No ring! Andrew, can you hear me? Eleanor shouts, flipping the bedroom over. My emeraldset ring is nowhere to be found!
She stands in the middle of the room, breathing hard, surrounded by open drawers and boxes turned insideout. Her hands shake with rising panic. The ring is her pridebought with the bonus from her first big award, a reminder of how she earned her place at the firm. And now it has vanished.
Andrew lets out a weary sigh, putting down his phone.
Lena, it cant have gone far. You must have misplaced it. Youll think of where you last put it, he says.
Im sure of it, Eleanor turns to him, eyes blazing. The only place I ever keep it is the little jewellery box on the dresser. Never anywhere else. You know I always put things back where they belong.
Andrew waves a hand. Itll turn up. Dont get worked up over nothing.
Nothing? Eleanors voice pierces him. Its not nothing, Andrew, its an expensive piece It must be Charlottes. Shes the only one who could have taken it! She snaps, her tone sharp.
Andrew frowns, puts his phone aside, and looks at her with thinly veiled irritation. Youre always on your own. Christine wouldnt do that.
Really? Eleanor crosses her arms. Who else has been in our flat the last three months, poking around while were at work? I want her to give the ring back right now. Lets drive to her place.
Andrew rubs his face with his palms. Eleanor watches his shoulders tense, his lips thin into a line. He clearly doesnt want this trip, doesnt want a scene. She isnt about to back down.
Lena, maybe we shouldnt? Think about why shed want your ring, Andrew suggests.
Its beautiful and costly. Lets go. Now, Eleanor replies.
With a sigh, Andrew gathers his things and they set off for the village outside London. Eleanor sits in the passenger seat, phone clenched in her hand, her thoughts a whirl. Each kilometre feels like an effort. Andrew remains silent, glancing at her now and then with a look that says, What a mess.
After about an hour they pull up in front of the Whitaker family home. The house is quiet. Eleanor is the first out of the car, marching straight to the front door.
Mrs. Whitaker opens and freezes at the sight of them, her face a mask of astonishment. Andrew? Eleanor? What brings you here? We werent expecting you.
Wheres Charlotte? Eleanor asks, cutting straight to the point.
Inside, of course. She just got here yesterday, Mrs. Whitaker says, stepping aside to let them in. Come in, is something wrong?
Eleanor steps into the sitting room where Mr. Whitaker and Charlotte are seated at the table. Charlotte looks up, eyes widening.
Charlotte, you need to return my ring properly, or things will get ugly for everyone, Eleanor says, stopping in the centre of the room. Im not going to let this slide.
A heavy silence falls. Mr. Whitaker rises slowly from his seat.
Who gave you permission to behave like that in someone elses house? his voice is low and threatening. Are you accusing our daughter of theft?
Im stating a fact, Eleanor replies, her throat tight. My emerald ring has disappeared. It vanished after Charlotte left. No one else was in the flat.
Mrs. Whitaker screams, My daughter would never steal! Youre insulting our whole family!
Then explain where my ring is, Eleanor demands, her patience fraying. Speak up now.
Andrew stands by the door, pale and silent, looking from his wife to his sister and back.
Charlottes lower lip quivers, tears welling. I I just wanted to try it on for a moment. Its so pretty. I thought you wouldnt notice if I put it back I was being foolish, she sobs.
Eleanor is stunned. She expected denial, outrage, maybe a tantrumnot an outright confession as if she were at fault.
Pity? she hisses, anger rising. Yes, Im pained! I spent my award money on that ring, worked three extra months overtime! And you just took it without asking! Thats absurd, understand?
Lena, calm down, Mr. Whitaker intervenes. Youre making a mountain out of a molehill. Shes young, she just wants beautiful things. You have everythinggood job, a husband, a home. Let her keep the ring and think of you. You can buy another.
Are you serious? Eleanor says, incredulous. You think she should keep something I bought with my own money just because she wanted it?
Mrs. Whitaker steps forward, embracing Eleanors shoulders. Sweetheart, Charlotte didnt mean any harm. She admired your ring, dreamed of having one. You have all you needcareer, husband, flat. Shes just starting out. Dont be selfish.
Eleanor turns to Andrew, searching his eyes for any sign of support. He only shakes his head, avoiding her gaze.
Youre overreacting, Lena, he finally says. Its just a ring. Its not the end of the world.
The ring was her achievement, her joy, her propertynow just a piece of jewellery. In that moment Eleanor feels the weight of three years of family life lift, replaced by icy calm.
She pulls her phone from her pocket, dials three numbers, and holds it up to Mrs. Whitakers face.
Im giving you two minutes, she says, voice flat. Return the ring now, or I call the police. Your choice.
You wont dare! Mr. Whitaker snaps, his face flushing.
Well see, Eleanor replies, unmoving.
Charlotte shrieks, clutching at her mother. Mrs. Whitaker shoots a hostile look at Eleanor, but says nothing.
Times ticking, Eleanor reminds them.
Andrew! Mrs. Whitaker pleads. Say something to your wife! Stop her!
Andrew stays silent, staring at the floor. Eleanor smiles, bitter and contemptuous, and reaches for the call button.
Fine, fine! Charlotte shrieks, dashing to her bedroom. She returns a minute later, clutching a familiar velvet box, and flings it onto the table.
Take it! My precious ring! You greedy, stingy thing! she yells.
Eleanor opens the boxinside, the ring sits exactly where it should, the emerald catching the light. She slips it back into the pocket of her coat.
I thought you were reasonable, Charlotte sniffles, wiping tears. But youre greedy and cruel.
Eleanor heads for the door, then stops, turning back. Her voice is sharp. If Im such a monster, why have I lived in this house for three months? I paid the rent, used the internet, the hot water. If Im that bad, why did I ask you to cover my courses? Explain that.
Charlotte glares and walks away, speechless.
Eleanor looks at Andrew, still hunched, head down. Its a pitiful sight. I never expected this from you, Andrew. Given your family, it isnt surprising youd be the same.
She thrusts a set of car keys at him.
What? he asks, confused.
The car is mine too. I bought it with my own money. Hand over the keys.
Lena
Keys! she snaps, pulling his hand.
He silently slides the keys into her palm. She clenches them into a fist and, at the doorway, turns once more.
Ill take my things back tomorrow and file for divorce, she says, and walks out without waiting for a reply.
A month later the divorce is finalized. Eleanor looks at the dresser; the jewellery box sits where it always has. On the velvet cushion inside, her emerald ring shines.
Her phone buzzes on the table with another notification. The messages from former relatives call her cold, heartless, a familybreaker. She simply adds the numbers to her block list, as she has done with dozens before.
Life without Andrew feels simple and light. The Whitaker familys dramas no longer touch her. She doesnt care whether Charlotte finds a job. She isnt worried about how his parents house will survive the winter.
Eleanor now plans only for herself, intending to spend the holidays with those who truly love her.
