Page 47 of The Christmas Ring
Because that was the right thing to do.
Time had gotten away from Ben, and now he was almost certain it was too late. Of course, maybe he could get the name and number of the buyer and purchase it back. Whatever it took. Especially after hearing Vanessa’s message. But for now Ben felt just one thing.
Complete and utter defeat.
Customers filed through the front door of Millers’ Antiques one after another without a break. Howard didn’t mind. This was what he and Ben had always hoped for a few days before Christmas. But after the fight with Ben, today didn’t hold the holiday charm Howard was used to feeling.
Howard wore no Santa hat, and Gary for sure knewsomething was wrong. Between sales, his cousin stared at him. “What’s the story with you?”
“Nothing.” Howard leaned against the back counter.
“Oh, I get it.” Gary wore his reindeer antlers. Nothing ever dimmed his Christmas spirit. “You lost at chess yesterday and now you don’t want to play for a week.”
“That’s not it.”
Gary made a sweeping gesture toward the chessboard behind the counter. “It’s all set up. Your move.”
“I can’t.” Howard rang up another sale. “Merry Christmas.” He waved to the young couple. It wasn’t their fault things had gone so badly since last night. Ben was acting completely out of character. If he’d thought the ring belonged to Vanessa, he should have said so when Howard showed it to him.
It was like his son was so crazy in love with this woman, he had convinced himself the ring was hers. Making the matter worse, the buyer had called to tell him she was running late.Perfect.More time for it to sit there under the locked counter. More time for Ben to be angry with him.
For the first time that morning, there were no customers waiting to check out. Howard looked at the locked cabinet and a thought hit him. There was one thing he could do about the disagreement. He could get the ring out and prove to Ben it wasn’t engraved.
Scratches did not count as engraving.
He slipped on his glasses and pulled out the green velvet box. Moving with great care, he took the ring from the box and studied the inside of the band. Scratches and smears. Worn by time, nothing more.
“Use your magnifying glass.” Gary knew nothing about the situation with Ben, but he was watching from a few feet away, arms folded. “It’s in the top drawer.”
Howard didn’t need his cousin’s help. His eyes were just fine—with his glasses, anyway. Still, if he was going to prove to Gary and Ben that this ring was not engraved, he would go the distance. He pulled the magnifying glass out and held it up to the band.
At first he could see nothing different. But then... amidst the scratches a faint word in cursive took shape.
The wordMaison.
“I told you.” Gary chuckled. “Now you ready to play a little chess?”
Howard dropped the magnifying glass back in the drawer and grabbed his phone. “Hold on.” He walked behind the counter where he could have a private moment. The woman didn’t answer, so Howard left a message. “This is Howard Miller. Please... call me back right away. This is urgent.”
The truth hit Howard as he hung up. What had he done? The way he had talked to Ben, his stubborn pride, insisting he knew the ring wasn’t engraved. Now it wouldn’t just take an apology to make things right with everyone.
It would take a miracle.
He could hear a line of customers needing help, but before he could walk back out to the register, his phone rang.Good.I can fix this right now. But instead of the woman, it was a man.
“This is Isaac Baker. I believe I sold you something important, and I need it back.”
The Veterans’ Hall was bustling with volunteers making final preparations and setting out trays of desserts. Maria and Leigh were helping Vanessa and Sadie wrap the baskets with cellophane and red ribbon.
Along the wall a dozen Christmas trees were decorated and lit. Garland hung from one end of the hall to the other on all sides, and twinkling lights wrapped the poles near the dance floor. The place looked more beautiful than any year past.
Not only that—Vanessa checked her clipboard—all but twelve of the hundred families were sponsored. They would start the night asking for final assistance, and Vanessa believed the right people would show up to help. God was working ahead of them.
And even though she hadn’t heard back from Ben, she knew there had to be a reason. Even if that reason was simply that he was the wrong person for her. Sometimes God worked like that, too.
A stack of tablecloths in her arms, Sadie moved with Hudson to the other side of the room. The two of them worked to get the tables covered. Vanessa smiled watching them. The way they couldn’t stop laughing, and the look in Hudson’s eyes when he stared at Sadie. So young and in love.
Leigh and Maria approached Vanessa. “Okay. I think we’ve got them all.” Maria grinned. “We did it, team. Time to get ready.” She hesitated. “And Ben? He hasn’t called or texted?”
