“Mum, I’m too hot When will Dad be here?” whined little Annie, standing in the hallway. The girl was bundled up in a winter coat, scarf, and hat.
“Annie, love, I told youwait for your dad *before* getting dressed. Lets put the sled away for now. Take off your things and play a bit. Ill finish lunch, and well go out for an hour,” suggested Vera, the girls mother.
“No. Dads coming soon, and well go out together. He *promised*,” Annie replied sulkily.
“Promised Exactlyhe *promised*!” Vera glanced at her daughter with pity before walking to the kitchen. She peered out the window, tears welling in her eyes.
Vera had married Geraldor Gerry, as he was knownthinking it was true love. Back then, Gerry had been the most charming lad in their circle, and shy Vera had been flattered by his attention. When hed asked her out, the naïve girl had been over the moon. All her friends had whispered with envy about what a handsome couple they made. Vera had been proud, certain shed won lifes lottery.
A year later, Gerry proposed. Vera said yes without hesitation. Among her friends, there was no shortage of volunteers to be bridesmaids. She was sure fate had handed her the happiest ticketGerry wasnt just charming; the Wilsons were one of the wealthiest families in town. His father ran a successful business, and his mother owned a chain of grocery stores.
“Vera, youre so lucky! A wedding soon” her friend Natalie had said, not without envy.
“Yes. Gerry promised wed even go on a honeymoon,” Vera whispered excitedly.
“No way! Thats amazing!” Natalie gasped.
Everyone envied Veraexcept her mother, Margaret, who had been uneasy about the wedding from the start.
“Darling, maybe dont rush into marriage? Youve only been together a year. There are plenty of other men” Margaret had said, watching her daughter twirl in front of the mirror, adjusting her white bridal veil.
“Mum, not this again! Ive told youGerry and I love each other!”
“Oh, sweetheart Love fades, but you need someone reliable for life. There are rumours about Gerryhes had plenty of girlfriends,” Margaret warned.
“Mum, enough! You just dont want me to move out. But dont worryGerry promised well have a big house, so you can visit whenever. He even said hed pay for my driving lessons and buy me a car. Everything will be fine. He promised Id be the happiest.”
“Oh, love Promises, promises. Lets hope they come true.”
“Mum, *stop*! Just help me pick shoesI still havent decided!”
The wedding day arrived in a blur. Gerry and his mates pulled up in a sleek white car to collect Vera. Beaming, she stepped out of her mothers flat for the last time as a single woman.
At the registry office, Margaret felt uneasy. Vera had only a handful of guestsmost were Gerrys family and friends. When the registrar asked the couple to exchange rings, Gerry slid the ring onto Veras finger effortlessly. But Vera fumbledhis ring clattered to the floor.
“Oh!”
Gerry laughed, scooping it up in two strides. Guests chuckled at how eagerly hed chased his own happiness. But Margarets heart sank. Her grandmother had always said: dropping the wedding ring was bad luckthe marriage would bring no joy.
Whether or not you believe in omens, Veras married life *did* unravel. At first, things seemed fine. The young couple lived with Gerrys parents. Vera quit her jobagainst Margarets advice.
“Mum, Gerry promised hed provide. I dont *need* to work.”
Soon, Vera was pregnant. Little Annie arrived months later. Margaret rarely saw her granddaughteror her own daughter.
Vera wanted for nothing materially. She and Annie had toys, clothes, everythingexcept choice. Gerrys mother picked everything. Vera just nodded.
“Gerry, maybe we should move out?” Vera ventured once.
“Whats wrong with here? Weve got everything taken care of,” he replied dismissively.
“But you *promised* wed have our own house.”
“Dads having trouble at work. Moneys tighthouse is off the table for now.”
“But you work late all the time! Weekends too!”
“Well think about it later.”
Years passed. Vera began suspecting Gerrys “late nights” werent work-related. Arguments erupted.
“Vera, stop making a scene! So what if he lets off steam?” Gerrys mother snapped after one row when he hadnt come home.
“Margaret, I wont tolerate this! Im taking Annie to my mums!”
“Go then! But youre *not* taking our grandchild!” Gerry slurred, drunk.
Vera left that day. Margaret worried but was secretly relieved. Yet the stay didnt last. Days later, Gerry stormed in, declaring his daughter wouldnt “live like a pauper.” Defeated, Vera returned.
For a while, Gerry behaved. Then the affairs resumed. Vera endured, rarely complaining. But Margaret knewsmall towns talk. She saw her daughters suffering.
Then, Margaret had a heart attack. In hospital, she passed away.
That loss woke Vera. She realised she alone was responsible for her and Annies future. Thered be no more rescues. She packed their things and moved into her late mothers flat. Filed for divorce.
Gerry barely resistedhe was already with someone new. His mother, however, raged.
“You cant do this to Gerry! And you *wont* take Annie!”
“Im not. You can see herbut were *not* coming back.”
Soon, Vera met Daniel. He welcomed Annie as his own, even offered to adopt her. Gerry refused.
“I *promise*Ill take her from you! Youll regret this!” hed shout, drunk.
“Gerry, sober up before making promises. Ive got a cupboard full of yours already.”
***
That day, Annies father never came. And sadly, it wasnt his only broken promise.
“Mum, Dad *promised* a bike for my birthday!” Annie said excitedly at eleven.
Daniel bought her one the next day.
“Mum, Dad *promised* the Ferris wheel! He said today or tomorrow”
“Well see,” Vera sighed.
The following weekend, Annie rode itwith Vera and Daniel.
“Uncle Dan, Dad *promised* to pick me up from camp,” fourteen-year-old Annie mumbled, confused.
“Guess he couldnt make it. Hop inyour mums cooked a feast!” Daniel smiled.
At eighteen, Annie twirled in her prom dress.
“Mum, Dad *promised* hed come. And a car! He said Id learn to drive!”
“Annie, love When will you stop believing him?”
“But he *swore* about the car!”
Prom night came. Gerry never showed.
“Mum, hes not answering. What if somethings wrong?”
“I know exactly whathes down the pub with his mates, celebrating without you.”
“Mum, *stop*…”
The next morning, Daniel grinned.
“Enough tearslets see if you can drive. My mate runs a school.”
“Wait*really*?”
That evening, Annie bounded in.
“Mum, it was *brilliant*!”
“Future racer, this one!” Daniel laughed.
“Just let her be happy,” Vera murmured. “And stop believing empty words.”
***
Vera had always taught Annie: judge people by actions, not promises. But the lesson hadnt quite stuck.
Perhaps life would teach her in time.
