The Borrowed Ring
Overwhelmed with urgent work, Emily didnt even have time for lunch. Then her phone rangher mum.
What is it, Mum? Make it quick, Im swamped, Emily answered hurriedly.
Sweetheart 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 you Mum! Ill come right away! She grabbed her coat and dashed out of the office.
Cover for me, will you? she muttered to her colleague before rushing out.
Only outside did she realise she was still in her office heels. No time to go backshe sprinted to the car park. Her mums spare keys were in the glove compartment. The phone call had shaken her, and she broke traffic rules in her hurry. A fine didnt mattershe just had to get there in time.
When she burst into the flat, her mum was curled up on the sofa, clutching her chest.
Your heart, Mum?
Her mum winced as she opened her eyes.
Hang on. Emily pulled out her phone and called an ambulance.
Driving her mum to hospital wouldve been faster, but Emily wasnt sure if she could manage the stairsno lift in the building. And who could help? Most neighbours were elderly or at work.
While waiting, Emily stroked her mums shoulder, murmuring reassurances. The door stayed open. When the paramedics arrived, she stumbled through an explanation.
The doctor checked her mums pulse and blood pressure.
Were taking her in. James, fetch the stretcher. Miss, gather her documents.
Whats wrong with her? Emily asked anxiously.
Likely a heart attack. The doctor shook his head.
Soon, James returned with a stretcher. Emily followed them to the ambulance, but the doctor insisted shed only be in the way. He gave her the hospital number and advised calling for updates.
Emily returned to work. Lunch break was long overshed be in trouble if anyone noticed her absence. She cut through side streets to avoid traffic lights. Turning onto the main road, the car swerved. She pulled overa flat tyre. Just what she needed.
Now what? The spare was heavy. In trainers, she mightve managed, but in heels? She nearly burst into tears.
Standing by the open boot, she considered calling roadside assistance. Too slow. Then an SUV pulled up. A man stepped out, took in the flat tyre and her impractical shoes, and sized up the situation.
Got a spare?
She nodded, almost crying with relief. He fetched the spare and tools from his car.
Get in, youll freeze, he said without turning.
Her feet were numbautumn chill, and now rain. She sat inside and tried calling Andrew. No answer.
The man seemed to take forever. Eventually, he tapped the window. All set. Just need to stow the flat.
Dont forget to patch it, he said.
Thank you so much. How much do I owe you?
Where were you rushing off to in those shoes? he teased.
Mum calledshe was ill. I ran straight from the office. Here, take these. She handed him wipes.
How is she?
Ambulance took her. Heart trouble. Thanks for rescuing me.
Dont mention it. Hope she recovers soon. He handed back the wipes and left.
Back at the office, she bumped into her boss by the lift.
Emily Carter, only just back from lunch? Her boss checked her watch pointedly. One more tardiness, and its a formal warning.
Emily exhaled sharply.
First, she called a friend who worked at the hospital. Half an hour lateran eternityher friend called back. Her mum was stable, no heart attack, just observation.
You alright? her friend asked.
Rushed out, got a flat, and Andrews ignoring my calls.
Hang in there.
Andrew never called back. At home, he was on his laptop.
Where were you? I rang a hundred times!
At work. Meetings.
All day?
Sorry, forgot to unmute my phone. Whats wrong?
Mum had a heart scare! I got a flat, and you were unreachable!
Drive more carefully. Hows your mum?
They made up, but unease lingered.
***
Theyd met two years ago in a café.
That blokes staring at you like hes trying to bore holes into you, her friend whispered.
Emily lookedhandsome, smiling. Her heart skipped when he approached.
Mind if I join you?
Her friend 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 Andrew said living together was one thing; marriage, another. He needed his own flat first. Two years passed.
Her mum nagged: If he hasnt proposed yet, he wont.
Weekends, Andrew played tennis with mates while Emily cleaned. He had a habit of hanging dirty shirts in the wardrobe.
Then, she noticed a bulge in his jacket pocket. A red ring box. She sat on the sofa before opening it. A gold band, diamond sparkling. Her breath caught.
Shed doubted him for nothing! Hed bought a ringwith a diamond! Hed propose on her birthday! It fit perfectly. Reluctantly, she put it back.
Next day, the ring was gone. She assumed hed hidden it.
Her birthday arrived. Andrew toasted her, then handed her a velvet box. No proposal came.
Open it! her friend urged.
Inside were gold earrings.
Disappointment mustve shown, because Andrew looked away.
Later, she confronted him.
Whose ring was that?
A mates. His girlfriend couldnt know.
Youre lying. You didnt like the earrings? Fine, well get a ring tomorrow.
Fine, she said.
Andrew hadnt expected that. Next day, at the jewellers:
Hello, what can I help with? A ring? Didnt she like the one you bought? the assistant asked, glancing at Andrew.
You bought a ring? You said it was your friends!
The assistant backtracked, flustered.
Ill explain, Andrew whispered.
Dont follow me. Emily fled.
In the car, she shook. Hed been seeing someone else. All his excusesjust lies.
Andrew called, but she turned off her phone. Tears fell. How stupid shed been.
A knock on the window. The same man from before.
Flat again? His smirk faded when he saw her tears.
They sat in a café. She told him everything.
Maybe youre wrong? His mate really did lend him the ring? Daniel asked.
Doesnt matter. He never planned to marry me.
He brought her ice cream.
Always calmed me down as a kid.
***
She left Andrew. Daniel kept accidentally bumping into her, then asked her out. Weekends in Bath, York Sometimes he stayed over, but she refused to move in together. Gradually, she trusted him. Four months later, he proposed with a small diamond ringgenuine, unlike Andrews. She never took it off.
She often wondered how long Andrews deceit wouldve lasted if she hadnt stumbled upon that ring.
Maybe some cupboards are better left unopened. And certainly, some pockets unsearched.
