Page 68 of Wish You Faith

“The warehouse?” Evan’s jaw dropped.

“I know, right. I was equally alarmed.” Rosie shook her head. “Thankfully, they’re not going to let her do any heavy work. She’s mainly there to socialize with the other retirees from our church’s Super Seniors. I wouldn’t put it past Mom and her friends to look for new boyfriends.”

Evan laughed out loud. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t laugh.”

“No, you shouldn’t. So I can have a boyfriend but Mom can’t?”

Evan cleared his throat. “You’ll have to vet those potential boyfriends.”

“If you keep going in this direction, I’m hanging up.”

“No! Don’t hang up. What do they do at the warehouse?”

Rosie shrugged. “I’ll find out tonight when I get home. Mom’s getting a ride after work, so I don’t have to go pick her up.”

Sure, these were everyday activities in Rosie’s world, but Evan longed for them. He didn’t want the corporate pressure that followed him everywhere he went at Cavanaugh Shipping. However, the trade had been made, and he had to deliver, as promised.

Evan wondered when he could finally tell Rosie why he had to move home to Seattle. He decided to wait until after the meeting this afternoon.

If it went well, then he’d have a decent job that he could use to support a family—both Rosie and her mother.

If they couldn’t agree to his terms, then Evan would quit his job at Cavanaugh Shipping and never look back.

Either way he’d be back in Savannah by the first week of the new year.

Evan took a sip of the sparkling water. “I miss you, Rosie.”

“It’s only been a week though.”

“Yeah. A very long week.”

“You know how busy we’ve been since you left.” Rosie sat down on the hammock. “I’m still amazed that Roger called us and told us about the private scholarship. It was all so sudden.”

Evan nodded. He didn’t want to tell her anything yet because they were still in the delicate stage of their relationship. He wasn’t sure how Rosie’s opinion of him would change once the truth came out.

He would tell her in due time.

Soon.

“So you like the new condo?” Evan asked.

“Me?” Rosie placed a palm on her chest. Her nails were still unpolished, but she’d kept them clean. She always wore gardening gloves when she worked with soil and plants.

“Well, I can stay anywhere as long as I’m with Mom. She’s over the moon, though. The condo is everything she dreamed of. Her bedroom window opens up to the Atlantic. She can hear the ocean waves whenever she wants. The food at SSLR is amazing. Of course, I have to pay extra as a caregiver, but it’s nothing compared to the monthly rent, you know.”

Evan loved listening to her talk. “I’m glad it’s working out.”

“God provided the best for Mom, and I’m forever grateful.” Rosie knitted her eyebrows together. “I’m still curious about the condo though. Are you related to Rusty Cavanaugh? We were told that Mom was handpicked to rent the condo he used to live in. Can you believe it?”

She was so excited that she kept talking without waiting for a reply. Perhaps she already knew the answer. Or maybe she was afraid of what she’d find out. Either way, he’d have a lot of explaining to do later so that he hid nothing from Rosie.

“Mom gets to stay there until she passes away. It’s the best gift ever,” Rosie concluded.

Evan nodded. Tears welled in his eyes, but he held them back. It was worth sacrificing ten years for. What was the use of a trust fund if it sat there and collected interest but could help no one?

He’d give it all up all over again to see Rosie smile.

He knew that it was bittersweet. Rosie would cry at her mother’s funeral. Until then, Evan had done his best to let Rosie and her mom have a nice place to stay. The doctors on call were expensive, but he wanted to make sure Sonya didn’t suffer in her last days on earth.

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