Page 85 of Five Gold Rings

He pauses, taken aback by the gesture. ‘Well, let’s see it then…’

I walk over to the bed as he tries his best to sit up. I offer some help, propping a pillow behind his back, then place the velvet box on the table, opening the lid so he can inspect it.

‘Crikey. There she is,’ he says, removing the ring and looking at it closely. ‘I didn’t really know what I wanted so I left the old man in the shop to his own devices. It’s perfect.’

‘That’s Mr Caspar for you.’

‘I rang around so many jewellers’, but they were all trying to flog the most expensive rings in the shop to me. Mr Caspar listened. He understood the assignment. I thought about something else – a pendant or bracelet and you know what he told me? A ring. It will last forever.’ His finger traces the circumference of it. ‘Like a circle, it has no beginning, no end. I liked hearing that.’

I smile. Mr Caspar uses that line a lot on anyone who comes in the shop, and it never gets old. I watch as he looks at the ring quietly, from every angle, before forming a fist around it and holding it to his heart. I have so many questions but just quietly observe him.

‘Can I give you anything for coming here so late?’ he tells me. ‘I have a whole tin of Quality Street.’ He reaches over for the shiny angular tin and wedges it open with his fingers. I sift through the rainbow-coloured confections and take a caramel cup.

‘You can take more than one,’ he jokes. ‘So, is this what you do? Are you a proper lord of the rings?’

‘Of sorts,’ I reply, laughing. ‘In the last few days, I’ve done five last minute deliveries. It’s been quite a few days of proposals and weddings.’

‘That’s a lot of love.’

It was a huge festive bomb of love; it was humbling and magical, even if none of it was for me.

‘I don’t even know what hand a ring goes on. Is that terrible?’ he tells me.

‘Left hand,’ I say, holding up my ring finger. ‘It dates back to the Ancient Romans who believed there was a vein in that finger that led directly to the heart.’ I repeat another of Mr Caspar’s lines. ‘And then when you do get married, you stick another ring on there for good measure.’

‘I’ve not got that far with my planning yet,’ he tells me.

‘Mr Caspar can sort you out,’ I tell him.

He nods at me and smiles.

‘Well, I got the next best thing. Turkey sandwich meal deal – it’s got turkey, bacon, cranberry and…’ a voice suddenly says, coming into the room clutching on to some takeaway sandwiches and crisps. The lady is in a Christmas jumper, jeans and trainers and stops when she sees me. ‘Sorry, I didn’t realise we had company,’ she says, placing her food haul on an armchair in the room. ‘Did my mum send one of those singing telegrams? I told her not to do that.’

‘It’s all good. I’m just leaving,’ I say, but Mr Peare puts a hand on my arm, taking a deep stuttering breath.

‘David,’ the lady says, rushing over to his bed. I look at his oxygen levels and react quickly, even though I probably shouldn’t, offering him a mask.

‘Deep breaths, Mr Peare – long exhalations.’

The lady looks over to me. ‘I’m confused, who are you? Are you a doctor?’

I’m not sure what to say. Technically, yes, but in this moment, no. I bend down to check on Mr Peare, putting a hand on his.

‘Will you stay?’ he asks me.

I nod, offering my hand to the lady. ‘I’m Joe.’

‘Natalia,’ she says, eyeballing me, sitting by David’s bed. ‘You’re overdressed, whoever you are,’ she tells me.

‘He’s just making up for my lack of formality,’ David tells her. I watch as she kisses his hand and perches her head on his mattress, looking up at him. From the photo on the bedside table, I see both of them flanked by two young children. ‘Joe, give me a hand now. Can you sit me up? As far as the bed can go?’ he asks me.

Natalia looks over at both of us curiously.

‘Now tell me, how do I look? Don’t talk about the hair but is there anything in my teeth?’ he says, clenching them in front of me.

‘You’re all good, chief. I will take it this is happening now.’

He nods and looks me in the eye. ‘Oh, the one thing I’m learning in life is that you do everything now. No waiting.’ And with that he turns away from me, urging Natalia to sit on the edge of the bed next to him. I back away into the shadows of the room.