Page 60 of Wish You Faith

Evan

I’ll pray for everything to work out.

Rosie

Thank you.

Evan

Keep me posted.

Rosie

Will do.

Rosie realized too late that she hadn’t asked Evan how his day had gone. She had been so preoccupied with this surprise scholarship that it was all she could think of. She felt a bit selfish and decided that tonight she would call Evan and spend time listening to him talk about his day.

Rosie wasn’t sure if she was not missing Evan anymore, but getting Mom settled at SSLR had been a major project for her in the last year since Mom’s remission. Some day the cancer might return. SSLR would be able to provide the best assisted living, nursing home, and hospice care for Mom when that time came.

No time to cry.

She found Lorenzo among the Christmas trees. The tree farm was now an extra special place for Rosie because it was here, a week ago, that Evan had declared himself to be her boyfriend.

“Hey, just the person I wanted to see.” Lorenzo was pushing a wheelbarrow filled with clippings.

“You go first.” Rosie knew that Lorenzo would be at work Tuesday, so she could wait a few minutes to ask him about filling in for her tomorrow.

“HR told me that the deputy director is leaving us, and they’re going to look for a new one to assist Rasheed after Christmas.”

“That’s news to me.” Rosie could guess where Lorenzo was heading. When Cyrus Theroux took over Christmastown from Mrs. Untermeter, Rasheed had been his assistant and warehouse manager. A year later, Cyrus looked to expand Christmastown to the region, and he made Rasheed the Savannah director to free himself up to be the overall president of the company.

“It’s a pay raise,” Lorenzo said. “I’m thinking of applying for the position.”

“You should. You’re destined for bigger things than being my assistant.”

“You mean it? You won’t be upset?”

“Why would I be? If God wants you to have the job, you shouldn’t miss the window of opportunity. I’ll write you a glowing letter of recommendation.”

“You’ll have to find a new assistant manager.”

“Does your wife want a change of pace from her retail manager position? She could apply for your job here and see if she gets it. Tell her we play with dirt all day, but then she already knows.”

Rosie knew that Lorenzo’s wife was trustworthy and reliable. She worked hard. Even though she knew very little about gardening, she had years of managerial experience working at the mall. She could be an asset to Rosie in managing the tree farm employees and volunteers.

“I will ask her.” Lorenzo looked happy. “Did you have something to talk to me about too?”

“Yes.” Rosie almost forgot. “Mom won a full scholarship to SSLR!”

“That’s awesome. Praise the Lord! What an answer to prayer.”

“Thank you for praying. Please tell Tabitha too.”

“For sure.”

“Tomorrow morning, I have to take Mom to see Roger Patel at SSLR. We’ll sign some forms.”

“When does she move?” Lorenzo asked.

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