Page 41 of The Christmas Ring
He couldn’t have felt worse if someone sucker punched him. “No, no.” He had no time to lose, but he had to make her understand at least this much. “It’s not you. Believe me. It’s just... something I have to take care of back home.”
“Okay.” Her eyes welled up, but she managed a smile. “Will you come back tomorrow? For the dance?”
The dance. Ben’s heart sank to another level. “I don’t know.” It was the only honest answer he had. If his father went ahead with the sale—and that was his right—Ben could hardly come back to Columbus and take her to the dance. “I promise I’ll explain this. Soon.”
He hugged her goodbye, but their connection felt shallow, like nothing from the past week had happened at all.
Halfway to the interstate Ben tried his father again.Please, Lord, make him answer his phone. I need Your help. Please. Not until he was an hour into his trip did his dad pick up.
“Ben? What is it?” His father sounded worried. “I have eleven missed calls from you.”
“Yes. Dad. We need to talk.” Ben kept a tight grip on the wheel of his truck, his eyes on the road.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on a date?” His dad’s tone relaxed. “Don’t tell me you’re asking for advice about women.” He chuckled. “I’m far too old to help you there.”
“Dad, listen.” Ben tried to keep his tone even. “The ring... the one you’re selling. It belongs to Vanessa Mayfield.” He barely paused to let that sink in. “It’s her ring, Dad. You can’t sell it.”
His father hesitated. “Son, you’re wrong. The ring she’s looking for, it’s costume jewelry. She told you so herself.”
“Someone gave her bad information. She didn’t know. She still doesn’t know.” He forced himself to stay calm. He had to make his father understand. “Dad, it’s her ring. She and I were talking about it over dinner, and she went into more detail. It’s been in her family for generations.”
“What in the world, son?” His dad rarely sounded upset, but he did now. “Why would you even think it could be hers? You know how many rings are floating around out there? Thousands of rings in and out of antique shops all over the country every day.”
A sense of peace came over Ben. His dad still had the ring. He hadn’t sold it yet.
“I figured it out tonight.” Ben paused. “Her great-grandfather had the wordMaisonengraved on the inside of the band. Vanessa just told me.”
“Now wait a minute.” This time his father raised his voice. “You’re definitely wrong about that, son. I looked atit myself. With my glasses on.” He spoke softer now, but the outrage remained. “That ring is old and scratched, but it’s not engraved.” He paused. “I’m selling it in the morning, and that’s that. God brought it to me and it’s mine.”
“Dad.” A new burst of panic pressed through Ben’s veins. How could this be happening? His father was always a reasonable man, but not here. Not now. “What about the guy who’s been reaching out to Vanessa? I told you about him. Isaac Baker.”
“Exactly.” His father sounded vindicated. “He said he found the ring. So let him find it. The one I’m selling is an entirely different piece.”
“No, Dad.” Ben exhaled. “Isaac said he believed the ring was at one of three antique stores in northern Georgia. That’s us. Don’t you see? That’s Vanessa’s family ring. You can’t sell it.”
“Listen.” The conversation was over. His dad’s tone made that clear. “I’m sorry, son. You’re mistaken. I’ve been working at the store, but I’m going home to get some sleep. I have a big meeting in the morning.” He hesitated. “Drive safely.”
Drive safely?“Can you at least—?”
His dad was gone. The call ended. “This can’t be happening.” Ben slumped in his seat and picked up his speed. “I need a miracle, God. Please... open my dad’s eyes.”
He would get back to Marietta as quickly as he could, and he would be waiting for his dad out front of the store when he got there. One way or another he would convince him.
Even if he had to buy the ring himself.
Chapter 14
Vanessa couldn’t sleep, so she pulled a box of old mementos and photographs from the cabinet beneath the television. She sat on the floor not far from her glowing tree. The brokenness of the night seemed to call for this, a time to look back.
The house was quiet, the tick of her old grandfather clock in the corner the only sound. Sadie was asleep down the hall, so it was just Vanessa and the reality of how badly the night had ended. She could figure only one reason for Ben’s sudden departure. When she had reached for his hand and his fingers had touched her wedding band, everything must have hit Ben all at once.
If Vanessa was still wearing her wedding ring, then he probably assumed she wasn’t ready for a relationship. And that must have triggered an equal thought in Ben. That he wasn’t ready either. They had both found the loves of their lives and they had both lost them.
No matter how things had seemed leading up to the dinner, the reality probably hit Ben. He really didn’t want anything more than a friendship with her. End of story.
Vanessa pulled the box near and closed her eyes.Lord, this is harder than I thought. Hold me, please. I need You.
A sigh rattled her soul. She opened the box and there at the top was Sadie’s first little Bible. The one she had when she read to Mister Bear and to her and Alan when she was in first grade and second grade and third.
