Page 156 of Falling for You

‘I …’ I stare at my hands, mentally trying to remember the last time I saw it. Mom gave me that ring when I was about fourteen and Stevie had started wearing her jewellery. She didn’t want me to feel left out so she gave me her emerald ring. Since she got sick, I’ve started wearing it on my little finger.

I was wearing it at the party, I’m sure of it. I showed it to that girl … and then …

Shit. Did I leave it there?

‘Sorry,’ I say, realising that Mom is staring at me, looking worried. ‘Nothing. I just left something at a party I was at before I flew over here.’

Mom brightens, slapping me lightly on the arm. ‘A party!’ she swoons. ‘With Stevie?’

I smile reluctantly. ‘Yes. He dragged me there.’

‘How is London?’ she says, pulling her sheet further up her body. ‘I want to know everything. Have you fallen in love with Keira Knightley yet?’

I try not to laugh. Guess who watchesLove Actuallyevery Christmas?

‘Not quite.’

‘Well, have you met any nice people?’

I sigh. It seems stupid to tell Mom about a girl I’ll never see again, but she looks so happy to be chatting with me about my new life in London, and what else do I have to tell her about? That I figured out the best bus route to and from work and I enjoy sitting on the top deck because it feels a bit like a rollercoaster?

‘There was someone at the party, actually,’ I say, and notice Dad look up from his newspaper.

Mom squeals. ‘And?’

‘I think she’s got my ring.’

Mom practically passes out. ‘You gave her a ring! Oh, Paul!’ She grabs Dad’s hand excitedly.

‘No,’ I say quickly. ‘Not like that. God, I don’t go around proposing to girls I’ve just met! What do you take me for?’

‘A romantic?’ Mom smiles and I roll my eyes at her.

‘We were at a Halloween party that Stevie dragged me to and she was dressed as a bat.’

She frowns. ‘A bat?’

‘Yeah. It was fancy dress. Or it sort of was. Her costume was the best. She made it herself.’

Mom gives me a look. ‘Very impressive.’

‘But it doesn’t matter anyway, as I ran off without getting her name, let alone her phone number. So I’ll never see her again.’ I say it quickly to try and fight off the inevitable pang I get every time the memory replays in my mind.

‘Why did you run off?’ Mom says, outraged. ‘That’s very rude, Nathaniel.’

‘Well, Dad was ringing.’

‘So? You can speak to your dad anytime!’

Mom catches a look between me and Dad and I see realisation fall on her face. Silence stretches between us as we all stare at the horrible ominous elephant in the room.

‘You know, me and your Aunt Tell went to a Halloween party once when we were teenagers. I don’t know how Tell snuck me in, I was far too young.’ She knits her hands together, smiling. ‘She put a sheet over my head so nobody could see how young I was and told the bouncer I was a ghost. I was wearing huge heels, so I looked taller. Then as soon as we got in, I whipped it off.’ She laughs to herself. ‘It was so much fun. Your grandma was furious when she found out. Tell used to do things like that all the time. She was sonaughty.’

I smile. If I hadn’t had to fly back here then I would probably be at Aunt Tell’s by now, chatting about Mom. I might even have managed to persuade her to come back to New York with me.

‘When are you going back to London, then?’ Mom asks again, breaking the silence.

‘I’m not sure I am,’ I say, trying to make my voice sound light. ‘It was a nice trip, but I’m glad to be home.’