Page 40 of The Christmas Ring
“Every word.” She took her time. “He was a paratrooper, part of the group sent in ahead of the land assault that day. The jump went wrong from the start. He and his friends were all scattered to the wind. They landed eight miles inland from Utah Beach, and a group of them found shelter in an oversize bush.”
“It’s hard to believe any of them survived.”
“Exactly.” She could still hear her great-grandfather Bill Bailey, the depth in his voice as he told the story. “A few hours before they were rescued, he felt something deep in the dirt. He dug it out and there it was. He polished it on his army pants, and in the light of the moon he could see it better. A ruby-red stone surrounded by a ring of diamonds.”
“That’s incredible.”
Vanessa tried to imagine the moment. “Somehow holding the ring, he had the sense he just might survive. Maybe he would make it out and find a wife and raise a family. He was so moved by the piece of jewelry that he named it.”
“The Christmas ring.”
“Yes.” Vanessa looked at the spot where Ben still had hold of her hand. “It was in the family until I lost it that day in Breckenridge.” She thought back again. “After he was rescued, maybe six months later, my great-grandfather met a French woman. They fell in love and married, and she came back to Columbus, Georgia, with him. She loved him so much.”
“Like a movie.” Ben was taken by the story, Vanessa could see that much.
“They started their family here, and on their second anniversary he took the ring to a jeweler and had it engraved.”
“Engraved? Oh. That’s... that’s special.” Ben blinked. For the first time since she started the story, he didn’t look lost in the history of the ring. He released her hand and searched her eyes. “What did it say?”
“It’s on the inside of the band. In cursive it saysMaison.” She smiled. “It’s hard to read. It means ‘home.’”
“Home.” Ben sounded like he was in a trance. He coughed a few times. “That’s... that’s beautiful.”
“It is. And now Isaac Baker may have found it. Not just for me, but for Sadie.”
Ben looked off, like maybe he wasn’t feeling well. This time Vanessa took his hand, and his thumb seemed to accidentally brush against her wedding ring. At the feel of it, he pulled his hand back and slid to the edge of the booth. “I’m sorry.” He smiled at her, but something had changed. “Would you excuse me for a minute?”
“Of course.” The entire moment suddenly felt awkward.What happened?Vanessa didn’t know what to do. Had she overstepped by taking his hand? That’s when things seemed to change.
Ben stood and nodded to her. Then he hurried out the front door. Vanessa looked at her wedding ring and tried to imagine what was going on in Ben’s head and why he had needed to leave so suddenly. Maybe it was her... or maybe it was him.
Maybe telling him the story had triggered old memories for him also. And perhaps that proved something he hadn’t known about himself until right now. The idea that he wasn’t ready to love again.
No matter how great things had seemed ten minutes ago.
Ben’s heart was pounding out of his chest.
How could this have happened, and how come he hadn’t figured it out till now? He felt sick to his stomach, his knees weak. He pulled his phone from his coat pocket and dialed his dad. “Please pick up... please.” The words came from a desperate place in his soul. He paced to Old Town Square and back again.
He tried his dad twice more, but his phone only rang and rang. Tomorrow morning his dad would have sold the ring and that would be that. He’d have the money and be booking a trip to Italy.
And Vanessa would never see her Christmas ring again.
His heart was still racing. What was he supposed to tell her? Certainly nothing would make sense to her any more than it made sense to him. He had to get the ring back before tomorrow morning, and that meant just one thing.
His phone back in his coat pocket, Ben returned to the restaurant. Vanessa clearly knew something was wrong. Her expression told him that much. He sat down and shook his head. “I’m so sorry. I was... This was the best time, but...” His mouth was dry, his heart pounding. “I need to go back home. Tonight.”
“Ben?” Her eyes told him she didn’t know what to make of this. “Is it your dad?”
“He’s okay. It’s not that.” Ben couldn’t grab a full breath. “I’ll explain it to you later.” He took more than enough cash from his wallet and left it on the table. “Can I take you home?”
“Of course.” Her tone, the look in her eyes... All of it was different. Like in a moment’s time the closeness between them was gone. “Let’s go.” She gathered her purse and slipped her coat on.
Ten minutes later Ben pulled up in front of her house. He had been planning to walk her inside at the end of this night. Ask her if they could share a cup of coffee and maybe sit near her Christmas tree and talk.
Not anymore. He had to get to his father. Had to stop the sale before it was too late. He walked her to the front door and took her hands in his. “I’m sorry. Really, Vanessa. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
She looked like she was about to cry. “Did I do something? Say something?”
