The stand up

made a Trev had finally he too late? decision. But was

Trev checked his watch again as he sat in the restaurant. It was 10 past eight, where was she? She knew the table was for eight o' clock. Why did she always have to be late?

It was his girlfriend Mel' s birthday and he' d booked a restaurant in the centre of town to celebrate.

They' d been going out for more than four years now and she' d been dropping lots of hints that she was expecting a special present for her birthday something expensive in a tiny box.

She' d sulked through last Christmas when the tiny box under the tree didn' t contain a ring, but a pair of teardrop earrings.

Earrings!' she' d exclaimed flatly, staring down at them.

They cost a fortune,' Trev lied. They are real sapphires, you know,' he' d told her sure that Mel wouldn' t know the difference.

Yes, they' re lovely,' Mel said politely, pushing the box to one side.

But not what you wanted,' Trev said under his breath.

Trev knew what she wanted she' d dropped enough hints. Gazing in the window of jewellery store when they went shopping. Buying bridal magazines and flicking through them when he was watching his favourite TV programmes.

Going on endlessly about her friend Gina' s forthcoming wedding in the Caribbean which Trev thought was a ridiculous waste of money. Of course, he' d told her to say they wouldn' t be going.

She' d even ordered wedding dresses online to try out' which Trev thought was bordering on the obsessive.

The problem was, Trev still wasn' t quite sure if Mel was The One.

Marriage was a major commitment, not to be entered into lightly. He liked Mel a lot, she was sweet not argumentative like his last girlfriend.

But there were things about her that irritated him.

One of them was timekeeping Mel was always late. Then there was her untidiness which is why after all this time, they still hadn' t moved in together.

Mel thought it was OK to leave towels scrunched up on the floor in the bathroom, the dishes unwashed until the morning, the bed unmade all day and her clothes and shoes thrown carelessly around the house. It drove him crazy.

He took his mobile from his pocket perhaps she' d left him a message saying she' d been held up.

He hadn' t collected her because he worked near the restaurant and it was easy for her to catch the bus into town from where she lived. Suddenly, his phone rang. Mel where the hell are you? I' m sitting in here on my own. I feel like a right idiot. Don' t tell me you missed the bus!'

No, I caught the bus,' Mel answered.

So, what' s the problem?' Trev asked, getting up and pacing up and down. Did it have an accident? Break down or something?'

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

Mel?'

No,' she answered at last. I met someone on the bus. An old friend.'

Alarm bells rang inside Trev' s head. Old friend? Did she mean old boyfriend?

What old friend?' he asked, his pulse racing.

Someone we both know. I' m sorry, Trev, but we' re going out for a few drinks so I won' t be coming to the meal. Now or ever again.'

Someone we both know. Trev' s blood was boiling.

Who on earth is it? What' 's his name?'

Gina,' said Mel.

Gina?' Trev repeated blankly.

Yes, you know the girl whose wedding we couldn' 't make because it was too expensive. Well, guess what? She cancelled the wedding. She said her fiancé was getting too controlling so she pulled the plug.

As we got chatting something went ping inside me. I realised you were controlling too. Controlling and mean. So, I' m finishing it, Trev, once and for all.'

But you can' t,' Trev said.

It' s your birthday and I' ve bought you something special.'

But the line had clicked off. Trev felt in his jacket pocket for the tiny box hidden there. He' d planned to propose tonight just to keep her happy and to see the look of surprise on her face when she saw the sparkling ring inside.

Just as well he hadn' t wasted money on a ring with a real diamond.