Vanessa felt an ache in her gut. “I thought... I figured we would pick your classes together. While you were home.”
“I had to pick them weeks ago.” Sadie glanced back at her. “Didn’t I tell you?”
“You didn’t.” Still holding the bear, Vanessa stood and moved behind her daughter. “Can I see?”
“Of course.” Sadie signed into her college portal and pulled up her spring class list.
Vanessa scanned the courses. “Wait. Honey, you didn’t get into early education. You need that for your teaching credential.”
This seemed to hit Sadie. She pushed back from her desk and faced Vanessa again. “I was going to tell you yesterday.” Sadie stood and reached for Vanessa’s hand. “Mom... I’m not sure about teaching.”
“What?” Vanessa felt the floor shift beneath her feet. “But you’ve always wanted to be a teacher. Ever since you were a little girl.”
“Not anymore. I guess it took college for me to figure it out.”
For a moment Vanessa imagined Alan coming home from the base, his medic patch on the sleeve of his uniform. “Your father taught the other medics and you... you always wanted to be just like him.”
“But Mom... it’s my future, right? I’ll figure it out, but I don’t want to be a teacher. That’s what I wanted to tell you last night, but we ran out of time.”
There was nothing wrong with Sadie’s tone. The news was shocking, that’s all. “Okay, sure. I mean, yes, it’s your future.” Vanessa felt the picture she’d always held of the future crumble a bit. “I just never dreamed...”
Vanessa was trying to figure out what else to say when Sadie’s phone rang. She looked up. “It’s Ella. I won’t be long. I’m going to her house in an hour. They invited me for dinner!”
“Sure. Of course.” Vanessa remembered to smile. “I’ll be in the living room.”
Already Sadie was into her other conversation. “You won’t believe it! I got into photography!” Sadie sounded as thrilled as she did on Christmas morning. “Everyone said I wouldn’t get that class till next year, but I’m in it!”
Vanessa waited a beat. Then she stood and placed Mister Bear back on the pillow at the head of Sadie’s bed. She looked back at Sadie and a thought occurred to her. This was a different daughter than the one she’d taken to Breckenridge four years ago. Different from the one she’d dropped off at Reinhardt last July. Her daughter was growing up, and that wasn’t a bad thing. Just different.
And something about that broke Vanessa’s heart.
Chapter 9
Ben could tell something was off with Vanessa the minute they met up at the Perfect Find. She hugged him, maybe a little longer than last time. But the light in her eyes wasn’t as bright as before. He stayed there with her, in no hurry to get inside the shop.
“Everything okay?”
Vanessa sighed. “I’m fine. It’s Sadie. She’s just... older, I guess. Things between us feel different.” She smiled, even if it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She told Ben about Sadie no longer wanting to be a teacher and how she’d chosen classes without Vanessa’s help.
He and Laura had never had children, but he felt for her. “You pray for them to find their way... and then when they do, it can’t be easy.”
“It isn’t.” Vanessa’s laugh sounded heavy. “We’ll be okay. She’s only been home a day. We just need time. And right now she’s at her friend’s house.”
“You’re right. You need time. That’s all.” Ben opened the door for her and they stepped inside. The place gave Millers’ Antiques a run for its money when it came toChristmas décor. That much was obvious even from the entrance.
Ben noticed an arrow and a sign:Mistletoe Section this way.
He grinned. “Apparently they have a mistletoe section.” He tried not to look at Vanessa too long.Friends.She only wants to be friends.
Even so, they walked to the mistletoe room first. Ben looked around as they entered. “I’ll say this for the owners. They’re serious about their mistletoe.”
There were mistletoe ornaments and wall hangings and ribbons and dishes. Salt and pepper shakers and socks. Everything mistletoe including, well, actual mistletoe.
“Hmm.” Vanessa giggled. Already her mood seemed lighter. “You have to wonder, right?”
Ben gave her the flirtiest look he would allow. “I mean... I get it.”
She laughed, her cheeks a bit redder.
