Page 86 of Five Gold Rings

‘David, what the hell are you up to?’ Natalia asks him.

‘Marry me…’ he says, plainly.

‘What?’ she says, incredulous.

And for a moment, he sits there, his hands on her face, not saying a word but looking into her eyes as they glass over, watching as she affectionately kisses his hand. It’s such a quiet admission of love, the complete opposite of everything I’ve seen in the last few days and the intimacy of it floors me. He just asked the question without a boat, without a band, without calling birds and ladies dancing. Two people who simply live in love, and who know that they may lose that love. I take another step back. David puts his palm out and reveals the ring to her.

‘David! How on earth…’ Natalia’s eyes shift to me then back to him.

‘I should have done this when I first met you. After the kids were born. I keep thinking about all the times I should have told the world how much I loved you…’

Natalia starts to weep as his frail hand reaches for hers and he puts the ring on her finger.

‘So this is me telling you now. I don’t know how much longer we have but for now, let’s tell everyone that while I was here, I was yours. We had something really, really great.’

Natalia can hardly talk but nods, sobbing. ‘Didn’t we just?’

‘The most perfect thing.’ He puts his hand in hers and squeezes it tightly. ‘It’s a good Christmas gift, eh?’ She laughs through her tears. ‘I’m just sorry I couldn’t give you a wedding. I know you’d have preferred something in a country house with a three-course dinner…’

‘I have a tin of Quality Street and my turkey sandwich meal deal. You’re in a white dress of sorts. It’s kind of the same.’

‘So, is that a yes?’ he asks her.

‘Of course, you idiot,’ she says, grabbing his face and kissing him.

They sit there embracing as I look on in awe at both of them, quietly weeping, a slim perfect line of gold sat on her hand, glistening in the low lights of the room. And I think of all those rings I’ve handed over in the last two days, all symbols of people saying they want to be forever. They want that love to be forever for however long that may be. That is quite a wonderful thing.

‘Time for your medicine, Mr David,’ a Filipina nurse suddenly says, walking into the room, and Natalia jumps up from the bed. ‘Ruby! LOOK!’ she says, showing her the ring and the nurse squeals with excitement, running to the corridor to tell people, all while David laughs from his bed. The room fills with light and Natalia jigs around in that room with the joy of a child on Christmas morning. I may take that as my cue to allow them to celebrate this moment. I head towards the door slowly and turn to look back at the bed, catching David’s eye as the room suddenly comes to life in the collective excitement of that very small yet special ring.

‘Thank you,’ he mouths to me. I don’t quite know what to say in return but nod my head and smile, studying his face, his happiness for one last time, before taking my leave.

As I walk down the corridor, I hear a voice. ‘You said two minutes, Mr Lord.’

I turn, trying to hold it together. ‘I’m sorry, Sister. But it’s…’

‘Christmas. Yes, you keep labouring that point. Did you get what you needed delivered?’ She turns to look at the excitement and celebration coming from that room.

‘I did. Thank you for letting me do that, Sister Drummond.’

‘You’re welcome. One last thing…’ she tells me, thoughtful. ‘I’m sad to hear you left medicine. You were a very good doctor, Mr Lord.’ Her sincerity floors me. ‘I only remember the good ones.’

I don’t know how to reply. To any of it.

‘Enjoy the rest of your evening.’

I smile, before turning away, hoping she hasn’t seen the tears in my eyes.

TWENTY

Eve

I can’t even remember when it happened. We had both gone for lunch one weekend shift in the shop, and the queue for our sushi had us standing outside one of these tourist shops that sold everything from bottled water to handbags to Union Jack T-shirts. It also had a lovely line of personalised jewellery. Outside the shop was a display that had lines of gold necklaces that spelt out names. He scanned the display.

‘They have your name!’ Joe said.

‘I’m good, thanks!’

‘They also have personalised signs for bedroom doors if that’s your bag.’