Page 23 of Wish You Faith (Christmas Sweethearts #1)

CHAPTER TWELVE

T he Honor Scholarship covered housing expenses in the entire SSLR property, including the old condominiums on Founders Row, but only up to the cost of a regular SSLR apartment. Rosie and her mom would pay for the balance of the monthly rental.

Yes, Founders Row.

Rosie pinched herself as she drove Mom to SSLR. She was shocked when Roger called them back the day before to tell them that Mom had been selected to rent a condominium on Founders Row.

It was rare and unusual, but it happened to Mom. They thanked God for the unexpected blessing and simply accepted it.

Mom wanted to see the condo right away, especially after finding out that it had three bedrooms. She could have two SSLR roommates, and thereby help to solve the housing crisis at the retirement community.

However, Mom was particular with whom she wanted to room.

She said that she would only welcome Marcella and Dottie as her fallback option—if Rosie decided not to stay with her.

That caught Rosie off guard. It was as though Mom had expected her to move on with her own life as soon as Mom had good care at SSLR.

Mom had a point. Rosie had a boyfriend now, and if she ended up marrying Evan, would they live with Mom? Probably not. Otherwise they could be Mom’s two roommates.

“I can’t have anyone else stay with me.” Mom continued to chatter away about roommates and division of labor and whatever popped into her mind.

Rosie was happy that Mom was active and alive and well. What else could she wish for?

Arriving at SSLR with her permanent parking pass, Rosie parked their car outside the main building. She had been here many times, dropping off and picking up Mom from her community activities.

“That is, if you’re not living with me.” Mom unfastened her seat belt and got out of the car.

Rosie also did the same from the driver’s side. “Why would I not be living with you, Mom?”

“When you get married, sweetie.” Mom made the “Are you silly?” look.

“We’ll still move in with you.”

“I don’t think so.” Mom’s voice was firm. “I’m not cleaning up after you.”

They both laughed.

As a caregiver, Rosie would have to pay a bit extra each month for food and utilities if they moved into any SSLR apartment or condo. Mom insisted that they dip into their savings for that if Rosie’s income at Christmastown didn’t cover it. Mom said that was why Dad had left them money.

Rosie wasn’t sure how long she’d be Mom’s caregiver.

There would come a time when Mom’s needs would exceed her ability.

At that time, Mom would move to the assisted living building on the SSLR property.

Mom would get around-the-clock care from trained staff and nurses.

There would be a doctor on-call if she needed help in the middle of the night.

It would cost more, but Rosie thanked God that they owned their family home.

They had paid it off with Dad’s life insurance money.

No mortgages meant more money in the pocket for them.

No car payments either. Rosie was happy to have been living debt free for the last year since they paid off all of Mom’s medical bills.

Roger had other things to do this morning, so he sent his able assistant, Algernon, to take them on a golf cart to the Founders Row, where Mom’s new home would be for the rest of her life.

The morning temperature was in the upper fifties.

It was a bit cloudy, but warm enough for both Rosie and Mom to wear a fleece jacket instead of wool.

“You’re fortunate to get this condo,” Algernon said. “You can get off the waiting list.”

The roar of the ocean grew louder as Algernon drove them past the Christmas garden that Christmastown had decorated the other night. Rosie could see the wrought iron benches where she and Evan had sat.

“Did we jump the queue?” Mom asked. “I don’t want to be ahead of people who have waited longer than I have.”

“It makes no difference, and no, you’re not jumping the queue. Rusty Cavanaugh’s will stipulated that only family and friends can rent it. As such, it has been empty for two years until now, since nobody wanted to live here.”

Rusty Cavanaugh?

Cavanaugh.

“Wait. Who?” Rosie knew it was too good to be true. She had suspected that Mom hadn’t been randomly selected to live on prestigious—but older—Founders Row.

“Rusty Cavanaugh. Do you know him?” Algernon asked casually.

Rosie shrugged but she knew she would soon have a conversation with Evan. It was patently obvious. Evan had said that his grandpa had lived on Tybee Island and passed away two years ago. The timing and location fit what Algernon had just told them.

A text from Lorenzo interrupted Rosie’s mental plan.

