Chapter 16
The bookcase was almost completely put back together, and Ben’s sweat-soaked T-shirt was proof. He hadn’t taken a break since
he started almost an hour ago. By now, Vanessa’s ring was probably sold, the twenty-five thousand dollars tucked away in some
safe place where his dad could use it for the trip to Italy. There had been no way Ben could stop the sale.
His dad wouldn’t hear of it.
Ben set down the hammer and grabbed the screwdriver. The bookcase was an antique, but it was solid. Now he had the back securely
in place and the shelves once more secured to the interior. He was about to tighten down the screws when he heard a beep from
his phone.
With the back of his hand, he wiped his forehead. Only one person would be leaving him a message today. The one person he
should’ve called by now. Except he didn’t have anything to tell her. What they had started would officially end with the sale
of her long-lost Christmas ring.
Even still, he grabbed his phone and checked it. Sure enough, he’d missed her call. Ben checked his messages and there it was. A full minute from Vanessa. He dropped to the nearest old chair and played it.
“Ben . . . I guess I thought I’d hear from you by now.”
He closed his eyes. If only there was a way out of this nightmare.
Her message continued. “Anyway, if you changed your mind, I can live with that. I’ve loved every minute of being your friend. I don’t think you were ready for more. But please call me.
I can’t believe we could end things like this. Whatever you’re going through, Ben . . . I’m here.”
Whatever he was going through? If she had any idea what he was going through, she’d blame him for all of it. He should’ve
rushed into the store and grabbed the ring. Proven to his dad then and there that the ring was definitely engraved. But all
this time, while he worked on the bookcase, Ben had thought for sure his dad would check for himself.
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 knew something 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 word Maison.
“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?”
“Did you check your email?” Leigh looked serious. “I mean, come on. I can’t believe this guy. He sure had me fooled.”
Vanessa still wasn’t angry with Ben. She wasn’t even disappointed. Whatever it was that caused him to run, there was a reason.
She would tell herself that even if she never knew why. “I think he just wasn’t ready. For six months he’s been nothing but
kind.” She looked at her friends. “I left him a message asking what went wrong. Telling him I was here for him.”
“More than gracious.” Leigh shook her head. Something seemed to catch her attention.
Vanessa followed a rustle of commotion and there, entering the building, was Mrs. Benson. On her scooter, no less.
“Looks like she learned how to use it.” Maria chuckled. “Sweet old woman.”
A few high school kids walked beside her, carrying platters of cookies. Vanessa couldn’t hear what Mrs. Benson was saying,
but no question she was still giving orders. The teens seemed to hang on every word, trying to get it right.
Vanessa slipped her arms around Leigh’s and Maria’s shoulders, the three of them watching the scene with Mrs. Benson play
out. “See. That right there.” Vanessa felt her spirits lift. “That’s what Columbus Cares is all about.”
“Helping each other.” Maria smiled.
“Being family.” Leigh chuckled. “Even if your family includes that bossy Mrs. Benson.”
Vanessa heard a buzz from her phone. Maybe this was Ben. He would be texting to tell her he was sorry and that he would give her the details as soon as he arrived in Columbus. She hurried for her cell and stared at it.
Leigh and Maria moved close, waiting.
“It’s Isaac.” Vanessa’s heart jumped. “He found my ring! He found it!” The three friends jumped around like third graders
picked for the same team.
“Where is it?” Maria looked as thrilled as Vanessa felt.
“He should bring it here. That’s only right.” Leigh nodded. “If he wants the reward, tell him he has to bring it here. For
the dance.”
“He lives in Colorado.” Vanessa shook her head at Leigh. “Funny girl.”
“Sadie!” Maria called out. “Come here!”
Sadie and Hudson looked up and hurried to the group. Maria did the explaining. “The guy from Colorado . . . He found your
mom’s ring!”
“What?” Sadie scurried to Vanessa’s side. “What did he say?”
Vanessa read the antique dealer’s text. “Just that he found my ring. So I asked him where it was.” Vanessa waited and all
of them hovered over the phone. Just then Isaac’s next text came through. It took less than two seconds for the good news
to turn bad. “Oh no.”
“What?” Hudson stood on the other side of Sadie. “Read it.”
Vanessa held up the phone. “It’s a photo. He has the wrong ring.”
Sadie pulled Vanessa into her arms. “Mom. I’m so sorry.”
“That’s terrible.” Maria put her hand on Vanessa’s back. “That’s not the way this is supposed to go.”
“Give me your phone.” Leigh reached for Vanessa’s cell. “I’ll talk to the guy.”
“No.” Vanessa slipped her phone back into her bag. “It’s not the first time something like this hasn’t worked out.”
Leigh crossed her arms. “Talk about the Grinch who stole Christmas.”
Gradually they all got back to work. Ten minutes later they were finished, the Veterans’ Hall perfect. Before they headed
to their cars, Vanessa shared a look with Sadie. Hudson was already loading empty boxes into his car, so it was just the two
of them. “I guess I’ll just have to keep praying.”
“Yes.” Sadie gave Vanessa a sad smile. “About the ring? Or about Ben?”
Vanessa only returned the smile. Because of all the people in the world, Sadie knew her best. That much was still true.