Page 20 of Wish You Faith (Christmas Sweethearts #1)

CHAPTER TEN

E van floated on cloud nine the rest of the day and all the way back to his rental apartment after work. He wanted to have dinner with Rosie, but she and her mom were going to a ladies’ night out with Dottie and Marcella. Three widows and Rosie the driver.

Evan ate some Chinese takeout leftovers from Sunday night and was about to watch Netflix, when he received a text from his brother. He checked it right away because he and Connor chatted a few times a week.

Connor

Family meeting this weekend. Can you come?

Evan

No.

Connor

Intervention.

Evan sighed. Here we go again.

Every time Connor mentioned “intervention,” it was about their parents. If they quarreled so much, why would they still remain married to each other?

Evan

Mom and Dad at it again?

Connor

Unfortunately. This time Dad wants to take the company public. Mom wants to keep it in the family. You and I have been named as their arbitrators.

Evan

Why don’t they just call Joe? He’ll send an arbitrator.

Joe D’Amato was the Cavanaugh family attorney who charged them a higher price than all his other clients because Mom wanted to be his top priority. Joe couldn’t exclusively work for the Cavanaughs because the drama in the family would drive him insane.

Evan

IDK if we should be arbitrators. We’re not independent of the family. Isn’t this a conflict of interest?

Connor

I think not. We’re minority shareholders so we have a say in this. It’s like a shareholder meeting. I shouldn’t have said “arbitrators.” But you know what I mean. We have to settle this dispute between our grown adult parents.

Evan

I’ll sell my shares to you. You deal with them.

Connor

Ha. Thought you’d say that. Mom says you must come. Just for the weekend. She’ll pay for your plane tickets.

Evan

I’ll think about it.

Connor

Today. You have to decide today.

Evan

I have work to do.

Evan waited for Connor to reply. He didn’t. Instead, he called.

“Marsha is on bedrest,” Connor said over the phone. “We’re too far along for us to lose this baby. She’s had two miscarriages before this one.”

“I’ll be praying for you until the baby is born healthy.”

“Thanks, bro. Thing is, Dad probably should retire but he isn’t. Mom’s fighting with him a lot over trivial matters. She seems to think she’s losing control over our family.”

“She needs Jesus.” It was all Evan thought to say. He felt bad that he had quit the family business and left Connor all alone to handle it.

“Some days I feel like Atlas with the world on my shoulders,” Connor said. “If not for the grace and mercy of God, I’d burn out.”

“I’m sorry. I know it’s a lot of pressure on you, but you seem to manage it better than I can.”

“You say that but you left me alone.” Connor didn’t sound like he was accusing Evan of dereliction of duty. “I’m happy for you that you get to make your career choices. I’m stuck, and I don’t think I can get out of this. It’s best for me to work here to provide for my family.”

Connor had put his family first over his own happiness.

“The company is doing very well,” Connor said.

“I know it is, and I’m glad.”

“But it’s a lot of work to manage this success.” There was strain in Connor’s voice. “I need you to consider and pray about coming home to share my burden—at least until the baby is born. After that, you can go back to your world tour or whatever it is you want to do.”

Evan wasn’t sure how to respond. How could he leave Rosie in Savannah and return to Seattle? Their relationship had only begun. In fact, it was only less than ten hours ago that he and Rosie had gone public with their relationship.

It had been a whirlwind, and he wanted to calm down and stabilize their boyfriend-girlfriend status.

How could he pack up and go home to Seattle now?

“This timing is bad for me…” Evan started to say before realizing how selfish he sounded. He was only focused on himself and his own personal happiness, while Connor was out there holding down the fort and sacrificing his own desires to keep the family business going.

“All right. I’ll talk to Cyrus and see if I can get a week off,” Evan finally said.

“You were planning to come home for Christmas anyway. This is one week early.” Connor’s voice suddenly sounded jovial, as though a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders.

That burden now landed on Evan’s shoulders.

“Maybe when you go back to Savannah you can stay a week longer,” Connor added.

“Or be here for Christmas instead of in Seattle.” Evan wanted to move to Savannah permanently.

“Just take it as I owe you one. Pray about it and let me know?”

“I will.” Evan sighed. “I’ll also talk to my girlfriend and see what she says.”

“Girlfriend?” Connor laughed. “After all these years, you finally found yourself a girlfriend?”

“Divine providence.”

“For sure. Send me a photo.”

“Will do.” Evan wondered what would happen if Connor forwarded the photo to Mom. Would she approve of Rosie?

Funny how Evan still wanted Mom’s approval even though they weren’t exactly getting along at this time.

Hmmm. Maybe he could make peace with Mom. It was time for them to sit down and talk and get their annoyances ironed out. If they could do it before Christmas, Evan would feel better about celebrating the Lord’s birthday without this dark cloud hovering over him.

What would Rosie think of him if she found out how bad his relationship with Mom was? Would she think less of him?

Yeah, he’d better go home to Seattle and settle this matter with Mom so that his conscience was clear and he could move forward with Rosie.

The opportunity had come in an unexpected form, even though Evan felt bad that his sister-in-law was on bedrest before Connor called him for help with the company and to deal with their parents. With Evan at the office, Connor could ease up and be available for his wife.

Evan would have to leave Rosie sooner than he’d expected.

Then again, perhaps this could be a test of their relationship. If they survived this separation unscathed, then Evan wanted to marry her.

Startled at his own thoughts, his jaw dropped.

Then he smiled the biggest smile.

He called Rosie on video.

She was in the kitchen. “Whassup?”

“I have to fly out to Seattle sooner than expected.” Might as well tell her as it is.

“Is everything okay at home?” Rosie walked with her phone to the living room. All was quiet there. Maybe Sonya had gone to bed. It was almost nine o’clock in the evening.

“Mom and Dad are quarreling again. My brother and I usually mediate.”

“He’s all by himself then. You need to go help.”

“That’s not all. My sister-in-law is on bedrest, and Connor is in charge alone. I was his VP until I quit.” He didn’t tell her that they didn’t hire his replacement because they thought he’d be back in January.

“Then all the more reason for you to go home.”

“Home is Savannah now. I don’t want to leave you.” Evan hoped his voice didn’t sound like he was whining.

“How long will you be gone?”

“I’m not sure. A week, two weeks?” Evan wanted to come home by Christmas, but he couldn’t promise. When dealing with Mom, it could take days. But he had to help Connor at the office also.

“Have you prayed about it?” Rosie asked.

“Not yet. I just got off the phone with Connor.”

“Let’s pray about it and see what God says.” Rosie sat down on an armchair. “I’m thinking that you need to go. Your family needs you. Your parents are not saved. You have an opportunity to show them the love of Christ. What better time than at Christmas?”

“Good point.”

“Go.”

“But I’m going to miss you.” Evan could feel the separation already.

“I will miss you too, but we have a lifetime to get to know each other,” Rosie said.

A lifetime?

Evan’s heart warmed.