Lorenzo

Have you heard? HR fired Bellina this morning.

Rosie

Wow. Did they say why?

Lorenzo

I had to ask around. Remember the ball at Moss Tybee? How we were a shipment short?

Rosie

Yeah. Painful.

Lorenzo

Apparently, someone in data entry fessed up. Bellina paid her fifteen hundred dollars to change the numbers so that we would be short. The idea was to make the tree farm look incompetent.

Everyone knew that Bellina was a difficult co-worker and didn’t play nice with others, but for her to purposely sabotage work at Christmastown was spiteful and beyond the pale.

Rosie

Is the tree farm itself her real target?

Lorenzo

I suspect not. She’s been upset since the day she saw Travis pursue you but ignore her instead.

Rosie

A woman scorned, I suppose. Didn’t she get the memo about Evan and me?

Lorenzo

No idea. However, the deed was already done, and nobody thought—or wanted—to correct the records.

Rosie

I’m just glad it’s over.

Lorenzo

Me too. See you after lunch.

Rosie put away her phone. Mom and Algernon were chatting about something, but Rosie didn’t pay any attention. She was looking at the surroundings as the golf cart rumbled down the path.

This was an area of SSLR that she hadn’t frequented because no one had hired Christmastown to decorate it. Founders Row was far away from the main road and buildings, and its residents preferred the quiet.

When the golf cart made a turn, Rosie saw the sign.

Cavanaugh Lane.

She snapped a quick photo of the road sign and sent it to Evan. He didn’t reply right away. Must be in another meeting.

Seagulls glided in the wind above them as Algernon parked the golf cart at a parking lot by a row of two-story condos.

Rosie helped Mom out of the golf cart.

“Mmm. I can smell the salt air already.” Mom adjusted her fleece jacket. “Do you hear the ocean, sweetie?”

“Yes, Mom.” Rosie wanted to cry.

Even if the condo faced the parking lot, she wasn’t going to complain. She could take Mom downstairs and walk to the beach. They could have picnics and read books sitting in beach chairs. Mom would say she wished that Dad were still alive to enjoy retirement with her.

They went up the elevator to the second floor.

Algernon stopped at the entry door. “We use keypads at SSLR, so you don’t need keys.”

After he punched in the codes to unlock the keypad on the door, they entered an empty condominium. The first thing Rosie noticed was the ocean and sky outside the sliding glass doors in the living room. The curtains were pulled back such that a panoramic scene greeted her.

“Ooh. My dream came true!” Mom made a beeline for the balcony.

Algernon unlocked the glass doors, and the ocean and sky greeted Mom.

Rosie started recording Mom on her iPhone. Mom lifted her face toward the sun and closed her eyes. The breeze played about with her wavy gray hair. The beach was Mom’s happy place.

Whoever rented this condo to Mom deserved a double blessing from God.

“Shall we tour the condo before lunch?” Algernon asked.

“Young man, give me a minute to enjoy God’s sunshine and hear the ocean.” Mom didn’t move. “I think I need to turn my hearing aid down. It’s getting loud.” She laughed.

Rosie watched Mom enjoying her little bit of happiness. She couldn’t think about the future, even though Mom had bought the funeral plot next to Dad’s a long time ago. Right now, this very moment, Rosie only wanted to remember the good times with Mom.

A few minutes passed by. Then Mom was ready to go inside.

“Turn that off.” Mom pointed to her face. “This is not my good side.”

Rosie chuckled. Who cared? This was a private video she wasn’t going to show anyone—except Evan. She turned off the recording, and followed Mom and Algernon inside.

“When can we move in?” Mom asked as she stepped into the living room.

“Any day, ma’am. This condo is ready for you.” Algernon stepped back a bit and turned around, as though he was making a presentation. “I’ve already called our white-glove movers, and they will call your daughter to set up an appointment to see what you’d like moved.”

“How big is this condo?” Rosie asked.

“About thirty-five hundred square feet.”

“Oh. Bigger than our house, sweetie,” Mom said. “Our entire house could fit in here.”

“We’ll discuss what we should move now—such as our beds and clothes—so that you can be here to enjoy the view right away,” Rosie said. “The rest, we may or may not move.”

