Page 6 of The Christmas Ring
Chapter 3
Four Years Later
From the time the doctor placed infant Sadie Anne in Vanessa’s arms, she and Alan had known their hearts would never be the same. Two years later, when it was clear Vanessa couldn’t have more children, she and Alan agreed that one thing would for sure mark the years of raising Sadie.
They would make every day count, each hour a treasure. Because childhood never lasted long enough. She and Alan had understood this truth back then, and Vanessa certainly knew it now. Especially today.
Because this was the day Vanessa had dreaded and dreamed about for her daughter. The day she would move Sadie to Reinhardt University, the quiet, picturesque school forty minutes north of Atlanta. Sadie loved the countryside that surrounded the place, and though less than half of the Reinhardt applicants got accepted, Sadie had sailed through the process.
She’d been giddy about the fact since she received herofficial letter. Not only that, but Sadie had been given a full-ride scholarship from the university’s Military Gold Star Families program.
Vanessa grabbed one of the last boxes from Sadie’s bedroom and carried it to the car. Sadie was a few steps in front of her. She glanced over her shoulder. “I talked to Bella. She’ll be there half an hour after us.”
“Perfect.” Vanessa had hoped she might have time alone with Sadie.
This trip to college was early because Sadie had signed up for a two-week honors program. Vanessa was proud of her, but the decision meant less time together this summer. At least they had this morning, the two of them moving Sadie into her dorm. And now it seemed Vanessa would get the chance to meet Bella—the roommate Sadie had connected with shortly after being admitted.
Everything was all figured out except one thing: how Vanessa was ever going to get along without her.
Three more boxes and the car was packed. Vanessa sized up the load. “I think that’s it.”
“If it even fits in my dorm.” Sadie laughed.
The new bedding and mattress topper, her dorm-sized trash can and laundry basket, and the posters she’d bought for her wall. A wildflower hanging with her favorite Scripture, a photo of their family back before Alan had died, and another one of Sadie and Hudson Rogers, her army Ranger boyfriend and the brother of her best friend, Ella.
All the items Sadie would need to feel at home. Everything except Vanessa.
A memory came to life in Vanessa’s heart. The time she and Sadie went to Breckenridge the first Christmas after Alan passed. She could hear her daughter saying the words she’d said so often: “Mom, you’re my best friend.”
It was still true; Vanessa knew that much. Even if Sadie didn’t say it as often as she once had. Vanessa gave the load a final push and closed the back hatch.
Sadie looked at Vanessa’s hand. Then she took gentle hold of it and studied her empty right ring finger. “It’ll be gone four years this Christmas.” She lifted her eyes to Vanessa’s. “No calls?”
“Not for a long time.” A sigh came from the still-broken pieces of Vanessa’s heart. “It’s probably ten feet deep in the snow at Carter Park by now.”
“I remember what you said that day.” Sadie squeezed her hand. “God knows where it is. Do you pray about it? After all this time?”
“Every night.” Vanessa could feel the fading sorrow in her smile. She would never give up on the ring, not as long as she lived. “Right before I go to bed, I look at my finger where it used to be. And I think about my great-grandfather and how important that ring was to him. And I ask God to bring it home. Some way. Somehow.”
Sadie leaned in and kissed Vanessa’s cheek. “That’s all you can do!”
They grabbed cups of to-go coffee for the road and set out.
Reinhardt University was two and a half hours from Columbus, Georgia. That was one gift Vanessa was thankful for. Sadie would be close. Close enough for Vanessa to getin the car and take her to lunch or check in on her if Sadie got homesick.
Her roommate, Bella, was driving to school today, too. Bella lived south of Columbus, so she had already offered to bring Sadie home at Christmastime. Vanessa was counting down the days till then.
The drive to Waleska, Georgia, flew by. The crazy traffic of Atlanta gave way to quiet rolling hills and green pastures, and almost out of nowhere the campus appeared. By the time they had unloaded Sadie’s things, her roommate arrived. Bella was quieter than Sadie, but the two seemed to hit it off.
“My parents wanted to come,” Bella explained. “But they work for American Airlines and they’re in San Francisco this week.”
Since Bella needed help, Vanessa and Sadie pitched in to get her unpacked, and then the three of them worked to set up both beds. The dorm room was bigger than most, and each girl had her own desk. On hers, Sadie set up her family picture and the framed photo of her and Hudson.
When the beds were made and the room was ready, Bella seemed to notice the photo. Her eyes lit up. “Is that your boyfriend?”
“Yes.” Sadie touched the edge of the frame. “That’s Hudson.”
“He’s super cute.” Bella looked at the picture again. “My boyfriend is somewhere on campus.” She giggled. “At least I hope so.” Bella sat on the edge of her bed. “How did you and Hudson meet?”
