The Other Ring
A mountain of urgent work piled up, so Emily decided to skip lunch altogether. Then her phone rangher mum.
What is it, Mum? Make it quick, Ive got loads on, Emily answered impatiently.
Love Her mothers voice was faint, as if coming from far away. I dont feel well
Emily thought the call was breaking up. She waited, but all she heard was a groan.
Mum, I can barely hear youMum! Ill come right now! She snatched her coat from the rack.
Cover for me, just in case, she told her colleague before dashing out.
Only outside did she realise shed run out in office heels. No time to changeshe sprinted to the car park. Her mums spare keys were in the glovebox. The call had rattled her, so she sped, breaking traffic rules. A fine didnt mattershe just had to make it.
When she burst into the flat, her mum was curled on the sofa, clutching her chest.
Mum, is it your heart?
Her mum cracked her eyes open, wincing.
Hang on. Emily fished her phone from her pocket and dialled 999.
Driving her to hospital wouldve been quicker than waiting for the ambulance, but Emily couldnt tell if her mum could make it downstairsno lift in the building, and moving her might be dangerous. Asking the neighbours? No chancemidday, only elderly folks home.
While waiting, Emily stroked her mums shoulder, murmuring reassurance. The door stayed open. When the paramedics in blue uniforms arrived, Emily scrambled up, words tumbling out.
The doctor checked her pulse and blood pressure.
Were taking her in. Liam, grab the stretcher. Youfind her documents.
Whats wrong? Emily asked, tense.
Possible heart attack. He shook his head.
Soon, Liam returned with the driver and a stretcher. Emily followed them to the ambulance, but the doctor said shed only be in the waycall the hospital for updates.
Emily drove back to work. Lunch break was long over, and shed be in trouble if anyone noticed. She cut through side streets to avoid traffic lights. Turning onto the main road, the car lurched. She pulled overflat tyre. Just what she needed.
Now what? The spare was heavydoable in trainers, but heels? Helplessness welled up, tears close.
She stood at the open boot, debating a tow truck. Too slow. Then a 4×4 stopped beside her. A man stepped out, took in the flat tyre and her impractical shoes, and assessed the situation.
Got a spare?
She nodded, nearly crying with relief. He fetched the spare and his tools, then got to work.
Wait in the caryoull freeze, he said, not looking up.
Her feet were numbautumn chill, and now rain. She called James, but no answer. Again and again, nothing.
It felt like he was taking ages. Finally, he tapped the window. All setjust stowing the flat tyre. Get it patched soon.
Thank you so much. How much do I owe you?
Where were you rushing in those shoes? he teased.
My mum calledshe was ill. I ran straight from the office. Here, take these. She handed him wet wipes.
How is she?
Ambulance took her. Heart trouble. Thanks for helping.
Dont mention it. Hope she feels better. He gave the wipes back and left.
Back at the office, she nearly collided with her boss by the lift.
Emily Whitmore, only just back from lunch? Her boss checked her watch pointedly. One more lateness, and its a formal warning. Personal time is for breaks, not work hours. She marched off.
Emily exhaled.
First callher friend Lucy, who worked at the hospital. Lucy rang back half an hour later (an eternity). The attack was under controlnot a heart attack, just observation. Probably moved to a ward tomorrow.
You okay? Lucy asked.
Rushed off work, got a flat, James wont pick up
Hang in there.
James never called back. When Emily got home, he was on his laptop.
Where were you? I called a hundred times!
Work. Meetings all day.
All day?
Sorry, had my phone on silent. Whats wrong?
You couldnt call back? Mum had a heart scareambulance took her. I left work, 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.
That guys staring at youcould bore holes with his eyes, Lucy whispered.
Emily glanced over, met his gaze, and flushed. He smiled, approached.
Mind if I join you?
Lucy left. They talked for hours, then walked around London. Emily fell hard. Two weeks later, he moved in.
She waited for a proposal, even hinted. But James said living with her was one thingmarrying into her flat another. Hed do it once he bought his own place. Two years passed.
She loved himexcept for the uncertainty. Her mum nagged: if he hadnt proposed yet, he never would. Theyd rushed into living together
Weekends, James played tennis with mates while Emily cleaned. He had a habit of hanging dirty shirts in the wardrobe. She always checked before washing.
Then she noticed his jacket pocket bulging. She reached ina red velvet box. Heart pounding, she opened it. A gold ring, diamond glinting. She slipped it onperfect fit.
Shed doubted him for nothing! Hed bought a ringwith a diamond! Hed propose on her birthday! She admired it, sighed, then put it back. She could wait a little longer.
Next daygone. Maybe hed hidden it.
Birthday arrived. James raised a toast, then slid a velvet box across. Emily hesitated. No proposal came.
Open it! Lucy urged.
Insideearrings, not the ring.
Disappointment mustve shown, because James looked away.
After guests left, she confronted him.
Who was the ring for?
A mates. His girlfriend wouldve found it.
Youre saying I rummage through your pockets? Dont like the earrings? Finewell get a ring tomorrow.
We will, she said.
He hadnt expected that. But a promise was a promise. Next day, they went to the jewellers. Emily chose the most expensive ringrevenge.
Hello! What can I help with? the assistant asked. A ring? Didnt you buy one recently? She glanced at James.
You bought a ring? You said it was your friends
The assistant backtracked, flustered.
Ill explain, James whispered.
Dont follow me. Emily fled.
In the car, she shook.
So that was it. Comfortable with her, but someone else got the ring. His flat excuse? Just a delay tactic. The assistant hadnt misremembereddiamond rings werent everyday buys, and James was memorable.
He called. She switched off her phone. Tears fell. How stupid shed been
She didnt realise shed pulled over until a knock came. She rolled the window down.
Flat again? The man smirked, then saw her face. It was the same spot hed helped her before.
She shook her head, cried harder. They sat in a café, and she spilled everything.
Could you be wrong? Maybe his mate did lend it, Daniel said.
Doesnt matter now. He couldve proposed without a ring. Why take me shopping? He never planned to marry me.
Daniel brought her ice cream.
Always calmed me down as a kid.
***
She and James split. Daniel kept bumping into her, then asked her to the cinema, then weekends in Bath, York Sometimes he stayed over, but she refused to live together. Slowly, she trusted him. Four months later, he proposeda small diamond, but sincere. She never took it off.
She often wonderedhow long would James have lied if she hadnt found that ring?
Maybe some cupboards are better left unopened. And pockets unsearched.
