back his sleeves, and checked his watch. “Almost eleven.”

“How did you know I was wearing a watch?” Evan asked.

“I saw it when you tried to teach me to skate earlier this evening.” Rosie turned her head slightly. She stared straight into his eyes. Their faces were close to each other.

“What else have you noticed about me?” Evan faced her, his hands on her shoulders.

“That you seem to have something to say to me but you’re not saying it. Are you looking for the right time?”

“Maybe.” He inched closer to her to see how she reacted.

She didn’t move. “Maybe what?”

“Maybe I… Uh… I don’t know.”

“We’re both single, so what are you worried about?” Rosie asked.

“How did you know I don’t have a secret girlfriend out there somewhere?”

“Mom talked to Cyrus, and he said you haven’t dated in like five years.”

“And he calls himself a friend.” Evan closed his eyes.

“I haven’t dated in a few years either. I finally have some free time now that Mom’s cancer is in remission.”

Wait a minute.

“Why did your mom talk to Cyrus about me?”

“She fancies herself as my matchmaker. She approves of you, which saves me time from having to vet?—”

“Do you approve of me?” His thumb was on her chin, stroking it. His eyes were on her lips, longing for them.

Rosie nodded slightly. Her eyes bore into his. Was she anticipating something as well?

He lowered his lips toward hers. Tasting the hot chocolate. Tasting her.

A public declaration of his love for her. And her approval of him.

Love?

Yes, love.

Rosie ended the kiss. “Does that answer your question?”

“I think so.”

Evan pecked her quickly on the edge of her lips. She didn’t respond.

“What’s wrong?” Evan asked.

“We’re in public. See the people around us?” Rosie’s voice was soft.

“I don’t care. PDA is not exclusive to us.” Evan found himself mumbling about public displays of affection.

“I care about time. You not only have to drop me off at my house, but then you also have to drive home. Don’t want you to stay out too late.”

“It’s Saturday tomorrow,” Evan reminded her. “I can sleep in.”

“Oh. I forgot it’s the weekend already.”

“You work too hard, my lady.” Evan hugged her. “Consider this a much needed excursion to the river. Let’s just enjoy the minutes we have left. I gave my word to your mom that I’d get you home by midnight.”

“I don’t think she’ll mind if I’m late, but yeah, let’s go in a few.”

The few minutes seemed to last forever. Evan thanked God quietly that the feelings between him and Rosie were mutual, after all. He was surprised at how fast their relationship developed. Seven days after they had met, they kissed.

Time waited for no one, as they said. Rosie was probably more aware of this than Evan simply because she had suffered through her mother’s Stage 4 cancer once already. Even though it was in remission, Sonya could go at any time. He didn’t want that to be their reason to be together though.

“Are we moving too fast?” Evan whispered in Rosie’s ear.

“Mom says that life is too short to hem and haw. When Dad died suddenly, we weren’t with him.

He went just like that. Mom said she regretted not telling Dad that morning that she loved him—even though they had told each other ‘I love you’ countless times.

It was just that she thought she’d see him again after work, you know? ”

Evan nodded.

“That night, she cried alone. In fact, she cried a lot for the next several years.” Rosie drew a deep breath.

“We survived and Mom did better over time. When cancer struck her, it was yet another stark reminder of the brevity of life. So I determined that when I see someone I like, I won’t hesitate because I might not have the opportunity. ”

Someone I like.

“Me?” Evan asked. “When did you like me?”

“I didn’t pay attention at first, until I went with you to SSLR.”

Evan remembered the day when Travis showed up at the tree farm, and Rosie decided to join the Christmastown crew setting up outdoor decorations at SSLR. She didn’t have to, but she had to get away from Travis.

Evan didn’t want to mention his name. No way was he going to credit Travis for driving Rosie into his arms.

“Do you think God brought us together?” Rosie asked.

“Definitely.” And He was whom Evan would credit a million percent.

But…

How would he explain Rosie to Mom?

Mom’s first question for all his previous girlfriends was, “What is your blood type?” Evan wasn’t sure if that was the Asian side of her asking, or whether it was a critical medical question for the future of the Cavanaugh family.

Should he ask Rosie at all?

Mom’s next question would be about Rosie’s background. Mom would send an investigator to dig up her family story and write a report.

What would she say when she discovered that Sonya’s cancer might return and that could incur medical bills that Evan would want to help pay for—even though it would be out of his own pocket?

Then again, one thing that Mom couldn’t turn into a spreadsheet was love.

Evan knew that he was in love. As clear as day, he was in love with Rosie Hamilton.

Now that he’d kissed her, he was more certain than ever that Rosie was the only woman for him for the rest of his life. He didn’t care what Mom might think of Rosie. He only cared that God had brought Rosie into his life.

Marry me, Rosemarie.