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.
How that girl had wanted to be a teacher.
The Bible was older now, an antique in its own right. She picked it up and ran her fingers over the worn imitation leather.
Vanessa blinked back tears. If Sadie wanted to be a photographer, Vanessa would be nothing but proud of her. Happy for the
fact. But she would always miss that little girl’s passion for all things classroom.
“Mom!” From down the hall Sadie’s voice pierced the silence. She sounded frantic. “Mom! Quick! Come here!”
Vanessa ran toward her daughter and into her bedroom. Sadie was sitting on the edge of the bed, tears streaming down her face.
Her phone was beside her. She was crying too hard to talk, but she stood and fell into Vanessa’s arms.
Vanessa’s heart skipped a beat. Not Hudson. Please, God, not Hudson. The scene reminded her of the one that played out in their lives four years ago. She didn’t want to ask, but she had no choice.
“Honey, what is it?”
“Hudson . . . He hasn’t called. And I heard one of the units got attacked. I mean . . . it might not be his, but what if it
is?”
“No. Honey.” Vanessa held Sadie closer. “Oh, Sadie.” She stroked her daughter’s back, and after a moment they sat next to
each other on the end of her bed. “I’m so sorry. Let’s pray. Right now.”
Vanessa led the prayer, begging God to be with Hudson. When the prayer ended, Sadie turned to her.
“I’m scared, Mom. I don’t know what to do. I can’t reach him.”
In the dark of the room, with the worst possible scenario hanging over them, Vanessa put her arm around Sadie and pulled her
near, the way she had when Sadie was a little girl. The way she had when Alan died. “I’m here, Sadie honey. I’m here and God
is with us. He’s with Hudson.”
“He is. I know.” Sadie leaned her head on Vanessa’s shoulder. “But I’m still so scared.”
For a quick moment Vanessa stood and got Sadie a tissue. Then she sat beside her again. “Sadie, we’ve been praying for Hudson
every day. He’s not alone.”
“I know.” Her sobs subsided a bit. “Mom, please. Can you tell me that Bible verse? The one you used to say over me when I
was little?”
Her words were healing to Vanessa’s broken heart. After the night she’d had and after the stops and starts she’d experienced
with Sadie since she’d been home from Reinhardt, this was the only place Vanessa wanted to be. Comforting her daughter and
reminding her of the truth.
Vanessa closed her eyes. “First Peter 5:7. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. He does care for you, Sadie.”
She nodded. “More. Please, Mom, tell me more.”
“Philippians 4:6. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition . . .” Vanessa repeated
every Scripture on peace and comfort she knew, and then she ran through them again and again until Sadie was almost asleep.
Vanessa eased her back into bed and pulled the covers over her. She left Sadie’s room without making a sound and hurried to the kitchen. There, she called Peggy, Hudson’s mother.
Peggy answered right away. “Vanessa, he’s okay. He’s fine, honey.” Relief rang in every word.
When the call ended, Vanessa hurried back into Sadie’s room. Her daughter was sound asleep, curled up with her little Mister
Bear. Tears filled Vanessa’s eyes and she waited a moment, holding on to the sight of her.
In time, she moved closer and sat on the edge of her bed. “Sadie.” She touched her daughter’s shoulder. “Sadie, honey. Can
you hear me?”
Sadie shifted. “Mmm.” She blinked a few times and squinted at Vanessa. “Mom?”
“I talked to Hudson’s mother. It wasn’t his unit. And the guys who were hit are all okay.”
The good news woke Sadie a little more. She sat up, the bear clutched in her hand. Vanessa hugged them both, and then, still
holding Mister Bear, Sadie settled back down on her pillow. In a few minutes she was fast asleep again.
Vanessa stood and watched her daughter, sleeping with her bear the way she had when she was little. Whatever had happened
with Ben tonight, God was with them. He was with them all. Especially Hudson. Thank You, God. Thank You.
She took a deep breath, and once more she touched Sadie’s shoulder. “There,” she whispered. “You’re going to be okay.”
The early morning air was cool and damp, but Ben didn’t mind. He sat on the bench outside Millers’ Antiques and waited. Where he’d been for the past hour. Once the doors to the shop were opened, things would get busy and Ben would miss his chance.
Convincing his father would happen now or never.
Finally, he watched his dad walk around the corner. After all this time, he still parked in the back lot. Front spaces were
for customers, he’d always said. Now if he could just apply the same kindness to the situation with Vanessa’s ring.
His father saw him and stopped for a beat. Then he shook his head and kept walking. When he reached Ben, he stopped. “Why
didn’t you just go inside and see for yourself?”
“I already saw it. I held it in my hands, Dad. Remember?” Ben was determined to be kind today, but they weren’t off to a good
start. “You can’t sell that ring. It belongs to Vanessa. I know it.”
Nothing short of astonishment filled his father’s face. “Do you know how many antique Christmas rings there are in the world?”
He shook his head. “Too many to imagine.” His dad resumed his walk toward the front door.
Ben stood and caught up to him. “Vanessa described her ring to me. It’s the same one, Dad.”
“Then why didn’t you say something the other day?” He stopped and faced Ben, no longer baffled but angry. “When you saw it?”
“Of course I wondered.” Ben raised his voice now. “I mean, it looked like the ring she had lost. Of course.” Ben clenched
his jaw. “But I didn’t know her ring was real. And I had no idea her ring was engraved. And this one is.” Ben paused. “I’ll
buy it myself if you want. Just give me time to get the cash.”
“Ben. Enough.” His dad started walking again. “You’d be wasting your money. The ring I’m selling today is not engraved and it’s not Vanessa’s. Period.” He uttered a frustrated laugh. “This ring is scratched. It’s old and worn on the
inside. That’s it.” He shot a look at Ben. “There’s a difference.”
His options all but gone, Ben took light hold of his father’s arm. “Look at me, Dad. Please.”
For a quick moment, his father stopped.
“Dad, the engraved word is Maison. It’s French. It means ‘home.’ Please . . . go look, Dad.”
“It’s not engraved.” That was all his father said in response. As if the matter had long been put to rest. “The buyer will
be here in an hour. I need to get to work.”
Ben thought about following his dad into the store and forcing him to see the inscription. But that wouldn’t work. He wouldn’t
see what he had already missed. Out of options, Ben walked to the rear of the building and used his key to enter the back
room. How could his dad be so obstinate? So downright rude?
And what would Vanessa think of him and his father once she knew that he’d found the ring and sold it to the highest bidder?
Ben grabbed the broken bookcase and laid it on the workbench. He grabbed the loose boards and set them aside and then took
a sledgehammer to the back of the piece. Venting everything he had on the stubborn thick slabs of wood. The whole time he
prayed just one prayer.
That his father would have eyes to see.