**Someone Else’s Ring**
Work had piled up, and Emily didnt even have time for lunch. Then her phone rangher mum.
Mum? What is it? Im swamped, Emily answered hurriedly.
Love Her mums voice was faint, as if coming from far away. I dont feel well
Emily waited, thinking the line had cut out, but all she heard was a weak groan.
Mum? Youre breaking upMum! Im coming now! She grabbed her coat from the rack.
Cover for me, will you? she muttered to a colleague before bolting from the office.
Only outside did she realise shed run out in her office heels. No time to go backshe sprinted to the car park. Her mums spare keys were in the glovebox. She drove recklessly, ignoring red lights. A fine was nothing if it meant getting there in time.
When she burst into the flat, her mum was curled on the sofa, clutching her chest.
Mum, is it your heart?
Her mum winced as she opened her eyes.
Hang on. Emily fished out her phone and dialled 999.
It wouldve been quicker to drive her mum to hospital, but Emily didnt know if she could manage the stairsthe building had no lift. And asking the neighbours? Uselessmost were pensioners, home alone at this hour.
While waiting, Emily stroked her mums shoulder, murmuring reassurances. She left the door ajar. When the paramedics arrived, she stumbled through an explanation.
The doctor checked her mums pulse and blood pressure.
Were taking her in. Liam, fetch the stretcher. Youfind her documents.
Whats wrong? Emily asked, voice tight.
Likely a heart attack. He shook his head.
Soon, Liam returned with a stretcher. Emily followed them to the ambulance but was told to stay behindshed only be in the way. Ring the hospital later.
Back at work, lunch break was long over. Shed be in trouble if anyone noticed her absence. Cutting through side streets to avoid traffic lights, the car suddenly lurched. She pulled overfront tyre punctured. Just what she needed.
What now? The spare was heavyimpossible in heels. She nearly burst into tears right there.
Standing helplessly by the boot, she considered calling roadside assistance. Too slow. A Land Rover pulled up beside her. A man stepped out, took one look at the flat tyre and her flimsy shoes, and understood.
Got a spare?
She nodded, relief washing over her. He fetched tools from his car and got to work.
Get insideyoull freeze, he said without turning.
Her feet *were* numbautumn chill, and now rain. She called James, but he didnt pick up.
It felt like he was taking ages, but soon he tapped the window. All set. Just need to stow the flat.
Dont forget to patch it, he advised.
Thank you. How much do I owe you?
Where were you off to in those shoes? he teased.
My mum calledshe was ill. I just ran out.
Is she alright?
Ambulance took her. Heart trouble. Thanks for helping.
Dont mention it. Hope she recovers. He handed her a pack of tissues and left.
Back at the office, she nearly collided with her boss by the lift.
Miss Pembroke, only just back from lunch? Her boss checked her watch pointedly. One more tardiness and its a formal warning.
Emily exhaled sharply.
First thing, she rang her friend who worked at the same hospital. Half an hour lateran eternitythe call came. Her mum was stable, no heart attack, just observation. She could visit tomorrow.
You alright? her friend asked.
Rushed out, got a flat, James wont answer
Hang in there.
James never called back. At home, he was glued to his laptop.
Where were you? I called a hundred times!
Work. Meetings.
All day?
Sorry, had my phone on silent. Whats wrong?
Mum was taken to hospitalheart scare. I raced over, got a flat, and youre unreachable!
Drive carefully next time. Hows your mum?
They made up, but unease lingered.
***
Theyd met two years ago in a café. Emilys friend nudged her.
That blokes staringcould bore holes through you.
James had approached with a smile. Mind if I join you?
Her friend left. They talked for hours, then wandered the city. Emily fell hard. Two weeks later, he moved in.
She waited for a proposal, even hinted. But James said living together was one thingmarrying into *her* flat? Different story. Wait till he bought his own place. Two years passed.
Her mum nagged: If he hasnt proposed yet, he wont.
Weekends, James played tennis with mates while Emily cleaned. He had a habit of hanging dirty shirts in the wardrobeshe always checked before washing.
Then, rummaging through his jacket, she found a red velvet box. Hands shaking, she opened it. A gold ring with a diamond sparkled back.
Her breath caught. Shed doubted him for nothing! He *was* proposingon her birthday! The ring fit perfectly. Reluctantly, she put it back.
Next daygone. She assumed hed hidden it.
Then her birthday came. James raised a toast, handed her a box. She hesitatedno proposal came.
Open it! her friend urged.
Insidegold earrings.
Disappointment mustve shown, because James looked away.
Later, she confronted him. Who was the ring for?
A mates. He asked me to hold it so his girlfriend wouldnt find it.
She didnt buy it.
Didnt know you went through my things. Dont like the earrings? Fine, well get a ring tomorrow.
We will, she said coldly.
He hadnt expected that. Next day, at the jewellers, Emily picked the priciest ring.
Back so soon? the assistant asked James. Didnt she like the first one?
Emily froze. You *bought* a ring?
The assistant apologisedwrong customer.
Ill explain James began.
Dont. Emily fled.
In the car, she shook. Hed been seeing someone else. All that flat talkexcuses.
James called. She switched off her phone, tears streaming. How stupid shed been.
A tap on the windowthe same man from the flat tyre.
Puncture again? His smile faded when he saw her tears.
They sat in a café. She told him everything.
Maybe youre wrong? Daniel suggested. His mate really did lend him the ring?
Doesnt matter now. He never planned to marry me.
Daniel brought her ice cream.
Always calmed me down as a kid.
***
She left James. Daniel started appearingcoincidentally at first, then with invites: cinema, weekends in Edinburgh, York. Sometimes he stayed over, but she refused to move in together. Slowly, she thawed.
Four months later, he proposed with a modest ringsmall diamond, big heart. She never took it off.
She often wondered: how long would James have lied if she hadnt found that ring meant for another?
Maybe some closets are best left unopened. And some pockets best left unsearched.
