When the hum of Patrick's jeep melted into the silence, Ronnie crossed the grey landing and went down the spiral stairs into the kitchen. She ripped all the belongings of the American fridge. The holiday magnets and photos and notes with trails of xxxxs and I love yous at the end. She walked over the mess in her bare feet, the magnets pinching her soles. Her brown leather bag was sitting on the worktop. She dug out her phone and dialled the number knowing it off by heart, hitting the green call symbol. It rung twice.
"Hi, could you put me through to Caroline on the children's ward, it's Ronnie."
"Hold a sec," said the man. The holding tune came on. Ronnie never noticed how bland it was until now.
"Hello, Caroline speaking."
"Caroline. Hi."
"Ronnie, how are you?"
"Am...grand. Just wondering, how's Kyle? How's he doing now?"
"His mammy is just away for a coffee, she said he's still sleeping."
"Right. Well. Best he gets some rest." Ronnie fiddled with her necklace, marking the skin at the foot of her neck. The phone line quietened.
"Ronnie? Is everything ok?"
Ronnie stepped on the image of her and Patrick's youthful faces, walking over it. "All's good here. I'll see you in a few hours."
Ronnie woke to hunger clawing at her insides. The blue lights on her beside table read 5:45pm. She rolled over on to her other side, bringing her left hand under her face. Catching sight of her wedding ring set her sleepiness on fire. Ronnie worked the slim, gold band off her finger, admiring it, as if for the first time. She hung it above her fingertip, stalling. Instead of putting it back where it had been for the past four years, she buried it in the palm of her hand.
Stretching her arm across the side of the bed Ronnie unlocked her fingers letting it fall. She cushioned her head into the pillow getting comfy again as the ring rattled off the wooden floor, bouncing once, twice, three times. It twirled on its edge before falling still. Ronnie reached for her phone on the bedside locker. She hit the side button. The screen lit up, empty of missed calls, voicemails, messages. Ronnie flung the duvet off her.
YOU ARE READING
Meant To Be
Fiksi UmumRonnie and Zac had love all figured out until life got in the way, and when their paths cross in Tennessee, survival is the only thing on their minds. Paediatrician Ronnie Gormley told her husband they would have children when they turn thirty. No...
