She was breathless with excitement. “And what didyou say?”
“Yes?” My voice was coming out less sure with every answer.
“Ah! Welcome to the family!” she yelped, pulled me close again and then away, before lifting my hand for her inspection. “Did it not fit?”
My stomach dived as she twisted my hand round, hunting for a ring that wasn’t there.
A ring. On my left hand. A question.
Heat climbed my throat, and I went to laugh at the prank she had to be playing, but no sound came out. I was left open-mouthed as she realised, her own lips parting, brows knitting. “Did it… not fit?” she begged.
My pulse fluttered in the wrist she gripped.
I cleared my throat and pulled my hand back from her freezing hold. “That’s not… that’s not what he asked.”
My feet still kept me standing, but it felt like my body was rocking, my knees numbing.
“Let’s just be clear here. You’re talking about an engagement ring.”
“Not—no. Not necessarily.” But her voice was tight with the lie.
“I need to sit down,” I said and led the way into the open space, collapsing into one of the dining chairs.
“It’s okay, right?” she cried, pacing behind my chair while I looked around the home I’d always wanted. A place that had become a comfort to my soul. “He was… he’ll do it. I haven’t ruined the surprise, have I? Fuck, Helena, you get too excited!”
I let her scold herself, feeling my rapid heartbeats through his jumper. There was no movement out in the garden. They hadn’t been gone long.
“Why do you think he’s proposing?” I almost had the emotional bandwidth to be proud of how calmly I asked.
She sat opposite me, but my vision was blurred with shock. “Back before, when our pipe burst when we came and stayed here… he asked if he could have the ring his Dad gave me. My engagement ring.”
That had been in August. We’d hardly been together six weeks then.
“And, of course, I said yes. I had some questions first, though.”
The wind picked up, and the trees rustled; a flock of birds took off. Zolt wasn’t here.
“He told me he’d found the woman who made him want to live again. The woman he loved more than anything — even racing. He said he’d give it all up for her if she asked. It was all hypothetical then, of course.”
We’d been together six weeks.
And he knew.
All those times I’d worried about us lasting, and he’d never faltered.
I hadn’t lied when I said I wanted it all with him — engagement, marriage, children.
“Can we pretend this didn’t happen?” she begged. “I was never here.”
“No,” I said. I might go and snoop, find it, and just place it on my finger. It was rash, a bit soon, unadvised, but… The smile brightened my face. I could feel the shift. “I’m not keeping secrets from him. I’m going to tell him you accidentally let it slip. I’ll emphasise it wasn’t on purpose.”
She bit her lip and nodded. “I’d rather not be here for that conversation, if you don’t mind.”
And she stood, not having taken her coat off, but said, “I meant it. Welcoming you to the family. Again. We’ve missed you, Fia. Zolt’s missed you so much.”
I nodded, but the world blurred again as I clutched my left hand, stroking my bare ring finger as booming barks sounded out of the forest. She scattered, the door closing loudly behind her.
Zolt came in with the rush of dogs, shrugging off his coat and rubbing his gloved hands together. “Fuck, it is cold.” He said it in English and looked at me with a chuffed smile. When I didn’t respond, his face fell, and he was at my side in seconds. “What’s wrong?”
