Page 72 of Wish You Faith

It was obvious that Evan had something to do with it. Rosie had done some digging on the internet and found out that the previous occupant of this condo, Rusty Cavanaugh, had two grandsons whom he doted on until his dying day.

Rosie made up her mind to ask Evan to clear up the mystery the next time she saw him in person.

“Let’s take a selfie with our Bibles in hand.” Mom put down her coffee mug on the table. “You can send the photo to Evan.”

“But Mom, we’re in pajamas.”

“Sweetie, our flannel pajamas are modest. Nothing is revealed.”

“I guess…”

“Let’s take photos for ourselves. No need to send it to anyone if you don’t want to.”

“Okay.” Rosie felt a lump in her throat as she picked up her phone to take yet another photo. She knew that showing Evan what they were doing Christmas morning wasn’t really Mom’s intention. Lately, Mom had been asking Rosie to take photos and shoot videos of her, as though she was compiling a photographic memory for Rosie long after Mom was gone.

Rosie also knew that one of the things Mom wanted to see was Rosie in a wedding gown. Mom had talked about it since Rosie was in high school when she dreamed of seeing Dad in a suit walking Rosie down the aisle. Dad was gone now, and that wish would never be fulfilled.

But the wedding gown…

Perhaps Rosie could ask Mom to make a list of all the things she wanted to do in the new year. Then Rosie could quietly suggest they go to a bridal shop to try on gowns. Potentially, they could do a mock photo shoot at Amy’s studio in downtown Savannah. Wouldn’t that be enough for Mom, rather than a real wedding?

Rosie had no idea when she’d get married—if ever. No sooner had her relationship with Evan begun, he was called away to Seattle to deal with family business matters. They had chatted again after the Christmas Eve service the night before, but Evan only wished her a Merry Christmas and didn’t say when he might return to Savannah. Rosie didn’t ask because she feared that the answer would be painful for her.

However, she knew one thing. She had hit it off on day one with Evan. She wouldn’t have believed that love at first sight was possible if not for her grandparents’ experience. The story about Grandpa proposing to Grandma on their blind date was the best romance in the Hamilton family.

Nevertheless, was that repeatable in the modern era? Nowadays, people were less trusting of one another. Less likely to fall in love and marry quickly. In a way, her grandparents’ blind date had been arranged. Who arranged marriages today?

Then again, one could philosophically say that all marriages were arranged by the two parties involved. One could also spiritually say that a sovereign God allowed couples to meet and fall in love.

“Do you have one of those stick things?” Mom asked as she held her Bible in her hand. “I don’t think your arm is long enough. I want us to capture the ocean in the background.”

“Bummer. A selfie stick is one of those things I did not pack at the old house.” Rosie stretched her arm as far as possible, but still couldn’t get both of their faces and their Bibles and the ocean behind them. “How about we take a few photos?”

“That’s a good idea.” Mom got up and moved to the sofa.

Rosie followed her, sitting down close to Mom. She did her best to capture their smiles as she wrapped her free arm around Mom who was clutching a Bible to her chest.

“Why don’t we read God’s Word first, and then take some more photos outside on the balcony when the weather warms up a bit more?” Rosie asked. “That way, our coffee won’t get cold.”

“Perfect.” Mom opened her giant-print Bible on her lap. “Luke 2, here we come.”

Rosie sniffled.

Mom hugged her. “I miss your dad too.”

“Did you read my mind?” Rosie laughed as she turned the pages of her Bible to Luke 2.

When Rosie had been a baby, Dad started their family tradition of reading Luke 2 on Christmas morning before they opened the presents. That way, they were reminded of God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ before they enjoyed temporal gifts from family.

Rosie and Mom were taking turns reading the first few verses of Luke 2, when the doorbell rang.

“Who could that be?” Mom asked.

“Maybe Dottie and Marcella?” Rosie swiped her phone to check the security camera app?—

And nearly dropped her phone.

“It’s Evan. Yikes!” She looked down at her pajamas. “I need to change.”

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