Page 17 of The Christmas Ring
“Sorry.” Vanessa covered her face with one hand. She was laughing again. “Mrs. Benson doesn’t hold back.”
They walked past a few antique shops. “They’re on my list for tomorrow. After church.” Vanessa pulled a piece of paper from her purse. “Here. It’s all the antique shops in Columbus worth visiting.”
Ben glanced at the list and his heart melted a little more. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I figured that way you wouldn’t waste your time here.”
Their arms brushed together again, and Ben wanted only to make the afternoon stop, to take her in his arms and look long into her eyes. Instead, he studied the list again and slipped it into his coat pocket.
Vanessa needed to get back, so he drove her to her car. Before she stepped out he turned to her. “When does Sadie get in?”
“Seven o’clock. I’m making her favorite lasagna for dinner.”
“She should come with us tomorrow.” Ben was under no delusions about the situation with Sadie. There would be no future with Vanessa unless Sadie approved.
“Ben.” Vanessa stopped and faced him. “She doesn’t know about you yet. About us. Being friends.”
A shiver of concern passed through Ben, but he didn’t let it show. “I thought you told her.”
“I wanted to. I... I think I’m supposed to tell her in person.”
“Okay.” He smiled, his expression easy. “But you’ll tell her? Tonight?”
“That’s my plan.”
“Good.” Ben didn’t want to make an issue out of it. “We’re still on for church tomorrow?”
“Nine o’clock service.” Her smile looked as sincere as before. Nothing had changed, despite the bumpy bit about Sadie. She raised her brow. “Oh, and park out back.”
They both climbed out of his truck and walked to her car. Ben helped get her bags in the back seat, then he hugged her. The way he’d been longing to do since the embrace that started today’s adventures. Again, he kept it quick. He brushed her hair from her eyes. “I had fun today.”
“A lot better than FaceTime.” She put her hand alongside his face, and for a moment it seemed neither of them wanted to break away.
But it was too soon for more, so Ben was the first to take a step back. “Okay, then. See you tomorrow.”
“See you, Ben.” Vanessa smiled once more, then climbed into her car.
He leaned against his truck and watched her drive away.The entire day was like a dream. And as he got back behind the wheel, he smiled to himself. God was up to something, he could tell. Because for the first time since losing Laura, Ben felt ready to move on. Whatever God was doing in his heart, as he drove to his hotel, Ben had one word to describe the way he felt about Vanessa Mayfield.
Smitten.
The old, dusty antique shop was quiet, the customers long gone for the day. Not that the man had been able to focus on making sales. Hardly. All he could think about was the beautiful ring, the one that had come in a box of mixed heirlooms and aging pieces.
Now the box was down on the floor, and the ring sat perched in a small cardboard box in front of him. The man couldn’t tell for sure, but he had a hunch about this one. After so many years working with antiques, replicas, and genuine treasures, he had a feeling this one was real. He had paid fifty dollars for the box of goods with no guarantees about what it held.
This was the way he and most of his peers did business. Because with antiques, the value was in the eye of the customer. And no one knew the customers better than the antique dealers at each store. Some shops specialized in old books or machinery, pens or dishes. Others did not. Pretty straightforward.
Unless, of course, a man like him might stumble onto something real. He studied the ring again. The dark gold band and ruby-red stone surrounded by that pretty ringof shimmery diamonds. Yes, he definitely had a suspicion about this one.
He would get it appraised. That would tell him the actual story. But if he had to guess, he would bet everything in his store that this one, this beautiful ring, was not a replica.
It was real. As real as Christmas itself.
Chapter 7
The house smelled like lasagna and already Sadie had called twice to say she was on time and excited to be home. Even though dinner was just for the two of them, Vanessa had decorated the table and set out her special Christmas china plates and serving dishes.
Sadie had been home briefly for Thanksgiving. The dinner had been with Leigh and Maria and their kids, and the time had gone by in a flash. Christmas break would give Vanessa more time to reconnect with her daughter.
