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 her official 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 get in 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?”
“It’s a funny story.” Sadie sat on the edge of her bed, too, so she was facing her new friend. Vanessa took the spot beside her daughter.
Sadie held the framed photo of her and Hudson and looked at it. “I’ve known Hudson since I was a little girl. His sister and
I became best friends in third grade. Hudson was in sixth. I never thought of him as more than my friend’s big brother until
last Christmas. He had time at home after becoming a Ranger, and we hung out practically every day.”
Vanessa smiled listening to Sadie talk about Hudson. The chemistry between the two was something that had grown over time,
an attraction Vanessa and Hudson’s mother, Peggy, had seen years ago. Hudson was older than Sadie, and very careful with her
young heart. He was deployed now, but they talked often. Details Sadie still shared with her.
Of course, Sadie knew the risk of Hudson’s job. She knew it better than anyone, and she loved him more because of it. That
made the two an almost perfect pair.
Vanessa had a feeling Sadie and Hudson would stay together and that sometime after her college graduation the two would marry.
Not that they were talking about that. Not yet. But again, Vanessa had a feeling. She could see it in the way Hudson looked
at Sadie.
It was the same way Alan had looked at her.
Just after two o’clock it was time for Vanessa to leave. The girls had a welcome party at the gathering room, and parents
weren’t invited. Which made sense. Vanessa bid goodbye to Bella first. “I hope to meet your parents next time.”
“My mom said the same thing. And she told me to thank you for helping me get things in order.”
Sadie walked Vanessa out to her car, and for a moment Vanessa saw her daughter’s entire life run through her heart in slow
motion. Her infant days and baby stages, the time she learned to walk and go to school and say her prayers. The day she was
baptized and her first week of middle school. Shopping trips and sing-alongs and dance parties in the kitchen.
And the terrible news of losing Alan. The trying to figure out how to live again that followed and the way his death had only
made Vanessa and Sadie closer.
Vanessa could see it all. For what felt like forever, Sadie had been a part of Vanessa’s every day, her very life, her constant
thought. Until now.
From the time Sadie was born, Vanessa had prayed for her daughter to fly. And now it was time for God to answer those prayers.
Time to let her go.
“Don’t cry, Mom.” Sadie slipped her arms around Vanessa’s waist and laid her head on her shoulder. “I’ll see you at Christmastime.”
The hot Georgia sun pounded the pavement around them as the two held on to each other. Vanessa tried, but there was no stopping
her tears. Finally, she put her hands on either side of Sadie’s face. “I love you, Sadie girl. I’m a phone call away.”
Tears filled Sadie’s eyes, too. She nodded, and her sob became a laugh. “Maybe I’ll just go with you. Forget the whole thing.”
Everything in Vanessa wanted to agree with the idea, grab Sadie’s things, and take her back home. Instead, she kissed Sadie’s forehead. “You’re going to love it, honey. You will.”
“I’ll call you tonight.” Sadie’s eyes held hers. “Thanks, Mom. You’re still my best friend.”
“And you’re mine.”
With that, Vanessa hugged Sadie once more, climbed into her SUV, and drove off. The last thing she saw before turning onto
the main road was Sadie. Still standing there, hand raised, waving goodbye.
Keep her safe, Lord. Vanessa turned her eyes to the road ahead of her. Please protect her. Let her excel and grow and learn. She blinked back fresh tears. And help us both make our way to whatever is next.
Not till she was on the highway halfway to Atlanta did she realize she was nearly out of gas. Vanessa dried her eyes and pulled
off at the next exit. The one that read Marietta, Georgia. She had been to the charming town a few times before—always with Sadie. The city was great for mother-daughter trips and
boutique shopping.
Down the street from the gas station Vanessa saw a store she hadn’t seen before.
Millers’ Antiques.
The shop had a welcoming front porch and windows that looked like they belonged in a house from a hundred years ago. Then
she saw the sign: Christmas-in-July Sale. Vanessa pondered the idea. Christmas in July. She smiled and wiped her cheeks again. Sure. Why not?
This was her new life. Vanessa mustered her joy.
She might as well make a memory out of the afternoon.
Besides, maybe she would find her Christmas ring.
Wouldn’t that be something? She looked at her empty right hand.
Back in the beginning, Vanessa stopped at every antique store and thrift shop she came across. Not so much lately. But why not?
What a Christmas-in-July miracle that would be.
She smiled. With God all things were possible, right?