Page 4 of Wish You Faith

“Did you get any sleep at all?” Evan asked.

“I napped briefly on a cot that Tabitha brought for me. But Rosie didn’t sleep at all for two days.” Lorenzo leaned toward Evan. “Someone in the order department hates Rosie and wants to make life miserable for her.”

“For real?” Wasn’t Christmas supposed to be a merry time of the year? Evan thought it was ironic for a Christmas-centric company to have intraoffice bickering.

“Best I can come up with.”

“If she overworks like this, wouldn’t she burn out?” Evan asked.

“It’s only in November and December. The rest of the year is not like this.”

“Good to know.”

Lorenzo shrugged. “She’s single, no kids. She lives with her mom.”

Single? No kids? Why was Lorenzo telling him that?

“So it’s all work and all caregiving for her. Maybe work fills in the blanks. I don’t know. For me, work does fill in the blanks. Tabitha works retail, and it gets super busy this time of the year. We have no free days, Tabitha and I.”

“I could have helped. I’m a floater,” Evan said.

“Then where were you the last two nights when we needed you?” Lorenzo joked.

Evan wondered if Rosie or Lorenzo would report the incident. “Why can’t the client wait until Monday?”

“Moss Tybee has an event tomorrow night, see?” Lorenzo handed him a few more boxes to load into the truck. “The ballrooms and hallways and lobbies must be decorated by tonight. Four crews are there now, but they are missing these wreaths and poinsettias.”

“Wait a second. How long ago was it scheduled?”

“Way back in September. However, for some reason, the order did not include any wreaths or poinsettias. We at the tree farm just assumed they didn’t want them this year. We only found out by accident. The resort director called Rosie the day before Thanksgiving to remind her about the ball tomorrow night. In their conversation, Rosie found out that parts of the order were missing.” Lorenzo sighed. “The resort wants a special kind of wreath that only Rosie could make. She needs a week to get them done. She had two days.”

“I’m assuming you all are getting overtime pay.”

Lorenzo nodded.

“At least it’s done now, but Rosie is lying down on the floor. She’s beyond exhausted. I told her to go home, but she wants to be here until all these wreaths and plants are delivered to Moss Tybee. Then she can personally say she saw the delivery van drive off.”

“Can she get the weekend off?” Evan followed Lorenzo back to get the next trolley.

“We don’t work on weekends, but she will be attending the ball tomorrow night. She said she might still skip it. Her mom was her plus-one, but Sonya would rather stay at home and watch TV. Then on Sunday, Rosie teaches third-grade Sunday school at her church. No rest for the weary. We’re fully booked all week.”

Evan glanced over to where Rosie was still lying down on the floor. Why didn’t she get up? He wanted to go over there to check if she was still alive. For some reason, he was curious about her and concerned about her well-being.

Beyond the area was a set of automatic double doors. They opened and Bellina walked in noisily. Her face was harsh, and she was yapping away on the phone. Walking toward Rosie on the floor, did Bellina see that bundle of super colorful sweater? Couldn’t miss it, could she?

Bellina walked fast in her winter boots, didn’t bother to avoid Rosie, and kicked her in the?—

Rosie shifted at the last minute, and Bellina’s boot narrowly avoided her head. The swift kick to Rosie’s shoulder seemed timed and deliberate, and Evan saw it all.

He dropped the boxes in his arms and ran toward Rosie, who was trying to get up now.

“Oh, I didn’t see you on the floor—of all places, Rosie.” Bellina the Belligerent put away her phone. “Are you all right?”

Her question sounded so fake that Evan’s blood boiled. Gently, he helped Rosie to her feet.

“Thank you.” She brushed dirt from her apron and jeans, looked up, and smiled.

Evan saw the prettiest gray eyes he had ever seen. He thought they had to be slightly blue, but under the lights, they were indeed a rare gray. Those eyes were filled with an invitation to something. To enjoy life, perhaps?

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