Page 5 of The Christmas Ring
They talked for almost an hour, and the whole time Vanessa studied her daughter, letting her laughter etch itself deep within her heart. In a place where it would live forever. Because the teenage years did not last forever. They had an expiration date like everything in life.
Even being in love with an army medic.
If the Lord allowed, she and Sadie would come back to Breckenridge again next December and the next and the December after that. But one day Sadie would fall in love and get married, and these sweet and silly mother-daughter trips would come to an end. Not that theywould never take a trip together after Sadie married. But it wouldn’t last this long. And it certainly would not have the laughter of this trip.
After lunch they took another few runs down a more modest hill, and then they built a snowman on the field near the parking lot. “Look. He’s an army Ranger.” Sadie eyed the snowman. He had leaves for ears and sticks for eyes and a mouth. Sadie turned to Vanessa. “Don’t you think?”
Vanessa folded her arms and nodded, sizing up the snowman. “Definitely an army Ranger.”
The sun was making its way toward the mountain ridge, so they headed back to the car. They ordered pizza for dinner and watchedScrooge, the musical. When the movie ended, Sadie wiped tears from her cheeks. “I think about the people you and Daddy have helped, on the battlefield and at church. Older people especially. Some of them found life because of you two.” She smiled. “I always picture a few of them being like Scrooge. Given another chance at life.”
Vanessa pulled her daughter close. “I can see that, too.”
“But Daddy already knows.” Sadie sniffed. “Because a lot of those guys you two helped are in heaven with him.”
“So wise.” Vanessa studied her. “I had the best time with you, Sadie girl.”
“I had the best day with you, too, Mama.”
Again they hugged. They would leave in two days to make it back to Columbus, Georgia, for Vanessa’s first annual Columbus Cares Military Dance on the 23rd. But in the time that remained, it was difficult to imagine any day topping this one.
Vanessa replayed the fun of the afternoon as she brushed her teeth and washed her face. Not until she went to put lotion on her hands did she realize the most horrible thing.
Her Christmas ring was missing.
Sadie could tell something was wrong, and instantly she joined Vanessa in searching the floor and then her bedroom and then the sofa where they had watched the movie. But the whole time Vanessa knew she wouldn’t find it. Not in the condo. The ring had always been a little loose when her hands were cold. Her heart sank. She must have lost it tumbling in the snow. Probably the first time she went down the highest sled run.
For a moment she thought about finding a flashlight and driving there now. Spending the night looking for it. But the park was closed.
Instead, in the morning she and Sadie got permission to search the sled run before it opened to the public. “We have to find it, Mom—we have to.” Sadie crawled on her hands and knees next to Vanessa.
“We will. I believe we will.”
“Pray.” Sadie kept moving, kept searching. “God knows where it is.”
Practically frantic, Vanessa prayed. “Lord, please lead us to the ring. It’s been in the family for generations, and it has to be here somewhere. You know where, dear God, so please... lead us to it.”
They prayed and they prayed and they prayed for most of an hour until finally the park operator had to open the runs to the public. “You find it?” he called out to Vanessa and Sadie.
“No.” Vanessa gave her number to the man. “Please. Could you call me if someone turns it in?”
The man agreed and they trudged through the snow to the car. Once inside, Sadie hugged Vanessa and they both cried. Sadie looked devastated. “I’m so sorry, Mom. It’ll turn up. I know it will.”
“Maybe if I offer a reward.” Vanessa’s heart was broken. Losing the family Christmas ring was almost more than she could take. How could this even be happening? The whole experience was a nightmare from which she would certainly awaken.
But every time she checked her hand, the truth remained.
She and Sadie found a photo with the ring on Vanessa’s finger. They zoomed in on it and took a screenshot and made a flyer. Then they spent the afternoon passing out copies to every antique shop, pawn store, and thrift building in Breckenridge. They posted flyers at The Village office as well.
The woman at the counter was kind. “These things have a way of turning up.” She smiled at Vanessa. “I believe you’ll find it. One way or another.”
“Oh, I believe. I do.” But she knew as well as anyone that believing didn’t mean things would go her way. Otherwise Alan would be here helping them look.
In the car on the way back to Denver International Airport the next day, Vanessa and Sadie held hands. They were quieter than before. The only thing Vanessa could think was that with every mile they moved farther from her missing heirloom. Finally, as they drove home from theAtlanta airport, an overwhelming thought hit Vanessa and there was nothing she could do about it.
The Christmas ring was gone. She didn’t need a search effort to find the family antique.
She needed a miracle.
