“Howard.” Sheila turned around and met his eyes. “Whoever you’re giving that ring to, you must love them an awful lot.”
Howard’s heart was full. “More than you know.”
When she was gone, he took the ring from the top drawer of his desk. It was time to get it to its rightful owner.
Finally, the bookcase was finished.
Ben wasn’t sure what to do next. He had planned to be in Columbus by now, and he needed a shower before he could do anything. It was two thirty, and still he hadn’t heard from his father. No apology, no explanation. Nothing.
But then, how was he any better? He should’ve gone into the store and talked it over with his father. Asked him to take a second, closer look at the ring. Especially after raising his voice at his dad this morning.
Instead, he’d been back here all this time, only making things worse.
Whatever. He still had no idea what he was going to tell Vanessa. Ben was about to leave through the back door when his father came hurrying in from the storefront. “Ben! Ben, don’t leave.”
“Dad.” Ben slumped a little. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t havetalked to you like that.” Ben’s shirt was damp with sweat and sawdust. He must’ve looked like a mess.
“Wait. I have something—”
“No, really. The truth is, Dad, the ring belongs to you. You bought it. Or... I guess by now it belongs to the buyer.”
His father came a few steps closer. “Son, you don’t owe me an apology.”
“Yes, but—”
“The whole thing was my fault.” His dad was closing the gap between them, moving closer still. “The ring was engraved, just like you said. And it hit me. Something your mother used to say. A quote from Scripture. ‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ That’s the truth.”
“You saw the engraving?” Ben couldn’t understand. Why hadn’t his father run out here to tell him that hours ago? “Why...?”
“I needed to speak with the buyer before I could come tell you. But that’s done now.” His dad smiled, his eyes watery. “Love, son. Love is the greatest diamond in the rough. Especially at Christmastime.”
His father pulled the green velvet box from his pocket and handed it to Ben. “Italy will have to wait.”
Ben wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. He took the box with shaking hands. “Are you serious?”
“It’s not mine to sell.” His dad shrugged. “Not mine to give away.” A grin tugged at his lips. “Go give it back to Vanessa.”
His words triggered another kind of reality. The dance was in three hours. He hugged his dad hard and took him by the shoulders. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” Thenhe hurried for the door. “I just might have time to get there. I gotta run.”
They shared one more smile and then Ben flew out the door, the ring in his pants pocket. All he could do now was pray Vanessa would understand, that she’d forgive him for the way he’d acted. His smile remained as he drove home and got ready. He had a feeling she just might. But first things first.
He had to get to the dance.
Vanessa walked Sadie and Hudson to the front door half an hour before the dance was set to begin. Hudson wore his dress blues and Sadie looked stunning in a floor-length pale blue dress, one she’d bought last summer for this special night. At the time she had hoped Hudson would be home for Christmas, but she had known better than to count on the idea.
Now, though, in what was the greatest gift for Vanessa’s daughter, Sadie and Hudson were setting out to the dance together. Hudson hurried to his car and brought something back. A cream-colored wrist corsage.
Through teary eyes, Vanessa smiled, watching them. Ben’s words ran through her mind again.“Because every girl deserves a corsage.”Seeing Sadie and Hudson was like watching a flashback of Vanessa and Alan at the beginning. Young and in love, all of life ahead of them.
“You sure you don’t want us to wait?” Sadie hugged Vanessa before they set off.
“No. You go.” Vanessa’s hair and makeup were ready,but she still needed to get dressed. “I’ll be right behind you.”
When they were gone, Vanessa did the one thing she’d been longing to do. She sat by the Christmas tree and prayed for Ben. He still hadn’t called, and with every passing hour she had no idea what to make of the situation.
No matter what had happened, she knew Ben, knew his character and kindness. One day what had happened last night would make sense. Even if this wasn’t how tonight was supposed to go. He wasn’t the Grinch who stole Christmas. He was a man who had made everything about the past six months more beautiful than Vanessa could have dreamed.
Vanessa pulled up his text messages and scrolled back to one he’d sent not long ago. A video message. She was smiling even before she hit play, and there he was. The man she had fallen for. She could admit that fully, now that it looked unlikely they would ever find their way back together.
