‘We’re here, Becky,’ Joel says as he stops the car. ‘Take off the blindfold.’ He helps me undo it.
‘Wow.’ I’ve heard about this restaurant, but I’ve never been. It’s the haunt of celebs and ferociously expensive, for special occasions only.
In five years of being together, Joel has never surprised me. There have been no spontaneous outpourings of love, no unexpected bouquets of flowers. Every single year, Valentine’s Day has come and gone without me ever being whisked off to Paris on a whim. I don’t think he’s ever even done the washing up without me having to ask him first.
It’s our anniversary and, despite his shortcomings, I love him more now than I did then. The candlelight sparkles in his eyes and I smile adoringly at him.
Dinner is perfect and, as we’re enjoying a final glass of champagne, Joel slides a box of my favourite chocolates across the table.
‘For me?’ The cocoa-coloured package is bound with exquisite, rich brown ribbons which I undo without a moment’s hesitation. ‘This has been a fabulous evening,’ I say, breathlessly. ‘Thank you.’
He takes my hand. ‘I wanted to make it a night to remember.’
I turn my attention back to his gift. There are dark chocolate truffles made with the finest ganache, white chocolate mounds dusted with cocoa, milk chocolate rectangles sprinkled with vermillion. My mouth is watering just looking at them. ‘These look delicious. I’ve hardly got room for one after my meal.’ Who am I kidding? Already I’m wondering if I can get away without sharing them. ‘They all look so lovely. I don’t know which to try first.’
‘Try the champagne truffle,’ Joel urges. ‘It’s really very special.’
‘I know – ‘ I hum and hah a bit more. Then, I swoop on a white chocolate, devouring it in two bites. ‘Mmm. Delicious,’ I murmur. ‘Want one?’
Somewhat reluctantly, I proffer the box. He skirts the truffle then chooses the kirsch-soaked cherry enrobed in dark chocolate. I can live with that.
‘The champagne truffle looks nice,’ Joel says and there’s a slight note of panic in his voice. He clearly has his eye on it too. If I don’t eat it now then, I’m sure he’ll claim it as his own.
‘Lovely,’ I say and rescue it from his clutches.
‘Savour it,’ he warns.
Too late. It’s in my mouth. One bite and it’s gone.
Joel’s eyes widen.
Perhaps I rushed it down a bit too quickly as I start to cough. I grab my wine and take a hearty swig. That’s better. I cough more delicately now.
‘You’ve eaten it.’ He’s flabbergasted. ‘Just like that.’
‘Mmm. Gorgeous.’ My boyfriend is staring at me, mouth gaping. ‘What?’ I’m feeling self-conscious now. Did I really scoff down all that chocolate so quickly? ‘What?’
‘Come on,’ he says, gathering up my coat and my handbag. ‘We’ve got to get you to hospital.’ Joel manhandles me to my feet.
‘Hospital?’ He’s pulling me towards the door. ‘But I’m fine.’
‘There was a diamond ring in there.’ My boyfriend looks over his shoulder at me, an expression of fear on his face. ‘A big one. You’ve swallowed the thing whole.’
‘I have?’ Suddenly, I feel unwell.
I’m lying on a trolley in the A& E department, surrounded by sniggering nurses and doctors.
‘Can’t you cut me open?’ I ask. ‘Or give me a stomach pump?’
They laugh some more.
‘Turn me upside down and hit me on the back?’
The doctor can’t look me in the face.
‘You’ll be fine,’ he tells me.
‘You’ll be reunited with your ring in a few days time.’
‘Oh,’ I say as realisation hits me. That’s not good.
‘You can go home as soon as you’re ready,’ the nurse says and they leave me alone with Joel.
‘I’m sorry.’ I sit up and hang my head in my hands.
Joel pulls the flowery, brown curtain around us. ‘Now that you’ve eaten your engagement ring, does this mean that you’ll marry me?’
‘Yes,’ I say tearfully. ‘Just promise me one thing?’
‘Anything.’
He puts his arms around me and I let my head rest on his shoulder.
‘Promise me you won’t give me any more surprises.’
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