Page 19 of The Christmas Ring
“You have to watch it because sometimes they enter the wrong grade. Then you have to fight the process and get them to make the changes before too much time lapses.” Vanessa took a quick breath. “Otherwise, they’ll refuse to go back and correct the mistake and—”
“Mom.” Sadie held up her hand. Her smile told Vanessa she was done talking about this. “I know all that. I’m trying to be an adult, like you and Dad taught me.” Sadie seemed to remember her smile. “I know you’re just trying to help, but everything is okay with my grades.” She took another bite. “What about you? What else have you been up to?”
This was her chance. “Funny you should ask.”
Just then Sadie’s phone rang. She checked the caller ID and grinned at Vanessa. “It’s Ella. I need to take it.” Sadie dropped her voice to a whisper. “Trouble with her boyfriend. I’ll be right back.”
And just like that, Sadie hurried away from the table and down the hall to her bedroom. Vanessa could hear herchatting as she ran out of sight. She studied the table. Sadie had almost finished her dinner. No telling how long she would talk to Hudson’s sister. They probably had a ton to catch up on.
Vanessa cleared the table and leaned against the counter. She had to tell Sadie about Ben before tomorrow. Like her friends had pointed out earlier today, she could hardly walk into church at Ben’s side without telling Sadie something.
Or could she?
Sadie never normally felt strained around her mother. What was the feeling—scrutiny or mistrust? Like her mom didn’t think she had her life together? Whatever it was, Sadie wanted things between them back to normal.
Twenty minutes into the call with Ella, Sadie got a text from Hudson. She grinned. “Your brother wants to FaceTime me.” She hesitated. “I’m still hoping he’ll be here for the dance.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Ella sighed. “My mom told me yesterday. Hudson’s unit has to stay through Christmas.”
“We’ll see.” Sadie could hardly wait to talk to Hudson. “I gotta go. Let’s get together tomorrow after church.”
The call with Ella ended and Sadie positioned her laptop on her desk. She flipped on her small ring light and waited for Hudson’s call to come through. Service from the Middle East wasn’t always great, but usually they could talk five or ten minutes before he had to go or the signal died.
A minute later Sadie’s screen lit up. In a blink she and Hudson were looking at each other face-to-face. As if hewasn’t a million miles away with his life on the line. One of Fort Benning’s army Rangers.
“Hi.” His smile melted her heart. “I’ve been thinking about you all afternoon.”
“Me, too.” She raked her fingers through her hair. “What’d you do today?” She didn’t expect an answer. Special Operations Forces couldn’t tell family and friends much about what they did with their time.
“Patrolled.” He looked tired. “The usual. Did you get your grades?”
“I got A’s in everything but child development.” Sadie made a sad face. “And you already know how I feel about that.”
“My girlfriend’s about to be anything but an education major.” He chuckled. “You have to tell your mom.”
“I know. Maybe tomorrow.” Sadie rested her head on her hand. “How do you think she’ll handle it?”
“I mean, you’ve only wanted to be a teacher since you were, what, in first grade?” Hudson chuckled again, but he wasn’t really laughing. “No, really. I think she’ll be okay. That’s what college is for, right? Figuring it out.”
Sadie thought about it. Hudson was right. Her mother wouldn’t be mad. They would talk about it and she would understand how dreams change and directions shift. Surely.
“Hey, Rogers.” The voice from off-screen boomed. “Briefing’s in five minutes.”
Hudson looked toward the voice. “I’ll be there.” After a beat he looked back at Sadie. “I have to go. It’s never enough.”
“No.” Sadie remembered what Ella said. “I talked to your sister. She said you aren’t coming home for Christmas.”
A sigh came from deep inside Hudson. Clearly this wasn’t easy for him. “I’m not. We found out yesterday.” All humor faded from his expression. “I asked around, but it’s for sure. No one goes home this Christmas. Things are tense.” He looked like he wanted to say more, but he couldn’t.
“Got it.” Sadie understood. “No dance for you and me.”
“Not this year.” He put his hand on the computer screen and she did the same, their hands touching through the Internet connection. “You sure you wanna do this, Sadie Mayfield? Date an army Ranger?”
“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate. “I knew what I was getting into when you asked me on that first date.” She paused and allowed herself to get lost in his eyes. “It won’t always be like this.”
“Rogers, let’s go!” This time the voice barked the order.
“Gotta run.” Hudson held her eyes a moment longer. “Bye, Sadie.”
