Page 25 of The Christmas Ring
Vanessa walked beside Ben now. “Worth a lot?”
“Yeah.” Ben looked at her and their eyes held. For a moment he stopped and it was just him and Vanessa. “The find of a lifetime.”
She clearly understood what he meant. He could tell by the way her eyes sparkled.
They were about to head across the street for coffee when Vanessa’s phone rang. The call was quick but Vanessa looked concerned. When she hung up, she turned to Ben.
“Two volunteers dropped out of the Gingerbread House Contest. I need to reach out to a few people and get it covered.”
Ben set the bags down and held out both arms. “Didn’t I tell you? I love gingerbread houses! Let’s do this.”
“Really?” Vanessa laughed. “You amaze me.”
They put the bags in her car and headed for the church. The contest was set up outside, apparently same as last year. As he and Vanessa walked up, the event was in full happy Christmassy chaos.
For the next hour, Ben worked alongside Vanessa helping kids frost their houses and find the right candy decorations.
When it was time for cleanup, Ben had an idea. He spoke so only Vanessa could hear him. “What if I read to the kids while you all clean up?”
A tenderness filled Vanessa’s eyes. “They’d love that.”
So Ben grabbed a Bible from inside the church and gathered the kids on the front steps. “My grandfather used to read this to me every Christmas.”
He opened the Bible to Luke Two and began to read. The kids were quiet, holding onto every word. “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.’”
A little boy stood up and smiled. “That’s what Christmas is all about!”
The kids giggled, and just then Ben looked across the cleanup crew and saw Vanessa watching him. They both smiled and Ben felt a thrill of hope. Like Christmas itself.
Because her smile was far more than that of a friend.
Later Ben helped the team fold up the cleaned tables. One man and a little girl, maybe eight years old, were still there, talking off to one side of the parking lot. He was clearly remarking about her gingerbread house.
Vanessa saw him watching the two. “That’s Lexi. She lost her mom overseas three months ago. Her dad told me this is the first time he’s seen her smile since.”
Ben felt his heart sink. The price for freedom was never free. Lexi and her father were proof.
He watched Vanessa folding up chairs a few feet away. She took this sort of thing in stride. This town was familiar with the very greatest loss, but they pushed through all the same. They stood by each other and believed in the job their family members signed up for.
And something about that made Ben care even more for Vanessa Mayfield.
Vanessa fell for him a little more every time they were together. And today most of all. After finishing with the gingerbread house competition, they went to Harvest, the best coffee shop in Columbus. When they had their drinks, they took a table near the window. From there they could see the Christmas displays that lined the center of Old Town.
Ben leaned back in his chair. “So tell me more about Columbus Cares.”
She realized again how much he cared about her, about the things she loved. They weren’t in a hurry. The coffeeshop would be open another two hours, so she took her time. She told him how Alan had always wanted to do something to help the local military families. “After he died, I had to do something. It just made sense to start Columbus Cares. By then I’d met Maria and Leigh.”
“That Leigh is a hoot.” Ben laughed. “But your trio doesn’t tour. She was sure to tell me that.”
“She’s hilarious. Every time the trio gets together, Maria and I laugh till we cry.” Vanessa thought back to their original meeting. “It’s sort of incredible to think we met at a grief support group.”
Vanessa told him how the meeting had been for Gold Star Widows.
“I didn’t know.” Ben seemed to take the news personally. “Maria and Leigh...?”
“Yes. They both lost their husbands, too. Different attacks, but the same month.”
Ben was quiet for a moment. “You don’t realize the price. Going through life every day. The freedoms we have.” He sighed. “Not until you hear something like this. The losses you’ve each suffered.”
