Christmas Diamond, a Novella: Inspired by The Jewel series and the Virtues and Valor series (7 page)
Authors: Hallee Bridgeman
Tags: #the jewel series, #virtues in valor, #world war ii, #viscolli family, #key west, #christmas, #christmas story, #christmas novella, #free read, #bridgeman, #christian, #christian fiction, #christian romance, #Contemporary, #contemporary christian fiction, #contemporary christian romance, #contemporary inspirational fiction, #contemporary inspirational romance, #debi warford, #edgy christian fiction, #edgy christian romance, #edgy inspirational fiction, #edgy inspirational romance, #fiction, #hailey bridgeman, #haley bridgeman, #halle bridgeman, #hallee bridgeman, #inspirational, #inspirational christian fiction, #inspirational fiction, #inspirational romance, #love, #olivia kimbrell press, #romance, #traditional romance, #the jewel trilogy, #sapphire ice, #greater than rubies, #emerald fire, #topaz heat
She took the package with shaking hands and unwrapped it. When she saw what it contained, she gasped out loud and felt tears flood her eyes. "How?"
She ran her fingers over the full carat diamond that lay embedded in the fiber of the vintage flight log book. Seventy-five years before, an artist's brush had painted a Texas Lone Star flag in the shape of the state of Texas and a stylized diamond in the center. The words "Texas Diamond" emblazoned the bottom of the symbol in brush script on the US Air Force blue fabric.
The airplane itself, a North American Na-16 christened
Texas Diamond
, had been a Christmas present from her great-grandfather to her grandmum. That year, the log book had been the item he had wrapped and placed under the tree.
"I acquired it from a collector about six years ago. I think I paid more for it than what I would have for the plane."
"This is the most amazing thing anyone has ever given to me," she said, tears streaming down her face.
"Good. My father always said begin as you mean to go on." He cupped her wet cheek and ran a thumb under her eye, catching a fresh tear. "Here's my plan. I'm going to finish this semester of school, become Doctor Viscolli, and move to London."
"Move to London? Why?"
TJ smiled and cupped her other cheek. "Because that's where you live and I love you. I know we only met a week ago, but I know in my soul that God arranged that meeting, and I've never been one to tell Him no."
With her heart soaring higher than she'd ever flown in a plane, Faith grinned. "I've spent the better part of the last week falling in love with you. Honestly, I was dreading coming home."
With a smile, he whispered, "Now you can just prepare for me to come home."
Faith looked once more at the log book. "Afraid I didn't get you anything for Christmas."
TJ pulled her closer. "I'll settle for a kiss."
"Well, then. Happy Christmas TJ Viscolli," she whispered as he pressed his lips to hers and kissed her with a promise of forever.
THE END
Che cosa è successo?
— (Italian) What has happened? (What happened here?)
non lo so
— (Italian) I don't know
grazi
— (Italian) Thank you (Thanks)
amato figlio
— (Italian) beloved son
si
— (Italian) yes
wool gathering
— (British slang) daydreaming, lost in thought
bodge
— (British slang) make a bit of a haphazard job of something
barmy
— (British slang) incredibly foolish
full of beans
— (British slang) to have loads of energy.
pear shaped
— (British slang) If something has gone pear shaped it means it has become a disaster
to hospital/in hospital
— (British slang) in British English, 'hospital' is a condition, not a place, and thus requires no article. This is similar to American English where 'recovery' is a condition. Example: American English, "She's in recovery." British English, "She's in hospital."
THE REAL EVENTS THAT INSPIRED CHRISTMAS DIAMOND…
EVERY
story in the
Virtues and Valor
series is inspired by real people and real events. This story is no exception.
The mid-air collision described in Chapter 5 of
Christmas Diamond
between a P-51D Mustang and a North American Na-16 is based on an actual mid-air collision that occurred on July 10th in 2011 between similar aircraft.
On that Sunday at just after five in the afternoon, a Douglas AD-4N Skyraider registered F-AZDP collided with a P-51D Mustang registered D-FBBD dubbed
Big Beautiful Doll
. The collision occurred at just 800 feet above the tarmac at the
Duxford Flying Legends
event hosted by the Duxford Aerodrome in Cambridgeshire, England.
The force of the collision was so great when the starboard (right hand) wing of the Skyraider collided with the lower rear fuselage of the Mustang that four feet of the wing of the Skyraider immediately sheared off at impact. The Mustang went into an uncontrolled spin. The Skyraider completed a full roll to the right after hitting the P-51 due to the sudden difference in lift between the two wings.
Miraculously, despite the fact a the four foot portion of the starboard wing was missing, the Skyraider's pilot managed to regain and then retain control of the single engine vintage aircraft. The pilot completed a circuit and executed an emergency wheels-down landing at the airfield.
The Mustang had descended to 500 feet by the time the pilot came to what he told reporters was "the time of decision making." He ejected from the aircraft but had descended to just 200 feet by the time his parachute deployed. While jettisoning from the tumbling airplane, he struck the tail of the aircraft nearly breaking his arm. The P-51 nosed in and was lost but the pilot descended safely to the earth with just bruises for the close call.
For a full report of the event by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch of the British Government which includes photographs of the collision, you can visit the official website here:
SUGGESTED
group discussion questions for
Christmas Diamond
.
In bringing those He ministered to into an understanding of the truth, Our Lord used fiction in the form of parables to illustrate very real truths. In the same way, we can minister to one another by the use of fictional characters and situations to help us to reach logical, valid, cogent, and very sound conclusions about our real lives here on earth.
While the characters and situations in
Christmas Diamond
as well as
The Jewel Series
and the
Virtues and Valor
series that inspired this story are all fictional, I pray that these extended parables can help readers come to a better understanding of truth. Please prayerfully consider the questions that follow, consult scripture, and pray upon your conclusions.
TJ Viscolli believes he has a guardian angel that sent Faith to rescue him. Psalm 91:11-12 reads:
11
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12
In
their
hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
1. What do you believe about "guardian angels"?
2. Have you ever experienced or witnessed an event you believe can be attributed to a guardian angel?
TJ believes he knew within just a few hours of meeting Faith that they were "destined" to be together. TJ tells Faith he believes that, rather than protecting him from the accident with the surf board, God allowed it to happen and sent Faith there to rescue him.
3. Do you believe God orchestrates events in such a manner?
4. What is your experience with instant attraction or liking of someone, especially in a situation that is completely out of the realm of our normal day-to-day lives?
5. What is your opinion about love at first sight? Is it biblical?
