Page 78 of Wish You Faith

“Yes, many times over.”

“How long have these talks been going on?”

“Since a week ago to the day.” His reply was quick and without hesitation.

“But you just now told me.”

“I wanted to tell you in person.”

Rosie had been missing him so badly the last week. If she had known that he was planning to do something big with his career, she would have liked to pray for him. However, this wasn’t the time to sweat the small stuff—even though withholding information wasn’t trivial.

“So your goal is to come back to Savannah,” Rosie concluded.

Evan nodded. “To be with you on a daily basis.”

“What if corporate says no?”

“Then I’m stuck.” He turned his attention to slicing cheddar cheese to put on top of his ham slider.

“Not just you, Evan.Weare stuck.Weare in this together. You’re not alone.” Standing behind him, Rosie wove her arms around his waist and leaned against his strong back.

She rested her head on his shoulder blades. She felt his muscles tensing up. She sensed that something else was going on that Evan wasn’t telling her.

They adjourned to the old dining table that Rosie and Mom had brought over from their old house. It had scratches all over it.

Evan placed his dinner plate on the table. Rosie sat down in the next seat over. They held hands as Evan prayed for God to bless his lunch.

“Amen,” they said in unison.

They chatted about work as Evan ate. He let Rosie take a bite of his ham slider. It was pretty good.

“I might eat just that for dinner,” Rosie said.

After Evan had finished eating, he turned to Rosie. “Do you like surprises?”

“Depends on what the surprise is.”

“If I surprise you with something, would you be objective about it and consider it carefully?”

“What on earth?” Rosie chuckled. “Are you thinking of Christmas riddles?”

Evan shook his head. “May I ask you an important question?”

Rosie nodded. “What is it?”

Evan went down on one knee on the wood floor, and his hand went to his pocket. “Rosemarie Hamilton…”

Rosie’s eyes welled with tears. Evan was almost transparent to her now. She could guess what he was about to ask her, but today wasn’t the right day, was it?

She put up both hands. “Stop.”

Shock registered on Evan’s face. “Why?”

“As much as I’d love to hear your question, I’m also acutely aware that today is Christmas Day.” Rosie helped him to his feet. “Today is a sacred day that belongs to Christ.”

“So is every day.”

“But Christmas is not every day. It’s like if you asked me this important question on Easter Sunday.”

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