“If you and I both stay here, then what are we going to do with our old house?”

“We can rent it out, maybe after we replace the carpet and repaint the walls.” Rosie thought that perhaps Evan could rent their old house when he returned to Savannah, if he hadn’t made other plans already.

Regardless, Rosie was sure they’d need to update the forty-year-old kitchen. Maybe she’d make a trip to Home Depot or Lowe’s to see what sort of budget she’d need to renovate a small kitchen. Rental properties could bring in some income that might offset some of Mom’s future medical expenses.

Oh, she did it again.

Rosie didn’t want to think about unhappy things, but she couldn’t help herself.

“This condo is just too good to be true,” Mom said. “Everything I ever wanted, sweetie. I thought we’d have to wait three years for a place at SSLR. Surprised that we got it in less than a year.”

“I’m surprised too.” Rosie thanked God over and over.

Mom turned to Algernon. “I feel bad that I can move in now while other scholarship recipients have to remain on the waiting list.”

“They don’t mind because they know about another surprise that we haven’t announced yet.

” Algernon checked his phone as it pinged while he spoke.

“Around the same time last week, one of our donors bought the apartment complex across the street and gifted it to SSLR. We close in a month and begin the renovations the week after. Forty new apartments will be available for occupation in late spring instead of a year or longer.”

“Oh I see.” Mom’s palm went to her chest. “Whew. I don’t feel too bad then.”

“You shouldn’t. Founders Row has nothing to do with Tybee Apartments.” Algernon smiled. “Roger talked to the scholarship winners, and they all wanted first dibs on the new apartments.”

Algernon then went on to talk about the history of SSLR.

“In the seventies, before SSLR, a group of people bought this land as an investment property. At first they wanted to build a resort like what you find on Jekyll Island, but then there was a fallout among the business partners. They dissolved the project, with seven of them buying up the land from the rest of them. They built condos for themselves, and as their own parents aged, they decided to start a retirement community for them. Thus SSLR was created.”

Algernon waved his arms. “This was one of the original condos. That’s why this entire section is called Founders Row.”

“It doesn’t have lead pipes, does it?” Mom joked.

“It’s not that old. It’s been updated a few times by the owner.”

Rosie’s phone played a chime. She checked her messages and was glad to hear from Evan. He wanted her to call him when she finished the tour to tell him all about it. However, he was in a meeting. Could they talk afterward?

Sure.

Rosie wondered if that was how it would be in their relationship. Two people with busy careers on separate coasts, missing each other like crazy every day, but too uncertain to make any changes.

She knew she couldn’t quit her job at Christmastown and drag Mom across the country to Seattle. Until she married, she had to prioritize Mom and her need to be near Savannah Memorial Hospital and to receive the best care at SSLR.

SSLR would be where Mom would spend her last days on earth. And Rosie was determined to make sure those days were filled with happy thoughts. After having lived a long and fruitful life, Mom deserved the rest.

Therefore, there was no way Rosie would leave Savannah at this time—not until Mom passed away.

Perhaps meeting Evan was only for this point in time. Their future together was uncertain and not promised.

I leave our future in Your hands, Lord.

The prayer emanated from the depths of her heart, and Rosie wanted to cry. She missed Evan so much.

And if all indications were right, Evan also missed her.

Not one to dwell on the why and wherefore, Rosie preferred to focus on what she could do right now, given the cards she was dealt.

Of course, You’re sovereign over all, Lord.

Yes, God was indeed sovereign over Rosie’s whirlwind relationship with Evan, over their parting and the distance between them.

Over all.

Rosie felt calmness in her heart. She prayed the same for Evan over there in Seattle, barely starting his morning at work, three hours behind Savannah.

After she said a silent “amen” to end her prayer, she found Algernon and Mom chatting about grandkids.

Grandkids?

Right now Mom had none. Rosie wondered if Mom would ever see her future grandkids. If her cancer returned, then there was no guarantee how long Mom would live without treatment. Why was Mom stubborn like that?

Therefore, whether this condo had anything to do with Evan, which Rosie would soon find out one way or another, she knew that she had to take it and accept it as divine providence.