Page 38 of The Christmas Ring
The possibility was too great for Vanessa to imagine. While they continued placing bears in the baskets, she and Sadie talked about that long-ago Breckenridge trip. How they had tumbled down the hill at the end of the sledding run and how Vanessa hadn’t had her gloves. Finding the ring now would be a miracle.
A thought occurred to Vanessa. This was the year God had brought more than one miracle into her life. So maybe it was possible, after all.
First Ben Miller. And now, just maybe, her long-lost Christmas ring.
Chapter 13
Every mile felt longer than the last as Ben made his way from Marietta back to Columbus. God had been so good to him, letting him meet Vanessa and build a friendship over the last half a year.
But now to think he was about to take her on a date? It was more than Ben could’ve hoped for. After losing Laura, he never thought he’d date again. Sure, he was still young, but he and Laura had gone through so much together. Who else would ever connect with him the way she had? Or build a life with him the way she had?
That all had changed at the Christmas-in-July sale. Since then, Ben’s greatest concern was moving slowly enough not to scare Vanessa away. But those concerns eased the minute she said yes to this date. Which meant he could start treating her the way he’d been dying to treat her.
Like a woman he was interested in.
And not merely like a friend.
He stopped at the florist not far from Vanessa’s house and picked up something special for her. Something he’d been longing to do since they met. Sadie was spendingthe night at Ella’s house, so again he wouldn’t be meeting Vanessa’s daughter tonight.
Ben felt his heart thud against his chest as he made his way up her sidewalk. He wore a navy blazer and dark jeans. When she answered the door, she looked surprised. But not as surprised as he was.
“Look at you.” He stayed on the front porch. “You’re beautiful, Vanessa.”
Her red silk jacket and white turtleneck made her look like someone in a magazine. Her delicate cheekbones and flawless skin took his breath. He wondered if she would ask him inside, but their dinner reservations were only an hour from then.
She stepped out and locked the door behind her. “I’ve never seen you dressed up.”
“I couldn’t. Not if we were just friends.” He grinned at her. Then he pulled out the plastic box and removed the white wrist corsage inside. “These are old-fashioned, I know.” He smiled. “I don’t care.” He slipped it over her fingers and set it in place. “Because every girl deserves a corsage.”
They parked on the other side of Old Town Square and took their time walking to Emilio’s. The Christmas tree at the center of Old Town rose high above the street, shining with thousands of lights and handmade ornaments from the children of Columbus.
“Have I mentioned I love this place?” Ben took in the sight of Vanessa. The night was chilly again, so he put his arm around her. A couple passing by took their picture by the tree, and then they stopped in at an antique storethey’d somehow missed. At one of the front tables, a display of vintage frames caught Ben’s attention.
“I might get a few of these.” He picked up one of them. The frame was wrapped in a floral cloth, finely put together and yellowed with time. He flipped it over. “Nineteen forty-two.” He smiled at her. “My turn.”
“I can’t wait.” Vanessa was glowing.
Ben looked at the frame, then back at Vanessa. “She worked at the Red Cross and pined for her young GI.”
“World War II.”
“Right.” Ben focused on the frame again. “And in this very frame, she kept the only picture she had of the two of them. She looked at it every day. Praying he’d come home.”
Vanessa raised her pretty brow. “And?”
“He did.” Ben let the rest of the story spill out all at once. “They married and had a family and lived happily ever after. The end.”
“Why didn’t they keep the frame?”
Ben shrugged. “They remodeled and sold it at a swap meet. Kept the picture for the kids.”
Vanessa laughed. “That’s it?”
“It’s not always a Hollywood ending.” Ben picked up another frame, one that was slightly turned so Vanessa couldn't see it. “And... what about this one?”
The moment Vanessa looked, she saw what Ben had done. The frame held a photo of the two of them. Something he’d done while back home in Marietta.
“Ben... that’s us.” Vanessa took the frame. She was clearly shocked. “How did you...?”
